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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has months to prepare for the January transfer window after a very busy summer, and one of the key items on his agenda will be to raise money through player sales.

Arsenal under pressure to sell after busy summer

The Gunners, after completing eight key deals totalling over £250 million, only brought in around £9 million in return — thereby finishing the summer with a seismic net spend of around £246 million.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

It was a pivotal window for Berta which showcased the Italian’s natural flare as a proven deal-maker, with insiders behind-the-scenes nicknaming him a ‘club agent’—partly due to his expertise in facilitating transfers (The Athletic).

Mikel Arteta was backed with the signings of experienced back-up keeper Kepa, Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and proven goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres, but most of the club’s outgoings brought in zero fees.

Big names like Kieran Tierney, Jorginho and Thomas Partey were allowed to leave as free agents, and that has perhaps pressured the club to balance their sheet with outgoing transfers next year.

Berta has some key decisions to make, as the exit-linked Gabriel Martinelli shined in Bilbao after coming off the bench to score and assist in a 2-0 Champions League win on Tuesday, showing Arteta that the Brazilian could still have a major role to play.

Leandro Trossard has also contributed when called upon with goals and assists from the bench in his last two games, right after the Belgian was awarded a new contract and pay rise with no extension.

Arsenal’s options to sell in lucrative deals are running thin, and Berta will bear in mind that the Premier League’s PSR rules only allow losses of £105 million over a rolling three-year period.

Arsenal "ready" to sell Gabriel Jesus with January exit possible

One of the senior stars who could raise some cash is £265,000-per-week striker Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazil international is still working his way back from an ACL injury he suffered in an FA Cup defeat to Man United last season, with the presence of Gyokeres and Kai Havertz pushing him far down Arteta’s pecking order.

According to ex-Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who remains well-connected in the game, Berta is ready to sell Jesus and an Arsenal exit could happen as early as January.

Since joining Arteta’s side from Man City in 2022, Jesus has bagged 26 goals and 20 assists in 96 appearances, and that kind of return wasn’t enough to spearhead Arsenal to a Premier League title after three consecutive second-placed league finishes.

Now, summer signing Gyokeres has hit the ground running with three goals in five appearances, and he’s showcasing the type of proficiency which Arsenal have seriously lacked up front for years — even if there are concerns that the Swede isn’t a big-game player (Gary Neville).

If we just ignore the minor injury crisis, this looks set to be an incredibly exciting campaign for Chelsea.

Granted, Enzo Maresca’s side did drop points in their Premier League season opener, but back-to-back wins against London competition have proven that they’re a better team than last year.

That shouldn’t be much of a surprise, though, as the Blues made a host of brilliant signings over the summer, including Joao Pedro, who already looks more than settled.

That said, Todd Boehly and Co will hope he keeps up the good form as they’ve already made a significant loss on someone who’s been compared to him.

Joao Pedro's start to life at Chelsea

Chelsea were quick to sign Pedro this summer, paying Brighton & Hove Albion around £60m and bringing him in before the end of the Club World Cup campaign.

It was a good thing they did, as the Brazilian made an instant impact, scoring three goals in three appearances in the competition, including one in the final against Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain.

His brilliant form continued into pre-season with a couple of goals against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, before his first blank in the season opener against Crystal Palace.

However, you can’t keep such an incredible player down for too long, and away to West Ham United, the former Watford ace got back up and running with a headed goal, and then he grabbed another goal at home to Fulham on Saturday.

In all, it’s hard to think of another signing in the Premier League this season who has got off to as good a start as the prolific forward has.

It’s not just the goals either, as the 23-year-old dynamo has also provided two assists in the league so far, and his overall play makes him stand out wherever he is on the pitch.

Interestingly, Chelsea signed a player who has been compared to Pedro, but instead of him becoming a success in West London, he was just sold for a sizable loss.

Chelsea's former Pedro

Given the number of players Chelsea have signed over the years, it’s no surprise that they’ve had more than their fair share of duds.

Where Are They Now

Yet, unlike many teams, the Blues are remarkably good at either minimising their losses on these players or even making a small profit on them.

Unfortunately, that did not happen with Christopher Nkunku.

The French international joined the Blues under former boss Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2023 for a fee of around £52m, and after two disappointing years in West London, was sold for up to £36m to AC Milan this summer.

While that isn’t too bad a fee to get for the player, it does represent a £16m loss, which is quite sizable for a player who has been compared to Pedro.

Yes, the former RB Leipzig gem, who could only muster a tally of 18 goals and five assists in 62 appearances for the Blues, has been likened to Maresca’s new star.

The comparison stems from FBref, which has concluded that the new Milan man was the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the former Brighton ace in the Premier League last season.

We can see how such a conclusion was reached by delving into some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked so closely.

These include metrics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.51

0.49

Key Passes

1.39

1.37

Shot-Creating Actions

3.32

3.32

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.39

Ball Recoveries

2.73

2.84

These numbers do suggest that the underwhelming Frenchman is still a talented attacker, but just someone who could not get to grips with life in the Premier League and turn good underlying numbers into concrete results.

Away from the stats, the other similarity between the two players is their ability to start in various positions, from up top to out wide and even in attacking midfield.

Ultimately, Pedro looks like the real deal for Chelsea, and while there is always a chance things don’t work out, it feels like he’ll succeed where Nkunku failed.

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New Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank will want to hit the ground running after being appointed following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal from the role.

However, if he is to be a success during his spell in North London, he will have to do so without Bryan Mbeumo, with the Brentford star looking set to move to Manchester United.

The Lilywhites were linked with a move for the Cameroonian’s signature this window, but rejected a reunion with his former boss in favour of a move to Old Trafford.

Frank has since turned to Mohammed Kudus instead, costing a £55m from London rivals West Ham United this window, as he looks to add further quality to his frontline.

Despite the big-money addition, the hierarchy are still targeting added reinforcements in such a department, leading to numerous names being touted with a switch to North London.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

Ademola Lookman has been one player who’s emerged as a potential addition this summer, but it appears as though he’s set for a move elsewhere during the off-season.

The Nigerian international appears to be edging closer to a move across Italy to join Inter Milan, with a £40m transfer fee being touted for his services.

However, another name has emerged as a potential addition for Frank and the Lilywhites, with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott being considered, according to journalist Sebastien Vidal.

He claims that Spurs are set to hold talks with the 22-year-old forward, who has been allowed to depart Anfield this window, leading to a £40m transfer fee being mooted.

Vidal also states that Newcastle United and Brighton are also showing interest in the youngster, who’s demanding regular first-team action upon any transfer away from Merseyside.

Why Spurs’ £40m target has shades of Mbeumo

There’s no denying that last campaign, Mbeumo was one of, if not the key reason, why Brentford performed so well in the Premier League last campaign.

The 25-year-old found the back of the net on 20 occasions, with only Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah netting more than the forward in 2024/25.

After Frank’s appointment, many Lilywhites supporters would’ve been wishing that the forward moved to North London with him, but other targets are now being considered.

Kudus will undoubtedly be one player to try and be his next version of Mbeumo, but a deal for Elliott could also provide the manager with the depth he requires.

The English star has showcased in recent weeks that he’s capable of starring at the top-level, scoring five times at the U21 Euros, leading his nation to the title and winning the Player of the Tournament award.

Whilst he struggled for minutes in the Premier League last season, he also managed to demonstrate why he possesses similar qualities to the Brentford star.

He is also a left-footed star who likes to cut inside off the right-hand side and curl an effort into the top corner – something which could make him a hit with the Lilywhites supporters.

When comparing their respective stats from last season, Elliott has managed to outperform Mbeumo in numerous key areas, highlighting what a superb addition he would be.

The Liverpool ace, who’s been labelled “outrageous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered a higher tally of progressive passes and passes into the final third per 90, highlighting the creative ability that he possesses with the ball at his feet.

Games played

18

38

Goals & assists

3

27

Progressive passes

10.7

3.7

Pass accuracy

82%

66%

Key passes made

2.4

1.8

Passes into final third

6.3

1.6

Take-on success

47%

46%

Carries into final third

2.7

1.8

He also made more key passes per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, having the direct nature in attacking areas to cause concern for the opposition.

If he can add more goals to his game in the near future, he can certainly emulate the levels produced by the Cameroonian, potentially making a small fortune on any investment this window.

£40m would be a great deal for a young talent who has the perfect opportunity to kick on in his career, arguably being key to any success Frank could achieve during his spell in charge at Spurs.

He'd be perfect alongside Kudus: Spurs in talks for "remarkable" £40m star

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Leeds United have now approached a La Liga club over a deal to sign a 24-year-old defender alongside their now confirmed move for Jaka Bijol, according to a new report.

Leeds announce Jaka Bijol as second summer signing

The Whites earmarked Bijol as one of their top transfer targets this summer, and on Saturday it was confirmed that they have got their man. Fabrizio Romano reported that Bijol had signed his contract and the deal was given his trademark “here we go”, with the club since confirming a five-year deal until 2030.

It is claimed that the newly promoted side are going to pay Italian outfit Udinese £19 million to sign Bijol, although the announcement reports an “undisclosed” fee. The 26-year-old played 34 times in Serie A last season, which is the most he’s played in a single campaign in Serie A since joining the club back in 2022.

He has become Leeds’ second signing of the summer, as they made their first addition last week, bringing Lukas Nmecha in on a free transfer from Wolfsburg.

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Bijol will join the likes of Joe Rodon, Maximilian Wober, Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu as the Whites’ recognised centre-back options. But that list could soon be extended, as the Championship title winners are now looking to bring in another new defender.

Leeds approach Real Betis over Natan signing

According to ABC (23rd June, Page 71), relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds have now asked Real Betis about the conditions of a deal to sign Natan this summer.

Natan joined the Spanish side on a loan deal last summer from Serie A winners Napoli. Real Betis had the option to make the deal a permanent switch, which they have triggered this summer. However, Leeds are now already working to find an agreement which could see Betis cash in on the 24 year-old immediately.

The Brazilian played 31 times in La Liga last season, helping the team keep four clean sheets while he was on the pitch, as well as averaging 1.1 tackles per game. Natan also played 15 times in the UEFA Conference League, as Betis made it all the way to the final before losing out to Chelsea.

Apps

31

Starts

23

Goals

1

Clean sheets

4

Passing accuracy per game

35.8 (89%)

Interceptions per game

0.9

Tackles per game

1.1

Balls recovered per game

2.4

Ground duels per game (won)

1.5 (62%)

Aerial duels per game (won)

2.2 (68%)

Natan’s potential arrival at Elland Road could see a complete overhaul to Leeds’ central defence for next season, as the Brazilian could be paired with Bijol right from the off – it feels hard to believe he would leave a starting role in La Liga for a spot on the bench.

Natan has never played in English football, but he would bring experience of playing at a high level with Betis and Napoli as well as European experience, which can surely only benefit the Whites in their quest for survival.

Chelsea remain active in the transfer market after a busy window for the Blues so far, with Enzo Maresca’s side fully expected to add more star quality to their squad before the next summer deadline day on September 1.

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BlueCo added both Mamadou Sarr and Liam Delap to their contingent of stars for the Club World Cup, taking advantage of the pre-CWC window which closed on June 10, only to reopen again on Monday.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

This mini-window allowed clubs like Chelsea to bolster their sides in preparation for the tournament, with FIFA appearing determined to ensure that some of world football’s finest are on display over the next few weeks.

Chelsea kicked off their CWC campaign on Monday with a 2-0 win over MLS side Los Angeles FC, but showcased their skills in front of a largely empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with just 22,137 fans in attendance for the clash.

Delap made his debut and grabbed an assist, with goals from Pedro Neto and Nicolas Jackson making sure Chelsea got off to the perfect tournament start in Atlanta.

The CWC is rather controversial considering the complete absence of rest for these players. Pre-season for 2025/2026 is set to begin immediately after the competition ends, and given the 2026 World Cup is next year, Chelsea players won’t be resting much next summer either.

However, with £97 million worth of prize money on offer if Maresca’s side win the competition, it is no shock at all that Stamford Bridge chiefs are keen for them to take the CWC as seriously as possible.

To lighten the load, Chelsea could add new signings to their squad midway through, with a unique player registration window open from June 27 to July 3.

That being said, if you already play for a rival team in the CWC, you’re unable to swap clubs – so Chelsea wouldn’t be able to register top transfer target and Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.

Chelsea talks "to follow" for Jamie Gittens after player agreement

Chelsea had three bids rejected for Gittens before the CWC in a desperate attempt to get him over the line in time before 7pm on June 10 (Florian Plettenberg), ultimately failing to reach an agreement with Dortmund.

Since then, it’s been reported that Chelsea are still expected to go back in for the 20-year-old, even if he can’t play a part for them during the CWC, with Fabrizio Romano sharing another update on the saga.

Romano writes via X that Chelsea are set for new talks to sign Gittens, who’s already agreed to join Maresca’s side.

While some reports have suggested that Dortmund value him at around £60 million, the reliable Ben Jacobs has now shared that he could leave for £47 million, in what is a boost for Chelsea.

“Eventually, this deal is expected to get done because Gittens wants to move, and they [Chelsea and BVB] are not actually far apart as some had suggested,” he told The Football Terrace.

“We heard €70m or more, but the number I’m told is €55m, up by €5m from what Chelsea originally thought would get the deal done. And it’s not just the number but the structure of that deal as well.”

Arsenal want to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s squad across the board, not just up front, with sporting director Andrea Berta now setting his sights on a Chelsea high-earner.

Arsenal transfer plans beyond talks for Benjamin Sesko

As things stand, when it comes to their striker search, the Gunners appear to be prioritising a deal for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

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Arsenal are advancing in talks with the Slovenian over personal terms, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, even if his price tag is proving complex due to a variable release clause, and there is even a possibility that Berta could end up having to pay around £84 million for him.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

That being said, while the 22-year-old appears to be one of Berta’s main items on the to-do list this summer, Arsenal will have to tread carefully with regard to how much they end up splashing out on Sesko.

Alongside the Leipzig sensation, Arsenal are attempting to finally wrap up a £51 million deal for Martin Zubimendi, which is proving far more complicated than initially thought this time last week.

Despite reliable reports of a medical (BBC), and even Fabrizio Romano’s famous ‘here we go’ to the deal, Zubimendi himself has attempted to pour cold water over the transfer’s advancement with confusing quotes.

“My future? It will be a long summer. I don’t know how it will end,” said Zubimendi to Radio Nacional.

“If Xabi Alonso calls me to join Real Madrid? I’ve always said Xabi is my idol, and it was a privilege to have him as my coach at La Real B. If he called me now? I don’t want to talk about that hypothesis, I’d rather talk about the present. It would be disrespectful to talk about that while I’m on national team duty. I posted pics on a Spanish beach while rumors said I’m in London doing medical exams for Arsenal? Yes, I did that to make it clear those rumors were not true.”

As well as a new midfielder, which supporters are hopeful will be Zubimendi, Arsenal are in the market for a second-choice keeper.

Arsenal hold explorative talks over deal for Kepa Arrizabalaga

After missing out on Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia to Barcelona, £150,000-per-week Chelsea outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga has emerged as an alternative.

Berta could actually snap up a proven understudy to David Raya for just £5 million, due to a release clause in his contract, which must have been written in when Kepa signed a one-year extension last year.

Sky Sports reporter Luca Bendoni now claims that Arsenal have held explorative talks over a deal for Kepa as they pursue another keeper, and due to his meagre exit clause, you can argue that this would be a snip.

The Spaniard, called “amazing” for some of his performances on loan at Bournemouth last season, would arguably need to take a pay-cut, but this is a move certainly worth considering from Berta’s perspective.

Tottenham Hotspur are now set to open talks over a deal for an “unbelievable” star, who is one of their top attacking targets for the summer transfer window, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Spurs set out to bolster attacking options

While Tottenham’s season was saved by the Europa League final triumph over Manchester United, there will still be major concerns over their Premier League form, finishing in 17th place after collecting just 38 points.

The forward line was not the problem for Ange Postecoglou’s side, who scored 64 goals across the campaign, which is as many as fourth-placed Chelsea, but it appears as though the manager is now keen to upgrade his attack in the summer.

Having secured qualification for next season’s Champions League, Spurs should be in a strong position to attract some top players, and they are the favourites to sign Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, despite rival interest from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

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Spurs are eager to bolster their attacking options.

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Sane is, of course, experienced in the Premier League, having picked up 25 goals and 30 assists in the top flight for Manchester City, but the north Londoners also have another winger on the shortlist, who has experienced success in England more recently.

According to Brown, in an interview with Football Insider, Tottenham are now set to open talks over a deal for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, who has been identified as one of their top attacking targets for the summer.

Brown said: “Tottenham are one of the clubs looking at Eze,”

“I hear his agent has a few contacts there so I have no doubt they’ll be speaking to him, that’s where a lot of moves of this type start.”

However, it could be difficult to lure the England international away from Palace, as the winger is thought to be “happy” at Selhurst Park, and he is protected by a £68m release clause.

Eze could be "unbelievable" signing for Tottenham

Eze was, of course, instrumental in Palace’s shock FA Cup triumph, scoring the only goal against Manchester City in the final, while he has previously been lauded as “unbelievable” by Statman Dave.

As such, it is little wonder Tottenham are so keen on the 26-year-old, who picked up 14 goals and 11 assists for Palace in all competitions during the 2024-25 campaign, more goal contributions than any of Postecoglou’s players.

Considering the forward is happy at Selhurst Park, the only way to stand a chance of securing his signature may be triggering his £68m release clause, but his recent performances suggest an outlay of that amount would be justifiable.

With Son Heung-min set to turn 33-years-old this summer, it could be important for Postecoglou to bring in a long-term replacement this summer, and Eze’s performances for Palace suggest he could be the ideal heir to the South Korean.

After three years of finishing in second place in the Premier League, Arsenal need to make changes over the summer if they are to mount a charge for title glory.

Mikel Arteta has taken the side to the next level since his appointment back in 2020, but their progress has somewhat stagnated given their consistent league standing.

Next season will mark 22 seasons since the Gunners last finished top of England’s top-flight, a period that’s simply unacceptable for a club of their stature.

The upcoming window presents an opportunity for the Spaniard to make any changes he needs to his current first-team squad, with investment desperately needed from the hierarchy this summer.

With the window now just around the corner, Arteta has already wasted no time in identifying reinforcements for his side – with one department in particular subject to the biggest interest.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for a new striker

Viktor Gyokeres has been a leading target for Arsenal over the last couple of weeks, as the club try to land the talisman they’ve desperately missed in recent years.

The Swede, who’s valued at around £60m, has a staggering record this season, scoring 54 times in his 52 outings, with Arteta’s side the ones showing the greatest desire to land the 26-year-old.

However, another name has been thrown into the mix, with RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko touted with a move to the Emirates, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

He claims that the hierarchy have entered concrete talks with the Bundesliga side over a summer move for the 21-year-old, who’s registered 21 goals across all competitions.

Romano has also stated that Arteta is pushing for the move to sign the Slovenian, who currently has a €100m (£84m) release clause within his current contract.

Why Sesko would be more exciting than Zubimendi

Ahead of the opening of the summer window, Arsenal have made excellent progress on numerous deals, with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi likely to be the first to walk through the door.

The Spanish international has already agreed a move to London, with journalist Romano also confirming that Arteta’s side have agreed a fee with the LaLiga outfit.

The 26-year-old currently has a €60m (£50m) release clause in his contract, potentially seen as a replacement for the outgoing Jorginho, who’s leaving the club on a free transfer next month.

Undoubtedly, given his tally of 68% dribbles completed and 58% duels won, he could prove to be the deep-lying option the midfield has needed over recent months.

Such a signing would undoubtedly be exciting, but a deal for Sesko would inject added excitement into the fanbase, with a striker needing to be the number one priority.

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus missed large spells of 2024/25, leaving the Gunners without a recognised striker, with Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard often filling the void.

In the Bundesliga this campaign, the Slovenian has demonstrated his quality, scoring 13 goals in his 33 outings – including a goal of the season contender against Werder Bremen.

Games played

33

Goals scored

13

Shots on target per game

1.2

Goals scored per 90

0.5

Dribbles completed

55%

Aerials won

57%

Duels won

5.1

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, registering 1.2 shots on target per 90, along with 0.5 goals scored per game – highlighting the threat he carries in attacking areas.

Sesko, who’s been labelled a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has also completed 55% of the dribbles he’s attempted, along with 57% aerials won – handing Arteta the needed all-round option in North London.

Whilst he would cost the hierarchy a pretty penny this summer, he’s demonstrated that he’s capable of leading the line in the Premier League and potentially playing a key role in any future success.

The prospect of him linking up with Zubimendi at the Emirates is certainly an exciting one, with the striker hopefully able to provide the needed difference to catapult them to the top of the tree in 2025/26.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 29, 2025

Glasgow Rangers have already confirmed that Barry Ferguson’s time as interim manager of the Ibrox club came to an end after the Scottish Premiership season concluded.

The Light Blues were held to a 2-2 draw at Easter Road on the final day of the league season, as Rangers cemented their second-placed finish behind their city rivals.

Ferguson’s interim spell ended with six wins, five draws, and four defeats in 15 matches in all competitions, which was far from impressive on paper for the inexperienced Scottish coach.

It has now been confirmed that he will not be in contention for the job on a full-time basis, as the Gers are now looking elsewhere for a permanent successor to Philippe Clement, who was relieved of his duties in February.

There have already been plenty of interesting names linked with the vacant managerial position at Ibrox, ranging from British coaches, foreign coaches with British experience, and left-field coaches with no experience in British football.

One of the names who has been mentioned alongside the Rangers job in recent weeks is Real Madrid assistant first-team coach Davide Ancelotti, the son of Carlo Ancelotti.

Why Rangers should avoid Davide Ancelotti

There have been some contradicting reports on the club’s interest in the Italian tactician of late, with talk of an offer from the Gers and then a report saying that was false and that he wants to join his father with the Brazil national team for a year.

Whether he is a serious candidate for the job or not, the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell should look elsewhere in their search for a new head coach because of the job facing the next manager ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Rangers have finished second in the Premiership in each of the last four seasons, watching their city rivals lift the trophy each year, and need a head coach who can bring success back to Ibrox.

Whilst Ancelotti is an exciting prospect, because he has yet to manage at first-team level and is full of untapped potential, the fact that he is an unknown quantity as a manager also counts against him for this particular job.

Real Madrid (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

233

Everton (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

67

Napoli (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

73

Bayern Munich (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

60

Real Madrid (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

119

PSG (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

77

The 35-year-old coach, as shown by his career path above, has not been a first-team manager to date, as he has only worked as part of his father’s coaching staff, as either a fitness coach or as an assistant manager.

Whilst there is a lot of brilliant experience in some of the best leagues in Europe at some of the biggest clubs in the world there, Ancelotti has not proven himself as the main man and that is why Rangers, in their current situation, should look elsewhere.

Rangers want to appoint new manager this week

As per a fresh report from the Daily Mail, Rangers are looking to appoint a more experienced manager as they are set to hold talks with English boss Steven Gerrard.

The report claims that the club are planning to hold talks with the Liverpool legend within the next 48 hours to discuss a potential return to Ibrox, having left the job to join Aston Villa back in 2021.

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It states that Gerrard, who is currently without a club, is currently the frontrunner to land the role, and that Rangers want to have a deal wrapped up by the end of this week if possible.

All going well, the English manager could be holding up a Gers scarf for the second time before next Monday, although there is no mention of how interested he is in making a return to Glasgow.

With this news in mind, the club must convince Gerrard to return to Ibrox before the end of the week during these talks that are due to take place within the next 48 hours because he would make supporters forget about wanting Ancelotti.

Why Gerrard would make Rangers forget Ancelotti

As aforementioned, the Real Madrid assistant manager would arrive at Ibrox as a huge gamble by the club, given his lack of senior managerial experience, but that would not be the case with Gerrard.

In fact, the English head coach may be the safest possible appointment for Rangers to make, given that he is the only Gers manager who has won the Premiership in the last decade.

The former England international lost more games than he won at Aston Villa (19 vs 13) and Al Ettifaq (20 vs 19) after moving on from Ibrox in 2021, but there is no mocking his record during his time in Scottish football.

After being given time to build a squad in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, Gerrard won the Premiership title in the 2020/21 season with 32 wins and zero losses in the top-flight, an achievement that was described as “unbelievable” by journalist Leanne Prescott.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st (Champions)

1st

As you can see in the table above, the 4-3-3 manager only lost one of his last 50 matches in charge of the club, and left the team at the top of the table before Giovanni van Bronckhorst failed to follow up with another title success.

Gerrard, once dubbed “amazing” by Glen Johnson, has proven that he can deliver a successful style of football at Ibrox, given his incredible record across his last 50 games and the title that he won in the 2020/21 campaign.

Rangers have failed to win the Premiership in the last four seasons, and they need a head coach who can bring the title back to Ibrox next term. So, who better than the only man to have done it in the last decade? That is why appointing Gerrard could make fans forget about the exciting potential of bringing Ancelotti in for his first managerial job.

Not just Butland: Rangers flop may have played his last game at Ibrox

Several Rangers players wont be at the club next season after the 2-2 draw with Hibs.

ByRoss Kilvington May 17, 2025

The 2024/25 FA Cup final is almost upon us, with an all-Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester City deciding the latest winner of the famous trophy.

Crystal Palace booked their place in the final after a comprehensive Wembley win over Aston Villa, with goals from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr sealing a first final for the Eagles since 2016.

Opponents Manchester City are aiming for a third FA Cup in seven seasons, and are heading back to Wembley after a 2-0 semi-final win over Nottingham Forest.

The 2024/25 tournament has not seen as many giantkillings as in previous years, though Plymouth Argyle produced a classic FA Cup upset with their defeat of eventual Premier League champions Liverpool.

Meanwhile, holders Manchester United were dumped out on penalties at home to Fulham in the fifth round.

Last year saw former United boss Erik ten Hag get revenge for his side’s defeat to City in the 2023 final. While the final featured two of the elite top-flight sides, there were a few cup runs from those in the lower tiers.

Maidstone United reached the fifth round, suffering a 5-0 defeat to Coventry City, who came so close to reaching the final. Against Man Utd, the Sky Blues thought they had won the tie in extra time, but eventually lost on penalties.

The best FA Cup runs by non-league teams

These teams are proof you don’t have to be in the Premier League to enjoy an FA Cup run…

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 27, 2024

The first FA Cup final was played in 1872 and won by Wanderers Football Club – the first of five victories. As of 2025, Arsenal hold the record for most trophies won with 14, with their last coming in 2020.

In total, there have been 143 FA Cup finals staged, with 44 teams winning the competition at least once in their history.

Club

Wins

Last win

Arsenal

14

2020

Manchester United

13

2024

Chelsea

8

2018

Liverpool

8

2022

Tottenham Hotspur

8

1991

FA Cup format and changes

The FA Cup is a simple knockout tournament, with the winners of each tie advancing to the next round. Non-league clubs take part in qualifying, with teams from League One and League Two entering in the first round proper. Premier League and Championship clubs join at the third-round stage.

A major change to the format has seen replays scrapped from the first round onwards. Previously, drawn matches would see the fixture replayed at the visitors’ home ground, but citing player welfare, the FA decided to remove replays to ease fixture congestion.

The move sparked anger from the EFL and prompted backlash from the likes of Keir Starmer.

The 9 most successful teams in the FA Cup

The FA Cup has been won by some of the biggest teams in the country since its inception in the 19th century.

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 30, 2024 FA Cup final preview

With Crystal Palace and Manchester City winning their semi-finals, both clubs will be back on the road to Wembley three weeks after victories over Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest respectively. Kick-off is at 4.30pm.

It will be Palace’s first FA Cup final since 2016, when they lost to Manchester United after extra time, as Jesse Lingard’s winner secured the trophy for the Red Devils in what was Louis van Gaal’s final match in charge.

Both of the Eagles’ previous cup finals have been against United – the other coming in 1990, which was won after a replay following an enthralling 3-3 draw at Wembley Stadium.

Now, United’s neighbours stand in the way of a first major trophy for Oliver Glasner’s side.

Round

Opponent

Result

Round

Opponent

Result

Third round

Stockport (H)

W 1-0

Third round

Salford (H)

W 8-0

Fourth round

Doncaster (A)

W 2-0

Fourth round

Leyton Orient (A)

W 2-1

Fifth round

Millwall (H)

W 3-1

Fifth round

Plymouth (H)

W 3-1

Quarter-final

Fulham (A)

W 3-0

Quarter-final

Bournemouth (A)

W 2-1

Semi-final

Aston Villa (N)

W 3-0

Semi-final

Nottingham Forest (N)

W 2-0

As for seven-time winners Manchester City, they are far more experienced in this situation, with Pep Guardiola guiding his side to a third successive final, having taken part in back-to-back Manchester derbies in 2023 and 2024.

Despite their glut of trophies under the Spaniard’s reign, the FA Cup has only been won by the Citizens twice since Guardiola’s arrival (in 2019 and 2023), with their 2011 win the only other City triumph this century.

After an underwhelming campaign by their high standards, City have the chance to end it on a high and avoid going trophyless for the first time since the 2016/17 season – Guardiola’s first at the helm.

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Kick-off time

Sat 17th May

Crystal Palace

Man City

4.30pm

The top 10 FA Cup finals of all time – ranked

As the 2024/25 first round gets underway, here’s a look at 10 of the best finals in history.

1 ByAlex Caple May 25, 2024 2024/25 FA Cup results

The FA Cup’s first round proper kicked off with fifth-tier Tamworth defeating League One Huddersfield Town, while the weekend saw its fair share of surprise results and almighty scares.

However, there was to be no ‘fairytale’ run for Wrexham as they were undone by Harrogate Town. AFC Wimbledon’s win in a grudge match against MK Dons was another highlight of the round.

Tamworth continued their story in the second round after knocking out Burton Albion on penalties, while Reading were taken to extra time by Harborough Town. Elsewhere, League One leaders Wycombe avoided an upset with a win at non-league Wealdstone.

The Lambs’ superb run to the third round came to a valiant end at home to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, with the National League outfit taking Ange Postecoglou’s men to extra time.

The shock of the third round was undoubtedly Brentford’s undoing at home to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle, while holders Manchester United saw off Arsenal in a fierce affair at the Emirates Stadium following a penalty shootout.

The Pilgrims were at it again in the fourth round, while Brighton claimed a high-profile scalp themselves by coming from behind to see off Chelsea.

Elsewhere, Manchester City were given an almighty scare by League One’s Leyton Orient, falling behind to one of the goals and moments of the season before battling back to squeeze into Round Five.

The round of 16 kicked off with Aston Villa boosting their chances of a first major trophy since 1996, as they beat Cardiff 2-0 at Villa Park. This left Preston as the only second-tier representatives after they beat Championship rivals Burnley.

That weekend also saw Bournemouth’s dramatic shootout win over Wolves, with Boubacar Traore missing the all-important spot-kick before Luis Sinisterra sealed the Cherries’ place in the last eight.

Crystal Palace joined them courtesy of their 3-1 win over Millwall, which was overshadowed by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s sickening injury, which put the Frenchman in hospital, where he required stitches.

Plymouth were on their way to another big upset, but only led for seven minutes at Manchester City before the Premier League champions eventually came back to win.

Another dramatic afternoon followed as Brighton saw off Newcastle in extra-time thanks to Danny Welbeck’s winner in a game which saw both sides reduced to 10, while Fulham prevailed on penalties at Old Trafford, with Bernd Leno saving from Joshua Zirkzee and Victor Lindelof.

The quarter-finals saw all the away sides prevail, with Bournemouth the only losing side to get on the scoresheet before bowing out.

Crystal Palace and Aston Villa secured comfortable victories on the road, while Nottingham Forest and Manchester City needed to rely on penalties and super subs respectively to overcome their last-eight opponents.

In the semi-finals at Wembley, Palace steamrolled Villa to comfortably win 3-0, with the West Midlanders exiting the cup and the Champions League in the space of two weeks.

Manchester City finally dispatched Nottingham Forest in the other semi, with the Reds’ superb run amid an exceptional domestic campaign coming to an end after successive shootout victories.

First round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 1st Nov

Notts County

Alfreton

Fri 1st Nov

Tamworth

Huddersfield

Sat 2nd Nov

Barrow

Doncaster

Sat 2nd Nov

Bradford

Aldershot

Sat 2nd Nov

Bristol Rovers

Weston-super-mare

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Burton

Scarborough

Sat 2nd Nov

Carlisle

Wigan

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Chesterfield

Horsham

Sat 2nd Nov

Crewe

Dag & Red

Sat 2nd Nov

Exeter

Barnet

Sat 2nd Nov

Gillingham

Blackpool

Sat 2nd Nov

Grimsby

Wealdstone

Sat 2nd Nov

Newport

Peterborough

Sat 2nd Nov

Port Vale

Barnsley

Sat 2nd Nov

Reading

Fleetwood

Sat 2nd Nov

Rochdale

Bromley

Sat 2nd Nov

Rotherham

Cheltenham

Sat 2nd Nov

Salford

Shrewsbury

Sat 2nd Nov

Southend

Charlton

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Stevenage

Guiseley

**Stevenage won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 2nd Nov

Stockport

Forest Green

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Swindon

Colchester

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Solihull

Maidstone

Sat 2nd Nov

Rushall Olympic

Accrington

Sat 2nd Nov

Maidenhead

Crawley

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Brackley

Braintree

**Brackley won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 2nd Nov

Tonbridge Angels

Harborough Town

Sat 2nd Nov

Tranmere

Oldham

Sat 2nd Nov

Walsall

Bolton

Sat 2nd Nov

Woking

Cambridge

Sat 2nd Nov

Worthing

Morecambe

Sat 2nd Nov

Wycombe

York

Sat 2nd Nov

Hednesford Town

Gainsborough Trinity

**Gainsborough Trinity won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 2nd Nov

Northampton

Kettering

*after extra time

Sun 3rd Nov

MK Dons

AFC Wimbledon

Sun 3rd Nov

Sutton United

Birmingham

Sun 3rd Nov

Boreham Wood

Leyton Orient

**Leyton Orient won 3-1 on penalties

Sun 3rd Nov

Curzon Ashton

Mansfield

Sun 3rd Nov

Harrogate Town

Wrexham

Mon 4th Nov

Chesham United

Lincoln

Second round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 29th Nov

Harrogate

Gainsborough Trinity

Sat 30th Nov

Wealdstone

Wycombe

Sat 30th Nov

Accrington

Swindon

**Accrington won 4-1 on penalties

Sat 30th Nov

Barnsley

Bristol Rovers

**Bristol Rovers won 4-3 on penalties

Sat 30th Nov

Cambridge

Wigan

*after extra time

Sat 30th Nov

Crawley

Lincoln

Sat 30th Nov

Exeter

Chesterfield

Sat 30th Nov

Leyton Orient

Oldham

*after extra time

Sat 30th Nov

Morecambe

Bradford

Sat 30th Nov

Peterborough

Notts County

Sat 30th Nov

Salford

Cheltenham

Sat 30th Nov

Stevenage

Mansfield

Sat 30th Nov

Stockport

Brackley

Sat 30th Nov

Walsall

Charlton

Sat 30th Nov

AFC Wimbledon

Dag & Red

Sun 1st Dec

Kettering

Doncaster

*after extra time

Sun 1st Dec

Blackpool

Birmingham

Sun 1st Dec

Burton

Tamworth

**Tamworth won 4-3 on penalties

Sun 1st Dec

Reading

Harborough Town

*after extra time

Sun 1st Dec

Solihull

Bromley

Third round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Thu 9th Jan

Sheff Utd

Cardiff

Thu 9th Jan

Everton

Peterborough

Thu 9th Jan

Fulham

Watford

Fri 10th Jan

Wycombe

Portsmouth

Fri 10th Jan

Aston Villa

West Ham

Sat 11th Jan

Birmingham

Lincoln

Sat 11th Jan

Bristol City

Wolves

Sat 11th Jan

Middlesbrough

Blackburn

Sat 11th Jan

Liverpool

Accrington

Sat 11th Jan

Leicester

QPR

Sat 11th Jan

Bournemouth

West Brom

Sat 11th Jan

Brentford

Plymouth

Sat 11th Jan

Chelsea

Morecambe

Sat 11th Jan

Exeter

Oxford

Sat 11th Jan

Norwich

Brighton

Sat 11th Jan

Nottingham Forest

Luton

Sat 11th Jan

Reading

Burnley

*after extra time

Sat 11th Jan

Sunderland

Stoke

*after extra time

Sat 11th Jan

Leeds

Harrogate

Sat 11th Jan

Man City

Salford

Sat 11th Jan

Coventry

Sheff Wed

**Coventry won 4-3 on penalties

Sun 12th Jan

Hull

Doncaster

**Doncaster won 5-4 on penalties

Sun 12th Jan

Tamworth

Tottenham

*after extra time

Sun 12th Jan

Arsenal

Man Utd

**Man Utd won 5-3 on penalties

Sun 12th Jan

Crystal Palace

Stockport

Sun 12th Jan

Ipswich

Bristol Rovers

Sun 12th Jan

Newcastle

Bromley

Sun 12th Jan

Southampton

Swansea

Mon 13th Jan

Millwall

Dag & Red

Tue 14th Jan

Leyton Orient

Derby

**Leyton Orient won 6-5 on penalties

Tue 14th Jan

Mansfield

Wigan

Tue 14th Jan

Preston

Charlton

Fourth round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 7th Feb

Man Utd

Leicester

Sat 8th Feb

Leeds

Millwall

Sat 8th Feb

Leyton Orient

Man City

Sat 8th Feb

Coventry

Ipswich

Sat 8th Feb

Everton

Bournemouth

Sat 8th Feb

Stoke

Cardiff

**Cardiff won 4-2 on penalties

Sat 8th Feb

Preston

Wycombe

**Preston won 4-2 on penalties

Sat 8th Feb

Southampton

Burnley

Sat 8th Feb

Wigan

Fulham

Sat 8th Feb

Birmingham

Newcastle

Sat 8th Feb

Brighton

Chelsea

Sun 9th Feb

Blackburn

Wolves

Sun 9th Feb

Plymouth

Liverpool

Sun 9th Feb

Aston Villa

Tottenham

Mon 10th Feb

Doncaster

Crystal Palace

Tue 11th Feb

Exeter

Nottingham Forest

**Nottingham Forest won 4-2 on penalties

Fifth round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 28th Feb

Aston Villa

Cardiff

Sat 1st Mar

Preston

Burnley

Sat 1st Mar

Crystal Palace

Millwall

Sat 1st Mar

Bournemouth

Wolves

**Bournemouth won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 1st Mar

Man City

Plymouth

Sun 2nd Mar

Newcastle

Brighton

*after extra time

Sun 2nd Mar

Man Utd

Fulham

**Fulham won 4-3 on penalties

Mon 3rd Mar

Nottingham Forest

Ipswich

**Nottingham Forest won 5-4 on penalties

Quarter-finals

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Sat 29th Mar

Fulham

Crystal Palace

Sat 29th Mar

Brighton

Nottingham Forest

**Nottingham Forest won 4-3 on penalties

Sun 30th Mar

Preston

Aston Villa

Sun 30th Mar

Bournemouth

Man City

Semi-finals

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Sat 26th Apr

Crystal Palace

Aston Villa

Sun 27th Apr

Nottingham Forest

Man City

Final

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Sat 17th May

Crystal Palace

Man City

Why the FA Cup semi-finals are played at Wembley

The semi-finals are played under the arch every year, but why are other grounds overlooked?

ByStephan Georgiou Mar 29, 2025 Round dates

This year’s final takes place on Saturday, 17th May 2025, on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season. Top-flight league fixtures have been rescheduled to make the final the standalone fixture on cup final day.

Round

Date

First Round

1st-4th November 2024

Second Round

29th Nov-2nd Dec 2024

Third Round

11th January 2025

Fourth Round

8th February 2025

Fifth Round

1st March 2025

Quarter-final

29th March 2025

Semi-final

26th April 2025

Final

17th May 2025

FA Cup prize money

The FA will give out over £22m in prize money over the course of the 2024/25 season. Any non-league clubs who make it through from the first round of qualifying to the first round proper could pocket around £23,000, while if a Premier League or Championship club was to go all the way, they’d be better off to the tune of £5.41m.

Round

Winners’ prize

Losers’ prize

First Round

£45,000

£15,000

Second Round

£75,000

£20,000

Third Round

£115,000

£25,000

Fourth Round

£120,000

None

Fifth Round

£225,000

None

Quarter-final

£450,000

None

Semi-final

£1,000,000

£500,000

Final

£2,000,000

£1,000,000

How to watch the FA Cup final on TV

In the UK, broadcasting rights for the FA Cup are shared between the BBC and ITV. Throughout the season, the BBC have shown 18 live matches, while ITV committed to broadcasting 20 games from the competition.

In the US, FA Cup games are broadcast live on ESPN, with ESPN+ streaming a selection of fixtures across the duration of the tournament.

Recent years have seen BBC and ITV share coverage of the final, while a new broadcasting deal is set to take effect next year, which will see BBC and TNT Sports share coverage of the competition.

This year’s final will indeed be shown on both channels, with ITV’s coverage starting at 3pm; BBC One’s broadcast will begin at 3.25pm. The match itself kicks off at 4.30pm.