All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

During the off-season, weekends don’t tend to generate much excitement for football fans. It’s time to enjoy the summer weather and disassociate ourselves from the stresses of supporting a team. However, for Arsenal fans on Sunday, there was certainly something to get the blood pumping.

It’s been two years now, two long years that the Gunners have needed a new striker and they finally look set to bring one to the Emirates Stadium.

For much of the transfer window so far, the question has been, will Mikel Arteta sign Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres?

Well, it looks like the answer has arrived emphatically; Gyokeres.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein broke the news over the weekend that the reds were set to sign the Swede from Sporting, finally agreeing a fee with the Portuguese club that will see him move for a guaranteed fee of £55m plus an extra £8.6m in add-ons.

Arsenal, however, are not done there.

What's next for Arsenal after Gyokeres

This has been a particularly busy fortnight for Andrea Berta with Arsenal having confirmed the arrivals of three players: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.

It’s now widely expected that Noni Madueke will complete his move to the red side of London this week with Fabrizio Romano reporting on Monday that he will sign a contract until 2030 after undergoing the final part of his medical.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

After that, Arsenal look set to bolster their defence with the addition of a young defender plying their trade in LaLiga.

That’s according to a number of sources, including the aforementioned Ornstein who claimed at the start of this week that Arsenal “are working to complete” a move for Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera. Personal terms have reportedly already been agreed.

An update was also provided by sources in Spain, via Sport Witness. They report that the player was left out of training on Monday and is now already flying to England to undergo a medical and officially put pen to paper on his contract.

Previous reports have suggested it could take a bid of £17m to lure him away from Spain.

What Mosquera could bring to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal team

The arrivals of Zubimendi and Gyokeres will undoubtedly cause much fanfare this summer but should Berta and Co get a deal over the line for Mosquera, it must also be celebrated.

After all, the 21-year-old has showcased himself to be one of the best young defenders in Spain over recent years.

On the face of it, you may not think Arsenal need to sign another centre-half. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are immovable objects at the heart of Arteta’s defence and have steered the Gunners to the best defensive record in the Premier League over the last two seasons.

Yet, it could be argued that they’ve struggled to find adequate backup. Italy international Riccardo Calafiori, who is a centre-back by trade, has played more as a left-back since arriving in the English capital and Jakub Kiwior’s future remains up in the air.

To his credit, Kiwior did stand out while Gabriel nursed a hamstring injury and actually looked like the more composed out of him and Saliba when Arsenal travelled to the Bernabeu. It was Saliba’s mistake that led to Vini Jr’s goal in the second half.

The Frenchman and Gabriel will resume their partnership in 2025/26 but Mosquera, a front-footed modern defender, will fit like a glove into this Arsenal team.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has described Mosquera as “one of the best backline aggressors of his age” while noting that the youngster will be the “aggressor and leader that Gabriel is but from right centre-back”.

What that means is that the Valencia star could be the perfect profile to help transitions into midfield, thus helping the likes of Zubimendi and Declan Rice get on the ball more.

Anytime Arteta’s side find possession in the hands of those two this season, something is bound to happen. European football expert, Sid Lowe, has noted that the Spaniard “is just about as good a deep-lying midfielder there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri,” while we all know the power and carrying ability that Rice has from deep.

To rubberstamp why Mosquera would be so beneficial to the build-up and midfield transition, we’ve highlighted the following numbers via FBRef.

Progressive carries

0.95

Top 18%

Progressive passes

3.34

Top 37%

Pass completion

90.5%

Top 16%

Long pass completion

68.1%

Top 16%

% of dribblers tackled

77.5%

Top 16%

Ball recoveries

5.15

Top 4%

What the metrics above suggest is that Mosquera is very much ball-dominant. He loves to carry the ball forward and he marries that attribute with the composure to play out from the back.

For context, his pass completion rate of 90.5% was greater than Gabriel’s 90.2% in the Premier League last season.

He’s not just front-footed, but he’s an aggressive defender too, something Mattinson outlined. Only 16% of centre-backs in LaLiga tackled a higher percentage of dribblers. Only 4% of positionally similar players made more ball recoveries.

This is an elite defender in the making and his ability to make an impact higher up the pitch and carry the ball into midfield will only be beneficial, particularly for someone like Rice.

The club’s record signing loves to drop into the hole and then burst forward. He does that regularly with Gabriel and Saliba behind him but should one of them be unavailable, Mosquera will ensure Rice and Zubimendi can play in the same way.

Way better than Madueke: £50m PL star wants to join Arsenal alongside Eze

Arsenal could sign another Premier League star beyond just Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 11, 2025

Everton are reportedly looking to seal the ambitious summer signing of a player who has even been compared to Lionel Messi.

Moyes expecting late Everton signings this summer

The Blues still have well over a month to seal some important summer transfer business, as they look to push on in the Premier League next season, becoming an established mid-table team looking upwards at Europe again, rather than over their shoulders at the relegation zone.

While David Moyes will no doubt be keen to see some early business completed at Everton, he has spoken honestly about the situation, admitting late-summer signings are arguably more likely: “We’d like to get business done. I don’t think we’re a country who likes to get their business done early. If you can get business done early, it’s good, but in the same breath, quite often, a lot of the stuff doesn’t happen until later on.”

That’s not to say that top-quality players aren’t being linked with moves to the Blues, though, with Manchester City youngster James McAtee one rumoured target. Everton are said to have made contact with the Premier League giants, with the 22-year-old valued at £25m.

Meanwhile, the Merseysiders have reportedly held talks with Douglas Luiz over a move to the club this summer, with the Brazilian looking likely to leave Juventus. Now, another signing of intent has been mentioned as a potential option for Everton ahead of next season.

Everton offered chance to sign Takefusa Kubo

Accordingn to The i Paper, Everton are interested in signing Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, with the Japanese starlet “offered around Premier League clubs this summer by intermediaries”.

The 24-year-old is valued at £30m, should the Blues want to make a move for him, but while he “would represent an ambitious upgrade” for them, the report adds that “there is an acknowledgement that they could face competition from clubs who can offer European football”.

Kubo would be such an exciting signing for Everton, and while their chances of snapping him up may not be great, it is encouraging to see the club targeting such a talented footballer.

The Sociedad star has even been dubbed the ‘Japanese Messi’ in the past, which is about as big a comparison as any player can ask for, while Zinedine Zidane spoke positively about him during his time at Real Madrid.

“I think he’s having a good season. He’s playing a lot and that’s what we all wanted. He is a very interesting player, for the present and the future. I’m happy he’s doing well. Of course, if he were to stay at home tomorrow then that’d be better. But, I wish him the best and urge him to continue like this. His future, though, we won’t decide until the summer. That’s something for later.”

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A right-sided winger by trade, Kubo could provide quality and end product on the opposite flank to Iliman Ndiaye – he has 41 goal contributions in 137 appearances for Sociedad – giving Everton two hugely gifted wide options.

It is set to be a busy summer at Aston Villa.

According to widespread reports, the Villans could be forced to sell a key player before 30 June, which is only ten days away now, to avoid breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

This issue was only exacerbated by the fact Unai Emery’s team missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day, forced to settle for a significantly less lucrative spot in the Europa League.

So, with a claret and blue stalwart or two potentially on their way out of Villa Park, has Emery already identified a dream replacement?

Aston Villa targeting a new striker

With Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio heading back to their parent clubs at the end of their loan spells in the Midlands, Villa clearly need to strengthen their forward line.

Well, according to a report by GIVEMESPORT, Aston Villa are ‘eyeing’ a move to sign £32m Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, should the Senegalese international become available this summer.

It’s revealed that Villa ‘are ready to enter discussions’ over what it would take to tempt the forward away from Stamford Bridge if they decide to transfer-list him.

The Blues have already signed Liam Delap for £30m earlier this summer, also purportedly interested in many other centre-forwards, including, most-notably, Hugo Ekitike, suggesting Jackson could get squeezed out.

Manager Enzo Maresca has always been full of praise for his striker, labelling him “fantastic” and “very important”, but the sheer churn at Chelsea in recent years means no one’s future at Stamford Bridge is ever certain.

So, could he soon be swapping West London for the West Midlands?

How Nicolas Jackson would improve Aston Villa

Aston Villa sold Jhon Durán to Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £71m in January, with Rashford and Asensio ostensibly coming in as the Colombian’s replacements, albeit both only on loan, and it remains to be seen if either will return to Villa Park.

Durán arrived from Chicago Fire for around £16m in January 2023, and was absolutely on fire during the first half of this season, scoring 12 goals in 29 appearances, thereby averaging a goal every 87 minutes, before being flipped for a massive profit, a business model Villa would surely like to replicate going forward.

Neither Rashford nor Asensio favour playing as a central striker, leaving Ollie Watkins as the only player for that position at the club right now, and even he is itching for a move away this summer, according to Football Insider.

Reports suggest Arsenal are still very much interested in Watkins and Villa could be looking to cash in on the 29-year-old to help comply with PSR.

So, would Jackson be a shrewd replacement? Well, let’s assess how the duo compared this season.

Appearances

35

54

Minutes

2,501

3,578

Goals

13

17

Goals per 90

0.49

0.44

Assists

6

14

Shots on target %

47.5%

42.6%

Shot-creating actions per 90

2.75

2.19

Goal-creating actions per 90

0.41

0.44

Big chances missed

22

31

Touches per 90

28

22

Average Sofascore rating

7.07

6.88

As the table shows, Watkins and Jackson’s statistics were broadly very similar throughout last season, with the Chelsea striker scoring just four fewer goals in around 1,000 fewer minutes, largely due to the fact he spent around two months on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury between February and April.

The Senegalese star though, did come out on top when it comes to goals-per-90, as well as a higher shots on target percentage and shot-creating actions-per-90, while registering more touches-per-90 and squandering fewer Opta-defined big chances.

Moe Adikwu of Breaking the Lines believes that Jackson has become a ‘proper centre-forward’ at Chelsea, adding that he ‘offers a lot more than his goals’, praising his work-rate, link-up play and ability to hold up the ball while journalist Rahman Osman has praised his “special” ability.

Thus, given that Watkins is 29 and Jackson is 23, if Villa could secure a big fee for the former and then snap up the latter, that would surely be shrewd business for a club operating under tight financial constraints.

Aston Villa now in the conversation for shock deal to sign £85m striker

He would take Villa’s frontline to a new level…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 19, 2025

Chelsea chiefs are carrying on with their ambitious transfer plans off-the-field, amid their Club World Cup campaign, with Enzo Maresca’s side now holding conversations over signing a marquee sensation who’s starring at the tournament right now.

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The Blues opened their account with a solid 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night, with Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández grabbing one goal in either half to set up what will be an interesting next clash against Flamengo on Friday.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Liam Delap also made his debut for Chelsea and notched his first assist for the club just minutes after coming off Maresca’s bench, setting up Fernandez with an excellent cross from the right-hand side for the Argentine to tap home from close range.

When it comes to how invested supporters are in the Club World Cup, that is highly debatable to say the least, considering Chelsea beat LAFC in front of a largely barren crowd in Georgia.

However, Stamford Bridge chiefs are believed to be taking the tournament very seriously indeed, with £97 million worth of prize money on offer to the victors. This hefty financial windfall would seriously boost Chelsea when it comes to avoiding the dreaded swinging axe of PSR regulations, and could allow them to invest in their summer recruitment drive with even more gusto.

Chelsea are reportedly prioritising a new winger for Maresca right now (The Guardian), with Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens at the very top of their wishlist after they saw three bids rejected before the CWC transfer deadline.

The Englishman isn’t their only wide target, though, with Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho still on Chelsea’s radar as well.

Chelsea hold discussions with Juventus over signing Kenan Yildiz

According to website Juve FC, Serie A starlet Kenan Yildiz is another transfer possibility for Maresca’s side, following his excellent 2024/2025 campaign.

The Turkey international finished 2024/2025 as Juventus’ best-performer by average match rating in the Italian top flight (WhoScored), racking up a total of 10 goals and seven assists in 49 appearances across all competitions so far.

Yildiz is continuing his fine year in the CWC. He got on the Old Lady’s scoresheet and put in an impressive display as Juventus rounded off a routine 5-0 victory over Al Ain in their first group game, with the 20-year-old’s fine displays attracting attention from west London.

Chelsea are now said to have opened “discussions” with Juve over Yildiz, who value the Turk at around £86 million.

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While offers below this benchmark would be considered, Igor Tudor’s side are giving no consideration to selling as things stand, and there’s no indication that the player would push for this move either, despite contact being made with his close circle.

Juve are also planning to agree an extension with Yildiz that could tie him down in Turin until 2031, so Chelsea could have their work cut out for them here.

With their summer business officially underway courtesy of Antonio Cordero, Newcastle United and Eddie Howe are now reportedly ready to make their first approach to sign a big-money Premier League winner.

Newcastle confirm Antonio Cordero arrival

Starting as they mean to go on, Newcastle confirmed Cordero’s arrival from Malaga last week. The young Spaniard is set to officially arrive on 1 July when his current contract expires and he becomes free to complete his move to Tyneside.

After putting pen to paper, the young winger told the club website: “It’s truly an honour to be here, truly a pleasure. I am a person who likes to aspire high. Why not come to one of the best places in the world to do it. It’s a big step, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’m happy to do it and have a great desire to get going already.”

Meanwhile, in what is likely to be one of his final acts as sporting director, Paul Mitchell welcomed Cordero to the club, saying: “Antonio is an exciting talent. We’re delighted to bring him to Newcastle United amidst interest in Spain and across Europe. He has lots of potential, and the next phase of his development will be for the club to select a loan move that will challenge him and build on his experiences.”

Following an impressive start to the summer, it seems as though the Magpies are only just getting started. Recent reports have indicated that they’ve already made an enquiry to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga and Brighton’s Joao Pedro as they look to make up for missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.

Attacking reinforcements seem to be top of their wishlist too, with Howe now reportedly ready to make his first approach to sign a Premier League winner this summer.

Howe and Newcastle ready to make Grealish approach

According to The Sun, Howe is now ready to personally make an approach to sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City as he looks to help the England international revive his career courtesy of Newcastle.

The midfielder was dropped by Pep Guardiola on the final day of the season and reports have since revealed that he could miss out on a place in Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad as the exit door swings open.

The next move is key for Grealish with the World Cup coming up next summer and Thomas Tuchel recently making it clear that he needs to be back playing every week if he is to work his way back into the England squad.

£50m star so close to joining Newcastle his club are lining up replacement

The Magpies are reportedly closing in on a statement signing…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 8, 2025

The Three Lions boss told reporters: “He is never shy of pressure. It’s the opposite. He grows in big matches but he’s a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That’s basically everything. Nothing has changed.”

With that said, if any side can offer the former Aston Villa star that and cover his hefty £16m-a-year salary, it may well be Newcastle this summer.

Ange Postecoglou enjoyed the most glorious vindication as he lifted the Europa League after leading his Tottenham Hotspur side to victory against Manchester United, making good on a promise that was scoffed at by detractors when made.

However, there’s no detracting from the fact that Spurs have flattered to deceive this season, 17th in the Premier League with one match left to play, having been battered by injuries and consequent struggles for any measure of fluency.

Things need to change next season, and Daniel Levy will certainly be wrestling over the manager’s seat, with Postecoglou’s future uncertain in spite of his success in ending the club’s interminable trophy drought.

However, by doing so, the Aussie tactician has salvaged something special from this difficult year, placing Tottenham in next year’s Champions League group stage. By doing so, it’s opened the door for exciting signings to strengthen the squad.

Spurs favourites to seal statement signing

As per Spanish sources, Tottenham are the favourites to sign RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons this summer after unlocking the door to Europe’s elite stage.

Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this term and have thus informed Simons he will be allowed to leave, though they will demand €80m (£68m) for his release.

Liverpool had been in the running for the Dutchman but have moved to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz instead, with the German side looking for a €150m (£126m) payment. However, the Lilywhites will feel that they can secure a signing every bit as impactful and for almost half the cost.

Why Spurs must sign Xavi Simons

Described as a “superstar” in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, Simons left Paris Saint-Germain to make his name at Leipzig back in the summer of 2023, playing the coming campaign as a loanee before signing permanently in a €50m (£42m) deal.

Alternating between central attacking midfield and wider berths, he’s been an invariably prolific presence, posting 44 goal contributions from 76 matches in all competitions.

Described as a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Simons has the potency to make a stunning impression in Postecoglou’s Spurs squad, but he also has the strength and solidity to thrive in the wider lens of English football.

When looking at how he compares with Liverpool’s soon-to-be-signed superstar in the Bundesliga this year, you begin to see that Tottenham could bag themselves a winner here.

Matches (starts)

25 (25)

31 (25)

Goals

10

10

Assists

7

12

Shots (on target)*

2.0 (0.9)

2.3 (1.3)

Touches*

68.0

73.4

Pass completion

83%

82%

Big chances created

12

17

Key passes

2.0

1.8

Dribbles*

1.3

2.6

Ball recoveries*

5.1

3.6

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

1.3

Duels won*

5.4

5.2

Honestly, there’s a case to be made that Simons has enjoyed the better Bundesliga campaign, marginally outperforming last year’s Player of the Season across many of the underlying metrics and proving he has what it takes to thrive in the Premier League, confident in the duel and precise with his passing.

This robust Netherlands star is exactly what Tottenham need, and though at £68m he’d prove their record signing, it would be money well spent for a team now with a unique opportunity to put the year’s issues in the past and turn toward a sustained period of success.

It would make quite the statement, retorting to Liverpool’s capture with their own version, one who could go punch-for-punch with the German in the Premier League.

Without question, Wirtz is one of the most exciting midfielders of his generation. Former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has even said he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world.” However, his loyalties obviously lie with the Werkself.

If anything, Simons’ metrics simply highlight the calibre of player Postecoglou would be bringing into his ranks, ready to steer this Tottenham team toward an illustrious new era.

Spurs hit gold on "sensational" monster who's becoming their new Dembele

The impressive international could be a star for Spurs.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 24, 2025

Newcastle United are now leading the race for an “unbelievable” striker who’s been likened to Manchester City star Erling Haaland, according to a report.

Newcastle eyeing striker amid Isak uncertainty

Alexander Isak is enjoying his best season to date in a Newcastle shirt, leading his side to EFL Cup glory and scoring 27 goals in all competitions, so it is little wonder that some other top Premier League clubs are now queuing up for his signature.

Arsenal appear to be one of the most interested parties, with the Gunners now plotting a stunning £127m swoop for the striker, having identified the 25-year-old as their top target for the summer transfer window, despite the Magpies’ determination to keep hold of him.

The Premier League star is also a dream signing for Liverpool, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano, while Chelsea have expressed an interest in the past, so there is likely to be no shortage of interest in the Sweden international this summer.

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The Magpies are competing with one of their rivals for his signature.

BySean Markus Clifford May 12, 2025

Of course, Eddie Howe’s main aim should be to keep hold of Isak, given the instrumental role he has played this season, but should the talisman decide to move on, the manager may look at bringing in a top-level replacement.

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are now above all in the race to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is now edging towards a summer exit, having failed to agree a contract extension with the Italian club

Vlahovic’s huge £359k-a-week deal is set to expire in 2026, and with a renewal not being agreed, the Magpies may be able to sign the Serbian for a reasonable fee, but there could be competition for his signature, with clubs from Turkey also keen.

It is not explicitly mentioned whether the Juventus striker is being targeted as a direct replacement for Isak, so there is also a possibility that he is brought in regardless of whether the Swede departs.

"Unbelievable" Vlahovic needs summer move

The Serbia international has impressed in the Serie A in the past, most notably scoring 24 goals in the 2021-22 campaign, but having found the back of the net just nine times this season, he may need a summer move to reignite his career.

At just 25-years-old, the forward still has plenty of time to fulfill his potential, having previously been likened to Haaland, while also being lauded for his “unbelievable” character by former Partizan Belgrade assistant Zarko Lazetic.

That said, it is difficult to see where the Belgrade-born striker would fit into the Newcastle team, should Isak remain at the club, given that Howe has almost exclusively implemented a 4-3-3 formation this season.

As such, Vlahovic could be a solid replacement for Isak, but Newcastle should have no desire to sanction their star striker’s departure.

Nottingham Forest are ready to make a sizeable offer to complete the signing of a new centre-back this summer, according to reports in the player’s homeland.

Nottingham Forest's Champions League hopes damaged

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side blew a wonderful opportunity to jump back to third in the Premier League on Thursday night, losing 2-0 at home to Brentford. Forest’s performance looked nervy throughout the evening, with the team and the supporters aware of the magnitude of the occasion, and they simply couldn’t produce the desired display and result.

The Reds’ defeat leaves them sitting sixth in the league table with four matches remaining, as they prepare to make the trip to Crystal Palace on Monday evening, which is another tough game against a side who have just reached the FA Cup final.

Granted, Forest are only behind fifth-place Chelsea on goal difference – a top-five spot will seal a place in next season’s Champions League – but Nuno’s men are clearly wobbling and are in need of a big result.

Nottingham Forest willing to make offer for Gatti

According to TuttoSport [via Sport Witness], Nottingham Forest are willing to make a big offer to sign Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti this summer. Everton and West Ham are also mentioned in the report, though it is stated that the 26-year-old is happy to stay put at Juve, despite it being financially beneficial to move on and earn more than his current £42,000 per week.

It looks as though Forest will need to present quite the package to both Juve and Gatti to tempt them into a move, and if the situation changes he could be a fantastic addition at the heart of the defence.

Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have been outstanding throughout this season, forging a great understanding at the back, but increased competition for places is still essential in that area, especially if one of the centre-backs leaves this summer.

Gatti is now an experienced player who has made 103 appearances for one of the biggest clubs in Europe in Juve, and Danilo once described him as “humble”, saying: “Gatti is an example for all of us, a humble boy who works a lot. He has had difficult moments, but he is strong, and he showed Juventus until the end.”

Appearances

28

Starts

26

Minutes played

2188

Goals

1

Assists

0

Clearances per game

2.6

Aerial duel wins per game

1.3

Pass completion rate

95.2%

Gatti’s quality on the ball is highlighted by a 95.2% pass completion rate in Serie A this season, while his defensive expertise is oultined by an average of 2.6 clearances per game in the competition.

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For now, it looks like Forest will have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements, but the hope is that Champions League qualification gives them a better chance of signing Gatti.

Aston Villa are currently preparing for one of their biggest matches in recent history with a trip to play Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this evening.

The Villans come into the first leg clash off the back of a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen.

Unai Emery must be ruthless with his team selection and one brutal decision that should be made is the one to drop Ollie Watkins from the starting line-up.

Why Ollie Watkins should be dropped

The England international is on a barren run of form in front of goal and would not come into this evening’s clash with PSG full of confidence and ready to help the team pick up a historic result.

Watkins has scored one goal in his last nine matches in all competitions for the Villans, which came in a 1-0 win over Brentford towards the start of March.

Shots on target

2

1

0

0

0

Goals

1

0

0

0

0

Key passes

0

0

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

0

0

Pass accuracy

53%

50%

100%

50%

50%

As you can see in the table above, the 29-year-old striker has offered little at the top end of the pitch whilst also being incredibly wasteful with the ball at his feet in the last five matches, completing just half of his passes in three of those five matches.

With this in mind, Emery must ruthlessly axe Watkins from the team, after he offered next to nothing in the win over Forest, to bring Marcus Rashford back into the side.

Why Marcus Rashford is Aston Villa's answer to Ousmane Dembele

The big threat for the Villans to deal with this evening is likely to be Ousmane Dembele, who has scored 32 goals and provided eight assists in 40 matches in all competitions for PSG this term.

He has played started 17 matches on the wing and 15 games as a centre-forward, highlighting his versatility, and uses his pace and ability on the ball to cause constant problems to opposition defenders.

Rashford is similar to Dembele in many ways, starting seven games on the wing and three times as a striker for Villa, with his versatility at the top end of the pitch as well as his ability to create chances for himself with his pace and the timing of his movements off the shoulder of the last defender.

As you can see in the clip above, the England international showcased his pace and ability in front of goal with his maiden Premier League strike for the Villans against Brighton.

Rashford, once hailed as “unplayable” by analyst Raj Chohan, has scored three goals and provided one assist in his last four matches for the club in all competitions, showing that he is far more in form than Watkins at this moment in time.

His recent goal burst also suggests that he is the kind of player PSG would also be wary of ahead of tonight’s game, in the same that Villa be wary of Dembele, which is why Emery must unleash him from the start after he was on the bench against Forest.

Interestingly, Rashford has played the most games (four) and scored the most goals (three) against PSG out of all of his appearances in the Champions League in his career to date, suggesting that they are a favourable match-up for the English forward.

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Aston Villa could soon welcome in their very own William Saliba in this defensive monster.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 8, 2025

The 27-year-old marksman has punished the Parisian side in the past and Emery must ditch Watkins to put Rashford in a position to break French hearts in the Champions League once again.

With the summer transfer window approaching, Crystal Palace are now reportedly looking to shock a mega rich club in the race to sign one particular attacking talent for Oliver Glanser should he stay put.

Crystal Palace face Oliver Glasner concern

In his first full season in charge at Selhurst Park, it’s fair to say that Glasner’s impressive spell at Crystal Palace has not gone unnoticed. The Austrian is reportedly among the names on RB Leipzig’s radar as they look to welcome their replacement for the sacked Marco Rose. Having previously managed in Germany, there will be plenty of concern surrounding Glasner’s future in South London.

The Eagles have already suffered one major departure away from the pitch in the form of Dougie Freedman and the last thing that Steve Parish needs is to be left replacing both his sporting director and manager.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time that Europe’s top clubs came swooping in for Palace’s top talents. Just last summer, the headlines surrounded Michael Olise, who eventually swapped Selhurst Park for Bayern Munich.

Now, on top of Glasner, Eberechi Eze has also been linked with a summer exit amid links to the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Given that Palace sit above both those sides in the Premier League this season, losing Eze to either would represent the most frustrating blow for Crystal Palace.

Potentially preparing for the worst, however, Palace have reportedly turned their attention towards a move to sign one particular Bundesliga talent ahead of Newcastle United.

Crystal Palace battling to sign "complete" Merlin Rohl

According to Bild in Germany, Crystal Palace are now shock contenders to sign Merlin Rohl from SC Freiburg this summer in a deal that will cost a reported €25m (£21m). With Liverpool and Newcastle also interested, there’s no doubt that the Eagles would be landing an impressive coup by signing the attacking midfielder in the coming months.

What would be most impressive if Rohl joined Palace over Newcastle specifically is how the finances of both clubs compare. These days, thanks to PIF, those at St James’ Park represent one of the richest clubs in world football and could put that billionaire status to good use this summer having managed their PSR issues over the last year. Meanwhile, Palace are often forced to sell before they can buy.

Just where Rohl’s next destination is remains to be seen, but his arrival would certainly ease any potential Eze exit blow for Crystal Palace this summer. The 22-year-old has earned plenty of praise during his Bundesliga rise over the years, including from former Ingolstadt coach Tomas Oral, who said: “Merlin’s the complete midfielder. He can do it defensively and offensively.”

With the Premier League calling, Palace will be desperate for Rohl to make his choice and join up with Glasner’s side this summer.