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Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to build on their derby day triumph in midweek as they welcome Burnley to north London for today’s lunchtime kickoff in the Premier League.

After thrashing arch-rivals Arsenal 3-0 on Thursday night, Antonio Conte’s side moved to within one point of a place in the top four but the Clarets, who also need a win to bolster their survival chances in what is surely a huge game at either end of the table.

The Italian head coach is left with plenty to ponder in terms of team selection and he could well be tempted to remain unchanged – some of his in-game decisions against the Gunners certainly suggested that as both Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski were withdrawn prematurely.

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And the latter is an interesting dilemma, having already been dropped from the starting XI once in recent weeks, despite a red-hot start to life in the English captial.

Since his move from Juventus in January, the Sweden international has delivered three goals and eight assists across 18 appearances, including two assists from the bench against Leicester City, where he was initially amongst the substitutes for nearly an hour.

Conte may have felt he was in need of a rest but it does show that he’s not completely undroppable, with both Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn as alternative options.

Tired or not, Kulusevski must start against the Lancashire outfit today.

The £31.5m-rated winger, described as “explosive” by former Aston Villa man Marcus Allback, has all the attributes to destroy a struggling team like Burnley.

As per FBRef, Kulusevski ranks amongst the top 2% of all his positional peers across Europe’s ‘big five’ divisions for assists per 90 (0.46), amongst the top 4% for pressures (23.96 per 90) and amongst the top 6% for interceptions (1.69 per 90).

It’s no wonder he has quickly cemented himself as first-choice under Conte as he clearly defends from the front, often forcing the opposition into a mistake or handing the possession back to Spurs.

Elsewhere, the Juve loanee is third to only Son and Harry Kane for shots (1.4 per game) and second to the South Korean for key chances created (1.4 per game), via WhoScored.

The Clarets are expected to be without their first-choice central defensive pairing of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, so Kulusevski could quite easily wreak havoc at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon.

Said to be in “ridiculous” form by football.london reporter Alasdair Gold, the persistence with the Swedish machine out wide could seriously bolster the Whites’ top-four chances.

He must be unleashed once more today.

AND in other news, Conte demands Spurs to sign £25m-rated “revelation”, he’s miles better than Emerson…

Harry Kane was left a mere passenger as Tottenham Hotspur held out for a draw against title-chasing Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Perhaps it was a by-product of the way Antonio Conte set up his side but the England skipper struggled to have any sort of influence on the game as a late, deflected Luiz Diaz strike salvaged a point for the home side.

Heung-min Son had opened the scoring in typical fashion, slotting home from six yards out after Ryan Sessegnon squared the ball across the box for his 20th Premier League goal of the season.

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But in lasting the whole 90 minutes, Kane was pretty anonymous barring one or two flashes at goal. He registered the fewest touches of any Spurs starter (35), three less than goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (38), who was also much better in possession.

Indeed, the £90m-rated talisman made only 50% of his passes, attempting just 18 all match. By comparison, Lloris made 20 successful passes, which includes goal kicks and was more than Kane’s overall attempts, via SofaScore.

Kane also struggled to make much of an impact inside the box, failing to register a single shot on or off target, with his only effort being blocked.

Meanwhile, from his 35 touches, he lost possession 16 times, meaning he gifted the ball back to Jurgen Klopp’s Reds once every two times he had the ball, which was also once every 5.6 minutes.

The 28-year-old striker is in a rough patch right now, scoring just once in his last seven league outings but he’s always going to struggle to find the net if he’s only seeing the ball every five or six minutes – he certainly won’t get on the scoresheet without a shot on target either.

As The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick wrote in his post-match ratings column, the Lilywhites forward was ‘a yard off the pace, which hampered Spurs’ ability to play on the counter,’ whilst he was among Alasdair Gold’s worst-rated starters, too.

Kane may have had a big part to play in Son’s opener, providing a sublime pass to Sessegnon out wide but aside from that, he was left a shadow of his goalscoring best.

The Englishman was once dubbed a “monster” by his South Korean teammate for his efforts in a 4-1 win over this very team back in 2017, so to deliver this sort of performance is a big contrast.

Fewer touches than the goalkeeper, no shots on target – Kane certainly suffered as a striker at Anfield but that’s not his fault, given the way Conte set up his side this weekend.

AND in other news, Forget Son: “Sensational” Spurs titan who had 11 clearances stole the show at Anfield…

FSG are plotting a Liverpool swoop for German defender David Raum in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to SportBILD, via Sport Witness  the Premier League side are reportedly interested in making a move for the 24-year-old during the summer.

Liverpool could secure his services for €30m (£25m) due to his release clause, and with the sizeable transfer fees being thrown around at the minute, it could well be a bargain.

There are five English clubs interested, though, so Jurgen Klopp will need to act quickly.

Klopp would love Raum at Liverpool

Liverpool are having a scintillating season so far, winning the Carabao Cup, reaching both the FA Cup and Champions League finals, and still in the hunt for a Premier League title, so they could land an unprecedented quadruple.

Klopp isn’t stopping there, though, with his desire for constant improvement one of the determining factors behind the Anfield juggernaut, so it’s no surprise to see him linked with talented players.

Raum could be a solid signing, although he is unlikely to usurp Andy Robertson at left-back any time soon. The German has made 30 appearances in the Bundesliga this season and scored three goals and notched 13 assists, an excellent return for a full-back.

His performances have led many to lavish praise on the player, with Adam Khan of Breaking the Lines describing him as an “exceptional threat” and Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen hailing him as “a highly talented and extremely fast player”.

The 24-year-old could well be in the running for a spot in Germany’s World Cup squad if these stats and performances remain at a high level.

Klopp could surely love to take the defender’s game to another level given his vast creative potential, and the Premier League might be the best place for Raum to continue his development.

Liverpool fans, watch this space.

AND in other news, Liverpool plotting bid to sign “dangerous” £19.8m-rated weapon, he’s Klopp’s new Firmino

Aston Villa are back in action this afternoon with a home clash against Norwich City in the Premier League.

The Villans’ previous outing saw them pick up a point at Leicester thanks to a rather uninspiring 0-0 draw which saw just five shots on target between both teams throughout the 90 minutes. That result means that Steven Gerrard’s side have now failed to win any of their last five league games.

Now that the Midlands club are back on home turf and set to take on Dean Smith’s Norwich, who look destined for relegation, this could be a great opportunity for Villa to pick up a win against the manager under whom they began the current campaign.

On the chalkboard

One man who didn’t start against the Foxes but we feel should be in the Villa starting XI this time around is Emiliano Buendia.

Villa signed the Argentine from today’s opponents in last summer’s transfer window for a club-record fee of £33m. Since then, the 25-year-old has appeared in 29 league games, scoring two goals and providing four assists along the way.

To further highlight how useful an attacking player he has been for the club, only John McGinn (80) and Douglas Luiz (60) have racked up more shot-creating actions than the former Norwich star (59) in the current campaign. Furthermore, Buendia has a higher number of goal-creating actions (nine) than any of his team-mates.

Even from a defensive point of view, the £82k-per-week attacker has been particularly prominent for Villa this season, as only four team-mates have made more tackles than him.

This explains why Gerrard labelled the Argentina international a “warrior” and a player who “puts his body on the line” for his team.

With the summer recruit not starting a game for Villa since their 1-0 defeat against Arsenal over a month ago and not delivering a goal contribution since their 2-1 defeat to West Ham United just before that, Buendia will be desperate to get back on the pitch today and make an impact.

If Gerrard does give the attacker the chance to shine from the beginning against Norwich, he certainly has what it takes to give his old club and former manager Smith some real nightmares with his ability throughout the pitch.

In other news: Gerrard can land his own Pogba as Villa plot bid for “impressive” £107k-p/w machine

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will be relishing his first opportunity to bring in his own players when the January transfer window opens for business next month.

The German manager joined after the summer window closed and has only been able to work with the squad that was put together by previous managers and sporting directors.

With five wins and two draws in seven matches in the Scottish Premiership so far, it is exciting to think about what Rohl could achieve with signings that he has a chance to have a say in.

Rangers pushing to sign Premiership star

After a host of signings from England in the summer, the Light Blues are reportedly looking closer to home to bolster the manager’s options in midfield.

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 FootballTransfers, Glasgow Rangers are ‘pushing’ to reach an agreement to sign Kilmarnock central midfielder David Watson in the January transfer window.

The Scotland U21 international’s contract with Killie is due to expire at the end of the season, and the Gers are looking to take advantage of that situation to make him the first signing of the Rohl era.

It adds that Kilmarnock are open to a sale in January, to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer, but it remains to be seen how much they will demand for his services.

FootballTransfers reveals that the 20-year-old starlet has been identified as the club’s top target for the January window, but they will face competition from Lazio and Celtic, which means that this will not be an easy deal for Rangers to get over the line in the coming weeks.

Why Rangers should sign David Watson

With Mohamed Diomande heading off to the African Cup of Nations later this month, Watson could arrive at Ibrox at the start of January as an upgrade on the Ivorian talent.

Rangers will, of course, be without Diomande until the end of his country’s run in the tournament, which could provide a new signing like the Kilmarnock star to come in and take his place in the team before he returns.

Based on their respective performances in the Scottish Premiership this season, Watson would be likely to step into the side and offer more than the left-footed star has for Rangers so far.

Described by Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson as a “box-crashing, goalscoring midfielder that works hard on both ends”, the Kilmarnock star has scored three goals and created two ‘big chances’ for Kilmarnock in the Premiership, per Sofascore, whilst Diomande has only scored one goal and created one ‘big chance’ for his team in that time.

This suggests that Watson, on current form, could offer more of a threat at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues if he arrives in January to take a place in Rohl’s midfield, as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the middle of the park.

Appearances

12

16

Goals

1

3

Big chances created

1

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

3.1

Duels won per game

2.9

5.7

Ground duel success rate

45%

50%

Aerial duel success rate

31%

41%

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish talent has also provided more quality than Diomande out of possession in the league this season, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the ground and in the air, whilst making more defensive interceptions per game.

Analyst John Walker claimed that Watson had “blown up the league” last year, and the same is true this season with his impressive performances in the middle of the park as a 20-year-old star.

The Killie central midfielder has significantly outperformed Diomande, who was the subject of a £6.5m bid from Besiktas in the summer, and has shown that he can deliver consistent displays in the division.

Watson, who scored four goals in 23 league starts in the 2024/25 campaign, is a proven Premiership performer who could arrive at Ibrox to hit the ground running in January, which is exactly what they need when signing a player midway through the season.

Rangers dud was as "rotten" as Miovski, now he's Rohl's most improved player

This Glasgow Rangers flop who looked as bad as Bojan Miovski is now Danny Rohl’s most improved performer.

ByDan Emery Dec 8, 2025

With Diomande set to jet away to the African Cup of Nations, signing the Scottish star to come in as an upgrade on him at the start of the January transfer window could be a shrewd move by the club and a dream first signing for Rohl.

The glory hasn’t always followed, but Tottenham Hotspur have had some truly world-class stars play for them over the last ten to 15 years.

The one who was able to cement his legacy with a trophy was Son Heung-min, but the likes of Harry Kane, Mousa Dembélé and Luka Modrić were just as brilliant for the North Londoners.

However, when it comes to a combination of otherworldly talent and entertainment value, it’s hard to look past Gareth Bale.

The Welshman transformed into one of the best players in the world at Spurs, and it now looks like the club might have a new version of him.

Bale's rise at Spurs

Ask any Spurs fan what season Bale hit his peak at the club, and the vast majority will say his final season, 12/13.

That campaign saw the Welshman reach levels nobody really knew he could, as he scored 26 goals and provided ten assists in just 44 appearances, totalling 3,891 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal or assist every 1.22 games, or every 108.08 minutes.

Such a ludicrous rate of return for a team that only finished fifth was enough for Real Madrid to come sniffing, and one world record bid of £85m later, the Spanish giants got exactly what they wanted.

However, while the memory of the international legend at Spurs is a great one, things were not always so straightforward for him, nor was he always such a goal machine.

In fact, when the club signed him from Southampton in May 2007, he wasn’t even an attacker; he was a highly rated full-back.

That’s the position he continued to play, through injuries and poor form, for a couple of years in North London, until, partway through the 09/10 season, Harry Redknapp decided to move him up the pitch and play him on the wing.

The rest, as they say, is history, and while Spurs might not have another winger as devastatingly effective as Bale, they might have another international in the making who could be as good in their own position.

Spurs' new Bale

Spurs have several exciting young talents com

Chalkboard

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

ing through the academy at the moment, from Luca Williams-Barnett to Oliver Irow, but there is one out on loan who could just be the best of the lot.

That youngster is, of course, Luka Vušković, who is currently on a season-long loan with Bundesliga side Hamburg, and by all accounts, is having an exceptional season so far.

In fact, the Croatian wonderkid has just been named the league’s rookie of the month, and has clearly won over the fans, with content creator Fiago claiming that he’s “the best 18-year-old center back I’ve ever seen in my life.”

That’s not all, though, as not long after the Lilywhites originally signed the youngster, respected analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a “freak athlete” and a “freak talent” with a “scary ceiling,” which sounds quite Bale-esque.

Combine these raving reviews with the fact that he’s currently playing in defence, still incredibly young, and has proven himself to be something of an attacking force over the last year or so, and the comparison is easy to make.

For example, in 36 appearances for KVC Westerloo last season, the Split-born titan scored seven goals and provided three assists, and in just four appearances this year, he has already opened his account.

Appearances

36

4

Minutes

2965′

360′

Goals

7

1

Assists

3

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.27

0.25

Minutes per Goal Involvements

296.5′

360′

Finally, he has already won a senior cap for Croatia, so it looks like he’s set to dominate on the domestic and international scene for a long time to come.

Ultimately, Vušković is unlikely to become a winger like Bale, but there is arguably even more hype around him today than around the Welshman when he joined Spurs, and he looks set for superstardom.

Spurs sold "phenomenal" striker for just £7m, now he's as prolific as Kane

The incredible striker Spurs sold is starting to play like Harry Kane.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 7, 2025

The sky is blue, the grass is green, and Chelsea endeavour to get themselves another red card.

It was Joao Pedro’s turn to get himself sent off against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but fortunately, it was late enough in the game to have no real impact.

Before the Brazilian was given his marching orders, the Conference League champions were fighting to hold onto their 1-0 lead, and while it wasn’t a vintage performance, that is just what they did.

With that said, there were a few players who struggled to make an impact, including one who was massively outshone by Pedro Neto and should be dropped for the weekend.

Neto's impressive game vs Benfica

In the build-up to the game, former Chelsea manager, and arguably the greatest in the club’s history, José Mourinho, described Neto as “one of the best wingers in the world.”

While such praise is probably a little over the top, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star made sure not to disappoint his fellow countryman with his performance.

The rapid winger didn’t score a goal or produce an assist in the match, but it was his cross to Alejandro Garnacho that preceded the Argentine’s cross, which ended in an own goal for the visitors.

However, it wasn’t just that one ball, as the dynamic 25-year-old was a constant threat down the wing and most certainly had the beating of his opposite man.

Unsurprisingly, the Blues’ “unsung hero,” as Joe Cole dubbed him during TNT’s coverage, also left an impression on the watching press, as football.london’s Bobby Vincent awarded him an 8/10 match rating at full-time.

In all, while it wasn’t necessarily the toughest of opponents or the most perfect of displays, Neto more than did his part in Chelsea’s win and simply has to start the next game, unlike another attacker he totally outshone.

The Chelsea star outshone by Neto

While much of the Chelsea team put in middling to good performances against Benfica, some struggled to make a positive impact, like Pedro and Jamie Gittens.

Chalkboard

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

However, those two were only given 30 minutes to try to influence the game, so you can forgive them for underwhelming on the night, which is an excuse that cannot be extended to Tyrique George.

Maresca handed the Cobham graduate his second start of the campaign, but instead of scoring a goal and providing an assist like he did against Lincoln City, he was practically anonymous.

It might sound somewhat harsh, but it was easy to forget that the Pensioners were even playing someone up top, as, unlike Neto on the right and Garnacho on the left, the Englishman never seemed to be involved at all.

This is an opinion shared by Vincent, who gave the youngster a 4/10 match rating on the night, writing that he ‘didn’t get involved too much’ and that ‘it feels too often as if games pass him by.’

Minutes

61′

Expected Goals

0.12

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.1

Assists

0

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles

0

Touches

15

Passes

8/9 (89%)

Key Passes

0

Lost Possession

2

Unsurprisingly, his statistics more than justify such an appraisal, as in 61 minutes of action, the youngster amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.13, took one shot on target, completed eight passes, took just 15 touches, didn’t complete a pass and didn’t play a single key pass.

The London-born gem is clearly a talented player; his youth numbers, cameos last season, and performance last week suggest as much, but it’s crystal clear that he’s not someone who can lead the line for Chelsea.

Therefore, to improve the team and for George’s own sake, Maresca should take him out of the starting lineup for the game against Liverpool this weekend.

The two Chelsea first-team stars not behind Enzo Maresca amid "definite" board tension

The Italian is under some pressure.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 30, 2025

Already closing in on Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United are now reportedly very keen to sign an upgrade on Casemiro in the form of a £35m midfield star this summer.

Man Utd submit fresh Mbeumo bid

It hasn’t been the easiest deal to negotiate and the winger is yet to sign on the dotted line, but Manchester United’s latest bid to sign Mbeumo could yet prove to be successful at long last. The Red Devils have reportedly offered Brentford over £60m to sign their talented star who looks destined to become the second summer arrival at Old Trafford sooner rather than later.

Mbeumo’s arrival would take United’s spending to over £160m for the summer despite missing out on European football and often watching on as INEOS implemented several money-saving plans.

Success on the pitch has been given the priority no matter what, however, and the pressure will now be on Ruben Amorim to get the best out of his side next season.

What’s more, it seems unlikely at this stage that it will just be Cunha and Mbeumo who arrive. The likes of Emiliano Martinez have threatened to steal the headlines in recent weeks as Aston Villa attempt to comply with PSR rules, as has Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

Their own Osimhen: Man Utd start talks to sign one of Europe's "best STs"

Manchester United appear to be making strides in a deal to land a new striker for Ruben Amorim.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 25, 2025

Both arrivals would again offer Amorim much-needed upgrades on Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund, who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan in recent weeks.

Before Martinez and Ekitike enter Old Trafford, though, United may turn their focus towards a talented defensive midfielder worth just £34m this summer.

Man Utd very keen to sign Jashari

According to HLN, as relayed by Get Belgian & Dutch Football News, Manchester United are now very keen to sign Ardon Jashari from Club Brugge and, unlike others, are not put off by his €40m (£34m) price tag.

The Red Devils would be signing a player who was just voted the best player in Belgium – winning the Player of the Season award in the Belgium Pro League – and one who would be an instant upgrade on the ageing Casemiro.

Dubbed “impressive” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Jashari certainly isn’t short on suitors this summer but it’s a race that Manchester United could have the financial power to win once again.

If the 22-year-old was the follow Cunha and Mbeumo through the Old Trafford doors then Amorim would instantly have three very impressive signings to work with this summer.

Manchester United have now made an enquiry over signing a £34 million defender who is also wanted by Tottenham Hotspur and once rejected a move to Arsenal.

Man Utd eyeing defensive reinforcements this summer

It could be said that there are multiple positions United need to address this summer, with strengthening their forward line clearly a key agenda, given the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the expected arrival of Bryan Mbeumo. But as well as looking at the front of the team, Ruben Amorim is also mindful about his defence, and they are now looking at potential arrivals there.

Man Utd considering move to sign "incredible" Bayern Munich star for £25m

Amorim has identified a player he believes will transform his midfield and knows the Premier League well.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jun 9, 2025

At the end of last week, it was reported in Spain that INEOS were readying a £25 million bid to sign Vanderson from AS Monaco. The Brazilian is a right-back by trade, so he would likely be a player to compete for a starting spot in Amorim’s wing-back role. The 23-year-old finished last season with one goal and three assists in 29 Ligue 1 games, and that earned him a call-up to the Brazil squad in Carlo Ancelotti’s first games in charge.

As well as preparing a bid to sign Vanderson, reports have emerged that United have opened talks to sign Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr. The Frenchman is expected to leave Saudi Arabia this summer, and that has alerted United, who would be making a bold move given his time at Manchester City. Al-Nassr are looking to get around £23 million for Laporte.

Man Utd make enquiry to sign Evan Ndicka from Roma

Laporte is not the only centre-back on the radar of the Red Devils, as according to RMC Sport, Man United have now made an approach to sign Evan Ndicka from AS Roma, who once rejected a move to Arsenal, saying: “I’m not pretending that I don’t see the rumours. But I have respect in Rome and I respect them. I have three years remaining on my contract, we will see what happens later.”

Amorim is looking to strengthen his options in defence, and Ndicka is now a name that is under consideration by the Red Devils. However, they are not alone, as Tottenham have also made an approach to Roma over a possible deal, and they could hold an advantage over United, as they can offer the defender Champions League football.

Despite being under contract until 2028, Ndicka, who has been dubbed “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig, is allowed to leave Roma this summer, with them reportedly looking to get €40 million, which is roughly £34 million, for his services.

Apps

38

Starts

38

Assists

1

Touches per game

75.3

Balls recovered per game

3.5

Dribbled past per game

0.2

Clearances per game

3.8

Errors leading to goal

0

The 25-year-old, who has been capped six times for the Ivory Coast, joined the Italian team in July 2023 on a free transfer. During his time in Italy, Ndicka has been a consistent performer for Roma, playing in every league game during the 2024/25 campaign.

He started all 38 matches and helped Roma keep 16 clean sheets. United have seen Victor Lindelof depart Old Trafford, and with Lisandro Martínez still recovering from his long-term injury, Amorim may see Ndicka as a player who can provide not only competition but also improve their defensive organisation.

A “sensational” goalkeeper has now been identified as Aston Villa’s top target to replace Emiliano Martinez this summer, according to a report.

Martinez's time at Villa could be coming to an end

After being a peripheral figure during his time with Arsenal, Martinez’s career has gone from strength to strength since making the move to Villa Park, most notably playing a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, scooping up the Golden Glove award.

The goalkeeper’s impressive performances for his country go hand in hand with some top displays at club level, recently winning the Premier League Save of the Season award for a remarkable stop against Nottingham Forest.

However, the 32-year-old’s time with the Villans could now be coming to an end, amid growing interest in his signature, with Manchester United currently showing the strongest interest, while Atletico Madrid have also been named as potential suitors.

As such, Unai Emery may be tasked with bringing in a replacement between the sticks this summer, and a new top target has now been identified by recruitment chiefs, namely OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.

Indeed, according to a report from The Boot Room, Bulka is now emerging as Aston Villa’s first-choice option to replace Martinez, should the goalkeeper move on this summer, although Marseille and some other unnamed clubs could provide competition for his signature.

Nice had been hoping the shot-stopper would be willing to commit to a new contract, but discussions have not progressed, and if he doesn’t sign a new deal, the French side will look to cash in this summer, potentially opening the door for a move to Villa Park.

"Sensational" Bulka impressing in Ligue 1

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has singled the Pole out for praise in the past, describing him as “sensational” for his performances at club level, most notably putting in a remarkable performance against Paris Saint-Germain back in April.

Aston Villa join battle for "fantastic" midfielder in cut-price £8m deal

He’s a wanted man.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 8, 2025

The 25-year-old achieved a Sofascore match rating of 10, courtesy of a fantastic display against the Champions League winners, making a number of important contributions as his side ran out surprise 3-1 winners at the Parc des Princes.

Statistic

Number completed

Clearances

2

Saves

12

Saves from inside the box

9

Goals prevented

2.53

French journalist Julien Froment was also left impressed by the Poland international’s performance, hailing the £6k-a-week goalkeeper for his “colossal” contribution to his side’s shock victory, which suggests he could now be ready for a big move this summer.

That said, while Bulka could be a fantastic signing for Aston Villa, they will still be hoping that Martinez is willing to remain at the club, having won two Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper awards during his time at Villa Park, most recently scooping up the 2024 award.