All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United are now keen on signing an experienced Premier League player who is set to be available on a free transfer in the summer, reporter Alan Nixon has revealed.

Leeds looking to sign players with top flight experience

After leading Leeds to Championship glory, Daniel Farke will be extremely pleased to have achieved his third promotion from the second tier, but his previous experiences in the top flight could make him cautious heading into the new campaign.

Both times Farke took Norwich to the Premier League, the Canaries were ultimately relegated, which could be why the Whites have reportedly considered sacking the German, despite him reaching the 100-point mark this season.

It looks as though the Championship title-winners are set to persist with their manager, but there will be an awareness that he needs backing in the summer transfer window, with bringing in players with proven Premier League experience clearly a priority.

Leeds have identified a number of targets in both central midfield and attack, most of whom are out of contract after playing in the top flight for a number of years.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Callum Wilson

Newcastle United

£0

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Everton

£0

Jamie Vardy

Leicester City

£0

Sean Longstaff

Newcastle United

£12m

Another free agent has now entered the frame as a potential target for Farke’s side, with Nixon revealing they have set their sights on West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell, who is poised to leave the Hammers when his contract expires in the summer.

Cresswell is now 35-years-old, which may be why he is viewed as a potential addition as a squad player for the Whites, rather than being a regular starter, and there us set to be competition for his signature from newly-promoted Championship side Wrexham.

"Brilliant" Cresswell is proven in the top flight

The Liverpool-born left-back is a stalwart of the Premier League, having made 312 appearances in the competition during his time with the Irons, and his experience could be of great use to a Leeds side whose immediate aim will be to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

It has now been confirmed that West Ham will not offer the former 3-cap England international a new deal, but he recently received a ringing endorsement from Graham Potter, who described the full-back as a “brilliant” professional on and off the pitch.

Rodrigo 2.0: Leeds lining up move for £21m star with a "hunger for goals"

Leeds United are eyeing up a new centre-forward who could be Rodrigo 2.0 at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery May 25, 2025

As such, while the Premier League veteran would not be the most exciting of signings, his know-how could be invaluable for Farke next season, while he has also displayed a keen eye for goal in matches against Leeds in the past.

Indeed, while Cresswell is more well-known for his defensive capabilities, he has maintained a solid goal record in matches against the Whites in the past, finding the back of the net four times in 12 appearances.

Fulham are now ready to make a move for an “incredible” manager, should Marco Silva decide to leave this summer, according to a report.

Silva's future at Craven Cottage still in doubt

Having been at Craven Cottage since 2021, Silva is now among the longest-serving Premier League managers, behind only Pep Guardiola, Thomas Frank and Mikel Arteta, but there have been suggestions his time in west London could now be coming to an end.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham Hotspur persist with Ange Postecoglou after their Europa League triumph, but should they part ways with the Australian, the Cottagers boss could be among the main candidates to be brought in as a replacement.

In the same report, it is revealed the 47-year-old coach could also be tempted by a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with several clubs ready to offer him mega money to leave the Premier League despite his insistence this weekend that he will stay put.

Agent says Fulham have submitted "very important" bid for 24 y/o goalkeeper

Could the Cottagers be bolstering a key area of the pitch?

ByHenry Jackson May 12, 2025

As such, Fulham have now started to identify potential replacements for the Portuguese manager just in case, and a report from The Sun states they are now ready to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira.

Indeed, should Silva decide to move on, the Cottagers will look to raid their Premier League rivals for Pereira, who enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in England, leading the Old Gold to safety after replacing Gary O’Neil in the dugout.

The Portuguese coach is the number one choice to replace his compatriot, having been identified as an ideal fit, and there is a feeling the west Londoners could offer him a more lucrative financial package and a better long-term plan than he currently has at Molineux.

Pereira could be "incredible" Silva heir

The Wolves boss had a tough job on his hands after replacing O’Neil, but Wolves ultimately managed to avoid relegation with ease, at one point winning six matches on the spin from March until the end of April.

In light of the job the 56-year-old has done at Molineux, he has also received high praise from Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, who said: “He really has done an incredible job, the whole atmosphere on the pitch and off the pitch,”

“He’s given everyone belief and confidence, made them more solid at the back. All over the park, they’re better, so he’s done a great job.”

The feel-good factor off the pitch is perhaps best showcased by the fact the former FC Porto boss has even been known to go to the pub for a pint with Wolves fans after matches.

Having also been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award, there are plenty of signs that Pereira could be a great replacement for Silva, but Fulham will ultimately be hoping their manager stays, having stabilised them as a top-flight club.

As part of an ambitious overhaul which has received the green light from those upstairs at Craven Cottage, Fulham are now reportedly ready to open talks to sign a Champions League midfielder this summer.

Fulham working on fresh Marco Silva deal

When Tottenham Hotspur sacked Ange Postecoglou, there may have been some nerves around West London regarding Marco Silva’s Fulham future. Those nerves have since been eased courtesy of Thomas Frank, however, who is reportedly set to swap Brentford for the Lilywhites. Now, the Cottagers are reportedly keen to agree a fresh deal with their manager.

As things stand, the former Everton manager has just one year remaining on his Fulham contract, which will leave those in West London with a major problem this time next year unless anything changes.

Whilst concerns continue to grow over his contract situation, Silva has remained as calm as ever. When asked about whether he had rejected a new deal or whether negotiations were even underway, the Fulham boss told reporters: “No, not at all. We didn’t even start. I know there are some rumours around that I refused something but from my side, it’s not true at all.

“Our connection is very, very strong and it’s clear there are so many things for the club to be careful about with players’ contract situations, there are many important decisions ahead with the summer coming up after a great season where we improved like all the other years before.

Fulham now enter race to sign "strong" Premier League-winning midfielder

He’s set to leave his current club.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 6, 2025

“We managed to reach some great numbers again, the best Premier League points tally in our history and if you want to improve, you have to focus on the most important things. I’m not saying the manager’s situation is not important but I’m under contract with the club, I just wanted to clarify that the conversations didn’t start and that’s not for professional reasons but it was just not the moment.”

Whilst the Portuguese manager remains in charge too, Fulham could be well positioned to seal a shock deal to welcome back an impressive midfielder this summer.

Fulham ready to make Palhinha move

According to GiveMeSport, Fulham are now ready to open talks to sign Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich if the Bundesliga champions are willing to show their midfielder the door in the coming months. His arrival would be part of an ambitious plot to overhaul Silva’s side with as many as five fresh faces this summer.

The Portugal international is, of course, a name well-known around Craven Cottage given that he swapped West London for Bayern just one year ago. After making just six Bundesliga starts, however, the 29-year-old could be on his way back to the Premier League already.

Silva is certainly likely to welcome Palhinha back with open arms too, having praised the midfielder during his time at the club. The Fulham boss told reporters in Palhinha’s final season at the club: “His attitude, his commitment, the way he leads the others around are things that are hard to find in football.”

There’s no doubt that the midfielder’s return would suit all parties, but that’s not to say negotiations would be easy. Palhinha currently reportedly earns around £162,000-a-week at Bayern Munich, which is unlikely to be matched by Fulham.

While it certainly wasn’t a disaster, it would be fair to say that Arsenal’s season was something of a failure this year.

A combination of injuries, suspensions and a lack of cutting-edge coalesced to see Mikel Arteta’s side end yet another campaign without a major trophy to their name.

Yet, there were at least a few positives, most notably the continued development of Bukayo Saka.

Appearances

37

Minutes

2619′

Goals

12

Assists

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvement

100.73′

For example, even though he missed over three months of action with a hamstring injury, the talismanic number seven was still able to amass a sensational tally of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 appearances.

So, fans should be seriously excited about recent reports linking the club to a Premier League star who could help the Englishman become even more unplayable next season.

Arsenal looking at big-money Premier League star

With how lacklustre the rest of Arsenal’s attacking options were this season, it’s not been a surprise to see the majority of links in recent weeks concern strikers and wingers like Benjamin Sesko 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.

A deal to sign the former, who produced 27 goal involvements in 45 games this season, seems to be moving closer and closer now, with reports from earlier this week claiming that an agreement has been reached on the player’s side and that an offer of between £68m to £85m will be enough to tempt RB Leipzig into selling.

Regarding Rodrygo, talks reportedly took place between the Gunners and the player’s representative last month, while reports from this week claim that a fee of around £77m could be enough to secure his services, and while that is a lot of money, it would likely be worth it, as he’s managed to 14 goals and provide 11 assists in 52 appearances for Real Madrid this term.

However, while both players would help alleviate some pressure on Saka in the frontline, a new creative force in midfield would surely be the best way to help boost his numbers, which is where Morgan Rogers could come in.

Yes, according to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal are seriously interested in the Aston Villa star.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners have already made contact and inquired about the possibility of bringing the young Englishman to the Emirates this summer.

However, on top of potentially having to deal with competition from Chelsea, the North Londoners would also have to stump up a fee of around £90m to land the 22-year-old, who has five years left to run on his £75k-per-week contract at Villa Park.

It looks like it would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rogers’ immense ability and potential, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he could help Saka become even more dangerous.

How Rogers could make Saka even better

Now, while there is likely a whole array of ways in which Rogers could help Saka to get even better, from covering for him when he needs a rest, to building an even stronger understanding of one another’s game on international duty, there is one reason more important than the rest: his output.

For example, in 54 appearances for Villa this season, the “unstoppable” midfield maestro, as dubbed by Jamie Carragher, scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.86 games.

Just imagine how many more goals the Gunners’ number seven could score next season with a number ten as effective as that behind him.

Moreover, with the Villa ace being such a goal threat in his own right, there is every chance that the Hale End icon could see his own assist tally soar as well as having more space to himself with opposition defenders having to pay more attention to the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell.

You can also get a good idea of just how dangerous a ten the former Middlesbrough ace is by comparing him to some of the other leading attacking midfielders in the Premier League, like Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White and the North Londoners’ own Martin Odegaard.

Appearances

54

47

38

45

Goals

14

15

7

6

Assists

15

12

10

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

0.57

0.44

0.4

Impressively, only the Chelsea ace does marginally better than the Claret and Blue star, but given how he is the talisman of that side, and almost all attacks seem to flow through him, that’s not much of a surprise.

Moreover, if you’re achieving numbers only marginally worse than a player as talented and highly rated as he is, that can only be a good thing.

Ultimately, while the focus of this summer should be on the frontline for Arsenal, they should also do what they can to sign Rogers, as he’d undoubtedly improve the midfield and help make Saka even more unplayable.

Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

After a slow start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal, they look as though they’re closing in on sealing two signings.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s move from Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium won’t exactly be met with much fanfare considering he’s there to play second fiddle to David Raya, but it’s an important move nonetheless.

At just £5m, the Gunners have found a replacement for Neto and due to the price, it frees up money to spend elsewhere, hopefully on a wealth of attacking reinforcements.

The other arrival will see another Spaniard in the form of Martin Zubimendi head to North London. At just over £50m, that move is certainly a more exciting ones but he’s not the only midfielder who could arrive.

Arsenal looking to sign another midfielder after Zubimendi

Last summer, it looked as though Zubimendi was going to head to Liverpool. Sadly for the Anfield side, he did not. Whether or not he regrets that decision based on Arne Slot’s title success is unknown.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, a year on, he will now finally head to England, but it won’t be the red of Liverpool he’ll be donning. Instead, it’s the red of Arsenal.

The Gunners first made their move to sign the Spain international last January when they signalled their intentions to trigger his £51m release clause at Real Sociedad. Since then, an agreement has been tied up that will see the club spend a tiny bit more than that exit clause so they can pay it in instalments.

Zubimendi was reportedly in London over the weekend to wrap up the formalities of his move.

Yet, he could well be joined in the middle of the park next season by Brentford’s Christian Norgaard. That’s according to a number of sources, notably the Athletic’s David Ornstein.

He reported on Wednesday afternoon that Arsenal are “exploring” a deal to sign the Dane and have lodged their first offer, believed to be around €11m (£9m).

Fabrizio Romano furthered those claims by revealing on social media that the 31-year-old “wants to join Arsenal” this summer, so much so that personal terms have already been agreed between player and club.

Since then, BBC Sports’ Sami Mokbel has revealed that an agreement could be reached at £15m, including add-ons. A move appears to be advancing quickly, with Ornstein later reporting on Wednesday evening that the Gunners are now in the process of ‘finalising’ a deal to sign the player. A medical is also in the process of being planned.

Why Norgaard would be a good signing for Arsenal

With Jorginho having left the Emirates on a free transfer, heading to Flamengo, and Thomas Partey increasingly unlikely to sign a new deal, Arsenal need two midfielders.

Zubimendi ticks one box and in the form of Norgaard, although this would be a surprising move, it certainly makes a lot of sense.

Like Kepa, Arsenal would not be spending a bucket load on improving the squad and thus, would be leaving room to spend where it really matters this summer; on a new striker.

So, what could Norgaard offer to Mikel Arteta’s midfield? Well, like the departing Jorginho and Partey, he’s got a wealth of experience and, pivotally, he’s played in England for a long time now.

He signed for Brentford back in 2019 and has since gone on to feature 196 times for the Bees, playing 122 times in the Premier League.

34 of those top-flight outings came in 2024/25 where he scored five goals and also supplied four assists.

A holding midfielder who also chips in with goals and assists, there is reason to believe that Arteta could be signing a more experienced version of Declan Rice here.

Arsenal podcaster, Alex Moneypenny, who has appeared on Sky Sports and BBC Sport, outlines the Dane’s qualities perfectly. He’s a “search and destroyer”, a midfielder who specialises in “progressive passing”.

That’s backed up by the numbers with Norgaard ranking among the best holding midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passing distance. In fact, he ranks almost identically to Zubimendi in this category.

The ability to turn the ball over from deep or in more advanced areas certainly makes him like Rice, as does the ability to progress play. Captain of Brentford too, he’s got the natural leadership skills that Arsenal’s record signing boasts.

But, what do the statistics say?

Goals

0.16

0.13

Assists

0.13

0.22

Goal-creating actions

0.42

0.32

Pass success rate

82%

83%

Progressive passes

4.92

6.11

Passes into final 3rd

4.38

4.36

Tackles

2.52

1.69

Succesful take-ons

0.22

0.42

With the benefit of playing further forward and taking set-pieces, Rice does better Brentford’s captain for assists and successful take-ons. It’s in the passing department where they are most alike.

They complete a similar percentage of their passes per 90 minutes and there’s not a huge difference between the number of those passes that are progressive in nature.

So, while a move of this nature is hardly going to blow supporters away, he’d be a steady pair of hands just like Jorginho was. If he hits the ground running like Rice did too, fans will soon take to the Bees star.

Better than Williams: Arsenal open talks to sign ex-Spurs player for £50m

The dynamic winger could provide Arsenal with another avenue of attack next season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2025

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is facing the prospect of a key Spurs player asking for a transfer, according to reports, with one club said to have already made an offer.

£60m star sees "great opportunity" to join Tottenham with Levy in contact

Spurs have held talks.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025

Thomas Frank’s first-ever season managing a ‘big six’ club will be fraught with challenges, not least their European campaign, and there is a lot more expectation surrounding the north London club after they clinched the Europa League title in May.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Ange Postecoglou, despite guiding the club to their first major trophy in 17 years, paid the price for Tottenham’s poor domestic form last term – with the Lilywhites losing more Premier League games in a single season than they ever had in previous years (22).

However, their 1-0 triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao has gifted Frank something hugely significant to build upon ahead of 2025/2026, and the significant financial windfall acquired from qualifying for the Champions League stands to seriously assist them in this summer’s transfer market.

As per Sky Sports reporter Micheal Bridge, Spurs won’t have to adopt a sell to buy policy, with their place in Europe’s most elite competition described as “huge” when it comes to their recruitment drive over the next two months.

That being said, there are certain big names who could still depart N17 over the coming weeks.

Son Heung-min is attracting serious interest from the Saudi Pro League, and there are suggestions that the 32-year-old may be sold for a profit. Levy will reportedly demand around £50 million to sell the Spurs captain, who’s entered the final 12 months of his contract, with star defender Cristian Romero also earning a few admirers from abroad.

The Argentine won last year’s Europa League Player of the Season and played a major role in helping Tottenham lift the trophy. Atlético Madrid are known admirers of his, as confirmed by Diego Simeone, but some reports they’ve reached an agreement in principle to sign Romero appear wide of the mark.

Their cross-city rivals, Real Madrid, are also believed to be keen on Romero, with Xabi Alonso’s side expected to make a “concrete” approach (CaughtOffside).

Cristian Romero to ask Daniel Levy for Tottenham exit

It does appear Atlético have advanced further along in a potential move for the 27-year-old, though, as explained by journalist Ruben Uria.

The reporter told ‘Derbi en USA’, via El Desmarque, that Simeone’s side have made an offer of around £56 million for Romero, including add-ons, but this is nowhere near Levy’s price tag.

Spurs have apparently slapped a £70 million valuation on the centre back’s head, but Romero will tell Levy he wants to leave Tottenham once he returns from holiday.

“He wants to come to Atlético,” said Uria.

“Cholo is in direct contact with him. What he’ll do is come back from vacation to talk to Daniel Levy and tell him he wants to leave. From there, we’ll see what happens. Tottenham are asking for €82 million to let him leave. They value him like Fofana or Van Dijk, with an expensive transfer fee.

“They’ve [Atletico] made an offer of €55 million plus €10 million in variables. I think it’s a very good offer.”

Romero has two years left on his contract, so acquiring £70 million for his signature would be excellent business by Levy, but the South American stalwart would also be a very tough figurehead to replace.

Frank surely won’t be keen on losing Romero, but as things stand, nobody is near Tottenham’s requirements to let him leave, so this will be an intriguing story to follow.

While they haven’t hit the heights they did at Highbury, Arsenal have been blessed with an abundance of incredible players since moving to the Emirates two decades ago.

For example, the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães wouldn’t be out of place alongside some of the club’s very best players.

Moreover, even during Arsène Wenger’s later years, fans and the Premier League as a whole were treated to some truly mercurial talents, such as Mesut Özil and Santi Cazorla.

Yet, when it comes to arguably the best attacker the Emirates faithful have had the joy of watching, it is hard to look past the force of nature that was Alexis Sanchez.

So, fans should be ecstatic that it looks like the club is about to sign someone who could be Mikel Arteta’s own version of the Chilean.

Arsenal target game-changing attackers

While reinforcing the rest of the team is a smart move from Arsenal, it goes without saying that adding more goals to the side is priority number one.

Transfer Focus

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

Therefore, talk of signing Eberechi Eze for around £60m makes perfect sense, as while he’s not necessarily an out-and-out attacker, the Crystal Palace star did rack up 25 goal involvements in 43 games last season.

Likewise, while fans might not be delighted with the links to Noni Madueke, he had a reasonable return of 11 goals and five assists in 2449 minutes last season.

However, although both players are likely to improve the North Londoners’ overall attack, more so the Eagles star, neither is expected to have the same impact as Alexis did when he joined the club, which might not be the case for Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, according to a recent report from A Bola, as relayed via Spanish media, Arsenal have maintained their determination to sign the Sporting CP star.

More than that, the report has revealed that talks between the two sides are at such an advanced stage that an agreement in principle has been reached.

The report claims that the Gunners are set to pay an initial fee of €65m, with add-ons, which should bring the final price to around €80m, equivalent to approximately £69m.

It’s a lot of money to spend on one player, but Gyokeres has proven himself to be worth such a fee, and he could develop into Arteta’s own Alexis.

Why Gyokeres could be Arteta's Alexis

So, to get it out of the way right away, there is one massive, unavoidable difference between Gyokeres and Alexis: their positions.

The former was, at his best, a devastatingly effective winger, and the latter is an out-and-out striker, but that doesn’t matter.

Our argument is not that the Swedish international will replicate the Chilean’s exact playstyle, but rather that he could come in and have a similar impact on the club.

Appearances

166

Minutes

13556′

Goals

80

Assists

44

Goal Involvements per Match

0.74

Minutes per Goal Involvement

109.32′

For example, in his first campaign at the Emirates, the former Barcelonian star was nothing short of game-changing, and ended up bagging an absurd tally of 25 goals and 12 assists in 52 appearances.

He then followed that up with 17 goals and ten assists in 41 games the following season.

When he finally left the club, the Tocopilla-born dynamo had racked up a monstrous haul of 80 goals and 44 assists in 166 games.

Interestingly, when you watch back his highlights, it becomes clear that it was a combination of technical skill and sheer determination that helped him score so many goals.

Now, the former Coventry City star might not have the technique of the 36-year-old, but he undoubtedly has that same brutal determination to his game, potentially even more so than the former Arsenal ace.

Don’t just take our word for it, though, as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed that one of the Swede’s biggest strengths “is his mentality,” he has “an obsession with scoring goals” and that he’ll “have utter confidence in his ability to be the main man.”

We’ve seen this single-mindedness to make things happen off the pitch as well, with reports emerging earlier this week claiming that he is willing to give up almost €2m of his salary to help make this transfer happen.

Finally, away from the psychoanalysis, the Stockholm-born “monster,” as dubbed by Mattinson, also shares the trait of being an output machine with the former Emirates star, and can take the game by the scruff of the neck that way.

Appearances

50

52

Minutes

4169′

4248′

Goals

43

54

Assists

15

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

63.40′

For example, in 52 appearances for the Lisbon outfit last season, totalling 4248 minutes, he scored a mammoth 54 goals and provided 13 assists for good measure.

That means the international poacher maintained an out-of-this-world average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Ultimately, the Gyokeres might not be as technical a player as Alexis was, but thanks to the sheer weight of his determination and the number of goals he’s capable of scoring, there is every chance he could be to Arteta what the Chilean was to Wenger.

Eze & Gyokeres will love him: Arsenal explore signing £65m "mini Salah"

Just imagine this player alongside Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 8, 2025

Manchester United have finally announced the signing of Bryan Mbeumo, with a £71m deal agreed, finally, on Friday.

Weeks of negotiating had cast a grey cloud over the exciting transfer, with doubts beginning to creep in as to whether the Cameroonian would actually be plying his trade as a Red Devil next season.

Mbeumo, 25, is one of the Premier League’s most talented and prolific forwards, posting 20 goals across 38 matches last season. The likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all registered their interest, but it was Old Trafford that Mbeumo’s heart was set on.

With Matheus Cunha on the opposite flank, the right-sided forward may well wreak havoc under Ruben Amorim’s wing next year, in a new-look United frontline tasked with leading the revival.

However, a new striker is still required.

Man United's need for a new a striker

Rasmus Hojlund appears committed to the United cause. Amorim needs, truly needs, to ensure that an upgrade is signed this summer, even if the 22-year-old remains in the first-team squad.

This wouldn’t actually be the worst thing in the world, for it would package some depth while easing Hojlund’s weight of responsibility, perhaps allowing him to work on his weaker points.

But United need a new centre-forward all the same.

According to Football Transfers, that man might be Nicolas Jackson, who is open to swapping Chelsea for United.

That follows positive talks between Jason Wilcox and the player’s representatives, with discussions still ongoing over personal terms for Jackson.

Chelsea have lowered their exorbitant £100m asking price to £70m; however it’s likely that United will still seek to whittle that figure down.

What Nicolas Jackson would bring to Man United

The duality of Jackson. At times, a rip-roaring, barnstorming menace of a striker; at other points, wasteful and lacking authority at number nine.

However, 24 goals and ten assists across two Premier League seasons is nothing to be sniffed at, especially when considering that only 59 of his 65 fixtures have come from the outset.

Jackson tapered off across the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, but he posted nine goals and three assists across his opening 15 league games, thus proving that with some more consistency, he could become one of the leading goalscorers competing in England.

24/25 – Chelsea

30 (28)

10

5

23/24 – Chelsea

35 (31)

14

5

22/23 – Villarreal

26 (16)

12

4

21/22 – Villarreal

9 (0)

1

0

And partnered with someone like Mbeumo in United’s frontline, he could finally reach the level that his natural talent suggests is attainable.

Mbeumo is chiefly a deadly goalscorer, but he’s also a robust athletic profile and a creative presence besides.

As per Sofascore, he created a whopping 17 big chances in the Premier League last season, averaging 1.8 key passes per game.

In this way, he could be perfect for Jackson, feeding the Senegalese star balls while maintaining his own top-class goalscoring threat.

And Jackson, who has been hailed in the past as a “special” striker by journalist Rahman Osman, is hardly one-note himself, ranked among the top 17% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for progressive carries and the top 22% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Ultimately, this would be a calculated risk from INEOS for a talented striker who has yet to bring it all together and sustain it in the English game.

But with Mbeumo partnering him up top (and Cunha too), Jackson might just prove to be an astute signing for a resurgent Man United side.

Bigger star than Mbeumo: Man Utd discussing £78m move to sign "new Haaland"

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim wants to sign an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 21, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack has already been subject to improvement this summer, with Thomas Frank evidently wanting added reinforcements in such a department.

It may come as a surprise to many, especially considering the side registered 64 league goals last season – the seventh-highest tally of any side in the Premier League.

However, Mohammed Kudus has already been signed to add further depth to such an area, but their business has shown no signs of slowing down as of late.

Countless players have emerged on their radar in an attempt to aid the new boss during his first year in charge, with the hierarchy backing him after taking the reins.

It remains to be seen how much more money the Dane will have at his disposal, but it’s clear that he’s already made up his mind on who he wants to bring to North London.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

In their ambitions of adding to the front line, Real Madrid star Rodrygo has emerged as a surprise option after he was told he’s free to leave the Spanish giants this summer.

The Brazilian would undoubtedly be a marquee signing for Frank this summer, with a fee in the region of £86m mooted – a figure that might be out of reach for the Lilywhites.

As a result, many other players are being lined up by the board, which has seen Stade Rennais talent Arnaud Kalimuendo touted by TEAMtalk for a move to North London.

Their report claims that the hierarchy have already started talks with the Ligue 1 outfit over a move for the 23-year-old, who scored 18 times across all competitions last campaign.

It also states that he could be available for a fee in the region of £30m this window, but could face competition for his signature from fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

Why Spurs’ £30m target would be Frank’s answer to Kalimuendo

Kylian Mbappé is a player who has been one of Europe’s most-feared talents in recent years, understandably so given his clinical record in front of goal with multiple sides.

The Frenchman netted 256 goals in 308 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain over a seven-year spell, before making a huge move to join Real Madrid last summer.

Such a move has allowed the 26-year-old to reach new heights in his career, finding the net 44 times in his 59 appearances, ending his first season in Spain as the division’s top scorer.

His goalscoring prowess has made him such a threat to countless sides across the continent, already winning 18 major honours during his time at the top level.

However, whilst the Lilywhites will be unable to land Mbappé himself, they could be about to sign their answer to the forward with a summer move for Kalimuendo.

The 23-year-old has a long way to go until he matches the levels produced by his compatriot, but he’s already showcased his talents during the early stages of his own career.

FBref have labelled him as a similar player to Mbappé, showcasing the talent he possesses, even outperforming the Madrid star in multiple areas last season.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

20

34

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Passes into final third

2.4

2.3

Fouls won

1.4

1.2

Aerials won

0.8

0.1

Aerial success rate

47%

40%

Pass accuracy

83%

82%

Kalimuendo, who’s been labelled “one of the most prolific” talents by talent scout Jacek Kulig, posted a better goal per shot on target rate, highlighting the clinical edge he possesses based on the chance he was presented with last season.

His creativity is also reflected in his higher tally of passes completed and passes made into the final third, having the tools to provide others around him with the chance to thrive in North London.

The youngster’s all-round brilliance is further demonstrated by his aerial ability, with his versatility and varied skill set making him a talent who Spurs need to get their hands on.

£30m for a player of his calibre in today’s market would certainly be a bargain and offer an addition that would hand Frank the attacking quality he craves this summer.

Should he continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why he can’t be one of Europe’s leading talents, potentially leading the Lilywhites to Premier League glory in the near future.

Their best forward since Kane: Spurs in talks to sign "world-class" star

Tottenham Hotspur have the opportunity to land one of their biggest ever transfers this summer.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jul 30, 2025

Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of a number 10 after James Maddison’s serious knee injury, with the club confirming some very bad news on Thursday.

The England international is now set to undergo surgery on a ruptured ACL, which is expected to keep him out for the majority of 2025/2026 – dealing a major blow to Thomas Frank ahead of his first full season in charge.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Frank watched on from the sidelines as his Spurs side were thrashed 4-0 by Bayern Munich on Thursday, and while it’s important not to read too much into pre-season, the Lilywhites looked bereft of ideas in Bavaria.

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The trouncing occurred almost immediately after Tottenham confirmed the dreadful news about Maddison, and supporters are very keen to see chairman Daniel Levy swiftly enter the market for a new playmaker.

The 28-year-old joins Dejan Kulusevski, who was also sidelined with a serious knee injury earlier this year, on the sidelines – with Tottenham now minus two key creators.

Club legend Son Heung-min drew the curtain on his 10-year stay in north London with an MLS record-breaking £20 million move to Los Angeles FC earlier this week too, following an emotional goodbye in Seoul – further emphasising the need for Levy to bring in another attacker.

According to recent reports, Spurs are wasting no time in trying to find a man who can help to fill the voids left by Maddison, Kulusevski and Son.

Sky Italia reporter, Gianluca Di Marzio, claims that Tottenham have already had a £35 million bid rejected for Como starlet Nico Paz, while it is also believed that Spurs made contact over signing top Everton target Jack Grealish in the last few days (Fabrizio Romano).

Liverpool attacker Harvey Elliott, who’s attracting serious interest from the Bundesliga after his stellar Euro Under-21 campaign with England, has been mooted as a potential target as well.

Harvey Elliott keen to join Tottenham after direct talks with Thomas Frank

Despite RB Leipzig’s advancing pursuit of the 22-year-old (Florian Plettenberg), Football Transfers have shared that Spurs are not completely out of the race just yet.

According to their information, Elliott has held direct talks with Frank about joining Tottenham, and he’s keen – seeing a move to London as the ‘ideal opportunity’ to compete for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad ahead of the World Cup next year.

Frank apparently views the Anfield sensation as “central” to his attacking plans, and the Dane has already informed Elliott of his ideas to use the attacker as Tottenham’s new number 10 in Maddison’s absence.

The former Fulham starlet could leave Merseyside for around £40 million, but Liverpool are insistent that a buy-back clause must be included in any proposed deal.

It is claimed that Levy is “willing to meet all of Liverpool’s demands” when it comes to terms, meaning negotiations are poised to take a positive turn.

Elliott’s sky-high potential, and the fact he can help to fill Tottenham’s ‘locally trained’ Champions League quota, make him a standout attacking candidate at pretty good value.

The player stands to earn far more minutes down south than he does under Arne Slot next season, so this deal could be a serious win-win for everyone involved, as Liverpool also need to balance the books after a serious summer of spending.