The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon has shared big news regarding the future of Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
The Lowdown: Saints’ goalkeeper situation
Both Alex McCarthy and Forster headed into last summer with just 12 months left on their contracts at St Mary’s.
The former agreed fresh terms with the club before the beginning of the campaign, agreeing to a new three-year deal, but the latter was not offered a new contract at that time.
Due to McCarthy suffering a thigh injury in December, Forster has since made 19 appearances in the Premier League this season. A number of these performances received huge plaudits from opposition managers; this includes the likes of Mikel Arteta, who described the 34-year-old’s display against Arsenal last month as “exceptional”.
After a string of fantastic performances, it was rumoured that Forster may have done enough to secure himself a new contract with the club.
However, Sheldon reported for The Athletic that Southampton will inform the 34-year-old that they won’t be extending his stay at St Mary’s.
Taking to Twitter in sharing a link to his corresponding article, Sheldon claimed: “Excl: Southampton intend to sit down with goalkeeper Fraser Forster at the end of the season to inform him he will not receive a new contract.”
The Verdict: Great free agent up for grabs
Following this news, expect a whole host of Premier League clubs to be making enquiries into signing the former Celtic stopper.
At 6 foot 7 and with six England caps to his name, Forster would be a great addition to many top-flight clubs, either as a backup option or as a number one.
Either way, this will come as a big shock to Saints fans, who may be seeing the 34-year-old line up for the final time in a Southampton shirt against Liverpool tomorrow night.
If, as now seems probable, he is nearing the end of his time at St Mary’s, Forster can hold his head up high over how he has performed in his final season at the club, having been their sixth-best performer this term as per Sofascore.
In other news: Source shares Bright Osayi-Samuel/Saints update
Celtic are once again being credited with an interest in SC Heerenveen full-back Milan van Ewijk ahead of the summer transfer window, as per Dutch outlet Voetbal International.
The lowdown: Previous links
The Hoops were initially linked with the 21-year-old back in March of 2021 – when John Kennedy was in interim charge – prior to the starlet’s £540,000 switch from ADO Den Haag (Transfermarkt).
Since then, the Holland youth international has gone from strength to strength in the Eredivisie and has previously been likened to compatriot and now Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries.
Amidst interest from across Europe, Celtic have once again been cited as potential suitors for the talented right-back…
The latest: Major interest
As per VI, newly crowned Scottish champions Celtic, PSV Eindhoven, Stade Brest, Lille and QPR are all attentive to Van Ewijk’s situation.
It’s claimed that the Under 21 Dutch ace, who has already made 77 top-flight outings in his homeland, is ‘of interest’ to the Bhoys as Ange Postecoglou attempts to strengthen the Parkhead squad ahead of a season in the Champions League.
Furthermore, it’s suggested that there is a ‘real chance’ the full-back – described as possessing ‘tons of potential’ by journalist Michael Bell – could make another move this summer despite his recent switch.
The verdict: Strength in depth required
Albeit many would point to the rise of Anthony Ralston at right-back this season and question the need for reinforcements, Celtic will embark on a quest for all three domestic trophies next term whilst also needing to compete in the group stages of Europe’s elite competition.
With that in mind, top-level understudies will be required in every position and at present, Postecoglou can only truly call upon Ralston or Josip Juranovic for the big occasions to fill what is a pivotal role in the Greek-Australian’s favoured system.
Capable of playing as a conventional right-back or in a more advanced position, Van Ewijk has earned an impressive 7.02 average Sofascore rating this season, winning 6.1 duels per game and completing 77% of all attempted passes, ticking an abundance of required attributes in both a defensive and attacking capacity that make the Dutchman a viable candidate to add to the Lennoxtown ranks.
In other news, journalist haiils Celtic man with ‘twinkle toes’. Find out who it is here.
Manchester United will reportedly be looking at out-of-contract stars to help aid Erik ten Hag’s proposed rebuild.
What’s the word?
That is according to a report from The Sun who claim that United do not have a huge war chest prepared for the Dutchman and will expect him to identify players who can be signed on a free this summer.
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In terms of attacking talent, stars such as Paulo Dybala and Ousmane Dembele have been touted as big names who are expected to become free agents this summer amidst their expiring contracts, though according to the report, it is currently unknown as to which potential free signing United could be eyeing up.
Dembele has previously been linked to United with reports last week stating that they have even offered him a contract.
A smart move?
As per the report, United’s budget has taken a hit due to their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and with the potential free-signings that are on offer, ten Hag may resort to an option like £27m-rated Dembele who still has a lot to offer at the age of 24.
With his ability to progress the ball and recent development of his end product, the Frenchman, who has been dubbed a “superstar” by Liam Canning, could provide a real service to United and become their own version of Neymar – who is a similar player this season in terms of metrics according to FBref.
In fact, Josep Maria Bartomeu once went as far as saying that the Frenchman was “better than Neymar” as he hailed the winger’s talent.
With 18 goal returns in the form of 12 goals and six assists over 21 games, Neymar has achieved four more returns than Dembele, who has 14 goal returns in the form of one goal and 13 assists this season over the course of 20 La Liga appearances.
The Frenchman’s average of 5.11 shot-creating actions per 90, is not far off the Brazilian who has registered a match average of 5.91 SCA.
Though in terms of progressive carries, Dembele’s average of 14.03 per 90 surpasses that of Neymar who averages a, still exceptional, total of 10.66 per 90.
With Dembele’s contract expiring at the end of the season, United would be right to look at the free-signing of a player who has achieved very similar metrics to Neymar this season.
In other news: Man Utd plot bid to sign 24y/o who is “reminiscent of Beckham”, Ten Hag surely buzzing
Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Paulo Dybala.
What’s the talk?
In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian transfer insider and journalist revealed that, despite recent reports claiming that the outbound Juventus forward had agreed a move to Inter Milan this summer, this is in fact not the case, with the 28-year-old’s agent, Jorge Antun, confirming that no agreement with the Nerazzurri has been reached.
Romano then went on to suggest that, while the Serie A side are extremely interested in the Argentina international, with no move being agreed as yet, Dybala is still available to sign this summer – something which is sure to come as a huge boost to Antonio Conte, Fabio Paratici and Tottenham, who are also reported to have made contact with the attacker.
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In his tweet, the journalist said: “Paulo Dybala’s agent Jorge Antun on Inter deal rumours: ‘I deny any kind of agreement with any club, as of today. No agreement has been reached with Italian or foreign clubs yet.’ Inter remain interested in Paulo Dybala, of course – but the deal is not done as of now.”
Supporters will be buzzing
Considering just how impressive a talent Dybala quite clearly is, in addition to Conte being known to be a big fan of the 28-year-old, Romano’s claim that Inter have not landed the forward on a free transfer is sure to have left both the 52-year-old Spurs manager and supporters of the club buzzing.
Indeed, over his 26 Serie A appearances this season, the £36m-rated Argentine has been Juventus’ standout performer, having bagged nine goals, provided five assists and created ten big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.6 shots, making 1.3 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.
These returns have seen the £220k-per-week attacker average a rather sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.45, not only ranking him as Massimiliano Allegri’s best player in the league but also as the third-best in the division as a whole.
As such, it is clear to see that Dybala would make an exceptional addition to Conte’s current attacking arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, something which makes it abundantly clear as to why the 28-year-old’s continued availability this summer is fantastic news for everyone involved with Spurs.
AND in other news: Contact made: Spurs in talks for “outstanding” £53k-p/w signing, imagine him & Dejan
Big-money transfers certainly haven’t been alien to Manchester United in recent seasons, with the hierarchy forking out a pretty penny on players in the transfer market.
The Red Devils’ transfer record currently sits at £89m, with such a fee being forked out for the signature of Paul Pogba back in the summer of 2016.
However, the club have previously come close to breaking such a record, especially after forking out a deal with £86m for Antony’s signature just a couple of years ago.
The hierarchy have seen first hand that spending big on such players doesn’t equal Premier League success, especially with the Brazilian leaving for just £19m last summer.
That hasn’t stopped the board from wanting to replicate such deals in the upcoming window, with numerous big-money deals touted ahead of the January market.
Man Utd’s hunt for new additions in January
Over the last couple of weeks, United have ramped up their efforts to land Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with the Red Devils even entering talks to land the Englishman.
However, a deal would likely be another expensive one, with Sean Dyche’s currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his signature in the coming months.
Ruben Amorim’s men aren’t alone in the pursuit for Anderson’s services, as rivals Manchester City have stormed into the race to land the 23-year-old in the near future.
He’s not the only big-money player currently in the Red Devils’ sights, as the hierarchy have identified Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior as a potential transfer target.
According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are currently preparing a club-record €150m (£131m) bid for the Brazilian, with the forward having just over 18 months left on his deal at the Bernabeu.
They also state that the player himself could be tempted by a move to the Premier League, especially given his recent fall-out with manager Xabi Alonso.
Why United’s £131m target would be Amorim’s next Garnacho
Not all of United’s stars have joined in massive transfers, as seen with winger Alejandro Garnacho, who joined for a minimal fee from Atlético Madrid as a teenager.
The Argentine managed to force himself into the first-team reckoning a couple of years ago, with the youngster registering nine combined goals and assists in his first season as a professional.
His next two seasons with the Red Devils would follow in a similar vein, as the 21-year-old scored 21 times and registered 15 assists – one of the best returns in the first-team squad.
However, it wouldn’t be enough to maintain his future at Old Trafford, as Amorim constantly made an example of him for his attitude issues which resulted in him being frozen out of the squad.
Garnacho would depart the club during the summer, joining Premier League rivals Chelsea in a deal worth a reported £40m – a decent fee given his failures in Manchester.
Despite the sale, Amorim could get his next version of the Argentine in January, especially if the hierarchy sanction a club-record move to land Vinicius.
As previously mentioned, he’s constantly had his own disciplinary issues, with it all coming to a head in the meeting with Barcelona, as the Brazilian reacted furiously to being substituted.
Such issues could lead to his exit from the Bernabeu, potentially leading to a switch to England and finally getting a taste of the greatest division in the world.
However, despite his struggles, he’s managed to impress on the pitch in recent times, with his numbers leading to Thierry Henry labelling him the “best in the world”.
Games played
13
Goals & assists
9
Progressive carries
8.9
Progressive passes
4.8
Pass accuracy
80%
Key passes
2.9
Passes into final third
1.9
Take-on success
38%
Carries into final third
2.9
Vinicius has already registered nine combined goals and assists in LaLiga this campaign, a tally that would make him the most effective player in Amorim’s current side.
Tallies such as 8.9 progressive carries and his 38% take-one success further highlight the talent he possesses with the ball, potentially having the creative nature to provide those around him with opportunities.
His passing stats also make for excellent reading, with the Brazilian making 2.9 key passes per 90, 1.9 of which going into the final third – arguably making him the perfect all-round attacker.
£131m would be a massive statement of intent from the board, but it’s a deal that would no doubt hand the first-team yet another world-class attacking option.
However, his attitude will certainly need to be watched, especially given the recent decline of Garnacho, with Amorim needing to keep the attackers’ feet firmly on the ground.
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West Bromwich Albion are now without a win from their last three games in the Championship.
Ryan Mason’s Baggies did look to be very close to an elusive win in the challenging second tier against Leicester City last time out; however, after Samuel Iling-Junior’s first goal for the promotion chasers had handed them a 1-0 advantage over Marti Cifuentes’ Foxes.
Yet, it wasn’t to be for Mason’s unlucky hosts come the full-time whistle, as various spurned chances came back to bite them courtesy of a Nathaniel Phillips’ own goal.
The former Tottenham Hotspur coach turned Baggies manager could now be prepared to change up what attackers take to the field for his side’s encounter later today versus Norwich City to ensure goal-shy displays don’t become frequent, with Isaac Price potentially facing the chop.
Price's showing vs Leicester in numbers
While the Northern Ireland international has received plenty of plaudits for his performances this season so far, he has also gone slightly off the boil over West Brom’s choppy last few Championship clashes.
Indeed, the former Everton youth product went through the entirety of September without picking up a single goal or assist, which is a notable drop-off when weighed up next to his outrageous form in August.
Games played
4
3
Goals scored
3
0
Assists
1
0
Price is unfortunately a victim of his own success here, with his three goals and one assist in August hard to keep up across a full season, as has been seen in his lacklustre offering the following month.
Mason’s experiment to throw Price in as a second striker alongside Aune Heggebo also didn’t work against Leicester, with the 22-year-old going to miss a big chance, even when handed the responsibility of leading the line.
On top of that, he didn’t link up with the Norwegian well enough to get him regularly involved in play, with the number 19 only managing a weak eight touches of the ball in total next to his new strike partner.
It could be that Mason is now preparing to drop Price from the first team altogether for the trip to Norfolk, with this Baggies goal machine primed for his first league start of the season ahead of the hot-and-cold number 21.
Mason's "special" Price replacement for West Brom
Away from Price sticking out with his three league strikes last month, West Brom haven’t been the easiest on the eye to watch so far this season.
Since putting three past Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham, the Baggies have only managed to find the back of the net a weak four times across their next five league encounters, with Josh Maja now potentially thrown into the mix to make West Brom a troubling threat in attack once more.
Mason is likely just erring on the side of caution with his injury-prone number 9 so far this season, hence his lack of starts to date, with his goal-laden campaign last season devastatingly derailed by an injury in January.
Still, he could be the spark now needed to enhance West Brom’s firepower in attacking areas, with this well-taken finish last campaign coming against Wednesday’s opponents, Norwich City, coincidentally going down as his ninth goal in total.
By the time he was sadly stricken with injury, he would boast a mightily impressive 12 strikes from 25 league clashes.
Games played
25
Goals scored
12
Scoring frequency
Every 173 mins
Assists
2
Big chances created
6
It’s not just his explosive goalscoring form that will catch Mason’s eye here, however, with the former Sunderland centre-forward also amassing six big chances created across this span of league games.
This could result in Maja supplying Heggebo with chances galore moving forward, with the Brann menace’s goalscoring prowess – firing home a lethal 11 goals in the Eliteserien in 2024 alone – hopefully then coming to the forefront.
Hailed as “special” by Carlos Corberan when the Spaniard was still occupying the Hawthorns dug-out, it does feel like a waste not to try and get the best out of Maja again, with Norwich perhaps on the receiving end of the 26-year-old’s clinical edge later on, as Mason attempts to get West Brom’s faltering season back on track with tweaks here and there.
Mason could unleash Price 2.0 at West Brom in "outstanding" 19-year-old
Ryan Mason can unleash another Isaac Price at West Bromwich Albion with this outstanding youngster.
After Thomas Frank took the reins early in the summer, no Tottenham Hotspur fan would’ve predicted the incredible start he’s made – filling the gap after Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal.
The Dane has only tasted defeat once in his first five competitive outings, winning the other four – most notably against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.
However, this afternoon’s meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion will present another tricky clash for the 51-year-old to navigate if he is to keep up his tremendous start.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side are currently on a two-game winning streak over the Lilywhites – subsequently doing the double over them during the 2024/25 campaign.
If Spurs are to put such a run to an end, the manager will have to make sure one player hits the ground running after a quiet start to his career at North London.
Why Xavi Simons has struggled at Spurs
Xavi Simons was one of Spurs’ big-money additions made during the summer transfer window, joining Frank’s men in a £52m deal from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
The attacking midfielder’s arrival in England generated huge excitement, and understandably so, given the talent and potential he possesses at the age of just 22.
His tally of 19 combined goals and assists last campaign showcases that he’s able to either find a teammate or find the back of the net alone, subsequently adding a new dimension to the Lilywhites’ attack.
However, two games into his spell in England, he’s operated off the left-hand side rather than his natural number ten position – something which has undoubtedly limited his success to date.
Simons may have registered an assist in the Premier League, but the youngster still has so much more to offer, with Frank needing to give him the opportunity to star in a central position.
Should the manager make that call, he will have to drop one player from the heart of his side – leading to a decision which could be somewhat controversial for the fanbase.
The Spurs player who should be dropped to allow Simons to thrive
Since Frank took the reins during the off-season, the Dane has utilised a flat midfield trio, but that could all be about to change in the trip to face the Seagulls this afternoon.
Tottenham Hotspur managerThomasFrankcelebrates after the match
Lucas Bergvall has arguably been the club’s shining light over the last couple of weeks, scoring in the victory against West Ham United last Saturday.
The Swede even claimed the Man of the Match award in the Champions League on Tuesday night, further showcasing how impressive he’s been during the early stages of the campaign.
He’s often featured alongside Pape Sarr at the heart of the side, but if Simons is to operate behind the striker, the 23-year-old may have to be the one to give way.
Like Bergvall, he scored in the clash at the London Stadium last Saturday, but he could well be sacrificed if the Dutchman does shift inside off the left flank.
It would be a controversial decision from Frank, especially after Sarr was labelled “sensational” by one analyst after his recent displays in the Premier League.
His performance against Villarreal in midweek was arguably one of his poorest of 2025/26, potentially leaving the door open for the manager to test out the big-money signing as part of his midfield trio.
Minutes played
69
Touches
34
Pass accuracy
77%
Possession lost
6x
Tackles won
1
Interceptions made
0
Shots taken
1
Duels won
1/3 (33%)
Sarr was replaced with just over 20 minutes left of the European clash, registering just a 77% pass completion rate – highlighting his sloppy nature with the ball at his feet.
He also failed to make any interceptions against the Yellow Submarine, unable to offer the ball-winning presence which he’s so often showcased in North London.
The Senegalese international also tends to operate in a box-to-box role, potentially leaving the side too open should he play alongside – with Frank potentially utilising Joao Palhinha and Bergvall in a pivot slightly behind Simons.
Such a tactical dilemma is not necessarily a bad thing for the new manager, as it highlights the quality and depth he currently has at his disposal in the capital.
However, it’s crucial that the Dane gives out equal opportunities to keep the players happy, something which could see Simons finally get his opportunity in a number ten position against the Seagulls.
It's not Simons or Bergvall: Frank has found his own Dele in £20m Spurs ace
Tottenham Hotspur have hit the jackpot with one player who’s set for incredible things in his career.
Queens Park Rangers are now keen on signing a young EFL striker who scored 12 league goals last season, as they close in on appointing Julien Stephan as their new manager, according to a recent report.
Julien Stephan agrees to become QPR manager
The West Londoners have been on the lookout for a new manager since taking the decision to place Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave back in April. The 42-year-old joined the Rs back in October 2023 and took charge of 83 matches, but the decision to place Cifuentes on gardening leave came as it was reported he had spoken to West Brom about their managerial vacancy.
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The Rs have had to be patient in their search for a new boss, but it looks as if now they are closing in on an appointment. Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett has reported that Stephan has agreed to become the new QPR manager, putting pen to paper shortly.
The Frenchman, just like Cifuentes, has never managed in the Championship or England prior to this move. He has spent his managerial career working in France, mostly at Stade Rennais, where he lasted just under a year and left the position back in November.
The 44-year-old has worked in Rennes on several different occasions from their youth set-up to reserves to first-team, and he will now be hoping he can take what he has done in France to England, as QPR hope to be fighting at the right end of the table.
QPR chase Malik Mothersille
As the Rs close in on Stephan’s appointment, they could also be close to bringing in the first player under his reign. That is because, according to Football League World, QPR are interested in signing Malik Mothersille from Peterborough United.
The 21-year-old, who scored 12 goals in League One during the 2024/25 season, has emerged on the radar of the Hoops as well as newly promoted side Charlton Athletic. The report doesn’t state how much Mothersille could cost or how much Posh would want, but given he has just one year remaining on his contract, it could be a low-cost deal for the Rs.
Mothersille is not only a number nine; the forward can also operate on both the right and left sides of attack, making him a versatile attacker. As well as his 12 goals in League One, the young striker also netted a further four goals in the EFL Trophy, as Peterborough were crowned champions.
Apps
90
Goals
22
Assists
15
His campaign in League One also earned him recognition on the international stage, as he collected his first senior cap for Jamaica last season, in the final of the Unity Cup against Nigeria.
QPR do already have the likes of Alfie Loyd, Charlie Kelman, Michael Frey and Rayan Kolli as forward options, but if they are to be near the top end of the Championship, then Stephan is going to want more prolific scorers, and Mothersille may just be the answer.
Have you ever seen a Premier League season end in quite such fashion? After Liverpool dispatched Tottenham Hotspur at the beginning of the month, they were crowned champions, romping home to the title at a canter. No one was ever going to stop them, not even Ibiza. They partied hard between games, deservedly so, too.
They had to wait what felt like an age to actually get their hands on the trophy, though, but they lifted it aloft last Sunday in front of their own supporters for the first time in nearly 40 years.
The Reds may well have won the Premier League in 2019/20, but that ill-fated Covid-19 season meant that no fans were actually inside the ground to see Jordan Henderson get his mits on English football’s biggest piece of silverware.
So, there was understandably quite the party at Anfield over the weekend as Virgil van Dijk, leader supreme, danced for joy as he threw the red-ribonned trophy into the air.
Such an astonishing season, Arne Slot’s first at the helm, lest we forget, begs a question. Where do these Liverpool players stand among the pantheon of Merseyside greats?
Which Liverpool players have become legends of Anfield
A year ago, Jurgen Klopp waved farewell to Anfield a bonafide Liverpool legend. Yet, is legacy may well now be surpassed by Slot who has managed the unthinkable in his first campaign in England.
For winning the league alone, the Dutchman will now stand among the greatest Liverpool managers of all time.
He’s also helped to successfully cement Mo Salah’s legacy as an icon, a player surely worthy of a statue in Liverpool once his playing days come to an end.
Across a simply staggering campaign, the rampant Egyptian scored 34 goals in 52 games, posting 23 assists as well.
In the league, he netted 29 in 38 and also supplied 18 assists. He was two of Thierry Henry’s assist record but he did tie the record for the highest number of goals and assists in a single Premier League campaign.
1. Mo Salah (2024/25)
38
29
18
2. Andy Cole (1993/94)
40
34
23
3. Alan Shearer (1994/95)
42
34
13
4. Erling Haaland (2022/23)
35
36
8
5. Thierry Henry (2002/03)
37
24
20
6. Mo Salah (2017/18)
36
32
10
7. Luis Suarez (2013/14)
33
31
11
He is a certified legend, as too is captain Van Dijk. The pair of them signed new contracts a few months ago to cement their status as legends. Trent Alexander-Arnold may well have been up there too had he rejected advances from Real Madrid. Sadly, we all know how that story ended.
Is there anyone else up there? Well, Alisson is certainly a modern-day great, now up to 298 appearances for Liverpool and hailed as “the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history alongside Peter Schmeichel,” by Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, Alisson Becker and Darwin Nunez
That trio of players will certainly not be forgotten in a hurry, but whether they’ve matched the legacy of a certain Steven Gerrard remains to be seen.
How Liverpool struck gold on Steven Gerrard
The term ‘generational’ is often thrown about a bit too regularly in modern football but it’s safe to say that Gerrard, as far as English talents go, was generational.
He’s one of the best we’ve ever seen in the Premier League but how did he get there?
Well, it all started in November 1998, when aged 18 years, five months and 30 days, he made his Premier League debut for the Reds in a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.
Managed by Gerard Houllier at the time, it was rather poetic that perhaps the best player he ever managed shared a name.
It was the Frenchman who saw Gerrard’s obvious talent, notably handing him the Liverpool captaincy just five years later in 2003.
The rest, as they say, is history. Gerrard, capped a remarkable 114 times for England, would go on to feature 710 times for Liverpool. That places him third on the club’s all-time record appearance makers behind Carragher (737) and Ian Callaghan (855).
He never lifted the Premier League like Salah and Co, but he did win the Champions League on two occasions and among many other domestic honours, lifted the FA Cup twice. Who could forget that screamer in the final against West Ham? It was a bullet of a strike, something the midfielder became famed for during his illustrious career.
However, it could have been different for the now 44-year-old. Remember when Chelsea came calling? How could we forget?
In 2004, during the European Championships, Gerrard was distracted by transfer speculation. “Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson talked me up before the tournament, so I knew they fancied signing me,” he once noted.
Steven Gerrard.
It was Mourinho and Chelsea who followed up on that interest, reportedly tabling a British record bid for the iconic England international. Gerrard even allegedly handed in a transfer request.
Unlike Trent, a move to another of Europe’s biggest clubs never happened. The Liverpool academy graduate stayed at Anfield and became a legend, one of the greatest we’ve seen in this country.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
He was heralded left, right and centre, but perhaps most notably by the great Brazilian, Pele.
Speaking just months after the 2006 FA Cup final win over the Hammers, Pele said: “The fans, they look only for forwards, always a forward. Somebody who scores. Sometimes you have a player like Gerrard. For me, for the last five years Gerrard has been the best player in the world. He is a midfielder, he plays very good. People didn’t mention Gerrard, now they mention Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Messi because they are forwards.”
Fine words indeed from perhaps the greatest of all time. It’s safe to say Liverpool struck gold on Gerrard. They must be forever thankful that he didn’t head to Chelsea all those years ago.
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The Blues brought an end to the 2024/25 season at the Etihad on Tuesday night, beating AFC Bournemouth 3-1. City now have one final away game against Fulham on Sunday to ensure they are in the Champions League next season, but it is a campaign that Pep Guardiola is going to want to forget fairly soon.
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ByBen Gray May 21, 2025
Given the poor start to the season, City spent big in January to try and better their chances of having a strong second half of the campaign. That didn’t fully go to plan, and now heading into the summer, Guardiola has revealed that he will leave City if the club doesn’t trim the squad down, as he doesn’t want to have players watching in the stands.
Manchester City manager PepGuardiolalooks dejected after the match
Guardiola told Sky Sports, via BBC: “I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad]. I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad; I will stay.
“It’s impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.”
Man City to fight Liverpool for Kerkez
While Guardiola wants his City team to be shortened down, the Blues hierarchy may have other ideas, as according to iNews, Man City want to sign Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth.
AFC Bournemouth's MilosKerkez
It was considered that Liverpool were the frontrunners to sign the left-back, as they have already held talks with the player about a move to Anfield, but as of yet they haven’t made a transfer offer. City have made enquiries about signing Kerkez, and they are now viewed as ‘genuine rivals for his signature’.
The fact Liverpool have not made an offer has left the door open for City, who are looking at bringing in a new left-back, as Guardiola wants a specialist player to play in that position. Incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is understood to be a fan of Kerkez.
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Kerkez, who has been dubbed a “mad man” by teammate Marcus Tavernier, is said to be valued at £45 million by the Cherries, and while he is under contract until the summer of 2028, there is an expectancy they will allow the player to leave as long as their price tag is met.
The 21-year-old has been at Bournemouth since the summer of 2023, and in his two years in the Premier League, he has gained many admirers for his direct, attacking style of play from left-back, a style that would see him flourish in teams such as Man City or Liverpool.