Manchester City are aiming to reclaim the Premier League title this season and could take a step in the right direction if they can push their latest pursuit over the line, per reports.
Manchester City set to seal deal for James Trafford
Earlier this week, it was reported that Manchester City were in advanced talks to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, and it is now more of less confirmed that he will be on his way to the Etihad Stadium courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.
Taking to social media platform X, he stated: “More on exclusive story on James Trafford joining Manchester City: understand medical tests will take place early next week, main part on Monday. Man City to pay £27m fee to Burnley for the goalkeeper, as revealed.”
Now that the saga of bringing in a new goalkeeper is over, Pep Guardiola will be keen to swiftly move onto other targets and the Citizens are looking to bolster their backline.
In what would be a statement signing, Manchester City are preparing a £69 million bid for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, though the Catalan giants are said to be working on tying him down to an extension.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are among rival sides that have moved to strengthen their ranks ahead of the new campaign, laying the gauntlet down to Guardiola’s men after a disappointing campaign last time out.
Man City in talks to sign £34m PSG star, Pep once said he has "huge skill"
The Blues have stepped up their interest in a Paris Saint-Germain player, who Pep Guardiola rates very highly.
ByDominic Lund Jul 23, 2025
Undeterred by the challenge, the former Barcelona man could now look to sanction a deal to bring one of England’s brightest talents to the Etihad Stadium from one of their domestic rivals.
Manchester City make fresh Tino Livramento approach
According to TBR, Manchester City have made a fresh approach for Tino Livramento and would be willing to pay over £50 million to sign the Newcastle United full-back.
With three years left on his deal on Tyneside, the Magpies are keen to offer him a contract extension. Should he opt to remain in the North East, the Citizens could turn their attention to either of Juventus duo Andrea Cambiaso and Nicolo Savona.
Five similar players to Tino Livramento (FBRef)
Dennis Appiah
Saint-Etienne
Joe Scally
Borussia Monchengladbach
Destiny Udogie
Tottenham Hotspur
Pep Chavarria
Rayo Vallecano
Gideon Marsh
Auxerre
Labelled someone who is “developing into a top player” by legendary Premier League star Ashley Cole, Livramento registered a solitary assist in 45 appearances across all competitions last term as Newcastle secured Champions League qualification and won the EFL Cup.
Eddie Howe has no intention of selling the right-back this summer, but he is at the top of Manchester City’s shortlist, creating an intriguing scenario that may last the length of the window.
Time is of the essence as the league season draws closer, so it will be interesting to see if Guardiola and company can successfully progress in negotiations.
Louis Saha was a player who captured the hearts of the fanbase at Manchester United over a four-and-a-half-year period, racking up 124 appearances for the Red Devils.
The Frenchman struggled with injuries during his stint at Old Trafford, but managed to register a total of 42 goals and 15 assists, helping the side win two Premier League titles.
Apart from his goalscoring record, he was also known for his movement and his ability to torment the opposition, with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher paying homage to his movement off the ball.
By no means was he prolific during his spell in the North West, scoring one goal every three outings, but it was his all-round play that made him such a threat to sides in England’s top-flight.
In the present day, boss Ruben Amorim has the opportunity to land his own version of the forward in an attempt to help the side rise up the league table in 2025/26.
The latest on United’s hunt to land new attackers this summer
Bryan Mbeumo has been the name on the lips of all United supporters this summer, with a deal for his signature appearing to be dragging on throughout the majority of the transfer window.
However, a breakthrough may appear in the coming days, after the Red Devils submitted a third offer of £65m fixed fee with £5m in potential add-ons.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
He’s not the only attacker who’s emerged on their radar in recent days, with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson a player they’re strongly considering, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
He claimed that Jason Wilcox have been discussing a deal for the signing of the 23-year-old striker in recent days, after he scored 13 times across all competitions last campaign.
Jacobs further stated that Enzo Maresca’s side could be open to offers for the Senegalese international, with a £100m price tag for his services previously mooted.
Why United’s £100m target could be the perfect Mbeumo partner
Mbeumo’s ability to thrive in England has been showcased over recent months, especially after his latest year in the Premier League in the capital with Brentford.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal
The Cameroonian international managed to score 20 times in 2024/25, in what was the best goalscoring season of his professional career, leading to the interest in his signature.
He will be tasked with improving the situation within the final third, given United only managed to find the back of the net on 44 occasions in their 38 outings last season.
However, he could be aided by Jackson in any attempts, potentially being the perfect partner to the 25-year-old, whilst also being Amorim’s answer to Saha.
The Senegalese star, who has “Louis Saha vibes” according to former Red Devils star Rio Ferdinand, always likes to get beyond the last defender, leading to Theo Walcott singing his praises.
Like the Frenchman, he’s not the most clinical option, scoring just 24 league goals in the last two years, but his all-round ability could see him be a success – averaging 6.2 touches in the opposition box per 90, subsequently able to get on the end of Mbeumo’s deliveries.
His impressive numbers don’t stop there, averaging 1.4 shots on target per 90, whilst completing 1.2 dribbles per 90, having the talent in various areas to thrive at Old Trafford.
Games played
30
Goals & assists
15
Shot-on-target accuracy
45%
Pass accuracy
76%
Aerials won
37%
Shots on target per game
1.4
Fouls won
1.2
Jackson could also potentially return the favour for the Cameroonian should they both join the club, creating 1.2 chances per 90, potentially being the perfect striker for the current 3-4-2-1 system.
The £100m price tag that is being mooted is way too expensive for the Blues talisman, with the hierarchy needing to negotiate a deal if they are to land him this summer.
The prospect of the forward linking up with Mbeumo at Old Trafford could be a frightening sight for the opposition, potentially firing the club to success in the near future.
Amad will love him: Man Utd preparing bid to sign "eye-catching" £25m star
Manchester United appear to be making a move to land a star who’d thrive with Amad Diallo.
Newcastle United must act swiftly if they are to have a squad strong enough to compete in both the Premier League and Champions League next term.
So far, only Anthony Elanga has made the move to the Magpies this summer. That was an excellent piece of business, but more is required for Eddie Howe.
There has been no shortage of links, that’s for sure, but other clubs have beaten them to the punch for players such as Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitiké and Bryan Mbeumo.
Although adding another striker or two to the squad is a priority for the manager, there are other areas which could do with strengthening.
Newcastle's search for a new midfielder
The midfield area has not been earmarked for improvement, especially not compared to the attacking and defensive departments at the club.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That’s not to say Howe won’t consider a move for someone who could offer the right qualities, however.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are looking at the possibility of bringing Conor Gallagher back to the Premier League this summer.
That being said, the Toon face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, with Thomas Frank said to be an admirer.
The player’s agent has already started putting the feelers out to determine the midfielder’s options but he would ideally stay with Atletico Madrid if he had the choice.
Conor Gallagher in action for Atletico Madrid.
The Atleti star could be available for around £50m, which might be tempting for Howe. The manager can call on several midfield options, but adding in Gallagher could be a wise move, particularly considering the former Chelsea man offers the same sort of qualities as Bruno Guimaraes.
Why Newcastle must sign Conor Gallagher
Guimaraes is the fulcrum behind this Newcastle side that not only won the League Cup last term, but also secured a Champions League place for the second time in three seasons.
He scored five goals and grabbed eight assists throughout 2024/25, and Howe will be looking for him to continue this fine form into next season.
Gallagher may have played 50 times for Atletico, but only 27 of those came from the starting XI. He has qualities similar to Guimaraes, however, especially when comparing their stats from the 2023/24 Premier League season.
That term, Guimaraes was the most comparable player, via FBRef, to Gallagher, and they both performed well.
Metric
Guimaraes
Gallagher
Goals
7
5
Assists
8
7
Big chances created
12
11
Tackles per game
2.4
2.3
Total duels won per game
7.7
5.7
Key passes per game
1.7
1.4
The pair also registered similar statistics with regard to goals and assists (12 vs 15), shots per 90 (1.38 vs 1.32), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.14 vs 3.94), tackles won (52 vs 53), successful take-on percentage (58.5% vs 54.5%) and touches in the attacking penalty area (79 vs 75) domestically that season.
On this evidence, Gallagher would be an excellent signing, offering Howe the all-round package in the middle of the park that Guimaraes also provides.
Not only can he contribute in the final third, but the Englishman is more than able to chip in defensively and help his team off the ball.
He was even hailed as a “machine” by former Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo, signifying how important he was to their style of play.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher
Will Howe be willing to shell out £50m for a midfielder when he is in urgent need of a striker and defender this summer? Only time will tell, but Gallagher would certainly be worth the money.
Newcastle send scouts to watch "electric" star who'd be their very own Gakpo
Celtic have developed a strong reputation for buying players and then selling them on for a profit further down the line, and Nicolas Kuhn is the latest example of their expertise in player trading.
The German forward is closing in on a £16.5m transfer to Serie A outfit Como this summer, 18 months on from paying £3m to sign him from Rapid Vienna.
He is set to join that list above, between Odsonne Edouard and Moussa Dembele, and will be above some big names, including Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.
The Netherlands captain joined the Hoops from Groningen and made 115 appearances before his £13m transfer to Southampton in the summer of 2015.
Celtic's interest in Dutch defender
The Scottish Premiership champions could repeat the blinder they played with van Dijk by swooping to sign another Dutch central defender with potential this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Celtic are reportedly keen on a deal to sign £3m-rated Famalicao centre-back Justin De Haas to bolster their options at the back, and a Dutch expert has told them what kind of player they could be getting.
An unnamed Voetbalzone reporter recently told 67HailHail: “He had a good season at Famalicao in Portugal and was part of the Team of the Week seven times. He’s tall, 6′ 4”, strong in the air and a good tackler. He’s strong on the ball and reads the game very well.”
They added: “He has gone a bit under the radar in Holland and I don’t expect Ronald Koeman to put him in his squad soon. But a move to Celtic could change things of course, as that’s a huge club.”
Why De Haas could be Celtic's next van Dijk
At a fee of just £3m, there would be plenty of scope for Celtic to make a profit on the centre-back in the year to come if they manage to strike a deal for him this summer.
De Haas is 25 and heading towards the prime years of his career, which means that the Hoops could sign him at an optimal time right before his value potentially peaks, particularly if he earns a senior international call-up.
In terms of the quality that he could provide in the left centre-back role which is also where van Dijk played for the Hoops, you only have to
look at his performances in Portugal to see that he has the potential to be a solid addition for Brendan Rodgers.
In fact, De Haas faced Sporting superstar Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 97 goals in 102 games for the club, and kept him quiet in April of last year.
Errors
0
Goals + assists
0
Pass accuracy
90%
Pass accuracy
77%
Blocks
2
Shots
2
Clearances
2
Shots on target
0
Interceptions
2
Key passes
1
Dribbled past
0x
xG
0.11
As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old defender silenced the highly-rated striker, who did not score a goal, have a shot on target, create a ‘big chance’, or assist a goal.
This shows that the 6 foot 4 titan can step up to lock down elite strikers when he is at his best, which shows the kind of level that he can get to.
De Haas ended the 2024/25 Liga Portugal season with 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game, more than any Celtic centre-back managed in the Scottish Premiership, which speaks to his ability to step in and cut out attacks on a regular basis.
Better than Ambrosino: Celtic's interest in lethal £7m star is no secret
Celtic are interested in signing a striker who is even better than Giuseppe Ambrosino.
ByDan Emery Jul 9, 2025
If Celtic can provide him with a platform to showcase his qualities in the Champions League and the Premiership, De Haas could develop into yet another highly-valued star who could follow in his countryman’s footsteps at Parkhead.
Newcastle United are on the hunt for what seems to be their primary target this summer, a new right winger.
The Magpies have a huge season ahead of them, with Champions League football returning to St James’ Park, and are looking for extra depth on the right to go along with Jacob Murphy.
After being rejected by Bryan Mbeumo, the Magpies seemingly switched their attention to Anthony Elanga.
According to David Ornstein, they placed a bid of around £45m, but that was rejected by Nottingham Forest, the Sweden international’s current club.
Whilst there is still a chance they could return with a bid for Elanga, there have been reports about their new targets out wide.
Newcastle's new right-wing targets
It is definitely a blow for the North East giants to perhaps lose out on the signing of Elanga. He was a player they have seemingly targeted for a while, having made a move for him last summer. However, they certainly have other options.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It seems as though Newcastle could move for a new target after they failed to sign Elanga. Keith Downie of Sky Sports reported a few days ago that they are ‘exploring’ a move for other players, including Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi.
If Eddie Howe’s side decide to try and sign the Germany international, he could cost £43m, according to SportBILD a few weeks ago.
The same report also suggests that Juventus, Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the winger, although it is not clear if they will challenge the Magpies in their move or Howe gets a clear run at his latest winger target.
How Adeyemi compares to Anthony Elanga
At 23 years of age, Adeyemi has already played a great deal of football at the highest level and has made a great impression. He notably impressed last season for Dortmund despite struggling with an injury, and is now playing in the Club World Cup in the United States.
In 2024/25 so far, including the ongoing competition happening Stateside, he has played 38 times, scoring an impressive 12 goals and grabbing a further nine assists. Given that he has featured for just 2,261 minutes, the equivalent of 25.1 full 90-minute games, contributing to 21 goals in that time is a great effort.
The Magpies will certainly know a bit about the damage Adeyemi can cause. Having played against him twice before in the Champions League, he grabbed an assist against them at Signal Iduna Park. Adeyemi’s quick feet and excellent long pass enabled Julian Brandt to counter-attack Newcastle, which he ended up scoring.
Sweden international Elanga had a fantastic campaign in the Premier League last season too. He played all 38 of Forest’s games, scoring six goals and grabbing 11 assists, including a sublime effort against former side Manchester United.
Those numbers are fairly similar to the ones Adeyemi put up in the Bundesliga; he contributed 13 goals and assists in the German top flight, but played just 25 games.
Described as a “counter-attacking weapon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and as “unstoppable” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, you can certainly see how that is similar to Elanga by watching how quick he is in the above goal. Adeyemi is not exactly slow, and, as per Speeds Database, has a top speed of 36.30 km/h.
Statistically, via FBref, Adeyemi has numbers which far exceed Elanga. For example, the German international averaged 0.82 goal involvements and 0.69 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to the Forest star’s 0.61 goals and assists and 0.65 goal-creating actions each game.
Goals and assists
0.82
0.61
Goals per shot on target
0.39
0.25
Progressive carries
4.28
3.67
Take-ons completed
2.52
0.90
Goal-creating actions
0.69
0.65
Tackles and interceptions
1.7
0.90
If this is the type of profile Newcastle want to sign this summer, and they miss out on Elanga, they might end up with the better option in Adeyemi. The Dortmund attacker is quick, dangerous in transition and able to score and assist at a consistent level, more so than Elanga.
Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi celebrates scoring their second goal withDonyellMalen, Julian Brandt and Pascal Gross
For £43m, a fee they’re clearly willing to spend, this seems like a fantastic addition to the Magpies’ squad, and could be a better option than the Forest star.
Advanced talks: Newcastle accelerating move to sign "incredible" £30m ace
The transfer window might be closed again for a few days, but it feels like Arsenal are starting to fall behind their rivals.
For example, Manchester City have already secured the services of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Ait-Nouri and look set for more.
However, perhaps the most worrying development, at least in terms of the Gunners’ chances in the Premier League next season, has been Liverpool’s £116m capture of Florian Wirtz.
The German is about as perfect an example of a statement signing as you’ll ever see, but in some more positive news, reports have recently linked Arsenal to someone who could be their own version of the international superstar.
Arsenal transfer news
While Arsenal are yet to make any official signings this summer, they have been linked with a host of potentially game-changing stars, such as Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former has a release clause reportedly worth around £68m in Crystal Palace contract, and while that is a sizeable sum of money, it would be a price more than worth paying for a Premier League-proven attacker who scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games this season.
Likewise, while Rodrygo could cost a whopping £84m this summer, his tally of 24 goal involvements this season and record of winning the biggest trophies in the game means he’d be a superb addition to the Gunners’ squad.
However, regarding the North Londoners’ answer to Wirtz, it looks like it will be Benjamin Sesko.
According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the RB Leipzig star.
In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Gunners have now made a ‘breakthrough’ in negotiations and are expected to make an offer of €100m early next week, which comes out to around £85m.
It would represent an enormous vote of confidence in the young striker, but given his ability and potential, this is a transfer Arsenal should get done as soon as possible, as Sesko could be their own Wirtz.
Why Sesko would be Arsenal's Wirtz
Okay, so the first thing to say is that the two players are obviously not comparable in terms of position, as while Wirtz can play in a few other places, he is primarily an attacking midfielder, not a striker.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates
However, their positions have little to do with why Sesko could be Arsenal’s version of the German.
The first actual reason is that, like Liverpool’s new creator, the Slovenian international has the potential to be a truly game-changing addition to the Gunners.
Appearances
45
Minutes
3258′
Goals
21
Assists
6
Goal Involvements per Match
0.6
Minutes per Goal Involvement
120.66′
For example, even though he’s still just 22 years old, the former Salzburg gem was able to score 21 goals and provide six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes.
That means the Radeče-born “monster,” as dubbed by respected data analyst Ben Mattinson, averaged a goal involvement every 1.66 games, or every 120.66 minutes for a pretty poor Leipzig side.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
So, just imagine what he could do under Arteta with Bukayo Saka to the right of him, hopefully, a new left-winger on the other side and a rejuvenated Martin Odegaard behind him.
Moreover, despite standing a mammoth 6 foot 5, the 41-capped behemoth is still incredibly rapid and capable of hitting speeds of 35.69 km/h and then, to top it off, you only need to watch his clips to see how technical he is with the ball at his feet.
Finally, aside from the ways in which Sesko could take Arteta’s side to the next level, he’d also be arriving for huge money and from the Bundesliga, just like Wirtz.
Ultimately, even though the money involved is more than most expected, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the Leipzig gem this summer.
He's just like Saka: £68m winger is Tognozzi's dream target for Arsenal
The exciting wonderkid would be a superb addition to the Arsenal squad.
Liverpool have received a boost regarding a transfer target who is the “blueprint” for his position, but mega rich clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United are also entering the race.
Liverpool set for record breaking summer spend
The upcoming summer transfer window is threatening to be the most memorable at Anfield for some time, with the Reds expected to spend big after years of relative frugality in the transfer market.
In fact, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has even suggested that FSG could even give head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes as much as £250m to spend, which would be the club’s record window and one of the biggest single-window sprees of all time.
1.
Chelsea (summer 2023/24)
£391m
2.
Al-Hilal (summer 2023/24)
£298m
3.
PSG (summer 2023/24)
£295m
4.
Real Madrid (summer 2019/20)
£279m
5.
Chelsea (winter 2022/23)
£278m
6.
Chelsea (summer 2022/23)
£254m
7.
Barcelona (summer 2019/20)
£235m
8.
Juventus (summer 2018/19)
£223m
9.
Real Madrid (summer 2009/10)
£218m
10.
Manchester City (summer 2017/18)
£210m
Liverpool are being linked with some fantastic signings, not least Florian Wirtz, with the Bayer Leverkusen superstar still looking likely to join Jeremie Frimpong at the club. The 22-year-old will almost certainly become their record signing and perhaps the biggest in top flight history.
It also feels like a matter of time until Milos Kerkez’s switch from Bournemouth is announced, with the 21-year-old expected to provide serious competition for Andy Robertson at left-back. Now, another defender has been mentioned as an eye-catching option for the Premier League champions.
Liverpool racing PSG and Newcastle as centre-back's price slashed
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are “exploring” a move for Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae this summer, with the South Korean keen on a new challenge.
In fact, the 28-year-old’s asking price has dropped £12.5m from £42m down to £29.5m, acting as a boost for the Reds, with PSG now also among the clubs chasing him, as well as AC Milan. Newcastle United are said to have held talks over a move, too.
Kim is a top-level central defender who could provide brilliant competition for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, being described by the German media as a “blueprint for a 21st century centre-back”, which sums up his quality.
At 28, the South Korean international admittedly isn’t getting any younger, but his price tag alleviates that issue, with Liverpool potentially able to sign him for something of a bargain.
The Reds need to be ruthless this summer and sign an upgrade on Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah, in terms of the strongest backup option, and Kim could be perfect, even though he will clearly want regular starts – there is more than enough football next season to ensure that.
He'd be incredible with Wirtz: £80m star dreaming of signing for Liverpool
Liverpool are making some serious moves in the transfer market.
ByAngus Sinclair Jun 6, 2025
The fact that he would like to test himself in the Premier League can only aid Liverpool’s chances of getting their man, and he would immediately strengthen their squad depth significantly.
The Premier League champions have defied pre-season predictions to take gold medals this season. However, Arne Slot’s Liverpool have their work cut out this summer.
It’s curious that a title-winning team with such depth and balance in attack have found repeated calls in recent months for upgrades in the final third.
Liverpool, after all, have outscored their divisional rivals and then some this season. Moreover, Mohamed Salah is surely going to complete a clean sweep of individual accolades after his incredible campaign.
1.
Liverpool
1st
80
2.
Man City
4th
66
3.
Newcastle
3rd
65
4.
Arsenal
2nd
63
5.
Tottenham
16th
62
But several stars haven’t lived up to the billing, with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota’s woes accentuating the need for an out-and-out striker.
Credit to Luis Diaz, whose versatility and tireless efforts have been crucial in Slot setting his name alongside the illustrious list of Premier League-winning managers; however, he’s not a true number nine and he’s gone stretches of the campaign without finding the back of the net.
Liverpool need to sign a centre-forward, but they shouldn’t sign Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak. Big claim, but here’s why.
Why Liverpool shouldn't sign Isak
If we’re going purely off suitability within Slot’s system and the level of quality Liverpool want to augment their ranks with, Isak would be the perfect summer signing.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsak
However, FSG simply won’t authorise a package in excess of £150m to bring him to Merseyside, which is what Newcastle are likely to demand if they qualify for the Champions League.
And given that the Magpies are third in the Premier League with four games to go, they have a real chance to claim a seat back at Europe’s elite table.
Hark back two years. In April 2023, Liverpool pulled out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, concerned about the finances involved in striking a deal and Real Madrid’s vested interest.
Real Madrid'sJudeBellinghamcelebrates
This was met with derision from rivals, but FSG knew what they were doing. A range of signings were needed to refurnish the midfield, and who can say the decision was a poor one? Now, Liverpool are champions, having lifted the Carabao Cup last year.
The same outlook must be applied to Isak’s situation. The Sweden star has been “the best striker in the Premier League” this season, in the view of Jamie Carragher, but he’s not the only goalscorer available, and bagging him would likely come at the expense of much-needed investment across other areas.
Luckily, Liverpool are not so blinkered as to place all eggs in one basket.
Liverpool scouting exciting striker
As per The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe, Liverpool may well turn their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike as they (potentially) close the door on Newcastle’s star striker.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, FSG’s chiefs are understood to have internal reservations about forking out a figure which could stand at £80m for a raw talent whose qualities have not yet been solidified at the highest level over a proven number of years.
The frustrations behind the failed shot at Nunez still live in the club’s mind, but Liverpool have doubled down on their data-driven approach since Klopp’s departure and Ekitike ticks a lot of boxes.
He ticks a lot of boxes for multiple high-level suitors, though, with Arsenal and Manchester United both also reportedly keen on striking a deal.
What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Anfield
Frankfurt signed the 22-year-old Ekitike from Paris Saint-Germain on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 season before his deal was made permanent for a reported €35m (£30m) fee last summer.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
Always well regarded for his gifted skills on the ball, his multi-faceted attacking approach, Ekitike has gone from strength to strength since moving to Germany, thriving as the main man after languishing on the periphery of PSG’s swollen ranks.
According to analyst Ben Mattinson, Ekitike is “one of the best strikers out there” right now, scoring 22 goals and supplying ten more assists across 45 matches in all competitions. He’s certainly making waves, with journalist Graeme Bailey citing a few years ago the fact that many in France feel he could be “the next Mbappe.”
He netted a fantastic goal in the first leg of Frankfurt’s Europa League quarter-final tie against Tottenham Hotspur, though failed to advance to the penultimate stage.
Liverpool are interested not just because he has the trappings of a first-class goalscorer, but boasts a dynamic range of qualities. As per FBref, the Les Bleus star ranks among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
What an interesting profile. Direct but smooth in his darts into the danger area, Ekitike is an artful dribbler and intelligent in his decision-making under pressure, hailed for his “incredible” quality by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.
These qualities have actually led the data-driven site to record Isak as Ekitike’s most statistically similar player. The plot very much thickens, then. You can see why Liverpool are so keen to snap this young talent up, replacing Nunez with an exciting new striker.
Ekitike isn’t Isak Lite, per se, but he’s definitely not on the level of the 25-year-old, whose completeness is truly a thing to behold. Of course, goalscoring is Isak’s bread and butter, scoring 22 Premier League goals this season (his one-term record) and missing just 18 big chances, as per Sofascore.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their second goal
Such a conversion rate is impressive, for sure, but Ekitike’s showcasing his own brand of ball-striking potential in the Bundesliga, with 15 goals put away and only 13 big chances missed.
Similarities there, but Isak also ranks among the top 14% of strikers for both assists and shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90 (also FBref).
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Isak’s the dream, but dreams are so often rooted in unreality, and Ekitike would be a more pragmatic signing who could still turn into a world-class player under the wing of Slot.
All the while ensuring there is ample room to make important improvements across the park.
Liverpool willing to table £51m to make West Ham star Bowen marquee signing
He has scored 3 times against the Reds in the past.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is now ready to cash in on a £150,000-a-week player who is happy to leave the club, according to a new report.
Aston Villa face Man Utd in two separate transfer battles
As the Premier League enters the month of May, transfer business is expected to heat up, and at Villa Park, there is an expectation there is going to be a lot of coming and going, as there has been ever since Emery joined the club.
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The transfer window has yet to open, and already the Villans find themselves in two separate battles with Manchester United. The first is for goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who currently plays for Espanyol.
The shot-stopper has impressed in La Liga, and he is now wanted by both Premier League teams, as they have their eyes on strengthening their goalkeeper department. Villa are looking to win the race for Garcia by acting fast, and they are willing to trigger his release clause, which stands at £21 million. United are not out of the race though, as they have made contact with the player’s representatives over a deal to come to Old Trafford.
The second battle Villa face against United is signing teenager Christian Kofane from Albacete Balompié. The 18-year-old is wanted by Villa, United and Newcastle United, as well as many other top teams across Europe. His recent form in front of goal has put him further in the spotlight, and once again, he is a player who has a release clause, but this time a low one, as he would cost as little as £4.2 million.
Emery ready to wave goodbye to Emi Martinez
Winning the race to sign Garcia may be more significant for the Villans, as according to TBR Football, Emery now wants to sell goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who is ready to leave the Premier League club.
The report states that Saudi Pro League clubs are ready to make a move for Martinez, who won the World Cup with Argentina back in 2022. It goes on to add that Villa are interested in doing business over a possible sale, despite the fact that he is still under contract until 2029. Meanwhile, Martinez is also interested in a move away from Villa Park, after joining the club in September 2020.
The 32-year-old, who earns a weekly wage of £150,000 at Villa Park, has become one of the strongest keepers in the Premier League as well as European football. But the fact that Villa have shown an interest in Garcia could mean they see now as the ideal time for the club to cash in and bring in a younger replacement.
Apps
33
Clean Sheets
5
Goals conceded
45
Goals conceded per game
1.4
Saves made
87
Penalty saves
1/2
Saves per game
2.6 (66%)
Errors leading to a shot
5
Errors leading to a goal
1
This season has been a slight struggle for Villa and Martinez in terms of keeping out the goals, as they have conceded 45 goals so far in the league with Martinez in goal, and the Argentine has kept just five clean sheets, which is lower than the nine he kept last season.
As The Friedkin Group look to send shockwaves throughout the Premier League in their first summer in charge at Everton, the Toffees have reportedly joined the race to sign a young English talent.
Everton transformed under David Moyes
As if those at Goodison Park have gone back in time to the days of Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar, Everton have been a side transformed under David Moyes, who is thriving in his second stint in charge. The experienced manager returned with the club battling relegation once again but, since his arrival, has turned Everton into a side performing at the level needed to qualify for European football if they continue into next term.
After arguably his most impressive victory back in charge of the Toffees yet – a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest – Moyes told reporters: “I have got to say it was a great goal but thoroughly deserved. It certainly merited a win and I thought we played very well, when you come to a team sitting third in the Premier League and the semi-final of the FA Cup. I think if anyone was going to score, it was us.
“I have had a lot of games and sometimes football can go that way for you. I am getting a brilliant response from the supporters and the players but I am also calm enough to know it could change. Today we have put on a good show and I am proud of how the players are performing. We are trying to make small steps every week.”
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Those in Merseyside will be hoping that their recent run is only the sign of things to come before they potentially launch one of the most unexpected moves of the summer transfer window.
Everton join race to sign Jarell Quansah
According to Caught Offside, Everton have now emerged as shock contenders to sign Jarell Quansah from Merseyside rivals Liverpool this summer. The young defender has endured a tough season under Arne Slot having done plenty to impress Jurgen Klopp in the last campaign. Now, he could be heading for the exit door.
It’s not just Everton interested in his signature either. Joining the Toffees, Newcastle United’s interest has been well-documented and now Brentford, Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have also reportedly joined the race. Amid such interest, Everton would be landing a major coup by signing the £30k-a-week defender, especialy considering the reputation of the German duo for transforming British talents abroad.
Jarell Quansah for Liverpool
An England international, the 22-year-old earned plenty of praise from Klopp last season, who told reporters after handing the defender his debut: “I have to say he did really well. He was good.
“In possession as well he was calm. It was like we had just met in the car park before the game with the organisation in the first-half. But he played really well. In such a disorganised team like we were in the first half, he was the one who looked alright. It was a statement and he is really happy at the moment.”