Barry Ferguson has three more matches left to manage as the interim head coach of Glasgow Rangers before he moves on from Ibrox this summer.

The former Scotland international came in to replace Philippe Clement earlier this year and has only won four of his 12 games in charge of Rangers to date, drawing his most recent clash in the Old Firm derby.

Ferguson, therefore, has not done much to suggest that the new owners, when they complete their takeover, should be looking to hand him the role on a full-time basis moving forward.

In fact, TEAMtalk recently reported that the 49ers want to appoint a fresh face with no prior connection to Rangers, which immediately rules out Ferguson, who has now played for and managed the Light Blues.

The outlet added that Steven Gerrard is also out of the running, because of that stance, and will not be returning to Ibrox for a second stint in the dugout.

Whilst the 49ers will not be pursuing a move for the out-of-contract English tactician, they should be looking for a manager who can be their own version of the Liverpool legend.

Why the 49ers should want their own Steven Gerrard

Back in the summer of 2018, Rangers, who were aiming to put Celtic’s dominant run of league titles to a stop, confirmed the appointment of Gerrard on a four-year contract.

Prior to that summer, the Hoops had won seven Scottish Premiership titles in as many seasons and the Gers needed a manager who could wrestle back control of the league.

Gerrard was a risky appointment, as he had not managed a first-team game by that point, and it was not a move that instantly worked out for the Light Blues, because the English boss needed time to develop a style and to build a squad that was ready to win the title.

Rangers finished in second place, behind Celtic, in the manager’s first two seasons at Ibrox, before they went on to win the division in the 2020/21 campaign, going unbeaten in the process.

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, Gerrard’s side won 32 of their 38 matches that season to clinch the Premiership crown and to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row.

The Light Blues then won eight of their first 12 matches in the following season, taking them to the top of the table, before the manager decided to pursue an opportunity with Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, Rangers have finished second in all four of their seasons without Gerrard at the helm, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, and Barry Ferguson have all failed to deliver a title to the Ibrox faithful.

The 49ers should, therefore, want to find their own version of the English boss because they now face the same task that the club faced in 2018: stopping Celtic’s title dominance.

Why Rangers should target Frank Lampard

Back in October 2023, when Beale was relieved of his duties, Sky Sports reported that Frank Lampard had shown an interest in the available post at Ibrox.

Almost two years later, the 49ers must target the English manager to see if he would be interested in the job this time around, should Coventry fail to earn promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

It seems unlikely that he would want to ditch the Sky Blues if they make their way to the top-flight in England, but Rangers must attempt to convince Lampard to make the move to Scotland if Coventry do not join Leeds United and Burnley in the top division.

The 46-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, joined the Sky Blues when they were 17th in the Championship and level on points with the bottom three and led them to a fifth-placed finish, to secure a place in the play-offs.

Speaking on talkSPORT recently, pundit Jermaine Jenas hailed Lampard’s ability to work through criticism and claimed that he has done a “pretty special” job at Coventry, which is hard to argue against when you look at the images above.

The former Chelsea midfielder, who played alongside Gerrard at international level for England in their playing days, has had mixed success throughout his managerial career, but is currently thriving at the CBS Arena.

24/25

Championship (Coventry)

29

1.79

5th

22/23

Premier League (Chelsea)

9

0.56

12th

22/23

Premier League (Everton)

20

0.75

19th

21/22

Premier League (Everton)

18

1.11

16th

20/21

Premier League (Chelsea)

19

1.53

9th

19/20

Premier League (Chelsea)

38

1.74

4th

18/19

Championship (Derby County)

46

1.61

6th

As you can see in the table above, Lampard enjoyed early success with sixth and fourth place finishes with Derby County and Chelsea, before being sacked by the Premier League giants and by Everton.

He then endured a dismal interim spell at Chelsea after Graham Potter’s dismissal at Stamford Bridge, earning just 0.56 points per game across nine matches, before taking the Coventry job earlier this season.

Whilst managing at the top of the Premier League may be a step too far for him at this moment in time, Lampard has finished in the play-off positions in both of his seasons in the Championship with Derby and Coventry, which shows that he can motivate and set up a team to win consistently.

Couple that with the respect that his playing career earns him, and there is a compelling argument to suggest that he could be the 49ers’ own version of Gerrard in the new era at Ibrox, as another manager on the up who has something to prove rather than someone who has been there and done it and may not have the same motivation.

Not just Gerrard: "Error prone" Rangers star must not be part of 49ers era

Steven Gerrard is not the only big name who should not be part of the 49ers era at Rangers.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

Like Gerrard, Lampard is yet to win a league title and the prospect of doing that at Ibrox could be an attractive and highly-motivating factor for him, which is why the 49ers could tempt him to leave Coventry if his side fails to win the play-offs.

The English tactician has shown promise at Championship level and has proven that he can galvanise a losing team and turn it into a winning one, which is, in essence, what Rangers are in need of.

Everton are planning for a busy summer, with The Friedkin Group willing to back David Moyes as he whips his side into shape.

The Scottish manager has been brilliant since replacing Sean Dyche in the dugout, but there’s only so much he can do without investment across numerous positions, angling the Toffees toward a state of confidence and coherence, capable of competing at the upper end of the Premier League.

There’s no question the Merseysiders need more goals as they step into the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium, and Moyes appears to have found his man already, with Everton joining the race for a Serie A striker.

Everton join race for new striker

It’s no secret that Everton are in need of a new centre-forward, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin approaching the end of his current contract, while Chelsea loanee Armando Broja is likely to return to his parent club.

Transfer Focus

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

With that in mind, Caught Offside report that Everton have joined the hotly-contested race for Valentin Castellanos, a 26-year-old striker plying his trade for Lazio.

The reliable goalscorer would be allowed to leave if Lazio received a fee of around £30m, although in truth, suitors may well be put off by such demands.

In any case, Everton know they have their work cut out with this one: Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all eager to make their move this summer.

What Castellanos would bring to Everton

Castellanos, a two-cap Argentina international, played out the early years of his career in his homeland before transferring to the MLS in 2018, where he would remain in the Big Apple with New York City F.C. until moving on loan to Girona in 2022.

A prolific season in Spain led to a permanent move to Lazio, and after scoring just four Serie A goals last season, Castellanos has now posted 14 across 39 appearances this term, supplying eight assists.

There’s an athletic grace to his football that would certainly add a dimension to Moyes’ attack, contrasting with the powerful strides of Beto and Calvert-Lewin’s target man style, should the veteran forward renew his contract.

As per FBref, Castellanos ranks among the top 9% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 12% for goal-creating actions and the top 20% for progressive carries per 90, praised for his “extraordinary” technical ability by Lazio boss Marco Baroni.

The nine’s performances in the Europa League this year have also led the data-driven platform to compare him to Richarlison, Everton’s former talisman who left for Tottenham Hotspur in a £60m deal back in 2022.

It’s difficult to analyse the Brazilian’s performances from this term, for his availability has been limited due to injury, but Richarlison did enjoy heightened success under Ange Postecoglou’s wing last year, with his energy, versatility and snapping bite making for an intriguing option.

Matches (starts)

28 (27)

28 (18)

Goals

10

11

Assists

3

4

Shots (on target)*

3.6 (1.4)

2.2 (0.9)

Big chances missed

13

7

Pass completion

70%

71%

Key passes*

1.0

0.6

Dribbles*

0.6

0.4

Duels won*

4.8

2.9

It’s an option Castellanos could provide for Moyes to have an even greater effect.

Richarlison’s tenacity and ability to add a direct threat while using his movements and physicality to upset defenders differentiates him from the rabble of forwards across the continent. Fitness setbacks have been his nemesis in recent years, but his underlying talent level remains strong.

However, while Everton might be interested in completing a deal, it doesn’t make sense to take a backwards step when every aspect of the club is currently angled forward, to a new beginning.

Castellanos could be the man to lead Everton over the coming years, bearing Richarlison’s prolific quality and multi-facetedness.

Though the Argentine could perhaps be a bit more clinical with his shooting, there’s enough about his overall game that Moyes would delight in working with him, adding a layer to an Everton team firmly rooted in structure and solidity and purposeful pragmaticism.

After renewed promise since the harsh winter of Dyche’s final days abated, Everton have got an appetite for a new level of success.

Showing intent and bringing players such as Castellanos into the fold, instead of returning for a former star in Richarlison, who has flattered to deceive since leaving, is surely the way forward.

Imagine him & Ndiaye: Everton could see £12m bid accepted for PL midfielder

Everton are ready to make a series of signings for David Moyes this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 19, 2025

Another Championship season has worryingly passed West Bromwich Albion by, meaning the Baggies have been outside the luxuries of Premier League football since relegation at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

Many managers have come and gone during this testing period, with Carlos Corberan the closest to restoring West Brom back to their former top-flight glories when reaching the playoffs just last season, only for eventual promotion winners Southampton to get the better of the West Midlands side over two legs.

Now, West Brom are back in the daunting position of having to look for another new boss after parting ways with Tony Mowbray, with the next face to grace the Hawthorns helm perhaps the one that seals promotion finally.

West Brom's list of manager targets

It’s been nearly a month now since Mowbray was dismissed with the 61-year-old unfortunately unable to push the Baggies up into the playoffs on his return to the hot-seat.

Instead, he only managed to pick up five victories from his 17 games in charge, with these disappointing failures culminating in James Morrison having to take over the reins on an interim basis for the final few games of the league campaign.

There have even been reports that the ex-West Brom midfielder could be handed the vacancy on a permanent basis, but it’s far likelier that the Baggies will look elsewhere in trying to uncover the best possible Mowbray successor.

However, one option continuing to be linked with Albion is Ryan Mason. Five years younger than Morrison, he actually boasts more significant coaching experience at Tottenham Hotspur.

Yet, if West Brom can find a more experienced promotion winner over Mason, they should go full steam ahead. In fact, there’s a seven-time promotion expert who ticks all the right boxes.

West Brom could appoint "unbelievable" promotion expert

Instead of swooping in to steal coaches from Premier League outfits, West Brom could look to the lower reaches of the EFL to finally land a suitable Mowbray replacement.

With that in mind, Stockport County boss Dave Challinor could be their desired man. The current Hatters boss is a beloved figure at Edgeley Park for how much he has revolutionised the Greater Manchester side’s fortunes since joining in 2021 and is reportedly on the radar of Albion.

When he first took on the reins, Stockport were a sleeping giant marooned in the National League. But, with two promotions under his belt now – which included pipping mega-money Wrexham Town to the League Two title last year – the Hatters are on the cusp of a Championship return for the first time in over 20 years.

This will be music to the ears of West Brom as they aim to finally break out of the Championship, with Challinor already a recognised promotion expert in League Two and perhaps League One to come, meaning he could take to the next step-up swimmingly as well.

Games managed

553

Wins

282

Draws

128

Losses

143

Goals scored

998

Promotions

7x

League titles

4x

Overall win percentage

50.9%

Staggeringly, Challinor still has even more promotion wins to brag about than the two already mentioned with Stockport, with the table above illuminating his further five promotion successes as a lower league veteran, alongside his mammoth career tally of 282 victories.

This is where any approach for Mason could fall flat, with the Spurs coach clearly a well-regarded face in North London and one for the future. However, he has only overseen a meagre 13 games as a main manager.

Both the 49-year-old and Mason do have a connection, however, with neither figure having taken charge of a Championship game before.

But, if the “unbelievable” manager – as he’s been labelled previously by journalist Jordan Cronin – has proved anything across his distinguished time in various dug-outs to date, he often excels when a tough challenge is put in front of him.

He's Corberan 2.0: West Brom could hire "one of the best young coaches"

West Bromwich Albion will hope they can unearth their next Carlos Corberan with this managerial appointment.

ByKelan Sarson May 13, 2025

West Ham United are now preparing a substantial offer for a forward who has an incredible 45 goals and assists combined to his name this season, according to a report.

Hammers keen to strengthen in attack

It has been a season to forget for West Ham, with Graham Potter failing to oversee a major improvement in results and performances since replacing Julen Lopetegui in the dugout, so it is little wonder they are looking at making changes this summer.

Michail Antonio is now in the twilight years of his career at 35, while Niclas Fullkrug has bagged just three Premier League goals all season, meaning the Hammers have now set out to sign a new striker.

Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap is one of the forwards under consideration, given the Englishman’s attractive release clause of just £30m, although it is unclear how keen he would be on a move to the London Stadium, amid interest from some of the league’s top clubs.

Related Huge upgrade on Soucek: West Ham make contact to sign "midfield machine"

West Ham could be about to kickstart the needed overhaul of the squad under Graham Potter this summer.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

With Mohammed Kudus’ future in doubt, there may also be a need to bring in a new winger this summer, and the Irons have now joined the race for a forward who has been at the top of his game this season.

According to a report from Caught Offside, West Ham are now preparing a substantial offer for Celtic star Daizen Maeda, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Fulham, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Leeds United also keen.

In light of Maeda’s impressive performances in the Scottish Premiership, Celtic believe an asking price of £25m is fair, and there is a feeling the forward would be keen on a move to the Premier League, should he receive an attractive offer.

"Beast" Maeda enjoying best season to date

The Japan international has been a key player for Celtic ever since his arrival, but the ongoing campaign has been by far his most prolific, having amassed a remarkable 45 goals and assists in all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Scottish Premiership

33

16

10

Champions League

9

4

1

Scottish Cup

4

7

0

League Cup

3

6

1

Not only that, but the 27-year-old has received praise from writer Sacha Pisani, given his willingness to pitch in defensively for the Hoops.

The Japanese winger’s defensive acumen is also showcased by the fact he ranks in the 98th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, and the 96th percentile for blocks, when compared to other wingers.

Of course, moving to the Premier League would be a step-up for Maeda, but his performances for Celtic indicate he could be a fantastic signing for West Ham this summer.

Heading into May, Wolverhampton Wanderers will look to see out their up-and-down Premier League season with even more of a bang.

Vitor Pereira has amazingly guided the Old Gold to six straight wins in the unforgiving division leading into the final month of the campaign, with the Portuguese boss very much a popular figure at the Molineux helm, considering his side are now looking up at the mid-table spots away from past relegation worries.

Still, there is the sticky situation involving Matheus Cunha’s future at the club to resolve. But, the rejuvenated West Midlands outfit are already looking at adding in some new attackers to the building as per fresh reports.

Wolves keeping tabs on "instinctive" striker

Reports in recent days have revealed there is interest in Premier League veteran Jamie Vardy. The Foxes legend is set to depart Leicester City at the conclusion of his contract at the King Power and as a result, would be available on a free transfer.

Yet, he’s not the only forward the Old Gold are interested in acquiring over the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, according to Football Insider, Pereira’s men are also keeping tabs on breakout Holstein Kiel star Phil Harres ahead of the transfer window reopening.

Indeed, the “instinctive” finisher – as he’s been lauded for in the past on social media – has been a goalscoring revelation for the Bundesliga minnows this season, leading to both Wolves and Crystal Palace taking a keen interest in the standout German.

The 23-year-old wouldn’t cost a bomb to obtain either, with his valuation coming in at around the £8.5m mark according to Football Insider.

How Harres could be their next Jimenez

Wolves snapping up the services of the Kiel number 19 could see them land their next version of Raul Jimenez, with both strikers in question imposing forward players joining from Europe ready to impress in a new daunting environment.

Jimenez would, of course, take to the pressures of English football like a duck to water during his early Old Gold days, with the strong 6 foot 3 striker going on to bag an impressive 13 league goals for his fresh employers across his debut 2018/19 season.

In total, the former Benfica man would amass 57 goals and 23 assists from 166 appearances in the West Midlands, with the now 33-year-old seen as a modern icon in Wolverhampton.

Harres will hope he can follow in the footsteps of the esteemed striker if a move to England gets off the ground.

Like Jimenez in his formative days, Harres has enjoyed a “remarkable rise” in the words of scout Jacek Kulig, considering he has already stepped up to the German top-flight with flying colours this season. That was never more evident than his powerful header and cool assist back in January to help Kiel clinch a shock 4-2 success over Borussia Dortmund (video above).

In total, the towering 6 foot 4 attacker – which isn’t far off Jimenez’s own intimidating frame – has an electric ten goals and three assists next to his name this campaign from 31 outings, leaving him perhaps wanting a change in environment to test himself further.

Kiel

24

8

1

Kiel II

7

2

2

FC 08 Homburg

43

28

3

Viktoria Berlin

34

12

3

SSV Ulm 1846

41

17

1

Dynamo Dresden

3

0

0

After all, Harres has been a journeyman up and down the German leagues for some time now, with every spell he’s had across the various different divisions resulting in goals aplenty, minus a frustrating stint at Dresden.

Jimenez had a similar goalscoring reputation for the likes of Benfica and Club America before a switch to England materialised, even with a one-goal stay at Atletico Madrid having the potential to derail him.

Therefore, everything could be in place for Harres to be Jimenez 2.0 at Molineux, with Wolves fans hopeful that another centre-forward gem can be unearthed to help boost their already potent attack.

Just imagine him & Larsen: Wolves plot bargain move for Premier League star

Wolves are reportedly eyeing up a deal for a Premier League forward who could work well with Jorgen Strand Larsen.

ByDan Emery Apr 30, 2025

Manchester United are now preparing a cut-price offer to sign a £60 million striker who Arsenal are in the lead for, according to a new report.

Hojlund edges closer to Man Utd exit as Red Devils eye new attackers

There are expected to be a lot of changes at Old Trafford this summer, but none seem as important as strengthening the forward line. United have been one of the poorest teams in the Premier League this season for taking chances and scoring goals, and Ruben Amorim knows that this will need to change if he is going to be successful at the club.

Juventus take "concrete steps" to sign "top class" £85k-a-week Man Utd ace

Is it the right time for him to move on?

By
Henry Jackson

May 5, 2025

Rasmus Hojlund has been a regular in the United team this season, but his lack of contribution in the final third means he could be on his way out the door this summer. According to a recent report, Serie A giants Juventus have taken “concrete steps” to sign Hojlund by making contact with the Denmark international. It doesn’t say how much United would want for Hojlund, but his departure would allow the club to bring in replacements, with two players already on their radar.

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha appears to be edging closer and closer to moving to Old Trafford this summer, as talks continue over personal terms and the structure of the transfer. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are also planning a bid to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, a player who could either play as a number nine or number 10.

This comes as United are also looking at possibly signing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, who now has a release clause worth £30 million given the Tractor Boys’ relegation to the Championship.

Man Utd preparing cut-price offer to sign £55m+ striker Sesko

But the list of potential replacements for Hojlund does not stop there, as, according to Caught Offside, Man Utd are preparing to make an offer to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig this summer.

The report states that Leipzig have placed a value on Sesko of around €80–90 million, which is roughly £68-76 million. But United are looking to bring that fee down and are planning to make an offer in the region of €65–70 million, which is roughly £55-59 million. However, United are not the only team interested in Sesko, as Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are also preparing transfer offers.

It’s been reported that Arsenal are the team leading the race to sign Sesko, as they view the forward as the ideal addition to improve their forward line. However, it is not just English teams chasing the Leipzig striker, as teams such as Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also very keen on Sesko.

Benjamin Sesko’s RB Leipzig stats
Apps	85
Goals	39
Assists	8

Sesko, who has been dubbed a “quick” player, has been mightily impressive since joining Leipzig, and given how the campaign has gone for the German side this season, a move away for Sesko could be on the cards, given he will likely want to play at the highest level.

He could be a huge upgrade on Hojlund for Man Utd, as the 21-year-old has netted 43 goals in the last three Bundesliga seasons.

Despite their huge success in the Premier League this season, changes are expected at Liverpool over the summer window to hand Arne Slot with the funds to bolster his squad.

The Reds claimed the title with multiple games to spare, highlighting the excellent work done by the Dutchman after taking the reins last summer from Jürgen Klopp.

Such an achievement was made even more impressive after making just one addition, but that could be about to change in the coming months.

Even though the transfer window is not yet open, the hierarchy have already laid the foundations for potential business, handing Slot the best possible opportunity to build on his early success at Anfield.

Numerous additions are expected on Merseyside over the summer window, with one player emerging as a potential key target over the last couple of weeks.

The latest on Liverpool’s attempts to sign Florian Wirtz

In recent weeks, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz has become a key target for Liverpool as Slot looks to bolster the options at his disposal in 2025/26.

The German, who’s registered 30 combined goals and assists this campaign, has been one of the shining lights in the Bundesliga, undoubtedly contributing to the interest from the Reds.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit, with Bayern Munich and Manchester also credited with an interest in landing the 22-year-old sensation during the off-season.

Despite the rumours linking him elsewhere, it was reported this week that the Reds were ready to offer a deal to the German outfit to potentially land the young star.

Undoubtedly, a player of his quality will likely cost a small fortune, with other players currently on the books on Merseyside needing to be sacrificed to fund such a deal.

The Liverpool player who earns over 2x more than Wirtz

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, numerous players have been touted with moves away from Liverpool this summer, with many likely to raise key funds.

Darwin Nunez joined for a club-record fee back in the summer of 2022, but has struggled to provide the goods at Anfield, notching just 40 goals in his 142 appearances for the club.

Such form has led to rumours over a potential departure, with the likes of Napoli and Atlético Madrid already interested in making a move to land the Uruguayan international at a cut-price.

However, he may not be the only player out the door this summer, with Slot needing to sell Andy Robertson, especially if Milos Kerkez joins the club in the coming months.

The Hungarian has been touted as a replacement for the Scotsman this summer, with the 31-year-old falling way below the high standards he’s set for himself in recent years.

The defender joined in an £8m deal from Hull City eight years ago, exceeding all expectations and registering 11 goals and 67 assists for the Reds – enabling them to reach new heights in recent seasons.

However, 2024/25 has been a year to forget for Robertson, only registering two assists across all competitions, with his major asset now looking to be ineffective compared to previous campaigns.

Games played

36

32

Goals scored

2

0

Assists

12

1

Touches

93.8

64

Pass completion

84%

88%

Key passes

1.7

1.3

Dribbles completed

0.6

0.2

Tackles + interceptions

2.6

1.9

Clearances

1.6

1.3

Duels won

3.4 (51%)

1.9 (49%)

Errors leading to goals

1

2

Such showings have led to broadcaster Nubaid Haroon claiming that he’s been “struggling” as of late, with his stats produced highlighting his decline in recent years.

His current weekly wage of £160k-per-week doesn’t offer value for money, given his lack of positive impact, with the left-back the fourth-highest earner in the squad.

Such a figure is over two times higher than that of current target Wirtz, who currently earns just £72k-per-week, according to Capology, highlighting how much the club need to cut Robertson from the squad.

Whilst it would be a brutal decision given his tally of 341 appearances for the club, unfortunately, his time has come to be moved on as they prepare for a new era under Slot.

Such a deal to sign him back in 2017 will go down as one of the best in their recent history, undoubtedly being a modern-day icon regardless of what happens this summer.

Slot's own Firmino: Liverpool in talks for "monster" £84m Isak alternative

Liverpool could land a star who could replicate the talents of Roberto Firmino at Anfield.

ByEthan Lamb May 21, 2025

Fulham have now made a move to sign a 28-year-old La Liga midfielder when his contract expires this summer, according to a recent report.

Fulham plan for summer amid Marco Silva uncertainty

Given how well the Cottagers have done in the Premier League this season, it may not be too much of a surprise to see their manager, Marco Silva being linked with a move away. The Portuguese coach, who is reported to have an £8 million release clause in his contract, has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, as they keep their options open over a possible new manager.

Fulham identify young £5m coach as exciting option to replace Marco Silva

Fulham chiefs are already looking at managers who could replace Silva should he leave.

1

By
Brett Worthington

May 7, 2025

It’s not just Spurs though, as Saudi side Al Hilal want to appoint Silva as their new manager. They want to appoint a new boss before the Club World Cup and it’s even being reported that Silva has already agreed to leave Fulham and move to the Saudi Pro League.

Therefore, the Cottagers may need to start looking for replacements, and according to Sky Germany, Fulham are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as Silva’s successor.

The German is an emerging coach who has done an excellent job in a tricky situation at Sheffield Wednesday and is now on the radar of a few teams in England’s top flight and beyond.

Fulham make move to sign 28 y/o midfielder on free transfer

However, the Premier League side will of course hope Silva remains put, and are already working on potential business they would like to conduct under him this summer. According to TEAMtalk, Fulham have made an enquiry to sign midfielder Yvan Neyou, who will leave Leganes at the end of the campaign.

The report states that Neyou, who has been with the Spanish side on a permanent basis since 2023, will leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, given they look set for relegation. That has alerted several teams who are interested in a possible deal. Fulham have made contact in a bid to understand if he would be interested in a move to Craven Cottage, but they are not alone in the race.

Crystal Palace have also made an enquiry about signing the 28-year-old, but TEAMtalk reports that it is Valencia who are currently leading the way when it comes to signing Neyou. It is claimed that his consistent performances, good defensive awareness and composure on the ball have made him a standout performer for Leganes in what has been a struggle of a season for them.

Yvan Neyou’s 24/25 La Liga stats
Apps	28
Starts	25
Goals	1
Assists	1
Passes per game (accuracy)	31.3 (87%)
Interceptions per game	0.9
Tackles per game	1.9
Clearances per game	1.3

His arrival might be a priority given Tom Cairney is coming to the end of his contract at Craven Cottage, and Neyou could be seen as a like-for-like replacement for the long-time servant with more time on his side.

David Ornstein has shared an update on the prospect of Tottenham Hotspur parting company with manager Ange Postecoglou after their historic Europa League final win in Bilbao, as chairman Daniel Levy is suddenly handed a much tougher decision to make.

Tottenham seal first European trophy since 1984 after win over Man United

Brennan Johnson’s scrappy opener proved decisive on an unforgettable night in Bilbao for Postecoglou, who silenced many critics by fulfilling his bold early-season promise of always winning trophies in his second year.

Related Tottenham hold talks with forward compared to Messi amid Europa League glory

Ange Postecoglou’s side now have a big summer to plan for.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini May 22, 2025

Much was made of that statement throughout 2024/2025, but it will now go down as one of the most memorable quotes in recent football history.

By making good on his pledge, the 59-year-old also guided Spurs to their first European trophy since 1984 and first piece of silverware at all since 2008, with the Lilywhites also set to play Champions League football next season.

Tottenham vs Man Utd – best performers on the night

Match Rating

Guglielmo Vicario

7.7

Yves Bissouma

7.6

Cristian Romero

7.4

Bruno Fernandes

7.4

Destiny Udogie

7.2

via WhoScored

Tottenham are set for a huge financial windfall from winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League, which should have a very positive effect on the club’s recruitment drive for top targets, who’ll also be more tempted by their advances, given Spurs’ status.

However, despite Postecoglou ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought, the jury is still out on whether he’ll be at the helm next season.

Reports in the build-up to Wednesday night indicated that Postecoglou could leave Tottenham regardless of their potential Europa League triumph, but the emotion of a season-saving 90 minutes and one of the club’s best nights in recent memory has resulted in this decision being easier said than done.

Tottenham have identified Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, among others, as possible replacements for Postecoglou, and the process of finding a successor to the ex-Celtic boss has reportedly been underway for a while.

David Ornstein shares Ange Postecoglou sack update

Speaking on the Sky Sports Paper Talks show in the aftermath of Spurs’ win over Man United, Ornstein shared an update on the possibility of Tottenham sacking Postecoglou.

The reliable journalist claims they’re still likely to part ways after a dismal domestic campaign, where Spurs broke their record for most Premier League defeats in a single campaign, so there may not be room for any sentimentality.

“The clear direction of travel as far as the Tottenham hierarchy are concerned goes is to make a change this summer, and it will be fascinating to see if they follow through with that,” said Ornstein.

“I think it is most likely they will from an outside perspective, but they have a bit more food for thought now.

“I think if they look at the evidence, and that isn’t just results but performances and injuries, then there is enormous room or improvement. They feel there is a strong squad there. They have invested heavily and it needs more work, they need good fortune with injuries, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there was still a change there.

“And I don’t think it would surprise Ange Postecoglou given some of his comments that have hinted towards a change coming. He seems to be at peace with that. Whatever happens now, his legacy is preserved as a history-maker for Tottenham, but there are important conversations that need to take place, and it would be an about turn if they were to stick with him because the feeling was that they would make a change this summer.”

Should Spurs hand Postecoglou his P45 after their triumph in Spain? Have your say in the comments.

With the summer transfer window set to open on the 1st of June, it is clear that Chelsea are going to sign a striker. The Blues, who face Real Betis in the Conference League final on Wednesday, are strongly linked with several new names who could lead the line for them.

A recent report from Kieran Gill for The Mail named some of the striker targets the Blues are chasing this summer. They include Eintracht Frankfurt youngster Hugo Ekitike, also wanted by Liverpool, and fellow Bundesliga striker Benjamin Sesko, currently playing for RB Leipzig.

However, there is another man the West Londoners are interested in, for whom they are thought to be leading the race to sign.

Chelsea’s main striker target

It will be fascinating to see who the Blues pursue this summer, with regards to their centre-forward targets. Of course, they seem to be strong contenders to sign Ekitike and Sesko, but they are arguably not their preferred choice.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to a report from Chris Wheeler of The Mail, Chelsea are currently the favourites to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. The Blues have ‘edged ahead’ in the race in recent days, perhaps swung by their Champions League qualification, which was confirmed on Sunday.

This has been corroborated by journalist Graeme Bailey, with the transfer insider outlining that the Blues are now ‘confident’ that they will beat Manchester United in the battle for his signature, having already held ‘fresh talks’ with the player.

Any deal for the in-demand striker would cost in the region of £30m, owing to a relegation release clause in his contract at Portman Road.

Why Delap would be a good signing

Few players in their first Premier League campaign have made as much of an impression this season as Delap. In what was a disappointing season for Ipswich as a whole, the England under-21 forward certainly made a big impact.

The 22-year-old, who is the son of Stoke City cult hero Rory, played 37 times in his first full Premier League season. In that time, he managed to bag himself 12 goals and also chipped in with two assists.

One of the biggest positives about Delap is his consistency. His longest goal drought in 2024/25 was seven games, which actually came in the final few games of the season.

Aside from that, he was a consistent scorer for the Tractor Boys, even finding the back of the net against Chelsea in a 2-0 win at Portman Road.

If the Blues do manage to sign Delap, then he is in safe hands under Enzo Maresca. The Italian coach certainly knows how to get the best out of a clinical goalscorer, given the form Jamie Vardy showed under him for Leicester City last season in the Championship.

In 37 games under the now-Chelsea boss, the Foxes legend helped himself to 20 goals and two assists. That included 18 strikes in 35 Championship appearances, to help his side win the league and return to the top flight.

Maresca certainly knows how to handle a deadly centre-forward and get the best out of him, be it as an individual goalscorer or his general striker play.

In a team that scored 89 goals in 2023/24, Vardy had to be selfless too, and Maresca helped him fit in with the team’s dynamic.

Well, that can certainly be said about Delap, too. One person full of praise for the Ipswich star is analyst Ben Mattinson, who described him as “a problem for every Premier League defence”. He’s also been described as a “monster” by teammate Alex Palmer.

The stats on Sofascore from this season show he is more than just a goalscorer, but a well-rounded striker. For example, Delap won an average of two aerial duels per game and played 21 key passes this term.

Shots

2.3

68

Shots on target

1.1

32

Dribbles completed

1.4

40

Aerial duels won

2

58

Expected goal involvements

0.37xGI

10.75xGI

Vardy and Delap are also noted as similar players among those in their position in both Europe’s top five leagues and in the Premier League, as per FBref, reflecting their statistical likeness.

For example, the Ipswich forward averages 0.34 goals per shot on target and 0.24 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, Vardy averages 0.35 goals per shot on target and 0.32 goal-creating actions each game.

The fact that they are so similar surely plays into Maresca’s hands, too. He surely knows how to get the best out of his number nines, and they are certainly like-for-like players, as the stats back up.

Maresca knows what he is doing when it comes to getting the best out of a striker. Delap will surely fit the bill nicely, as someone who is happy to work hard for his team and can score goals at a good rate, too.

If he can be as good as Vardy was under Maresca, then Delap will surely be a success at Stamford Bridge.

He's shades of Drogba: Chelsea open discussions to sign "the next Mbappe"

Chelsea needs to sign a striker or two this summer

2 ByRoss Kilvington May 27, 2025