da esport bet： Liverpool have slowed down over the past few months, no longer performing at the full-throttle, uncontainable pace that saw Arne Slot steamroll through his opponents over the opening months of his Anfield tenure.

da bet7k： The early knockings of the season carried a sort of unfettered freedom within Liverpool’s squad, with rivals eagerly awaiting the almighty collapse after dramatic summer upheaval.

But this hasn’t happened. The Merseysiders are a whisker away from winning the Premier League, dominant and at the summit for the lion’s share of the term. Slot, truly, has enjoyed staggering success as Liverpool’s new driver.

The secret within Slot’s tactical sauce lies in the nuances of his system, his attention to detail, his fixed focus on the minutiae. He differs from his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, but one shared characteristic is a recognition of elite-level talent, of lifting good players and making them great.

Of course, he also shares with Klopp an understanding that his superstars are not easily replaced. That’s why tying down Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, both drifting toward their mid-thirties, was among new sporting director Richard Hughes’ primary responsibilities are being appointed last year.

The veterans are both brilliant, both two sides of the same coin, but failure to keep the skipper at the club could have been the most damaging outcome for the title-charging Redmen.

The importance of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool

Van Dijk has extended his Liverpool contract by two years, which will take his Merseyside career to the end of the 2026/27 season, just shy of the decade mark, having won the full gamut, and with maybe even more yet to come.

Van Dijk is 33 but still among the foremost players in Liverpool’s squad. He’s played more minutes than any of his teammates this season (4,077), having completed 92% of his passes and won 68% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

The towering defender will captain Liverpool toward the Premier League title.

He may well be the best defender in the world, but Van Dijk’s influence stretches beyond that of simply a tactical sense, with his leadership and demanding attitude raising the bar and indeed the level of those around him.

We hate to caveat all this with some pragmatism, but the Netherlands captain is nearing his 34th birthday.

He’s still at the highest level, but he’s not getting any younger. Liverpool need to strengthen their rearguard this summer, signing a centre-half capable of succeeding the £400k-per-week titan in a few years.

Liverpool chasing the new Van Dijk

Liverpool need to sign a defender this summer, and they appear to have centred on Dean Huijsen, who is one of the hottest commodities on the market at the moment.

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

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Bournemouth’s young star, 20, has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to be on the move.

According to Fabrizio Romano, though, FSG are determined to sign him, getting ready for a big push as the market prepares to swing open.

Speaking on GIVEMESPORTS’ Market Madness, he said: “Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool. These three clubs are really interested. I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League. There is interest from Real Madrid but at the same time, Madrid internally have not decided if they want to sign a centre-back this summer. The timing is helping the English clubs.”

Why Dean Huijsen has the potential to reach Van Dijk levels

He may be a Spain international, but Huijsen was born a Netherlands native, moving to the Iberian nation as a youth after being offered a scholarship with Malaga during his formative years.

Bournemouth saw an opportunity and pounced last summer, signing Juventus’ academy member in a deal worth £15m, Andoni Iraola identifying the youngster’s modern-angled skill set.

It would be a brave observer to argue against his success on the south coast, with analyst Ben Mattinson commenting that he’s “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” right now.

Two-footed, Huijsen has plied his trade on the left side of Bournemouth’s central defence this season, which suggests that he could be a suitable heir for Van Dijk when that dreaded time comes.

Premier League 24/25 – Van Dijk vs Huijsen

Stats (* per game)

Van Dijk

Huijsen

Matches (starts)

33 (33)

27 (22)

Goals

2

2

Assists

1

1

Clean sheets

14

7

Touches*

89.6

60.5

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Pass completion

92%

85%

Ball recoveries*

3.2

3.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

3.0

Clearances*

5.1

5.9

Duels (won)*

4.8 (68%)

3.9 (56%)

Stats via Sofascore

He certainly wears the trappings of an elite-level centre-back, albeit he’s not there yet. Huijsen, like Van Dijk, is an aerially adept defender with a wide tactical remit that incorporates the defensive fundamentals with a forward-passing style that helps create from deep, establishing a wave-like flow.

It’s almost as if he’s tailor-made for a future in Slot’s Liverpool squad. Huijsen is making a key pass once every two Premier League fixtures, which is quite the feat and an illustration of his creative flair, his determination to push play forward.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 6% of central defenders in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 19% for aerial battles won and the top 2% for both of interceptions and clearances made per 90, further underlining that point.

The 6 foot 6 defender has the rangy, dynamic style to succeed Van Dijk, with such an interesting blend of talent surely suggesting that he could reach the same levels of his countryman, born in Holland as he was.

Given that he could spend a few years absorbing the fruits of Van Dijk’s late labours, this really does feel like one to get excited about.

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da realsbet： It’s far from an ideal situation, but it has come to the stage in the season where Premier League action is more of a hindrance than anything else for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim needing to find a way to keep his players motivated domestically.

da bet esporte： With a crucial Europa League first-leg tie against Athletic Bilbao just a matter of days away, the Red Devils are faced with an unwanted trip to Bournemouth later today, having notably slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

There is a sense that Amorim’s men have almost thrown in the towel on the Premier League front, following that 15th loss of the campaign, although the meeting with the Cherries could be another useful exercise to at least test out those on the fringes.

Man Utd’s remaining fixtures – all competitions

Date

Opponent

Competition

Sunday 27 April

Bournemouth (A)

Premier League

Thursday 1 May

Athletic Bilbao (A)

Europa League

Sunday 4 May

Brentford (A)

Premier League

Thursday 8 May

Athletic Bilbao (H)

Europa League

Sunday 11 May

West Ham (H)

Premier League

Friday 16 May

Chelsea (A)

Premier League

Sunday 25 May

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

Equally, one form of motivation could be the current rumblings regarding potential transfer targets – namely Matheus Cunha – with the final weeks of the season providing a perfect audition period for a number of first-team and academy stars.

The changes Amorim could make vs Bournemouth

The trip to the south coast may also allow members of Amorim’s ranks to stake their claim for involvement in Thursday’s pivotal European encounter, with positions certainly up for grabs all across the park.

Indeed, there is now real competition in the defensive unit, not least with the academy duo of Tyler Fredricson and Harry Amass having caught the eye against the Old Gold a week ago.

That youthful pairing could again feature this time around, with Amorim likely not wanting to take a risk with the likes of Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro, particularly with Diogo Dalot the latest defender to be struck down by injury.

Meanwhile, following a rare rest against Vitor Pereira’s side, Bruno Fernandes may be called upon to try and ignite the Red Devils this afternoon, with the Portuguese skipper still leading the way for goals and assists this season at Old Trafford.

That pursuit of goals – and the absence of Joshua Zirkzee – could see Chido Obi handed a first senior start following his summer switch from Arsenal, with the 17-year-old a wise replacement for Rasmus Hojlund, considering that he is ineligible to feature on Thursday night.

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The teenage Dane could well be joined in the attacking unit by another man who came off the bench last time out, with Mason Mount running out of time to stake his claim for one of the two number ten berths.

The Man Utd star who could soon be replaced by Cunha

The suggestion is that Cunha – should a deal progress – will be brought in to play in one of those two roles off the main centre-forward, with the Brazilian catching the eye with 26 league goals across the last two campaigns combined.

If United are to fork out to meet his reported £62.5m release clause, such an outlay would suggest that the 25-year-old will then be a regular fixture in Amorim’s starting lineup next term, leaving the likes of Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and, of course, Mount to fight it out for the other playmaking berth.

With Fernandes dropping deeper of late, there has been something of a vacancy in the number ten role, although even then the returning Mount has still been restricted to a substitute berth, with that limited action set to be impacted even further if Cunha is to arrive.

Mason Mount – best PL season at Chelsea (21/22)

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games (starts)

32 (27)

Goals

11

Big chances missed

4

Assists

10

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

1.8

Pass accuracy*

85%

Tackles*

1.3

Interceptions*

0.4

Successful dribbles*

0.6

Stats via Sofascore

While it is evident that the Englishman is being gradually eased back into the action following his recent absence – having only returned last month following an almost four-month spell on the sidelines – now is the time for Amorim to finally unleash the former Chelsea man from the outset.

Indeed, following what has been an injury-hit two years at Old Trafford – which has yielded just one goal and one assist in total – Mount now needs a run of games to stake his claim and justify the public faith that his new boss has placed in him.

Since first walking in the door, Amorim has repeatedly singled out the £55m midfielder for praise, having hailed the England international as a “proper footballer” back in late November.

While Mount’s cruel injury blow in the early knockings of the December Manchester derby has since hampered his progress, his recent return to fitness has afforded him a month or so to now kick on and finally begin to justify his exorbitant price tag.

Currently looking like another victim of United’s infamous number seven curse, the 26-year-old “pressing monster” – as lauded by Statman Dave – needs to showcase why he could represent a potential partner to Cunha, and not the man whom the Brazilian will replace.

Changes are likely to be in store this afternoon, and Mount’s recall to the starting lineup needs to be one of them. It’s approaching now or never for his stop-start Manchester United career…

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da supremo： Managers coming and going is very much a part of life in football, and with the managerial merry-go-round in full swing, the number of dugout changes in the 2024/25 season grew right up to the end of the campaign.

da roleta： Premier League bosses like Russell Martin and Sean Dyche could not avoid the dreaded axe, while the Championship saw the likes of Wayne Rooney given their marching orders after dismal campaigns from the dugout.

Firings were rife throughout the rest of the EFL too, as clubs scrambled to avoid failure by making drastic changes.

We have the full list of dismissals here, with nearly 50 managers leaving their posts during the season.

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Every Premier League & EFL manager to leave in 2024/25

#

Manager

Club left

Date

Time in charge

1

Ryan Lowe

Preston

12th August

2 years, 249 days

2

Neil Critchley

Blackpool

21st August

1 year, 90 days

3

Paul Simpson

Carlisle

31st August

2 years, 189 days

4

Steven Schumacher

Stoke

16th September

272 days

5

Erol Bulut

Cardiff

22nd September

1 year, 111 days

6

Mark Robinson

Burton Albion

23rd October

141 days

7

Mark Kennedy

Swindon

25th October

149 days

8

Erik ten Hag

Man Utd

28th October

2 years, 158 days

9

Paul Hurst

Shrewsbury

3rd November

284 days

10

Mark Robins

Coventry

7th November

7 years, 246 days

11

Steve Cooper

Leicester

24th November

157 days

12

Tim Walter

Hull

27th November

180 days

13

Jon Brady

Northampton

5th December

3 years, 299 days

14

Neil Harris

Millwall

10th December

293 days

15

Gary O’Neil

Wolves

15th December

1 year, 128 days

16

Des Buckingham

Oxford

15th December

1 year, 29 days

17

Russell Martin

Southampton

15th December

1 year, 177 days

18

Matt Taylor

Bristol Rovers

16th December

1 year, 15 days

19

Charlie Adam

Fleetwood

22nd December

357 days

20

Narcis Pelach

Stoke

27th December

100 days

21

Wayne Rooney

Plymouth

31st December

220 days

22

Mark Bonner

Gillingham

5th January

243 days

23

Julen Lopetegui

West Ham

8th January

230 days

24

Rob Edwards

Luton

9th January

2 years, 53 days

25

Sean Dyche

Everton

9th January

1 year, 345 days

26

Stephen Clemence

Barrow

19th January

233 days

27

Ian Evatt

Bolton

22nd January

4 years, 205 days

28

Mike Williamson

Carlisle

3rd February

137 days

29

Paul Warne

Derby

7th February

2 years, 138 days

30

Garry Monk

Cambridge

16th February

349 days

31

Luke Williams

Swansea

17th February

1 year, 43 days

32

Nigel Adkins

Tranmere

25th February

1 year, 115 days

33

Shaun Maloney

Wigan

2nd March

2 years, 33 days

34

Scott Lindsey

MK Dons

2nd March

158 days

35

Michael Duff

Huddersfield

9th March

299 days

36

Darrell Clarke

Barnsley

12th March

293 days

37

Rob Elliot

Crawley

19th March

169 days

38

Steve Evans

Rotherham

30th March

347 days

39

Ivan Juric

Southampton

7th April

105 days

40

Omer Riza

Cardiff

19th April

209 days

41

Tony Mowbray

West Brom

21st April

93 days

42

Johannes Hoff Thorup

Norwich

22nd April

327 days

43

Nelson Jardim

Newport

24th April

282 days

44

Inigo Calderon

Bristol Rovers

4th May

129 days

45

Tom Cleverley

Watford

6th May

1 year, 12 days

1 Ryan Lowe (Preston North End) Left: 12th August

Championship side Preston North End parted ways with head coach Ryan Lowe after just one league game this season.

Following the Lilywhites’ 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United, Lowe asked to leave the club, telling Preston’s board he wanted “a change”. The defeat to the Blades was Preston’s sixth on the bounce, with Lowe’s side having lost their final five games of the previous season – a run of form that saw them fade out of the play-off race.

2 Neil Critchley (Blackpool) Sacked: 21st August

Blackpool sacked manager Neil Critchley after they began their 2024/25 League One campaign with back-to-back defeats against Crawley Town and Stockport County.

The 45-year-old had previously guided Blackpool to the Championship by way of the play-offs in 2021, and returned to Bloomfield Road in May 2023 after spells with Aston Villa and QPR. However, he was unable to recapture the magic of two years prior, with the Seasiders finishing the 2023/24 campaign in eighth.

3 Paul Simpson (Carlisle United) Sacked: 31st August

Paul Simpson was let go by Carlisle United following a 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers back in August. The defeat was their third from four league matches this season, having been relegated to League Two under Simpson’s tenure last year.

“Everyone at the club would like to thank Paul and his staff for their efforts,” Carlisle said in a statement.

4 Steven Schumacher (Stoke City) Sacked: 16th September

Stoke City sacked Steven Schumacher after the Potters lost three of their first five games of the campaign. The final straw came by way of a 1-0 loss to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.

Schumacher’s tenure as Stoke boss lasted just nine months in total, with the 40-year-old having left Plymouth Argyle to take the job in December 2023.

Two days after sacking Schumacher, Stoke appointed Norwich City coach Narcis Pelach as their new manager on a three-year contract.

5 Erol Bulut (Cardiff City) Sacked: 22nd September

Cardiff City were rock bottom of the Championship when they fired head coach Erol Bulut in mid-September.

The Bluebirds had picked up just one point from six games and scored one goal – their worst start to a season in 94 years. Bulut’s final game was a 2-0 home defeat against Leeds United. He has since been replaced by Omer Riza, who remains in interim charge heading into December.

6 Mark Robinson (Burton Albion) Sacked: 23rd October

Mark Robinson was relieved of his duties at Burton Albion following a run of seven successive defeats in all competitions.

“We feel we have reached a point where a change is necessary to improve the team’s results,” sporting director Bendik Hareide said at the time.

Robinson, 58, is the third Burton manager in three seasons to have been given the axe before Christmas, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dino Maamria.

7 Mark Kennedy (Swindon Town) Sacked: 25th October

Swindon Town sacked head coach Mark Kennedy after less than five months in charge following a 2-1 defeat at Salford. Kennedy won just 3 of his 15 games in charge of the Robins, who were 22nd in League Two at the time of his departure.

Just hours after Kennedy’s sacking, Swindon appointed former Bristol Rovers, QPR and Blackpool manager Ian Holloway as their new head coach.

8 Erik ten Hag (Manchester United) Sacked: 28th October

By far and away the most high-profile sacking of the season, Erik ten Hag was let go by Manchester United following a disastrous start to the season. The Dutchman’s final game was a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United, which left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening nine games.

Though he guided United to two trophies during his two-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has been dubbed the club’s worst-ever manager. Ruben Amorim has since stepped in as his replacement.

9 Paul Hurst (Shrewsbury Town) Sacked: 3rd November

Shrewsbury Town parted ways with head coach Paul Hurst after a run of just 1 win in 12 games in all competitions, leaving them second from bottom in League One. Assistant boss Chris Doig was also let go.

Hurst and Doig were in their second spell at the club, having previously led the Shrews to the League One play-off final in 2018.

“Everyone at the football club is hugely disappointed their second spell hasn’t worked out and we find ourselves in our current position,” Shrewsbury said in a statement.

10 Mark Robins (Coventry City) Sacked: 7th November

Coventry City fired boss Mark Robins after a run of just 4 wins in 14 Championship games this season. Robins, 54, had been in charge of the Sky Blues for 2,803 days, making him the English Football League’s longest-serving manager at the time.

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard has been appointed as Robins’ successor on a two-and-a-half-year deal, replacing interim boss Rhys Carr.

Related The 8 longest-serving managers in the Premier League & EFL

A rare sight in football…

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Jump Links FA Cup format and changes FA Cup final preview 2024/25 FA Cup results First round Second round Third round Fourth round Fifth round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Round dates FA Cup prize money How to watch the FA Cup final on TV

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top five clubs who have won the FA Cup

Club

Wins

Last win

Arsenal

14

2020

Manchester United

13

2024

Chelsea

8

2018

Liverpool

8

2022

Tottenham Hotspur

8

1991

FA Cup format and changes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crystal Palace v Man City: Route to the final

Crystal Palace

Man City

Round

Opponent

Result

Round

Opponent

Result

Third round

Stockport (H)

W 1-0

Third round

Salford (H)

W 8-0

Fourth round

Doncaster (A)

W 2-0

Fourth round

Leyton Orient (A)

W 2-1

Fifth round

Millwall (H)

W 3-1

Fifth round

Plymouth (H)

W 3-1

Quarter-final

Fulham (A)

W 3-0

Quarter-final

Bournemouth (A)

W 2-1

Semi-final

Aston Villa (N)

W 3-0

Semi-final

Nottingham Forest (N)

W 2-0

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

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

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

2025 FA Cup final

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Kick-off time

Sat 17th May

Crystal Palace

v

Man City

4.30pm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 1st Nov

Notts County

5-1

Alfreton

Fri 1st Nov

Tamworth

1-0

Huddersfield

Sat 2nd Nov

Barrow

0-1

Doncaster

Sat 2nd Nov

Bradford

3-1

Aldershot

Sat 2nd Nov

Bristol Rovers

3-1*

Weston-super-mare

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Burton

1-0

Scarborough

Sat 2nd Nov

Carlisle

0-2*

Wigan

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Chesterfield

3-1

Horsham

Sat 2nd Nov

Crewe

0-1

Dag & Red

Sat 2nd Nov

Exeter

5-3

Barnet

Sat 2nd Nov

Gillingham

0-2

Blackpool

Sat 2nd Nov

Grimsby

0-1

Wealdstone

Sat 2nd Nov

Newport

2-4

Peterborough

Sat 2nd Nov

Port Vale

1-3

Barnsley

Sat 2nd Nov

Reading

2-0

Fleetwood

Sat 2nd Nov

Rochdale

3-4

Bromley

Sat 2nd Nov

Rotherham

1-3

Cheltenham

Sat 2nd Nov

Salford

2-1

Shrewsbury

Sat 2nd Nov

Southend

3-4*

Charlton

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Stevenage

1-1**

Guiseley

**Stevenage won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 2nd Nov

Stockport

2-1*

Forest Green

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Swindon

2-1*

Colchester

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Solihull

3-0

Maidstone

Sat 2nd Nov

Rushall Olympic

0-2

Accrington

Sat 2nd Nov

Maidenhead

1-2*

Crawley

*after extra time

Sat 2nd Nov

Brackley

0-0**

Braintree

**Brackley won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 2nd Nov

Tonbridge Angels

1-4

Harborough Town

Sat 2nd Nov

Tranmere

1-2

Oldham

Sat 2nd Nov

Walsall

2-1

Bolton

Sat 2nd Nov

Woking

0-1

Cambridge

Sat 2nd Nov

Worthing

0-2

Morecambe

Sat 2nd Nov

Wycombe

3-2

York

Sat 2nd Nov

Hednesford Town

4-4**

Gainsborough Trinity

**Gainsborough Trinity won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 2nd Nov

Northampton

1-2*

Kettering

*after extra time

Sun 3rd Nov

MK Dons

0-2

AFC Wimbledon

Sun 3rd Nov

Sutton United

0-1

Birmingham

Sun 3rd Nov

Boreham Wood

2-2**

Leyton Orient

**Leyton Orient won 3-1 on penalties

Sun 3rd Nov

Curzon Ashton

0-4

Mansfield

Sun 3rd Nov

Harrogate Town

1-0

Wrexham

Mon 4th Nov

Chesham United

0-4

Lincoln

Second round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 29th Nov

Harrogate

1-0

Gainsborough Trinity

Sat 30th Nov

Wealdstone

0-2

Wycombe

Sat 30th Nov

Accrington

2-2**

Swindon

**Accrington won 4-1 on penalties

Sat 30th Nov

Barnsley

0-0**

Bristol Rovers

**Bristol Rovers won 4-3 on penalties

Sat 30th Nov

Cambridge

1-2*

Wigan

*after extra time

Sat 30th Nov

Crawley

3-4

Lincoln

Sat 30th Nov

Exeter

2-0

Chesterfield

Sat 30th Nov

Leyton Orient

2-1*

Oldham

*after extra time

Sat 30th Nov

Morecambe

1-0

Bradford

Sat 30th Nov

Peterborough

4-3

Notts County

Sat 30th Nov

Salford

2-0

Cheltenham

Sat 30th Nov

Stevenage

0-1

Mansfield

Sat 30th Nov

Stockport

3-1

Brackley

Sat 30th Nov

Walsall

0-4

Charlton

Sat 30th Nov

AFC Wimbledon

1-2

Dag & Red

Sun 1st Dec

Kettering

1-2*

Doncaster

*after extra time

Sun 1st Dec

Blackpool

1-2

Birmingham

Sun 1st Dec

Burton

1-1**

Tamworth

**Tamworth won 4-3 on penalties

Sun 1st Dec

Reading

5-3*

Harborough Town

*after extra time

Sun 1st Dec

Solihull

1-2

Bromley

Third round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Thu 9th Jan

Sheff Utd

0-1

Cardiff

Thu 9th Jan

Everton

2-0

Peterborough

Thu 9th Jan

Fulham

4-1

Watford

Fri 10th Jan

Wycombe

2-0

Portsmouth

Fri 10th Jan

Aston Villa

2-1

West Ham

Sat 11th Jan

Birmingham

2-1

Lincoln

Sat 11th Jan

Bristol City

1-2

Wolves

Sat 11th Jan

Middlesbrough

0-1

Blackburn

Sat 11th Jan

Liverpool

4-0

Accrington

Sat 11th Jan

Leicester

6-2

QPR

Sat 11th Jan

Bournemouth

5-1

West Brom

Sat 11th Jan

Brentford

0-1

Plymouth

Sat 11th Jan

Chelsea

5-0

Morecambe

Sat 11th Jan

Exeter

3-1

Oxford

Sat 11th Jan

Norwich

0-4

Brighton

Sat 11th Jan

Nottingham Forest

2-0

Luton

Sat 11th Jan

Reading

1-3*

Burnley

*after extra time

Sat 11th Jan

Sunderland

1-2*

Stoke

*after extra time

Sat 11th Jan

Leeds

1-0

Harrogate

Sat 11th Jan

Man City

8-0

Salford

Sat 11th Jan

Coventry

1-1**

Sheff Wed

**Coventry won 4-3 on penalties

Sun 12th Jan

Hull

1-1**

Doncaster

**Doncaster won 5-4 on penalties

Sun 12th Jan

Tamworth

0-3*

Tottenham

*after extra time

Sun 12th Jan

Arsenal

1-1**

Man Utd

**Man Utd won 5-3 on penalties

Sun 12th Jan

Crystal Palace

1-0

Stockport

Sun 12th Jan

Ipswich

3-0

Bristol Rovers

Sun 12th Jan

Newcastle

3-1

Bromley

Sun 12th Jan

Southampton

3-0

Swansea

Mon 13th Jan

Millwall

3-0

Dag & Red

Tue 14th Jan

Leyton Orient

1-1**

Derby

**Leyton Orient won 6-5 on penalties

Tue 14th Jan

Mansfield

0-2

Wigan

Tue 14th Jan

Preston

2-1

Charlton

Fourth round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 7th Feb

Man Utd

2-1

Leicester

Sat 8th Feb

Leeds

0-2

Millwall

Sat 8th Feb

Leyton Orient

1-2

Man City

Sat 8th Feb

Coventry

1-4

Ipswich

Sat 8th Feb

Everton

0-2

Bournemouth

Sat 8th Feb

Stoke

3-3**

Cardiff

**Cardiff won 4-2 on penalties

Sat 8th Feb

Preston

0-0**

Wycombe

**Preston won 4-2 on penalties

Sat 8th Feb

Southampton

0-1

Burnley

Sat 8th Feb

Wigan

1-2

Fulham

Sat 8th Feb

Birmingham

2-3

Newcastle

Sat 8th Feb

Brighton

2-1

Chelsea

Sun 9th Feb

Blackburn

0-2

Wolves

Sun 9th Feb

Plymouth

1-0

Liverpool

Sun 9th Feb

Aston Villa

2-1

Tottenham

Mon 10th Feb

Doncaster

0-2

Crystal Palace

Tue 11th Feb

Exeter

2-2**

Nottingham Forest

**Nottingham Forest won 4-2 on penalties

Fifth round

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Fri 28th Feb

Aston Villa

2-0

Cardiff

Sat 1st Mar

Preston

3-0

Burnley

Sat 1st Mar

Crystal Palace

3-1

Millwall

Sat 1st Mar

Bournemouth

1-1**

Wolves

**Bournemouth won 5-4 on penalties

Sat 1st Mar

Man City

3-1

Plymouth

Sun 2nd Mar

Newcastle

1-2*

Brighton

*after extra time

Sun 2nd Mar

Man Utd

1-1**

Fulham

**Fulham won 4-3 on penalties

Mon 3rd Mar

Nottingham Forest

1-1**

Ipswich

**Nottingham Forest won 5-4 on penalties

Quarter-finals

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Sat 29th Mar

Fulham

0-3

Crystal Palace

Sat 29th Mar

Brighton

0-0**

Nottingham Forest

**Nottingham Forest won 4-3 on penalties

Sun 30th Mar

Preston

0-3

Aston Villa

Sun 30th Mar

Bournemouth

1-2

Man City

Semi-finals

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Sat 26th Apr

Crystal Palace

3-0

Aston Villa

Sun 27th Apr

Nottingham Forest

0-2

Man City

Final

Date

Home team

v

Away team

Sat 17th May

Crystal Palace

v

Man City

Related Why the FA Cup semi-finals are played at Wembley

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

Posts Round dates

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

2024/25 FA Cup round dates

Round

Date

First Round

1st-4th November 2024

Second Round

29th Nov-2nd Dec 2024

Third Round

11th January 2025

Fourth Round

8th February 2025

Fifth Round

1st March 2025

Quarter-final

29th March 2025

Semi-final

26th April 2025

Final

17th May 2025

FA Cup prize money

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

FA Cup prize money breakdown

Round

Winners’ prize

Losers’ prize

First Round

£45,000

£15,000

Second Round

£75,000

£20,000

Third Round

£115,000

£25,000

Fourth Round

£120,000

None

Fifth Round

£225,000

None

Quarter-final

£450,000

None

Semi-final

£1,000,000

£500,000

Final

£2,000,000

£1,000,000

How to watch the FA Cup final on TV

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

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

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

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

da dobrowin： Looking towards the summer transfer window, Manchester United have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign a serial winner represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu.

Man Utd's summer plan taking shape

da blaze casino： Whilst step one of Manchester United’s transfer plan will be to win the Europa League later this month and confirm their shock place in next season’s Champions League, they simply need to invest no matter the outcome against Tottenham Hotspur. Ahead of his first full season in charge, Ruben Amorim will have the chance to prove doubters wrong, but will finally need players who suit his system to do exactly that.

Related The new Amrabat: Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 15x

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Posts 6

If recent rumours are anything to go by then it will, indeed, be a busy summer for the Red Devils on both the incomings and departures front. Already, players like Antony and Marcus Rashford could be heading for the exit door as the start of a hefty clear-out at Old Trafford, which Amorim will be desperate to see end with plenty of fresh faces.

Meanwhile, on the incomings front, names such as Ronald Araujo and Yann Bisseck have threatened to steal the headlines as of late. Two defenders who squared off in one of the best Champions League semi-finals in recent memory, as Inter Milan came out on top to win 7-6 on aggregate, both would undoubtedly improve the current Manchester United backline.

Amorim is well aware of the need for improvement too, having told reporters in the build-up to his side’s Europa League semi-final victory over Athletic Bilbao: “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.”

However, despite that admission, the lure of Old Trafford remains there to exploit amid reports that Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign a serial winner.

Man Utd offered chance to sign Kingsley Coman

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich this summer by the winger’s agent. The Frenchman’s representatives have been knocking on doors around European football hoping to seal a move this summer, with Old Trafford seemingly among those.

A serial winner having won league titles at Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus as well as the Champions League in Bavaria, Coman may not be at the peak of his powers but he would help change the mentality in the Manchester United dressing room.

What’s more, a deal could be made easier by the fact that Coman is represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu, who completed a move to Old Trafford in January. With contact already established and a relationship already built between both parties, the Red Devils have an ideal opportunity.

Dubbed a player who has “incredible talent” by former Bayern manager and current Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, Coman could yet rediscover his most clinical form at Manchester United this summer.

da aposte e ganhe： Aston Villa have opened direct transfer talks with one player over joining Unai Emery next season, according to reports, as the Premier League top five contenders attempt to build upon another impressive campaign.

Aston Villa seal vital win over Tottenham in Champions League race

da supremo： Nerves were rife throughout Villa Park in their crunch encounter against Tottenham on Friday night, before their opening goal 30 minutes from full-time, with defender Ezri Konsa breaking the deadlock before Boubacar Kamara doubled their advantage.

Related Monchi now leading Aston Villa charge to sign "exciting" Serie A midfielder

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Posts

Villa eventually ran out 2-0 victors over Ange Postecoglou’s side and cemented a crucial win in their chase for Champions League qualification.

The result means Emery’s side are still right in the thick of it, as they contend for a top five finish heading into the Premier League final matchday, and it is shaping up to be a dramatic last game with six teams involved in the battle for Europe.

Race for Champions League qualification

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Chelsea

66

5. Aston Villa

66

6. Man City

65

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Emery, speaking after their victory against struggling Spurs, heaped praise on his players for making their home ground a serious fortress.

“I’m very grateful for the supporters,” Emery said. “Here, we are feeling strong and we’re feeling comfortable. We only lost one match here in the Premier League, the first match against Arsenal. Progressively, we were getting better. Of course, we drew some matches in the way, and now we are missing some points from those moments, but we have to accept it.

“We have to accept the 37 matches we’ve played being consistent, more or less, and getting the moment we are in now, feeling good and in our best moment. We’re achieving the challenges we are facing. We enjoyed in the FA Cup and in Carabao Cup, but mostly our moment in the Champions League.

“The Premier League is the most important competition we are facing because through it we are getting again our main objective, and the objective is to be in Europe.

“We are in Europe next year, but we are in the running for the Champions League positions, and we can have chances in the last match in Manchester to get it.”

Aston Villa open talks with Axel Disasi over joining next season

The result of their Champions League chase will have direct effects on their recruitment plans off the field, but that hasn’t stopped NSWE and Monchi from making moves behind-the-scenes.

Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi could remain beyond 2024/2025, with the Frenchman very highly-rated by Emery, his coaching staff and Villa’s transfer chiefs.

That is according to Foot Mercato, who state that Villa have already opened talks with Disasi over joining them next season.

The 27-year-old cost Chelsea £39 million to sign from Monaco in 2023, and Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that they’re keen to sell him for profit this summer. It is unclear how much Villa would be willing to pay to keep Disasi in the Midlands, but he could be a significant addition.

The defender has been called a “leader” at times, and his experience at the top level could be invaluable for Emery.

da leao： Glasgow Rangers and 49ers Enterprises could be a marriage made in heaven. Of course, things are still very much in the pre-wedding phase.

da mrbet： The club were crying out for new investment and this summer can see the beginning of a new era for the Light Blues. First of all, a permanent manager must be appointed, preferably sooner rather than later, especially given the size of the task at hand.

It remains to be seen just how big a budget the manager will be given this summer to improve the squad. It might be the case that he will have to sell a few players in order to raise funds and reduce the wage bill.

Vaclav Cerny, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, and Rafael Fernandes have all returned to their parent clubs following their respective loan spells at Ibrox.

Elsewhere, Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence, and Leon Balogun have all departed following the end of their contracts. Balogun and Hagi were both part of the squad that won the Premiership title in 2021.

A new era indeed. Regardless of who the new boss is, players such as Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell could be sold, especially after strong loan spells at Birmingham City.

Robin Propper must be another player who has to go this summer.

Why Rangers must sell Robin Propper

Last summer, Philippe Clement sought several signings that would turn his side from also-rans to title winners.

In came players such as Nedim Bajrami, Hamza Igamane, and Cerny, but it was the defence that the club really needed to strengthen.

Connor Goldson was sold after six years at Ibrox and a new centre-back was identified as being a priority for Clement ahead of the season.

This led to the Gers bringing in FC Twente captain Propper, who had made over 100 appearances for the Dutch side. On the surface, it looked like a shrewd signing, especially as the club paid just £1.5m to secure his signature.

After a few months, however, it was evident that the Dutchman was struggling to cope with the physicality of Scottish football. He was regularly being out-muscled and outfought by strikers of teams further down the table, while his lack of pace didn’t help either.

He delivered worse performances in the Europa League, and when compared to his positional peers in the competition, his statistics are poor to say the least.

Robin Propper’s stats in the Premiership this season (per 90)

Accurate passes

57.9

Tackles

1.6

Clearances

4

Total duels won

5.6

Possession lost

8.5

Balls recovered

3.3

Via Sofascore

Indeed, he ranks in the bottom 75% for pass completion percentage, progressive passes, progressive carries, and tackles per 90 in the Europa League. The defender just cracks the top 45% for blocks and clearances per 90 for the Light Blues.

While Rangers may have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, they might have gone further had Propper not been part of the team.

He will turn 32 in September, and it is obvious that his best days are behind him, based on his disappointing performances for the Gers this season. Depending on the style of play of the new manager, Propper must surely be aiming to look for another team this summer.

With Balogun already departed and Ben Davies likely to be sold as well, signing a centre-back or two during the transfer window is imperative, and the arrival of a new one could result in Propper’s exit.

Could the 49ers turn to the Premier League to bring someone in?

Rangers eye swoop for Premier League defender

Last week, Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie delivered some transfer news on X surrounding the club’s interest in Ipswich Town centre-back Cameron Burgess.

He posted: “Rangers are interested in Ipswich defender Cameron Burgess as they seek to bolster their defence ahead of the new season.

“29-yo has played 18 times in the Premier League this season.”

The link certainly came out of the blue, but it was a welcome one. With Ipswich suffering relegation from the top flight, now could be the perfect time for the Gers to make a move for the Australian.

If so, the manager must axe Propper.

Why Rangers should sign Cameron Burgess

Across his 18 Premier League appearances for Ipswich Town this term, Burgess has won 3.6 total duels per game – a success rate of 68% – while also making an impressive 6.9 clearances and 0.9 tackles per game for the Tractor Boys.

It wasn’t enough to see them slip back into the second tier, but Burgess wasn’t the problem, far from it.

Burgess has showcased his talents when compared to other defenders in the Premier League, ranking in the top 21% for aerial duels won (2.57), the top 2% for clearances (7.48), and in the top 5% for percentage of dribblers tackled (81.8%) per 90 this season.

Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson hailed the defender amid the links to Rangers, saying: “Cameron Burgess may not be the most exciting signing on paper but he’ll bring necessary experience to the back, particularly if Balogun departs.

“He’s 6’4, left sided, an Australian international and uses the ball well (Ipswich struggled to keep it which impacts his %s).”

As Watson mentions, Burgess uses the ball well at the back, but what Rangers need is a defender who is physically capable of getting the better of opposition forwards in the penalty area.

Too often have the club seen opposition players get plenty of time in the final third, which has given clubs such as Motherwell, St Mirren and Hibs chances to secure victory against the Glasgow side this season.

Propper was a big factor in some of these defeats. By signing Burgess, the Gers will be getting someone who is currently at the peak of their powers.

His contract expires in a couple of weeks, which means he won’t cost the Light Blues a single penny, making the move all the more attractive.

Perhaps not the big-name signing many of the supporters are hoping for, but the Australian would offer some solidity to a backline which has struggled throughout 2024/25.

He won’t demand a massive wage either. Everything points to this being a smart piece of business by the club; that much is certain.

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da bwin： Arsenal have enjoyed a meteoric rise under Mikel Arteta’s wing, making year-by-year progress and now not just consistent Champions League competitors but one of the most respected squads in European football.

da 888casino： However, it’s been five years since the Gunners added to their trophy cabinet, Arteta winning the FA Cup just months into his reign way back in 2019/20, defeating Chelsea in the final.

It’s clear that there’s a missing ingredient, that one last piece of the puzzle which will pave the way to new levels of success in the Premier League and beyond.

Arsenal need to sign a striker, and while Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres has been high on the list, it looks like sporting director Andrea Berta is instead going to move for Benjamin Sesko.

The latest on Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal

On Thursday, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that concrete talks between Arsenal and RB Leipzig are underway for the transfer of Slovenian striker Sesko, who has an €80m (£67m) release clause in his contract.

Since then, Arsenal sources have claimed that personal terms are all wrapped up, and that we’re now entering the later stages of a saga which promises the 22-year-old’s transfer to the Emirates Stadium in the coming weeks.

Sesko is considered one of the most exciting centre-forwards in Europe, having scored 39 goals across two seasons in Germany.

However, while Arsenal are desperate for more firepower, the striker’s arrival would rock the boat somewhat, with someone like Gabriel Jesus perhaps at risk of being ousted from contention next season, should Berta drive the deal over the line.

Why Gabriel Jesus needs to go

In 2022, Arsenal signed Jesus from Manchester City in a deal worth £45m, securing one of the Premier League’s finest pure finishers, chiselled into a natural winner under Pep Guardiola’s wing too.

But he’s struggled with injuries ever since first donning the Arsenal jersey, missing 61 matches due to injury absence since joining.

After tearing his cruciate ligament in January, thus ending his season after undergoing surgery, the Brazil forward’s day may well be done, with the potential signing of Sesko bound to knock him down the pecking order.

Jesus did enjoy a burst of clinical form before that blow, but consistency has been a struggle even when he’s maintained fitness levels, with pundit Micah Richards calling the 28-year-old “frustrating” after one performance against Liverpool last October.

Gabriel Jesus’ Arsenal Career by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

27

7

2

23/24

36

8

10

22/23

33

11

8

Data via Transfermarkt

Kai Havertz is not a natural goalscorer, but his unique set of skills make for an interesting and dynamic option at number nine, something that could serve well as the counterpoint to Leipzig’s inbound man.

Moreover, Jesus pockets a staggering £265k per week at Arsenal, supposedly placing him behind only Havertz on the club’s wage bill. Is it justifiable for both players, neither of whom may start every week, to be on the books for the club next term?

Journalist Graeme Bailey believes that, while the Gunners are pressing ahead with contract talks for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, they may be warming to the prospect of selling Jesus.

His current injury may inhibit the chances of doing that this summer, but it’s looking rather likely that the arrival of Sesko will spell the end of the Brazilian’s time at the Emirates, his setback proving little more than a stay of execution.

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da heads bet： After securing Champions League football on the final day, Newcastle United have now reportedly made signing one Real Madrid star one of their main targets in a £150m+ spending spree this summer.

Newcastle secure Champions League qualification

da premier bet： They didn’t do it the easy way, but after Aston Villa suffered defeat against Manchester United, Newcastle had their Champions League qualification secured despite failing to beat Everton. Ending the campaign with a Carabao Cup to their name alongside a place among Europe’s elite, it’s fair to say that Eddie Howe enjoyed his best season yet at St James’ Park.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Howe shared his delight at his side’s Champions League qualification, saying: “It feels great, the achievement is huge.

“Naturally, when you lose the game there’s a feeling of disappointment, but I think we have to override that with [the fact that] over the 38 games, we deserved to qualify for the competition. It’s a huge moment for the club.

“I think the experience we had there the first time will help us no end, I think. We felt we grew through the competition, so I think we are stronger. I think we are better prepared both physically and mentally for the competition ahead. We suffered a bad injury crisis [last] season as well, so lessons need to be learned from that and hopefully, if they can be, we can be successful.”

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Posts 1

With their place in Europe’s top competition crucially comes the opportunity to unleash the riches of their ownership, and Newcastle look set to take full advantage this summer. Reports have already mentioned the likes of Jamie Gittens and now fresh rumours have emerged regarding a Real Madrid star in what would be some statement by the Magpies and PIF.

Newcastle shortlist Rodrygo among main targets

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle and PIF have now shortlisted Rodrygo as one of their main summer targets. The Real Madrid winger will reportedly be allowed to leave the Spanish club for around €80m (£75m) and those at St James’ Park want to make him a big part of a €200m (£167m) summer spending spree.

The rumours have been circling about the Brazilian’s Madrid future for some time following a frustrating season at the Bernabeu. Whether he finds his best form again under new manager Xabi Alonso and whether he’s even given the chance to do so are the big questions, but the former Bayer Leverkusen boss has already had his say.

Speaking at his unveiling, Alonso told reporters when asked about Rodrygo: “Rodrygo is a Real Madrid player, and I will speak with everyone who is part of Real Madrid. Rodrygo is a spectacular player—and we will need him. He deserves it, and so do we.”

Newcastle’s spending power could see them push on despite Alonso’s words, however, in a major summer statement. As impressive as Jacob Murphy has been for Howe’s side on the right-hand side in the last year, Rodrygo would instantly add that extra star power.

da dobrowin： Before their historic Europa League win, this season was shaping up to be Tottenham Hotspur’s worst in a generation.

da lvbet： The North Londoners finished 17th in the Premier League, and it would be fair to say that, bar a few players, the squad were massively disappointing.

One of the few who stood out for the right reasons was Lucas Bergvall, who only joined up with the squad last summer but ended up winning every end-of-season award, including the club’s Player of the Season Award.

In short, the Swedish gem has been an incredible addition to the team, and now it looks like the club might be looking to repeat the move with another exciting youngster who might be able to replicate his form for whoever comes in to replace the recently sacked Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham transfer news

They might not have signed anyone yet, but that has not stopped a seemingly endless stream of talented players being linked to Spurs in recent weeks, such as Adam Wharton and Quinten Timber.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former would reportedly cost around £60m and has been nothing short of brilliant for Crystal Palace since joining the South London club.

Interestingly, the latter, who is the captain of Feyenoord and the brother of Arsenal star Jurrien Timber, could be available for just £25m, but there would be some risk in signing him due to him being out injured.

Moreover, it would be hard to draw any comparisons between the two aforementioned stars and Bergvall, which isn’t the case for Victor Froholdt.

According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Spurs have now “entered the race” for the tremendously exciting “top talent.”

Alongside the Lilywhites, Plettenberg claims that Bundesliga sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are also incredibly keen on the promising youngster.

According to other reports from last month, the teenager is now valued at between £15m to £20m, and while that is a lot of money, he looks like he’d be a worthy investment, just like Bergvall.

Why Froholdt could be another Bergvall

Okay, so there are quite a few reasons why Froholdt could be the club’s next Bergvall, so let’s get through some of the more surface-level ones.

Firstly, it would be another example of Spurs not only going out to sign a promising youngster but also a Scandinavian one from a Scandinavian team in FC Copenhagen.

Furthermore, like the Swede before him, the 19-year-old prospect is now highly sought-after, and it could be another example of the club proving themselves to be an attractive destination for the game’s next superstars.

Now, on to the more substantive comparisons, and while he can play in a variety of positions, the “extraordinary” gem, as dubbed by one Danish analyst, is primarily a central midfielder.

Moreover, the 5 foot 9 dynamo never stops running, covering the second-most amount of ground in the competition this season, which could see him become a perfect midfield partner for Bergvall, as they’d be able to run opposition pairings ragged.

Froholdt’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Shots on Target %

75.0%

Top 1%

SCA (Take-On)

0.32

Top 2%

Progressive Carries

2.56

Top 4%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.48

Top 4%

Blocks

1.76

Top 7%

Successful Take-Ons

1.28

Top 7%

Dribblers Tackled

1.44

Top 10%

Tackles

3.04

Top 11%

Carries into the Final Third

1.76

Top 11%

All Stats via FBref

Finally, while there is not an abundance of data on him this season, the underlying numbers we can look at are more than encouraging.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of midfielders in the next best 14 competitions for shots on target percentage, the top 2% for shot-creating actions from take-ons, the top 4% for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for blocks and successful take-ons, the top 10% for dribblers tackled and more, all per 90.

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Ultimately, while it is early to say definitively if he will be a success or not, the early signs around Froholdt are more than encouraging, and Spurs could have another Bergvall on their hands if they sign him.