All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City are now rivalling Real Madrid and Arsenal for the signature of a “pacy” £52m star, who is regarded as perfect for Pep Guardiola.

Man City looking to sign new defender amid "scruffy" performances

Man City are just three points off Premier League leaders Arsenal, after taking ten points from their last four matches, signing off before the international break with a 1-0 victory away at Brentford.

However, Gary Neville has been left unconvinced by the way in which City have started the season, describing them as “scruffy” and “unpredictable”, while also suggesting it is much easier to cause their defence problems than it used to be.

Having gone seven games undefeated in all competitions, however, Guardiola will be hoping his side have turned a corner, and the manager is likely to be happy with the performances of Nico O’Reilly, who grabbed an assist in the 2-2 draw against AS Monaco.

However, according to a report from BILD (via Caught Offside), Man City have now set their sights on signing a new left-back, namely Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown, who is also being targeted by Real Madrid and Arsenal.

Brown is regarded as perfect for Pep, given that the City boss deploys full-backs as auxiliary midfielders, or as touchline runners, and the Frankfurt defender is capable of slotting into those roles.

Pep is looking to bring in a new full-back able to come into midfield when required, but a deal for the one-time Germany international is likely to be on the expensive side, with the Bundesliga club only willing to cash-in for at least €60m (£52m).

Man City now submit offer to sign two "highly-rated" English midfielders

City are looking to bolster their options in the engine room, having made a proposal for two new midfielders.

1 ByDominic Lund Oct 14, 2025 "Pacy" Brown impressing in the Bundesliga

Much like O’Reilly, the 22-year-old is capable of making a real impact on the front foot, having chipped in with three goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last season, while he is also solid from a defensive point of view.

Indeed, the Frankfurt star is a very impressive tackler of the ball, showcasing his ability to win back possession on a regular basis over the course of the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.13 (89th percentile)

Assists

0.26 (96th percentile)

Tackles

3.37 (99th percentile)

Brown’s ability to slot in as an auxiliary midfielder is an added bonus for Pep, and Man City should undoubtedly try to get a deal done.

Already shifting their focus towards the January transfer window, Everton are reportedly ready to offer one want-away forward a fresh exit route.

Duncan Ferguson takes aim at "poor" Beto

It should come as no surprise that Everton are already eyeing additional support in attack. That’s where their biggest weakness lies. Despite adding the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Thierno Barry and Jack Grealish to David Moyes’ side in the summer, the Toffees are still struggling to find goals – scoring just twice in their recent four-game winless run.

A large part of that problem has been Beto and his underwhelming performances. With Barry still not ready to step into the side as a starter every week, the responsibility has fallen the way of Beto to lead the lines for Moyes, who has even been critical of the forward himself in the early stages of the campaign.

In Monday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, the 27-year-old failed to impress once more and quickly became the subject of Duncan Ferguson’s frustration in his post-match analysis.

If Everton are looking to push beyond the bottom half and back to where many feel they belong, then signing a replacement for Beto in January should be top of their priority list.

There’s also no guarantee that Barry will prove his worth as of yet. The summer arrival has started just once in the Premier League and made five other appearances from the bench, but is yet to find the back of the net.

The Toffees must welcome a player at the peak of their powers and may well have the perfect player in mind to do exactly that when the winter window swings open.

Everton readying Maeda move

As reported by Sports Boom, Everton are now ready to offer Daizen Maeda an exit route from Celtic amid his desire to leave the Scottish giants in 2026.

The Japan international revealed earlier this season that he had an agreement with another club before the Bhoys blocked his move late on in the summer window. Now, Everton could take full advantage to swoop in this winter.

Maeda revealed: “There were some things that I had agreed to personally, so I wanted to take on the challenge. I had received an offer, and I had been telling the club that I wanted to take the next step, but Celtic hadn’t been able to make any good reinforcements, so in the end they told me they couldn’t let me leave.”

Not just O'Brien: Moyes is wasting Everton star in his current position

David Moyes’ Everton side still need to go up a few gears over the coming weeks.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2025

Whilst the forward, who can also play as a winger, is yet to replicate last season’s incredible form which ended in 33 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, he is more than capable of reaching that level again.

Dubbed “brilliant” by Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, Everton should do everything to sign Maeda when the January transfer window arrives.

Thomas Frank could not have wished for a better first Premier League game in charge of Tottenham Hotspur against Burnley at home on Saturday.

A newly-promoted team coming away to Spurs on the opening day was always likely to work in the home team’s favour, given that the last six teams to come up have all gone straight back down, and that is how it played out.

Richarlison was given the nod ahead of Dominic Solanke in the centre-forward position and showcased his potential as a number nine for Frank with two terrific goals, including an overhead kick.

The Brazil international will be hoping to stay fit and kick on as the main man for goals for Spurs in the Frank era, having started the season with a bang.

Richarlison was not the only player who caught the eye with an impressive performance against the Clarets on Saturday, though, as Mohammed Kudus put in a fantastic display.

Spurs signed the Ghana international from Premier League rivals West Ham United for a fee of £55m earlier this summer, and he has already shown the supporters a glimpse of what to expect from him.

What Mohammed Kudus can bring to Spurs this season

The former Ajax starlet lined up on the right of the front three, with Richarlison in the middle and Brennan Johnson on the left, and caused Burnley endless problems at the top end of the pitch.

Kudus was a constant threat with the ball at his feet and got supporters out of their seats with his direct and aggressive play on the ball, which helped him to create both of Richarlison’s goals.

His second assist, for Richarlison’s overhead kick, was particularly eye-catching. The winger brilliantly beat the defender with a sharp touch on the outside and provided a sublime cross with his weaker right foot to tee up the striker for the stunning finish.

Minutes

85

xA

0.58

Chances created

5

Assists

2

Pass accuracy

92%

Dribbles completed

2/3

Ground duels won

5/7

As you can see in the table above, the £55m signing enjoyed a terrific debut against Scott Parker’s team by creating a whopping five chances for his side in 85 minutes on the pitch.

Kudus only delivered three assists and averaged one key pass per game in the Premier League last season for West Ham, per Sofascore, which may suggest that the Hammers were not getting the best out of the left-footed star.

After also creating three chances in the Super Cup against PSG, per Sofascore, the 25-year-old star could be expected to provide creativity for Spurs on a regular basis down the right flank this season in Frank’s system.

It is down to Frank to ensure that the team is getting Kudus in the right positions to keep up that level of creativity, though, and the club’s latest transfer target could help with that.

Spurs have shown interest in Premier League full-back

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs to have shown an interest in Manchester City full-back Rico Lewis this summer.

The report claims that intermediaries have been tasked with reaching out to clubs, including Spurs, to let them know that the England international may be available.

Transfer Focus

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

Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Spurs have all been contacted by these intermediaries and, subsequently, shown an interest in the young defender.

The Boot Room adds that Lewis is considering his future at The Etihad, despite City wanting to offer him a new contract, and that he is set to hold talks with Pep Guardiola before the end of the month.

Forest – led by Evangelos Marinakis – have reportedly had an offer of £25.8m turned down by Manchester City, and it remains to be seen how much it would take for Spurs to get a deal done for the 20-year-old talent to bolster Frank’s squad before the end of the summer transfer window.

Why Spurs should sign Rico Lewis

Tottenham should be pushing to get a deal done for Lewis ahead of the likes of Forest and Aston Villa because he could be a dream signing for Kudus down the right flank.

The City academy graduate primarily plays at right-back, although he can also play in midfield, and has the ability on the ball to be the player who provides the former West Ham man with the service he needs to be effective on a consistent basis.

Spurs, as aforementioned, need to make sure that Kudus consistently gets the ball in positions to make an impact in the final third, to ensure that he does not struggle in the same way that he did with the Hammers last season.

Lewis, who assisted Erling Haaland for a goal against Wolves on Saturday, is a young talent who possesses the qualities on the ball to make him an ideal partner for Kudus down the right side for Tottenham.

Pass accuracy

91.9%

73.4%

Progressive passes

6.03

5.16

Passes into the final third

4.88

4.50

Touches in the opposition’s box

2.53

1.23

Progressive carries

2.08

2.04

Through balls

0.24

0.19

As you can see in the table above, the Manchester City youngster is more progressive and efficient with the ball at his feet than Pedro Porro, at least based on their respective statistics over the last 365 days.

These statistics suggest that Lewis, once dubbed “exceptional” by Guardiola, would be more likely to supply Kudus with the ball in advanced positions each game, providing the winger with even more opportunities to make things happen with the ball at his feet at the top end of the pitch.

The Spurs target also won 59% of his ground duels in the Premier League last season, whilst Porro won 53% of his, per Sofascore, which suggests that he also has the potential to be as strong, if not stronger, out of possession as a defender.

This may not seem like a big deal for Kudus, on the face of it, but if Lewis can prove himself to be a defensive upgrade on Porro, the Ghana international may not need to focus on his defensive duties as much, freeing him up to play higher up the pitch.

Worth more than Kudus & Eze: Spurs have struck gold on "incredible" talent

Tottenham Hotspur already have a player who’s value has soared in North London in recent times.

3 ByEthan Lamb Aug 17, 2025

Overall, therefore, the England international could be a dream for Kudus because of the qualities that he could provide in and out of possession, which is why Spurs should be pushing to snap him up.

Tottenham Hotspur are entering a new era under Thomas Frank this summer, with the Dane the latest manager to try and catapult the side to sustained levels of success.

The 51-year-old signed a three-year deal after joining from fellow Premier League side Brentford, subsequently wanting to take his managerial career to the next level in North London.

However, if he wants to achieve both of his goals, he will require serious investment from the hierarchy to provide him with the tools for success at the Lilywhites.

He’s already added Mohammed Kudus to his ranks, but despite the Ghanaian’s move to the club, other additions will be needed in key areas of the pitch.

Countless players still remain in their sights during the current market, opening the door to further big-money signings to improve the options at Frank’s disposal.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

James McAtee is the latest player currently on their radar, potentially softening the blow after missing out on Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White.

It’s been reported that Spurs could be about to jump ahead of Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in the race for his signature, after the Reds had a £25m bid rejected for the Manchester City youngster.

However, he’s not the only Premier League player on their radar, with Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo
Muniz also a player they’re considering, according to TBR Football.

They claim that talks have already been held with the 24-year-old’s representatives this window, opening the door to a move to North London for the Brazilian forward.

It also states that the player has yet to receive a suitable offer to renew his contract, potentially leading to a departure, with Leeds United also circling for his signature.

Why Spurs’ latest target could be Frank’s next Wissa

During Frank’s stint as Brentford boss, he managed to unearth multiple gems that allowed him to turn the Bees into an established top-flight outfit.

Yoane Wissa is just one player he managed to transform into a top-level talent, with the DR Congo star managing to torment countless backlines in the division.

The 28-year-old made 35 appearances in the league last time around, registering a total of 19 goals and four assists, forming an excellent partnership with Cameroonian international Bryan Mbeumo.

Given his tremendous form in recent times, he’s also been linked with a move to join Spurs this window, potentially following the manager in moving to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

However, Newcastle United and Forest are also interested in a deal for his signature, making any move for his services somewhat tricky, leading to other options being considered.

That’s where a move for Muniz comes in this summer, with the Fulham star being the next key talisman to try and make a name for himself under Frank’s guidance.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to the Bees star by FBref, also managing to outperform the DR Congo international in numerous key areas throughout last campaign.

Games played

31

35

Goals & assists

9

23

Goals & assists (per 90)

0.84

0.71

Shot on target accuracy

49%

45%

Take-on success

33%

30%

Fouls won

2.9

1.5

Aerials won

6.3

0.9

Aerial success rate

52%

45%

Muniz, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” by teammate Willian, posted a better goal and assist rate per 90, whilst notching a higher shot on target accuracy rate – having the added ability to thrive in the final third.

He also managed to complete more of the take-ons he attempted last campaign, possessing a more all-round ability to thrive and create carnage to the opposition’s backline.

The Brazilian’s talents are further reflected in his ability in the air, winning a higher percentage of his aerial duels, offering Frank a needed focal point, which the Spurs side are currently lacking ahead of 2025/26.

Whilst it’s unclear how much Marco Silva’s side are demanding for his signature, it’s evident that the youngster has all the tools needed to be a fan favourite with the Lilywhites faithful.

If he can transform his game and match the goals produced by Wissa under Frank’s guidance, he would be a superb signing that would massively bolster the club’s chances of success next year.

Better than MGW: Levy in talks to sign £40m talent who wants to join Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for a star after missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 31, 2025

Fair to say, this transfer window has not exactly gone to plan for Newcastle United.

Anthony Elanga has arrived from Nottingham Forest for a reported fee of £55m, which is certainly an exciting addition.

However, now that James Trafford is poised to re-join Manchester City, the Magpies have now missed out on seven key targets, with Hugo Ekitiké, Liam Delap, João Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Dean Huijsen all choosing to go elsewhere.

There’s also the small matter of their best player, seemingly, going on strike to force through a move, more on that in just a second, hence why Eddie Howe is in the market searching for a striker.

Newcastle's search for a new striker

As you may have pieced together by now, according to a report by Chris Waugh of the Athletic, Alexander Isak has not travelled with the rest of the squad to Asia for pre-season friendlies in Singapore and Korea Republic.

The club statement claims he is nursing a groin injury, but George Caulkin of the Athletic outlines the Sweden international’s desire to leave and join an ‘elite team’, with a move to Liverpool his preference.

Thus, as they commence their striker search, Craig Hope of the Daily Mail reports that Newcastle have added Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson to their list of targets.

The Blues have already signed both Liam Delap and João Pedro for £30m and £55m respectively this summer, so Matt Law of the Telegraph claims Jackson is available for sale, with Chris Burns of Football.London adding that the Senegalese international is valued at around £80m.

So, could Jackson soon swap West London for the North East?

How Nicolas Jackson would improve Newcastle

Despite often being much maligned, Jackson’s scoring record since joining Chelsea two summers ago is pretty impressive, bagging 30 goals in 81 appearances for the club, including netting both times Newcastle have visited Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

Former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch praised his “unbelievable” performances, while Liam Twomey and Mark Carey of the Athletic document his ‘excellent’ pressing, making him ‘a big part’ of how the team play.

Similarly, Ed Dove of ESPN outlines how the Blues’ form waned while Jackson was injured, praising the striker’s ‘broader contribution… without the ball’ as well as his ‘self-sacrifice and relentless running’, becoming the first Chelsea player to reach double figures for Premier League goals in successive seasons since Didier Drogba.

Should he move to Newcastle, Jackson would be following in the footsteps of a pair of fellow Senegalese strikers who are certainly remembered fondly on Tyneside.

During the 2011/12 season, spearheaded by Papiss Cissé and Demba Ba, the Magpies finished fifth under Alan Pardew, just two years after being promoted from the Championship, and both strikers were on fire.

Alexander Isak

2024/25

23

Alexander Isak

2023/24

21

Callum Wilson

2022/23

18

Loïc Rémy

2013/14

14

Demba Ba

2012/13

13

Demba Ba

2011/12

16

Papiss Cissé

2011/12

13

Alan Shearer

2003/04

22

Alan Shearer

2002/03

17

Alan Shearer

2001/02

23

Alan Shearer

1999/00

23

Alan Shearer

1998/99

14

Alan Shearer

1996/97

25

Les Ferdinand

1996/97

16

As the table outlines, 2011/12 remains the only season in which two Newcastle players have scored 13 or more Premier League goals since the heady days of 1996/97, a year the Magpies finished second.

Demba Ba, the more prolific of the duo, was ultimately sold to Chelsea for £7.5m in January 2013, so could Jackson become the reverse Ba?

Well, let’s compare the pair to find out.

Games

54

33

65

Minutes

4,399

1,533

5,050

Goals

29

7

24

Mins per goal

152

219

210

Assists

6

1

10

As the table outlines, Ba at Newcastle was marginally more prolific than Jackson has been during his time at Chelsea, scoring five more goals in around 600 fewer minutes, albeit the latter has registered more assists; the former certainly did not continue this scoring spree at Stamford Bridge all those years ago!

Nevertheless, in contrast, Jackson, at 24 years old, would surely be primed to have make immediate impact should he arrive at Newcastle, just as Ba did, hence why he should be amongst their top targets, if Isak does indeed get his wish and depart.

More prolific than Sesko: Newcastle targeting move for £87m "monster"

Newcastle are looking to bring in another striker or two this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025

Arsenal have already seen a few big names depart the club this summer, but more squad members face Mikel Arteta’s swinging axe before deadline day on September 1.

Arsenal could also terminate 23-year-old's contract after Takehiro Tomiyasu

He’s ready to accept an offer to leave.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 16, 2025

The Gunners could have a completely different look to them by the time they face Man United in their first Premier League game of the season next month, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera joining the club this summer.

Madueke put pen to paper on his contract to become a new Arsenal player on Wednesday (Fabrizio Romano), while Mosquera is set to sign his own long-term deal with Arteta’s side this week too.

The five new arrivals replace Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, Marquinhos, Nuno Tavares and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who’ve all departed N5 for pastures new, with more surplus players in line to follow them.

According to The Athletic, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fabio Vieira and Oleksandr Zinchenko could all leave Arsenal, with uncertainty also surrounding both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

It is a similar case for winger Reiss Nelson, who spent half of last season on loan at Fulham before it was cut short by a hamstring injury.

The 25-year-old has been hailed by Arteta in previous campaigns, but given the abundance of quality wingers in their squad, not to mention Arsenal’s ongoing pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, there is simply no space for Nelson.

“We think the potential is there and we think we’ve seen something in Reiss that is special,” said Arteta about Nelson in 2023.

“He’s been a part of our academy system and now he’s going to have an opportunity. He’s been out for almost three months with an injury, he’s back now, he’s fully fit, and he’s ready to play. He just needs minutes now.

“His attitude and the way he’s matured and evolved over the past year or so has been really impressive, I think everybody is talking about it, and now he needs to do it on the pitch.”

Fulham in talks to re-sign Reiss Nelson from Arsenal

Now, according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, it appears Fulham are ready to make Nelson their first deal of the summer.

Fulham have entered talks with Arsenal over re-signing Nelson, again on loan, and all parties are working towards finding a solution which would allow the Englishman to return to Craven Cottage for another spell.

Nelson has been on a succession of loan moves away from Arsenal since making his senior debut all the way back in 2017.

Over the last eight years, he’s donned the jerseys of Hoffenheim, Feyenoord and Fulham whilst failing to work his way into becoming a regular starter for his boyhood club – despite Arteta’s praise and some key moments in flashes.

Now is surely the time to try and seal a permanent exit for him, with Nelson’s contract also expiring in just two years.

Everton are now believed to have made an approach to complete the signing of a “world class” player who knows the Premier League well but has fallen out of favour at his current club.

A host of players continue to be mentioned as options for the Blues in the summer transfer window, including Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper. The 25-year-old Englishman started all 46 of the Blades’ Championship matches last season, helping them reach the playoff final, but defeat to Sunderland at Wembley ruined their chances of promotion, and he may like the idea of heading to the top flight.

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is another player who could want to remain in the Premier League, following his side’s relegation to the second tier, and Everton have been backed to snap him up, amid their search for more quality in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic is another reported target for the Merseysiders, with the Serb potentially seen as a strong replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Just 20 years of age, he scored an impressive 12 goals in 23 Championship starts last term and could serve as the old fashioned number nine alongside the more elusive Thierno Barry.

Everton make approach for "world class" midfielder

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport [via Goodison News], Everton have made an approach for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, seeing him as an excellent choice to bring in this summer. The Blues are said to have asked for information regarding the 27-year-old, but it is added that no offer has been tabled for him yet.

He joined Juventus for around £42m last summer but was once worth a much higher figure, with Neil Moxley even claiming “somebody’s just having a bit of a laugh” when he was quoted at £60m while thriving at Aston Villa, pointing to Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal as a benchmark.

Indeed, albeit out of form and out of favour in Turin last season, Luiz is a player who has proven his worth at the highest level for many years now, having been such an influential performer for Villa, so he could be a brilliant signing for Everton.

The Brazilian has 175 appearances to his name in the Premier League, as well as 20 goals and 18 assists, with John McGinn heaping praise on his ability, describing him as “world class”, and Jermaine Pennant calling him better than Rice in the past.

“Any team would dream to have Rice, but there are better sixes in the Premier League at the moment. I would say Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better. I think he assists more, he chips in with goals more than Rice. Creativity-wise he’s better, flair is better, he can put in a tackle just like Rice, break up play just like Rice. So I think if someone said to me you can have Douglas Luiz for £60m or Declan Rice for £100m, easy every day of the week, Douglas Luiz.”

Everton now ready to pay £5m+ to sign new star with same agent as McNeil

The Toffees are ready to take advantage…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 7, 2025

Luiz is still in his prime, so this wouldn’t be a case of Everton splashing out on a player who has peaked, and his box-to-box style could be a great asset for David Moyes.

Leeds United’s promotion to the Premier League means that they have to be ruthless with the players they decide to keep at Elland Road this summer.

Illan Meslier is one player whose future in West Yorkshire remains uncertain, although LeedsLive recently reported that no official offers have been made for the goalkeeper yet.

The outlet added, though, that the French shot-stopper could move on if Daniel Farke does not guarantee him game time next season, amid the club’s search for a new goalkeeper.

Meslier was dropped for Karl Darlow in the run-in at the end of last season, after making three errors that directly led to goals, and it does not seem likely that he will be a frontline option for the German boss.

Leeds, meanwhile, are reportedly set to cash in on another dud who is even more pointless to the squad than Meslier ahead of next season.

Leeds set to sell £11m flop

The former Lorient goalkeeper may end up being second or third-choice if the Whites are successful in signing another shot-stopper, but the club are about to sell a player who is even further down the pecking order in his position.

Transfer Focus

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

According to DeichStube, via Sport Witness, Leeds have agreed a deal with Werder Bremen to sell central defender Max Wober, who joined from Salzburg in 2023 for a fee of £11m, to the German side on a permanent deal.

The report claims that a transfer for the Austria international is in the final stages and is set to ‘imminently’ join the Bundesliga outfit this week on a four-year contract.

It adds that Werder Bremen are set to pay a fee of around £3.4m to sign the left-footed defender from the Premier League side, which represents a significant loss on the £11m that was paid for him two-and-a-half years ago.

Why Wober is less important than Meslier

Cashing in on Wober makes a lot of sense for Leeds this summer because he is even less important than Meslier in regard to Farke’s squad depth ahead of next season. Whilst the Frenchman is currently one of two first-team goalkeepers at the club, the Austrian defender is way down the list of potential centre-back options in a back four.

The former Salzburg star only played 332 minutes of football in the Championship last season, whilst Ethan Ampadu, Pascal Struijk, and Joe Rodon all played over 2,000 minutes.

Leeds have since added Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw from Udinese and Wolfsburg respectively to bolster their centre-back ranks, leaving Farke with Bijol, Bornauw, Struijk, Ampadu, and Rodon ahead of Wober in the pecking order.

This shows that the Werder Bremen target is even more pointless than Meslier, because he is even further down the list of options in his respective position.

Appearances

16

Starts

14

Clean sheets

2

Dribbled past

8x

Duel success rate

53%

Penalties committed

1

Error led to shot

1

As you can see in the table above, Wober also struggled in the Premier League the last time Leeds were there in the 2022/23 campaign after his move from Salzburg, barely winning above half of his duels and being dribbled past eight times in 14 starts.

The Whites were, of course, relegated from the top-flight that term and that may be part of the reason why they have moved quickly to improve their centre-back options by signing Bijol and Bornauw, after seeing how Wober performed when they were last in the division.

Overall, selling him, despite making a significant loss on the £11m that they bought him for, makes a lot of sense, potentially even more so than cashing in on Meslier does.

Huge Rothwell upgrade: Leeds make enquiry to sign "phenomenal" £30m star

Leeds United are interested in signing a star who would come in as an upgrade on Joe Rothwell.

ByDan Emery Jul 2, 2025

Rivals thought Liverpool would fall off a cliff when Jurgen Klopp packed up and left, but Arne Slot came and chased their wistful dreams right back from where they came.

Only 11 months after Klopp sang Slot’s name, Carabao Cup trophy in the bag but not much else (aside from qualification back into the Champions League after the misery of 2022/23), Anfield’s new Dutch boss returned the song, having won the Premier League and defied all expectations.

Slot’s proven himself, joining an exclusive club of managers who won the English top flight in their first year, and now he’s been entrusted to work with sporting director Richard Hughes and make sweeping changes in the transfer market.

Slot chased the doubters away, and with Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz joining from Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez arriving soon and a new centre-forward soon to be targeted, there’s so much to be excited about if you’re of a Liverpool persuasion.

Of course, some outgoings are happening too, with the legend that is Andy Robertson mooted for a departure in the coming months.

Liverpool's left-back situation

Robertson, 31, is entering the final year of his £160k-per-week contract and sadly looked a weak link under Slot’s wing. It’s understandable: he’s been run into the ground across so many years of tireless service.

With a deal agreed to sign Kerkez, Robertson is going to be relegated to the backbench, and so with Atletico Madrid circling, it might be that FSG reluctantly let their stalwart go.

Kerkez might be young, but there’s no question that he’s already reached a degree of superiority over Liverpool’s veteran, whose athleticism and once unending batteries have ebbed back over the past year.

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

33 (29)

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

1

Touches*

59.6

64.5

Pass completion

80%

88%

Big chances created

8

7

Key passes*

1.0

1.2

Dribbles*

0.6

0.2

Ball recoveries*

4.4

3.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

1.8

Clearances*

2.6

1.3

Duels (won)*

4.0 (54%)

1.8 (48%)

If Robertson does leave, though, could Liverpool be selling themselves short? His back-up, Kostas Tsimikas, is on Leeds United’s radar, after all. Liverpool might need one more star on the left side of the backline, and the chosen target may just be the most exciting of the lot.

Liverpool consider another left-back

According to TEAMtalk, Ajax defender Jorrel Hato is interested in moving to Liverpool despite the efforts of Arsenal, who effectively have the lead in the race right now.

Hato, 19, has been a revelation in his homeland and has been priced at €50m (£43m), a valuation which Ajax are not willing to reduce this summer.

Further reports claim that Chelsea are also in the frame, and that Liverpool and the Blues have been informed by the player’s camp that the race is very much open at this stage.

What Jorrel Hato would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool are stocking up nicely with the 21-year-old Kerkez, aren’t they? So why does Slot want another left-sided defender in Hato? Well, the young Dutchman would provide that extra bit of depth on the flank, all the while fostering qualities as a central defender too.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig actually hailed Hato as “one of the most talented centre-backs in Europe in his generation” just a few years ago, during his formative phase. But despite this, the Netherlands star has played the past year of his professional career as principally a left-back, owing to his gas tank, tenacious attitude and dynamism, driving up and down the wing.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 9% of full-backs across Europe last season for pass completion, the top 14% for tackles and interceptions combined and the top 15% for ball recoveries per 90.

Impressive stats, and useful to shine a light on the skill set that has seen a natural centre-half perform with such aplomb in a wide berth.

Left-back

89

4

8

Centre-back

70

3

3

Centre-midfield

1

0

0

Hato and Kerkez are both rising defensive stars of immense potential, and choosing which one would be ‘better’ under Slot’s wing is effectively splitting hairs, but we’re hair splitters over here, and Ajax’s age-belying prospect is an absolute marvel.

Hailed for his “special” talents by scout Phil Costa, so skilled, so versatile, Hato could become one of the best in the world across multiple positions, and if that isn’t enough to send frissons of excitement through the Liverpool fanbase, what is?

It’s for this reason that he has been described as an “exceptional athlete” by analyst Ben Mattinson. When considering Hato’s quality across not one but two positions that Liverpool need to strengthen, you could argue he’s the more exciting man than Kerkez.

Certainly, there’s more thrill involved with the teenager than Robertson, who Jamie Carragher called “an absolute legend” in January, but a defender who has been “hanging on in every game.”

If, at the eleventh hour, Liverpool’s bid to sign Kerkez falls through, Hato would prove an excellent alternative; but, if all goes to plan and Hughes secures another excellent signing for the title-winning Reds, adding Hato to the mix would surely complete the set.

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Arsenal have been graced with the presence of some of the finest attacking midfielders of the last few generations.

When Arsene Wenger first arrived in north London, he had Dennis Bergkamp at his disposal, one of the most technically gifted artists we’ve ever seen in the Premier League. So good was the Dutchman that he’s now cast in bronze outside the Emirates Stadium.

In more modern times, we’ve seen Mesut Ozil – the king of assists – feature in Arsenal red and white, while Martin Odegaard, one of the most hyped up wonderkids of this era, is stamping his authority on Mikel Arteta’s side.

Yet, with the Norwegian enduring a bit of a tricky season throughout 2024/25, suffering with an ankle injury, perhaps Andrea Berta and Co will look at signing a new creative maestro.

Arsenal looking at Dutch superstar

The biggest priority for Arsenal this summer is to sign a new centre-forward but Berta must not neglect other areas of the pitch and could strengthen in the attacking midfield spot too.

Previous reports have suggested that the Gunners are keen on Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers but he could cost in the region of £100m, making any deal nigh on impossible.

Instead, they could turn their attention to RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons. That’s according to German publication BILD, via Sport Witness.

They reported on Thursday that Simons is attracting interest from a number of English clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

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It’s stated that the player’s brother, Faustino, has been in talks with top clubs already but the Premier League’s elite will also face competition from Barcelona.

To conclude a deal, it may take around €70m (£60m), which would mark a healthy outlay for the Gunners, considering their priorities largely lie elsewhere this summer.

How Xavi Simons could fit into Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side

While Arsenal don’t play with an out-and-out number 10 at the moment, Simons would still be a fabulous capture considering the form of Odegaard this season.

Sustaining an ankle injury during the first international break of the term, the club captain struggled to rediscover himself during a rugged old year for him in Arsenal red.

Odegaard ended the campaign with six goals and 12 assists in all competitions. Only three of those goals came in the league which is a far cry from the 15 he registered in 2022/23. That season, no midfielder scored more than him in the Premier League.

So, the Nordic playmaker needs to improve big time and the addition of a new centre-forward could well help him recapture his best form.

However, some healthy competition wouldn’t go amiss and in the shape of Simons, they could sign an Emile Smith Rowe-like figure capable of challenging Odegaard for a role as Arsenal’s chief creator.

In the latest season, the Netherlands international was sublime, scoring 11 goals and supplying eight assists, adding to the ten goals and 15 assists he registered in 2023/24. Those numbers showcase why, in the words of one data analyst, he is “one of the best 10s in the world.”

That’s fine praise and showcases precisely why Arsenal have cast their eyes in the direction of Simons. So, beyond just goals and assists from midfield, what else makes him similar to Smith Rowe?

The Hale End starlet left Arsenal behind for Fulham last summer after struggling with a succession of injuries, but on his day he was one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the top-flight.

His numbers from the 2021/22 season show precisely why.

Goals

0.42

0.47

Assists

0.25

0.09

Shots

2.09

1.88

Progressive passes

5.86

3.99

Successful take-ons

1.38

1.50

Progressive carries

3.56

3.05

Carries into final 3rd

2.97

2.07

Progressive passes received

7.74

6.53

Ball recoveries

5.36

4.93

In the metrics analysed, Simons comes out on top in nearly every category, but it’s important to note that in most areas, there isn’t a lot to separate the Dutchman and the Arsenal academy graduate.

They scored a similar number of goals per 90 minutes, arriving late into the penalty area to wreak havoc, while their carrying ability, perhaps the biggest similarity, is pretty much on par.

The duo possess this amazing low centre of gravity, a trait that helps them evade the press and weave their way past defenders with ease. It also enables them to grab the ball between the lines on a regular basis, with the pairing receiving a similar number of progressive passes every 90 minutes.

That attribute captivated the masses at the Emirates Stadium and it’s one Simons could bring back should he sign this summer.

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