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Wolverhampton Wanderers are now expected to make an offer for an “unstoppable” striker imminently, but a deal could amount to €50m (£43m), according to a report.

Wolves remain keen on strengthening attacking options

Despite already adding the likes of Jhon Arias, Fer Lopez and Jorgen Strand Larsen to his squad permanently this summer, Vitor Pereira remains keen on bringing in another centre-forward, which could raise concerns about the Norwegian striker’s future.

However, reporter Liam Keen has been quick to point out the Old Gold retain their hardline stance, despite interest from one of their Premier League rivals, saying: “Wolves wanting to sign a striker does not mean they will sell Jorgen Strand Larsen, however.

“The Norwegian is wanted by Newcastle but Wolves’ stance remains that he is not for sale.”

"We’ll see…" – Wolves hold talks over deal for Spain international

He was wanted by Premier League clubs in January.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 9, 2025

The 25-year-old was a reliable source of goals for Pereira’s side last season, finding the back of the net 14 times in 35 Premier League outings, so it is good news that there are no plans to cash-in this summer.

However, another striker could also be on his way to Molineux, with it recently being revealed Wolves are now looking at a move for FC Nantes’ Matthis Abline, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the Frenchman.

According to a report from Le Parisien (via Sport Witness), Wolverhampton Wanderers are now expected to make an offer for Abline imminently, but it could be a costly operation, with the French side holding out for a fee of €50m (£43m).

There may also be competition for the centre-forward’s signature, with FC Paris also keen, although the newly-promoted Ligue 1 side do not plan to offer more than €20m – €25m (£17m – £22m).

Paris’ unwillingness to shell out the full asking price should be encouraging for Wolves, although it is also unclear whether they are willing to pay £43m to get a deal done.

"Unstoppable" Abline could excel at Molineux

Journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos spoke very highly of the 22-year-old forward, saying: “It’s unbelievable that a striker with Abline’s talent isn’t in a European top flight. He’s one of the few things that’s redeemable from France’s U21 match against Portugal so far.

“His technique is extremely refined, he’s unstoppable when he gets going, and he can play as a number 9 and on the right.”

Not only that, but the France U21 international enjoyed his best campaign to date in the 2024-25 season, picking up 11 goals and two assists in 36 matches for Nantes in all competitions, which indicates he could be capable of kicking on at Molineux.

That said, given that Pereira already has Larsen at his disposal, signing a new striker shouldn’t be a priority, and it may now be time to strengthen at centre-back, considering the Old Gold shipped a whopping 69 Premier League goals last season.

A Manchester United forward, who Michael Carrick described as “terrific”, is now heading for the exit door, as a new club have agreed a transfer fee, according to a report.

Man Utd's attacking rebuild underway

There were many reasons behind Man United’s extremely disappointing 2024-25 campaign, but their attack was one of the most glaring issues, scoring just 44 goals all season in the Premier League.

Consequently, it is no surprise Ruben Amorim has set out to strengthen his forward line as a priority, having already sealed deals for Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and the next task for recruitment chiefs will be to bring in a new striker.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now revealed United have two main options in mind at centre-forward, saying: “Ollie Watkins has options and Aston Villa are looking at their options too – there is a real chance that he could leave Villa Park this summer, and Man United like him a lot – he is seen as a very good fit.”

“Sesko is ongoing too – United, though, are working on this situation. Could it be Watkins or Sesko? United certainly believe so,”

However, considering the Red Devils are well-known to be treading a fine line PSR-wise, there will also have to be some outgoings this summer, and they are now close to sealing a deal to sell one of their forwards.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states a deal is now in place to sell Jadon Sancho to Juventus for £15m, and the winger has already agreed personal terms with the Italian club.

Man Utd present offer to agents of "phenomenal" £78m star, talks ongoing

The Red Devils are vying to sign a centre-forward, and they are currently in direct negotiations with his entourage.

5 ByDominic Lund Jul 29, 2025

However, the deal is currently on pause, with Juventus looking to offload Timothy Weah and Nico Gonzalez, while they could also look to move on Dušan Vlahović before fully turning their attentions to Sancho.

Some final details also need to be finalised, such as bonuses, and the player himself is now growing impatient, as he is keen to seal a move to the Serie A side.

Sancho needs to move on this summer

Despite once being described as “terrific” by Michael Carrick, the English winger has never really managed to make an impact at United, and he clearly didn’t do enough to impress Enzo Maresca last season, with Chelsea paying a £5m penalty to avoid signing him.

As such, a move abroad could be ideal for the £25-year-old, given that his best years were spent outside England, picking up a combined 34 goals and assists for Borussia Dortmund in the 2019-20 Bundesliga season.

It is disappointing that Man United are only set to recoup £15m for Sancho, but he clearly has no future at Old Trafford, and there is every indication that Cunha and Mbeumo could be real upgrades.

Player

PL appearances in 24/25

Goals

Assists

Jadon Sancho

31

3

5

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

8

Matheus Cunha

33

15

6

Sunderland have their eyes on a move to sign a “terrifying” £50m+ star after picking up Chelsea forward Marc Guiu on a season-long loan.

Sunderland signing Marc Guiu on loan from Chelsea

The Black Cats have been extremely busy in the transfer market ahead of their Premier League return, spending more than £125m on eight new players.

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

£30.5m

Simon Adingra

Brighton

£21m

Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£19.4m

Noah Sadiki

Union Saint-Gilloise

£15m

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

£13m

Reinildo Mandava

Atletico Madrid

Free

Chemsdine Talbi

Club Brugge

£18m

Robin Roefs

NEC Nijmegen

£9m

Eight will soon become nine as well, with Guiu arriving in the North East on Sunday afternoon to seal his move to the Stadium of Light for the 2025/26 season.

Guiu will therefore rival Wilson Isidor and playoff final scorer Eliezer Mayenda for a starting centre-forward spot in Regis Le Bris’ side, with Sunderland’s first game against West Ham United on Saturday August 16.

After the 19-year-old, though, Sunderland are looking to bolster their attacking ranks even further and are now being linked with an ambitious move for another Bundesliga star after landing Granit Xhaka.

Sunderland keen on £50m+ Lois Openda

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on Saturday, Sunderland are showing an interest in RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda.

However, with Leipzig stars Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko also linked with moves to the Premier League, it could be a tricky deal to persuade the Bundesliga side to sell.

Earlier in the window, it was claimed that Leipzig placed a €60m (£52m) asking price on Openda’s shoulders, with the “terrifying” forward under contract until 2028.

Arriving in 2023 from Lens, Openda, a Belgium international, has scored 41 goals in 90 appearances for his current employers. The 25-year-old was linked with a move to Tottenham last year which resulted in Spurs pundit John Wenham hailing the speedy striker.

“I watched Openda in the Champions League a couple of times this year and I was impressed. He has a real mix of pace and excellent finishing ability. He looks like someone who could also play out wide.”

A £50m+ transfer would smash Sunderland’s transfer record, which has already been broken this summer, so a move could be one to keep an eye on following Plettenberg’s update.

Sheffield United are preparing for another campaign in the English second-tier and now reportedly leading the race to bring a renowned central defender to Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United look for further additions after Louie Barry

After a quiet start to the window, the Blades made their fourth signing after bringing in Louie Barry on loan following his excellent spell at Stockport County last term.

The 22-year-old forward also spent time at Hull City and can’t wait to get started in Yorkshire, as he stated: “The first time I had conversations about it, I just couldn’t wait to come here. The season is three weeks away, and I know we have a couple of friendlies before, but I am just buzzing to get started.

“I’ve been at Villa, playing games, training and working hard just for whatever will come next. As I say, when a club like this comes calling, you can’t turn it down and I can’t wait to get into it.”

Addressing their issues in central defence has also become a priority for Ruben Selles, with Le Havre defender Ettiene Youte Kinkoue a Sheffield United target with the competitive season now only a couple of weeks away.

Undoubtedly, winning promotion from the EFL Championship has to be the priority at Bramall Lane this term. Losing out in the playoff final provoked feelings of heartbreak, but a fresh opportunity will soon be here to make amends.

Sheffield United’s summer signings under Ruben Selles

Name

Club arrived from

Louie Barry

Aston Villa (loan)

Ehije Ukaki

Botev Plovdiv

Mihail Polendakov

Septemvri Sofia

Tyler Bindon

Nottingham Forest (loan)

Familiar faces like Bindon will help Selles to get his feet under the table. However, there is a collective appetite among supporters to see experienced new additions join his squad to give them a fighting chance, which could be the case if recent developments evolve.

Sky Sports: Sheffield United lead race to sign Rob Holding

According to Sky Sports Premier League, Sheffield United and Colorado Rapids are ‘leading the race’ to sign Crystal Palace defender Rob Holding this summer.

The £45,000 per week earner is expected to leave Selhurst Park following two years on the books, and a return to Yorkshire could now be on the cards after his loan spell at the Blades last term, where he made 11 appearances in total.

Previously, Holding has been labelled “brilliant” by Mikel Arteta and him coming in on a permanent deal would offer Selles a wealth of top-level experience, given he has featured in just shy of 100 Premier League matches.

Time is of the essence with the Championship kick-off now around the corner, so it will be intriguing to see if Sheffield United can force this one over the line.

It was an extremely underwhelming season for West Ham United last time out as a low 14th spot in the Premier League pile had to be stomached.

The Hammers would finish in a far more impressive ninth spot the season before, with a Europa League quarter-final even coming their way. But, this short-term success just couldn’t be sustained, leading to David Moyes losing his job, only for Graham Potter to struggle in equal measure when taking on the London Stadium hot seat.

There will be a hope that Potter can turn around West Ham’s fortunes as he prepares for his first full season at the helm, but he will have to try and add to his meagre five wins in charge of the Iron without Mohammed Kudus at his disposal, with the once popular Ghanaian defecting over to enemy lines to join Tottenham Hotspur for £55m.

That £55m injection to the Hammers’ bank account will no doubt be put to good use, especially as Potter and Co chase down an immediate replacement for Kudus.

West Ham make enquiries over £30m ace

Away from looking for replacements for the ex-Ajax attacker, it looks as if that bumper amount will help the Iron bolster all over the pitch this summer, with a move for Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf to join the East London side edging ever closer to completion.

Moreover, it is also being reported that Harvey Elliott is on West Ham’s radar as a potential midfield option, but there is another move in the pipeline that will seriously excite the Hammers faithful as they attempt to sweep this Kudus saga quickly under the rug.

Transfer Focus

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

As per French outlet L’Equipe, West Ham have now been in contact with Leicester City to make an enquiry concerning the availability of Bilal El Khannous. They are joined by both Sunderland and AS Monaco in the race to sign the promising Foxes gem.

Recently on Arsenal’s shopping list for around the £30m ballpark, this would be a significant move on West Ham’s end in trying to win an ideal replacement for Kudus, with the Moroccan attacker ready to explode into life even more in the Premier League.

Why El Khannous could be a dream Kudus replacement

Whilst Kudus did suffer from an off-season last campaign by his high standards – with only eight of his 32 overall goal contributions for Potter’s men coming across the 2024/25 season – he will still be a big hole for West Ham to fill, considering Lucas Paqueta is now the only recognisable number 10 in the Hammers camp currently.

Moreover, there is only really Jarred Bowen who can cause damage down the right now with Kudus off to Spurs, and whilst El Khannouss might not be the most instantly exciting signing when you view his recent relegation blemish, he could be just the versatile spark West Ham need to stitch up their wounds.

Amazingly, despite Kudus costing £55m to sign, El Khannouss would match his ex-West Ham counterpart when looking at their numbers from last season, as a standout three goals and five assists came the 21-year-old’s way, even as the Foxes fell back down to the EFL in depressing fashion.

On top of that, El Khannouss, when plying his trade in Belgium with Genk, would dazzle fans of the Jupiler Pro League side – much like Kudus managed with Ajax – with his constant creativity and eye for goal.

That was notably seen in his high goals and assist tally of 18 from 94 outings. Kudus would register 21 more goal contributions for the Amsterdam giants, in contrast, but the 21-year-old will hope he can reach these Genk levels again and beyond, lining up next to the likes of Bowen in East London.

AM

112

6

15

LW

4

0

0

LM

3

1

2

CM

1

0

1

El Khannouss might not be able to offer another electric body down the right, but he would be able to offer a similar adaptability that Kudus possessed in spades elsewhere, as seen in his promising career haul of three goals and assists when patrolling the left flank.

Once hailed as a “special” talent by football journalist Buchi Laba, on top of also being lauded as having a “killer final ball” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, it does feel as if this could be a sterling deal to secure now, particularly if the likes of Arsenal are also keen.

After all, West Ham were certainly left to feel smug snapping up Kudus when they did, as Liverpool and Newcastle also circled, with El Khannouss the next Kudus-like star who could burst into life at the London Stadium.

West Ham may get Kudus revenge with £35m Spurs target tempted by Irons move

The Hammers have opened negotiations to sign a “phenomenal” player.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 13, 2025

Manchester United’s hunt for new attacking reinforcements has been evident over the last couple of weeks, with the hierarchy making key moves in the transfer market.

Matheus Cunha has already arrived at Old Trafford in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, looking to provide the firepower needed within the final third.

Bryan Mbeumo is another player who’s been firmly on their radar over the last couple of weeks, with multiple bids already being made for the Brentford talisman.

The Cameroonian international has stated his desire to join Ruben Amorim’s side this window, but he could still stay with the Bees if his asking price isn’t met during the off-season.

However, despite the interest in his signature, moves are being made elsewhere this summer to try and provide added depth and quality in the final third.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Given the tally of just 44 goals scored in the Premier League last season, United have been desperately hunting for a new talisman to lead the line in 2025/26.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Victor Osimhen and Moise Kean have all been touted with moves to the Theatre of Dreams, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of the aforementioned stars.

However, a new name has been mentioned over the last couple of days, in the form of free agent forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to Sun Sport.

The 28-year-old is currently without a club after leaving Everton at the end of his current contract, with the Red Devils already making contact with his representatives, as per the report.

It also states that Amorim is a keen admirer of the attacker with a surprise move on the cards this window in an attempt to add depth to the current forward line.

Why United’s latest target could be Weghorst 2.0

Wout Weghorst joined United on loan back in the 2022/23 season, looking to provide squad depth in the front line during the Erik ten Hag era at Old Trafford.

The Dutch international made 31 appearances for the Red Devils during his temporary stint, scoring just twice and leaving the club – leaving at the end of his short-term stint.

He struggled to capture the hearts of the fanbase during his spell at Old Trafford, often missing numerous gilt-edged chances, as seen by his tally of four big chances missed in the Premier League.

However, a deal for Calvert-Lewin could see a repeat of a move for the 32-year-old, with the Englishman possessing a similar frame and skillset given their target man role.

The former Toffees star has previously been a top-level Premier League forward, with his best season coming back in 2020/21, where he managed to net 21 goals across all competitions.

Such form led to him being labelled as just “like Cristiano Ronaldo” by former teammate Richarlison, but it’s safe to say he’s failed to replicate such levels in the last couple of years.

He’s only managed 18 goals in the last four seasons, often struggling with injuries and only making more than 30 appearances in one of those campaigns.

Games played

26

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

63%

Passes made (per 90)

9

Successful dribbles

0.5

Times dispossessed

1.8

Aerials won

49%

Chances created

0.3

When delving into the stats he’s produced in recent seasons, they showcase how much he’s struggled, with his potential move to the Theatre of Dreams one they desperately need to avoid.

Calvert-Lewin would likely also command a hefty pay packet if he were to move to the club, earning an estimated £100k-per-week in his last season at Goodison Park, according to Capology.

There’s no denying that the Red Devils need another striker this summer if they are to push up the table in 2025/26, but it’s evident that he’s not the man to fill the void.

A deal for his signature is reminiscent of that for Weghorst from a couple of years ago, with the hierarchy needing to pursue alternative targets to hand the manager the tools and ambition for success.

Bad news for Bruno & Amad: Man Utd want to have deal "finalised by Monday"

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to another summer addition for Ruben Amorim.

13 ByEthan Lamb Jul 5, 2025

The SPFL fixtures are out, meaning Celtic supporters can start looking forward to the new season as Brendan Rodgers’ side go about defending their crown.

The Hoops will begin their Premiership title defence at Parkhead on Sunday 3 August, before a Scottish Cup Final rematch a week later for Rodgers’ Bhoys, seeking revenge following that penalty shootout defeat at Hampden.

With an Old Firm derby at Ibrox on 31 August, as well as a season-defining Champions League play-off, their opponents in that tie will be confirmed on 4 August, there’s plenty for Celtic supporters to look forward to on the park.

Off the pitch, they’re making a splash in the transfer window.

Celtic seeking midfield reinforcements

Before pre-season begins against Glasgow neighbours Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden on Friday week, focus remains on transfers, with Rodgers looking to bolster every area of his squad.

So far, Kieran Tierney has re-joined Celtic, while Ross Doohan has arrived to be the new third-choice goalkeeper, replacing Scott Bain, with Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren expected to be through the door soon.

Now, according to a report by Africa Foot, Celtic are interested in signing Moussa Baradji, facing competition from Sunderland, who have been promoted back to the Premier League.

The 24-year-old defensive midfielder currently plays for Yverdon-Sport, who finished bottom of this season’s Swiss Super League, thereby relegated, hence why Baradji is expected to be on the move again this summer, just one year after arriving from Legnago Salus in Serie C.

Baradji is valued at €3m (around £2.5m), described as a versatile midfielder by Drissa Traoré of Africa Foot, who adds that Galatasaray are amongst a number of European heavyweights vying for his signature.

Now though, could he be on his way to Glasgow?

How Baradji could replicate Victor Wanyama's Celtic career

Similar to Baradji, Victor Wanyama was not a known quantity when he joined Celtic from Beerschot in 2011, costing a reported fee of £900k, having made only 54 senior appearances for De Mannekes.

Nevertheless, just two years later, he was sold to Southampton for £12.5m, a Scottish record fee at the time, having impressed during his 91 appearances in hoops, most notably starring during the famous 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League, heading home the night’s opening goal.

That night, according to Ewan Murray of the Guardian, up against Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and others, the Kenyan was the best player on the pitch, with then-manager Neil Lennon labelling him “world class”.

After three seasons by the South Coast, Wanyama would join Tottenham, a key figure in Mauricio Pochettino’s successful Spurs side.

He was then not quite so impactful at Club de Foot Montréal, spending a large period of his four-year stay in Quebec injured or not contributing much, before returning to Scottish football in March, linking up with Lennon again at Dunfermline Athletic.

So, could Baradji be the new Wanyama? Let’s assess his statistics from this season.

Appearances

27

111th

Minutes

2,104

77th

Goals

4

51st

Shots

45

29th

Fouls

41

13th

Interceptions

24

71st

Tackles

72

12th

Average SofaScore rating

7.14

37th

As the table outlines, Baradji is something of an all-rounder, as Wanyama was, ranking pretty highly when it comes to shots, fouls and tackles, made all the more impressive considering his team finished rock-bottom of the Swiss top-flight.

Wanyama was particularly strong in the tackle, notably ranking as the tenth-best midfielder in the 2014/15 Premier League season for tackles per game (2.9). Thus, there are certainly similarities here.

Patrick Juillar of Sport 365 further describes him as a “box-to-box midfielder” who has just enjoyed an “outstanding” campaign, so if Celtic can secure his services, he could offer a big return on investment.

Celtic have made an approach to beat Premier League club to sign £2.5m ace

He is wanted by a host of teams.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 25, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta personally wants the Gunners to seal a statement signing before summer deadline day on September 1, and they’ve been alerted to the marquee costs of a potential deal.

£150k-per-week Premier League star in London after agreeing Arsenal move

Arsenal are about to make a signing.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2025

It is absolutely imperative that the new sporting director, Andrea Berta, starts making progress soon when it comes to the club’s key forward targets, and in an ideal world, Arteta would be able to work with them for pre-season.

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

According to some reports, Arteta personally wants Arsenal to bring in their desired new striker in time for their tour of Asia late next month, with the Spaniard seemingly keen to assess his squad in detail ahead of another Premier League title race.

Alongside their chase for a new number nine, links are also seriously re-emerging in regard to a potential swoop for Real Madrid star Rodrygo.

Arsenal held some talks over signing the Brazil international last month, and between “all parties”, meaning both club officials and the player’s representatives were involved in discussions over a switch to the Premier League.

Rodrygo has bagged 14 goals and 11 assists throughout 2024/2025, including their Club World Cup campaign, and teammate Jude Bellingham is convinced that the 24-year-old is Real’s most underrated player.

“Rodrygo, so underrated,” Bellingham said to CBS Sports.

“For me he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad. The things he can do with the football — we’ll be messing around and he’ll flick the ball up somehow, and you’re like, ‘How do you do that?’. I’m trying to do it, twisting up my ankles and everything like that. He’s a pleasure to play with.”

Mikel Arteta personally wants Arsenal to sign Rodrygo

According to CaughtOffside and journalist Mark Brus, though, Los Blancos ideally want around £94 million for their top talent – even if there is a theory behind-the-scenes that they could accept closer to £72 million.

This, combined with Rodrygo’s £205,000-per-week wages, would surely make him one of the most expensive signings of the summer in terms of overall cost – but it is an option now under serious consideration by Arsenal due to Nico Williams’ pending switch to Barcelona.

Arteta personally wants Arsenal to strike a deal for Rodrygo over the coming months, and he is believed to be a big fan of the South American who Xabi Alonso would ideally like to keep at the Bernabeu.

Man United and Chelsea are named as other suitors for the ex-Santos star, so this could potentially drive the price up even more.

Sunderland’s summer transfer window has been choppy so far, with both Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson deserting the Black Cats after the ecstasy of promotion.

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for Regis Le Bris and Co, however, as Enzo Le Fee has at least put pen to paper on a permanent Wearside stay to bolster the midfield areas.

Still, the Frenchman will want more and more new signings to enter the Stadium of Light in their unlikely bid to survive in the Premier League.

The former Lorient boss will surely be prioritising some defensive additions to help his team navigate the frightening step-up in quality, with a new, imposing target now reportedly on their agenda.

Sunderland interested in former Leeds colossus

As per a report from French outlet Jeunes Footeux, Sunderland are interested in landing former Leeds United centre-back Charlie Cresswell this summer, off the back of his impressive stint out in Ligue 1 with Toulouse.

It’s stated that Le Bris wants young, solid players who are already seasoned at the highest level, with Cresswell ticking those boxes for sure, considering he was also in and around the senior picture at Elland Road during the Whites’ brief stays in the Premier League.

Japhet Tanganga s also very much on the Black Cats’ radar as they look to add in some new defensive bodies here and there, with the Millwall brute perhaps gaining somewhat of an advantage when you glance at his modest £1.2m valuation.

But, if Sunderland are willing to pay a few million on top of Tanganga’s price-tag, they could win themselves an upgrade on the ex-Tottenham Hotspur youth product in Cresswell, with the 22-year-old no doubt champing at the bit to return to England to prove himself further.

Why Cresswell would be an upgrade on Tanganga

Cresswell has settled into life in the top division in France swimmingly, meaning he could be ready to take the plunge back into the English game with the newly promoted Black Cats.

This season for Toulouse, Cresswell would chip in with four strikes when putting his lofty 6-foot-3 frame to effective use, alongside also coming away from his 31 appearances in Ligue 1 with a respectable tally of nine clean sheets.

Tanganga did end up with 14 clean sheets of his own in the Championship, but he was present for nine more games at the heart of defence for the Lions than Cresswell was for Carles Martínez Novell’s men, away from falling short of the 22-year-old’s goal total by one.

Regardless, Cresswell has actually shown off his strengths as a no-nonsense centre-back option at the Den himself away from Tanganga’s standout campaign, with the table below further backing up why he might be worth the extra cash at around the £8m ballpark, as per Transfermarkt.

Games played

28

31

Goals scored

4

3

Assists

2

1

Touches*

53.5

63.3

Accurate passes*

28.1 (71%)

41.2 (83%)

Total duels won*

7.6

4.9

Clean sheets

5

9

Indeed, the table proves that Cresswell can battle it out in England, away from just his spells in the Leeds senior mix, with a ridiculous 7.6 duels won on average during his breakout 22/23 campaign in South East London. To add context, Tanganga only won 5.8 last season, on the contrary.

Moreover, with a full Ligue 1 season now under his belt which saw him collect nine clean sheets – which is two more than his former Spurs counterpart ever managed in North London in the elite division – Sunderland could now direct all their focus on attempting to land the Preston-born youngster, over winning a cut-price deal for Tanganga.

Currently out with England at the U21s Euros, where he’s rubbing shoulders with the likes of Premier League regulars Harvey Elliott and Elliot Anderson, the “outstanding” star – as he’s been glowing labelled in the past by Leeds content creator Joe Wainman – will believe the time is right for him to make this next move.

Sunderland will be hopeful he can be one key part of the puzzle that secures survival.

Sunderland plot move for "amazing" £15m+ star who scored 19 goals in 24/25

The Black Cats are eyeing reinforcements through the middle…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 15, 2025

Liverpool’s attack has been sensational throughout 2024/25, playing a huge role in Arne Slot’s success in claiming the Premier League title during his first season at the helm.

The Reds managed to notch a total of 86 goals in their 38 appearances – the most of any side in the division – with Mohamed Salah leading the way with 29 goals.

However, despite their success, there could be a change in the attacking department ahead of next season, with the club needing fresh impetus to maintain their performance levels.

The likes of Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez and Luis Diaz could all leave Anfield this window, raising some key funds in Slot’s ambitions of landing new signings.

With the transfer window now open, numerous players have already been touted with a switch to Merseyside this summer, which could see the hierarchy massively back the manager during the off-season.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions this summer

Since claiming the title, Liverpool have been extremely busy in the market, as seen with right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who’s already joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen.

He could be joined by the likes of Milos Kerkez, Marc Guehi and Alexander Isak, who have all also been strongly touted with a summer switch to Merseyside.

However, another name has been thrown into the mix in the form of Victor Osimhen, with the striker firmly on their radar, according to TBR’s latest update.

Their report claims that discussions have been held over a move for the Nigerian striker, who scored 37 goals in 41 appearances on loan at Galatasaray from Serie A outfit Napoli.

It also states that the Reds’ hierarchy are targeting a new striker this summer, with a big name expected, which could see the 26-year-old move to Anfield – but they would have to meet the £60m price tag on his head.

Why Osimhen would be a better signing than Wirtz

Florian Wirtz is a player who has been the subject of huge interest from Liverpool in recent weeks, with a move progressing in the right direction ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The German, who registered 30 combined goals and assists this season, could cost the Reds a pretty penny, after already having a club-record bid of £110m rejected by Bayer Leverkusen.

It would be a huge investment from the hierarchy, showcasing how much the board have faith in the manager to make the changes he desires after his first season at the helm.

If he can carry his tally of contributions over from the Bundesliga, it would be an addition that could massively bolster their ambitions of becoming back-to-back champions in the Premier League.

However, they could be about to make a better addition than the midfielder this summer in the form of Osimhen, who would solve arguably what’s been Slot’s biggest issue.

When comparing the Nigerian’s stats with those of current strikers Jota and Nunez, he’s massively outperformed the pair, handing the side that focal point they’ve been desperately lacking.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, has massively outscored the duo, whilst registering a higher shot-on-target rate – offering the manager the clinical central option he’s been devoid of as of late.

Games played

30

26

30

Goals & assists

31

9

7

Shot on target accuracy

42%

25%

38%

Shots on target per game

2.2

1

1

Aerials won

3.5

1.6

1.5

Aerial success rate

60%

40%

37%

Fouls won

1.9

1.1

1.1

He’s also managed to win more of the aerial duels he’s entered this campaign, with such a talent aiding the likes of Salah in the attacking areas, which could see him improve his own tallies in the final third.

Whilst a deal for Wirtz is undoubtedly an exciting one, it’s an extra to what’s already an impressive midfield department, offering key depth alongside the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

However, Osimhen would undoubtedly be signed as the number one striker, looking to fill the void in a position that has arguably been a disappointing one over the last 12 months – as seen by the records of Jota and Nunez.

If the club are to have any chance of securing another league title next campaign, the signing of the Nigerian international is vital, with his skillset massively improving the goalscoring options at Slot’s disposal.

He's Coutinho 2.0: Liverpool hold talks to sign "Ballon d'Or level talent"

Florian Wirtz isn’t the only midfielder Liverpool have their eye on.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 3, 2025