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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has opened talks to sign a “commanding” defender, who’s now a top defensive target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Gunners set sights on new centre-back amid Saliba concerns

The Gunners’ centre-back partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba has received widespread acclaim over the past few seasons, with Jamie Carragher saying: “As a partnership, him and Gabriel is as good as anything in the Premier League.

“I think Saliba is the better player but Gabriel is the better leader, and Saliba needs to bring that to his game if he wants to get to the levels we talk about with Virgil van Dijk.

“Saliba needs Gabriel. Since Gabriel has come out of the team, that’s not the same Saliba I’m watching.”

Best ST since Auba: Arsenal agree personal terms for £67m "monster"

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign a new striker this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 31, 2025

It has recently been revealed the Brazilian defender is now in advanced talks over a new deal to remain at the Emirates Stadium, but with Real Madrid expressing an interest in Saliba, it could be a wise idea to bring in a new centre-back this summer.

According to a report from Football Transfers, that is exactly what the north Londoners are planning to do, having now moved ahead of Manchester United in the race for Parma defender Giovanni Leoni.

Such is Arsenal’s level of interest in Leoni, he has now been identified as one of their top defensive targets for the summer transfer window, with sporting director Berta leading talks over a deal to bring the 18-year-old to north London.

Juventus and Inter Milan are also in the race for the teenager, who joined Parma in a deal amounting to €8m (£7m) last summer, which has proven to be a savvy investment, given that he has emerged as a key player for the Italian side.

"Commanding" Leoni impressing for Parma

At the start of the 2024-25 Serie A campaign, the centre-back found game time difficult to come by, but he managed to establish himself as a key player during the second half of the season, which is an impressive feat at such a young age.

Football scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the Italian defender, describing his aerial dominance and duel prowess as “commanding”, while also stating the youngster is “destined” to play for a top club.

Leoni is yet to prove himself over a sustained period of time, but his emergence as a first-team player at such a young age can only be a good sign, and the Parma ace could be a solid addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

That said, there are a number of other interesting young defenders on the shortlist for Arsenal, and Arteta may even decide against bringing in a new centre-back, given that Gabriel and Saliba are arguably almost undroppable when fit.

The Premier League has had some of the best passers in recent history, such as Paul Scholes, Xabi Alonso and David Beckham.

Pass completion percentage is now a big part of the modern day’s data-driven analysis, with possession-based styles being adopted by more and more managers.

But who was statistically the best passer in England’s top flight during the 2024/25 season? Using data from football analytics site FBref, we’ve listed the top 10 Premier League players by pass completion rate. (Note: players have to have played at least 30 minutes per match to be counted.)

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By
Stephan Georgiou

Oct 18, 2024

Data correct as of 25th May 2025

Here's a detailed look at the top 10 Premier League passers in 2024/25…

10

Jack Stephens (Southampton)

92% pass completion

Southampton defender Jack Stephens, though the centre-back had an injury-impacted campaign as he only started 17 times.

He still scraped into the top 10 come the end of the season, squeezing ahead of Premier League-winning captain Virgil van Dijk in the process.

9

Leny Yoro (Man Utd)

92.4% pass completion

Manchester United may have endured a dreadful season, but one of the brighter elements of the campaign perhaps came in the form of Leny Yoro’s emergence in the first team.

The Frenchman took time to make his mark at Old Trafford after getting injured soon after signing, but ended the season as one of their most reliable players – made all the more remarkable given his age of 19.

Interestingly, another new signing was United’s next-best passer – Matthijs de Ligt clocked an average of 89.9% successful passes throughout 2024/25.

8

Mateo Kovacic (Man City)

92.6% pass completion

With numerous injuries at the Etihad Stadium, Mateo Kovacic was able to get more game time with Man City than he was perhaps expecting last season. He took his opportunity, whether that be in the form of scoring goals or his general all-round play.

As to be expected in a Guardiola side, Kovacic is tidy on the ball played a big role in the absence of Rodri.

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By
Barney Lane

Oct 28, 2024

7

Jan Bednarek (Southampton)

92.7% pass completion

Southampton’s possession-based style saw Saints centre-back Jan Bednarek end up in the top 10.

The Saints may not have got anywhere near enough points on the board, but Bednarek’s pass completion rate was a rare positive sign at St Mary’s.

6

Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)

92.9% pass completion

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has been a regular under Unai Emery and offers the versatility of being able to play at right-back and centre-back.

The Englishman has now made over 200 appearances for Villa and is clearly comfortable on the ball.

5

Andre (Wolves)

92.9% pass completion

Arguably a surprise name on the list is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Andre.

The Brazilian midfielder arrived from Fluminense ahead of the 2024/25 season but wasn’t a nailed-on starter under Gary O’Neil. He had been in and out of the starting lineup, but started more regularly under Vitor Pereira, showing his true worth to the Old Gold during this time.

4

Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

93.1% pass completion

One of the players who starred under Arne Slot during his first season as Liverpool manager was midfielder Curtis Jones.

Jones had the best pass completion rate of any Reds star and started 19 games last term as his rise in the first team continues.

3

Ruben Dias (Man City)

93.5% pass completion

Another Man City star on the list is Ruben Dias, with the Portugal international a mainstay in the Man City side.

Dias has found himself in the opposition half for plenty of City’s Premier League games due to their dominance, and he’s kept possession most of the time when on the ball. In fact, both of City’s centre-backs were exceptional last term…

2

Manuel Akanji (Man City)

93.6% pass completion

The top Man City passer last season was Manuel Akanji, who also occasionally chipped in at right-back as injuries bit hard at the Etihad Stadium.

The Switzerland international has seemingly nailed down a centre-back role under Pep Guardiola, becoming a trustworthy player in the absence of John Stones and Nathan Ake – particularly on the ball, if these stats are anything to go by.

1

William Saliba (Arsenal)

94.3% pass completion

Topping the charts this season is Arsenal star William Saliba, reaching over 94%.

A guaranteed starter for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta, Saliba’s place at the top of the game for some time is all but assured. Part of the reason for that is his calmness in possession, as evidenced by his high pass success rate.

The Best 15 Centre-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world.

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 20, 2025

Arsenal are now set to hold talks over a deal to sign a £84m striker, with Mikel Arteta keen to secure his signature, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Arteta's striker pursuit rumbles on

There has been a new twist in the Gunners’ pursuit of a striker, with it being revealed that Viktor Gyokeres plans to snub Manchester United if the Gunners come calling, although the Sweden international isn’t thought to be Arteta’s top target.

Indeed, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now revealed the deal for Gyokeres is “not advancing”, with the north Londoners “focussing” on bringing Benjamin Sesko to the Emirates Stadium this summer, having identified the Slovenian as a prime target months ago.

Talks held: Arsenal make approach to sign £84m Martinelli replacement

The Gunners are in the race for an “unbelievable” forward, amid doubts over Gabriel Martinelli’s future.

By
Dominic Lund

Jun 9, 2025

Unlike Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, Arteta’s side don’t need to rush to bring a new striker through the door, as they are not competing in the upcoming Club World Cup, but they are now stepping up their pursuit.

That is according to an update from Plettenberg on X, with the reporter revealing that the next round of talks over a deal for Sesko is now “scheduled”, and the feeling around a possible deal is “very positive”.

Arteta is personally “keen” on signing the 22-year-old, who Plettenberg describes as a “top striker”, but a deal will not be cheap, with RB Leipzig expected to hold out for a fee of around €80m – €100m (£67m – £84m).

The Bundesliga club are now waiting for an official offer for the centre-forward, with no full agreement in place at this stage.

"Monster" Sesko could be ideal striker signing for Arsenal

It is important that Arteta is happy with the striker Andrea Berta brings in this summer, given that he must be suitable for the Spaniard’s system, with it previously being revealed they are in disagreement over whether to sign the RB Leipzig forward or Gyokeres.

At this point, the Slovenia international seems to be the more likely signing, which could be good news for the Gunners, considering he has proven himself in a stronger league than the Sporting star, while he is also five years his junior.

Sesko has maintained a solid goal record over the past two seasons in Germany, showing real signs of development since arriving from RB Salzburg, and he could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal in attack, much like Erling Haaland was for Manchester City.

Lauded as a “monster” by football scout Ben Mattinson, the Leipzig star could be a fantastic signing for the Gunners, although Gyokeres did manage to outscore his fellow forward last season, albeit in a weaker league.

Still on the hunt for attacking reinforcements, Manchester United are now reportedly open to offering Joshua Zirkzee in a summer swap deal to sign one particular target worth a hefty £85m.

Man Utd could face Gyokeres and Mbeumo rejection

Whilst their recruitment of Matheus Cunha gave them plenty of hope that last season’s failure wouldn’t stand in the way of much-needed additions this summer, Viktor Gyokeres and Bryan Mbeumo could quickly flip that narrative.

It’s a fairly open secret that the Red Devils are in pursuit of the duo, with Fabrizio Romano even going as far as to suggest that they’ve been constantly contacting Gyokeres, but that pursuit could yet end in failure.

Thomas Frank’s move to Tottenham Hotspur has suddenly seen the North London side come sprinting into the race for Mbeumo’s signature and reports are claiming that the Lilywhites have met the forward’s £70m price tag. United, meanwhile, have already seen one bid rejected for the Brentford star.

Losing out on two attacking targets would be a frustrating blow for United, but losing out to two rivals in Arsenal and Tottenham would add further salt to their wounds.

The new Martial: Wilcox ramping up move to sign "next Mbappe" for Man Utd

Man United are pressing to bring in a centre-forward with shades of Anthony Martial.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 16, 2025

Those at Old Trafford may have no choice but to dust themselves off and go again, however. Just who they turn to if they miss out on Mbeumo and Gyokeres is the big question. On that front, names such as Antoine Semenyo and an impressive £85m striker have already been mentioned among those that United may begin to chase.

Man Utd open to swap deal for Ekitike involving Zirkzee

That £85m name is of course Hugo Ekitike. According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are now open to offering Joshua Zirkzee in a swap deal to sign Ekitike. Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly value the Frenchman at €100m (£85m), but the inclusion of Zirkzee in any deal could help bring that hefty figure down.

Whilst there may well be a concern over just how much Ekitike has underperformed when it comes to matching his expected goals, there’s no doubt that he’d be an instant upgrade on Zirkzee for Ruben Amorim this summer.

The Dutchman struggled to leave his mark in his debut season, making it harder and harder to justify his £105,000-a-week salary. Now, just one year later, he could find himself replaced and shown the exit door in one swift move.

Described as “strong” by analyst Ben Mattinson, who was full of praise for the Frenchman back in March, Ekitike is undoubtedly one to watch this summer. He won’t come cheap, but if Manchester United can find a way past the forward’s hefty price tag, then he is one that they should prioritise.

With Habib Diarra signed and Reinildo also on his way, Sunderland are now reportedly battling against Paris Saint-Germain to secure their third arrival of the summer.

Sunderland set to sign Diarra and Reinildo

Just when Leeds United believed they were in the driving seat, Sunderland came bustling in to steal Diarra from under their noses. Outbidding the 49ers, those at the Stadium of Light are reportedly set to secure the midfielder’s signature for a club-record fee of £30m. But they are not done there – far from it, in fact.

After Diarra, the Black Cats have turned towards La Liga and Atletico Madrid to agree a deal for Reinildo Mandava. The left-back is set to become a free agent at the end of next month, allowing Sunderland to swoop in and secure his signature.

Both incoming arrivals signal Sunderland’s intent. None of the last six promoted teams have survived at the first time of asking in the Premier League, but the playoff winners are spending as though they’re in the mood to finally put an end to that trend.

Diarra particularly stands out between the two. The former Strasbourg midfielder gave English football a glimpse of his talents against the Three Lions earlier this month when he scored Sengal’s second goal in a 3-1 win. Now, 20 days on, he’s set to become a permanent feature in the Premier League.

There’s still plenty of time remaining in the summer transfer window, however, and the Black Cats could yet reportedly turn back towards La Liga for yet another reinforcement.

Sunderland racing to sign Gasiorowski

Having already agreed a deal to sign Reinildo from Atletico Madrid, those in Wearside have seemingly returned to La Liga for another talent. According to reports in Spain, Sunderland are now racing PSG to sign Yarek Gasiorowski from Valencia, who are willing to let their centre-back leave below his huge €60m (£51m) release clause.

Sunderland set to make £17m bid for 21 y/o likened to Real Madrid legend Raul

The Black Cats could pull off an ambitious move.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 29, 2025

Up against PSG and Brighton & Hove Albion, Valencia’s willingness to sell the 20-year-old for around €25m (£21m) rather than demanding his £51m release clause should hand Sunderland a major boost, but would still take their spending upwards of £50m for the summer.

A player with “immense potential” according to scout Jacek Kulig, Gasiorowski would slot straight into Sunderland’s plan to mix players who are on the rise and those who are more established – joining Reinildo and Diarra.

Whether the Black Cats can fend off interest from PSG and Brighton remains to be seen, however, in what would be another impressive signing.

Whilst Morgan Gibbs-White’s proposed £60m transfer to join Tottenham Hotspur appeared to be heading in the right direction, his move now appears to be in serious doubt.

The Nottingham Forest star had his release clause triggered by Thomas Frank’s side, but Evangelos Marinakis has raised concerns over the Lilywhites’ move for the attacking midfielder.

It’s been reported that the deal is currently off at present, with the Reds considering legal action over a proposed illegal approach between Spurs and the player’s agent.

His release clause was seen as part of a non-disclosure agreement, something which has been broken, with the deal now seemingly up in the air between the parties.

It’s unclear whether Frank’s side will continue to pursue a move for the England international, but many supporters will hope a deal can be completed to allow him to thrive with another player in North London.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Despite moving for Gibbs-White, other deals have been explored, including a move for Brentford talisman Yoane Wissa, who managed to score 19 times in the Premier League last season.

However, it could prove to be another expensive addition, with the Bees demanding £50m to part ways with him despite having just one year left on his current contract.

He’s not the only other player in England’s top flight on their radar, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton being closely monitored, according to GB News.

The report claims that Frank’s side are preparing a £60m bid for the 21-year-old as part of the investment that’s been seen so far during the summer window.

It also states that the Eagles could be demanding a fee in the region of £75m for the England international, but the Lilywhites are prepared to spend big to land his signature this summer.

Why Spurs’ £60m target would be perfect alongside Gibbs-White

There is no doubt that Gibbs-White would be a top-level addition for Spurs this window, having the ability to transform the club’s fortunes in attacking areas.

The 25-year-old managed to register seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season, helping the Reds secure European football for the first time in three decades.

However, the latest news around his move to North London will undoubtedly delay the process, but given Frank’s admiration, it’s understandable if the hierarchy will wait to complete a deal for his signature.

The £60m release clause that has been mooted for his services would be an excellent price, allowing him to nail his place down as a creative star in behind the striker.

However, he will need defensive reinforcements behind him to allow him to thrive within attacking areas, something which Wharton would undoubtedly offer his compatriot.

The Palace star’s figures from last season showcase why he’d be perfect for Gibbs-White, subsequently being able to break up play and hand him the tools to thrive.

Wharton, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by creator HLTCO, managed to complete 7.3 progressive passes and 5.3 passes into the final third per 90 last season, having the tools to give the ball to Gibbs-White, who can create carnage in attacking areas.

However, out of possession, the youngster was just as impressive, winning 2.3 tackles per 90 and making 1.4 interceptions per 90 – handing Frank the superb ball-winning option he requires at the heart of his side.

He’s also made 6.9 recoveries and 1.8 clearances per 90 in the league throughout 2024/25, highlighting the talent he possesses as a deep-lying option, arguably being the final piece in the Lilywhites’ midfield puzzle.

£60m may be a huge bid for such a young talent, but he’s already showcased his quality early on in his professional career, only getting better in the years ahead.

If he can replicate his talents across the capital in Frank’s side, he will solve such an issue for many years to come, potentially forming a deadly partnership with Gibbs-White if a deal can be resurrected.

Kudus' dream striker: £50m star now wants to join Spurs after Gibbs-White

Tottenham Hotspur have wasted no time in hunting for additional signings after agreeing a deal for Mohammed Kudus.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 11, 2025

Leeds United have had a busy summer transfer window already, making four signings, including three defenders and a striker on a free transfer, namely Lukas Nmecha.

Now, it seems like the Whites have moved onto a midfield target, with Sean Longstaff of Newcastle United now in their sights.

A recent report from Sky Sports suggests that Daniel Farke’s side have had a bid worth around £12m for Longstaff rejected by his boyhood club. Leeds may well go back in for the midfielder, but it’s also revealed they are now considering their options ahead of bolstering their central options.

The Yorkshire outfit might not be done there, and are said to be eying up another new addition, who could prove to be an even more important signing than Longstaff.

Leeds' next signing after Longstaff

So, it certainly seems like Leeds are doing all they can to bring in their fifth new signing of the summer to Elland Road.

Transfer Focus

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

Once they’ve bolstered the midfield, they must move on to an even more important area; the goalkeeping department.

According to a recent report from Turkish news outlet As Marca, the Whites are lining up a move for Fenerbahce and Croatian international goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. The 30-year-old is reportedly the subject of a £6m bid from Leeds.

However, that does not come close to the price tag the Turkish side are holding out for. Instead, Jose Mourinho’s side want in the region of £11m to make a deal happen.

Leeds will have to be quick, with Livakovic also of interest to fellow Premier League sides Sunderland, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.

Why Livakovic would be a good signing

If there is one criticism people had for Leeds last season, which was not easy given they reached a century of Championship points, it was the lack of consistency shown by first-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Well, perhaps signing a new goalkeeper in the form of Livakovic is the answer to Leeds’ struggles between the posts. The Croatian star had an impressive campaign in 2024/25 for Fenerbahce, playing 32 games across all competitions, conceding just 38 goals and keeping nine clean sheets.

He was also Croatia’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There, he was the hero in penalty shootouts against Japan and Brazil as his side came third in the tournament. Statman Dave described him as a “big-game” player as a result of his efforts.

As for Meslier, his initial numbers last season might not suggest any goalkeeping frailties. In 39 Championship games, he conceded 27 goals and kept 21 clean sheets, which you’d be happy with at the end of a campaign.

Yet, digging a little deeper tells the full story. He made three errors leading to a goal and prevented -2.73 goals. To put that number into context, of the 50 goalkeepers who played a game in the second tier last term, only six glovemen had poorer records between the sticks.

It was undeniably a calamitous year for Meslier, which included that bizarre mistake against Sunderland. Ex-Leeds man Aidy White told BBC Radio Leeds that “they have got to drop” the Frenchman.

For that reason, Livakovic would be a better addition than Longstaff. The simple fact is that Leeds need to improve in goal, more than they do in the middle of the park where the likes of Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu are consistent figures.

A look at the underlying numbers also suggests that the Croatian number one would be a huge upgrade on Leeds’ current first-choice shot stopper.

As the stats on Sofascore show, Livakovic averages 2.5 saves compared to Meslier’s 1.7 saves per 90 minutes. The numbers also suggest that the Fenerbahce star is better with his feet, and last season averaged 5.6 accurate long balls compared to just 2.5 accurate long balls each game from the Frenchman.

All the evidence suggests that Livakovic would be a far better signing than Longstaff. Whilst the Newcastle man would bring experience into the midfield, having a reliable man between the sticks is exactly what Leeds need this season.

Meslier had some poor moments last term, and bringing in Livakovic could help solve their issues and allow more consistency in goal. He may certainly end up being a better signing than Longstaff.

More exciting than Longstaff: Leeds pursuing deal for "unplayable" £20m ace

Leeds United are reportedly eyeing up a star who would be an even more exciting signing than Sean Longstaff.

1

By
Dan Emery

Jul 10, 2025

Lamine Yamal’s new LeBron James-inspired goal celebration has sparked a “boastful” backlash against the Barcelona wonderkid from the Spanish media.

• Talented teenager starring for club & country
• Has taken inspiration from basketball GOAT
• Is attracting criticism amid ego warnings

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Having enjoyed a meteoric rise, with plaudits raining down on the teen sensation, his every move is now being dissected in minute detail. Yamal’s behaviour on and off the field is falling under the brightest of spotlights.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The youngster plays with a smile on his face and is clearly a fan of superstar performers in other sports. Basketball GOAT LeBron continues to inspire millions around the world as he emulates Cristiano Ronaldo by performing at the highest level beyond his 40th birthday.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Yamal has taken to celebrating goals by placing what appears to be an imaginary crown on his head – much like James does with the LA Lakers. His actions have caused quite a stir in Spain, where ego warnings are being sounded on a regular basis.

  According to , the Spanish press consider Yamal’s celebration to be “boastful” and “not fitting for a young role model”.

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  WHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID

  Those working with Yamal have attempted to calm that discussion. Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has said: “To me, the celebration was not crowning himself. It looked like him putting on a magician’s hat. I told myself while watching the TV: ‘Well, the kid has done another magic trick’. That’s how I understood it.”

  He added: “We tend to highlight the more shallow aspects about athletes, and what we should be highlighting to the next generation is that this kid (Yamal), who made his (Spain) debut at 16 years old, works like nobody else.

  “He’s always taken care of himself with top standards. He has an outstanding talent, but he trains six hours per day, goes to the gym, does the treatments with physios and everything we call ‘invisible training’. Everything Lamine has achieved is not because he threw a birthday party, or because the way he celebrates a goal. No. Those are meaningless details. What we need to highlight is the work he puts in to make this happen.”

Nottingham Forest fans must be having sleepless nights over the long-term future of Morgan Gibbs-White.

It looked nailed on that the 25-year-old was going to be the next through the exit door at the City Ground after Anthony Elanga, as Tottenham Hotspur smugly activated his release clause, yet this move looks to be fraught with controversy now, with the Tricky Trees even threatening legal action over Spurs’ cloak-and-dagger approach.

Whatever does occur between now and the entertaining transfer window closing involving Gibbs-White, Forest know they will need to press on with more incoming signings joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s group, with an ambitious midfield move now reportedly in the pipeline.

Nottingham Forest prepare move for £50m battler

Talk about fresh, new signings entering the fray has taken a backseat somewhat due to the drama of Elanga leaving and Gibbs-White nearly following suit.

Transfer Focus

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

However, there have been some notable links here and there, with Ben Doak allegedly on the Forest radar for around the £25m mark as the Scotsman contemplates a move away from Liverpool.

Another standout rumour comes in the form of ex-Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz who could make a return to the Premier League with Forest.

talkSPORT are reporting that Nuno’s men are ‘exploring’ a move for the former £50m Juventus buy, as Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis fancies the idea of bringing the top-flight-experienced Brazilian back to the Midlands.

It is stated that his £100k-per-week wage could be a potential stumbling block, but this might well be a standout signing Forest need to pursue in order to potentially convince Gibbs-White to remain put over favouring Champions League opportunities elsewhere, with the pair perhaps striking up an exciting midfield partnership very soon.

Why Gibbs-White could love playing with Luiz

Before flopping in Turin, starting just three Serie A games last term, Luiz was a dependable performer week in week out for Unai Emery’s Villans, with a sumptuous effort such as this one against AFC Bournemouth in his back pocket.

Not just an energetic battler in the middle of the park, Luiz has proven himself to be more than capable of chipping in with a goal and an assist in the final third.

Indeed, he collected a sizeable haul of 22 goals and 24 assists for Villa, with Gibbs-White coincidentally on the exact same tally at this point in time for Forest as another livewire in the centre of the pitch.

Looking at the table above, it’s clear there are differences between the duo, however, that would help them form a healthy working relationship, with Luiz more than content sitting deeper in the pitch when viewing his high number of 775 duels being won across his Premier League career to date, alongside his 285 tackles.

On the contrary, Gibbs-White excels when bombing forward, with Luiz’s addition to the group gifting Forest more stability in the middle, alongside an equally combative Elliot Anderson, to allow for the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker to express himself even more.

During his final season at Villa Park, Luiz averaged a mightily impressive 5.3 ball recoveries in league action to be that tireless presence for his side, with football analyst Statman Dave even going out of his way to label the Brazilian as an “engine” for his relentless drive.

Away from competently completing his dirty work, Luiz would also be an addition that would stand out to the wantaway Englishman. Forest clearly need to showcase their ambition to Gibbs-White and the Brazilian’s pedigree in European competitions, as seen in the six Champions League appearances, would potentially be the type of signing to prove that.

Rather than deserting Forest, therefore, Gibbs-White might well believe Europe’s grandest stage can come to the City Ground shortly if Luiz’s expertise is added to the mix.

With new pictures coming out of Forest also showing Gibbs-White returning to training, it might not be a foregone conclusion anymore that the 25-year-old is on the move, especially if the “world-class” Luiz, as he was once labelled by ex-Villa teammate John McGinn, heads to Nottingham.

Dream Elanga replacement: Nottingham Forest in contact to sign £25m "menace"

Nottingham Forest now need to replace Elanga after his move to Newcastle

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 15, 2025

Rayan Cherki has been tipped to be as successful at Manchester City as Kevin De Bruyne by Gael Clichy. The former City left-back used to coach the maverick attacking midfielder when he played for France's under-21 side and gave special insight into what he can offer Pep Guardiola's side. And he outlined the one aspect of his game that he needs to improve upon in order to truly shine at the Etihad Stadium.

• Clichy hails Cherki's potential under Guardiola

  Cherki scored on his debut for City against Wolves following his £30m ($40m) move from Lyon in the summer although he picked up an injury in his second game against Tottenham, knocking him out of action for two months. And Clichy, who played for City between 2011 and 2017, believes the midfielder can be a massive success for Guardiola's side.

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• Clichy: Cherki can reach KDB levels

  Clichy told GOAL, via : "If we talk about the quality of the player, I haven't seen anyone that good. That's a big quote, but I do feel that if he can bring his off-the-ball game to a certain level, I think we could be talking about a player that can can reach Kevin De Bruyne’s numbers, because in tight spaces, in key areas of the pitch, he can create danger. And this is what you want at City. When you play against a low block team with a defence of five, there's not much space. So you need to have the quality on the on the wing, which I think City are lacking a little bit. You know, you go from Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane which for me, as a full back, were a nightmare to play against. I think they lost that."

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  Man City star still has room for improvement

  As well as lavishing praise on Cherki, Clichy pointed to one aspect of his game which needs work. He explained: "He will need to be able to show that off ball, out of possession, he can perform. Because we know this is his problem. This is his weakness. It was his weakness when he was with us in France. So far, what I've seen in England, this is what people are thinking about him. So if Pep manages to take him to a different level out of possession, I think he will be a tremendous player for City. And I think this is the kind of player that Pep wants. Now in the Premier League it's not just about having the ball, it's also how you deal with transitions. And there is the big job for for Pep."

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• Cherki can thrive under 'brilliant signing' Donnarumma

  Clichy was also excited to see how City's new signing Gianluigi Donnarumma can improve the team, even though he is a different profile of goalkeeper to Ederson and unlike the type of shot-stoppers Guardiola has previously favoured such as the Manuel Neuer and Victor Valdes. He said: "I think it's an amazing signing. A goalkeeper first of all is there to make saves, and he's the kind of guy that will make big saves in big games. So I can see why people are saying that Pep is going against his own philosophy, but he's a goalkeeper who just achieved a treble in a season that we've never seen in France, with a coach that is from Spain who has the same philosophy as Pep. And surely, if Luis Enrique has done it with Donnarumma, I'm pretty sure Pep will find a way to work with him."