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BBC journalist Tom English has insisted that Rangers will be without Connor Goldson and Allan McGregor next season as a number of big changes are expected at Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Busy season

The Glasgow outfit have been extraordinarily busy this season, having made it all the way to the UEFA Europa League final, in addition to winning the Scottish Cup.

With the Gers missing out on the Scottish Premiership title to Celtic by a meagre four points, van Bronckhorst will be assessing his squad ahead of next season, weighing up any departures after the players enjoy a well-earned rest.

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The Latest: Major exodus

Writing in his BBC Sport column, English has made a number of assumptions about the Rangers squad ahead of next season.

Firstly, the journalist said he expects 40-year-old Allan McGregor will retire in the coming months.

English also claims that Connor Goldson is looking certain to leave upon the expiry of his contract.

With a number of stellar names now in the final year of their deals, it wouldn’t be unlikely to see some big players being sold ahead of next season.

As a result, it is expected that there will be numerous incomings and outgoings this summer.

The Verdict: Clubs will be interested

With such an impressive campaign showcased on the European stage, a whole host of clubs will be sniffing around the likes of Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey, who all excelled in the Europa League this year.

Whilst it may be the time to offload some of the deadwood, it is imperative that Rangers hold on to their best players – especially if they are to replicate their stunning European run.

Therefore, this will be a big transfer window for the Gers, and fans may be particularly concerned over the future of Bassey after his incredible display in Seville.

In other news: Rangers: Jonny McFarlane stunned by Cinch news

Wolves are showing an interest in signing Vitoria Guimaraes youngster Andre Almeida this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour which has emerged.

The Lowdown: Summer incomings expected

The Old Gold have enjoyed a good season in the Premier League overall, finishing in the top halfo of the table and narrowly missing out on European football.

The important thing now is for Bruno Lage to further improve his squad in order to take them up another level next season, with summer arrivals expected at Molineux.

Midfield could be an area where the manager looks to strengthen, and an intriguing transfer update has emerged in that respect as Wolves line up their first new signing of the summer.

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The Latest: Almeida linked with Wolves

According to Jornal de Noticias [via Sport Witness], Wolves ‘may advance’ in their efforts to sign Almeida, with an €8m (£6.7m) offer potentially coming his way as a move is ‘being discussed’.

The 21-year-old’s current deal with Vitoria Guimaraes expires at the end of next season, and the Old Gold are hopeful of taking advantage of that situation.

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The Verdict: Good for squad depth

While Almeida wouldn’t necessarily come to Molineux as a guaranteed starter, he is someone who would add some welcome squad depth in the middle of the park, especially if Ruben Neves leaves this summer amid strong links with Barcelona.

The 21-year-old has made 31 Primeira Liga appearances this season, enjoying an 86.3% pass completion rate, which suggests that he could thrive in Lage’s ball-playing system.

Not only that, but Almeida would be a long-term acquisition who could mature into a formidable player over time. That has been the case with his compatriot Neves, who incidentally has an inferior pass completion rate in the Premier League this term (84.2%) compared to Almeida in Portugal.

If the 25-year-old leaves Molineux, as seems likely, the Old Gold may already be lining up his long-term successor to pull the strings in midfield.

In other news, Wolves have been boosted in their attempts to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United have been dealt a fresh blow in their bid to secure Premier League survival this season.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via Birmingham Live), Steven Gerrard revealed that Ezri Konsa – who was withdrawn with a knock in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend – will now be unavailable for Villa’s meeting with the Whites’ relegation rivals Burnley this evening, as the centre-back has sustained a knee injury that will rule him out of action for at least 12 weeks.

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Regarding the 24-year-old’s setback, the Aston Villa manager said: “Ezri, it’s been confirmed that he’s got a bad knee issue so he’ll be out for anything between 12 to 16 weeks, which isn’t great news. He should return, all being well, at the back-end of August, beginning of September.”

Marsch will be fuming

Considering the fact that Aston Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is also a doubt for tonight’s meeting with Burnley, the additional news that Konsa will now be unavailable to face the Clarets is sure to have left Jesse Marsch fuming.

With a Burnley victory at Villa Park seeing Leeds’ chances of securing survival on the final day of the season drastically decrease, the American will undoubtedly be hoping for a big Villa win this evening – something that is certainly dented by Konsa’s absence.

Indeed, over his 29 Premier League appearances this term, the £22.5m-rated talent has been a key part of Gerrard’s backline, helping his side keep eight clean sheets and scoring two goals, as well as making an average of 0.5 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 2.8 tackles and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 64% – per game.

These returns have seen the £72k-per-week defender come in for significant praise from his manager, with Gerrard stating of the former England U21 international back in March:

“He’s been outstanding for me, obviously the red card [against Leeds] was frustrating for him and us because he is an important player. His level of consistency has been really high, whether that be on the training pitch or in a match situation.”

As such, it is clear for all to see that the loss of Konsa will come as a big boost to Burnley’s chances of leaving Villa Park with all three points – a result which would see the Clarets move two points clear of Leeds with just one game left to play.

And, with Burnley boasting a goal difference that is 20 better than the Whites, should Michael Jackson’s side indeed secure victory this evening, it would mean that Leeds must win and Burnley must lose on the final day if Marsch’s side wish to finish above the Clarets come the final whistle on Sunday.

AND in other news: Leeds can unearth Raphinha 2.0 in “unplayable” 11-goal “threat” who’s “such a danger”

An update has emerged regarding interest in Rangers tank Calvin Bassey heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Telegraph, the Ibrox defender is being eyed up by a club south of the border ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that the Glasgow gem is a target for Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa, as the former Rangers boss looks to bolster his defensive options in the English Midlands.

Big disaster

Ross Wilson will be heading for a big Rangers disaster if he even entertains the idea of cashing in on Bassey in the next few months.

Gio van Bronckhorst needs the Nigeria international next season, as he has been a crucial player for the club throughout 2021/22.

Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun are both out of contract this summer, so Bassey may be the only fit senior central defensive option at Ibrox by the end of next month before John Souttar arrives. Losing him would therefore leave the club in a difficult situation with the centre-back position.

Selling the ex-Leicester man would also be a disaster because of what Rangers would lose on the pitch. The £6.4k-per-week tank has been outstanding in the Premiership this season, proving that he can deliver quality displays on a consistent basis by averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.97.

As you can see from the SofaScore statistics above, the left-back turned centre-back has been a pivotal member of Van Bronckhorst’s squad this season, and the Dutch head coach will surely be desperate to keep him at Ibrox for the foreseeable future.

Journalist Josh Bunting has described Bassey’s improvement as “ridiculous”, and his growth throughout the campaign suggests that he is a player with the potential to get even better. At the age of 22, he is still in the early part of his career and has plenty of time left on his hands to develop further and increase his value.

This is another reason why the Gers must fight to keep hold of Bassey. If they can continue to help the youngster fulfill his potential, then he may be worth even more to the club in a couple of years’ time, which would mean that Wilson can rake in a larger sum of money for his services.

Therefore, it would be a big disaster to sell him this summer, so Rangers’ sporting director must hold firm to rebuff any interest from Villa.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Kent: Van Bronckhorst can form scary Rangers duo by signing gem “who never gives up”…

Wolves reportedly lead the race to sign Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, having been linked with him in the recent past.

The Lowdown: Palhinha linked with move

Bruno Lage faces the potential blow of losing Ruben Neves at the end of the season, with the Portuguese maestro tipped to complete a move to Barcelona or another of Europe’s elite clubs.

One player who has been linked with arriving at Molineux instead is Palhinha, who has grown into an influential figure in Sporting’s midfield.

The 26-year-old has made 25 Primeira Liga appearances this season, as well as starting six Champions League matches before his side’s defeat to Manchester City.

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The Latest: Wolves in pole position

Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding Palhinha’s future, with Record [via Sport Witness] claiming that Wolves are the front-runners to sign him.

He is described as a ‘preferential target’ for Lage’s side and they are readying an offer for him, with Atletico Madrid also credited with showing interest.

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The Verdict: Strong midfield contender

Palhinha looks the ideal replacement for Neves in many ways, assuming the current Wolves hero moves onto pastures new at the end of the season.

At 26, he is at a good age to come in and provide immediate quality and experience, and he has enjoyed an 87.9% pass completion rate in the league this season, which is actually superior to Neves’ tally (83.8%).

Palhinha may feel he has outgrown the Primeira Liga and is ready to test himself in the Premier League and he and Wolves look a perfect fit, with their Portuguese core an added bonus.

In other news, one Wolves player has been linked with a summer exit. Find out who it is here.

Manchester United are now in pole position to complete the signing of Ajax youngster Jorthy Mokio, as they look to find a long-term replacement for the ageing Casemiro and exiled Kobbie Mainoo.

The futures of both Casemiro and Mainoo are key talking points at Old Trafford currently, with the Brazilian’s current contract expiring at the end of this season, at which point he will be 34 years of age.

In fairness, the Real Madrid legend has shown improved form this season, but Fabrizio Romano has claimed that a new deal is unlikely, especially on his current £350,000 wages, which make him United’s highest-paid player.

“Casemiro is working hard and is becoming once again in his career a crucial player for the manager. So, in this moment, he is really important for Ruben Amorim, but there will be a conversation about his contract because at the moment, the numbers of his contract, salary is way too high for Manchester United to extend that.

“Or they find a solution on the contract, and this is Casemiro and for Harry Maguire, or the player could leave on a free.

It looks increasingly likely that a replacement for Casemiro will need to be found next summer, especially with Ruben Amorim seemingly not fancying Mainoo in the role.

Man Utd "leading the chase" for Mokio

According to Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Manchester United are the front-runners to sign Mokio from Ajax, with the 17-year-old considered a prodigious talent at the heart of midfield.

“Manchester United are leading the chase for Jorthy Mokio. They are already working on a project that could offer Mokio guaranteed minutes and a clear development path.”

Mokio is a huge talent with so much to offer in the coming years, proving to be the latest great youngster to emerge from Ajax’s famous academy recently, and he should be the type of profile United are looking for in a player.

The defensive midfielder has already made 29 appearances for the Eredivisie giants, highlighting his maturity at such a young age, while scout Jacek Kulig has described him as a “special” player.

Mokio has also now been capped once at senior level by Belgium, and will hope to see his star rise further at next summer’s World Cup, but United should be looking to seal a deal for him before them, before the competition increases further for his signature.

Antoine Semenyo chooses between Man Utd and Liverpool

What a signing this could be…

1 ByHenry Jackson Nov 22, 2025 Wildcard Casemiro replacement: Man Utd star can "become a world class DM"

Tottenham Hotspur are now expected to make a new approach to sign an “incredible” summer target once the January transfer window opens, it has been revealed.

Spurs set to renew efforts to sign major summer target

Tottenham suffered their fair share of setbacks during the summer transfer window, with Arsenal most notably hijacking the deal for Eberechi Eze, but Thomas Frank has made it clear he is very happy with the addition of alternative signing Xavi Simons.

Frank said: “I think he can bring on a day where I can say our structure building up and all that because it’s not only about that, then sometimes you need a player that can do something (clicks his fingers) a little bit out of nothing,”

“Go past the player, produce a cross, a shot, a pass, with that extra quality that you need on the day, and that’s what I think he can bring.”

Simons is undoubtedly an exciting signing, having performed very well in the Bundesliga last season, chipping in with ten goals and seven assists in 25 appearances for RB Leipzig.

However, the Dutchman was far from Spurs’ first-choice target, with Fabrizio Romano revealing they had agreed a deal to sign Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White at a much earlier stage in the transfer window.

The £60m move fell through, with the England international ultimately opting to renew his contract at The City Ground, but that may not be the end of the story…

According to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are expected to make a new approach for Gibbs-White in the January transfer window, with the Forest midfielder’s future still up in the air.

The 25-year-old is set to consider his options once again this winter, with Aston Villa, West Ham United and Newcastle United also credited as interested parties.

Signing "incredible" Gibbs-White would be crazy twist

It would undoubtedly be a crazy twist if Tottenham were able to get a deal over the line this winter, given all the drama that unfolded this summer, with the move falling through after questions were raised about how the north Londoners discovered the release clause.

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1 Sep 2, 2025

Any move is likely to hinge upon how Simons adapts to life in the Premier League, given that the Netherlands international operates in the same position, although there have been suggestions Spurs’ new signing may need to improve some aspects of his game.

Former West Ham coach Edu Rubio said: “He can add goals to the team too, but he may struggle at times with his weakest foot.

“He may need to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League, but there is no doubt he is a very exciting modern attacker with a lot to offer.”

That said, despite being lauded as “incredible” by ESPN’s Janusz Michallik, it would be a surprise to see Tottenham move for Gibbs-White, given that their relations with Evangelos Marinakis probably aren’t at an all-time high.

Chelsea are believed to still be active in the summer transfer market, despite having just shored up their attacking line with two deals for Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte.

23 transfers, 24 if you count Buonanotte, have been conducted by Chelsea – and that’s not even including their various outgoing loan deals for the likes of Marc Guiu and Aaron Anselmino.

BlueCo’s hustle in the market has yielded over £300 million in player sales with around £320 million spent on new signings, with Enzo Maresca’s side registering a net-spend of just £20 million as they navigate PSR excellently.

Joao Pedro

Noni Madueke

Jamie Gittens

João Félix

Jorrel Hato

Djordje Petrovic

Liam Delap

Lesley Ugochukwu

Dario Essugo

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Mamadou Sarr

Renato Veiga

Estevao

Armando Broja

Kendry Paez

Carney Chukwuemeka

Alejandro Garnacho

Mathis Amougou

Facundo Buonanotte

Basir Humphreys

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Marcus Bettinelli

Christopher Nkunku

Alfie Gilchrist

Exits for Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Mathis Amougou and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have made room for the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato, but if Chelsea want to register Garnacho and Buonanotte for their Champions League squad next season, more sales could be required.

This is especially the case if Maresca wants to include Barcelona star Fermin Lopez, who is now a top target for Chelsea heading into deadline day after they missed out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham.

The Spaniard has become a key player for Hansi Flick, bagging eight goals and 10 assists in 46 total appearances last season, and Chelsea are believed to be trying their luck to sign him.

Reports suggest Maresca has been in contact with Lopez personally, and Chelsea are prepared to offer Barça a maximum of around £50 million for the player, not to mention a lucrative contract worth £250,000-per-week, but the player’s club want £60m (Sport).

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have even made a £40m bid for Lopez, but Barça are not keen on selling and must rely on the player’s decision to force through a transfer – unless they trigger his seismic £433 million release clause, of course.

Chelsea "working tirelessly" to sign Fermin Lopez after Facundo Buonanotte

As per TEAMtalk, Chelsea are “working tirelessly” to convince Lopez to join them, even after their deal for Buonanotte.

The Blues are ready to offer him a “lucrative” long-term contract, as previously reported, and personal terms aren’t expected to pose any issue in this potential deal.

While Barça are a roadblock, Chelsea appear to be doing all they can on the player front.

TT sources also claim that Lopez is warming to the idea of a Stamford Bridge move, but is yet to fully commit to the idea. The 22-year-old has emotional ties to Barça, having grown up as a lifelong fan, and he’s publicly denied notions he would leave this summer.

That being said, players can pull U-turns, and the prospect of a Premier League move is enticing for any athlete at any level.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market for a new striker this summer. According to recent reports from Italy, the Old Gold are keen on signing Lazio centre-forward Taty Castellanos.

Any move could cost the Molineux side a fee of around £29m. Unless Vitor Pereira sells a few players to raise funds, this might prove problematic.

It isn’t just a centre-forward that they need ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Another midfielder would go a long way to seeing them finish in the top half of the Premier League table.

Wolves eye move for Premier League midfielder

The Old Gold have shown interest in Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of late, but they are also keen on bringing Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott to the Midlands this summer.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Wolves are set to accelerate talks over securing the services of £50m-rated Elliott. The £40k-per-week midfielder has two years left on his current contract at Anfield, but having failed to establish himself in the starting XI this season, the door is ajar for Wolves.

He has plenty of experience in the top flight and would certainly give Pereira’s side something extra in the final third, as he could either operate on the right wing or as a number ten.

With the Portuguese manager eyeing a swoop for Castellanos to bolster his attacking department, the pair could form a dream duo next season.

Why Wolves must sign Harvey Elliott this summer

The Englishman made his debut for Liverpool during the 2019/20 season, just months after joining from Fulham.

Since then, he has amassed nearly 150 competitive appearances for the Reds, scoring 14 times and registering 19 assists.

This season, however, he has struggled for gametime. He has started only five times for the club, but has scored against PSG and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

In the Premier League last season, he showcased his attacking qualities, creating five big chances, averaging 1.1 key passes, and averaging 1.4 shots per game.

Goals

3

Assists

0

Big chances created

0

Shots per game

0.8

Goal conversion percentage

75%

Balls recovered per game

2.6

Via Sofascore

Adept at either finding the back of the net or generating chances, deploying him on the wing could see him shine with Castellanos.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Elliott ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes (9.41), in the top 9% for shot-creating actions (5.3), and in the top 12% for assists (0.34) over the previous 365 days.

These statistics indicate just how much of a threat he could be in the final third. Castellanos has netted 14 goals and grabbed eight assists for Lazio this term.

Should he move to England, Pereira will need players behind him who are capable of providing plenty of opportunities for the Argentinian striker.

By signing someone like Elliott, the club would be getting a solid, homegrown midfielder who can operate across several positions.

Much will depend on the sort of fee Liverpool are after, but if it is within their budget, Wolves must do all they can to bring him to the Midlands.

Ideal for Dewsbury-Hall: Wolves chasing move for "extraordinary" gem

Wolves look keen on signing a striker from Serie A.

1 ByRoss Kilvington May 17, 2025

A positive update has emerged regarding Leeds United completing the signing of an “extraordinary” new defender in the summer transfer window.

Leeds plotting to strengthen spine after promotion

The Whites are expected to sign an upgrade on Illan Meslier between the sticks this summer, with Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic mentioned as a possible option – Wolves stopper Sam Johnstone is seen as an alternative target.

Another goalkeeper who has been linked with a switch to Leeds is Liverpool ace Caoimhin Kelleher, with an enquiry reportedly made about his availability. With Giorgi Mamardashvili joining the Reds from Valencia, now looks like the right time for him to depart.

Indeed, 49ers Enterprises want to strengthen the team’s spine this summer, with reports suggesting Leeds will happily spend around £30m each on a new goalkeeper, centre-back, centre-midfielder and striker.

Sky Sports: Leeds willing to spend £90m on 3 more players alongside Beto

The 49ers look ready to splash the cash.

1 ByCharlie Smith May 8, 2025

Kalvin Phillips was once a hero at Elland Hero, arguably standing out as the best player at the club, and a return to the Whites has been rumoured recently. The 29-year-old has had a tough time of things in recent years and may feel that going back to his former club could be best for him ahead of next season.

Manor Solomon is of course a top target for Leeds, as Daniel Farke looks to sign him on a permanent basis after an impressive season on loan at the club from Tottenham. He scored 10 goals and registered 12 assists in the Championship in 2024/25.

Leeds boosted in pursuit of "extraordinary" Balerdi

According to The Sunday Mirror [via MOT Leeds News], Leeds’ pursuit of Marseille centre-back Leonardo Balerdi has received a boost ahead of the summer window.

The report backs that the Whites are set for a “major” summer of spending and the 26-year-old defender has now refused to rule out an exit at the end of the season: “I’m happy in Marseille and I’d like to bring something back here, so I have to focus to the last match. After that, I don’t know. I’d like the team to be in the Champions League, then I’ll ask myself about the future.”

Balerdi would be a fantastic signing for Leeds in the summer, boosting their defensive options significantly ahead of what promises to be a tough season back in the Premier League.

The Marseille captain has been a rock-solid presence at the heart of his team’s defence this season, making 26 appearances in Ligue 1 and averaging 2.7 clearances per game. He has also completed 94% of his passes, showing that he is strong in possession.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi has heaped praise on him: “Balerdi? I hope that the big European teams don’t realise that he exists. I say every night before going to sleep that I am happy that he is going under the radar of the big teams. He is an extraordinary player.”

Bigger coup than Solomon: Leeds weigh up move for "exceptional" £13m star

Leeds United might be about to land a bigger coup than Manor Solomon if they can snap up this midfield star.

4 ByKelan Sarson May 11, 2025

Balerdi is also a six-cap Argentina international, which is no mean feat considering they are World Cup winners with the likes of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez in their team, and Leeds should do all they can to sign him.