Three seasons, 42 league goals and, to some, the club’s best striker since 2010. Christian Benteke’s time in B6 saw the forward announce himself in the English top-flight, and these fans have been giving their thoughts on the idea of the striker returning to the West Midlands outfit.
Benteke, 28, departed the club for Liverpool in a reported £32.5m deal in 2015, but the Belgian left Anfield for Palace just one year later, where he has struggled to reignite his career and reach the heights of his stint with Villa, scoring just four league goals across the last three seasons.
The issues of depth in Dean Smith’s strike force owing to the potential exit of Jonathan Kodjia to Beskitas hints that Villa could be looking for a striker to sign in January, and Benteke has admitted to La Derniere Heure that he may reconsider his Palace future when the transfer window reopens.
Following a tweet suggesting Benteke has essentially told Palace he could leave in January based on The Sun’s report covering his comments while on international duty, a number of Villa fans were quick to react – with many keen to see him make a return to B6.
Arsenal are eyeing an ambitious potential swoop for another Bayern Munich superstar amid their repeated links to ex-Man City winger Leroy Sane, with the Bundesliga appearing to emerge as a talent pool for transfer chief Edu Gaspar.
Arsenal target Leroy Sane with Bayern Munich contract expiring
Sane’s contract with Bayern is set to expire next summer as things stand, allowing interested clubs to potentially approach the German over agreeing a pre-contract as early as January.
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The former City winger, who’s made 176 appearances in all competitions for Bayern since joining from the Sky Blues, could therefore be about to move on to the next chapter of his career – five years after signing in a £42 million deal.
During his time with Bayern, the 28-year-old has bagged an impressive 49 goals and 50 assists, indicating he could be a coup for any elite side – especially on a Bosman deal next summer.
Competition
Games
Goals
Assists
Bundesliga
27
8
11
Champions League
12
2
2
DFB-Pokal
2
0
0
DFL-Supercup
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0
0
Arsenal are believed to be targeting Sane, according to multiple reports, and they were seriously linked over the summer window too. There have even been suggestions that Sane would be keen on a move to London, and manager Mikel Arteta is described as a “big fan” following their time together at Eastlands.
“He’s a player that has long been on their radar – Arteta is a big fan,” journalist Graeme Bailey said in July.
“Believe the player would be keen on a move to London. I know Sane is unsure about his long-term future at Bayern.”
Sane’s admiration for Arteta could also be an advantage in any potential race for the 65-cap Germany international, who has won a plethora of honours and played in some big games over a decorated career.
Arsenal have been linked with Alphonso Davies from Bayern as well, with the Canadian international left-back also out of contract in 2025 and potentially available for free like Sane.
Arsenal eyeing ambitious move for Bayern star Jamal Musiala
A far more marquee transfer would be that of another Bayern Munich star in Jamal Musiala, who is arguably one of world football’s most exciting young stars.
The 21-year-old has been consistently shining on the biggest stage for a number of years, and has started this season in fantastic fashion with two goals and three assists from his opening five games in all competitions.
Germany star Jamal Musiala
His contract expires in 2026, which is a big worry for Bayern as elite clubs look to take advantage. The Bavarians still value Musiala at a sky-high £152 million, according to some reports, but Vincent Kompany’s side won’t be able to command such a figure this time next year if his contract situation remains the same.
As per The Boot Room, this has put Edu and co on red alert, as it is believed Arsenal have joined the race to sign Musiala. The winger, who has reached double figures for goals scored in each of his last two full campaigns at Bayern, is a very hot commodity and a potentially great transfer opportunity.
A new transfer update has emerged regarding Manchester United’s pursuit of “world-class” free agent Adrien Rabiot, with a reporter sharing news he’s heard from Old Trafford.
Man Utd transfer news
Despite the summer transfer window closing at the end of last month, United have continued to be linked with signings, as well as the potential to sell current players.
One of those figures in the latter category is Casemiro, who endured a torrid afternoon at home to Liverpool recently, gifting them two goals in their 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the Premier League, and he was left out of Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup for the trip to Southampton on Saturday. A move to Galatasaray was mooted for the Brazilian, but that has ended up not materialising.
In terms of incomings, Rosenborg BK teenager Sverre Halseth Nypan has been mentioned as a possible addition for United, with the 17-year-old once saying that it would be a “dream” to complete a move to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Monaco right-back Vanderson has also been linked with a switch to the Red Devils, but Chelsea and Tottenham are believed to be in the mix to acquire the 23-year-old’s signature, too. Now, another claim has dropped regarding another rumoured addition.
Transfer update on Man Utd and Adrien Rabiot
According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, Manchester United are now “unlikely” to sign Rabiot, despite him being available on a free transfer and heavily linked with the Red Devils.
The 29-year-old left Juventus at the end of last season and has been without a club since, standing out as one of the most high-profile free agents on the market at the moment, being valued at £30m by Transfermarkt.
Rabiot could have been such a strong signing by United if they had tried to get him, considering he has won seven league titles in his career – six with Paris Saint-Germain and one with Juve. He has also been lauded by former France striker David Trezeguet, who said of him in 2022:
“We are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France it’s completely different. He is world class, an extraordinary player. Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was.”
There is an argument to say that United are being wise in not signing a 29-year-old on big wages, however, with the club guilty of bringing in ageing players whose best years are behind them in recent years. Casemiro is arguably an example of that, so bringing in a younger midfield alternative to Rabiot could make more sense further down the line, perhaps in January.
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That being said, should their stance change all of a sudden, there is no reason why the France international couldn’t be a shrewd signing for a few years, bringing experience in the middle of the park and possibly acting as a short-term upgrade on Casemiro.
Sporting director Edu Gaspar and the Arsenal recruitment team were planning a "shock" late bid to sign a former £100 million player before the deadline at 11pm last night, according to a report.
Arsenal sign Raheem Sterling on loan in last-gasp deal
At the eleventh hour on Friday night, and just in time to submit their deal sheet before the cut-off, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal shook hands on a deal to sign Raheem Sterling on loan for the rest of the 2024/25 season.
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There were reports that Arteta had a private conversation with Sterling over joining Arsenal yesterday, with the Gunners then racing to get an agreement over the line as Chelsea also looked to get his £325,000-per-week wages off the books, for this campaign at least.
GiveMeSport reporter Ben Jacobs understands that Sterling has agreed to a pay cut as part of his temporary spell at Arsenal, with Arteta's men and Chelsea splitting the cost of his salary 50/50.
Goals
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Assists
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The 82-cap England international winger will don the number 10 shirt, which was left available by Emile Smith-Rowe after he completed his permanent switch to Fulham over the summer.
Unfortunately, the transfer came too late for Sterling to make his Premier League debut against Brighton today, as it wasn't done in time for him to be registered for the Emirates Stadium clash.
"Well to be fair, we never planned really to sign him when we started the transfer window, just to be very transparent. For different reasons," said Edu on the late signing of Sterling.
"But we always say to everyone that you have to be prepared for every single scenario. So when that opportunity came to me, and I checked the squad, I checked how he plays, and spoke to Mikel of course.
"I spoke to Tim [Lewis], our vice-chairman, to check if everyone is comfortable for the step we are going to take, and it makes a lot of sense. Yes, it makes a lot of sense to have someone like him because I’m pretty sure he is going to add a lot [to] the squad.
"He has experience, he understands more than anyone the league, he’s played in the Champions League many times. He won the Premier League a few times as well, so I think he can add a lot to our squad and I feel really happy to see someone like him in our squad."
Arsenal also planned "shock" late bid for Ivan Toney
With Sterling over the line, a report by Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey claims that Arsenal were also planning a late swoop for Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
Indeed, before the 28-year-old sealed a marquee switch to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, it is believed Arsenal were readying a "shock" late bid to sign Toney – who was also on Chelsea's radar.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney
Other deadline day reports claimed Arsenal were on the lookout for opportunities in regard to a new striker, but perhaps the frantic last-minute nature of Sterling's deal meant that the north Londoners needed to pour all their energy into getting him over the line instead.
It means Arsenal go into the 24/25 season without signing a new prolific number nine, despite being tipped to do so all summer. However, it shouldn't be too much of a worry for Arteta, as the squad does have real attacking quality in a variety of attacking areas, especially with Sterling's late capture.
Toney, who Brentford valued at £100 million in January, is now gearing up for a new chapter in the Middle East.
Everton are in desperate need of reinforcements to their attacking threat this summer and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target that could finally replace Richarlison.
What's the latest on Everton's interest in Crysencio Summerville?
According to iNews' Northern correspondent Mark Douglas, Everton remain keen on signing Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.
As per an article written for the publication, Douglas claims that the Toffees are interested in both Summerville and his teammate Wilfried Gnonto this summer due to growing interest in Demarai Gray, which could further weaken their forward line.
The journalist adds further that whilst Summerville is a target worth chasing, Gnonto is unlikely to be allowed to leave his recently relegated club as Leeds plot to compete well in the Championship next season.
Would Summerville be a good signing for Everton?
Sean Dyche's top priority this summer will be to add quality to the forward line after a struggle in the Premier League relegation battle last season that was mainly caused by the lack of goal contributions from the team.
Only Wolverhampton Wanderers (31) scored fewer goals than the Merseysiders (34) over the 38-game campaign, which ultimately led to them hanging on by a thread to their top-flight status for another season.
As a result, the signing of Summerville – who could cost £10m – would be a valuable asset to Dyche next season and could significantly improve the presence in front of goal if he can continue to develop and polish his skills at Goodison Park.
It is no secret that Everton have been down on their luck when it comes to the final third with both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon making an exit in the last 12 months, whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been in and out of the team with constant long-term injury issues.
Now the former Burnley boss can rectify the issue by taking full advantage of the summer transfer window to bring in attacking-minded players who can make a genuine impact and be trusted to deliver when needed.
Summerville could well be the perfect replacement for Richarlison judging by his dazzling quality.
That said, he was only handed 12 Premier League starts last season but offered four goals, two assists and two big chances created despite only averaging 51 minutes per game, demonstrating a keen eye for goal.
The 21-year-old ace – dubbed "unplayable" by journalist Beren Cross – ranked third for successful dribbles per 90 and was the fourth-highest scoring player in the Leeds squad which is impressive considering his limited game-time at Elland Road, as per WhoScored.
Not only that, Summerville actually outperformed his positional peer and former Toffees talisman Richarlison with his offensive output last season.
The Brazilian only tallied up one league goal, fewer dribbles per 90 (0.4) and the same amount of key passes per 90 (0.6).
With that being said, Dyche could unearth Everton's next Richarlison if they can secure a deal for the talented Leeds youngster this summer and could provide the team with a strong threat to compete comfortably against their Premier League opponents next season.
Liverpool will need to fork out more than £50m if they are to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Which midfielders are Liverpool signing?
It is no secret that Jurgen Klopp is looking to bolster his midfield options this summer, having already completed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister for around £35m, and the manager has started to run the rule over other potential targets.
The Reds are leading the race for Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, and they are reportedly preparing a bid in the region of €90m (£77m), while a €55m (£47m) offer for Aurelien Tchouameni has been given the green light by Klopp.
Barella has also emerged as a target for Liverpool, having held a long-term interest in the midfielder, however a new update from Romano indicates that a deal may be difficult to orchestrate.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, the transfer expert said: "The reported fee of £50 million for Barella is not going to be enough for any club to sign him. Inter want way more than this and it is not going to be an easy negotiation in any case. For Liverpool, he is appreciated yes, but they are not sure yet that this is the kind of player they need. Let's see in the next days or weeks.”
Should Liverpool sign Nicolo Barella?
It is clear to see why the Reds have expressed an interest in the Italy international, as he performed very well for Inter last season, particularly in an attacking sense, registering nine goals and six assists in all competitions.
The 26-year-old is impressive at driving the ball forward, ranking in the 89th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, while he places in the 88th for shot-creating actions, showcasing his creativity.
Hailed as "incredible" by members of the media, the former Cagliari man was a vital player for Inter last season, averaging 1.6 key passes per game, the third-highest figure in the squad, and an average of 1.4 tackles indicates he is willing to pitch in defensively
Romano does not rule out Liverpool moving for Barella at some point during the transfer window, however it is disappointing news that it does not appear to be on the cards for the time being, as he has the ability to slot right into the midfield three.
Leeds United are set to interview Daniel Farke for their managerial vacancy this week, according to reports.
What's the latest Leeds manager news?
Following Sam Allardyce’s sacking at the start of June after failing to keep his side in the Premier League, 49ers Enterprises have now embarked on a mission to find a suitable long-term appointment to try and get them back up to the top-flight at the first time of asking.
West Bromwich Albion’s Carlos Corberan is clearly one who has been admired by Elland Road chiefs for a long time having previously shown an interest in him after the departure of Jesse Marsch, but it’s believed that a move for him at this stage is ruled out as a result of the hierarchy wanting a candidate that has experience at the highest level.
Farke was most recently in charge of Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach but was relieved of his duties earlier this month, so he is now a free agent on the market and is looking for his next role in the dugout, and it appears that he’s attracted attention from Elland Road.
Are Leeds appointing Farke?
According to Sky Sports, Leeds are “set to meet” Farke for an interview this week to assess whether he’s the right man to take to the helm. Crystal Palace’s former coach Patrick Vieira is another name that is “under consideration”, whilst Corberan is confirmed to have received “no approach” at this stage.
Borussia Monchengladbach's former manager Daniel Farke.
Leeds will most likely be looking to appoint someone with plenty of experience in the Championship to try and help get them out of there, and with Farke having that and so much more on his CV, including three trophies, he could be just the person that the board need to bring to Yorkshire.
The German coach has an excellent track record in the second-tier, winning 71 and drawing 38 out of 138 games, with this form having twice seen him achieve promotion during his time at Norwich City, so he’ll know exactly what it takes to compete and be successful at this level.
The 46-year-old, who was once hailed “fantastic” by journalist Josh Bunting, also has a history in LS11 having won twice at Elland Road when visiting with his team, so if he can secure victories as an opponent, think about the magic he could work if he was in charge of the home side.
US Open star Rickie Fowler has admitted that he could soon own a stake in Leeds United, along with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, following 49ers Enterprises' recent takeover of the club.
How will the takeover benefit Leeds?
It's all change at Elland Road this summer, with so much going on that supporters barely have any time to breathe. The Whites' relegation from the Premier League has led to the club searching for a new manager, while a sporting director also has to come in, following Victor Orta's exit.
Perhaps the biggest news of the lot is the 49ers' takeover, however, with the deal going through recently and heralding the start of a new era at Leeds.
The hope is that it makes the Whites a more financially powerful force moving forward, and despite heading down into the second tier, they will hopefully still be able to spend big on signings and work on improving other aspects of the club, including redeveloping Elland Road.
It could even be that golfing star and Leeds fan Fowler, who has placed as high as fourth in the world ranking in the past, invests in the club, following a fresh update.
Elland Road
What's the situation with Rickie Fowler?
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of this week's US Open, Fowler admitted that he could eventually own a stake in Leeds along with Spieth and Thomas, also joking about Whites fan Billy Foster, who caddies for Matt Fitzpatrick:
"Not yet, technically. There is the group that's moving forward with being involved with Leeds. Myself, JT (Justin Thomas) and Jordan (Spieth) potentially will be a part of it.
"He (Foster) didn't know about it from the start. But we told him after knowing he is a huge Leeds United supporter. It's cool to have those opportunities. I know we are looking into it. It will be fun if we get to be a part of it. If not, we will continue to root for Leeds to see if we can help out Billy."
This is exciting to hear from a Leeds perspective, at a time when celebrity owners are all the rage, not least at Wrexham, where Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have transformed the club, guiding them into League 2.
They have shown the power that having famous owners can have, in terms of marketing the club and giving it a bigger worldwide following, so having Fowler, Spieth and Thomas as part of the Whites could be hugely beneficial off the pitch.
While relegation was clearly bitterly disappointing, things do appear to be heading in the right direction under the 49ers – now it's a case of nailing both the managerial and sporting director appointments.
An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to add a new number nine to their squad in the summer transfer window…
What's the latest on Cyriel Dessers to Rangers?
According to the Daily Record, the Light Blues remain locked in talks with Cremonese to land centre-forward Cyriel Dessers as Michael Beale eyes a swoop for the ace.
The report claimed that the club tabled a significant seven-figure offer for the striker and the publication has since put out an update on the story that states that the Gers have failed with two substantial bids, with the Ibrox giants remaining in pursuit.
Their latest article also reveals that the Serie B side are keen to keep hold of their star striker and that it would take a fee of at least £6.5m – the amount they paid to sign him from Genk last year – to tempt them into cashing in on the gem.
Would Cyriel Dessers improve Rangers?
Beale could land a big upgrade on one of his current Light Blues number nines as the 28-year-old could offer far more than Jamaican international, Kemar Roofe.
First and foremost, Dessers has a fitness record that suggests that Rangers would be bringing in a player who is more durable and able to compete over the course of a season. The Nigerian international has only missed 15 matches due to injury since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Roofe, on the other hand, has been absent for a staggering 87 games in the same time. The ex-Leeds United forward was out for 35 clashes with a knee injury in 22/23 and has a long, concerning, track record of picking up injuries during his spell at Ibrox.
Rangers centre-forward Kemar Roofe.
This suggests that the 30-year-old is not a player who Beale can rely upon ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as his injury history indicates that the dud is unlikely to be available for many games throughout the year.
Dessers, who scored six goals in 19 Serie A starts this term, could also be an upgrade based on what he is able to offer on the pitch.
The ace plundered 19 goals and three assists in 16 starts in the Eredivisie and Europa Conference League combined for Feyenoord in 21/22, which shows that the experienced marksman has the potential to be a prolific scorer domestically and on the European stage.
Roofe, meanwhile, managed 12 goals and one assist in 13 starts in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League combined for the Gers in 21/22, which is an excellent return but not quite as impressive as the Nigerian international's form in the Netherlands.
Therefore, Dessers, who was hailed as "awkward" to play against by journalist Josh Bunting, could be a big upgrade on the current Rangers striker due to his consistency with his fitness and his ability on the pitch to score and create goals on a regular basis.
Napoli ultras have returned the steering wheel from Luciano Spalletti’s stolen Fiat Panda as a parting gift with the manager set to leave after winning Serie A.
Why was Luciano Spalletti’s car stolen?
It’s been a remarkable season for the Italian club as they won their first Scudetto since 1990 – back when Diego Maradona was dazzling defenders for Gli Azzurri.
Napoli’s recent success is quite remarkable when you consider that the manager had his beloved Fiat Panda stolen during protests in 2021. Not long after, the ultra’s then offered him an ultimatum about returning the car if Spalletti would leave.
The manager quipped back: “First of all we have to see in what condition the Panda will be returned in, how many kilometres it has travelled, whether there are Pino Daniele CDs inside.”
Well, both parties have now stuck to their promise as even the CDs have been returned to the 64-year-old Italian who is set to take a sabbatical in the summer and leave.
As shown in footage circulated on Twitter, the Napoli ultras met Spalletti inside the club’s dressing room before handing him a big blue box. He unwraps the present and breaks into a big smile, having had his property returned at last.
Why is Spalletti leaving Napoli?
Spalletti took charge of Napoli in 2021 and has kept up a remarkable rate of 2.10 points per game since then, which helped deliver a first Serie A title in 33 years.
However, after securing the Scudetto, he immediately spoke about how much it had taken out of him, telling the press:
“I no longer have the energy to be up to the standard of what people love so much, so I have to take two steps back and leave.
“I am not someone who changes idea easily and I decided to leave because I feel that I’ve given all I had.”
Despite still having one year on his contract, President Aurelio De Laurentiis was happy to acquiesce to this demand, telling Italian broadcaster Rai (via Evening Standard): “He’s a free man, now it’s right that he continues to do what he wants. I thank him.”
And so now was the perfect moment for the ultras to finally return those stolen items and allow Spalletti to depart on perfect terms.