Tottenham are reportedly ready to try an audacious swap deal this summer as they look to bolster their midfield on a budget, it has been claimed.
Spurs in need of additions
After a promising season under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham's Premier League campaign fizzled out and they were forced to accept Europa League football next season, despite at one point seeming nailed on for a return to the Champions League. Now, all attention is set to turn to the summer transfer window, and the club are set to be busy.
Emerson Royal is thought to be free to leave and has admitted to enjoying the reports linking him with a move to AC Milan, while the club have already made their first signing of the summer by making Timo Werner's loan move valid for a further 12 months, extending his stay in north London.
Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon have both been released, and decisions will have to be made on returning loanees Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon and Bryan Gil, all of whom seem to be out of Postecoglou's plans.
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Another man expected to leave is Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who was named man of the match for Denmark during their 1-1 draw with England at EURO 2024.
No decision will be made on his future until after the tournament, but the Dane's agent explained: “I am working on the many requests that we have already received, yes; but we will analyse all the possibilities after the Euros, during the holidays when we will spend some time together and then look forward to the next chapter”.
With that in mind, Tottenham are going to need midfield additions, and now they are trying to find a way to land one on the cheap.
Spurs target swap deal
That comes as The Sun claim Tottenham are eyeing up an audacious swap deal for Southampton's Carlos Alcaraz, in a move that would see Welsh defender Joe Rodon head the other way. Alcaraz was in and out of Russell Martin's side for the first half of the season, though the Saints boss did praise the Argentinian for his performances.
"His mentality has been great", he explained after one performance against Leeds United. “We wanted to free him up a little bit. We did that I think – he was amazing with it. I’m really proud of him and really pleased for him. He was outstanding."
He spent the second half of the season on loan with Juventus though, making three starts in what turned out to be a difficult spell in Turin, and his future seems unclear.
Carlos Alcaraz's difficult 23/24
For Juventus
For Southampton
Games played
12
26
Starts
3
15
Goals
0
4
Assists
1
3
Yellow Cards
0
5
Total minutes
379
1313
The 21-year-old still has four years left to run on his £25,000 a week deal on the south coast, but The Sun claim that he likely won't be there much longer, with Spurs keen to sign him this summer. Valued at £30m by Southampton, Spurs are willing to offer Rodon, who is wanted by the Saints and is valued at around £10m, in a bid to get a deal done.
However, they may also have to stump up some cash to get it over the line should they be serious about the young midfielder ahead of the new season.
Chelsea have agreed to pay £60 million for a "wonderful" player after holding talks with his agents, and they've moved ahead of Man Utd in the race to sign him this summer as a result.
Maresca set for busy summer as Chelsea hold negotiations for forwards
Fabrizio Romano has tipped Chelsea to have a busy summer transfer window, following their appointment of Enzo Maresca to replace the departed Mauricio Pochettino.
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They've already put pen to paper on a deal for defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham, who will come in to help fill the void left by Thiago Silva's exit, but Chelsea are now turning their attention towards signing a forward or two.
Maresca's side, as widely reported, have been locked in talks to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa. Chelsea are in ongoing negotiations over a deal for Duran, but are believed to be stalling the move due to Villa's demands.
Aston Vila 3-3 Chelsea
8.36
Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace
7.48
Aston Villa 4-0 Liverpool
7.38
Man City 4-1 Aston Villa
6.90
Aston Villa 3-2 Burnley
6.80
They could even walk away from the Colombian and pursue other targets, with RB Leipzig star Lois Openda emerging as an alternative to Duran for Chelsea. Amid their pursuit of a striker, whether it be Duran, Openda or another name, they're also reportedly pushing to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.
The 22-year-old, upon returning from a season-delaying injury last term, racked up an impressive 10 goals and six assists in 19 Premier League appearances. Olise's top-flight pedigree has been highlighted on a consistent basis at Selhurst Park, with former manager Roy Hodgson calling the player an "enormous talent".
“In the first-half he was a figure on the right but he wasn’t creating chances or showing aggression in his play. In the second-half he got it all right in both defence and attack and he showed what a wonderful player he is," said Hodgson on Olise after a performance against Leeds in 2023.
“I have seen him for 10 days less than I have seen the others. What I make of him is that I think he is an enormous talent – he has got a great possibility to have a wonderful career and a wonderful future. We can only hope we at Crystal Palace can give him that platform.”
Chelsea agree to pay £60 million for Olise in warning to Man Utd
As per Foot Mercato, a very promising update has come to light on his potential move to Stamford Bridge. Indeed, Chelsea have been locked in talks with the player's representatives, but Man Utd are also in the picture and named as one of the "serious candidates" to sign him.
However, the Red Devils are now in real danger of missing out on him. Foot Mercato say that United don't want to pay the attacker's price tag, and this has put Maresca's side in pole position. By contrast, Chelsea have agreed to pay £60 million to sign Olise this summer – a figure which Erik ten Hag and co don't want to meet. The Blues appear to hold all the cards as things stand, and it will come as good news for their new manager.
Glasgow Rangers have made a “genius” compared to the legendary Brian Clough a frontrunner for the Ibrox vacancy alongside former Gers boss Steven Gerrard.
Steven Gerrard holds positive talks over Rangers return
Rangers are now on the search for their fourth manager of 2025, with the 49ers Enterprises’ move for Russell Martin lasting just 123 days.
Martin was sacked by Rangers following Sunday’s 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Falkirk which has left the Gers on just eight points from their opening seven league games.
Rangers have recorded just one league win during that time, with chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe already opening the process of hiring Martin’s successor.
One name who has been heavily linked with a move to Ibrox is Gerrard, who enjoyed three years in Glasgow before departing for Aston Villa, winning Rangers’ only Scottish Premiership title in the last 14 years.
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He could be a shrewd appointment by the Gers.
ByHenry Jackson Oct 7, 2025
It has been reported that Rangers have already held positive talks with Gerrard over a sensational return to the club, although negotiations are thought to be complex.
Gerrard isn’t the only candidate on the Rangers shortlist, though, and it has been revealed that he is joined by one manager at the top of the Ibrox wishlist.
Sean Dyche another frontrunner for Rangers job with Gerrard
According to The Scottish Daily Mail, relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers are keen to act swiftly and appoint a new manager as soon as they can.
It is claimed that as well as Gerrard, Sean Dyche is the other frontrunner for the Rangers job, with the ex-Everton manager keen on a move to Ibrox.
Dyche, called an “absolute genius”, has been out of work since January after leaving the Toffees, where he was replaced by David Moyes.
The 54-year-old, who plays a 4-2-3-1 system, has plenty of experience in England with Burnley, and during his time with the Clartes, he was even compared to former Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager Clough by ex-winger Michael Kightly.
By the looks of things, either Dyche of Gerrard could well be the manager in charge of Rangers following the international break against Dundee United at Ibrox on 18 October, providing this latest claim is accurate.
Nothing but a win will do for Arsenal now in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
Chelsea and Liverpool are soaring high but even with Manchester City seemingly now out of the race, the Gunners have to be perfect.
They have been far from that in recent weeks, however, dropping four points against Fulham and Everton over the last two weekends.
Well, on a weekend when boss Mikel Arteta celebrated five years in charge of Arsenal, they gave him the perfect present with a rampant 5-1 win at Selhurst Park, defeating Crystal Palace for the second time this week.
Just days ago the north London side defeated their London rivals in the Carabao Cup but this victory arguably had greater meaning given their performances in the league over the last few weeks.
Like he was at the Emirates on Wednesday evening, Gabriel Jesus was the hero once again.
Gabriel Jesus’ performance vs Crystal Palace
What a week this has been for the Brazilian striker. Against Palace in midweek, the former Man City star scored a first-class hat-trick and grabbed his first goals at home for just over a year.
He was still awaiting his first Premier League goal since January, but that came on Saturday when Jesus delivered another scintillating display.
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice also got on the scoresheet but it was Jesus who stole the show, scoring the opener with a neat finish from around six yards out.
His second goal was an even better strike. Following a corner, Thomas Partey laid possession into the path of the Brazil international who wrapped his foot around the ball and hammered it past Dean Henderson.
This has been a landmark week for Jesus and with Bukayo Saka cruelly going off with a hamstring injury in the first half, the importance of his contributions in the final third will only be elevated.
He quite possibly could have had more than two as well with the 27-year-old striking the post which led to Havertz’s goal and then sticking a simple one-on-one chance straight at Henderson in the same phase of play that Martinelli found the net from.
It was another brilliant performance but the same cannot be said of one man at the back.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Saliba’s performance in numbers vs Crystal Palace
Over the last few years, William Saliba has been known as one of the best central defenders in the league. He is the natural heir to Van Dijk as the Premier League’s foremost centre-half.
Only a few days ago, he was celebrated as one of the best in the entire world too, with FIFA’s The Best award selecting him among their Team of the Year.
Kylian Mbappe even suggested the defender should have been France’s Player of 2024, given his impeccable displays for club and country.
Therefore, his performance at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening was rather perplexing with that in mind, with Jamie Carragher commentating on Sky Sports summing things up well by suggesting he had an “awful first 20 minutes”.
Because of Saliba, Arsenal could well have conceded twice within those moments. For Ismaila Sarr’s equaliser, the Frenchman backtracked and failed to get close enough to the Palace forward who was allowed to fire past David Raya under very little pressure from the Gunners’ defence.
Just minutes later the defender almost cost Arteta’s men a second goal. Saliba got caught in possession by Sarr who then slipped in Jean-Philippe Mateta.
A scorer against the north Londoners just a few days before in the Carabao Cup, he fluffed his lines here, allowing Raya to come out and smother the striker’s brilliant chance to score.
One mistake from Saliba is a rarity but to get two in one game is almost unheard of. Truth be told, it was perhaps his worst half for the club yet, with GOAL handing him a 4/10 match rating following the full-time whistle.
The numbers didn’t paint the prettiest picture of his evening either.
Minutes played
98
Touches
116
Accurate passes
100/105 (95%)
Clearances
4
Interceptions
1
Tackles
0
Long balls
1/2
Ground duels won
1/4
Aerial duels won
1/1
Possession lost
8x
Dribble success
1/3
Indeed, Saliba didn’t make a successful tackle all game and only won one of his four ground duels, a statistic that summed up how out of sorts the Frenchman was this weekend.
With matches coming thick and fast over the festive period, Arsenal will need to rediscover their knack for keeping clean sheets again. An in-form Saliba – not the one they got on Saturday – will be key to that.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers fans will be praying that a change in manager will inspire the Old Gold players to leap out of those dreaded relegation spaces in the Premier League.
At the moment, the top-flight standings are hard to digest from a Wolves fan’s perspective, with just nine points next to their stuttering club’s name, as Gary O’Neil bowed out with just two wins
picked up from his last 16 league contests.
Now, it’s time for a fresh approach at the Wolves helm to try and save their dying season, with one name edging closer to taking over from O’Neil.
The latest on Vitor Pereira to Wolves
Various outlets are reporting the fact Al-Shabab manager Vitor Pereira is set to be the former AFC Bournemouth manager’s successor, with GIVEMESPORT stating that a deal could already be wrapped up.
Wolves certainly haven’t messed about in finding a quick replacement for the 44-year-old, with Pereira’s appointment one that will no doubt come with intrigue attached to it, considering the Portuguese manager has never graced the English game from the sidelines.
But, he could be just what the Old Gold need in attempting to resurrect their campaign, with the in-demand 56-year-old boasting seven victories from 12 this season in the Saudi Pro League.
Of course, the demands of the Premier League are a different kettle of fish altogether, but his new methods could also mean certain frozen-out individuals at Molineux gain more opportunities moving forward, including notable Wolves dud Goncalo Guedes.
He could even become the club’s next iteration of Pedro Neto if everything slots into place under Pereira, particularly when you consider his previous excellent numbers from the wings.
Pereira's very own Pedro Neto at Wolves
Away from picking up those wins for Al-Shabab this season, Pereira has also made his current employers very easy on the eye to watch, with 49 strikes flooding in from his 30 games in charge of the Middle East outfit.
Often utilising the 3-4-3 formation there – something Wolves have experience of – Guedes could be in for a shout of more first-team chances if Pereira uses this same set-up at Molineux, having once starred all across the attacking positions at Valencia before making a major £27.5m switch to England a reality.
LW
102
16
17
SS
27
13
7
CF
18
4
6
RW
14
1
0
AM
4
0
0
RW
2
0
0
But, it’s obvious his best position when at the Mestalla was down the left flank, with a stunning 16 goals and 17 assists amassed from 102 games.
Unfortunately, since his move to Wolves, Guedes hasn’t been able to dazzle in a similar way on the left, with zero goals and assists coming his way from that spot.
But, he will be gifted a clean slate in the West Midlands under the fresh reign of Pereira, as the 56-year-old is tasked with getting the best out of the “lightning” quick attacker having been labelled that by European football expert Andy Brassell. That trait is certainly one he shares with the former Old Gold winger.
Dazzling wide play isn’t the only similarity between Guedes and Neto in their approach down the wings, with the ability to score an audacious effort like the one above also linking the pair together.
Scoring twice in the EFL Cup this season, it wouldn’t be a stretch to state that the former Valencia man was just a background figure under O’Neil.
Now, however, his importance could increase as Pereira prepares to walk into the building to leave his mark on proceedings.
Perhaps he could unleash a new Neto-like figure in the much-maligned Guedes.
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Manchester United have made a series of exciting signings recently to try and breed a new era at Old Trafford, and they could now look to sign a rising star from within England.
Truthfully, the last decade has seen the Red Devils’ stock and reputation fall as they look to return to the elite of English football. Still, additions such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have shown a sense of ambition under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Even with the need for a new midfielder at Manchester United clear amid uncertainty over Casemiro’s future, boss Ruben Amorim has indicated he is keen to get more out of Manuel Ugarte in the meantime following his move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
He said before his side’s clash with Everton: “You can sense a lot of very good players come here, and sometimes they struggle. He is struggling at the moment but it is our job to try to help and help him to feel like I felt when he was a Sporting player. But it is a different world. He needs to adapt, and he needs to improve, especially in training.”
Several targets have been linked to replace veteran Casemiro, with the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes and Atletico Madrid midfielder Connor Gallagher on their list.
Amorim will continue to build over the coming months and is likely to get time to implement his vision, albeit further signings will be necessary to make his formation a bona fide success as his squad continue to evolve.
Now, he may have an alternative England international firmly on his radar as Manchester United look to restore themselves among the Champions League slots at a minimum this term.
Man Utd set to bid for Elliot Anderson
According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are set to bid for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson as they up the ante in pursuit of a Casemiro replacement, with a move for the Englishman backed by both Jason Wilcox and Amorim himself.
The latter is unlikely to see his contract renewed at Old Trafford, and steps could now be taken to sign the Tricky Trees man, a move that may cost between £80 and £100 million.
Elliot Anderson’s Premier League campaign (Fotmob)
Appearances
12
Goals
1
Assists
1
Chances created
18
Successful passes
714
Successful crosses
16
Once January comes around, Manchester United could offer a package at around the £60 million mark, albeit that is unlikely to be enough to land Anderson in the face of his magnificent form at the City Ground.
Nevertheless, the former Newcastle United man, labelled “elite” by Thomas Tuchel, is open to joining a big six club and could be someone the club now values as a realistic target more than Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.
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For now, speculation will continue to mount over Anderson’s future, but the pursuit may be one to keep an eye on as Amorim looks to lead Manchester United to silverware in the coming years.
A big Leeds United transfer claim has emerged on USA international Sergino Dest…
What’s the talk?
Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the club are going to be in the market to bolster their defence in the summer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The reporter has named the Barcelona full-back as a player who could come through the door, as Victor Orta looks to improve their options across the back four.
He told This is Futbol:
“They’ll be looking at a right-back, I think, as well.
“Sergino Dest has been mentioned possibly as that one which will be a big deal for Leeds.”
Jesse Marsch will be excited
This claim will surely leave the Lillywhites head coach excited as Dest would be an excellent addition to his squad heading into next season.
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In La Liga this season, he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.88 across 18 appearances. He has been able to showcase his quality at both ends of the pitch, with five ‘big chances’ created overall and 0.9 key passes per game along with 1.7 tackles and interceptions and 4.9 duels won per match.
Meanwhile, Luke Ayling – who has played at centre-back and right-back, has averaged a score of 6.74 in the Premier League. He has produced 0.5 key passes per game and this suggests that the overall standard of his performance and his ability on the ball is not at the same level as Dest’s.
At the age of 21, the Barcelona gem also has the potential to improve further and develop over time.
This means that he can be a player Marsch is able to work with on the training pitch to help him hone his skills, which could be an enjoyable experience for the head coach as he potentially gets to profit from improving the full-back.
Therefore, he is a player who can make an impact on the pitch in the short and long term. His statistics this season suggest that he would be an upgrade on Ayling at right-back, whilst his age means that he has plenty of time on his side to get better and better.
This is why Marsch will be excited by the prospect of bringing Dest to the club this summer. He will want to work with talented young players and the American international certainly falls into that category.
Victor Orta… get it done!
AND in other news, Orta can form “incredible” duo as Leeds eye £10m sensation who “does everything right”…
Liverpool are a team with distinct flaws, and yet they are also breathtaking and brilliant when firing on all cylinders.
Too often this season, Arne Slot’s side have failed to get going, outthought and outfought across the past few months, losing six of seven matches across all competitions before a controlled win over Aston Villa in the Premier League stopped the rot.
The 1-0 victory over European nemeses Real Madrid was something different, though. Anfield roared and cheered Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, bayed and bellowed at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received a frosty reception when welcomed after 80 minutes.
1
Goals
0
2.51
Expected goals (xG)
0.45
17 (9)
Shots (on target)
8 (2)
4
Big chances
1
111.4km
Distance covered
112.7km
38.8%
Possession
61.2%
4
Corners
2
45%
Duels won
55%
This is the Liverpool we know. Energy and intensity and purpose across every area of the field. However, while Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stood firm against Kylian Mbappe, with the full-backs excelling too, the plain truth remains of the Merseysiders’ desperate need for reinforcements in central defence.
Liverpool searching for a centre-back
Of course, Liverpool did sign a centre-back this summer, adding Giovanni Leoni to their ranks for a £26m fee. The 18-year-old is worth his wait in gold, but ruptured his ACL on his debut against Southampton and now sits sidelined for around a year.
The inability to prise Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace, however, is surely the bigger blow. A deal was almost in place on deadline day, but the Eagles had not found a suitable replacement, and with such little time to pull out the stops, the move disintegrated, with the player having been permitted to carry out a medical with the Anfield side.
It still could come together. Guehi, 25, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no desire to pen a fresh deal. The issue now is that a host of Europe’s top outfits want his signature, though Spanish paper AS have confirmed with week that, alongside Bayern Munich, the Reds are still leading the race, ahead of the likes of Real Madrid.
Liverpool will hope to snap Guehi up on a Bosman by the end of the campaign, but if they fall short in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up the perfect alternative in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
As per further Spanish sources, Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG considering making a €100m (£87m) bid this January.
The veracity of this developing story is uncertain at this stage, but the 26-year-old is undoubtedly talented enough to stand out under Slot’s wing, with the style and experience to make a marked difference as Van Dijk inches ever closer to the autumn of his illustrious Anfield career.
What Bastoni would offer Liverpool
Liverpool need a centre-back; they’ve needed one for some time. While Guehi was the first-choice option this summer, Bastoni might actually prove a more compelling option for the Anfield side, having been hailed for his “world-class” ability by commentator Matteo Bonetti.
This is a defender who is at the top of their game, one of the most important cogs in an I Nerazzurri machine that has won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles in five recent seasons, winner of the 2021 European Championship with Italy besides.
And, aged 26, he falls into a similar bracket as Guehi: a centre-back with the talent to make an instant impact and the prime years still ahead to grow deeper into their role in Slot’s squad and reach entirely new levels of performance.
He’s one of the best players in his position worldwide. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has scored a goal and supplied two assists across nine outings, winning 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per game (data provided by Sofascore).
A strong passer and outside-the-box thinker, he could even trump Guehi across ball-playing metrics, with the Palace man renowned for his cool, composed and creative presence on the ball.
Goals
0.05
0.06
Assists
0.05
0.09
Touches
89.54
60.67
Pass completion (%)
86.5
83.5
Progressive passes
5.29
4.09
Shot-creating actions
2.36
1.53
Progressive carries
1.88
0.77
Successful take-ons
0.31
0.26
Ball recoveries
3.53
4.12
Tackles + interceptions
2.62
3.12
Clearances
2.85
4.56
Aerial duels won
1.53
1.91
As you can see, Guehi has been more active in defensive contributions over the past year. This you would expect from an outfit like Palace in the Premier League when compared to Italian giants like Inter. But Bastoni is slicker and more able on the ball, and that when Guehi shines in that regard.
Sure, Guehi is a free agent come the end of the campaign, and that counts for a lot, but whether Liverpool and FSG would be willing to pass up an opportunity to sign a talent of Bastoni’s ability is another question entirely. After all, the reports suggest that a bid is currently being packaged together.
Here is a fearsome centre-half with the passing range of a maestro. Liverpool could do a lot worse than add Bastoni to their ranks, securing a long-term Van Dijk heir with the perfect skillset to ease the agony of his moving on.
Bastoni. The perfect, elite bastion to secure Liverpool’s backline for many years to come. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level and the hunger to achieve even more.
He is immensely talented, perhaps more so than Guehi, and Slot’s defence would reach frightening levels of security and balance and progression with him added into the mix.
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The term ‘shot-stopper’ almost becomes more null and void with every passing year, for a goalkeeper is far more than that these days. They are the beginning of every manager’s system, the first pass to break a press, they get their side up the pitch, they sweep their area.
What began with Manuel Neuer has progressed into what is the expectancy of every modern-day ‘shot-stopper’. And that has seen a fresh batch of stars emerge to create history and spark the endless debate as to who takes the crown as the world’s best. Using stats such as saves per 90, save percentage, clean sheets and pass accuracy, we’ve determined our number one.
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Note: All stats correct as of 15th November 2024.
Rank
Player
Club
Alisson
Liverpool
Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid
Mike Maignan
Milan
Ederson
Man City
David Raya
Arsenal
Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid
Unai Simon
Athletic Bilbao
Emiliano Martinez
Aston Villa
Giorgi Mamardashvili
Valencia
Diogo Costa
Porto
10 Diogo Costa Porto & Portugal
Portugal'sDiogoCostareacts
An underrated name on this list, Diogo Costa has become more reliable than most at Porto and represents a true modern-day No 1. Rising through the ranks at the Portuguese club, Costa has more than earned his place and has even been linked with moves to the likes of Chelsea along the way.
For now, however, his main goal remains taking his boyhood club back to the top of Liga Portugal ahead of Sporting CP.
Ranked eighth in the 2024 Yashin Trophy, Costa has been forced to settle for a place in 10th in our rankings, but should hold no shame in that given the plethora of names still to come.
Saves per 90
1.77
Save percentage
70.5%
Clean sheets
20
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
42%
9 Giorgi Mamardashvili Valencia & Georgia
Ranked one place ahead of Costa in the Yashin Trophy standings, Giorgi Mamardashvili has emerged as one of the hottest prospects around between the sticks. The Valencia goalkeeper has starred even as the rest of his side continue to struggle at the bottom of La Liga and particularly stood at at Euro 2024 with Georgia.
Attracting the interest of Liverpool as a result, Mamardashvili sealed a move worth a reported £29m to Anfield in the summer before heading back out on loan to Valencia for the current campaign.
On course to become the heir to Alisson Becker’s throne, 6ft 6in Mamardashvili is one of the best shot-stoppers around, who will have a higher place on such a list once he improves with the ball at his feet at a side of Liverpool’s quality.
Saves per 90
2.5
Save percentage
67.9%
Clean sheets
16
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
28.4%
8 Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa & Argentina
Whilst some, including FIFA, may have Emiliano Martinez top on the list of the world’s best goalkeepers, he’ll have to settle for a lower place in our rankings.
The Argentinian’s place in the history books should never come into question. He proved to be one of the biggest difference-makers between glory and the ultimate heartbreak on the biggest stage for Lionel Messi when Argentina defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final.
Ask any of his international teammates – and perhaps the entirety of his home country – and Martinez may well be considered among the best in history, but outside of those international heroics, it would be harsh on others to consider the Aston Villa man far and away the best that European football has to offer, especially when considering the numbers.
Saves per 90
2.56
Save percentage
65.9%
Clean sheets
9
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
38.5%
Every Premier League player at the 2024 Ballon d'Or – ranked
10 players were included in the top 30.
ByCharlie Smith Oct 29, 2024 7 Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao & Spain
Speaking of international heroics, Unai Simon more than played his part as Spain battled to victory at Euro 2024 in Berlin, eventually overcoming England in dramatic fashion late on.
Finishing second in the Yashin Trophy as a result, the Athletic Bilbao man kept a total of three clean sheets at the tournament – only second to France’s Mike Maignan.
Now battling for a place in Europe with Athletic Bilbao alongside fellow Spain star Nico Williams, Simon should be on the radar of several top clubs when the January transfer window arrives next summer.
He proved that he can perform on the biggest stage last summer and is only likely to prove it once again with a big move.
Saves per 90
2.54
Save percentage
73.8%
Clean sheets
16
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
32.4%
6 Jan Oblak Atletico Madrid & Slovenia
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak
Jan Oblak may not be at the peak of his powers as consistently now that he’s 31 years old, but he remains one of the world’s best and Diego Simeone’s undisputed No 1. When he decides to hang his gloves up, La Liga will be left with a sensational highlight reel of incredible saves. At his best, the Slovenian has been almost impenetrable at times in Madrid.
With a few years to go yet, there’s no doubt that Oblak will continue to produce the impossible when Atletico Madrid and Simeone need him most, having already kept seven clean sheets in La Liga by mid-November.
Saves per 90
2.75
Save percentage
73.8%
Clean sheets
19
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
34.6%
5 David Raya Arsenal & Spain
Ahead of his Spanish counterpart Simon for once, David Raya’s recent rise has helped to form one of the Premier League’s most impressive backlines at Arsenal.
Behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, last season’s Golden Glove winner remains a crucial figure on and off the ball as a classic example of the modern goalkeeper that Mikel Arteta wanted ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
Of course, it remains a mystery as to why Simon is often preferred to Raya on international duty, but credit deserves to go to both shot-stoppers for creating such competition.
At 29 years old, however, Raya should be desperate to move Simon aside in a similar fashion to how he dislodged Ramsdale at Arsenal in order to become the undisputed No 1 for Spain ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Saves per 90
2.25
Save percentage
68.7%
Clean sheets
19
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
37.1%
4 Ederson Manchester City & Brazil
Into the top four, this ranking could quite easily be Manchester City’s penalty order, which in many ways sums up just how unique Ederson is. The pure definition of a modern goalkeeper, the Citizens’ No 1 has the flair of a Brazilian forward and the passing range of an NFL quarterback, all whilst maintaining his shot-stopping standards.
The most composed player on the pitch even as several hearts skip a beat, Ederson is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers to ever step foot in the Premier League and arguably the best in Manchester City’s history with countless honours to his name.
Saves per 90
2
Save percentage
67.8%
Clean sheets
12
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
46.5%
3 Mike Maignan Milan & France
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Spearheading Milan’s return to the top of Italian football in the 2021/22 campaign before becoming France’s No 1 and winning the Golden Glove at Euro 2024, Maignan’s place among the world’s best goalkeepers is no longer a debate. In fact, it could even be argued that he should be higher on the list. For now, however, the Frenchman sits third here – and respectably behind some elite shot-stoppers.
He simply ticks every box for a modern goalkeeper and has shown that on the biggest stage. There’s not many sides in Europe’s top five leagues who wouldn’t take the 29-year-old as their No 1, including those at the very top.
Saves per 90
2.67
Save percentage
70%
Clean sheets
14
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
40.3%
2 Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid & Belgium
From his Atletico Madrid days to winning the Premier League at Chelsea and now starring at Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois has been around for the last decade and has probably never dipped outside the top 10 goalkeepers in world football. He’s simply been that consistent and that much of a standout.
On the big stage, he’s among the players that most clubs would pick between the sticks on the shot-stopping front. It’s no surprise that even Real Madrid, with all the stars that they have, are struggling in the Belgian’s recent absence as of late.
What summed up his quality more than ever last season, however, was how he slotted straight into the Champions League final on his return from a long-term injury and didn’t miss a beat.
Saves per 90
2.96
Save percentage
77.1%
Clean sheets
16
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
37.7%
1 Alisson Liverpool & Brazil
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Whilst Real Madrid were quick to suggest that Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win over Vinicius Junior was the most controversial moment of the ceremony, Alisson has quite the case for himself after failing to even make the rankings for the Yashin Trophy.
Top of our rankings nonetheless (in what is of course the ultimate consolation), the Liverpool star has arguably been the world’s best goalkeeper for a number of years.
One of the all-time Premier League greats, what makes Alisson stand out is how he simply does not perform for the cameras. The Brazilian excels at making even the most ferocious strikes seem routine, and perhaps those who decide the Yashin Trophy were simply looking for picture-perfect rather than efficient.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will ignore any such award and settle for a goalkeeper who has been at the centre of some of their most historic moments in recent memory.
Journalist Beren Cross has provided a significant injury update regarding an influential Leeds United player, ahead of their Premier League clash with Burnley.
Farke expecting "tight" Burnley-Leeds clash
The Whites head to Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon knowing that the result could ultimately prove key in the relegation battle come May.
Speaking to the media ahead of the weekend action, Leeds manager Daniel Farke said he is expecting a “tight” battle away to the Clarets.
“I want to be there with a good performance. So, again, Burnley, what they have done in the last season is fantastic. Also a good start, especially performance-wise, to the season and I expect a pretty, pretty tight and competitive game. Out of these four games until the next international break, we want again to win as many points as possible.
“I would judge it as a difficult period because we have three away games, just one home game and we take it step by step. So right now we are just focused and concentrated on this Burnley game and to give ourselves a chance with a top performance again to win points.”
Farke will want as many players fit as possible for Saturday’s game, and it looks as though he could have a key man back in the fold, following a new update from Thorp Arch.
Farke could unleash Leeds' best English talent since Rio Ferdinand
Leeds fans can get excited about another rising English starlet at Elland Road.
Writing on X, Cross claimed that Leeds winger Dan James is making “immense progress” in his injury recovery and “would befive weeks ahead of schedule” if he features against Burnley. Farke said in his pre-match press conference that there is a chance he makes the squad at Turf Moor.
“Very positive and good news was Daniel James because he is a bit ahead of schedule in his rehab, so a compliment also to our medical department, our rehab coaches. He was even involved already, I would say, in major parts of team training during this week but he is definitely not in contention for the starting line-up.”
Having James back would feel like a massive shot in the arm for Leeds, with one of their record signings such an important figure with his blistering pace and improved end product, even though he is still searching for his first Premier League goal of the season.
The £75,000-a-week ace has the match-winning ability to decide what promises to be a close game away to Burnley, and even if he comes on as an impact substitute, simply having him in the squad will give the Whites a better chance of victory.