Both Manchester United and Aston Villa enjoyed successful seasons last term, which ultimately saw both qualify for the Champions League.

United, under the interim management of Michael Carrick, secured a third-place finish in the Premier League, which saw the former Red Devils midfielder earn a permanent deal. Meanwhile, Villa lifted the Europa League while also sealing fourth place in the top-flight.

Both clubs are expected to be active in the transfer market this summer, but they may have already been forced to seek alternative targets after fresh revelations involving Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.

Gibbs-White expected to stay at Forest

According to the Daily Mail, Forest are expected to keep hold of Gibbs-White this summer despite interest from the likes of United and Villa, amongst others.

The report adds that the Reds are also likely to demand over £100million for midfielder Elliot Anderson, who has been subject to a bid from Manchester City, while United have been strongly linked with the Englishman in recent months.

Labelled as a “special player” by Forest manager Vitor Pereira, Gibbs-White scored 15 goals in the Premier League last season, while also netting on three occasions in the Europa League and registering a total of seven assists.

United and Villa don’t need Gibbs-White

Although both clubs would love to recruit a player of Gibbs-White’s quality this summer, United and Villa are already blessed in the attacking midfield department.

The Red Devils’ Bruno Fernandes was named Premier League Player of the Season after breaking the record for the most assists in a single 38-game campaign with 21. The Portuguese also scored nine league goals.

Meanwhile, Villa star Morgan Rogers also had a prolific campaign with 26 goal contributions across all competitions, including a goal in the Villans’ 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final.

Gibbs-White would prove to be a luxury, not a necessity for both teams, and an expensive one at that, with the Englishman’s contract at the City Ground valid for another four years.

Despite being crowned Premier League champions for the previous campaign, there is work for Arsenal to do in the market to take the team to the next level.

There have been concerns over the attacking quality available to Mikel Arteta, despite the additions of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke last summer.

A left-winger appears to be on Andrea Berta’s radar to help improve Arsenal on that flank, while there could be an incoming striker to help bring even more threat to the frontline.

Of all the options available, there is one potential standout, which could end up being expensive for the Gunners.

Eli Junior Kroupi Transfer Price

One year ago, Arsenal entered the striker market to land a centre-forward who could add a clinical edge that had been missing from the side.

They eventually landed on Gyokeres, who has popped up with a fair few goals, but with an all-round game that has left a little bit to be desired at times.

That could mean Arsenal go back into the transfer window in search of another forward, with Eli Junior Kroupi among those linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

While a deal could be tough to do, the ipaper reports that an offer “in excess of £100 million” would be enough to strike an agreement with Bournemouth.

The 19-year-old has been described as a “perfect fit” for the Gunners, having shown plenty of quality in his debut Premier League campaign with the Cherries.

The French forward has been outlined as a potential target for both Manchester City and Liverpool too, which could open up a possible bidding war for the striker.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal are willing to fund such a move, with some interest in a left-winger as well as a number ten, a midfielder, and a left-back.

However, a transfer would certainly be an upgrade for the Gunners in the long-term.

Kroupi Is A Gyokeres Upgrade

Gyokeres had a difficult initial transition into the Premier League, which left many wondering whether he truly is the best fit for Arsenal in the long-term.

The 28-year-old is in the peak years of his career, and while he could still adjust and improve again in the coming seasons, there are question marks over how much better he can really get.

That’s why a move for Kroupi makes sense, as the 19-year-old has shown he is more than capable of offering quality in the here and now, while also progressing further for the future.

The forward scored 13 goals in the Premier League, and offers the ability to play on the left wing, as well as a striker, some versatility that Arteta would surely love.

Kroupi brings energy, versatility, a clinical edge in the box and a strike from range, all bundled into a player that can still become so much more with experience.

It’s why a move makes sense, as the long-term upgrade on Gyokeres, even with such a huge price tag.

Liverpool’s summer transfer business may well have taken a slight twist, as Mundo Deportivo reports that a former star is open to a potential return to Anfield in the coming weeks.

It comes as the Reds are looking to rebuild under new boss Andoni Iraola, with a much larger emphasis on the side returning to the pressing style of play that brought so much success under Jurgen Klopp.

That means some potential changes to the squad are on the way, as Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate have already departed.

While links persist over other possible exits, there could be a surprise return on the cards at Liverpool, as one ex-star has made himself available to the Reds again.

Darwin Nunez Wants Liverpool Return

Just one year on from leaving Liverpool, a report from Mundo Deportivo claims that versatile forward Darwin Nunez “would like to return to Liverpool” in the summer transfer window.

The Reds are outlined as one of several potential landing spots for the star, just one year on from leaving Anfield to join Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

It would be quite a dramatic turnaround in the space of a year, considering that the club had seemingly upgraded their forward ranks with the arrival of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

Both players have suffered injury issues over that time, however, meaning a return for Nunez may not be out of the picture. Even more so because an exit from Al-Hilal appears inevitable, as the club removed his registration from league games in favour of Karim Benzema in the second half of the season.

That has led to claims that a contract termination could be on the way, which would allow the 26-year-old to move on a free transfer.

There is interest from Atletico Madrid, as well as Newcastle and Chelsea, according to the report, while it remains unclear whether Liverpool would be interested in taking up the option of a return.

Nunez’s Liverpool Record

After making such a high-profile move to Liverpool in 2022 from Benfica, there were hopes that Nunez could be the next big thing for the club.

There were certainly signs of quality when it came to the forward’s play, as he was capable of causing chaos with his relentless running and clear determination to make an impression on a game.

Unfortunately, that didn’t always translate into goals, as the Uruguayan international clearly lacked the killer instinct in the final third that would make him unstoppable.

At times, the chaos he would cause would hurt his team, just as much as it would help them, leading to his eventual exit to Al-Hilal last summer, in favour of other options.

With 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 appearances, Nunez clearly didn’t have the impact he was hoping for, but it was an impact nonetheless.

Whether a return to the club could spark something again remains to be seen, but there is a player who would certainly fit the pressing style of Iraola.