/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F37%2Fwelcome-to-sports-mole-transparent-click-area.png "Welcome to Sports Mole")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F20%2F31%2Fsports-mole-favicon-32x32.png "Sports Mole FAVICON"){kind=small}
'Priority option': Will Slot win the race for in-demand Premier League defender?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F45%2Farne-slot.jpg "Liverpool manager Arne Slot pictured on November 5, 2024")
Liverpool are reportedly expected to face competition from Serie A side Juventus for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez in the summer transfer window.
The Reds are set to take on Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final on Sunday at Wembley, and a victory would significantly ease the pain of being eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday by Paris Saint-Germain.
Arne Slot's side are also 15 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League, and look certain to win a 20th league title, matching Manchester United's record.
Despite the Merseysiders success this season, there are still concerns about players such as left-back Andrew Robertson, who has looked far from his best this campaign.
United's Mainoo 'plan' as Amorim prepares for busy summer transfer window
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F39%2Fkobbie-mainoo.jpg "Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo comes off injured on September 29, 2024")
Manchester United have reportedly decided that they would prefer to sell midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to a club abroad should he choose to leave the Red Devils.
Ruben Amorim's side emerged as 4-1 winners against Real Sociedad on Thursday, winning their Europa League round of 16 tie 5-2 on aggregate against the La Liga team.
The Portuguese boss has endured a difficult time at Old Trafford, winning just five of 17 Premier League games in charge while losing on eight occasions.
Amorim has not been able to mould the squad in his own image, with wing-back Patrick Dorgu representing his only addition in the January transfer window, and he may have to operate a sell-to-buy policy in the summer in order to strengthen further.
"Multiple factors": Van Dijk delivers update on future as season nears end
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F52%2Fvirgil-van-dijk.jpg "Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during his side's Premier League match against Leicester City, on December 26, 2024")
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has insisted that he is calm about his future at Anfield despite speculation he could leave the club for free at the end of the season.
The Reds were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday night after losing 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain before losing 4-1 in the subsequent penalty shootout.
Boss Arne Slot has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign on Merseyside, but he could be set for more disappointment at the end of the season should the club fail to agree fresh terms with captain Van Dijk, who will be able to leave for free at the end of 2024-25.
However, the centre-back told reporters ahead of his team's clash against Newcastle United in the final of the EFL Cup on Sunday that there is no need to panic about the situation, and even hinted that negotiations could continue beyond the final game of the campaign in May, saying: "Listen, [possibly waiting until the season is over] is definitely the case, so we will see what happens.
Another full-back?! Arsenal 'running rule' over £12.5m La Liga youngster
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F11%2Fomar-el-hilali.jpg "Espanyol's Omar El Hilali pictured on February 1, 2025")
Arsenal have allegedly earmarked Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali as a possible target for the summer transfer window.
The Gunners have had few concerns at the back during the 2024-25 campaign, evidenced by their record of just 24 goals conceded in the Premier League, making them the best defensive team in the division.
Instead, a lack of firepower in the absence of Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka has cost them dear as they lie 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool at the top of the table.
Barring the most extraordinary Premier League title comeback in history, Arsenal will be consigned to another year of what could have been, and they are expected to address their attacking shortages as a matter of priority in the summer.
A one-horse race? Barcelona receive Neymar boost as rumours 'wide of the mark'
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F11%2Fneymar.jpg "Santos' Neymar pictured on March 9, 2025")
Barcelona have reportedly received a boost in their hopes of re-signing former attacker Neymar, as Bayern Munich do not have a serious interest in the Santos winger.
Despite only rejoining his boyhood club in January after a failed stint with Al-Hilal, Neymar is already believed to be eyeing a return to European football in the summer transfer window.
The 33-year-old's time in Saudi Arabia was marred by perpetual injury problems, but he has hit the ground running in his native Brazil with three goals and three assists from seven appearances.
Neymar is only under contract with Santos until the end of the June, though, and he is understood to view his stint with his boyhood team as a possible audition for a return to Europe.
'Especially the Liverpool one' - Robinson breaks silence on Reds speculation
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F10%2Fantonee-robinson.jpg "Fulham's Antonee Robinson on March 2, 2025")
Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson has played down talk of a potential move to Liverpool as just a "story in the paper" amid links with a switch to Anfield this summer.
Despite arguably reaching champions-elect status as they sit 15 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool are gearing up for a busy window of buying and selling.
The left-back area is apparently one that has been identified as a position for improvement, as the long-serving Andy Robertson has suffered a noticeable physical and technical decline in the 2024-25 season.
The Scotsman's perpetual understudy, Kostas Tsimikas, has not done enough to permanently usurp his superior either, leading to the expectation that a new left-back option will arrive ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Amorim's perfect fit? Man Utd 'in five-club battle' for £50.5m Forest man
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F11%2Fmorcal.jpg "Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi pictured on April 2, 2024")
As many as five Big Six clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, are said to be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side remain one of the favourites to secure Champions League football next season thanks to a momentous 1-0 win over Manchester City last weekend, which saw them cement their third-placed ranking in the table.
Forest are only four points below second-placed Arsenal thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi's winner against the champions, which was set up by the ever-influential stand-in captain Gibbs-White.
The 25-year-old was controversially not called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel on Friday, but he has been a key cog in this Forest system with five goals and six assists from 24 Premier League games this season.
Isak issues latest update on Newcastle future, reacts to "dramatic" injury reports
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F11%2Falexander-isak.jpg "Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates on February 23, 2025.")
Alexander Isak has refused to rule out extending his contract at Newcastle United despite reported interest from clubs including Liverpool and Arsenal.
The Swedish striker has been one of the Magpies' standout performer this season and has scored 22 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions, including 19 strikes in 25 Premier League outings.
Since moving to St James' Park from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m in August 2022, Isak has found the net 57 times in 99 appearances for Newcastle, and he recently became the seventh-fastest player in Premier League history to score 50 goals in the division, doing so after 76 games.
Isak's exceptional form in front of goal has understandably caught the eye of a number of top European teams, with Liverpool and Arsenal two clubs who have recently been heavily linked with a big-money summer swoop for the 25-year-old.
"I had an offer to leave" - Man United star opens up on Old Trafford future
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F42%2Frasmus-hojlund-alejandro-garnacho-bruno-fernandes.jpg "Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund celebrates scoring with Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes on October 19, 2024")
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he could have left the Red Devils during last summer's transfer window.
There was a host of speculation surrounding the Portugal international's future towards the end of the 2023-24 campaign, but he stayed at Old Trafford, and the attacker has again had a strong season from a personal point of view.
The 30-year-old has scored 15 goals and registered 13 assists in 43 appearances for Man United, including a hat trick against Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday night to send his side into the quarter-finals of the competition.
Fernandes signed a new deal at Old Trafford in August 2024, with his terms running until June 2027, and there is also an option to extend the agreement for a further 12 months to the summer of 2028.
Wolves ready to make €6m offer for Brazilian starlet in summer?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F11%2Friquelme-fillpi.jpg "Palmeiras youngster Riquelme Fillpi in July 2024.")
Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Palmeiras youngster Riquelme Fillipi as a summer transfer target.
The West Midlands outfit are currently focused on retaining their status as a Premier League side, with the gap to 18th place being six points at this stage.
However, providing that Wolves can extend their stay in England's top flight, there will be plans in the summer to move the club back towards the mid-table positions at the very least.
With several key players expected to receive widespread interest, it could prove to be a busy summer transfer window for Vitor Pereira and the club's recruitment team.
Flick Favourite: Barcelona announce contract extension for key player
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F29%2Fhansi-flick.jpg "Head Coach Hansi Flick FC Barcelona, Barca gestures during a FC Barcelona training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in Barcelona, Spain, on July 19 2024")
Barcelona have announced that Inigo Martinez has extended his contract at Camp Nou for a further year, with the experienced centre-back's deal now running until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
Martinez has been a vital player for Barcelona this season, making 33 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and registering four assists in the process, but there had been speculation surrounding his future.
The Spaniard's contract at Camp Nou had been due to expire at the end of June, but it has now been confirmed that his deal has been extended until June 2026, with Barcelona revealing that an agreement has been in place for some time.
"FC Barcelona has exercised the option to extend the contract of first team player Inigo Martinez, who will remain linked to the Club until June 30, 2026," read a statement from Hansi Flick's side.
Heading for London! Chelsea 'beat Man United to signing' of Sporting superstar
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fgeovany-quenda-viktor-gyokeres.jpg "Sporting Lisbon's Geovany Quenda and Viktor Gyokeres on September 22, 2024")
Chelsea have reportedly secured a deal for Sporting Lisbon teenager Geovany Quenda, with the Portuguese set to officially move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2026.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with the 17-year-old and had appeared to be the favourites for his signature ahead of the summer transfer window, with various reports in Portugal claiming that he would likely be heading for Old Trafford in the coming months.
However, according to journalist David Ornstein, Chelsea have now moved to secure his signature, with the Blues agreeing a deal for one of the best young talents in world football.
Ornstein claims that Quenda will remain on loan at Sporting during the 2025-26 campaign before officially making the move to the Premier League giants in the summer of 2026.
Casemiro U-turn: Could Brazilian have a role to play for Amorim next season?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F08%2Fcasemiro.jpg "Manchester United's Casemiro pictured on January 26, 2025")
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim lavished praise on Casemiro following Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg against Real Sociedad, claiming that he is "learning how to use" the Brazilian.
Casemiro struggled for action in the early stages of Amorim's time at the helm, and the Portuguese admitted at the end of January that the experienced midfielder lacked "the characteristics" to be a regular in his 3-4-3 system.
"He has to have the characteristics and then I have to choose the player with the characteristics on how I see the game," Amorim told reporters earlier this year when asked about the Brazilian's lack of action.
"It is just like that and I have to make some choices, I want to play a game that is sometimes different from other coaches and I have to chose based on that. That's all."
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