All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola now wants to sign an “ice cool” player, amid concerns over the performances of a current starter, according to a report.

On paper, Man City should have been no match for Al-Hilal, and they certainly had the better of their opponents, creating more chances and having over double the amount of shots on target throughout the match.

However, the Blues ultimately ended up crashing out of the Club World Cup after a shock 4-3 defeat, with Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou putting in a phenomenal performance, making eight saves from inside the box to keep Guardiola’s side at bay.

Man City: Pep wants to sign £162,000-a-week "best goalkeeper in the world"

Pep Guardiola has personally requested the signing of a goalkeeper, amid doubts over Ederson’s future.

ByDominic Lund Jul 3, 2025

The City boss refused to be too critical of his players in the wake of the result, while also singling out Bounou for praise, saying:“It is a pity. We have been on incredible journey together and were in a good place. The vibe was really good. I cannot thank the players enough for training and playing how they have been.

“But it was a difficult game. The margins were minimal. We created a lot and (Yassine) Bounou made incredible saves but we were so open.”

However, behind-the-scenes, Guardiola is still planning to make some changes to his squad, with a report from Spain revealing the Man City manager has made it clear that he wants to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

With Ederson not the player he once was, having lost consistency in his performances, there is a desire to bring in a new goalkeeper, and Guardiola believes Ter Stegen could be an ideal fit, believing that he has the qualities to succeed in the Premier League.

Barca would be willing to sanction a departure if a good offer comes their way, as the La Liga side are looking to reduce their wage bill, and the German rakes in a sizeable £105k-a-week.

"Ice cool" Ter Stegen has track record of success

The 33-year-old has won 20 major honours throughout a glittering career, having been an important player for Barcelona over a number of years, making a total of 422 appearances for the Spanish side.

That experience at the top level could be very useful for a Man City side which needs to start winning again, having endured a rare trophyless season during the 2024-25 campaign.

The “ice cool” goalkeeper is also comfortable in possession of the ball, which could make him a good fit in a Guardiola system, with counterpart Thibaut Courtois describing the Barca shot-stopper as the “best in the game” with his feet.

Ter Stegen could be a fantastic signing for Man City, but there may be some concerns over the fact the goalkeeper is already 33-years-old, making him two years older than Ederson, which indicates he is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for the Brazilian.

Liverpool signed a “truly generational talent” in Florian Wirtz last month, as the German playmaker has been described by sports media professional Cristian Nyari.

His playmaking and flair will certainly help cover for the sale of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who now performs his talents in Real Madrid white.

Sure, the Reds have paid Bayer Leverkusen £100m up front, with the possible add-ons raising the deal to a British-record £116m, thus adding an incredible dimension to Arne Slot’s Premier League champions.

And Liverpool may yet welcome another attacking player to the fold, for rumours concerning Luis Diaz’s potential Anfield sale this summer are persisting.

Why Liverpool might need a left winger

Last month, Liverpool rejected Barcelona’s advances for Diaz, with the 28-year-old identified as the perfect piece to complete Hansi Flick’s frontline.

Slot wants to keep the 28-year-old on Merseyside, but every player has a price, and the Colombian is entering the penultimate year of his contract.

And according to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Liverpool may find the perfect heir in Rodrygo, who will be allowed to leave Real Madrid this summer after playing a fringe role under Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup.

The Brazil international has, however, been valued at a jaw-dropping €100m (£85m), so it would definitely take the big-money sale of a forward like Diaz to facilitate the deal.

Why Rodrygo would be a Luis Diaz upgrade

As per the report, Rodrygo would be open to a move to Liverpool, even if Arsenal currently lead the race for his signature, but he would only make the leap if given assurances that his place would lie on the left wing.

Luckily, Liverpool would be happy to oblige, for Diaz could be sold to get the transfer wheel spinning.

Rodrygo, 24, has routinely been fielded out on the right flank across his years at Los Blancos, but he’s long considered the alternate flank his most effective role, something that was reflected through his statistics across the 2024/25 campaign.

Right winger

29

8

5

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

8

0

0

Described as a “world-class superstar” by his former Real teammate Luka Modric, Rodrygo could absolutely come to prove an upgrade on Diaz, should he be entrusted with a regularity of minutes in his favoured position.

Liverpool’s South American sensation did post 17 goals and eight assists last season, but Rodrygo actually hit the same number of goal involvements (25) despite his travails.

Given his junior age and incredible mastery of the grand Champions League stage, there’s every chance that Slot could hit the jackpot by signing the one-time Santos prospect. He already boasts 25 goals in just 64 games in Europe’s premier competition, while Diaz has scored just ten times in 34 outings.

Moreover, Rodrygo has demonstrated that he can match Diaz’s crisp passing and his energy. As per FBref, the Brazilian ranked among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last term for pass completion and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Ultimately, Liverpool would be selling a crucial part of the Slot project in Diaz, but Rodrygo is more than his equal and could prove to be the perfect investment to propel this team up to the next level.

Huijsen 2.0: Liverpool enquire to sign one of the 'most complete teen CBs'

Liverpool could be set to target their next centre-back sensation, in the mould of Dean Huijsen

ByRobbie Walls Jul 10, 2025

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will be desperate to ensure that his decision to sack Ange Postecoglou won’t come back to bite him, and he’s apparently prepared to back new manager Thomas Frank so he can give the Australian’s replacement the best-possible chance of success.

Frank holds Tottenham talks over signing £300k-p/w ace who's open to joining

The Spurs boss has been discussing him with Lilywhites hierarchy.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025

Postecoglou ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy by guiding them to an historic Europa League final victory over Man United last month, a result which also gifted them a spot in the Champions League next season, but Spurs’ torrid 2024/2025 domestic form meant that Levy was forced into the tough call of letting him go.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Frank is now tasked with re-settling the dressing room whilst helping Spurs to kick on from their memorable night in Bilbao, and the Dane has already paid homage to his predecessor’s work at N17.

“I think Ange has done something special. He’ll forever be a legend in Tottenham,” Frank said in his first interview as Tottenham boss.

“It’s important to understand we all stand on the shoulders of others. I’m going in on the foundation Ange built, and his coaching staff, and I’m very humble about that. I’ll do my very best to continue the great work he put in.

“The feeling, the excitement, the joy and the happiness in the fans’ faces, the pictures were ‘wow’. Hopefully, we can create more of those moments. That will be the ultimate dream: to do that and build on that.”

The 51-year-old is reportedly keen to upgrade his new ranks by signing a proven wide-attacking player, especially considering Son Heung-min may have already played his last competitive game for Tottenham amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

Many high-profile Premier League names have been linked already, but chief among them is Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

The England international guided Palace to their first ever major trophy last season, bagging the winner in a 1-0 victory over Man City in the FA Cup final, adding to his impressive tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Eze has been a star player at Selhurst Park ever since his move there from QPR, and Eagles chairman Steve Parish was left “astounded” by the lack of interest in him last summer.

Tottenham ready to pay £68 million for Eberechi Eze

The £100,000-per-week forward, who can play both as a CAM and out wide, has certainly got admirers this time round, and Spurs are one of the chief contenders for his signature.

Reports have suggested that Frank has personally recommended Eze as a target for Tottenham, with TEAMtalk now sharing an update on the situation amid rumours that the player would also be keen on a north London move.

The outlet states that Tottenham are ready to meet the price required to sign Eze, his £68 million release clause, and the ex-Arsenal academy man is “enthusiastic” about swapping south London for a place in Frank’s side.

Frank also apparently believes that Eze would be a stellar addition for the Lilywhites, and one capable of thriving both on the wing and as a complement to James Maddison in the centre of attacking midfield.

Palace are also open to receiving Eze’s final fee in installments, even if they’d want an upfront payment of £45 million, something which Tottenham are prepared to offer as well.

This could be one to watch in the coming days/weeks, as Spurs want to act “swiftly” and provide Frank with fresh additions ahead of a crucial campaign.

It’s all changing at Tottenham Hotspur at the moment.

Ange Postecoglou may have led the club to their first trophy in a generation, but a 17th-place finish in the Premier League was enough for Daniel Levy and Co to send him on his way.

In his place, former Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been tasked with dramatically improving the club’s domestic form next season, and one way to make that happen is by adding genuine quality to the squad.

Fortunately, recent reports suggest the North Londoners may be closing in on a signing who’d be a more exciting addition to the team than Mathys Tel.

Tottenham transfer news

The transfer window may have only just opened again, but Spurs have recently been linked with many talented attackers, such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa, who thrived under Frank’s management.

Transfer Focus

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

Moreover, to ensure the squad aren’t left short on numbers in attack next year, Levy and Co have also re-signed Tel on a permanent transfer.

The young Frenchman did well enough in spells last season, and the potential is certainly there, but based purely on what we saw from him this year, it’s hard to describe his £30m signing as particularly exciting.

The good news is that the Lilywhites now appear to be advancing in talks to sign someone who certainly would be an exciting signing: Antoine Semenyo.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Spurs are incredibly interested in the Bournemouth star and are ‘growing in confidence in striking a deal’ with the South Coast side.

The report does not mention how much the Ghanaian international could cost the North Londoners, but reports from earlier this month claim that a fee of up to £70m should be enough.

Now, that is certainly a lot of money, but given Semenyo’s ability and experience, it’d be worth it for Spurs, especially as he’d be a more exciting signing than Tel.

Why Semenyo would be a more exciting signing than Tel

Okay, so the first thing to address is that Semenyo has an inherent advantage here in that the newest attacking signings are going to be more exciting than a club re-signing someone they’ve had on loan before purely for the fact that they’ll represent something fresh and relatively unknown.

However, while this is undoubtedly the case here, there are other significant reasons why the Bournemouth star would be a far more exciting addition to the team than Tel, starting with their output.

In 20 appearances for the North Londoners, totalling 1257 minutes, the Sarcelles-born attacker was able to score three goals and provide a single assist, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every five games, or every 314.25 minutes.

In stark contrast, the Cherries ace scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3562 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or every 178.1 minutes.

Moreover, while the Frenchman can play off the left or up top relatively easily, the Chelsea-born ace can play off either flank, up top or even in midfield, thanks largely to the fact he’s ambipedal.

Finally, on top of everything else, the 25-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, also comes out way on top when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, he comes out on top in almost all relevant metrics, such as non-penalty goals plus assists, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and many, many more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.45

0.23

Progressive Passes

3.06

2.31

Progressive Carries

3.93

2.62

Shots

3.51

2.47

Shots on Target

1.12

0.85

Passing Accuracy

73.4%

74.4%

Key Passes

1.29

1.15

Passes into the Final Third

1.38

1.31

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.26

1.38

Live Passes

29.5

27.8

Shot-Creating Actions

3.71

2.47

Goal-Creating Actions

0.37

0.31

Successful Take-Ons

1.94

1.62

Ball Recoveries

4.44

3.62

Aerial Duels Won

1.85

0.38

Ultimately, while Tel is a talented player who could develop into something special, Semenyo is streaks ahead of him and would be a far more exciting signing for Spurs.

A better signing than Mbeumo: Spurs enter talks to sign "unbelievable" CF

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to make a move to land an attacker who could star in North London.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 16, 2025

Footballers who possess a unique style of play, supreme technical ability or untapped potential are often referred to as ‘streets won’t forget’ players.

Whether it be Premier League one-season wonders like Michu, tricky mavericks such as Hatem Ben Arfa or players who simply grabbed their moments on the biggest stage like South Africa World Cup star Siphiwe Tshabalala, football fans will always have a soft spot for those players who captured hearts and minds.

Some, like Adel Taarabt, never fulfilled their true potential, while others had glittering careers, but the rise of social media and the pure volume of football coverage has led fans to yearn for those stars who rocked up once a week on a Saturday afternoon with no intention other than to amaze their spectators.

10. Yannick Bolasie

9. Andrey Arshavin

8. Papiss Cissé

7, Dimitri Payet

6. Morten Gamst Pedersen

5. Mousa Dembele

4. Jay-Jay Okocha

3. Adel Taarabt

2. Michu

1. Hatem Ben Arfa

“The boy Michu has been a revelation,” Sir Alex Ferguson once said of Swansea’s Spanish striker. “To sign him for just £2 million and get 20 goals out of him – what a bargain!”

Such cult hero status doesn’t exclusively belong to goalscorers however, as Mousa Dembele proved during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. The Belgian only found the net ten times in 249 appearances for Spurs, but is regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of all time.

Dembele's teammates called him the one of the best players in the world

Winning 82 caps for Belgium, Dembele drew praise throughout his career for his ability to evade the press, weaving his way out of trouble as a deep-lying midfielder.

Dembele started his career as a winger and idolised legendary forward Patrick Kluivert, which led to him being almost impossible to dispossess in midfield, and Harry Kane once said he was the most technically gifted player he’s played with.

Plenty of Spurs stars have echoed this sentiment down the years, with Dele Alli claiming Dembele was the best player in the squad back in 2016, and current captain Son Heung-min revealing: “Mousa he is incredible. I haven’t seen a player like this. I have never seen this.”

Perhaps the best indication of a player’s talent however is what their opponents have to say, and Arsenal icon Jack Wilshere named Dembele as his toughest ever opponent – even despite being left in awe of Lionel Messi.

2012-13

26

1

3

5th

2013-14

22

1

1

6th

2014-15

10

1

1

5th

2015-16

27

3

1

3rd

2016-17

24

1

1

2nd

2017-18

21

0

0

3rd

2018-19

7

0

0

4th

With elite teams now spending hundreds of millions on finding the perfect midfielder, the Tottenham legend’s aesthetically pleasing style would catch a hefty fee in today’s transfer market.

AI predicts the 2025/26 Premier League table

Who are the winners and losers from AI’s table?

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has backed reports that Arsenal are interested in signing a £126 million centre-forward, with the north Londoners desperate to bring in a world-class goalscorer this summer.

Arsenal's striker shortlist for Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta’s current striker shortlist appears to have two main faces on it as things stand – Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.

Arsenal tipped to sign class striker after Zubimendi as Arteta pressures board

The Spaniard has made his wishes clear to Emirates Stadium transfer chiefs.

ByEmilio Galantini May 29, 2025

Arsenal have held “concrete talks” over a deal for Sesko, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, while some reports in Portugal are even claiming that Gyokeres has received a five-year contract offer from the Gunners.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

The former ended 2024/2025 with 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig, bettering last season’s tally of 18, while Gyokeres’ sublime campaign saw him net 54 strikes in 52 appearances.

If signed, either man would spark major excitement among the fanbase, and especially after Arsenal’s struggles to find the net consistently enough in comparison to the previous two seasons.

Arteta especially wants Arsenal to complete a deal for Sesko, while new sporting director Andrea Berta is reported to be more of a fan of Gyokeres (Simon Phillips), so it remains to be seen which number nine they eventually agree upon.

However, they do have other targets on their shortlist, and one of them is Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez.

The Argentine has won nearly everything there is to win despite being just 25-years-old, and he’s fresh off the back of a fantastic debut season at Atlético. Alvarez bagged 29 goals and seven assists in 54 appearances across all competitions in the season just gone, perhaps justifying Berta’s decision to reportedly insert a £126 million release clause into his contract when he was their director.

It was in fact Berta who signed Alvarez for the La Liga side from Man City in 2024, to the tune of around £82 million, but he’s now understandably attracting interest from the Premier League again.

Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal are keen on Julian Alvarez

Spanish newspaper Marca and journalist David Medina reported earlier this week that Arsenal are one of the favourites to sign Alvarez in their pursuit of a new striker.

When asked about these reports involving the Gunners and Alvarez, speaking in a GiveMeSport newsletter, the ever-reliable Romano suggested that there is some weight to this information.

Romano states it is “true” Arsenal are interested in Alvarez, but the problem lies in Atlético’s willingness to sell, with Diego Simeone’s side determined to keep their star striker and Berta arguably very unlikely to trigger his mammoth rumoured release clause.

“Atletico Madrid absolutely want to keep Julian,” said Romano when asked if Alvarez was a target for Arsenal and Liverpool, as has been suggested.

“There’s interest from Premier League, it’s true for sure but Atléti insist on keeping him.”

The South American has his credentials as a prolific goalscorer and big-game player. It is also hard to remember Alvarez ever having a bad game for City, with Erling Haaland’s presence arguably the only reason he never quite got a consistent run in the striker role under Pep Guardiola.

Alvarez’s start to life at Atlético puts his quality beyond all doubt, and he’d almost certainly upgrade Arteta’s options. However, he doesn’t appear to be going anywhere any time soon.

Every year, the top goalscorer in the Premier League has the honour of taking home the Golden Boot.

Despite goals being the ultimate currency in football, the winner of this particular accolade does not point towards top-flight success. Indeed, in 2023, Erling Haaland became the first player in 10 years to put a Premier League winners’ medal alongside his Golden Boot.

The top 10 all-time Premier League goalscorers

FFC takes a look at the PL’s most prolific goalscorers.

ByMark Marston Dec 23, 2023

2024/25 saw Mohamed Salah take home a fourth Golden Boot, something only Thierry Henry has done in the Premier League era. Pre-1992, Jimmy Greaves (6) and Derby County forward Steve Bloomer (5) are the only other players to be the English top tier’s top scorer four times or more.

So, who have been the previous winners, who has won the award the most times, and who has done it with the most goals? All that information and more can be found here.

Here is a list of every Premier League Golden Boot winner, alongside a detailed look at the most recent recipients of the award, including the best goal from their winning seasons.

Season

Player

Club(s)

Goals

1992/93

Teddy Sheringham

Nottingham Forest, Tottenham

22

1993/94

Andy Cole

Newcastle

34

1994/95

Alan Shearer

Blackburn

34

1995/96

Alan Shearer

Blackburn

31

1996/97

Alan Shearer

Newcastle

25

1997/98

Chris Sutton, Dion Dublin, Michael Owen

Blackburn, Coventry, Liverpool

18

1998/99

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Michael Owen, Dwight Yorke

Leeds, Liverpool, Man Utd

18

1999/00

Kevin Phillips

Sunderland

30

2000/01

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Chelsea

23

2001/02

Thierry Henry

Arsenal

24

2002/03

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Man Utd

25

2003/04

Thierry Henry

Arsenal

30

2004/05

Thierry Henry

Arsenal

25

2005/06

Thierry Henry

Arsenal

27

2006/07

Didier Drogba

Chelsea

20

2007/08

Cristiano Ronaldo

Man Utd

31

2008/09

Nicolas Anelka

Chelsea

19

2009/10

Didier Drogba

Chelsea

29

2010/11

Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov

Man City, Man Utd

20

2011/12

Robin van Persie

Arsenal

30

2012/13

Robin van Persie

Man Utd

26

2013/14

Luis Suarez

Liverpool

31

2014/15

Sergio Aguero

Man City

26

2015/16

Harry Kane

Tottenham

25

2016/17

Harry Kane

Tottenham

29

2017/18

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

32

2018/19

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah

Arsenal, Liverpool

22

2019/20

Jamie Vardy

Leicester

23

2020/21

Harry Kane

Tottenham

23

2021/22

Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min

Liverpool, Tottenham

23

2022/23

Erling Haaland

Man City

36

2023/24

Erling Haaland

Man City

27

2024/25

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

29

Robin van Persie (Arsenal & Man Utd) 2011/12 (30 goals), 2012/13 (26 goals)

Dutchman Robin van Persie picked up each of his two Golden Boots in consecutive years, distinctively doing so for two different clubs: Arsenal and Manchester United.

He hit 30 in the 2011/12 season for the Gunners, emulating Thierry Henry in the process. But after his strikes were only enough to steer Arsenal to third that year, he arrived at rivals Manchester United the following summer keen to add team honours to his collection.

His move was vindicated when his 26 goals secured United what is still their most recent league title to date.

Best goal: It has to be the one that helped seal the title for United, as Van Persie sumptuously smashed home Wayne Rooney’s cross-field ball against Aston Villa.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 2013/14 (31 goals)

While the 2013/14 campaign ended in heartbreak for Liverpool, it was a record-breaking year for Luis Suarez.

Despite entering the season under the cloud of a recent (but not his last) biting incident, not to mention a heavily publicised and failed move to Arsenal, he equalled the Premier League record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007/08 with 31 goals.

The Reds may have ended as runners-up that year, but Suarez would move on to better things off the back of this campaign, winning the Champions League with Barcelona 12 months later.

Best goal: Smashing the ball over a hapless John Ruddy from 40 yards (before scoring three more against Norwich City).

Sergio Aguero (Man City) 2014/15 (26 goals)

It may be something of a surprise to note that Sergio Aguero only took home one Golden Boot – particularly in a year when Manchester City did not win the title.

But he saw off the challenges of Harry Kane and Diego Costa to comfortably claim the top scorer award amid a disappointing defence of City’s Premier League crown.

Best goal: While his best strikes came in other seasons, his superbly curled effort against Spurs capped a marvellous afternoon as he scored all four goals.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 2018/19 (22 goals)

One of three different winners in this particular year, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to take home a Golden Boot in his first full season at Arsenal.

The Gunners fell short in their pursuit of a Champions League place, but the Gabon ace was often on hand to help their cause, with two strikes against Burnley on the final day sealing his place in the top-flight history books.

Best goal: His equaliser in the north London derby proved what a clinical finisher he could be, even from range.

Sadio Mane (Liverpool) 2018/19 (22 goals)

The second of the three winners in 2018/19 was Sadio Mane, who picked up his only Golden Boot during his time at Liverpool.

Often seen working prolifically alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, Mane was at his best while that Liverpool trio tore almost every Premier League defence to shreds.

Best goal: His backheel against Watford was unlike anything we have seen before or since (at 2:12 in the video below).

Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 2019/20 (23 goals)

Although his best season will undoubtedly have been amid Leicester City’s title win in 2015/16, Jamie Vardy was far from the peak of his powers.

He continued to terrorise defences up and down the country, and got the Golden Boot that his goalscoring exploits deserved by scoring 23 times in the 2019/20 campaign.

We’ll never know how the curtailed season due to the pandemic affected things, with Leicester’s form tailing off as they missed out on a top-four place. Vardy scored four times post-restart to edge ahead of Aubameyang and Danny Ings, his closest competitors.

Best goal: A simply superb strike lofted over Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale early in the campaign.

Harry Kane (Tottenham) 2015/16 (25 goals), 2016/17 (29 goals), 2020/21 (23 goals)

Had he played in another era, Harry Kane may well have had twice the amount of Golden Boots he ended up with, but three while playing for a Tottenham Hotspur side who seldom challenged for the title itself is not bad going.

That said, they came closest to the title in two of Kane’s Golden Boot seasons, with back-to-back gongs coming his way after the Lilywhites secured finishes of 3rd and 2nd in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 campaigns respectively.

With only Alan Shearer ahead of him in terms of all-time goals, it is difficult to understate Kane’s success in the Premier League, but there’s no doubt he’d have swapped a Golden Boot or two for a trophy with his beloved Spurs.

Best goal: A classic strike to put Spurs 2-1 up against Arsenal all but killed off the Gunners’ title hopes as both teams chased Leicester down.

Son Heung-min (Tottenham) 2021/22 (23 goals)

While Harry Kane got most of the plaudits during their time together at Spurs, Son Heung-min finally got one over on his teammate by not only beating his personal tally for the season, but everyone else’s, too (well, bar Salah).

Tottenham flourished that season, particularly after Antonio Conte arrived in north London, as they secured Champions League football on the final day – with Son grabbing two goals to draw level with Liverpool’s Egyptian.

No doubt an accolade worthy of the South Korean’s efforts in Tottenham colours, he has continued to lead by example as Spurs captain following Kane’s exit.

Best goal: Son has made the outside-the-box curler something of a trademark, and his effort against Leicester in May 2022 is certainly one of his finest.

Erling Haaland (Man City) 2022/23 (36 goals), 2023/24 (27 goals)

There are few superlatives left to describe Erling Haaland, not least after he arrived in the Premier League by smashing record after record and winning everything in sight with Manchester City.

With such an impressive goalscoring record at Borussia Dortmund (86 goals in 89) preceding him, he would’ve been expected to be right amongst the goals after his switch to City.

The Norwegian not only ended up with the Golden Boot and the PFA Player of the Year award in his first season, but he did so by reaching a record 36 goals – averaging over a goal a game in the Premier League, proving he is truly one of a kind.

Understandably, he wasn’t quite able to reach those standards again, but with some time out injured during the most recent campaign, he still put in another solid return of 27, with a late-season four-goal blitz steering him clear of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.

With another Premier League title and Golden Boot in the bag, Haaland seems far from finished…

Best goal: While he makes finishing look easy, Haaland’s acrobatic effort against Southampton in 2022/23 (at 4:04 below) was arguably the pick of the bunch during his first season at City.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 2017/18 (32 goals), 2018/19 (22 goals), 2021/22 (23 goals), 2024/25 (29 goals)

One of the greatest Premier League goalscorers in recent times, Mohamed Salah had no problems re-adapting to the English top flight after returning as a Liverpool player in 2017.

His first season back saw him notch a Premier League record of 32 goals for the Anfield club, becoming the second African player (after Didier Drogba) to sit top of the goalscoring charts.

In 2019, he shared the award with two fellow Africans in Aubameyang and teammate Mane, before tying for the award once more in 2022.

He won it outright again in the 2024/25 season as he steered Liverpool to a second league title since joining, picking up awards for the most goals and assists, as well as the Player of the Season award, to go along with the Premier League trophy.

Best goal: There are plenty to choose from, but we’ve gone for his rocket against Chelsea in the 2018/19 season, which made even Martin Tyler sound rather excited (at 1:59 for those in a hurry).

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta “loves” one Barcelona star and believes he’d be a cracking addition to the Gunners squad, according to reports, but he faces competition from a direct Premier League rival in pursuit of the player.

Josh Kroenke promises Arsenal investment this summer

Before their 1-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday, co-chair Josh Kroenke addressed supporters on the disappointment of finishing second in the Premier League yet again.

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In quotes taken from Arsenal’s matchday programme, Kroenke also promised fans that there will be investment into the squad this summer, as the north Londoners look to end their 22-year wait for a domestic top flight crown.

“We all want to win it,” said Kroenke.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

“We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season. Ultimately, we all want the same thing. We’re as hungry for success as you are and that goes for everyone who works for the club.”

That pledge is already being answered, as Arsenal are widely believed to have agreed a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with reports from both abroad and England strongly suggesting that Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres could be Andrea Berta’s second summer capture after the Spain midfielder.

Arsenal are apparently keen to strengthen across the board, particularly in the attacking areas, with Berta and co targeting a right-winger, left-winger and striker (GiveMeSport).

Mikel Arteta "loves" Ferran Torres and wants him at Arsenal

One man who can play out wide and through the middle as a centre-forward is ex-Man City starlet Ferran Torres. The £161,000-per-week Barça attacker boasts 19 goals from 45 appearances in all competitions under Hansi Flick this season, leaving little wonder both Arteta and Aston Villa boss Unai Emery are particularly keen.

That is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who told The Boot Room that Arteta is a big fan of Torres and ideally wants him at Arsenal.

“Firstly, with Ferran Torres’ situation — Mikel Arteta loves Torres from his time at City, and he knows how City highly rated him,” said Bailey.

“Arteta knows what Torres could bring to Arsenal, but he’s not the only manager who likes him. Villa like Torres and so does Unai Emery.

“But my information is that Torres still has no intention of leaving Barcelona. Hansi Flick has used him quite a bit this season, but even when he hasn’t been playing in the past, he didn’t want to leave Barcelona.”

The 25-year-old appears more likely than not to remain at the Camp Nou, which is a crying shame when factoring in just how much he could reinforce Arsenal’s ranks.

Arteta is known to value versatility in any player, and Torres has featured on both the right and left-hand side whilst also operating as an out-and-out striker when required across 2024/2025.

There are still two Premier League games to go, but for all intents and purposes, Arsenal’s season came to an end on Wednesday night.

Moreover, while Mikel Arteta and the players still have to give their all for those two games – Champions League football hasn’t been secured yet – it’s clear the club are looking ahead to next season.

For example, just a few days after the disappointment in Paris, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano finally gave Martin Zubimendi’s long-rumoured move to Arsenal the ‘here we go’ treatment.

The details still need to be finalised, but the Spanish international is now set to join the Gunners for around £51m in the summer, and while that’s tremendously exciting, he’ll have to hit the ground running to see his valuation match that of one of his new teammates at the Emirates.

Why Arsenal want Zubimendi

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining why Arsenal are so keen to sign Zubimendi in the first place.

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Firstly, he helps to pad out the number six position in the squad, as while Thomas Partey is reportedly in talks with the club over a new deal, Jorginho is set to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer.

However, Arteta and Co are obviously interested in the Spanish international for far more than that, including his defensive nous.

For example, according to FBref, the “elite tempo controller,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for shots blocked and clearances, the top 7% for touches in his penalty area and percentage of aerial duels won, the top 15% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.

That’s not all, though, as on top of his defensive abilities, the “world-class” midfielder, as dubbed by former teammate Kieran Tierney, also has an abundance of experience and, more importantly, has proven himself in high-pressure games.

Appearances

333

17

Minutes

21215′

984′

Goals

10

1

Assists

9

0

Major Trophies

1

1

For example, he’s made 233 appearances for Sociedad’s first team, including 90 minutes in the club’s 2020 Copa del Rey triumph, and won 15 caps for Spain, one of which came in the second half of the European Championships final, a game La Roja beat England in.

In all, Zubimendi’s technical and defensive ability, combined with his experience of winning when the pressure is on, makes him look like the ideal midfield acquisition for Arsenal this summer, even if he’s worth millions less than one of his future teammates.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Zubimendi

While Partey and Mikel Merino have both played significant roles for Arsenal this season, neither one has a higher valuation than Zubimendi, nor should they.

Declan Rice, conversely, does, with Transfermarkt valuing him at €110m, which is about £93m, or a whopping £42m more than the Sociedad star is set to cost the Gunners.

Now, while that is undoubtedly a lot of money for a central midfielder, it would be hard to say he’s not proven himself worthy of it this year, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher describing him as the club’s “best player this season.”

While it might sound a little hyperbolic, such comments are more than backed up by the midfield monster’s statistics this year.

For example, in 50 appearances, the “monster” Englishman, as dubbed by Arsenal writer Connor Humm, has scored eight goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.77, which is undeniably impressive for someone primarily playing as an eight.

Progressive Carries

2.70

Top 5%

Corner Kicks

3.10

Top 5%

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.56

Top 6%

Crosses

4.66

Top 7%

Assists

0.21

Top 8%

Goals + Assists

0.38

Top 10%

Touches (Att Pen)

2.73

Top 10%

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.32

Top 11%

Moreover, FBref has placed him in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and corner kicks, the top 6% for carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for crosses, the top 8% for assists, the top 10% for goals plus assists and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, signing Zubimendi is incredibly exciting and shows real ambition from Arsenal, but he will have to be truly sensational in North London to see his valuation match Rice’s.

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The summer transfer window is fast approaching, and Liverpool are set to spend big as they prepare for Arne Slot’s second, Premier League title-defending season at the helm.

Of course, the top-flight trophy isn’t yet wrapped up, but the Reds need just two wins from their remaining six fixtures to put things beyond Arsenal’s reach.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has wrapped up Mohamed Salah’s new contract; captain Virgil van Dijk’s fresh deal is soon to follow. Now, focus can be turned to the upcoming transfer window, with Liverpool expecting flurries of activity through the summer months.

While signing a centre-forward, left-back and central defender are the priorities for the Reds, Slot would be wise not to neglect his midfield.

20/04/25

King Power Stadium

Leicester City

27/04/25

Anfield

Tottenham Hotspur

04/05/25

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea

11/05/25

Anfield

Arsenal

18/05/25

AMEX Stadium

Brighton & Hove Albion

25/05/25

Anfield

Crystal Palace

Liverpool’s midfielders have been immense through the 2024/25 campaign, but they aren’t infallible. There’s been a lack of bite and physicality at times of late that suggests a new addition to the engine room could go down a treat.

Why Slot shouldn't neglect Liverpool's midfield

When Liverpool fell from grace under Jurgen Klopp in 2022/23, the German manager knew he needed to repackage his side’s long-serving midfield.

Jordan Henderson was a first-standard leader but was starting to look a weak link from a technical standpoint, while Fabinho’s legs had gone after so many years serving as a world-class anchor at the heart of one of the highest-octane squads on the globe.

Their replacements, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, have been immense this season (and last) as Liverpool’s mainstays in the middle, but there’s no denying Liverpool have lacked a combative sheen and that extra bit of dynamism at times recently, namely being overrun by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Newcastle United at Wembley.

Liverpool have won more duels than their opponents in just one of their past 11 matches across all competitions, denoting fatigue and a lack of sharpness that opponents are capitalising on.

Though packing quality across more needy areas will ultimately hold sway for Liverpool, there’s no question that a high-class midfielder would elevate an already immense team.

It’s something FSG are bearing in mind.

Liverpool lining up marquee midfielder

According to Italian outlet InterLive.it, Liverpool’s interested in signing Nicolo Barella this summer is said to be ‘serious’, with Inter Milan anticipating offers for their midfield linchpin after yet another standout campaign.

Now, Barella, 28 years old, is contracted to the San Siro until 2029 and thus Inter are in a commanding position regarding his future and have listed him at €100m (about £87m).

Liverpool’s interest is confirmed to be serious, however, and given the Serie A leaders are keen on Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa, a deal wouldn’t be out of question.

What Nicolo Barella would bring to Liverpool

Described as “the best Serie A midfielder of the 2020s” by journalist Zach Lowy, Barella has already won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles with Inter Milan, joining from Cagliari in 2019.

Having featured 277 times for I Nerazzurri, Barella has scored 25 goals and supplied 59 assists. He’s not the most prolific of midfielders, but then that’s not really his jurisdiction.

With Simone Inzaghi’s side battling it out with Napoli for the Italian title, Barella has been the architect of his team’s challenge, averaging 1.9 key passes, 4.7 successful duels and 5.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore, illustrating his wide range of quality.

Of course, the Italian has also been immense in Inter’s quest for the Champions League trophy, with outlets stating that he delivered a career-defining performance at the Allianz Arena last week, taking a 2-1 lead over Bayern Munich back to the San Siro.

Talent of this level suggests that Liverpool could be getting their mitts on one of the most gifted midfielders in many years, one who could stand out above the current Anfield crop.

He might even prove to be Liverpool’s best midfielder since Fabinho.

For the uninitiated, Fabinho was absolutely spellbinding in his role as Klopp’s number six, so cultured and commanding as he held together a hard-grafting midfield that worked around the clock to facilitate the attacking successes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Bobby Firmino.

Once hailed as “one of the best in the world” by Klopp, Fabinho truly was a core part of the most illustrious era in Liverpool’s modern history, joining from Monaco for roughly £40m in May 2018 and going on to play 219 times for the Reds before his legs finally failed him.

When in his pomp, the Brazilian was truly one of the most dominant forces out there, and now Barella could emulate him and become Liverpool’s new centrepiece, perhaps unlocking the next level in Slot’s existing options.

Tough-tackling, tenacious and iron-willed, Fabinho performed dutifully and blended his natural qualities with a sharpness of mind and quickness of reaction that differentiated him from his positional rivals.

The Italy international has the experience and the multi-skilled ability to be a real standout for Liverpool over the next several years, with his FBref data discussed above suggesting the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Pedri are among his most statistically similar players.

Such ball-playing specialists, maestros and conductors wrapped into one, would fit snugly into Slot’s system – just look at how Gravenberch has got on this term.

Barella, then, would fit right in. He’s a world-class player, dubbed a “genius” on the pitch by sports editor Mike Pielluci, and a trophy winner besides, and if Inter are willing to discuss deals containing the likes of Nunez and/or Chiesa, Liverpool might just sign their best midfielder since Fabinho.

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