Premier League champions Liverpool are expected to spend big in the summer transfer window but Arne Slot’s side won’t be the only ones dipping into the kitty from June
The race for Champions League qualification is tighter than ever as we head towards the final round of fixtures. Defeat for Newcastle at Arsenal, coupled with wins for teams below them, means there’s just one point separating third from seventh – and that will remain the case if Manchester City fail to win their game in hand on Tuesday.
Three of those teams currently between third and seventh will join Liverpool and Arsenal in taking a seat at Europe’s top table next season. They will be joined by one of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who sit in the bottom half but will face off in the Europa League final.
For some of those clubs, this summer’s transfer business will hinge on which European competition they find themselves in next season. And that final isn’t the only potential winner-take-all tie, with the fixture computer throwing up a final-day league game between Nottingham Forest – currently seventh – and a Chelsea side just a point above them.
In contrast to the league uncertainty, Crystal Palace know they will play in the Europa League next season. The Eagles surprised Manchester City to reach the FA Cup final, though the fall-out from that game continues – especially concerning a particular red card decision.
Weekend reaction and transfer talk dominate the headlines as we enter the final week of the season. Here are Mirror Football‘s latest lines.
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Gyokeres responds to future questions
Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres wouldn’t be drawn on summer exit links after helping the his team retain their Portuguese title. Gyokeres scored his 39th league goal of the season in Saturday’s win against Victoria, while rivals Benfica could only draw with Braga.
“It’s football, I’m still here,” the Swedish striker told Sport TV via Record. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Nobody can predict the future.”
Mirror Football previously reported that Arsenal have been told the frontman is available for around £60million. The Red Devils, whose head coach Ruben Amorim managed Gyokeres at Sporting before moving to Old Trafford, could also throw a spanner in the works.
New verdict on FA Cup drama
Alan Shearer believes Palace were fortunate not to go down to 10 men in the FA Cup final. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson appeared to handle the ball outside his area, only to avoid punishment.
“To win the FA Cup you always need a bit of luck too, and perhaps they got that with the decision not to send off goalkeeper Dean Henderson for his handball outside his box when Erling Haaland ran through in the first half,” former England star Shearer said.
“They got away with one there, because if I am a City player then I want that to be a red card and it probably should have been, but there was no luck about the saves Henderson made, including Omar Marmoush’s penalty, and he was another of their heroes.”
Slot hints at Liverpool plans
Arne Slot has indicated Liverpool will be busier this summer than last, as far as the transfer window is concerned. Federico Chiesa was the only new signing to arrive last summer, though a deal to bring Giorgi Mamardashvili to Anfield in the upcoming window has already been announced.
“I think we can find one or two extra weapons that this team doesn’t have,” Slot said. “Maybe by using the transfer market. That is what we are trying to achieve. That will make us only stronger. That is what we need because we saw (Manchester) City spending £200m in the transfer window. All of them will.”
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