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Juan Soto made headlines when he admitted that he's being pitched to differently in the New York Mets' lineup without the protection of New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Soto's comments, which came during an interview with on Monday, took on a life of their own in the heavily-scrutinized New York media market, especially in light of Soto's decision to leave the Bronx for Queens this offseason.

So, naturally, reporters wanted to know what Judge thought of Soto's remarks. When asked, the Yankees captain responded perfectly.

"I’m not really going to go back and forth with this," Judge told MLB.com. "He’s got probably one of the best hitters in the game behind right now in what Alonso is doing. It has been fun to watch. He’s hitting close to .400. He’s driving the ball to all over the field, driving guys in.

"I've seen Soto now watching the league for so many years, and getting a chance to see him up close — he can look at what I did last April for an example of, he just needs to keep being himself. He's going to be just fine."

Judge, who won the '24 American League MVP, and Soto, who posted a career-best 41 home runs and a .989 OPS, did their best Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig impression while leading the Yankees to an AL East title and the club's first AL pennant since '09. Soto benefited from hitting behind Judge in more ways than one, but in no way more impactful than the record, $765 million contract he signed with the Mets after his productive season in the Bronx.

Soto, with just two home runs in 16 games in '25, hasn't been as productive from a slugging standpoint so far. But the four-time All-Star is still among the game's leaders in walks and runs scored for a Mets team that is currently in first place.

And Alonso, who's batting .345 and leads the National League in OPS, looks to be in the midst of a career year. Judge is likely right.

Soto will be just fine.

Jordi Alba has rubbished comparisons between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, claiming that Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer “has no rival”. Teenage wonderkid Yamal has been thrust into an obvious debate ever since he stepped out of the La Masia academy system. He has become a global superstar in his own right, but there will never be another Messi.

• Messi vs Yamal: La Masia graduates always being compared

  Alba, who spent many happy years alongside the iconic Argentine at Camp Nou and is now a club colleague of the all-time great at MLS side Inter Miami, has always considered Messi to be the best in the business.

  Yamal, at 18 years of age, is showing signs that he could tread a similar path. Records have tumbled around the youngster on the back of making his senior debut at just 15. As a left-footed forward that glides past opponents and boasts an unerring eye for goal, he was always going to be likened to Messi.

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  Nobody like Messi! Alba steers clear of Yamal debate

  Alba is, however, eager to steer clear of that discussion. He told when naming three other Barca stars that deserve the same amount of credit as Yamal: “I think he's a great player, but there are others at Barca, like Pedri, Gavi, [Frenkie] de Jong. And I'm leaving out many. I think comparing him to Leo… there's no comparison, but that's because Leo has no rival.”

  Alba is preparing to sever professional ties with Messi. While the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has committed to a new three-year contract at Inter Miami, his close friend has decided to retire at the end of the 2025 MLS Cup play-offs.

  Explaining that decision, 36-year-old full-back Alba said: "Honestly, physically I could have lasted another year or two. But because of how I've felt, especially at the beginning of the season, and because of the new projects that are coming up…

  “It's a well-considered decision, and I'm very clear about it. I'll miss football, but I'm happy with what I've been able to achieve. I still enjoy the matches, but the day-to-day grind and traveling every week is harder. The enthusiasm you have at 20 years old fades. When you have a family, it shows.”

• Retirement calls: Will Suarez follow Alba & Busquets?

  Sergio Busquets is heading into the same direction, as he prepares to hang up his boots, with Alba adding on his fellow former Barcelona legend: “His retirement? Obviously, these decisions are very personal. We've talked about the situation we were in during the year. It's a decision for each of us. I'm lucky to share a team and a friendship with him; our families also get along very well. We live very close to each other in the same residential area.”

  Luis Suarez is another ex-Barca star that is yet to decide what the immediate future holds for him. The Uruguayan striker has struggled with knee problems in recent times, but continues to score goals ahead of turning 39 in January.

  Alba added on Suarez potentially playing on alongside Messi: “There he is, the guy. I don't know if he has a contract for years, but it's everyone's own decision. It's not just about changing teams anymore, it's about quitting football, what you've done your whole life. I'll be sad, but it hasn't been hard for me. I've accepted it and I'm taking it calmly.”

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  MSN reformed: Will Neymar reunite with Messi & Suarez?

  It has been suggested that Messi and Suarez could see their fabled ‘MSN’ strike force with Neymar reformed in 2026. That is because the Brazilian superstar is running down his contract at Santos and heading towards free agency.

  Any move to Florida would generate plenty of interest, with some headlines being stolen away from Yamal in Europe. The teenage wonderkid does, however, appear to be destined for greatness himself – with some suggesting that he could go on to eclipse Messi’s record-shattering haul of Ballons d’Or. Yamal finished second in the 2025 Golden Ball vote, behind Ousmane Dembele, but has time very much on his side – unlike Alba and Busquets.

After another difficult evening for Celtic in the Europa League, they’ve now discovered the extent of the injury that Callum Osmand picked up in another frustrating blow.

The Bhoys fell to a 3-1 defeat against Midtjylland and remain with just the one win to their name on the European stage this season – making qualification into the next round a mere fantasy at this stage.

Celtic schedule first interview with 37 y/o manager who dreams of Hoops job

The Bhoys are still on the hunt for their Brendan Rodgers replacement.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 6, 2025

For all the good work that Martin O’Neill has done so far this season, not even the Northern Irishman could turn his side’s fortunes around outside of domestic action and he once again distanced himself from the permanent job.

What the defeat has certainly done is pile the pressure on Dermot Desmond and the rest of the Celtic board to get their next decision right and get it done sooner rather than later.

Ange Postecoglou pulled out of the race for the job in the early stages and that dealt the Bhoys an undeniable blow. Since then, however, other impressive candidates have emerged such as Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen and Kieran McKenna.

Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that McKenna is open to the job in what could hand Celtic quite the boost. The Ipswich Town boss has struggled to get the best out of his side in the Championship so far this season, but no one will be forgetting the history that he made at Portman Road anytime soon.

Alas, before any manager can arrive, it’s up to O’Neill to get the Hoops back to winning ways and do so without recent Old Firm hero Osmand.

Celtic discover extent of Callum Osmand injury

As revealed by O’Neill at full-time, Osmand suffered a pulled hamstring against Midtjylland and will now be missing for at least a few weeks. It’s a major blow for the 19-year-old, who just took his place in Celtic’s Europa League squad off the back of putting Celtic out of sight with his effort in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

With Celtic’s attack already coming under fire this season, they now have the task of squaring off against Kilmarnock and others without one of their most promising talents.

Celtic frontrunner McKenna now wants Hoops job

It turns out teams other than the Los Angeles Dodgers are allowed to make MLB offseason moves.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that former San Diego Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar is heading to the Atlanta Braves in free agency. The Braves would announce soon after that the deal was for three years and $42 million.

The move comes after Profar’s breakout season in 2024, which saw him post career highs in home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, and OPS at 31 years old in San Diego—making his first All-Star Game and winning his first Silver Slugger while helping the Padres push the Dodgers to five games in the NLDS.

While Atlanta fans were quick to celebrate the signing, San Diego fans were understandably disappointed. After nearly reaching the NLCS just a few months ago, the Padres have now watched stars like Profar leave in the offseason—while also missing out on the sweepstakes for star free agents like pitcher Roki Sasaki.

Profar is set to join Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuna Jr. in the Braves outfield, immediately making the trio one of the best in all of baseball.

He won’t have to wait long to face his old team—Atlanta opens its 2025 season in San Diego on March 27.

There have been a lot of players who have tormented Arsenal over the years, from Roberto Firmino to Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah.

However, when it comes to the striker who has scored more goals against the North Londoners in the Premier League than anyone else, it’ll come as no surprise to most that it is Harry Kane.

The former Tottenham Hotspur star scored 14 goals against the club in 17 appearances before moving to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, and then added another in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.

So, the Gunners faithful should be excited about reports linking them to a free-scoring striker who’s won comparisons to the England captain.

Arsenal's striker search

With Arsenal’s need for a striker this summer practically undeniable, the last few weeks have seen the club linked with a host of talented options, from Benjamin Sesko to Evann Guessand.

The club are reportedly in talks for the former at the moment, who could cost around £67m, which might just prove to be a bargain price, as in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig this season, the 22-year-old dynamo was able to score 21 goals and provide six assists.

Coming in with a cheaper price tag that is said to be around the £25m mark, Guessand would be the more economical option, and with a tally of 13 goals and ten assists in 42 games, it would be a tempting one at that.

Transfer Focus

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

Yet, there is now another forward whose price fits nicely between both and has been compared to Kane: Nick Woltemade.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams incredibly interested in the VfB Stuttgart poacher.

In fact, the report reveals that the Gunners, as well as Liverpool, have made contact with the German outfit over their star striker, who could be available for around €50m, which comes out to about £42m.

He might not be a known quantity to fans in England, but given Woltemade’s ability and potential, this is a deal worth pursuing – with the comparison to Kane a nice bonus.

How Woltemade compares to Kane

Now, there are several reasons why Arsenal might want to go out and sign Woltemade this summer, but before getting to them, it’s worth examining this comparison to Kane and where it originated from.

In this case, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in the Bundesliga this season and came to the conclusion that the Englishman was the second most similar forward to the German.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, live passes, expected assists, passes into the penalty area, tackles won and more, all per 90.

However, while the comparison to England’s captain and one of the best strikers in the game is certainly encouraging, it’s not the only reason the Gunners should be looking to sign the Stuttgart star.

For example, despite playing for a midtable side, the “exceptional” marksman, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was able to rack up an impressive haul of 17 goals and three assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2039 minutes.

That means the 23-year-old goalscorer maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games this year, or every 101.95 minutes, which is undeniably impressive.

On top of that, the Bremen-born star comes in at a massive 6 foot 6 but remains agile and quick on his feet, so not only could he interchange with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard at the Emirates, but he’d add even more height and physicality into the Gunners’ squad.

Ultimately, Woltemade has been incredible this season, and his goalscoring abilities combined with his physical characteristics make him someone Arsenal should not miss out on – the comparison to Kane is just another reason they should be going all out to sign him.

A Rodrygo clone: Arsenal could hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"

The sensational talent could add so much to Arsenal’s attack.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 5, 2025

Arsenal are progressing in talks to sign a “deadly” Premier League star, who is now “likely” to leave his current club this summer, according to a report.

Gunners keen on new forwards after injury-ridden 2024/25 campaign

Injuries undoubtedly played a part in the Gunners’ inability to finally win the Premier League title this season, with a number of their key attacking players spending differing amounts of time on the sidelines due to setbacks.

As such, it is little wonder that Mikel Arteta is looking to bolster his attacking options this summer, and a new striker is believed to be of particular interest, with talks over a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres now advancing.

Botafogo’s Igor Jesus and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko have recently been named as potential alternative targets to Gyokeres, while it could also make sense to bring in a versatile forward, capable of filling in if the Gunners suffer similar injury problems next season.

According to a report from TNATS (via The Boot Room), Arsenal are now pursuing a forward who could fit the bill in that regard, with talks over a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo now advancing, although there is widespread interest in his signature.

Approach made: Arsenal in contact over "incredible" £84m Brazilian striker

The Gunners have made a move to sign a striker, who they are now seriously considering as a summer signing.

By
Dominic Lund

May 18, 2025

The Brentford star has been a long-term target for the Gunners, but a deal may not be cheap, with reports from elsewhere revealing the Bees could look to hold out for a fee of £65m.

One thing that is clear, however, is that the 25-year-old could be heading for the exit door this summer, with Christian Norgaard revealing his teammate is now “likely” to leave.

"Deadly" Mbeumo could be fantastic signing for Arsenal

As mentioned, the France-born forward’s versatility could be a real bonus for Arteta next season, given that he is capable of playing at both striker and out wide, flourishing at right-wing this season, in what has been an impressive campaign for the Bees.

The Cameroon international has 28 goal contributions to his name in all competitions, scoring 19 goals in 37 Premier League games, while catching the eye due to his work-rate.

Having also been lauded as “deadly” by Statman Dave, Mbeumo has earned a move to a top club this summer, and he could be a fantastic signing for Arsenal.

It was another semi-final defeat on Wednesday night for Arsenal and, as a result, another season that’ll end trophyless.

It was always going to be a tough challenge for Mikel Arteta’s side to overturn their first-leg defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain, but to lose 2-1 on the night just makes it all the more painful.

Moreover, while the visitors started the first half pretty well, they soon faded, and while they played with some real heart, a number of players just didn’t perform well enough.

One of those was Thomas Partey, who picked up a 3/10 match rating from Alex Turk of the Express, and while there was talk of a contract renewal, there have also been links to a certain international who could join this summer and send him packing.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it is worth taking a look at some of the other midfield stars Arsenal have been linked with in recent weeks, like Hugo Larsson and Eduardo Camavinga.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is still only 20 years old but has already become an established starter at Eintracht Frankfurt and could reportedly cost up to £51m, while the latter was sent off against the Gunners in the first leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final with the club, but with a release clause of £1bn, who knows how much he’d cost.

Fortunately, another international midfielder heavily linked with the North Londoners has a far more reasonable release clause and could be the ideal Partey replacement: Martin Zubimendi.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are still incredibly keen on signing the Real Sociedad star this summer, with Arteta making him a ‘top reinforcement priority.’

While interest from Real is far from ideal, reports from elsewhere claiming the Spaniard has a release clause worth £51m could and should make signing him far more straightforward for the North Londoners.

It might still be a lot of money, but Zubimendi has proven his ability over several years now, and as he could be the perfect Partey replacement, Arsenal should do all they can to bring him to N5.

How Zubimendi compares to Partey

So then, if Arsenal are able to sign Zubimendi this summer, there is no doubt he’d come in and play the position Partey has this season, but how does he stack up to the veteran?

Is he good enough to send him packing in the summer without a new contract?

Well, given their position on the pitch and what their primary roles are, their raw output is not all that important.

Instead, the best way to better understand how they truly stack up against one another is to look under the hood at their relevant underlying numbers.

When doing this, it’s evident that while the former Atlético Madrid star does have the advantage in some areas, the bread and butter of a number six, the defensive work, is done far better by the San Sebastian-born star.

For example, the “world-class” defensive midfielder, as dubbed by former teammate Kieran Tierney, comes out on top in essential metrics like blocked shots and passes, interceptions, aerial duels won, clearances made, and he even makes fewer mistakes that lead to a shot, all per 90.

On top of this statistical advantage, the “elite” international, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also five and a half years the Ghanaian’s junior and has a far healthier injury record.

For example, across his entire career, the Basque star has missed just ten games for club and country, whereas the Gunners’ number five has missed a staggering 88, so no matter how available he’s been this year, you can never truly rely on him in the long run.

Ultimately, from his defensive output to his availability and age, it’s clear that Zubimendi would be the perfect player to come in and replace Partey this summer, in turn making a new contract for the 31-year-old redundant.

Arsenal line up move for PSG star who'd be a big upgrade on Martinelli

The incredibly entertaining international is just what Arsenal need this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 8, 2025

Newcastle United find themselves well in the hunt for a strong finish to the Premier League season and could look to pounce for a high-profile star on the market, according to a report.

Newcastle United's pursuit of summer signings

The Magpies have Champions League football firmly in their sights under Eddie Howe and will look to finalise their place in next year’s league phase before turning their attention to the summer transfer window.

Turning the spotlight on one of their direct competitors, Newcastle hope to sign James McAtee from Manchester City in the next few months and will take encouragement from the fact he has one year left on his deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are also in the hunt for his signature, which may pose a challenge in convincing the England Under-21 international that Tyneside is the place to be ahead of next season.

On the same token, talks have taken place over Newcastle making a move for Douglas Luiz with Juventus sporting director Cristian Giuntoli. The possibility of a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali has also been discussed.

Looking to the future, Heart of Midlothian forward James Wilson is a Magpies target, even if he would likely be viewed as one for the future by chiefs at St James’ Park.

Romano: Newcastle "keen on signing" £70m "tank" with same agent as Gordon

They’ve wanted him for ages.

By
Barney Lane

Apr 27, 2025

PSR regulations will need to be met by Newcastle alongside every one of their direct rivals in the Premier League. In turn, that may lead to certain positions being prioritised for strengthening, while others could be left on the backburner.

Regardless, plenty of movement is underway in the North East and recent developments suggest that a marquee arrival could be set for a move to Tyneside.

Newcastle United ready to strike for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United are plotting a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has wowed the Magpies’ recruitment team during extensive scouting missions over the last few years.

Howe would jump at the chance to bring in the Cameroon international if his current employers were willing to sell, though the Bees’ demand of over £60 million may provide food for thought once the summer window opens.

Labelled “fantastic” by Thomas Frank, Mbeumo has enjoyed a fantastic campaign in front of goal, registering 18 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.

His versatility is said to be a major reason behind Howe’s desire to land the winger. However, Newcastle are likely to wait and see what continental competition they end up in before stepping up their interest.

Attacking reinforcements appear to be on the agenda at St James’ Park and Mbeumo would be the ideal candidate to ensure the Magpies build from a position of strength.

Chelsea are not short of options in attack, and Enzo Maresca certainly has an embarrassment of riches to choose from. The Blues’ key man in forward areas is Cole Palmer, who, despite a lean run of form, has managed 14 goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season.

The other player to hit double figures for league goals is Nicolas Jackson, who has managed ten, as well as five assists. Noni Madueke has also surpassed ten goal involvements in the top flight, too, with 11 to be specific.

If reports are to be believed, the Blues are looking to add more attacking talents to their squad this summer.

Chelsea targeting another teen superstar

One of the most highly sought-after players in world football right now seems to be 17-year-old attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono. The River Plate star has caught the eye during his short career so far, and is now wanted by a multitude of clubs.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Clarin, via Sport Witness, Chelsea are one of the sides hoping to bring him into the club this summer, continuing their trend of raiding the South American market.

Fellow Premier League side Manchester United are also showing strong interest, and Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also believed to be considering a move.

Mastantuono has a reported release clause of £38m, and a move will likely happen when he turns 18 in the middle of August. River are reportedly looking to renew his contract, which could alter his release clause.

Why Mastantuono would be a good signing

Should the Blues manage to bring Mastantuono to the club, it would be another exciting young talent they have managed to add to their ranks. He has impressed in his short professional career for River, and has also been recognised by Argentina at under-20 level.

In 13 games in 2025 so far for the Argentine giants, he already has four goals and two assists to his name. He has featured for 997 minutes, and is currently averaging a goal involvement every 166 minutes, which is impressive for someone as inexperienced as he is.

The other standout thing to note about Mastantuono is his versatility. The River number 30, who is left-footed, can play as a right winger or a number ten, which is certainly something Maresca could lean upon at times.

Football analyst Ben Mattinson described the youngster as someone in the “Palmer mould”. However, he even goes on to make the claim that he is “he best of the lot”, suggesting Mastantono is someone to really get excited about.

Well, Chelsea fans have two young South American talents they can watch in action before too long. The Blues also signed Estevao Willian almost one year ago from Palmeiras, who will join the club for £29m this summer.

He has seven goals and one assist in all competitions in 2025, having featured in 23 matches for the Brazilian giants. Like Mastantuono, he is a hybrid between a winger and a number ten, able to play both positions.

Well, the pair could become a force to be reckoned with in a Chelsea shirt, over the next few seasons. The stats on FBref show just how good they are, and as a duo, they could become unstoppable.

One of the stats that sticks out is their creative passing numbers. Mastantuono averages 2.59 key passes and 5.47 shot-creating actions each game, with Estevao averaging 2.36 key passes and 4.03 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

There is no doubt that Mastantuono is an exciting talent. Not only do Europe’s biggest clubs want to sign him, but he is putting up excellent numbers in a River shirt already, and has some impressive underlying stats.

If this is a deal Chelsea manage to do, he could be a fantastic addition, and form a deadly partnership with Estevao at Stamford Bridge.

Big upgrade on Sancho: Chelsea confident of signing £35m "wonderkid"

Chelsea are looking to add to their attack before the Club World Cup

By
Joe Nuttall

Apr 30, 2025

Arsenal could now be handed the chance to sign yet another Bayern Munich player, following their recent talks with Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman.

Arsenal make contact with Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman

Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta are reportedly keen to bring in a new winger this summer, prompting the Gunners to reach out to Bavaria in search of quality options.

Arsenal convinced they'll sign "world-class" player by June, talks ongoing

He could be Andrea Berta’s first major signing as sporting director.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 16, 2025

At the beginning of April, it was reported that Arsenal held “fresh talks” with Sane over joining on a free transfer.

However, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Vincent Kompany’s side have tabled a formal contract proposal to Sane, who was recently named Bayern’s Player of the Month for March amid his sensational end to the campaign, and it is highly likely the German will extend his stay – dealing a blow to Arsenal in their pursuit.

After seemingly missing out on the 29-year-old, Arsenal then turned their attention towards Coman, who has expressed a desire to leave Bayern and is far more likely to seal a departure.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia, not to mention arch rivals Tottenham, are also believed to be expressing an interest – so it won’t be plain sailing for Berta.

“Kingsley Coman has already internally expressed his desire to leave this summer, as revealed,” wrote Plettenberg on X.

“Saudi clubs are now taking the matter seriously and are planning a visit to Munich for talks with Bayern. In England, Arsenal are currently the most concrete option – especially since Leroy Sané is about to extend his contract with Bayern. Spurs would like to sign Coman but are currently in a waiting position due to his high salary.”

Since then, Arsenal have moved to open talks with Coman’s representatives, and this communication is said to be “ongoing” as the north Londoners seek to tempt him with a move to N5.

Amid these discussions, it is now believed another Bayern ace could be on the table for Arteta – £165,000-per-week midfielder Joao Palhinha.

Arsenal likely to be offered Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha

According to CaughtOffside, Palhinha is likely to be offered to Arsenal, as his representative seeks a new landing spot just one year after he joined Kompany’s side – following a lengthy Fulham transfer saga.

The Portugal international has made just 21 appearances in all competitions, partly due to a muscle injury, with Liverpool and Man United also set to be handed an opportunity to strike a deal for the former Premier League star.

The Bundesliga frontrunners could be open to selling Palhinha, as they’re currently prioritising a contract extension for Leon Goretzka, so the 29-year-old’s availability is on the cards.

“He’s been absolutely sensational this season,” said pundit Rio Ferdinand on the midfielder in 2023.

“You need someone like that in front of you as a defender.”