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Nottingham Forest have endured a season that the supporters will remember for a lifetime, still having the opportunity to secure Champions League football with four games left of the season.

The Reds have gone from relegation strugglers to European hopefuls in just one campaign under Nuno Espírito Santo’s guidance, which has undoubtedly been one of the stories of the year.

Their low-block and counter-attacking style has taken countless Premier League sides by storm, allowing them to produce the performances and results that have catapulted them to huge success.

No one could’ve predicted the rise endured by the club in the last few months, with many pundits across the United Kingdom predicting Nuno’s men to get relegated before a ball was kicked.

Numerous players have stepped up to the plate in the last few months, aiding their unlikely ambitions of securing a place in the Champions League and looking to be worth every penny of the fee paid for their signature.

Sangare & Anderson’s stats for Forest in 2024/25

Ibrahim Sangare joined Forest in a £30m deal from Dutch side PSV, looking to nail down his place at the heart of the midfield, but nearly two years on, it’s safe to say things haven’t gone as planned.

The Ivorian has massively struggled with injuries, making just 30 appearances in his two seasons, 12 of which have come this term after missing six months with a hamstring issue.

The same can’t be said for £35m signing Elliot Anderson, who’s been a crucial player to Nuno this campaign, featuring in all but one Premier League outing to date.

He’s managed to notch eight combined goals and assists during his first season at the City Ground, leading to admiration from Liverpool – highlighting his development in the East Midlands.

At just 22, Anderson has bags of time to improve further throughout his career, potentially having a huge role to play in any European tour endured throughout 2025/26.

Despite the aforementioned pair being the two most expensive additions in their history, one other first-team member is now worth more than the duo, showcasing his own rise under Nuno at the City Ground.

The Forest star who’s now worth more than Sangare & Anderson

The next couple of weeks are vital to Forest, with the financial benefits of securing Champions League football massively boosting their ambitions of recruiting top-level talent.

Such a qualification would also boost their current PSR standing, pulling them further away from any form of breach, which would result in yet another points deduction.

However, any chances of finishing within the top five could rely on winger Anthony Elanga, with the Swedish star producing countless moments of magic in recent times to help the side reach their current standing.

The 23-year-old joined the club from Manchester United for just £15m back in the summer of 2023, looking to be an absolute bargain given the levels produced since his transfer.

He managed to achieve a total of five goals and nine assists in all competitions during his debut season on Trentside, before notching six goals and ten assists in the current campaign – leading to journalist Simon Stone labelling him as “superb”.

Arguably, his most iconic effort of the year was his 85-yard run and goal against his former employers, helping Nuno’s side secure a 1-0 victory in the East Midlands back in April.

He’s only played a maximum of 45 minutes in four of the Reds’ last five outings in all competitions, with the four losses during that time appearing to be no coincidence.

Games played

34

Goals & assists

15

Pass accuracy

77.4%

Chances created

1.8

Dribbles completed

0.96

Fouls won

1.47

Recoveries made

3.44

Crosses completed

1.34

As a result of his impressive showings since his transfer, Elanga is now valued at £30m by Transfermarkt, doubling the fee they paid for his signature in 2023, highlighting his rise since joining the club.

Such a figure is higher than those of Sangare and Anderson, who are now both valued at £23m and £25.5m respectively – with the latter being extremely harsh given his impressive season in 2024/25.

His tally of 30 combined goals and assists for Forest showcases how threatening he’s been in the final third, having the ability to play a key role in their potential Champions League campaign next year.

However, if they are to finish the job in the next couple of weeks, Elanga must start each one of the remaining fixtures, with his inclusion massively increasing the club’s chances of ending their fairytale season on a high.

Just imagine him & Gibbs-White: Nottingham Forest keen on signing £30m star

Nottingham Forest could be about to make a huge signing that would take Morgan Gibbs-White to the next level.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 30, 2025

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have now identified a 30-year-old who they could sign in a £34 million transfer, according to a recent report.

Ruben Amorim confirms Diogo Dalot injury blow

Ahead of United’s next Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth, Amorim has revealed that his side have suffered another injury blow. Defender Diogo Dalot has suffered a calf injury and could potentially miss the rest of the season.

Amorim said in his press conference on Friday: “He has a problem with his muscle in his calf. He had a sequence of games; he played all the time. We tried to manage, but some of the players have to play a lot of minutes, and we have to protect the ones that we think are not so ready to cope with that, but Dalot felt something.”

Everton make contact over summer deal for "brilliant" £120k-p/w Man Utd ace

David Moyes wants a deal done…

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 25, 2025

This is a big blow for Amorim and United, as the Portuguese international has been a persistent starter for the Red Devils this season, cementing that right wing-back spot as his own.

His absence from their Premier League matches isn’t much of a concern, given there isn’t anything riding on those games, but Amorim will be hoping he can have his defender back for the Europa League, even if it is the second leg or final, should United get there.

Man Utd want to sign 30 y/o compared to Matic in £34m transfer

As Amorim tries to deal with his latest injury blow, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd are now interested in signing midfielder Stanislav Lobotka from Napoli.

The report states that his performances for Antonio Conte’s side have caught the attention of United, who have ‘expressed a desire’ to hold talks with the player’s agent. It goes on to add that Napoli may look to move the player on this summer, as they see it as their last chance to earn a lot of money from his exit, as he is under contract until 2027.

Given that Lobotka will turn 31 soon, Conte believes his value will only go down and therefore are willing to do business should they receive an offer of €40 million, which is roughly £34 million.

Interest from United comes as they may look to move Casemiro on at the end of the campaign, and therefore, a replacement will be needed, and Labotka could be that person, as he is someone who is very similar to Nemanja Matic, a player United fans know very well.

Lobotka

Matic

Apps

29

25

Assists

1

1

Progressive carries

29

33

Progressive passes

112

132

Passes attempted

1619

1243

Passes completed

1463

1080

Tackles (Won)

43 (28)

35 (28)

Interceptions

20

12

Clearances

57

27

However, the Red Devils are not the only team chasing his signature, as Barcelona have been linked with the midfielder a few times, and French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping an eye on the player. Labotka has really impressed this season, so much so that former Arsenal midfielder and now Como manager Cesc Fàbregas has labelled the midfielder as someone who can “make you win games”.

Fabregas said: “Napoli have many players who won the league, like Lobotka. Please, give me Lobotka. What a player, Mamma Mia. He is marvellous. Players like this make you win games for their ability to understand football and recover many balls. I go crazy for players like this.”

Celtic can turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they prepare to take on St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup.

The Hoops are set to fight it out for a place in the final of the competition in the hope of retaining the trophy that Adam Idah’s last-gasp goal won for them last season.

Brendan Rodgers has the chance to win a domestic treble for the first time in his second spell at Parkhead, as Celtic have already won the League Cup and are on the verge of winning the Premiership.

The Hoops won the top-flight and the SFA Cup in the 2023/24 campaign, and this means that they could end this season with five out of six trophies won in the Northern Irishman’s return to Glasgow.

Rodgers has an excellent squad at his disposal, which has helped him to be as successful as he has been so far, and even the lesser-seen talents have stepped up for the boss in recent weeks.

Maik Nawrocki and Viljami Sinisalo are two rarely-seen stars who have emerged as viable first-team options for the manager over the past month or so.

Maik Nawrocki and Viljami Sinisalo have proven their worth

The Polish defender had not made a single appearance in the Premiership, despite being fit and available, prior to the club’s clash with Rangers before the March international break.

Injuries to Liam Scales and Auston Trusty at the time provided the former Legia Warsaw colossus with opportunities to start against Rangers and Hearts in the top-flight.

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki was outstanding in his two performances in the Premiership, dominating the Rangers and Hearts attackers and making numerous interventions to keep them at bay.

However, the Polish ace has been an unused substitute in the last two league games because Rodgers claimed he prefers to have a naturally left-footed player on that side of the centre-back pairing.

Nawrocki is not the only reserve player who has had opportunities recently, though, as Sinisalo has played the last three league matches in the absence of Kasper Schmeichel, who was injured on international duty with Denmark.

The Finnish shot-stopper saved 71% of the shots on his goal and kept one clean sheet in those three games, proving himself to be a more than able deputy for the Danish number one.

Sinisalo and Nawrocki’s performances show that market value is not the be-all and end-all for players, as they have performed well when called upon despite being two of the lowest-valued players in the squad.

The lowest-valued players in the Celtic squad

Both of those players rank within the bottom ten in the squad for market value, as per Transfermarkt, and that could be down to their lack of minutes on the pitch prior to their recent emergence in the starting XI.

The lowest-valued player at the club is 20-year-old academy graduate goalkeeper Josh Clarke, who is yet to actually make his first-team debut but has featured on the bench, with a valuation of just £64k.

Josh Clarke

20

£64k

James McCarthy

34

£85k

Scott Bain

33

£171k

Johnny Kenny

21

£193k

James Forrest

33

£429k

Kasper Schmeichel

38

£644k

Viljami Sinisalo

23

£686k

Anthony Ralston

26

£1.2m

Maik Nawrocki

24

£1.7m

Luke McCowan

27

£1.7m

As you can see in the table above, only six players in the squad are worth less than Sinisalo, and two of them – Clarke and Johnny Kenny – are young prospects.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

But, as per the earlier point, a low market value does not equal a bad player because there are several factors that go into a valuation that are not performance-based.

Kasper Schmeichel, who is valued lower than both Nawrocki and Sinisalo, is the perfect example because he is only worth £686k, but it is because he is now 38 and his current contract expires in the summer of 2026.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Kasper Schmeichel

Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Denmark international because they brought him in on a free transfer from Anderlecht last summer, and he has provided phenomenal value on the pitch.

At the age of 38, Schmeichel is not a young talent who is going to make the club a significant profit in the future, like a Matt O’Riley or an Odsonne Edouard did, but his value comes in the form of his performances for the club.

Not every signing made by Celtic has to be with the long-term in mind or with a financial hat on, some signings can be for short-term impact on helping the team to win trophies.

As you can see in the highlights above, Schmeichel has produced quality in the Champions League for Celtic this season, as is further evidenced by his three clean sheets and 0.55 goals prevented in ten outings in the competition.

The experienced colossus, who was dubbed “amazing” by pundit Micah Richards, has also been a star for the Scottish giants in the Premiership in his first year in Glasgow.

Appearances

30

Save success rate

77%

Goals conceded

21

Saves

68

Clean sheets

19

Error led to goal

0

Pass accuracy

94%

As you can see in the table above, the former Leicester City stopper has kept a staggering 19 clean sheets in 30 matches for the Hoops in the league, helping them to be on the verge of a fourth successive top-flight title.

These statistics in both the Premiership and the Champions League show that Schmeichel has hit the ground running at Celtic as a star performer, offering a reliable and quality presence between the sticks for Rodgers.

Celtic chasing deal for star who could become even better than Jota

Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the impressive young forward.

ByDan Emery Apr 16, 2025

This is why Celtic have hit the jackpot with the free agent signing, despite his low market value, because he has provided all of his value on the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign an “incredible” midfielder, and they are confident they will win the race for his signature, according to a report.

Tottenham eyeing reinforcements in multiple areas

Barring an unlikely triumph in the Europa League, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a season to forget for Tottenham, with it looking increasingly likely they will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Injuries no doubt haven’t helped their cause, but the fact Spurs have fallen way below expectations indicates several reinforcements may be needed in the summer, and they are eyeing players in multiple positions.

A new striker is of interest, with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison suffering their fair share of injury problems this season, and the Lilywhites are now making moves to sign Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while they are also stepping up their pursuit of Lille’s Jonathan David.

Tottenham may green light move for "Levy character" to replace Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou’s time in north London could be coming to an end…

ByDominic Lund Apr 6, 2025

With Cristian Romero potentially in line to leave Tottenham this summer, a new centre-back may also be required, and they are incredibly keen on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer.

Tah is not the only free agent that Tottenham are eyeing, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they are determined to sign Lille midfielder Angel Gomes, whose contract is set to expire this summer.

Spurs are pushing hard to get a deal for Gomes over the line, having been leading the race for his signature for quite some time, and they are confident they will be able to strike an agreement.

London rivals West Ham United have also been linked with a move for the 24-year-old, but widespread reports state he has turned down a move to the London Stadium.

Signing "incredible" Gomes could be shrewd business

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has made it clear Tottenham will have to be clever with how they operate in the transfer market this summer, saying: “We cannot spend what we do not have, and we will not compromise the financial stability of this club,”

“Recruitment remains a key focus, and we must ensure that we make smart purchases within our financial means.”

As such, it would be financially prudent to pursue free agents this summer, and signing Gomes could be a shrewd bit of business, given how impressive he has looked in a Lille shirt, notably impressing with his long-range passing last season.

The England international has also been lauded as “incredible” by Carlisle United midfielder Callum Whelan, indicating he could be a fantastic addition for Tottenham, who may be in need of at least one new midfielder, with Yves Bissouma’s future in doubt.

The Manchester City squad rebuild is firmly underway.

Last week, Kevin De Bruyne confirmed he will be leaving the club this summer, following the expiration of his contract.

He’ll follow fellow sky blue stalwart Kyle Walker out the exit door while, as outlined by Philip Buckingham of the Athletic, Man City spent around £180m in January. That’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, recruiting Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico González, Vitor Reis, and Juma Bah.

Now, as Pep Guardiola attempts to fill the gigantic void that De Bruyne will leave behind, does he have his eyes on one of the Premier League’s very best midfielders?

The latest on Man City interest in PL star

According to UOL Esporte, via a report from Spain, Guardiola ‘has identified’ Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães as his ‘ideal candidate’ to replace De Bruyne this summer.

The Belgian is on his way out of The Etihad and the Cityzens have now set their sights on the Premier League midfielder to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of next season.

However, it remains to be seen how much money it will take for the Magpies to consider parting ways with their brilliant Brazilian in the upcoming transfer window.

The 27-year-old joined Newcastle back in January 2022 from Olympique Lyonnais for a reported £40m, making 146 appearances for the Magpies to date, scoring 20 goals, a key figure in the side that won last month’s EFL Cup, the first major domestic trophy the club have hoisted aloft for 70 years.

His manager Eddie Howe described Guimarães as “world class”, with Chris Waugh of the Athletic believing that, when the Brazilian is deployed with more attacking freedom, there’s few better in the Premier League.

Thus, his signing would obviously be a major coup for Man City, but any potential deal will be far from straight-forward.

Why Guimares would be the perfect de Bruyne replacement

Instinctively, it does not feel as though Guimarães would be the perfect stylistic fit to replace De Bruyne.

The Belgian is known as the pass master, with Sam Lee of the Athletic outlining that a whipped ball to the back post is very much his ‘trademark’ assist.

As noted by Opta, since De Bruyne’s debut for Manchester City, no player has registered more assists (117) or created more chances (827) than him across Europe’s top five leagues.

Meantime, Guimarães is more well known for his ‘tenacity’ and leadership qualities, as documented by Jack Lang and Maurício Alencar of the Athletic, registering just 24 assists in 146 appearances for Newcastle to date.

But, let’s now take a deeper dive into the numbers.

Appearances

21

30

Minutes

1,192

2,590

Goals

2

3

Assists

6

6

Expected assists

6.1

5.3

Progressive passes

116

212

Chances created

39

38

Shot-creating actions

81

97

Through-balls

8

21

Pass completion %

76.7%

82%

Ball recoveries

44

144

Touches per 90

77

67

As the table outlines, despite having played less than half the number of minutes that Guimarães has, De Bruyne’s assists, expected assists, and chances created numbers are still comparable, emphasizing his qualities in that regard.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian has registered more progressive passes, shot-creating actions, and through-balls, while accumulating exponentially more ball recoveries, underlining that he is more of a useful asset out of possession.

This suggests that he would be a perfect replacement for de Bruyne in the sense that he could arrive with more depth to his game, due to his qualities out of possession and in deep build-up, which means that he could offer more to the all-round team performance than the Belgian veteran.

Thus, even though this would not be a like-for-like replacement, Guimarães would surely slot into Man City’s team perfectly, making this a transfer they should absolutely complete, if at all possible.

Manchester United have made a series of exciting signings recently to try and breed a new era at Old Trafford, and they could now look to sign a rising star from within England.

Truthfully, the last decade has seen the Red Devils’ stock and reputation fall as they look to return to the elite of English football. Still, additions such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have shown a sense of ambition under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Even with the need for a new midfielder at Manchester United clear amid uncertainty over Casemiro’s future, boss Ruben Amorim has indicated he is keen to get more out of Manuel Ugarte in the meantime following his move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

He said before his side’s clash with Everton: “You can sense a lot of very good players come here, and sometimes they struggle. He is struggling at the moment but it is our job to try to help and help him to feel like I felt when he was a Sporting player. But it is a different world. He needs to adapt, and he needs to improve, especially in training.”

Several targets have been linked to replace veteran Casemiro, with the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes and Atletico Madrid midfielder Connor Gallagher on their list.

Amorim will continue to build over the coming months and is likely to get time to implement his vision, albeit further signings will be necessary to make his formation a bona fide success as his squad continue to evolve.

Now, he may have an alternative England international firmly on his radar as Manchester United look to restore themselves among the Champions League slots at a minimum this term.

Man Utd set to bid for Elliot Anderson

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are set to bid for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson as they up the ante in pursuit of a Casemiro replacement, with a move for the Englishman backed by both Jason Wilcox and Amorim himself.

The latter is unlikely to see his contract renewed at Old Trafford, and steps could now be taken to sign the Tricky Trees man, a move that may cost between £80 and £100 million.

Elliot Anderson’s Premier League campaign (Fotmob)

Appearances

12

Goals

1

Assists

1

Chances created

18

Successful passes

714

Successful crosses

16

Once January comes around, Manchester United could offer a package at around the £60 million mark, albeit that is unlikely to be enough to land Anderson in the face of his magnificent form at the City Ground.

Nevertheless, the former Newcastle United man, labelled “elite” by Thomas Tuchel, is open to joining a big six club and could be someone the club now values as a realistic target more than Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

Man Utd now make approach to sign exciting gem who shone at U17 World Cup

The Red Devils are now keen to secure his signature before some high-profile suitors.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 23, 2025

For now, speculation will continue to mount over Anderson’s future, but the pursuit may be one to keep an eye on as Amorim looks to lead Manchester United to silverware in the coming years.

Tottenham Hotspur have not been good enough this season, and it’s clear that Thomas Frank needs to find a solution both in regard to results and the excitement factor that has been lacking.

Having lost each of their past three matches in all competitions, including the miserable home loss against Fulham on Saturday evening in the Premier League, a response is sorely needed, but Newcastle United at St. James’ Park has hardly been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years.

Frank’s tactics have yet to click together, but the players also need to take responsibility for their shoddy showings, with Pedro Porro among the guilty members to have flattered to deceive all term.

Pedro Porro's Spurs form this season

Porro, 26, is one of the most talented right-backs in Europe. He has played 126 matches for Tottenham, scoring 11 goals and supplying 23 assists.

The Spaniard’s gloomy, incensed demeanour at full-time on Saturday was indicative of the wider malaise at the club, but he surely must hold his hands up and acknowledge that he wasn’t good enough, with Sofascore recording that he found the mark with only three of 16 attempted crosses, losing eight of 11 duels and being caught out numerous times.

It was, frankly, a pitiful first-half performance, with Porro utterly toothless in his creative role and more than susceptible against the rampant Samuel Chukwueze and beaten far too easily in the build-up to Kenny Tete’s opening goal after just a few minutes.

He was hardly the only one to hang his head in shame, though, with his counterpart on the left serving up an equally frustrating performance.

Spurs defender is now becoming a liability

At his best, Destiny Udogie is a machine. Ferociously athletic, fleet-footed on the ball and attuned in crucial defence phases, he took the Lilywhites faithful’s breath away when he charged the left side of Postecoglou’s system during the halycon days of 2023/24, before things went wrong.

Indeed, when he burst onto the scene as a teenager under Postecoglou’s wing, journalist Hunter Godson remarked that he was “sickeningly good” and would get into “nearly every team in the world already”.

Such was his power and pace and balance down the left lane that he was considered by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport to be “the best left-back” in the country during that first foray into English football.

But it might be fair to say that Udogie has yet to raise his game in the Premier League. Sure, he’s been unfortunate with injuries, but this is now his third season in English football and he is no longer an up-and-coming prospect but a talented member of the first team who is expected to provide an outlet while protecting his box.

Goals scored

0.08

0.00

Assists

0.11

0.17

Shot-creating actions

2.15

2.25

Touches

66.81

69.71

Pass completion (%)

85.8

85.0

Progressive passes

5.83

5.72

Progressive carries

3.12

3.47

Successful take-ons

0.90

0.52

Ball recoveries

6.36

5.72

Tackles + interceptions

3.95

2.43

Clearances

3.01

Aerials won

0.83

0.69

It may take a moment to look at the various elements of Udogie’s game, but it’s worth a closer inspection, with Udogie yet to raise his creative levels and indeed provide greater security at the back.

In fact, as per Sofascore, he has only completed 30% of his dribbles and won half of his duels in the Premier League this year.

This remains a talented full-back with the capacity to perform as one of the best in the division, but Udogie is not pulling his weight right now, and it’s clear to see that Frank’s system is being hindered by the lackadaisical performances of Udogie and Porro, two wide players who are considered among the most talented in the country, if not the continent.

Spurs flop has become their biggest "embarrassment" since Aurier

It’s gone from bad to worse for Spurs, and this Conte signing’s time at the club could be coming to an end.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 1, 2025

A goalkeeper’s role in football has evolved from just being a brilliant shot-stopper. Nowadays, ‘keepers have to be just as good with their feet, with plenty of managers opting to play out from the back, meaning their No 1s are their first point to build an attack.

But with coaches demanding so much more from their number ones, who takes the crown as the best goalkeeper in world football?

Ranking factors

To help rank the goalkeepers in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their teams’ performances Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others say about them

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

Gianluigi Donnarumma

26

Man City

Italy

David Raya

30

Arsenal

Spain

Thibaut Courtois

33

Real Madrid

Belgium

Alisson

33

Liverpool

Brazil

Jan Oblak

32

Atletico Madrid

Slovenia

Unai Simon

28

Athletic Club

Spain

Emiliano Martinez

33

Aston Villa

Argentina

Diogo Costa

26

FC Porto

Portugal

Gregor Kobel

27

Borussia Dortmund

Switzerland

Yann Sommer

36

Inter Milan

Switzerland

Manuel Neuer

39

Bayern Munich

Germany

Mike Maignan

30

AC Milan

France

Joan Garcia

24

Barcelona

Spain

Jordan Pickford

31

Everton

England

Mile Svilar

26

Roma

Serbia

15 Mile Svilar Roma and Serbia

Mile Svilar had a standout 2024/25 season, recording 16 clean sheets and the highest save percentage in Serie A which has seen him join the rankings for the first time.

The Serbia international, who joined Roma in 2022, is now 26 years of age and appears to be entering his prime for the Italian giants.

Liga Portugal

2019

Belgian Pro League

2017

Belgian Super Cup

2017

14 Jordan Pickford Everton and England

Everton’s No.1 Jordan Pickford has been first choice for England for almost eight years now, and he has impressed in recent weeks for the Toffees ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Pickford starred in the 1-0 win at Old Trafford and has been a consistent performer who arguably goes under the radar when it goes to being labelled as one of the best in the world.

13 Joan Garcia Barcelona and Spain

Joan Garcia was a goalkeeper in demand during the summer of 2025 following his eye-catching performances for Espanyol.

The Spaniard looked as if he was heading to Arsenal to link up with compatriots Mikel Arteta and David Raya, however, Barcelona came in and secured a deal.

It has proven to be a smart decision, with Garcia first choice when fit, and he’s under contract at the Nou Camp until 2031.

12 Mike Maignan AC Milan and France

Mike Maignan’s impressive displays in Italy with AC Milan have resulted in recent rumours of a move to the Premier League, with the France No.1 linked with Chelsea and Man Utd.

Now captain of Milan, Maignan has made more than 150 appearances for the European giants and has won the Goalkeeper of the Year award in France and Italy during his career.

At the age of 30, Maignan appears to be approaching the prime of his career, and he has been hailed by Kylian Mbappe for his penalty-saving bailout following his Nations League heroics for France.

Ligue 1

2021

Serie A

2022

Nations League

2021

Italian Super Cup

2025

11 Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich and Germany

Despite turning 39 years of age in March, Manuel Neuer is still one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. He’s won everything there is to win in the game and has made more than 550 appearances for Bayern Munich.

The German icon has suffered with some injury issues over the last 12 months, but when fit, continues to be first-choice at the Allianz Arena. He’s also still under contract until 2026, so it looks as if he’ll continue playing into his forties.

Bundesliga

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025

World Cup

2014

Champions League

2013, 2020

FIFA Club World Cup

2014, 2021

UEFA Super Cup

2013, 2020

German Cup

2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020

German Super Cup

2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022

U21 European Championship

2009

10 Yann Sommer Inter Milan and Switzerland

Another highly experienced shot-stopper who appears to be getting better with age is Yann Sommer.

The 36-year-old moved to Inter Milan in 2023 to replace Andre Onana and has starred in Serie A, keeping clean sheets in more than half of his appearances for the club in all competitions.

Approaching 100 caps for Switzerland as well, Sommer is another example of ‘keepers hitting their prime in the latter stages of their career, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he too ends up continuing for a long while yet.

Bundesliga

2023

Serie A

2024

Swiss Super League

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Swiss Cup

2007, 2012

Italian Super Cup

2024

Liechtenstein Cup

2008

9 Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund and Switzerland

Transfermarkt has €40m Gregor Kobel as the joint-most valuable keeper in the world today, with the Swiss shot-stopper waiting patiently to take over from Sommer as his nation’s No.1.

The 27-year-old has been an ever-present figure for Borussia Dortmund since 2021, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl calling him ‘a goalkeeper of world-class calibre who has attracted the interest of many top clubs in Europe’.

Under contract until 2028, it’ll be interesting to see if Dortmund can keep Kobel at the club in the years to come.

Bundesliga Team of the Season

2023, 2024

Champions League Team of the Season

2024

8 Diogo Costa FC Porto and Portugal

Diogo Costa, a Portugal international, made a name for himself at Euro 2024, saving three penalties in a shootout over Slovenia and has continued to impress with FC Porto.

Mikel Arteta has also hailed Costa’s consistency in recent years, and right now, he is the joint-most valuable ‘keeper according to Transfermarkt.

7 Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa and Argentina

A champion with Argentina, Emiliano Martinez has continued to star years on after helping his country to World Cup glory in Qatar.

With Aston Villa, Martinez played a key role in helping them into the Champions League and has been called a “more mature” and “better goalkeeper” by Unai Emery. Named as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in 2024, Martinez has dipped slightly in 2025.

World Cup

2022

Copa America

2021, 2024

FA Cup

2015, 2017, 2020

Community Shield

2014, 2015, 2020

6 Unai Simon Athletic Club and Spain

Athletic Club had the best defence in La Liga for the 2024/25 season, with goalkeeper Unai Simon playing his part in a solid backing under Ernesto Valverde by recording the best save percentage in the league at more than 77%.

Despite missing the first half of the season through injury, Simon has been a regular in 2025 and has now made more than 200 appearances for his current employers.

European Championship

2024

Nations League

2023

Spanish Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2020

There have been some emotional farewells from Tottenham Hotspur over the last couple of years.

While Ange Postecoglou’s exit was not met with tears, the departures of Harry Kane back in 2023 and Son Heung-min in 2025 were sad indeed.

Kane left for Bayern Munich as the greatest goalscorer in Spurs history while Son will certainly go down as one of the most electrifying and most-liked players the supporters have ever seen.

While the South Korean saw his powers wane last season, he did still score 11 goals and register 12 assists in his 46 appearances.

Trying to replace that output has been a challenge. While Son reminds everyone of just how good he still is at LA FC, bagging ten goals in his first 12 outings in MLS, the likes of Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Brennan Johnson continue to divide opinion with their displays in the Spurs forward line.

Richarlison, in particular, is a polarising figure and despite his goal against Manchester United on Saturday, is not likely to last too much longer as a Lilywhite.

Why Richarlison's Spurs career is under threat

Has there been a more perplexing player in Tottenham’s recent history than Richarlison?

Signed for a mega £60m back in 2022 after an 11-goal and five-assist season for Everton, hopes were great for a player who had been a real nuisance in the Premier League.

That said, whatever possessed Daniel Levy and Co to pay such a massive sum was questionable even then. It’s a question we’re still trying to answer to this day.

It’s been a troubled few years for the Brazilian in north London. Back in 2022/23, he scored just one goal in 27 Premier League outings. He did net 11 in 2023/24 but followed that up with another terrible return last season, bagging five goals in 24 outings across all competitions.

On paper, the forward’s numbers from the ongoing campaign don’t look bad. The 28-year-old has scored four goals in 11 top-flight outings but his inconsistency is what frustrates supporters so much.

Having missed a big chance in the first half in classic Richarlison fashion, he flicked home a deft header on Saturday, a moment that looked as though it had won Thomas Frank’s side the game. We all know how that ended.

That rather summed up the attacker’s time at Spurs. A rash finish followed by a goal, but it simply hasn’t been acceptable for a number of years now.

BBC Sport’s Nat Haywood perhaps described Richarlison best this season, simply beginning an article by describing him as an “enigma.”

While he has found himself in decent form during 2025/26, the former Everton and Watford man has had his chance. He’s often found wanting in front of goal and his injury record is not the best either. As per Transfermarkt, he has missed 377 days of action since moving.

So, what’s the solution? Well, fortunately enough for Frank, Spurs have a number of top-drawer youngsters in their ranks.

How Spurs can solve their Richarlison problem

Truth be told, not many clubs in the country possess the calibre of young talent that Spurs currently have in their ranks.

From Lucas Bergvall, once wanted by Barcelona, to Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert, there are plenty of fresh faces in the first-team squad.

Beyond that, teenager Mikey Moore, who was previously compared to Neymar by James Maddison, has just scored his first goal on loan at Rangers while Spurs are also due to welcome the “Irish Alexander Isak” to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the form of young Mason Melia.

Lest we forget Luca Williams-Barnett too, a 17-year-old who made his senior debut just a matter of weeks ago.

For now, however, we’d like to focus on a young South Korean by the name of Yang Min-hyeok.

Spurs officially announced the signing of Yang back in the summer of 2024 and he joined the club once he had turned 18 in January of this year.

A winger by trade, before he’d even moved to Spurs, journalist and South Korean football expert, Jason Lee, suggested that the teenager “is expected to be Korea’s next superstar like Son Heung-min.”

While the forward is yet to hit those dizzy heights just yet, it’s been an impressive start in senior football.

Before he’d even become an adult, Yang was making a mighty fine impact for Gangwon FC in the K-League, playing 38 times for the South Korean side, scoring 12 times and supplying six assists. It’s easy to see why he’d captured the eye of Spurs scouts.

Gangwon FC

38

12

6

QPR

14

2

1

Portsmouth

10

2

1

Spurs

0

0

0

The young attacker is yet to play a senior competitive game for the Lilywhites but has enjoyed two separate loan spells in the EFL, firstly with QPR last season and secondly with Portsmouth in 2025/26.

Yang’s numbers don’t capture the imagination too much just yet but one can excuse a period of adaptation for someone who has only been in Europe for 11 months now.

It took him a few months to get up to speed at Portsmouth but he is now earning some impressive reviews. Scout Jacek Kulig wrote how he is “on fire” at Pompey, having scored against Watford and also fired in a winner against high-flying Middlesbrough in October.

Further described as the “Korean Marco Reus” by football writer Albert Kim, he wrote that “if you give him too much time and space, he’s going to hurt you.” That certainly sounds a lot like Son.

Yang has a long way to go before he can be considered a player ready to make an impact in the Spurs first team but capable of playing on either flank, as well as a striker, he has the positional versatility and attributes to take Richarlison’s place in the squad in the future.

Last weekend Jamie Carrgher went as far as to suggest that Arsenal defender Gabriel could win the PFA Player of the Year award.

Only three defenders have done that before; John Terry, Virgil van Dijk and Paul McGrath. It’s an illustrious list and one that the Brazilian could well join.

This season he has been one of the best players in the Premier League and perhaps the best defender in Europe’s top five leagues.

While he is a warrior of a defender, it’s his record in the final third that has stuck out the most. He’s a menace from set-plays and proved as much again on Saturday when the Gunners defeated Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor.

How Arsenal beat Burnley

Gabriel may not have scored in Lancashire this weekend but it was still a mighty performance from the Brazilian who played a vital role in Mikel Arteta’s side opening the scoring.

How did the goal come about? From a set-piece, of course. Declan Rice’s inswinging delivery found Gabriel at the back post who nudged the ball across the face of the goal.

Viktor Gyokeres was ready and waiting to head the ball home from close range. It was his first league strike since early September when he scored against Nottingham Forest and his first away goal in Arsenal colours.

While the Swede was forced to sit out the second half with an injury, he enjoyed a fabulous game with Gunners reporter Charles Watts noting that it was his “best 45 minutes in an Arsenal shirt by a distance.”

Gabriel and Gyokeres were not the only ones to put in a superb performance. The aforementioned Rice was also exceptional, playing a hand in the first goal and then scoring the second, ghosting into the area to power a header into the back of the net.

Rice was simply everywhere, amassing more touches (94) than any player on the field and registered the second-highest volume of passes behind William Saliba.

A £105m signing back in 2023, he has proven to be worth every penny, as has a certain Leandro Trossard.

Arsenal's bargain signing continues to fly under the radar

Back in 2020, Arsenal signed a certain Gabriel for just £27m. What a bargain that has turned out to be. The same can be said for another £27m acquisition in the form of Trossard.

The Belgian wasn’t at the top of the club’s shortlist but their hands were rather forced when they missed out on winger Mykhailo Mudryk. Arsenal were reportedly in the race to sign the Ukrainian but he eventually moved to Chelsea instead.

The result? The Gunners looked towards Trossard who had fallen out with the top brass at Brighton.

Since heading to the Emirates Stadium, he has become a scapegoat at times. When he starts, he struggles to have much of an impact but as a substitute, he is a true game-changer.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the forward netted six goals as a substitute in all competitions. No other player in Europe’s top five leagues scored more from the bench that term. That season he bagged 17 goals with only Bukayo Saka scoring more for the club.

2024/25 was a quieter one for the Belgium international, scoring only ten times, but this season he has looked somewhere near his best and his performance against Burnley proved exactly why he’s so underrated.

Heading into 2025/26, Trossard could quite easily have been moved aside. With Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze having signed, the former Brighton attacker looks expendable. Well, amid injuries to the likes of Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, the Belgian has become an important member of Arteta’s side once again.

He has found the net on three occasions and registered a further three assists, the latest of which came on Saturday.

Minutes played

89

Touches

56

Accurate passes

21/31 (68%)

Big chances created

1

Key passes

2

Accurate crosses

1/3

Shots (on target)

2 (2)

Duels won

3/9

Fouled

2x

Played in behind by Gyokeres, Trossard raced onto a ball on the left, bided his time and then played an inch-perfect cross into the path of Rice.

It was a typical Trossard assist, truth be told. Perfectly crafted and weighted, it oozed class. He certainly isn’t the flashiest of players but he is always available, he’s reliable and fits Arteta’s system like a glove.

For £27m, what more do you want? On his 100th appearance for the club, he gave us a reminder of what an amazing piece of business he has proven to be.