Category Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur’s success in the Europa League last season is evidence that their recruitment strategy over recent years has been a success on the pitch.

The Lilywhites have split their hunt in the transfer market, allowing for an excellent mix of youth talents with huge ceilings and big-money stars who can make an immediate impact.

Thomas Frank has continued that trend over his first summer transfer window at the helm, spending over £100m on a mixture of stars who can contribute to the club in the immediate and long term.

Joao Palhinha joined the side on a season-long loan from German giants Bayern Munich, hopefully making an immediate impact in North London given his experience at the top level.

Xavi Simons is arguably one of the most high-profile additions, costing a whopping £52m from RB Leipzig – but has plenty of time to thrive under Frank, given his tender age of just 22 years.

However, it remains unclear how much of a role one player will have to play under the manager’s guidance, given his constant setbacks over the last couple of months.

James Maddison’s horrid injury luck at Spurs

James Maddison was seen as a superb addition back in the summer of 2023, costing a fee in the region of £40m from Leicester City after their relegation from the Premier League.

The Englishman made an immediate impact in North London, becoming the first player in the club’s history to register two assists on his debut for the Lilywhites.

However, whilst he’s registered 16 goals and 19 assists for the club, injuries have massively halted his progress at the club – subsequently casting doubt over his long-term future under Frank.

He had already missed 24 games and 146 days’ worth of action before Frank’s appointment, but he is once again set for a prolonged period on the sideline with his latest setback.

The 28-year-old suffered an ACL tear in the pre-season clash with Newcastle United, with such an injury set to rule the midfielder out for the majority of Frank’s maiden campaign at the helm.

He currently has two years left on contract after the 2025/26 campaign, but given his constant setbacks, the club may look to offload the Englishman to prevent losing him for nothing.

Such a decision could free up the number ten shirt in North London, with one player already on the books more than deserving of the chance to wear the iconic shirt.

The Spurs player who could steal the #10 from Maddison

Despite losing the likes of Heung-min Son and Harry Kane over recent years, Spurs still have a huge array of attacking talent on the books under Frank’s guidance.

His side have already scored 11 times in the Premier League during their first six outings, averaging just shy of two goals per game – with Richarlison their top scorer on three.

There’s no denying that the side are a force to be reckoned with in attacking areas, with not many sides able to possess the quality Frank’s men do in the final third.

The midfield department is also stacked in the manager’s favour, with Lucas Bergvall just one of the players who’s made the position his own within the 4-3-3 system.

Not many fans would’ve predicted how quickly he’s made himself a first-team regular in the side, especially after joining for just £8.5m from Swedish side Djurgarden just last summer.

He was just 18 upon his transfer, but it has not stopped him from thriving in North London, racking up 54 appearances across all competitions since his transfer.

Bergvall, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has arguably been one of the Lilywhites’ star performers in the early days of the 2025/26 campaign – starting four of the six league outings under the Dane.

Games played

6

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.2

Duels won

5.2

Recoveries made

3.9

Shots taken

1.5

Despite his midfield role, he’s also managed to notch a goal and assist in England’s top-flight, leading by example in North London despite his tender age.

At just 19 years of age, he has bags of time to develop further and transition into an elite-level talent and lead the club to added European and domestic success.

He has all the tools to thrive in England for many years, subsequently deserving of the number ten shirt in the near future to help reflect his importance to the football club.

It may be a harsh decision to cut ties with Maddison, given his success on the field, but ultimately, his injuries are far too frequent – subsequently making him an unreliable figure.

Bergvall has demonstrated he’s capable of starring ahead of the Englishman in recent months, with the Swede deserving of the opportunity to wear the prestigious number ten shirt.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Frank must drop 4/10 Spurs dud after Wolves

Tottenham Hotspur failed to claim all three points against Wolves, with one player disappointing throughout.

2 ByEthan Lamb Sep 28, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras deixou dois pontos escaparem em casa após sofrer o empate do Flamengo com gol de Arrascaeta, marcado aos 34 minutos do segundo tempo, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, neste sábado (8). De acordo com dados levantados pelo Análise Verdão, um terço dos gols sofridos pelo Alviverde no ano aconteceram nos quinze minutos finais.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasSaiba se Palmeiras e Flamengo podem ser punidos pelo STJD por morte de torcedora no Allianz ParquePalmeiras10/07/2023Fora de CampoNeto lamenta morte de torcedora do Palmeiras, fala em ‘hipocrisia’ e pede paralisação dos jogosFora de Campo10/07/2023PalmeirasMorte de torcedora do Palmeiras: o que se sabe até o momentoPalmeiras10/07/2023

+ Saiba se Palmeiras e Flamengo podem ser punidos pelo STJD por morte de torcedora no Allianz Parque

Segundo a apuração, dos 34 gols sofridos pelo Palestra, 12 ocorreram entre os minutos 31 e 45 do segundo tempo, o que evidencia a vulnerabilidade da equipe de Abel Ferreira na reta final das partidas. 

Confira a minutagem dos gols sofridos pelo Palmeiras em 2023: 

• 0 – 15: 3

• 16 – 30: 4

• 31 – 45: 8

• 46 – 60: 2

• 61 – 75: 5

• 76 – 90: 12

Nos últimos seis jogos, o Palmeiras sofreu gols depois dos 35′ em três: diante do Flamengo, São Paulo e Bahia. No Choque-Rei, o lateral Rafinha balançou a rede aos 37 minutos e garantiu a vitória para o Tricolor pelo placar mínimo. Contra a equipe baiana, o Verdão foi derrotado também por 1 a 0 com gol marcado nos acréscimos.

continua após a publicidade

+ Sequência de resultados negativos ‘escancara’ atual fragilidade defensiva do Palmeiras

Com os resultados do final de semana, o Palmeiras caiu para a quinta colocação do Brasileirão, com 24 pontos, 12 a menos que o líder Botafogo. O Alviverde não vence há quatro jogos na competição e agora se prepara para seu próximo compromisso: a partida de volta das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil diante do rival São Paulo. A bola rola nesta quinta (13), às 20h, no Allianz Parque. Na ida, o Tricolor derrotou o Verdão por 1 a 0.

Tudo sobre

Palmeiras

Arne Slot has come to the defence of Alexander Isak after the £125million ($167m) striker was quiet on his first Premier League start for Liverpool as the Reds were defeated for the first time this season by Crystal Palace. Head coach Slot defended the Swede as he continues to return to full fitness, following a performance which was distinctly below-par by the majority of the side.

Isak made first league start for Liverpool in Crystal Palace defeat

Isak made his first Premier League start for the Reds as they lost 2-1 at Selhurst Park. The 26-year-old played 84 minutes on his first league start since May, coming close to scoring on one occasion as he wriggled through a couple of challenges before sliding the ball wide under pressure.

Isak was ultimately replaced by teenager Rio Ngumoha late on with Hugo Ekitike unavailable due to suspension, following his second yellow card and resulting dismissal for taking his shirt off against Southampton in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Slot spoke to the press following the match and praised the Swede’s performance while explaining the decision to keep him on for almost the whole 90 minutes. He also justified his decision to start Florian Wirtz over Cody Gakpo, adding that he felt the first-half performance did not go to plan and so he made changes at the break.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportIsak project yet to be in full flow after deadline-day move

Isak and his eventual move to Anfield was no doubt the story of the summer, dividing much of the public opinion and beginning a conversation over the dangers of player power in modern football.

Due to the nature of his summer move, Isak did not partake in pre-season with Newcastle United as he opted to train alone at old club Real Sociedad rather than go away on the Magpies’ summer tour.

Finally getting his dream transfer to Liverpool on deadline day, Isak has had to work hard to catch up on his fitness levels – including doing sprints at half-time before he was withdrawn against Southampton. He had earlier opened his Reds account with a smart finish in the first half.

Starting in the league in a tough fixture at Palace was a significant step, as expressed by Slot, and Isak will hope that he can return to his unstoppable best in his new colours in the coming weeks.

Slot speaks on Isak following defeat at Palace

Slot said: “Isak playing 84 minutes had a lot to do with the low intensity of the game.

"If you face a low block, 10 players in and around their own 18-yard box and when they have to do a build-up they take a while with hardly any intensity.

“In a more open game where you have to run a lot as a nine, then you might not play him for 84, but this was a game in which it was a low block with some bursts of counter-attacks.

“He was close to a goal, very honest to stay on his feet, got a little bit of a shirt pull and that’s why he was unbalanced when he shot. So that was maybe just enough, smart little push to get him unbalanced. He didn’t score but it was quite a good performance.

Speaking on his selection, Slot added: “We wanted to overload the midfield with Wirtz in the first half which is why we didn’t start with Cody.

“But if you’re 1-0 down and need a goal you prefer to have width both sides and that’s why we brought on Cody. That’s why we brought on more attacking players and took a risk. The way we played first half wasn’t what I was hoping for before the game."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty/GOALIsak and Ekitike could provide formidable strike-force this season

Ekitike will be back in contention for the Reds’ crunch clashes against Galatasaray and Chelsea next week, as the champions look to bounce back from their 97th-minute heartbreak at the hands of Eddie Nketiah on Saturday. It may be a case of Ekitike and Isak starting one match each, or Slot may decide to use Isak as a substitute as he continues to work on his fitness. 

The one thing which is for sure is that the Dutchman has two top-quality strikers to choose from, both of whom will no doubt have a key role to play as the Reds hope to challenge on all fronts this season.

A week on from the start of the new Premier League season and Arsenal finally look ready for the challenge ahead.

It had been a slow pre-season for the Gunners but a 3-0 win over Bilbao has calmed the nerves, particularly after Viktor Gyokeres opened his account in the red and white.

A series of matches both on foreign soil and at the Emirates Stadium had left supporters feeling frustrated at a lack of change, but they got change on Saturday where the forward line certainly looked more potent.

Kai Havertz even got on the scoresheet, presenting Mikel Arteta with a dilemma over who to pick at centre forward next weekend when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Before then, Arteta and Andrea Berta may hope to get another signing across the line.

Arsenal's transfer plans before September 1st

With Noni Madueke and Gyokeres signed, Arsenal have ticked off two of their biggest priorities this summer: sign some backup and competition for Bukayo Saka, and sign a new striker.

Book PL Hospitality

Secure your matchday experience with Seat Unique.

Buy Premium Now

However, there’s a lingering feeling that the Gunners need more in their forward line.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard went goalless through pre-season and question marks are being raised again about the quality of the options on the left-hand side of Arsenal’s attack.

As a result, Eberechi Eze’s name is once again doing the rounds and according to one report, a deal now looks closer than ever.

That’s according to Football Transfers who report this weekend that Eze is ‘closing in’ on a move to the Emirates.

Financial terms have already been agreed between Arsenal and Palace with Arteta’s side set to pay a total fee of £55m to Palace for the England star, with £30m set to come upfront. That’s lower than Eze’s reported £68m release clause.

Talks over the structure of the remainder of the instalments are ongoing but it’s not thought as though that will be a major sticking point.

Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Emile Smith Rowe

Let’s cast our minds back to the early years of Arteta’s reign in London. The years are 2021 and 2022 and it’s safe to say that it’s not entirely rose for the Spaniard.

However, Saka and Smith Rowe (you know how the song goes) came along and acted as the club’s saviours.

The latter may have only scored four senior goals in 2020/21 but came alive in 2021/22, scoring ten times in 33 league outings for the club.

A product of Hale End, he was adored by Arsenal fans and his crafty, clever skills won hearts from all corners of the Emirates.

We all know how it ended for the England international with his injury woes ultimately seeing him join Fulham last summer, but he certainly has similar attributes to Eze.

Not only can both players feature from the left wing, but they’re also excellent attacking midfielders who are capable of scoring goals. In 2024/25, Eze netted 14 in all competitions, with eight goals coming from 34 Premier League appearances.

To really rubberstamp the similarities, we’ve compared how Eze performed last season with Smith Rowe’s best term at Arsenal.

Smith Rowe (21/22) vs Eze (24/25)
Stat (per 90 mins)	Smith Rowe	Eze
Goals	0.47	0.28
Assists	0.09	0.28
Shots	1.88	3.47
Key passes	1.41	2.01
Progressive passes	3.99	3.37
Shot-creating actions	3.15	4.69
Progressive carries	3.05	2.40
Successful take-ons	1.50	2.33
Carries into final 3rd	2.07	1.67
Stats via FBref.

As far as the numbers are concerned, there are some notable differences during their peak seasons so far in English football.

Smith Rowe looked like the more prolific goalscorer while Eze, who is a “magician” in the words of Micah Richards, was more creative.

Ultimately, though, they share the same sort of style. They like to carry possession, beat their marker and influence play from similar zones in the final third of the pitch.

Smith Rowe captivated Arsenal fans with his running style and ability to glide past players. Eze shares that trait and would no doubt become a quick fan favourite if he traded Selhurst Park for the Emirates.

Readers like you help support FootballFanCast. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

Arteta's next Rice: Arsenal hoping to sign "phenomenal" £104m talent

Arsenal may yet add another central midfielder to their ranks.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 9, 2025

Wrexham's difficult start to life in the Championship continued, as they lost 3-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers. The Londoners took the spoils thanks to a Conor Coady own goal, a thunderous strike from recently recruited striker Richard Kone, and a smart breakway finish by Rumran Burrell. The Red Dragons third loss of the season came in front of co-owner Ryan Reynolds.

Getty Images SportWrexham beaten again

The Red Dragons shaded the opening quarter of the game, dominating possession without creating a tangible chance. Matty James probably saw the clearest look at goal, firing wide after Ryan Longman's effort at the culmination of a free-flowing move was blocked by a QPR defender.

Steadily, the visitors grew into the game. Arthur Okwonkwo was twice called upon to deny Japanese winger Koki Saito. The ex-Arsenal keeper looked helpless in the 34th minute however, as Wrexham failed to clear their area allowing Rumran Burrell to turn the ball goalwards. His effort rebounded off Okwonkwo and onto Connor Coady, with the ball bizarrely trickling over the goal line to give the visitors the lead.

Wrexham's misery was compounded just five minutes later. Summer signing Richard Kone proved his worth to his new employers. Turning smartly outside the Red Dragons box and powering a strike into the top right corner of the net to double the visitors lead. 

Again, Wrexham looked the brighter side to open the second half with Kieffer Moore forcing a save out of Paul Nardi in the Hoops net in the 47th minute. 

Ryan Hardie was given the hook on the hour mark, shortly after wasting a gilt-edge chance after breaking clear of the last line of Rangers' defence on the break. The Scottish striker dithered, waiting for support when surely he should have shot, allowing Liam Morrison to recover and block a tame effort. Hardie's replacement Sam Smith wasted little time in impacting the game, drawing a double save out of Nardi just minutes after entering the fray. 

Wrexham finally got their breakthrough in the 67th minute. An in-swinging Lewis O'Brien corner from the right-hand side was met by the mountainous Moore at the front stick. His glancing header was the perfect touch to convert the dangerous dead-ball delivery.

Just as it looked the Red Dragons were dragging themselves back into the game, the visitors landed another sucker punch. A heave forward into Wrexham's half allowed Burrell to steam onto the ball, leaving a flailing Coady in his wake en route to clipping a smart finish past an onrushing Okwonkwo. 

Karamoko Dembele should have made it four when he again got behind the Wrexham defence. His brilliant chipped effort left Okwonkwo stranded but ultimately struck the woodwork. It was another shot against the bow of a Wrexham defence that looked exposed and lacking in the requisite pace in the second tier. Having conceded 10 goals in their five games since returning to the Championship, Phil Parkinson has urgent work to do if the Red Dragons intend on making a splash in the Championship this season. Meanwhile, QPR can celebrate their first away points of the young season. 

AdvertisementMVP: Kone provides moment of magic for Queens Park Rangers

Kone has proven to be an instant hit in west London, bagging his third goal of the season in style. The Ivorian has made the step up from League One to the Championship look easy. 

Getty Images SportBiggest loser: Wrexham's Coady exposed for pace

It was a difficult day for the ex-Wolves captain. Not only did he bundle the ball into his own net, he looked desperately short of pace as Burrell breezed past him for the visitors' third. Wrexham's leaky defence needs more from the veteran. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

What comes next for Wrexham?

The Red Dragons face a tricky assignment next weekend, as they travel to Carrow Road to face 7th placed Norwich. With just four points from their opening five games, perhaps it's time for the ambitious ownership group to accept a period of 'consolidation' is in the club's immediate future. 

Russell Martin will manage his first competitive game in charge of Glasgow Rangers later this month when his side take on Panathinaikos in the second round of Champions League qualifiers.

The Light Blues have already confirmed their squad list for the two-legged clash with the Greek side, with a number of summer arrivals to Ibrox expected to make their debuts.

Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons, Djeidi Gassama, Lyall Cameron, and Thelo Aasgaard have all been named in the squad and could debut against Panathinaikos.

Rangers supporters may be looking forward to seeing some of the new players in action, as they look to move on from the 2024/25 campaign, which ended trophyless for the club.

Gassama is one of the players who fans may be most excited to see play in these two games, as the French forward is an exciting wide player who can provide quality at the top end of the pitch.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

The 21-year-old flanker has the potential to get supporters off their feet with his direct play on the wing, having ranked in the top 4% of his positional peers in the Championship for successful dribbles (66) last season.

Gassama likes to take on opposition full-backs to burst into space on the left wing, which then opens the space for him to make an impact in and around the box as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

As well as exciting supporters with his dribbling ability, the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster can also score goals and create chances at an impressive rate.

Whilst a tally of just one assist in the Championship last season does not suggest that he is going to be the next Ryan Kent, his underlying numbers paint a different picture ahead of his Rangers bow.

xG

5.92

Top 16%

Goals

7

Top 14%

Shots on target

23

Top 14%

Chances created

38

Top 23%

xA

2.54

Top 32%

Assists

1

Bottom 27%

Touches in the opposition box

153

Top 6%

As you can see in the table above, Gassama ranked highly among fellow wingers in the division at creating chances and creating xA, which suggests that he was unfortunate to end the campaign with one assist.

This means that the new Gers signing could bring goals, dribbles, assists, and, of course, excitement to Ibrox with his performances for the club in the 2025/26 campaign and, hopefully, beyond.

Rangers reportedly paid a fee of £2.2m to sign the young attacker, potentially boosted by Sheffield Wednesday’s financial issues after they were hit with an embargo for not paying players or staff on time, and they could repeat their Gassama move with another swoop for one of their players.

Rangers plotting bid for Sheffield Wednesday star

According to TEAMtalk, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles has emerged as a key target for Kevin Thelwell and Martin this month.

The report claims that the English Championship side’s financial situation has left them open to offers for their players, which is what played a part in Gassama’s move, and the Northern Ireland international is one of the stars who could be on his way out.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It states that the Scottish Premiership giants are considering an offer to snap him up from the Owls, as they look to add to their options between the sticks.

TEAMtalk adds that Charles is ‘enthusiastic’ about a potential move to Ibrox and that his ‘confidence’ on the ball makes him an ideal fit for what Martin wants from his goalkeeper next season.

This suggests that personal terms may not be much of an issue, if at all, for Rangers to deal with if they are able to agree a fee with Sheffield Wednesday for the player, should they make the bid that they are now weighing up.

Why Rangers should sign Pierce Charles

The Gers should push to get a deal done for Charles in the coming weeks because it would be a repeat of the blinder they played with Gassama, taking advantage of an unfortunate situation to land a potential bargain.

On paper, a £2.2m fee for a 21-year-old winger who produced exciting performances in the Championship last season looks like a fantastic piece of business by the club, as he is a promising player with a lot of room left ahead of him to grow and develop.

Charles presents a similar opportunity for the Gers, given that the report mentions that their financial situation has opened them up to the possibility of a sale, although it remains to be seen how much money they will have to spend on the EFL gem.

The 19-year-old goalkeeper only became the Sheffield Wednesday number one towards the end of last season, but he has been capped six times by Northern Ireland already.

The teenage sensation, who was described as an “amazing” player by former youth teammate Anthony Elanga, could be an upgrade on Jack Butland at Ibrox, if he can build on the promising form he displayed in eight games in the Championship.

Saves*

2.5

2.18

Goals prevented*

+0.27

-0.08

Save success rate

67%

66%

High claims*

1.38

1.11

Accurate long passes*

9.25

3.89

Long pass accuracy

53%

39%

As you can see in the table above, Charles has the potential to offer more to the team between the sticks as a shot-stopper, a claimer of crosses, and as a distributor.

His long pass accuracy, in particular, is an interesting statistic to highlight because it suggests that he is far more efficient at picking long passes out and executing them to get the team up the pitch, which may be useful when Martin wants his team to evade a press.

Butland is not as efficient with his long passing and that could lead to situations where Rangers are forced to cough up possession too often if the opposition try to press Rangers high and force the Englishman into launching it back to them.

Add in Charles’ superior shot-stopping statistics, which suggest that he could prevent more goals from being scored past him, and it seems as though Rangers could have a huge talent on their hands if they are able to bring him to the club.

Creates room for Rak-Sakyi: Rangers want to sell Dowell & "blistering" flop

Rangers can create space for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as they look to sell several first-team players.

ByDan Emery Jul 17, 2025

Therefore, Rangers could repeat their seemingly impressive Gassama signing by swooping to agree a potentially cut-price deal for Charles, who could be a fantastic addition to the squad, for now and for the future.

Arsenal supporters have watched new sporting director Andrea Berta get to work on a flurry of statement transfer deals this summer, with Noni Madueke joining from Chelsea for around £52 million and defender Cristhian Mosquera travelling to London for a medical most recently (Standard Sport).

International captain approves Arsenal exit with talks planned in coming days

The Gunners need to balance out their squad.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

The duo have joined Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard among Mikel Arteta’s crop of brand-new players ahead of what will be an all-important Premier League campaign, with Arsenal seeking to end their 21-year wait for a league title.

Madueke’s arrival, after he put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Arsenal on Wednesday (Fabrizio Romano), has raised eyebrows among supporters – but journalist Charles Watts says that Arteta was really pushing to make the deal happen.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

“I know Arsenal are very happy with the price they have paid,” Watts said to CaughtOffside.

“They believe it matches up well to what other players of Madueke’s profile have moved for this summer and are adamant that in a couple of years time people will look on it as an excellent piece of business.

“Mikel Arteta has really been pushing this deal, he believes Madueke can thrive in an environment like Arsenal’s and does not view him as a back-up. He is bringing him in to play a lot of games, whether that be on the right or on the left.”

Now, attention has fully turned to finalising a move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres after weeks of talks.

Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle to sign the Sweden international, who will put pen to paper on a five-year contract (The Athletic), but there’s a final round of negotiations happening right now over the add-ons and bonuses involved (The Guardian).

Gyokeres’ agent agreed to waive his fee to help make the transfer happen, and Berta is currently attempting to get him through the door in time for Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the Far East, which begins on Wednesday against AC Milan in Singapore.

Viktor Gyokeres wants to join Arsenal by Wednesday

That is according to Football Transfers, who also report that Arsenal are expecting a breakthrough in the discussions surrounding bonuses soon – which could take the transfer cost up to £69 million.

Gyokeres and Arsenal want him to join up with Arteta’s squad in time for their clash with Milan, and a medical is apparently scheduled to take place for him over the weekend, so all parties appear pretty confident this transfer will be completely finalised in imminent fashion.

The 27-year-old’s arrival would mark the end of Arsenal’s long search for a prolific number nine, and Gyokeres could well be a crucial factor in bridging the gap between Arsenal and English champions Liverpool.

The former Coventry City star is on the verge of returning to England after two years free-scoring in Portugal, with Gyokeres netting an outstanding 97 goals in 102 appearances.

Leeds United have made an enquiry to sign “one of the most versatile players in world football”, according to a new transfer update.

Leeds targeting physical players with Bijol and Bornauw

The Whites, Daniel Farke and the 49ers so far have a clear plan when it comes to the transfer window and bringing in new players. Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw are the three new additions ahead of the club’s Premier League return, and all three players are over 6 feet tall.

Leeds vs Everton

August 18

Arsenal vs Leeds

August 23

Leeds vs Newcastle

August 30

Fulham vs Leeds

September 13

Wolves vs Leeds

September 20

Leeds are looking to make their side more physical to deal with defending and attacking set pieces in the top flight and are targeting midfielder Anton Stach from Hoffenheim.

The ball-winning central midfielder fits the profile of being 26 and over 6’0″ and could arrive to challenge the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka in midfield.

Better signing than Diarra: Leeds lead race to sign "outstanding" £18m star

Leeds United could soon purchase this outstanding £18m star in a deal that might be better than securing Habib Diarra.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 4, 2025

It is shaping up to be a busy few months ahead of the opening game of the season against Everton at Elland Road, and a new name that has emerged as a potential target would offer plenty of versatility to Farke’s side.

Leeds make approach to sign £12m Weah

According to reports from Italy, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds have made an enquiry to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus. Also wanted by Everton and Marseille, Weah is thought to be worth around £12m but actually holds a career-high Transfermarkt valuation of €17m.

Standing at 6ft, he may pass the test for Leeds, and he can play anywhere on the right-hand side, so may rival Jayden Bogle at right-back, a player he has been compared to by Football Transfers, or Dan James on the wing.

The USA international, known for ‘immense speed’, can also turn out as a centre-forward or as a left-winger and contributed to 11 goals for Juventus last season.

After coming through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain as a teenager, Weah had a loan spell in Scotland with Celtic before joining Lille on a permanent deal in 2019. Four years later he signed for Juventus, and he is under contract with the Italian giants until 2028.

Following recent links to Nottingham Forest earlier in the window, Sky Sports reporter Dougie Critchley called Weah “one of the most versatile players in world football”.

“Timothy Weah is one of the most versatile players in world football. Last season alone he played in all 3 positions on both flanks and was even used as a centre forward.”

It looks as if a move to Yorkshire could be one to keep an eye on, albeit Leeds have allegedly only made an approach for Weah’s services so far.

West Ham United will be hoping for a better campaign next term and have now moved to the brink of completing their first deal in the summer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.

West Ham United look for significant improvement

In the end, finishing 14th in the Premier League wasn’t the worst outcome for the Hammers, but there is a wider acknowledgment that results need to improve under Graham Potter at the London Stadium.

A late flurry of positive results against Manchester United and Ipswich Town was enough to put a little bit of shine on a poor period for the club. However, there needs to be far more in the way of consistency to meet standards.

Expectedly, the Hammers will look to the transfer market to improve the general quality of their squad and contact has been made to bring Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis to the London Stadium.

Igor Jesus is also on the radar of the Irons due to his form at Botafogo, though Arsenal and Aston Villa provide high-profile competition in the race to sign the Brazil international.

Striking reinforcements appear to be on their agenda. Still, veteran Michail Antonio is someone Potter wants to keep around after the ‘unique situation’ he encountered earlier this year.

Approach made: West Ham now in contact to sign "incredible" £20m defender

The Hammers have come forward for a centre-back, who they are now seriously interested in signing.

By
Dominic Lund

May 25, 2025

Giving some behind-the-scenes insight on the Jamaica international’s future, he said: “As I’ve said before, it’s a unique situation because of what he’s had to deal with. I think the club are trying their best to accommodate that and to understand that.”

While Antonio’s situation hangs in the balance, West Ham are now well down the road in their quest to sign a talented up-and-coming forward.

Romano: West Ham deal now "done" to sign Daniel Cummings

Taking to social media platform X, Romano confirmed that Celtic striker Daniel Cummings has completed a medical ahead of his move to West Ham for a nominal compensation fee of just over £250,000.

Out of contract in Glasgow, the Scotland Under-19 international has registered 29 goals in 37 appearances this season and made his first-team debut against Aston Villa in January.

Labelled “excellent” by Darren O’Dea, the 19-year-old’s exit from the Scottish champions has been on the cards for quite some time and West Ham previously tried to land Cummings in January, proving unsuccessful in their efforts.

It remains to be seen whether he will occupy a first-team berth at the London Stadium. Regardless, his arrival could be a smart capture in the long run due to his track record of scoring goals with regularity in the Lowland League.

Newcastle United have now made contact over the signing of an “incredible” player, who could be set to leave his club for a very low fee in the summer, according to a report.

Magpies set sights on new goalkeeper

Nick Pope has struggled with injuries at times during the current season, and with the Englishman now arguably in the latter stages of his career at 33-years-old, Newcastle are looking at bringing in a new goalkeeper at the end of the campaign.

One of the most exciting targets on the shortlist is Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, fresh off the back of a fantastic season with the Clarets in the Championship, shipping a total of just 16 league goals across the entire season.

Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel is another option for the Magpies, having made contact over a deal for the shot-stopper back in April, while they have expressed a strong interest in signing Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale, who has impressed Eddie Howe in the past.

Newcastle now move ahead of Chelsea in race for "amazing" £50k-a-week star

There has been a positive development in the Magpies’ pursuit of a 24-year-old…

1

By
Dominic Lund

May 14, 2025

According to reports from France (via Sport Witness), Newcastle also have their eye on a goalkeeper who has impressed in Ligue 1 this season, namely Angers’ Yahia Fofana, having now made contact over a deal for the Ivorian.

With his contract set to expire in 2026, Fofana could be in line to leave Angers this summer, and there is a feeling he could be available on the cheap, with an €8m – €10m (£6.8m – £8.4m) transfer fee being touted.

There could be fierce competition for the Paris-born shot-stopper’s signature, however, who came through the same Le Havre academy that produced talents such as Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet. Torino and Southampton also in the picture, but a move to St. James’ Park would be preferred over St. Mary’s, given the Saints’ impending relegation from the Premier League.

"Incredible" Fofana impressing in Ligue 1

Angers are among the middle of the pack in Ligue 1, but they could be a lot lower in the table if not for the performances of their goalkeeper, who is ranked as their best-performing player this season, achieving an average WhoScored league match rating of 6.88.

The Ivory Coast international has stood out for quite some time, having previously been lauded as “incredible” by scout Antonio Mango, who also added: “His agility, reactions and positioning is outstanding. Whilst being institutive with his distributions.”

Fellow scout Ben Mattinson has also stated the 6-foot-4 colossus “claims crosses well”, while praising him for his range of passing, indicating that he could be a fantastic modern-day goalkeeper.

With Fofana set to be available for a fee as low as £6.8m this summer, he could be a bargain signing for Newcastle, but Trafford should remain their number one target to replace Pope long-term, having matched the EFL record of 29 clean sheets last season.