Gary Payton II (Golden State Warriors)
Injury sustained on 26 March vs. Miami Heat
Payton suffered a partial ligament tear in his left thumb and will be re-evaluated in a week, missing at least Friday’s game vs. the Pelicans.
The injury, deemed a pain tolerance issue post-rehab, sidelines one of the team’s top recent performers. Coach Kerr expects Jonathan Kuminga to fill the defensive void.
Ángel Correa (Atlético Madrid)
March 2025
Tigres and Rayados are battling to sign Correa, with interest growing from Turkey and Argentina. The 2022 World Cup winner could headline Liga MX’s summer window.
Tigres led initial talks, but Rayados’ late move reignited competition. Both clubs are known to spend big, and Correa’s $16m valuation means any suitor must submit a strong offer.
Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City)
March 2025
Manchester City will wait until the summer to decide the next step in Claudio Echeverri’s development, following his February arrival from River Plate.
Echeverri has been training with Pep Guardiola’s first team but hasn’t featured in a matchday squad. City are evaluating loan interest from Girona and Lazio, with a final decision expected post-season. Separately, James McAtee will meet with Guardiola to determine if he joins City’s Club World Cup squad or England’s Under-21 Euro team.
Joao Felix (Chelsea)
March 2025
Joao Felix is expected to leave Chelsea this summer, with his agent Jorge Mendes already in talks with Galatasaray.
The Portugal international, who signed a seven-year deal with Chelsea in August after a loan spell in 2022/23, has struggled to make an impact. He started just three Premier League matches before being loaned to AC Milan in February. While he is set to return to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, his future appears to lie elsewhere, with Turkish giants Galatasaray emerging as a strong contender for his next destination.
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
March 2025
Manchester United could face the surprise departure of rising star Kobbie Mainoo this summer if contract talks remain stalled.
According to the Manchester Evening News, negotiations that began in March 2024 are still ongoing, with both sides yet to find common ground. Mainoo is contracted until 2027, with an option for a further year, but a compromise is reportedly needed for him to commit long-term. The 18-year-old has been sidelined with a muscular injury since February 7 but is expected to return after the international break.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
March 2025
Gary Neville believes Liverpool could suffer a “huge” £250 million setback if Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Salah all leave on free transfers this summer as their contracts run down.
Speaking about the potential departures, Neville emphasized the financial and tactical burden it would place on new boss Arne Slot. He highlighted the trio’s world-class quality and warned that even Liverpool’s renowned recruitment team would struggle to replace them simultaneously. Alexander-Arnold is linked with Real Madrid, while uncertainty surrounds Salah and Van Dijk’s futures.
André Onana (Manchester United)
March 2025
Despite recent transfer rumors linking him with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League, André Onana has made it clear he intends to stay at Manchester United.
28-year-old goalkeeper will only consider leaving if told he’s no longer in the club’s plans. This comes after Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently referenced Onana in a media round as one of several underperforming or overpaid players. Head coach Ruben Amorim is expected to lead a summer overhaul but must offload players before buying.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Manchester United)
March 2025
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has revealed explosive details about Manchester United’s wage structure and player availability, highlighting that half of the club’s top earners have been unavailable under manager Ruben Amorim. He named Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount as players earning Premier League top-club wages but not contributing consistently. Ratcliffe warned this would not be tolerated under his ownership.
Ratcliffe said that the salaries of unavailable players amount to nearly half of United’s top payroll, likening it to the wage scale of a mid-table side like Nottingham Forest. With Rashford on £325k/week while on loan, Sancho costing the club half his wages at Chelsea, and Shaw sidelined for extended periods despite a lucrative renewal, Ratcliffe made it clear that future signings will follow stricter financial scrutiny. He also criticized Casemiro’s expensive deal and contrasted it with more sensible structures like Bruno Fernandes’. The club plans to reassess medical practices, reward performance-based contracts (e.g., Mainoo and Garnacho), and avoid bloated wage commitments going forward.
Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Summer 2025
Arsenal are targeting Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike as a backup option to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. The 22-year-old has bounced back from a tough spell at PSG with 19 goals and 8 assists this season.
With Newcastle demanding £150m for Isak, Arsenal are considering Ekitike’s more affordable £60m valuation. The Gunners view him as a strong fit and a realistic option if Isak proves too expensive.
