Work is already underway to improve Celtic’s squad in the upcoming summer transfer window as they go in search of a fifth successive Scottish Premiership title next term.

The Hoops secured their fourth league title in as many seasons with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at the end of last month, whilst they also have a chance to complete a domestic treble with an SFA Cup final clash with Aberdeen.

Brendan Rodgers has already sealed one new signing for the summer in the form of Kieran Tierney, who will officially return to Celtic when his contract at Arsenal expires at the end of June.

Kieran Tierney's current market value

At the time of writing (11/05/2025), the Scotland international is valued at a whopping £8.5m by Transfermarkt, which suggests that the Hoops have landed a bargain by signing him on a free transfer.

As you can see in the graphic above, Tierney was sold for a staggering £25m after his terrific first spell at Parkhead after coming through the academy, as he joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

This shows that the Scottish giants have played a blinder with the experienced left-back because they sold him for a huge transfer fee and are now signing him back for nothing, whilst he is still valuable, albeit not as valuable as he once was.

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Celtic, though, have developed their own full-back who is now worth just as much as Tierney, after they signed him for a fee of just £3.5m back in 2023, in the form of Alistair Johnston.

Alistair Johnston's soaring market value

The Hoops swooped to sign the defender from CF Montreal for a fee of £3.5m in the January transfer window at the start of 2023 to bolster Ange Postecoglou’s options at right-back.

Johnston has been a regular starter at right-back when fit and available for Celtic since his move, and has proven himself to be an excellent performer at Premiership level by combining solid defensive work with outstanding attacking contributions.

The Canada international has the strength and positioning to win the majority of his physical duels to stop opposition wingers, whilst also having the drive and stamina to constantly bomb down the flank to deliver high-quality balls into the box.

Appearances

32

30

Goals

1

4

Big chances created

11

15

Assists

5

9

Duel success rate

58%

56%

Clean sheets

11

12

As you can see in the table above, Johnston has been a star for the Hoops in his two full Premiership seasons in Glasgow, creating 26 ‘big chances’ in 62 matches.

This has helped his market value to soar way above the £3.5m that the club initially paid for his services at the start of 2023. At the time of writing, the Celtic sensation is valued at £8.5m by Transfermarkt, which means that his value has soared by £5m in a little over two years at Parkhead.

Johnston, whose work ethic was dubbed “phenomenal” by Rodgers, is now worth as much as Tierney, who was once sold for £25m, and is a highly-valuable asset for the club, thanks to the brilliant performances that he has put in on the pitch.

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Therefore, Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Canadian defender because he is an excellent player and a star who could be sold for a profit in the future, given that his value has soared during his time in Scotland so far.

Glasgow Rangers have appointed Kevin Thelwell as their new sporting director heading into the 2025/26 season and beyond.

Formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton, the Englishman brings with him a wealth of experience to Ibrox.

He faces a tough job at the Light Blues, especially with the club about to finish trophyless for the second time in three seasons.

His main job will be to identify players who can improve the first-team squad. However, he must also move on those who aren’t contributing much anymore.

Tom Lawrence is earning decent money for a minimal contribution. Will he move on this summer?

Tom Lawrence must leave Rangers in the summer

The Welshman joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, and on the surface, it looked like a solid enough signing.

He managed only nine games before missing the rest of the season through injury, and this would be a common theme during his time at Ibrox.

Overall, the midfielder has missed over 60 matches due to injury issues sustained across his three seasons at the club.

Earning £22k-per-week for his troubles, Thelwell must move Lawrence on when the window opens and use this money more wisely.

2024/25

25

6

2

2023/24

32

3

3

2022/23

9

3

2

There is another player, who is currently out on loan until the end of the season, who has spent more time on the sidelines than Lawrence.

Rabbi Matondo cost the Gers £3m three years ago, but it’s fair to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to this transfer fee.

Rabbi Matondo has spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch

Like Lawrence, Matondo has been severely injury-prone since arriving in Glasgow. Indeed, he has missed 69 matches for the club in that time.

There have been a few moments of genius, notably his curling effort against Celtic in April 2024 or his excellent goal against PSV Eindhoven in August 2023. But overall, Matondo hasn’t performed how many expected.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd hailed the winger for having “blistering pace” after scoring his first goal against PSV, but this is arguably the only real trait going for him, given his lack of impact at the club throughout his time in Glasgow.

Eight goals and 11 assists registered across 67 matches isn’t bad, but it certainly isn’t worthwhile enough to keep him for the 2025/26 season because he has failed to deliver consistent quality as either a scorer or a creator of goals.

He joined German side Hannover 96 on a six-month loan deal towards the end of the winter transfer window and has scored once in ten appearances.

With just one more year left on his current contract, Thelwell will be hoping Hannover exercise their option to buy the winger for a reported fee of £2m, which would help the club’s finances.

Bringing the former Everton director in this early will allow him to survey the situation at Ibrox before the transfer window opens.

If he can get off to a decent start regarding potential signings and departures, the 51-year-old will bank some credit.

Moving on both Lawrence and Matondo should be top of his list of priorities, given how much time they have spent on the sidelines rather than contributing to any success on the pitch at Ibrox.

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It’s safe to say this has been a perplexing season for Arsenal, who are now very likely to finish second having secured Champions League football for next season.

It came in the 37th gameweek as Mikel Arteta’s men defeated Newcastle 1-0. It was a game that rather typified the Gunners’ recent form, truth be told. Arsenal didn’t create a huge number of openings and left themselves exposed at the back.

This time, they had Man of the Match David Raya to thank for their victory with the Spaniard making a number of high-class saves in the opening 45 minutes. While Arsenal don’t need a goalkeeper, their end-of-season form has showcased where they need to strengthen.

Fortunately, writing before the game in the programme, Josh Kroenke spoke of the club’s summer plans and indicated that they will spend, sparking excitement for what’s to come.

So, speaking of transfers, who is likely to come through the door?

Arsenal ramping up summer transfer plans

While the biggest box to tick this summer is that of a shiny new centre forward, the Gunners must also hone in on a new winger after inconsistent campaigns for both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Martinelli has found form in the back end of the campaign but has only scored on eight occasions in the Premier League. As for Trossard, he’s netted the same number in top-flight action.

As a result, we’ve seen continued links to Spanish winger Nico Williams and a suggestion that Arsenal are fans of Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon.

Despite their need for a new winger on the left, they could actually bolster the right-hand side too. That’s because, according to new reports, they are interested in signing Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo.

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That’s the word of club insider Teamnewsandtix, who wrote in his latest Patreon entry: “After the data team identified him last summer, Arsenal are targeting Bryan Mbeumo again. I’m told talks are progressing, but they aren’t the only team in for him.”

The Cameroon international has been nothing short of a sensation this summer and is also attracting the interest of Manchester United, according to other reports.

The forward is allegedly valued at around £51m by the Bees.

Where Mbeumo would fit into Arteta's Arsenal team

With Bukayo Saka very much still the leading light in Arteta’s lineup, fitting Mbeumo into the equation may be hard.

Described as a “Mini Salah” by talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy, the Brentford star has made a living out of cutting inside from the right and bamboozling defenders on his stronger left foot. As the compliment suggests, he’s like Salah and, as a matter of fact, he’s very much like Saka in that regard.

While Arsenal do need to find someone who’s capable of giving the England international a break every now and then, spending £51m on a right winger when they are arguably more in need of a left forward perhaps doesn’t make too much sense.

Well, fortunately, Mbeumo is a versatile player, most notably playing six times as a centre forward this season, scoring four goals in the process.

Meanwhile, he’s played off the left on nine occasions in his career and he’s also featured behind the main striker as a no.10 or second striker 43 times. While that may well take away his strongest asset, cutting inside from the right, he certainly has the ability to make a difference in more central areas.

So, how does he compare with Saka?

Mbeumo vs Saka – 2024/25 league only

Stat (per 90 mins)

Mbeumo

Saka

Goals

0.51

0.19

Assists

0.32

0.53

Shots

2.09

3.39

Key passes

1.84

2.96

Progressive passes

3.71

3.54

Shot-creating actions

3.82

5.93

Successful take-ons

1.38

2.12

Progressive carries

3.39

4.97

Stats via FBRef.

Mbeumo has been in remarkable form this season and ranks fifth in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, having bagged 19 goals. In all competitions, he’s also produced nine assists for his troubles.

When analysing their respective numbers, it’s clear the Brentford star is a more clinical player in front of goal. Despite taking fewer shots per 90 minutes, he’s scoring more regularly than Saka.

However, this would certainly be to the advantage of Arteta’s team. While Mbeumo may well be the better goalscorer, Saka is one of the most creative wingers in the world and is streets ahead in metrics like key passes and shot-creating actions.

Yes, there would likely be confusion about Arsenal signing a natural right winger, but supporters shouldn’t turn their noses up at more goals. This term, the league’s second-placed side have scored 67 goals in the top-flight, 16 fewer than Liverpool.

On that basis, it’s not a surprise to see that the Reds run away with proceedings.

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With INEOS looking to send a statement this summer, Manchester United are now reportedly ready to table a shock offer worth as much as £85m to sign a Premier League rival.

Man Utd must get summer incomings right

In what feels like an Old Trafford groundhog day, Manchester United cannot afford to get their incomings wrong this summer. Like in 2014 under David Moyes and then under the likes of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunner Solskjaer, the Red Devils are in no position to make mistakes in the transfer market as they look to hand their latest manager the keys to unlock a place among Europe’s elite again at long last.

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He’s a serial winner.

ByTom Cunningham May 10, 2025

What does seem to be different about Ruben Amorim compared to Moyes, Van Gaal, Solskjaer and in some ways even Mourinho is just how honest he’s been about the extent of the task in front of him.

Even in the build-up to Manchester United’s 7-1 aggregate mauling of Athletic Bilbao to reach the Europa League final, Amorim assured reporters that silverware would not take away from what has been a disastrous season.

The former Sporting Club boss told reporters: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.

“So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment, I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years.”

Whether the Red Devils have what it takes to overcome Tottenham Hotspur in the final is another question, but if they do manage to win the competition then their transfer plans could become all the more interesting.

Man Utd readying shock Tonali offer

According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, INEOS and Manchester United are now ready to table a stunning €100m (£85m) offer to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United this summer. In an ambitious move, the Red Devils have set their sights on the Italian, who has enjoyed an excellent season at St James’ Park.

Starts

25

21

Goals

3

1

Progressive Carries

33

16

Ball Recoveries

163

117

Manchester United’s interest, whether a deal is feasible or not, should come as no surprise. As the numbers show, Tonali would be an instant upgrade on Manuel Ugarte and perhaps the difference between taking Amorim’s side into Europe and a place in mid-table once again next season.

Eddie Howe will likely be keen to keep hold of his midfielder, however. Full of praise, the Newcastle boss told reporters earlier this season: “We’ve seen that in recent games from a defensive viewpoint now more than an attacking viewpoint, where he’s sprinting to put out fires for us, nicking balls, intercepting balls, using his athleticism to track runners. He’s been excellent in that respect and think that’s really helped the team.”

Manchester City’s summer of spending is seemingly set to commence.

The Sky Blues were the world’s biggest spenders in January, signing Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah for a reported £180m; that’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs spent combined.

However, this appears likely to be a mere amuse-bouche ahead of the summer rebuild, so will the Citizens snap up one of the Premier League’s best players?

Manchester City targeting a new full-back

According to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Manchester City are interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, having already made ‘background checks’ regarding the Molineux sensation.

As the report goes on to note, Pep Guardiola has previously suggested that they will look to sign a left-back this summer, stating “obviously, Nico’s helping us, but he’s not a left-back… we’ve found solutions”.

So, could Aït-Nouri be that solution, valued at £40m by Wolves, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider?

Well, the Algerian international has certainly caught the eye, with Dougie Critchley of Sky Sports noting that he has “been one of the Premier League’s best players” in recent months, while David O’Brien praises his “creative” qualities.

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But would he be a good fit at Man City, and would his potential arrival be reminiscent of the signing of another sky blue stalwart?

Why Ait-Nouri could be the next Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker joined Manchester City from Tottenham back in 2017 for a reported £53m, a world-record fee for a defender at the time.

Fair to say, this proved to be a good investment, as the table below outlines.

Kyle Walker’s Manchester City career in numbers
Statistics	Walker
Appearances	319
Starts	286
Appearances in goal	1
Minutes	25,716
Goals	6
Assists	23
Premier League titles	6
Champions Leagues	1
FA Cups	2
EFL Cups	4
Total major honours	17
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

When Walker departed for AC Milan in January, Ali Tweedale of Opta’s the Analyst stated that the Englishman is the Premier League’s ‘best-ever right-back’, while Michael Cox of the Athletic adds that Man City would not have enjoyed nearly as much success as they have in recent times without being ‘reliant on his recovery pace’ which, now that he’s 34, ‘has faded’.

So, could Aït-Nouri have a similar impact at the Etihad? Well, let’s assess his statistics this season to help answer that question.

Rayan Aït-Nouri Premier League statistics 2024/25
Statistics	Aït-Nouri	PL rank
Starts	34	16th
Minutes	2,865	36th
Goals	4	74th
Assists	7	18th
Pass completion %	83.9%	86th
Key passes	36	52nd
Crosses	86	40th
Shot-creating actions	78	51st
Goal-creating actions	12	28th
Progressive carries	79	41st
Attempted take-ons	116	12th
Take-on success% (min 100 attempted)	48.3%	5th
Tackles	82	13th
Tackles won	52	11th
Interceptions	24	72nd
Ball recoveries	133	48th
Touches	1944	36th
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, Aït-Nouri is a very well-rounded full-back, ranking highly when it comes to both attacking and defensive metrics, but also dribbling, with only 11 players having attempted more take-ons, an impressively high figure for a full-back.

The Algerian is also always available, missing just one Premier League match all season, and this was due to a suspension, which would be a very useful asset, considering the defensive injury crisis Man City have endured throughout the season.

Moe Adikwu of Breaking the Lines believes Aït-Nouri possesses ‘enormous potential’, while also noting ‘there is still a lot of room for improvement’, but Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis highlights that he ‘is known for his attacking prowess’, so would therefore thrive in a team higher up the table.

It appears pretty likely that Aït-Nouri will wave goodbye to Wolves this summer, so do Man City lead the race to land his signature? If a deal is to be agreed, he could represent a left-sided version of Walker at full-back.

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Everton are believed to be “ready to make their move” to complete the signing of a young midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Moyes expecting busy summer at Everton

David Moyes has come in and impressively steered the Blues comfortably clear of the Premier League relegation zone this season, with a move to Bramley Moore Dock happening this summer.

It is vital that Everton enjoy a productive transfer window ahead of next season, ensuring yet another relegation battle is avoided, and Moyes has spoken positively to talkSPORT about how busy he expects the summer to be.

This will be music to the ears of Everton supporters, who will hope to see some top-quality players arrive on Merseyside, and now a new transfer rumour has emerged.

Everton "ready" to move for 21 year-old midfielder

According to a new report from Wiw Sport [via Sport Witness], Everton are battling Brighton to sign Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra this summer. The Blues are “ready to make their move” and “working to secure” the services of the 21-year-old, who is valued at £17m by his current club.

Diarra is exactly the type of player Everton should be targeting in the summer window, in terms of being a youngster with plenty of long-term potential to grow into a world class player at their new Bramley Moore home.

The four-cap Senegal international has four goals and five assists to his name in Ligue 1 this season, invariably operating as an attacking midfielder, but he is also capable of shining deeper and even as a centre forward, which is perhaps why scout Jacek Kulig has described him as an “excellent” footballer.

Abdoulaye Doucouré could leave Everton this summer, and Diarra could be a perfect replacement if he can refine the off-ball parts of his game over time.

Habib Diarra’s Ligue 1 stats in 2024/25

Total

Appearances

29

Starts

27

Minutes played

2340

Goals

4

Assists

5

Clearances per game

1.4

Tackles per game

0.8

Pass completion rate

86.6%

Granted, he is more attack-minded, but his versatility means Moyes could use him in several different ways, and he should only become more formidable as the years pass.

Despite the new owners not being situated at Ibrox just yet, Rangers’ summer rebuild starts now.

After their bitter rivals were crowned Premiership champions for the 13th time in just 14 seasons on Saturday, those from across the city have plenty of work to do over the summer to bridge that gap.

The 17-point chasm that exists at the top of the table is despite the fact Rangers have won both Old Firm derbies in 2025, 3-0 winners at Ibrox in January and 3-2 victors at Parkhead in March, with the latest Glasgow derby coming up on Sunday.

Off the field, the Light Blues could soon have new owners, Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises seemingly set to complete his 51% takeover imminently, with big summer signings promised, including the potential arrival of a “special” youngster from within the SPFL, finally filling the void vacated by the club’s best striker of the modern-era; Alfredo Morelos.

Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

Back in 2017, two days before his 21st birthday, Morelos joined Rangers from Veikkausliiga champions HJK Helsinki for a reported fee of £1.5m, and what a bargain this would prove to be.

Nicknamed el Búfalo, the Colombian striker was a key figure as the Light Blues went from a laughingstock to Premiership title winners under Steven Gerrard, as outlined by the table below.

Appearances

269

Goals

124

Assists

57

European goals

29

Goals vs Celtic

3

League titles

1

Scottish Cups

1

Red cards

8

As the table suggests, Morelos especially excelled in UEFA competition, breaking Ally McCoist’s all-time club-record for most goals scored in Europe, six of his 29 coming in 2021/22, as the Gers made it all the way to the Europa League Final.

Many supporters would argue the Colombian has never been properly replaced, but could that be about to change?

Rangers' interest in the SPFL's most in-demand striker

According to a report by The Chronicle, Rangers are ‘tracking’ Heart of Midlothian striker James Wilson, with both Celtic and Newcastle United reportedly interested too.

Matthew Lindsay of the Herald describes Wilson as a ‘gifted young striker’, claiming that Hearts fear losing him for an ‘absolute pittance’, valued at around £1m.

So who is he, and why is he in such demand?

Well, let’s take a look at his statistics to help answer this question.

Age

18

Age of debut

16

Appearances

31

Minutes

1,549

Goals

6

Assists

2

Despite only making his debut as recently as January 2024 against The Spartans, Wilson has established himself as a regular in the Hearts first team.

Indeed, he’s already scored in an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road in October before opening his European account at Tynecastle against Petrocub Hîncești in the Conference League a couple of months later.

The teenager was also sent off for a high-tackle on Dundee United’s Luca Stephenson last month, which is a very Morelos thing to do isn’t it?

In a more positive development, back in March, Wilson was handed his senior international debut by Steve Clarke against Greece during a UEFA Nations League tie at Hampden, becoming Scotland’s youngest-ever male player, breaking John Lambie’s record that had stood for a staggering 138 years.

Teammate for club and country Craig Gordon described Wilson as a “great talent” and “pretty special”, believing “he’s going to go really far”, while Hearts left-back James Penrice praised the teenager’s “brilliant season”, adding “I’m very impressed with him”.

So, it’s easy to understand why he is in such high demand.

Thus, if Rangers are able to get their hands on Wilson, could he replicate Morelos’ time at Ibrox?

Like the great Colombian, he’d be arriving as a youngster for not very much money, but potentially making a huge impact by scoring a high number of goals.

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Targeting attacking reinforcements this summer, the 49ers are now reportedly leading the race to sign an impressive 21-goal striker for Leeds United in the coming months.

Leeds set to back Daniel Farke with new striker signing

If recent reports are anything to go by, then Leeds are set to go all out in preparation for the Premier League this summer. The 49ers seem determined to back manager Daniel Farke, who will be looking to earn Premier League redemption of his own following previous relegations with Norwich City.

There was a stage in which rumours were emerging that Fake wouldn’t get that chance, however, with those at Elland Road unsure on his top flight record. Club chairman Paraag Marathe has since put those rumours to bed, telling reporters in the middle of Leeds’ title celebrations: “I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel and collaborate with him.

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“I’m under no illusions that it is going to be easy. The past two seasons the three promoted teams came straight back down but we have something they don’t have, we have Daniel Farke first of all. I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”

Desperate to avoid the same mistakes that Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town made this season, Leeds have reportedly set their sights on signing proven Premier League players this summer, with names such as Kostas Tsimikas and even Jamie Vardy already mentioned as potential targets.

Tsimikas would be a particularly strong signing, given that he’s fresh from becoming a Premier League champion with Liverpool. The Greek left-back would instantly replace Junio Firpo, who is currently on course to leave Elland Road at the end of his contract next month.

Although the focus on Premier League targets is clear, however, the 49ers have also reportedly set their sights on an impressive goalscorer from outside of English football.

Leeds leading race to sign Vanat

According to reports in Ukraine, as relayed by Sport Witness, the 49ers and Leeds are now ahead in the race to sign Vladyslav Vanat from Dynamo Kyiv this summer alongside fellow Premier League side Fulham. The 23-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring 21 goals and creating a further eight in all competitions, and could now be on the move as a result.

Dubbed an “all-round centre-forward” and praised for his “powerful ball-striking” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leeds could welcome a hidden gem by signing Vanat this summer.

Whilst his name wouldn’t steal the same headlines as the likes of Vardy, his numbers suggest that he could be an even better signing than the Premier League veteran. Racing against Fulham for his signature, Leeds should push on and formalise their interest in signing Vanat when the summer transfer window swings open.

Leicester City will soon be back in the Championship and have now lined up a potential replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy who would be open to taking over at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy's uncertain future

Truthfully, Leicester City have struggled to adapt to the Premier League and their relegation against Liverpool earlier this month proved to be something of an inevitable end result.

Ruud van Nistlerooy has been unable to turn the tide since taking over from Steve Cooper, with a return of three victories, two draws and 18 defeats across all competitions certifying that his side will return to the EFL Championship after a year in the top-flight.

The former Netherlands international is under contract until 2027, but there are naturally some doubts over his position at the club following a dismal run of results.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is said to be on the Foxes’ list and has been evaluated internally by their hierarchy. Meanwhile, England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley has also emerged as a potential candidate.

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior could be targeted by Leicester City following his sterling work at the BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 outfit, though he is also attracting interest at Southampton, who have their own vacancy to fill.

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The bigger picture in the East Midlands can be altered with the right appointment. Sales will happen this summer, but there is still the makings of a talented squad to work with for whoever is chosen to lead the Foxes in the Championship.

In light of this, another progressive candidate has come to the table and may be open to taking the job at the King Power over the next few weeks.

Leicester City set for tussle over top target Russell Martin

According to The Sun, Russell Martin is Leicester City’s first choice to fill their managerial vacancy, and he is now said to be keen on being installed as their new manager should an approach be made for his services.

On the flip side, Rangers have shortlisted the 39-year-old as a candidate to take over from Barry Ferguson, creating a scenario where whoever makes the first move could land the former Southampton and Swansea City boss.

Russell Martin’s managerial record – would he be a good choice for Leicester City?
Games managed	252
Wins	101
Draws	56
Defeats	95

Intriguingly, he has lost every match when in the dugout against Leicester City, but his promotion-winning campaign with Southampton last term may be of interest to the Foxes as they seek a return to the Premier League in 2025/26.

Neither themselves or Rangers are in an immediate rush to make an appointment, so it remains to be seen how things will play out for the former Scotland international, who has previously been praised by Pep Guardiola for his brave tactical framework.

Ultimately, timeframes aren’t important for Leicester City, they will take their time before coming to a conclusion over who is the right man to take them forward.

Arsenal are now seriously considering a move for a defender who has played every single minute for his club in the Premier League this season.

Gunners stepping up centre-back pursuit

Mikel Arteta has received criticism for not bringing in a new striker, which has arguably been costly in his side’s pursuit of the Premier League title, with Gary Neville recently questioning the decision prior to the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

As such, it is looking increasingly likely that the Gunners will pursue a new forward this summer, with an offer for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak now in the works, but they are also keen to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch.

The north Londoners have stepped up their pursuit of a new centre-back in recent weeks, having now made a formal offer for AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, but the Spaniard is not the only Premier League defender on the shortlist.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Arsenal are now seriously considering a move for Brentford defender Nathan Collins, who has impressed for the Bees since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £23m deal last summer.

Newcastle United are also ramping up their interest in Collins, however, so there could be competition for his signature, and a move to St. James’ Park could be preferable, given that he wouldn’t have to compete for a starting spot with the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba.

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The centre-back has been indispensable for Brentford this season, playing every minute in the top flight, and he has received high praise for his performances from ESPN’s Mario Marra, who described the Irishman as “one of the best” defenders in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old’s defensive aptitude is also underlined by the fact he places highly on some key defensive metrics over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs in the big five European leagues.

Statistic

Average per 90

Blocks

2.0 (97th percentile)

Clearances

6.08 (82nd percentile)

Aerials won

3.22 (91st percentile)

Not only that, but the Ireland captain has also proven himself to be an attacking threat, picking up two goals and five assists for Brentford in the Premier League, underlining his ability to be a difference-maker at both ends of the pitch.

That said, it is likely to be very difficult to displace Gabriel and Saliba in the starting XI at Arsenal, so it remains to be seen whether Collins is willing to leave Brentford behind and play more of a sporadic role in north London.