Aston Villa have had some disappointing moments in recent weeks after being dumped out of the semi-finals of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace and the quarter-finals of the Champions League by PSG.

The Villans will not win any silverware this season, after failing to progress further in those competitions, but they still have a chance to end the campaign on a high note.

Unai Emery’s side are currently seventh in the Premier League table, three points behind Chelsea in fifth place, and have a chance to qualify for the Champions League for the second year running.

The Villans conceded a stoppage-time goal to lose to Manchester City last time out in the top-flight, which put a dent in their hopes of finishing in the top five, but there are still four matches left to play and plenty of points to battle it out for.

If Villa can qualify for the Champions League again, NSWE could show ambition, as they did with the signings of Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford, to significantly bolster Emery’s squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.

In fact, the owners are reportedly ready to put their backing behind a deal to bring in a superstar who could be their next Jack Grealish.

Why Jack Grealish was so important for Aston Villa

The England international came up through the ranks in the Midlands before emerging as a first-team sensation at Championship and Premier League level.

Grealish produced six goals and eight assists in the 2018/19 Championship season, leading his team to promotion via the play-offs, before being an incredibly important part of their top-flight team in the following two campaigns.

Goal

8

1st

6

4th

Pass accuracy

85%

1st

83%

5th

Assists

6

1st

10

1st

Key passes *

2.5

1st

3.1

1st

Dribbles completed *

2.0

1st

2.5

1st

As you can see in the table above, the midfield wizard was crucial to Dean Smith’s side because of his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate, which made him a hugely influential figure at the top end of the pitch.

Grealish, as evidenced by the statistics from those two seasons, was the creative hub of the team. Everything flowed through him, and the midfielder provided consistent creativity to provide his teammates with opportunities in front of goal.

The academy graduate was the biggest creative threat in the squad for Villa at the time, and NSWE could provide Emery with his own star creator by signing De Bruyne on a free transfer in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The latest on Aston Villa's interest in Kevin De Bruyne

According to Football Insider, NSWE are prepared to back an Aston Villa swoop to sign Manchester City attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne this summer.

The Belgium international has confirmed that he will leave the Cityzens at the end of this season, when his contract expires at The Etihad, and this means that there is an opportunity to sign a Premier League icon on a free transfer.

Transfer Focus

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

Football Insider reports that the Villans are ambitious and that Emery has identified the Manchester City hero as a target for his side ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with the owners seemingly now ready to sanction an attempt to sign him.

The outlet reveals that teams in the MLS and the Saudi Pro League are lining up lucrative offers to tempt De Bruyne to move on from England, which means that it could be a difficult deal for Villa to pull off amid significant competition from overseas.

Whilst it remains to be seen how likely a move to Villa Park is for the Manchester City superstar, NSWE could land Emery his own version of Grealish by winning the race for his signature this summer.

Why Kevin De Bruyne could be Jack Grealish 2.0

If the Villans can pull off this ambitious move for the Belgian sensation then he could come in to be the main creative outlet in the current Villa team in the 2025/26 campaign.

Despite turning 34 in June, De Bruyne still has the quality to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch, and could hit the ground running at Villa Park next season.

The 33-year-old veteran has created a whopping 14 ‘big chances’ in 24 appearances in the Premier League so far this season, and only Youri Tielemans (16) has created more within the Villa squad – having started all 34 league matches to date.

De Bruyne, whose creative brain was described as “ridiculous” by Thierry Henry, has racked up 177 assists in 417 appearances for the Cityzens in all competitions in his career to date, the bulk of which have come in the Premier League.

The Villa target has consistently proven his ability to unlock top-flight defences with exceptional through balls, passes, and crosses to set up his teammates for ‘big chances’.

24/25

16

14

7

23/24

15

21

10

22/23

28

31

16

21/22

25

16

8

20/21

23

19

12

19/20

32

33

20

18/19

11

11

2

17/18

36

19

16

16/17

33

24

18

15/16

22

8

9

As you can see in the table above, De Bruyne has showcased remarkable consistency as a creator in the Premier League in his ten seasons at Manchester City, creating at least 11 ‘big chances’ in nine of those campaigns.

These statistics illustrate the kind of quality that NSWE would be bringing to Villa Park if they can get a deal over the line for the soon-to-be free agent in the summer, as he could come in as the main creative outlet in the middle of the park for Emery’s side.

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This means that De Bruyne could come in as Jack Grealish 2.0 for the Villans, as another mercurial talent with the ability to be a one-man show at times, creating chances at will to break teams down and contribute to big wins for the team.

Tottenham Hotspur picked up a much-needed win on the weekend, just their 11th in the Premier League, but it’s done little to boost morale.

This season has been an unmitigated disaster for the North Londoners, as while there is still a chance they could win the Europa League, they look destined to finish in the bottom half of the league table, with more losses than wins.

Now, there are a few reasons for this dramatic collapse in form from Ange Postecoglou’s men, but perhaps the most significant has been the near-endless stream of defensive injuries they’ve had to deal with.

For example, neither Micky van de Ven nor Cristian Romero has made even 20 appearances this year, and now it looks like they may lose the latter for good in the summer. Still, they might also already have the perfect replacement in a youngster out on loan.

Romero's unsure future

Romero moved to Spurs on a loan deal with an option to buy back in the summer of 2021 and, since then, has become an essential part of the squad and first team.

In all, the World Cup winner has made 117 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals, providing one assist, and becoming one of the co-vice captains under Postecoglou’s tenure.

However, this rapid rise and impressive form for the team – alongside his international exploits – has seen other major teams from the continent take notice.

For example, earlier this year, it was widely reported that Real Madrid were keen on signing the former Juventus ace in the summer, while more reports from the last few weeks have revealed that Atlético Madrid are now just as interested.

In fact, just last week, it was reported that Diego Simeone had personally contacted the player and that, due to a mutual interest in making the transfer happen, he might be able to leave N17 for around £67m.

There is no doubt that losing a defender of Romero’s calibre would be a blow for Spurs, but it might not all be doom and gloom, as the club might already have the perfect replacement in an exceptionally exciting youngster.

The Spurs youngster who could replace Romero

So, if Romero does leave in the summer, the board will likely replace him with the fee he earns them, but there might already be a perfect replacement in the squad by then: Luka Vušković.

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Yes, he might not be a name that everyone is familiar with yet, but based on his performances this season and the way those in the know speak about him, he most certainly will be.

The North Londoners signed the Croatian wonderkid in September 2023, but being just 16 at the time, post-Brexit rules around registering foreign players under 18 mean he cannot officially join the team until this summer.

So, with him unable to move to England this season, the “freak talent,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, joined Belgian outfit KVC Waterloo last July, and to say he’s enjoying a good season would be an understatement.

Despite only turning 18 in February, he has made 29 first-team appearances so far, in which he’s helped to keep five clean sheets. More impressive than that, he has scored seven goals and provided two assists.

This level of output for such a young defender suggests he’d be able to at least match the attacking threat Romero has, and with him already being 6 foot 4, there is no way he’d be bullied by opposition players.

Vušković’s 24/25
Player	Vušković
Appearances	29
Clean Sheets	5
Goals	7
Assists	2
Goal Involvements per Match	0.31
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Finally, he’s no slouch when it comes to the defensive side of the game either, with FOTmob revealing that he wins 6.09 duels and 4.05 aerial duels per 90 while also making 5.74 recoveries.

For comparison, Romero wins 5.46 duels and just 2.45 aerial duels per 90 while also making slightly fewer recoveries at 5.39 per 90.

Ultimately, we are not saying that Vušković will be able to immediately replicate what Romero can do next season.

However, he is undoubtedly one of the most exciting defensive prospects around, and with the right coaching, he could reach that level sooner than people expect, which would soften the Argentine’s departure.

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After overseeing yet another Wrexham promotion – their third in three years – Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have already reportedly set their sights on their first summer signing in preparation for the Championship.

Wrexham continue Hollywood dream

Everything that those in Wales could have dreamed of has so far come true since they decided to roll out the red carpet for Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenney. The two Americans haven’t just taken Wrexham back into the EFL, they’ve taken them within one promotion of the Premier League after sealing League One promotion last weekend.

After overseeing history, Reynolds told reporters: “It just seemed like an impossible dream. We’re story-tellers, and when you’re story-tellers you look at the macro view of this history.

“We wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for the history of the club. The Gresford disaster and Mickey Thomas – who is a huge and pivotal point of aspiration for the club, and a goal to reach that feeling again.

“Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer. This coaching staff – the greatest dressing room in sports I think I’ve ever seen before. There are so many beating hearts of this club, but it all comes back to Phil and that leadership in the locker room.”

What once seemed an absurd dream and arguably nothing more than that is now an increasing possibility for Wrexham, who will undoubtedly be among the most interesting sides to watch next season once again.

As the transfer window approaches too, Reynolds and McElhenney may well put their Hollywood fame and riches to good use once again to build a side capable of dreaming bigger than ever.

Wrexham could make Tomas Galvin their first summer signing

According to Football League World, Wrexham are already plotting a summer move to sign Tomas Galvin this summer in what would be their first capture in the Championship. The Dungannon forward has reportedly attracted the interest of Portsmouth and Charlton as well as Wrexham, who will be looking to pull off yet another coup on the transfer front.

At just 20 years old, Galvin has thrived in Northern Ireland – scoring seven goals in all competitions this season to potentially earn a move to English football. Whether he, like many, will give into the temptation of stepping onto Wrexham’s red carpet remains to be seen, however.

Rodney McAree will certainly be keen to keep hold of his talented forward, having been so full of praise for him last season. The Dungannon manager told reporters: “Tomas has been brilliant recently. He’s a great lad and one for the future…he’s a strong boy, is loving his football and has a smile on his face.

“His first one is a great finish and his second is instinctive…I think he wins the header on the first occasion and then he reacts and manages to get it in the back of the net.”

It’s a massive season-defining week for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are still technically in the Premier League title race, but with Liverpool now 11 points ahead with seven games to play, it is all but over.

The Champions League, however, is most certainly not. The Gunners play host to European royalty Real Madrid on Wednesday, and to ensure they have the best chance of heading to Spain with a lead to protect, Arteta has to make a few changes.

Heroes could certainly be made but whether Jakub Kiwior goes on to evoke memories of Philippe Senderos and Co remains to be seen.

Why Arteta has to drop Kiwior

Kiwior played most of the game against Fulham last week and then started against Everton on the weekend due to Gabriel Magalhães’ recent hamstring injury.

To his credit, the Polish international was fine against the Toffees, but against the Cottagers, some of the same issues which have plagued him throughout his time in North London showed themselves again, such as lacklustre ball-playing and questionable positioning.

For example, he was partially to blame for their late goal after getting into and losing a tussle with the rapid Adama Traore.

Moreover, we’ve already seen how he fared against top European opposition in the past, when he started at full-back at home to Bayern Munich last time and seriously struggled, picking up a 3/10 match rating from the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, who described him as ‘flat-footed’ while content creator and fan Alexander Moneypenny labelled him as “shakey.”

In all, while Kiwior is a useful squad player and perhaps someone who can come on towards the end of the game, he’s not got the quality to start, especially when there is already a perfect replacement in the squad.

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The Arsenal star to replace Kiwior

So, given the extent of the injuries to the team’s defensive options at the moment, there are only really two options to replace Kiwior at centre-back tonight, and Arteta should go with Ben White.

The Englishman started at right-back at the weekend and, when fit, has almost exclusively started off the right of a back four across the last three seasons.

However, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace was initially signed as a centre-back and spent the majority of the 21/22 campaign there, with 34 of his 37 appearances that year coming in a back two.

Centre-Back

208

4

9

Right-Back

113

5

13

Defensive Midfield

13

0

0

Left-Back

4

0

0

Right Midfield

1

0

0

In fact, across his career to date, it’s been his most played position by quite some margin.

He has made 208 appearances there, so he should be able to slot in without an issue.

Moreover, by starting the Gunners’ “warrior,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, alongside Willliam Saliba, Arteta can once again start Jurrien Timber at right-back, where he has made 26 appearances this year.

Doing this would at least keep most of the team as they have been for much of the season, and when coming up against a team like Real, the rest of the starters need to be confident that those around them will know exactly what they are doing.

Ultimately, it’s not an ideal solution, but Kiwior has not shown enough in his limited appearances to warrant starting a game of this magnitude.

In contrast, White has been Mr reliable during his time at Arsenal and has yet another chance to show why his £50m price tag was more than justified all those years ago.

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Make no mistake about it, this has been an utterly dreadful campaign for Manchester United.

Whether it was Erik ten Hag in the formative months of the season or Ruben Amorim in the latter stages of the term, no one has been able to get a tune out of this downtrodden Premier League giant.

After suffering a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Brentford on Sunday afternoon, it reduced the Red Devils to their 16th league defeat of 2024/25. That’s the first time that’s happened since 1989/90, before the Premier League even existed.

In truth, United were not expected to win this one. Their focus is well and truly on their Europa League semi-final next Thursday, and as a result, Amorim rang the changes.

There was a first start for 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, while 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson started at centre-back and 18-year-old Harry Amass was given a run out at left-wing back.

On that evidence, the defeat was not a shock. Still, it did little to help an already dispondent fanbase.

Where it went wrong for Man United at Brentford

While teenager Chido Obi struggled in attack, notably having just 18 touches of the ball, it was not an awful day for United in attack.

Mason Mount – who had not found the net in 400 days – opened the scoring, darting into the penalty area and finishing off a close-range opportunity.

Alejandro Garnacho and Amad also scored late on to save United’s blushes somewhat, but those two goals were too little too late. Still, it showed that there is promise for the future at Old Trafford.

It was at the back where United met their downfall. The tone was set when Brentford found their equaliser on 27 minutes. Amass was absolutely bullied by Michael Kayode who beat the youngster to the ball inside the area and then it cannoned off Luke Shaw for an own goal.

The second goal was equally as comical. Matthijs de Ligt went down injured and United switched off, which allowed Mikkel Damsgaard to find Kevin Schade who didn’t have to do much at the back stick.

For Schade’s second and the hosts’ third, there was very little resistance at the back post either where Fredricson left the Bees forward open at the and he was left with a simple finish.

It was then made all the worse when United failed to apply their offside trap correctly. The ball was slid in between the back line on the edge of the box and then Kayode laid it on a plate for Yoanne Wissa to score, completely unmarked again.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Clearly, very little in the United backline helped but it was Shaw who was notably bad.

Luke Shaw's performance in numbers

At the peak of his game, Shaw proved himself to be one of the best left-backs not just in the Premier League, but also in Europe.

That was certainly the case at Euro 2020 where as you should all remember, he scored in the final against Italy for England.

Well, since then, it’s been a sad and agonising tale of woe for the left-sided defender who has struggled to stay fit, most notably in the last few seasons.

While Shaw managed over 30 league appearances in 2022/23, he was only seen on 12 occasions in the top-flight last season and only five times in 2024/25 to date.

In truth, this should be his last start in United’s famous colours; he was not good enough.

Minutes played

45

Touches

30

Accurate passes

19/24 (79%)

Key passes

0

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

0

Clearances

2

Tackles

1

Interceptions

0

Duels won

1/3

The own goal was bad enough but he had already nearly turned one into his own net in the first three minutes of the game. In the words of Manchester Evening News reporter, Samuel Luckhurst, he simply “wasn’t at it” having also been given the captain’s armband.

Well, it wasn’t a captain’s performance, let’s put it that way. The left-back was handed a 2/10 match rating by the Express and was consequently was hauled off after just 45 minutes.

One can excuse a lack of match fitness and you may well blame that for Shaw’s display in London this weekend, but he’s really not shown very much in his limited outings this season.

During his 45 minutes on the field, he only completed 79% of his passes and won just one of his three duels. Unsurprisingly, his 30 touches were also fewer than goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s total of 57 touches.

We are so used to seeing Shaw as a flying wing-back and perhaps he should have started there on this occasion given Amass’ own struggles. Yet, this was evidence that he now completely lacks confidence, perhaps not just in his fitness but in his own abilities.

The 29-year-old left the action having been dominated by the Brentford attack. Their clever play and trickery on the edge of the box were simply too much for him to handle.

Don’t be surprised if this is one of, if not the last time, we see him start a game for the club.

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West Bromwich Albion might well have ended their topsy-turvy Championship campaign with an entertaining 5-3 win over Luton Town, but there is still lots of work to be done off the pitch this summer to transform the Baggies into serious promotion candidates.

After all, there are a number of faces at the Hawthorns who could leave the West Midlands club next month owing to their contracts expiring, with Semi Ajayi, Grady Diangana and John Swift all set to leave as free agents currently.

Moreover, there is still the tricky task of replacing Tony Mowbray to solve after the 61-year-old’s return to the Baggies dug-out didn’t work out whatsoever, with a new target topping West Brom’s manager list according to reports.

West Brom's new top choice

Obviously, the main talk about who could replace Mowbray has largely centred on Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes, with the Spaniard now even placed on gardening leave at Loftus Road.

But, contrary speculation has now emerged that Cifuentes isn’t reportedly being looked at by the underperformers as a successor for the failed veteran.

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Instead, all the eggs seem to have been placed into the Ryan Mason basket, with journalist Alan Nixon recently revealing that the Tottenham Hotspur coach is wanted for the vacant job post.

There are obstacles in the way, however, with Mason wanting to stick it out at Spurs until the end of the season due to their Europa League adventure, meaning any talks between West Brom and the 33-year-old will have to be put on hold.

Whilst Cifuentes does have Championship experience on his side, it’s clear that Mason is highly rated in the game and could well end up being an inspired appointment himself, away from persisting with the 42-year-old.

Why Mason could be the correct choice

There is a method behind West Brom’s madness here even if Mason has only ever managed Spurs in an interim capacity.

Let’s take the example of Scott Parker – a fellow former midfielder for the North Londoners – who clinched promotion for Burnley just this season, alongside Kieran McKenna also experiencing plenty of EFL success with Ipswich Town when leaving a coaching role behind at Manchester United.

Moreover, the 33-year-old has impressed whenever he’s been handed the temporary reins of the top-flight side in the past, with Ange Postecoglou even previously labelling the Baggies target as “outstanding” for his work behind the scenes.

There were past conversations too suggesting that the young coach might well be handed the Tottenham gig permanently, with his record from the dug-out promising, considering the high-pressure environments he has been regularly chucked into.

Indeed, Mason has managed to collect six Premier League victories from 12 overall clashes in the elite division, with a high 26 goals being scored on Spurs’ end too across all 13 matches he’s taken charge of.

Games managed

13

Wins

6

Draws

1

Losses

6

Goals scored

26

Goals conceded

21

Biggest win

4-0 H (Sheffield United H)

Biggest loss

3-1 L (Leeds A)

Therefore, by managing to show off his promise in the top division, he might well be cut out for a chance at the Hawthorns in the Championship, with Mason perhaps a more exciting proposition than the expected route of Cifuentes.

After all, Cifuentes has struggled for large portions of his Loftus Road stay away from pushing his side away from relegation during this debut season at the helm, with 31 defeats next to his name from 83 QPR contests, away from collecting a lower 29 victories.

A back-to-basics 4-4-2 approach from the 33-year-old could also suit West Brom, with Carlos Corberan often lining his side up in a similar way during his celebrated stint.

Mason might well be the next iteration of Corberan if everything goes to plan, with the now Valencia boss once just a second-in-command figure to the revered Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United.

At the moment, the Spurs coach is just a background face in North London himself, but he could soon blossom into the ideal Mowbray successor.

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If there is one thing Arsenal fans want this summer, it’s a striker.

Mikel Arteta’s side are in a marvellous position to do something spectacular in the Champions League this season, but their domestic campaign has been a real letdown, partly due to a lack of clinical finishing up top – they’ve scored 14 goals fewer than Liverpool in the Premier League.

So, it’s not been all that surprising that, over the last few months, the North Londoners have been linked with a whole host of prolific marksmen, most notably Alexander Isak.

However, with Newcastle United now looking likely to secure a spot in next year’s Champions League, it feels doubtful that the Gunners will be able to prise their star striker away from them this summer.

Fortunately, Arsenal appear to have already moved on from the former Real Sociedad star for another free-scoring forward, someone who might be a wiser signing anyway.

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Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the man in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other centre-forwards who have been linked with the North Londoners in recent weeks, such as Ollie Watkins.

The Aston Villa star was a surprise target for the club in the winter window, and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta is reportedly still interested in the Englishman; it’s not hard to see why, as he’s scored 16 goals and provided 13 assists in 48 appearances this term.

Another name that has popped up recently is Jonathan David, who will be a free agent in the summer and has reportedly held talks with the North Londoners quite recently.

The Canadian international has been enjoying an incredible season this year and has already amassed a tally of 25 goals and 11 assists in 45 games, although that still pales in comparison to the unreal Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, the player in question is none other than the Sporting CP superstar, and according to a recent report from Portuguese outlet A Bola as relayed by Football Transfers, the North Londoners are now in ‘pole position’ to secure the Swede’s signature.

The report has revealed that the Gunners have stepped up their pursuit of the 26-year-old in the weeks following Berta’s appointment and that the former Coventry City star will be available for around €70m, which comes out to £60m.

It would still be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gyokeres’ incredible output, it is one worth completing and one that could be better than signing Isak.

Why Gyokeres would be a better signing that Isak

So, it’s no secret that Isak is one of the most exciting strikers in world football at the moment, and as such, we wouldn’t be surprised if most fans wanted the club to sign him or Gyokeres, but there are a few reasons why the latter would be the wiser acquisition.

The first is simply the cost involved, as even when it looked like the Toon would miss out on Champions League football, reports were coming out that they would demand around £150m for the talisman.

So now that the Magpies look set to play in Europe’s top competition next season, it would surely take a genuinely absurd offer to tempt them into selling, the sort of offer that would scupper the Gunners’ other summer plans.

So, it feels far more sensible to spend a fraction of that on the Sporting “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, and make sure that other top players are bought in to help bolster the squad in multiple areas.

Moreover, the second reason is that the Stockholm-born poacher has shown himself to be even more of a goal threat this season.

Gyokeres vs Isak
Player	Gyokeres	Isak
Appearances	46	38
Minutes	3700′	2977′
Goals	47	25
Assists	11	6
Goal Involvements per Match	1.26	0.81
Minutes per Goal Involvement	63.79′	96.03′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in just 46 appearances, totalling 3700 minutes, he’s found the back of the net 47 times and provided 11 assists for good measure, which comes to an average of 1.26 goal involvements every game or one every 63.79 minutes.

In comparison, the Newcastle star has scored 25 goals and provided six assists in 38 appearances, totalling 2977 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.22 games or every 96.03 minutes.

Now, it is true that the Solna-born ace is playing in a tougher league, but even with that taken into consideration, Gyokeres’ level of output is astounding.

Finally, and this is important, Isak is an injury-prone player and has missed 39 games for club and country since the 22/23 season alone, whereas the Sporting dynamo has missed just five games across his entire career.

Ultimately, while Isak is a superb player, Gyokeres would be the better signing, as not only would he cost a fraction of the price, but he’s arguably just as dangerous, and his fitness record is near enough impeccable.

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Leeds United have received approaches from a number of clubs to sell a player who Daniel Farke called “outstanding” last month.

Players who could leave Leeds if they win promotion

The Whites are in a strong position to get the job done and win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League over the coming weeks.

Farke’s side are five points clear of third-place Sheffield United heading into the Easter weekend, knowing a maximum of seven points from their next three games will get the job done.

Should Leeds go up, a number of players from the current squad could be on the way out of the Eland Road door. Goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has recently been dropped for Karl Darlow, may well be one to exit.

Meanwhile, Leeds are also unsure of Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford’s ability to make the step-up to the top flight, with the former failing to score in his last eight and Bamford’s injury history in recent years telling.

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Left-back Junior Firpo is also out of contract at the end of the season, as is fellow full-back Sam Byram. Now, another player has been linked with a move away from Yorkshire, however, he is looking to remain at Leeds.

Leeds receive approaches to sell £15k-a-week star Ilia Gruev

According to a report from TEAMtalk, a number of clubs have approached Leeds over a move to sign Ilia Gruev this summer.

The 24-year-old is being eyed up by several sides, however, it is added that the midfielder is happy at Elland Road and is looking to stay, should the Whites win promotion.

The report says that ‘Gruev is very comfortable at Leeds and believes in the project they have embarked upon’ and ‘wants to prove himself’ in the Premier League.

Currently on £15,000-a-week in Yorkshire, the Bulgaria international has missed parts of the season with a serious knee injury but has regularly been trusted by Farke, especially in away games. Farke actually hailed Gruev just last month, calling him “outstanding” for most of 2024 until his injury.

“Ilia Gruev, since he came into our line up more or less in January ’24 I would say, probably until his big injury, he was our most consistent player. He was outstanding for us, defensive-wise offensive- wise, controlled our game.

“Then he sacrificed his body. I think it was away at Norwich. Got a tackle against him. He was out for everyone said more than four months. He worked so hard and his socks off in his rehab more or less three and a half months in order to come back as quick as possible.

Games

56

Goals

1

Assists

3

Yellow cards

10

Minutes played

3,708

“Everyone was moaning when he was out about our away form, we don’t win away games anymore. Ilia Gruev, after being out for three and a half months, we brought him back, Burnley, away, clean sheet. Watford away, clean sheet, win, Coventry away, clean sheet, win.

“Yes, right now, after all his rhythm is a bit away after he was out, after he was back, after being out for three and a half months, he had one or two poorer performances in the starting lineup away at Sheffield and against Sunderland, but we still managed to win both games when he was in the starting line up and everyone is like complaining a little bit about him.”

Gruev’s future could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, especially with Leeds being linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Julian Weigl in recent days.

Already thinking about the summer transfer window even as the race for Champions League football goes down to the wire, Aston Villa are now reportedly readying a formal move to sign a La Liga talent at the request of Unai Emery.

Aston Villa's Champions League hope

With three Premier League games to go, no one around Villa Park can complain that Emery’s side aren’t doing their bit in the race to secure Champions League qualification. The Villans have won four of their last five Premier League games in a run that includes a 2-1 victory over rivals Nottingham Forest.

Now, as the season begins to conclude, Aston Villa sit seventh and three points behind a Chelsea side that must slip up if those in the Midlands are to pull off a last-gasp push for top five. Given that the Blues face Newcastle United this weekend and then Manchester United before squaring off against Forest on the final day, however, Emery’s side should still hold plenty of hope that their fate could change.

Whilst Chelsea square off against Newcastle, United and then Forest, Villa have an easier run on paper in comparison. The Midlands club travel to Bournemouth this weekend before playing host to a Tottenham Hotspur side sat in the depths of the bottom half and then Amorim’s United side facing similar problems. Whether nine points from nine is enough to take them into the top five remains to be seen, however.

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That said, whether Villa secure Champions League football or miss out in the next three games, it looks as though sporting director Monchi is already planning for another busy summer transfer window.

Aston Villa readying formal Moleiro move

According to reports in Spain, Monchi is now readying a formal Aston Villa move to sign Alberto Moleiro from Las Palmas following a direct request from Emery. The midfielder has enjoyed another impressive campaign in Spain and could now be on his way to the Midlands.

No matter how much Emery believes that Moleiro is the perfect fit for his side, however, a deal is unlikely to come cheap this summer amid reports that the Spaniard has a release clause worth €60m (£51m) in his current contract.

The big question will be whether Aston Villa can afford that in the coming months and just how big a part missing out on Champions League football would play in pursuit of the midfielder. His ability to step into the Premier League, meanwhile, is something that should not be questioned.

At 21 years old, Moleiro has earned impressive praise from the likes of football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who praised the Las Palmas star for his “silky” touch in 2023.

The Women’s FA Cup has just as much magic as its male equivalent, with the finale’s place at the end of the domestic calendar handing two teams the opportunity to finish the campaign on a high in front of a large capacity crowd.

That has only been heightened by the welcome rise in prominence within the women’s game of late, with the FA Cup final being held at Wembley Stadium since 2015.

While the national stadium has typically only been half full for such occasions in the past, the 2023 final between Chelsea and Manchester United saw over 77,000 witness the Blues secure a third straight triumph through Sam Kerr’s winner.

Large crowds like these are now the norm for showpiece women’s events, particularly at Wembley, with the FA Cup final and England internationals well in the habit of bringing in spectators en masse.

The 2024 final was further evidence of this, with United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur again drawing in over 75,000 supporters.

But who are the most successful clubs in the FA Cup’s history? Here is a look at the history of the competition and a detailed look at the most recent finals.

Women's FA Cup history timeline

1970: Following the lifting of a ban on women’s football, which had stood for nearly 50 years, the first FA Cup tournament is held by the Women’s Football Association (WFA). The National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace hosts the first final in 1971, won by Southampton Women’s FC.

1993: The Football Association takes administrative control of the competition, along with the rest of women’s football in England.

2015: The final is held at Wembley Stadium for the first time, as 30,000 spectators see Chelsea defeat Notts County 1-0.

2023: A world-record crowd attends a domestic cup final, nearly 12 months on from the Euro 2022 final at a sold-out Wembley.

2024/25 Women's FA Cup

The 2024/25 FA Cup takes place on Sunday, 18th May, one day after the men’s event. This year’s women’s final is between Chelsea and Manchester United, in what is a repeat of the 2023 final.

Chelsea are going for a treble after being crowned as unbeaten champions and having won the League Cup back in March, while holders United are defending their FA Cup crown, which was won through their 4-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in May 2024.

It has been an exceptional first year in charge for Sonia Bompastor since replacing Emma Hayes, with the Blues’ only defeats this term coming in the Champions League to Manchester City and Barcelona.

Manchester United are looking to end the season on a high after having to settle for third following their 4-3 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of the WSL season.

Women’s FA Cup past winners

18 different clubs have won the Women’s FA Cup, with Arsenal being the record winners, having won it 14 times.

Southampton Women’s FC is the next-most successful club, winning eight times, most recently in 1981.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s record is only bettered by Doncaster Belles, who appeared in 11 out of 12 finals between 1983 and 1994, winning six times. However, the Blues can draw level with them in 2025.

Most Women’s FA Cup wins

Club

Times won

Last won

Arsenal

14

2016

Southampton Women’s FC

8

1981

Doncaster Belles

6

1994

Chelsea

5

2023

Manchester City

3

2020

Charlton Athletic

3

2005

Everton

2

2010

Fulham

2

2003

Millwall Lionesses

2

1997

Manchester United

1

2024

Birmingham City

1

2012

Norwich City

1

1986

AFC Wimbledon Women

1

1985 (as Friends of Fulham)

Howbury Grange

1

1984

Lowestoft Ladies

1

1982

St Helens

1

1980

Queen’s Park Rangers

1

1977

Fodens

1

1974

Previous FA Cup finals 12th May 2024: Manchester United 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United sealed their first FA Cup triumph against first-time finalists Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 in a comprehensive victory at Wembley.

Ella Toone got the ball rolling just before the end of the first period, with her long-range rocket adding to her catalogue of big-game goals.

The second half saw Spurs tire and crumble under the wave of United attacks, with Rachel Williams’ header and Lucia Garcia’s double seeing the Red Devils run out deserved winners.

Beth England came closest for the runners-up when her header smashed the bar, but there could be no complaints about the final result as United claimed their first major trophy.

14th May 2023: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United

Chelsea secured a league and cup double in 2023 after battling to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Marc Skinner’s side had most of the better chances, particularly in the first half when they had a goal ruled out for offside in the opening minute and forced Ann-Katrin Berger into a number of important saves.

Sam Kerr turned home Pernille Harder’s pinpoint cross in the second half, to which the Red Devils had no reply.

15th May 2022: Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City (aet)

The Blues edged a five-goal thriller against United’s closest rivals in 2022. Sam Kerr nodded Chelsea ahead before Lauren Hemp equalised just before half-time.

Erin Cuthbert’s screamer restored the Blues’ lead and had looked set to be the match-winner until Hayley Raso’s fine finish forced extra time.

Both sides had chances in the extra period, but Kerr took the crucial one in the 99th minute, with her deflected strike handing Chelsea another FA Cup.

5th December 2021: Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

Postponed due to the pandemic, the 2021 finale took place nearly seven months later than usual. The date chosen for the final came a century after the FA’s ban on women’s football in 1921.

It was Chelsea who once again emerged victorious, as opponents Arsenal came up against an inspired Kerr, who scored twice after Fran Kirby’s early opener to seal a comfortable victory.

1st November 2020: Everton 1-3 Manchester City (aet)

Played in front of no fans during the pandemic-affected 2020/21 campaign, Man City won their third FA Cup in four seasons with an extra-time victory over Everton, who were in the first final in six years.

The 50th Women’s FA Cup final saw Sam Mewis’ header put Gareth Taylor’s team in front, before Valerie Gauvin’s equaliser from a corner took the sides to extra time.

Georgia Stanway’s poked finish left City with one hand on the cup, and she laid the ball on a plate for Janine Beckie to finally put the game to bed and secure a second successive cup triumph.