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Hampshire captain gets first century in new role to guide team’s rearguard

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-May-2025

Ben Brown made his first century as Hampshire captain•Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket

Ben Brown scored his first century as Hampshire captain to eliminate fears of an innings defeat to Durham in the Rothesay County Championship.Hampshire were still 92 runs away from avoiding the follow-on when Toby Albert was the sixth man to depart, but Brown and Felix Organ ticked through the required runs with a 164 stand.Brown replaced James Vince – who has moved to Dubai – as club captain in the winter and led from the front with a patient unbeaten 143.Hampshire ended the day on 429 for seven, trailing by 82, with Organ, Mark Stoneman and Nick Gubbins also recording half-centuries – with Matthew Potts’ three for 62 the best for Durham’s bowlers.The hosts have very little hope of winning the match after Durham had racked up 511 on the opening two days, and regular wickets through the morning put them in deep peril.Stoneman only added three runs to his overnight 57 – which had been his first half-century sine arriving on the south coast from Middlesex – before he edged Potts behind off his inside edge.Tom Prest was guilty of stretching too far outside off stump when he was caught behind, while Liam Dawson was bowled by a Potts delivery which kept a tad low – as the pitch appeared to be working slightly better for the bowlers.The opening two days have been a turgid batting-fest with a used pitch not disintegrating has expected in the hot sun.But some occasional turn for the spinners and bouts invariable bounce gave Hampshire’s batters a few moments of worry.Toby Albert was more out-gunned by Codi Yusuf’s pace when he was bowled, as Hampshire’s fears of being asked to bat again began to raise.But Organ, a highly competent batter who has opened the batting regularly in the past, was a welcome sight coming in at No.8.Brown had bumped himself higher up the order from seven to five, seemingly to give more stability in the face of wickets.He picked his moments to jab at deliveries in his textbook manner, while occasionally negating the lower bounce by crouching lower to meet the ball at its trajectory.A half-century came in 102 balls before a fifth century for the Rose and Crown came in 178 balls – it was the 26th of his first-class career.Hampshire only picked up two batting bonus points, but at 17:00 BST their deficit had dipped under 150 and the game felt safer – only a monumental effort could stop this match from becoming a draw.Organ, on his first appearance of the summer, reached his half-century in 124 deliveries but fell when he edged George Drissell to first slip.His partnership with Brown was the highest seventh wicket stand for Hampshire against Durham almost doubling a 2007 record set by Michael Brown and Shane Warne.

The international break has come at the best time for Russell Martin as tensions are bubbling at Glasgow Rangers due to their lacklustre start to the season. The Gers currently sit in 7th after drawing all four of their opening Scottish Premiership games.

The bigger source of strife for Martin is Rangers’ failure to qualify for the Champions League after being dumped out of the qualification round by Club Brugge 9-1 on aggregate.

The last game before the international break, despite being a 0-0 draw, was the first sign of things potentially improving for Martin. Following the 6-0 second leg defeat to Brugge, managing to be the first Scottish Premiership team to avoid defeat against Celtic looks to be something of an, albeit small, step in the right direction.

Rangers are hoping that the signing of a former Champions League winner may help capitalise on this result and turn around their poor start to the season.

Martin looking to bring in Champions League winner ahead of Europa League campaign

Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises are thought to be eyeing a move to sign ex-Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The former England midfielder is available as a free agent following his contract being terminated by the Turkish side Besiktas, where he spent the last two seasons, and according to TBR Football, Rangers are considering a move to sign the free agent.

As a free agent, Oxlade-Chamberlain can be signed immediately, but Rangers will face some tough competition to sign him as he has attracted attention from Premier League sides Leeds, Everton, Burnley and Brentford, as well as ambitious Championship side Birmingham City.

Rangers may be able to tempt Oxlade-Chamberlain to join them over these other suitors with European football. Rangers will start their Europa League campaign later this month as they face Genk, and another season in Europe may make Rangers a more appealing destination than the other clubs.

There are reports indicating other interested clubs on the continent, but it is as yet unclear whether or not these are Champions League teams, and it had been previously reported that Oxlade-Chamberlain, a Champions League winner at Anfield, was looking for a move back to the UK.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is a "great player" who can turn round Martin's fortunes

Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Arsenal in 2011, and he arrived alongside current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. The pair played together on 73 occasions, and after their time together at Arsenal, Arteta had a lot of praise for Oxlade-Chamberlain:

A player with European experience who has a history of being popular among the fans at the clubs he’s served at may be the perfect signing for Martin. Not only would he be a great addition to the squad, but his character and CV might tide unsettled fans over until he can find a way to get some better results.

Sunderland may have had one of the busiest and most productive summer transfer windows in their history, but it looks as though their business may not be done yet.

A memorable summer of transfers for Sunderland

The Black Cats have prepared brilliantly for their return to the Premier League, making as many as 11 permanent signings and bolstering their squad significantly.

It was something that Regis Le Bris spoke positively about last month, with Sunderland going from strength to strength in the market even since then.

“I am happy because we needed to reinforce the squad. The players who decided to join Sunderland had multiple choices. But finally, they decided to join Sunderland even with the same offer for many other clubs.

“That means they are convinced by the energy of the project. “I think we are clear in the way we want to recruit and the way we want to work. I think the owner, and the whole club, are showing their ambition. It is not just about surviving, we want to be competitive in this league, with the identity of Sunderland.”

Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi could potentially be the next player through the entrance door at Sunderland, joining the likes of Habib Diarra and Granit Xhaka, among others, but they may not be done there, following a new update.

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

£27.1m

Simon Adingra

Brighton

£21m

Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£19.8m

Chemsdine Talbi

Club Brugge

£17.2m

Noah Sadiki

Union SG

£14.6m

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

£12.9m

Nordi Mukiele

Paris Saint-Germain

£10.3m

Omar Alderete

Getafe

£9.8m

Robin Roefs

NEC Nijmegen

£9m

Reinildo Mandava

Atletico Madrid

free transfer

Arthur Masuaku

Besiktas

free transfer

Sunderland backed to do more transfer business

Writing on X, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie said that Sunderland could still make two more signings alongside Lucumi this summer, amid “talks” with further additions.

Black Cats supporters will love this update from Downie, during a summer that would arguably have been beyond their wildest dreams, in terms of spending.

Admittedly, there is a risk in bringing in so many signings, in terms of a potential speedy relegation back to the Championship leaving the club in financial peril, but it is refreshing to see such a bold approach taking place.

Sunderland make transfer offer for £50,000-a-week World Cup semi-finalist

The Black Cats are on fire this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 29, 2025

The 3-0 win at home to West Ham showed what Sunderland’s new signings are capable of, but after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat away to Burnley, it won’t all be plain sailing regardless of who comes through the door on Monday.

Tottenham Hotspur are attempting an ambitious end to the summer transfer window by backing Thomas Frank with multiple key additions.

Spurs have a few key areas of the first team to reinforce, especially following James Maddison’s long-term ACL injury and club legend Son Heung-min’s departure to MLS.

Dejan Kulusevski is also expected to remain out for a long time yet too, after injuring his knee towards the back end of last season, while defender Radu Dragusin’s own ACL tear in January means he might not be back until December.

As Tottenham’s injury nightmare continues into the Frank era, it is reliably believed that Spurs are targeting three major signings before deadline day on September 1 – a new centre-back, winger and attacking midfielder.

This is backed up by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge in a Q&A from last week, with the Lilywhites since identifying Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie as their ideal central defensive target (Paul O’Keefe).

Before any move for the Ecuadorian, though, it is more likely that Tottenham will put pen to paper on a deal for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Eze has already agreed personal terms to join Spurs, according to reliable media sources, with Daniel Levy and Steve Parish holding fresh talks over the 27-year-old’s transfer this week (Fabrizio Romano).

A move for the England international is on the verge of being completed, but final details remain before Spurs can fully seal an agreement for Eze, with Palace also on the hunt for a replacement, which could be Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss.

Alongside Eze, Tottenham have been pursuing Man City winger Savinho in a separate deal (Fabrizio Romano).

The player’s own agent, Frederico Moraes, told Jorge Nicola last week that City rejected a £42 million bid from Spurs for the Brazilian, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding out for closer to the £67 million mark.

Savinho is currently out injured for weeks and missed City’s opening day 4-0 win over Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, and Guardiola is personally keen for the 21-year-old to remain at Eastlands.

Savinho adamant he'd join Tottenham with Levy ready to spend over £60m

The former Girona star would be an absolutely excellent addition for Frank.

Savinho was a key member of the Girona side that shockingly competed for a La Liga title in 2023/2024, bagging 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions that year, and he managed double digits for assists again last season at City.

He can play both on the right and left-hand sides too, as well as through the middle on occasion, so the South American would be an adept replacement for Son and cover for Kulusevski.

Despite Guardiola’s stance, City’s price tag and his injury, journalist Graeme Bailey has told TBR Football that Spurs have no intention of throwing the towel in when it comes to signing the player.

It is believed that Tottenham held fresh talks over a deal for Savinho on Sunday, and the forward is adamant behind-the-scenes that a move to Spurs is something he’d be open to.

As well as this, Levy is apparently ready to spend over £60 million on his potential signing, and any fee beyond that mark would come much closer to City’s reported asking price.

This is definitely still one to watch in the coming days, as Savinho will want guaranteed game time ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Hoping to end their search for a striker at long last, Newcastle United are now reportedly emerging as the favourites to sign a talented 27-goal target for Eddie Howe.

Isak asks to leave Newcastle

In the biggest blow of Newcastle’s summer, Alexander Isak has now asked to leave the club. As the Premier League season closes in, the Magpies could now face the prospect of finding a replacement for one of the world’s best forwards.

Left out of the Magpies’ squad for the Asia tour as a result of his transfer stance, Isak has now opened the door for the likes of Liverpool and clubs in Saudi Arabia to come swooping in to land a blockbuster deal.

The thigh injury only add smoke to the transfer speculation and, as ever, it turns out there’s no smoke without fire. Whether those at St James’ Park back down without a fight is now the big question.

The news also follows Eddie Howe’s decision to send Isak home from Newcastle’s trip to face Celtic amid speculation about his future. The Magpies boss told reporters: “I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him.

“It is difficult for me to sit here and give 100% clarity on any player. I’d never sit here and do that. It is football and you never know what can happen. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players and staff, the team.

Better signing than Wissa: Newcastle hold internal talks over £70m "tank"

As Newcastle close in on Yoane Wissa, they’ve reportedly held internal talks about signing their number one target, an “absolute tank” worth £70m.

Jul 23, 2025

“I have never had any issue with him other than seeing him express his talent and express himself. Certainly I am confident that he is going to be here at the start of the season.”

In a cruel twist to the tale, Newcastle must now draw up a shortlist of potential replacements which could already include one particular Ligue 1 star.

Newcastle now favourites to sign Biereth

As reported by Caught Offside, Newcastle are now in pole position to sign Mika Biereth from AS Monaco this summer. The forward is valued at just £40m and is coming off the back of a sensational 27-goal campaign, which saw him hit top form for Sturm Graz and then Monaco from January onwards.

Despite interest from Aston Villa and Everton, the Dane could yet be on his way to St James’ Park this summer. From Newcastle’s point of view, the move would also make perfect sense if they fail to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford.

The Magpies are reportedly set to submit a £30m bid to sign the forward after seeing their opening offer rejected, but interest from Tottenham Hotspur and former Brentford boss Thomas Frank could yet scupper their plans.

If that proves to be the case, then signing Biereth, who scout Jacek Kulig dubbed “incredible” last season, would provide Howe with the perfect alternative.

Newcastle United are believed to be eyeing an impressive double swoop alongside their imminent move for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga this summer.

Newcastle closing in on Elanga signing

The Magpies continue to work hard on new signings, from James Trafford to Marc Guehi, but it looks as though the addition of Elanga from Forest is closer than ever to happening.

According to a new claim from Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Newcastle have agreed a £55m for the signing of the Swede, with a medical expected to take place imminently.

Elanga has the potential to be such an eye-catching signing for Eddie Howe, with his pace helping make them a huge threat on the counter-attack, as highlighted last season when he scored a stunning solo effort against former club Manchester United.

It’s now a case of ensuring that the Forest man becomes a Newcastle player and that there are no late obstacles to overcome, before turning their attention to further signings, with a striker believed to be a major focus for PIF this summer.

Newcastle eyeing double defensive swoop

According to L’Equipe [via Sport Witness], Newcastle remain keen on signing Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri, despite their strong interest in Trafford. He is considered a good alternative to the Englishman and may well head to the Premier League either way this summer, with Leeds United also in the mix.

Meanwhile, Give Me Sport claim that the Magpies are continuing to eye a summer move for Guehi from Crystal Palace, in a potential £70m deal. They are described as being “hopeful of winning the race” to sign the England international once they wrap up Elanga.

Perri stands out as an excellent alternative to Trafford, should Newcastle fail to sign the Burnley man, with Paulo Fonseca even calling him the “best in the world” in his position. At 27, the Brazilian is also a more proven player at the top level than Trafford, although at this point, it would still be a surprise if the Clarets goalkeeper wasn’t the man to come in this summer.

Meanwhile, Guehi arguably stands out as the strongest possible choice to come in and bolster Newcastle’s back-line, having now shown that he can excel for both club and country, standing out as England’s best defender at Euro 2024 last summer.

Now feels like the right time for him to enjoy a new challenge in his career, and he possesses the leadership, quality on the ball and reading of play to be a mainstay of the Magpies’ defence for many years.

He will love Elanga: Newcastle in advanced talks to sign a "top striker"

Eddie Howe could be close to signing a new striker for Newcastle.

2

By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 8, 2025

Granted, the £70m price tag is bloated, as is often the case with homegrown players, but he could prove to be worth every penny if he shines at the heart of the defence for the next decade.

Sunderland are now close to reaching an agreement over the signing of an “absolutely sensational” player, according to a key update from journalist Loic Jego.

Perhaps the major piece of Black Cats transfer business that has emerged recently is their pursuit of OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who is considered a top summer target.

Sunderland are believed to be in talks with the 25-year-old over a move to the Stadium of Light, as Regis Le Bris strengthens his options between the sticks ahead of his side’s return to the Premier League in August.

A five-cap Poland international, Bulka has plenty of pedigree as a top-level player, and Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is an admirer, calling him “superb” after coming up against him in Ligue 1.

Sunderland supporters will surely be keen on seeing the Pole complete a move to the club as soon as possible, and now a fresh update has emerged regarding their interest in him.

Sunderland close to agreement with Bulka

Now, according to Jego on X, an agreement between Sunderland and Bulka is now “imminent”, as the Black Cats close in on a new signing.

This is fantastic news for Sunderland, who know the importance of doing significant transfer business, in order to avoid a swift return to the Championship next season.

Bulka now has made 73 appearances in Ligue 1, as well as enjoying six Europa League outings, while scout Jacek Kulig has lauded the Nice stopper as an “absolutely sensational” goalkeeper.

In Anthony Patterson, Sunderland already have one excellent option in goal, with the Englishman such an influential presence last season, starting 45 of his side’s 46 Championship matches, but there have been teams sniffing around for his signature.

Competition for places is vital in the Premier League anyway however, and Le Bris will know that he has to be ruthless in leaving good players in reserve, assuming the latter stays at the club this summer.

He'd be amazing with Bulka: Sunderland in the race to sign £7m sensation

Sunderland could really improve their defensive options by landing this star alongside Marcin Bulka.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 27, 2025

Bulka feels like a signing of intent for Sunderland, and there is still plenty of time for the Black Cats to complete further business between now and the end of the transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur are entering a new dawn under Thomas Frank and are in talks to bring one of Europe’s most talked about youngsters to North London, according to a report.

Tottenham's pursuit of attacking talent continues

In a freak turn of events, Tottenham were dealt the hand of having to deal with an injury crisis last term and subsequently had to field a line-up that sometimes lacked an effective balance between defence and attack.

Reacting on the market by looking to bolster their offensive depth, Brentford pair Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are Spurs targets, even if the Bees may be difficult to deal with in light of already losing their manager to the lure of N17.

Despite interest from Manchester United, The Mirror’s John Cross believes Tottenham would be the best fit for Mbeumo to truly take his talent to the next level under Thomas Frank.

He stated: “Bryan Mbeumo should go to Tottenham. The Brentford forward is a serious player and moving to Tottenham, with his old boss Thomas Frank, would propel him to another level into the Champions League.”

Of course, it remains to be seen how much Spurs’ interest is determined by external parties egging on a transfer pursuit, but their admiration for the Cameroon international is certainly an indication that attacking talent will be prioritised this summer.

Tottenham preparing bid after Frank tells Levy & co to sign £20m midfielder

There could be a reunion on the cards in N17.

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 16, 2025

Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert has been lined up by the Lilywhites as an alternative to add flair out wide. However, it remains to be seen if a deal is viable to sign the Netherlands international.

Either way, Frank appears to have big plans on his mind, though he may steer away from the Premier League in his hunt for goals and creativity.

Tottenham hold talks to sign Roony Bardghji

According to TBR, Tottenham have held talks to sign Copenhagen sensation Roony Bardghji as the Sweden international enters the final six months of his deal in the Danish capital.

Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Manchester United have also been involved in discussions surrounding the future of the youngster, who has been likened to Messi in the past for his agility and close control. However, he suffered an ACL injury in 2024, which has curtailed a move away from the Superliga side until now.

Roony Bardghji’s emergence at Copenhagen

Appearances

84

Goals

15

Assists

1

His burst onto the scene left many mesmerised by his abilities, including former coach Fredrik Akesson after the “extraordinary” development he has made since coming through in his homeland.

Spurs have been courting his services since 2023 and feel that despite his struggles with fitness, the opportunity to land Bardghji at a knockdown fee is simply too good to turn down.

Still only 19 years of age, time is on his side as he prepares for a life-changing move to one of the world’s elite, and Tottenham seem to have put themselves in with a great chance of being the ones to make that dream a reality for the Kuwait-born winger.

It was an interminable weight for that trophy-winning feeling, if you’re one of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion, but Ange Postecoglou’s side wiped the slate clean when defeating Manchester United in the Europa League final earlier in May.

Currently, it’s all a little uncertain. Postecoglou’s manager is in an imperilled position, with Daniel Levy’s judgement soon to become clear on that front.

Who could dispute Tottenham’s woes on Premier League soil, with so much going wrong for Ange’s 17th-placed side? It’s clear that action must be taken over the next few months to ensure success on the continent doesn’t turn out to be a mere flash in the pan.

Sergio Reguilon, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman will all leave imminently, when their contracts expire, and Timo Werner’s two-year loan spell in London is over.

There’s much to consider. Let’s have a look at the major states of play.

The latest on Spurs' transfer targets

With European hero Cristian Romero being linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, Tottenham may need to sign a centre-back this summer.

The windfall from qualifying for the Champions League is huge, and Tottenham are in a good position to strengthen. If Romero stays, focus will be pinned on midfield and the wide forward positions.

Balancing out the club’s attacking quality is important, especially as Heung-min Son, 32, is expected to play fewer minutes across the 2025/25 campaign.

Furthermore, Dejan Kulusevski is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on his right patella, and will be out for several months at the least. This, of course, means the Sweden star’s pre-season preparations will be disrupted.

Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze would be a brilliant signing, with rumours of a bid being prepared, but he has a £68m release clause inserted in his contract, and Levy may well want to turn his attention to another England international to help the Lilywhites make gains over the coming years.

Spurs discuss statement signing

According to GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham chairman Levy has held an internal meeting as the club draw up concrete plans for the looming market.

Eze and Manchester City star Jack Grealish have both been discussed, though Grealish might be the more feasible option from a financial standpoint.

Though the £300k-per-week Citizen would represent a tough deal to complete, Levy is committed to capitalising on the jubilation of winning a trophy down N17, and the 29-year-old, valued at an affordable £43m, might just fit the bill.

What Jack Grealish would bring to Spurs

Grealish might have been ostracised by Pep Guardiola as he prepares to bow out from life at the Etihad Stadium, but he’s still one of the most talented Englishmen in the game, hailed by pundit Rio Ferdinand for being “almost unplayable” when on his A-game.

Moving to Tottenham might just give him a new lease of life. Grealish joined Man City from Aston Villa for a British-record £100m fee in August 2021 after a talismanic career with his boyhood club, since going on to win the treble and much more under Pep Guardiola’s wing.

Across 157 matches, Grealish has scored 17 goals and supplied 23 assists, though he only started seven matches in the Premier League this term and surely needs to leave Manchester.

Tottenham need some more attacking impetus in midfield. Kulusevski has been the standout this season, posting ten goals and 11 assists from 50 matches. The 25-year-old has been praised by The Athletic for being ‘the linchpin of Postecoglou’s team.’

But Grealish could enhance the fluency, promote ball-carrying and -playing principles that the club’s Australian coach relies upon.

As per FBref, the English star ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers this season for pass completion and progressive carries, the top 12% for progressive passes and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Such metrics have drawn him against Kulusevski as one of the Tottenham man’s most statistically similar players, suggesting he could dovetail right into the Londoners’ system.

There’s no denying, though, that Grealish has lost some of the original silk from his Villa days, when he was described as a “magician” by former Three Lions star Ashley Cole. Looking at his metrics from his final Premier League campaign in the Midlands against Kulusevski’s from this season, you see that Postecoglou could sign himself a new ‘linchpin’ to add depth and dynamism to the ranks.

Matches (starts)

26 (24)

32 (27)

Goals

6

7

Assists

10

4

Touches*

60.8

44.5

Accurate passes*

31.9 (83%)

20.0 (81%)

Big chances created

14

9

Key passes*

3.2

2.1

Dribbles*

2.5

1.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.8

Duels won*

8.9

4.1

Whether we will ever again see this one-time version of Grealish, who was indeed unplayable at times as he bamboozled defenders and picked out teammates with stylish, pinpoint passes, remains to be seen, but there’s no question Ange employs a freer, more expansive style than Guardiola, who revolutionised the way possession-based football is conducted but perhaps limits players like Grealish, pidgeonholing them into set roles.

Postecoglou could almost let Grealish run autonomously, take the leash off. Given that he likes to play between central attacking midfield and in a role on the left flank, there’s a good chance he’d be a fantastic stylistic fit too, easing Son’s burden as rumours of Richarlison’s summer sale persist.

There would, of course, be an element of risk to this transfer, and Levy would not facilitate a move without reducing Grealish’s staggering £300k-per-week salary, but it could be a somewhat shrewd deal for a player who has fallen from their perch as one of the country’s finest.

But he could yet bounce back, joining a Tottenham project that perhaps is only just getting going.

Left for £0: Spurs' "waste of money" is now outscoring Delap & Nkunku

One former Tottenham Hotspur player has taken his career to new heights after leaving the club.

ByEthan Lamb May 31, 2025

Newcastle United are in the box seat to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish in the Premier League. The Magpies, who lost their most recent outing 1-0 away to Arsenal, currently occupy third spot with one game to go.

With 66 points to their name, a win would guarantee Eddie Howe’s side a place in next season’s premier European club competition, although a draw might not be enough, given they are just one point clear of seventh-place Nottingham Forest. It is in their hands, so they must beat Everton at home.

If they do return to the competition next term, attacking reinforcements would certainly strengthen their case to help them go on a run in the competition.

Newcastle’s latest attacking target

Newcastle seem keen to add strength and depth to their forward line this summer, and one player who has been constantly linked with a move to St James’ Park is Bryan Mbeumo who has been excellent in 2024/25.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, according to a new report from GIVEMESPORT, the Magpies ‘are firmly in the race’ to bring Mbeumo to the club this summer.

Manager Howe, who brought silverware to the club this term after 56 years, views the attacker ‘as a standout target for Newcastle’ this summer.

However, this is not a deal that will come cheap. The report suggests that the Cameroon international will cost the North Eastern side £60m, with Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal all interested in signing the attacker, too.

Why Mbeumo would be a good signing

It has been a really strong season for Brentford in 2024/25, who themselves are pushing for a European spot. It is perhaps no coincidence that the Bees’ excellent campaign has aligned with a personal year to remember for Mbeumo.

The 25-year-old, who came through French side Troyes’ academy, has been one of the Premier League’s standout players this term. He was nominated for the Player of the Season award, which he described as a “crazy” feeling.

Well, the stats don’t lie, and Mbeumo’s goal and assist numbers are exceptional. He’s managed 19 goals and eight assists in 37 games, playing 3,327 minutes. That leaves him with an average of one goal involvement every 123 minutes.

Should the Magpies bring the winger to the club, he could prove to be a wonderful addition to an attack that includes Anthony Gordon. It has also been a terrific campaign for the England international, who has managed nine goals and seven assists in 41 games across all competitions.

One of Gordon’s biggest contributions came in the Carabao Cup. Although he was suspended for the final, the Merseyside-born winger scored in both semi-final legs against Arsenal to help guide Newcastle to Wembley, where they ultimately lifted the trophy.

Well, perhaps Mbeumo can become the right-sided Gordon in this Newcastle side. They play on opposite flanks, and with Gordon being right-footed on the left and the Brentford man left-footed on the right, both like to cut inside on their stronger foot and look to get a shot off.

They are also statistically similar via FBref from this season. For example, the Brentford attacker averages 1.84 key passes and 0.54 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, Newcastle’s number 10 averages 1.92 key passes and 0.45 goal-creating actions each game.

Goals per shot on target

0.39

0.32

Key passes

1.84

1.92

Progressive passes

3.74

3.58

Goal-creating actions

0.54

0.45

Take-ons completed

1.38

1.40

Football statistician Statman Dave described Mbeumo as a “deadly” attacker, and with the numbers he has put up this season, it is easy to see why. There is no doubt, he would enhance the Newcastle attack, and could well become the second coming of Gordon.

Although £60m is a large fee, the winger is seemingly worth the money, so perhaps the Magpies should take the plunge and bring Mbeumo to St James’ Park next season.

100% duels lost: 4/10 Newcastle dud must never start for the club again

Newcastle United are now hanging onto third spot in the Premier League after a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Arsenal.

ByKelan Sarson May 18, 2025