da jogodeouro： Still on the hunt for incomings even with Bryan Mbeumo seemingly on the way, Manchester United are now reportedly battling against clubs in the Saudi Pro League to sign a midfield ace.

Mbeumo waiting to undergo Man Utd medical

da bet nacional： After going back and forth in negotiations with Brentford, it looks as though Manchester United have finally taken a step closer to signing Mbeumo this summer. The Red Devils are now reportedly finalising any add-ons in an offer that will exceed the £60m mark, while Mbeumo is now waiting for approval to undergo a medical at the club.

The forward is on course to become United’s second arrival of the window, but he’s unlikely to be the last. If recent reports are anything to go by then INEOS are still on the hunt for a goalkeeper and a striker this summer.

The big question on that front has been just who will arrive to fill that quota. The likes of Emiliano Martinez have been among the headlines on the goalkeeper front, but whether Aston Villa sell one of their star men to a rival even in the face of PSR troubles remains to be seen.

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Meanwhile, when it comes to strikers, it did look as though Ruben Amorim could get a shock reunion with Viktor Gyokeres. United were certainly in the race, reportedly making the Swede their No.1 target, but ultimately he set his sights on Arsenal with negotiations still ongoing.

That may not be the last time that the Red Devils interact with his representatives, however. Reports are now suggesting that another one of their clients are on United’s radar this summer.

Man Utd now battling to sign Ndidi

According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Manchester United are now battling to sign Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City this summer. The experienced midfielder is attracting plenty of interest following the Foxes’ relegation, including from the Saudi Pro League, and is now free to leave the King Power Stadium if his £9m release clause is triggered this summer.

Represented by the same agent as Gyokeres, United shouldn’t find it too complicated to open discussions for a midfielder who could provide Amorim with a bargain solution to his Casemiro problem.

Premier League stats 24/25 P90 (via FBref)

Ndidi

Casemiro

Starts

28

18

Progressive Carries

0.70

0.24

Interceptions

1.20

0.84

Ball Recoveries

4.92

6.20

While Ndidi’s arrival wouldn’t steal the same headlines as Cunha or Mbeumo, it would have importance in its own right. Carrying the ball at a far better standard while proving more effective off the ball, Ndidi is more athletic than the ageing Casemiro and could crucially offer the quality in depth that Amorim requires.

Earning around £75,000-a-week at Leicester, Ndidi wouldn’t exactly disrupt United’s wage bill either. That, alongside his £9m release clause, makes him a viable option for INEOS and the Red Devils in the coming months.

da betway： Water is wet, the sky is blue, and Chelsea are incredibly busy in the summer transfer window.

da pinnacle： Like they do every year, the Blues are making the most of silly season, already welcoming in Premier League-proven talents like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.

Moreover, they have also reportedly agreed a deal worth around £55m to sign the incredibly exciting Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund.

However, it’s not all about the incomings, as the West Londoners have already made a few sales and are looking to make a few more, although one potential exit could end up being something of a Mohamed Salah repeat.

Chelsea's summer sales

While most of the attention this summer has been on the club’s incomings, and rightly so, Chelsea have already made a few sales.

Transfer Focus

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

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The biggest thus far has been Bashir Humphreys’ move to Burnley, where he spent last season on loan, for a fee supposedly around £10m.

The full-back isn’t the only Blues player who was on loan last season to leave this summer, though, as Kepa Arizabalaga made the incredibly familiar move to Arsenal for around £5m earlier this month.

Interestingly, based on reports, the Spaniard might not even be the only Blues player to move to the Emirates this summer.

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Noni Madueke could follow Kepa to the red side of North London in the coming weeks or months.

In fact, the Italian journalist claims that the Gunners are in talks with the player’s representatives, and that he’d be “open” to a move.

In terms of the money involved, reports from earlier this month claim that the Englishman could end up costing £55m.

While there are certainly some who would see this as an excellent sale for Chelsea, there are also ways in which it bears a resemblance to Salah’s departure all those years ago.

Why Madueke's move could be Salah 2.0

Okay, so before the pitchforks and torches come out, we are not in any way trying to argue that Madueke is as good a player as Salah is today, as that would be patently absurd.

However, there are some similarities between them and this potential transfer to that of the Liverpool star.

The first is that it could be another example of Chelsea selling a young and exciting right-winger years before they hit their peak.

While he was not indispensable last season, the former PSV Eindhoven star was a useful player to have in the squad and someone who showed glimpses of brilliance.

For example, the “unbelievable” forward, as dubbed by former manager Mauricio Pochettino, racked up a tally of seven goals and four assists in just 32 Premier League appearances, and in Europe, he was even better, scoring three goals and providing one assist in five games.

Madueke’s FBref scout report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Progressive Carries

6.82

Top 1%

Carries into Penalty Area

4.12

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.04

Top 4%

Touches (Att Pen)

8.15

Top 4%

Non-Penalty xG

0.43

Top 6%

Shots Total

3.54

Top 7%

Progressive Carrying Distance

154.28

Top 7%

Shots on Target

1.33

Top 8%

All Stats via FBref

Moreover, he possesses some genuinely world-class skills, as, according to FBref, he ranked in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area per 90 minutes.

In other words, there were almost no players better at getting the ball up the pitch and into seriously dangerous areas than the Englishman.

Don’t just take our word for the potential of the winger though, as coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst has argued that he’s “further along on his journey than Salah was at the same age” and that “if he continues to work hard, then he could and should be recognised as one of the world’s best down the line.”

Additionally, if the Reading-born ace does get to the very top of the game, then he could end up being as much of a thorn in the Pensioners’ side as the Egyptian has been, only this time for an even bigger rival.

Ultimately, while he’s nowhere near Salah today, Madueke has the ability to be something special, and if Chelsea let him go to a rival now, they could end up regretting it in the same way they regret losing the Liverpool star all those years ago.

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da jogodeouro： Liverpool exceeded expectations when they won the Premier League last season, but Darwin Nunez struggled to perform at the expected level throughout.

da betobet： The 26-year-old striker is a maverick, for sure, but he’s also erratic and chaotic and often incapable of harnessing and channelling his skills into something coherent.

With Luis Diaz’s future looking more certain to exist outside of Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich both vying for his signature and receiving plenty of encouragement, Liverpool might not want to cash in on Nunez.

However, the Uruguay international is in talks to join Napoli, and selling him may well be for the best.

Why Liverpool should sell Darwin Nunez

When Liverpool signed Nunez, they purchased a young and exciting striker who had just come off the back of a 34-goal campaign with Portuguese giants Benfica, scoring twice against Liverpool on Europe’s elite stage.

Klopp, perhaps, had a glint in his eyes when watching the Uruguayan run rampant over many of Europe’s finest; maybe the savvy tactician saw the reincarnation of Luis Suarez in Benfica’s man.

Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nunez has flattered to deceive for much of his time on Merseyside, even if he’s shown flashes of the quality that convinced the German manager to fork out an initial £64m fee from FSG’s coffers.

He is expected to depart this summer, and while a popular figure, Nunez hasn’t succeeded in emulating his iconic countryman.

What Liverpool need is a striker who embodies some of Suarez’s qualities but also has experience competing consistently at the very highest level.

Liverpool eyeing Darwin Nunez upgrade

As per TEAMtalk, Slot’s dream signing for the rest of the summer is Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, even if a deal would be extremely difficult to complete.

After the Magpies sealed their place in next season’s Champions League, The Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed there was “no chance” he would leave St. James’ Park. This has since been corroborated by the news that he has been valued at an eye-watering £200m.

Recent events will rightly halt any immediate developments, but Liverpool may well make a concerted effort to challenge the Magpies for their star man later in the transfer window.

Why Alexander Isak can be the new Luis Suarez

Isak has played for Newcastle across three seasons, and he’s improved incrementally.

A shoddy fitness record has been left in the past, with the Sweden star’s athleticism and strength having come on leaps and bounds. His application even led Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to hail him as “the best striker in the Premier League” last season.

Alexander Isak’s Record at Newcastle (all comps)

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

24/25

42 (41)

27

6

23/24

40 (36)

25

2

22/23

27 (18)

10

3

Data via Transfermarkt

In the Premier League, Isak played a monumental part in guiding Eddie Howe’s side back into the Champions League, sealing their place on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign.

His goals counted for plenty, with the 23 strikes put away in the Premier League bettered only by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

However, Isak also ranked among the top 16% of positional peers competing across Europe’s top five leagues last term for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

His all-encompassing attacking game even suggests that he could become Slot’s own version of former Redmen superstar Suarez, who, incredibly, posted 82 goals and 32 assists across only 133 appearances.

Suarez might have reached his career zenith at Barcelona, but who can argue against him being in a different stratosphere to the rest of the Premier League when he plied his trade on Merseyside?

Suarez was a devastating finisher, to be sure, but he was so much more than a simple goalscorer. Steven Gerrard once said the marksman “had everything”, and named him the best forward he had ever played with.

The iconic Anfield skipper went into further detail about exactly what set Suarez apart from his positional peers: “He could embarrass you, even with stuff that I don’t think that he knew he was doing. He was a ricochet merchant, he would run over you, he’d dominate you and bully you.”

Given the stage-by-stage progress that Isak, still only 25, has enjoyed in England, there’s certainly a good chance that he could reach the level of Liverpool’s one-time South American talisman, bringing a “world-class” striking ability, as has been praised by pundit and Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer, to Slot’s squad.

But then, as the aforementioned FBref data suggests, Isak might also thrive in link-up situations, bouncing off the creativity of stars such as Salah and Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool in a deal rising to a British-record £116m.

After all, the £120k-per-week number nine created 11 big chances in the Premier League last season, as per Sofascore, emphasising just how creative and intelligent he is in his attacking play.

Suarez perhaps reached the highest level of any forward to have ever played in the Premier League when he was at his apex. Many would contest such conjecture but it’s an argument that would hold at any table.

In Isak, Liverpool might just find the perfect, belated successor, and Slot might secure his perfect new centre-forward.

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da winzada777： Mikel Arteta was handed a major boost earlier this week with the Gunners finally sealing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, but Arsenal haven’t had it all their own way.

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da mrbet： The Sporting CP striker and his camp are now putting the finishing touches on his blockbuster Premier League move after weeks of talks. Arsenal reached an agreement in principle to sign Gyokeres for around £64 million nearly a fortnight ago (The Athletic), with the hold-up centered around final bonus payments.

Arsenal’s confirmed transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

However, it appears that any and all issues have now been rectified, and Gyokeres is about to become their sixth signing of the summer after Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.

It is worth noting that Gyokeres, despite his incredible 54 goals in all competitions last season, wasn’t always sporting director Andrea Berta’s main target, nor was he Edu Gaspar’s constant priority either.

Arsenal also worked on a deal for Benjamin Sesko at around the same time they started moving for Gyokeres (BBC), and they tried to sign the Slovenian last summer as well as in January (Ben Jacobs).

According to reliable media sources, Newcastle United star Alexander Isak was also a “dream” signing for Arteta at one stage (Fabrizio Romano).

Arsenal informed Alexander Isak is focused on joining Liverpool

The north Londoners, as per journalist Graeme Bailey, gave up hope of signing the Swede after being informed that Isak is focused on joining Liverpool if he is to depart St. James’ Park.

Chelsea were apparently told exactly the same thing, with Arsenal swiftly moving on to Gyokeres as they prepare to welcome Isak’s international teammate.

Isak’s rumoured price tag of around £150 million was always too steep for Berta and co, even if Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie suggests a deal would more likely be done around the £130 million mark, which would still smash the Premier League’s all-time transfer record.

Eddie Howe’s side are set to dig their heels in over any potential exit for their star striker, especially after his exceptional 2024/2025.

“Alex is a world-class talent,” said Howe in a December press conference.

“The way he took his goals, he has that coolness and composure very few have. When you add into the mix his technical skills, I think he’s got it all.

“He has unique skills, and the challenge is to get him into the game as much as we can. Earlier in the season we weren’t doing that, but now the team are performing much better.

“He’s a player with a real confidence and we’re seeing a return to his really best levels – that’s highlighted by the goals he has scored.”

da supremo： After dropping out of the race to sign Hugo Ekitike, Newcastle United and Eddie Howe have now reportedly turned their focus towards an alternative option who’s more clinical than the Frenchman.

Newcastle's current striker shortlist

da fazobetai： Whilst Ekitike did sit top of their striker shortlist before Liverpool entered the race and left them reeling, Newcastle still have a number of options that they could turn towards. The striker market is wide open. Even after watching Joao Pedro join Chelsea and Liverpool take the lead in the race for Ekitike, the likes of Victor Osimhen and Yoane Wissa remain on the market.

That said, even Howe couldn’t hide his frustration about how the transfer window has gone so far on Tyneside, telling reporters: “It was a difficult summer (to switch off) with everything going on behind the scenes.”

“Obviously losing Paul (Mitchell) and all of the dynamics changing within (the club). The Sporting Director role is such a pivotal role at the club, so there was a lot (of work) to pick up.

“There has been a lot of work, transfer wise, for very little incoming action, although we are delighted to get Anthony Elanga in, who has done very well in training so far. But a lot more work (is needed) behind the scenes in preparation for the new season.”

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Howe’s verdict suggests that Newcastle’s work is far from over this summer. After missing out on Ekitike, all involved at St James’ Park will be desperate to ensure that their next pursuit goes off without a hitch – be it for Wissa or, as some reports have suggested is possible, Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.

At this stage, the most ideal scenario for Newcastle is welcoming a striker who is even better than Ekitike and that’s exactly what one Bundesliga alternative would offer them.

Howe personally plotting Sesko move

As reported by The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Howe is now personally plotting a move to sign Benjamin Sesko for Newcastle, having previously instructed St James’ Park chiefs to take a look at the Serbian.

The Magpies would once again have to spend big to secure his signature, with Leipzig reportedly demanding around €90m (£78m) to sell their star striker, but Sesko could prove to be worth every penny.

Bundesliga stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Ekitike

Sesko

Starts

31

30

Goals

15

13

Assists

8

5

Expected Goals

21.6

10

Ekitike may have outscored Sesko last season, but it was the latter who proved to be the more clinical finisher – outperfoming his XG by three goals whilst the Frankfurt star underperformed significantly. That would suggest that, in a side offering him more chances, Sesko’s numbers would soar.

It should come as no surprise that the talented forward has earned previous praise from the likes of former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell, who said: “Benjamin Šeško is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player.

“He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6’4″) is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”

da dobrowin： Newcastle United’s summer transfer window has not gone to plan. In fact, some would say it’s gone to the dogs.

da apostaganha： However, we still have a month of market mayhem ahead of us, and Eddie Howe is intent on bolstering the key areas after leading the Toon back into the Champions League with a fifth-place Premier League finish last season.

The shrewd tactician also engineered an incredible triumph in the Carabao Cup, ending so many years of searching for an elusive major trophy.

Let’s not forget, Anthony Elanga has signed for a £55m fee, while Southampton shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale is undergoing his medical ahead of a switch to Tyneside. The Three Lions man was hailed for his “phenomenal” quality when at the Emirates by ex-Arsenal legend David Seaman.

Howe and his transfer team plan to add a centre-back to the ranks ahead of the forthcoming campaign too. However, it’s a centre-forward that St. James’ Park want, especially as Alexander Isak wishes to explore a transfer to Liverpool.

But is Benjamin Sesko going to end up in black and white?

Newcastle's pursuit of Benjamin Sesko

Sesko’s has been a name which has attracted it’s measure of attention on the English scene over the past year or so. Last summer, Arsenal wanted the Slovenian striker, wanted him bad, but failed to convince Leipzig to part with their young star, albeit with a gentleman’s agreement placed that he could jump ship in one year.

But the Gunners have since signed Viktor Gyokeres, and now Newcastle are primed for a shootout with Manchester United, who have no European football on the cards after finishing 15th in the league last year.

The plain truth, of course, is that the Red Devils remain one of the biggest outfits in the world, and their success in signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both of whom were chased by Newcastle and other top clubs besides, illustrates the concerns around pushing ahead for Sesko.

Of course, Newcastle must try. Sesko, 22, is one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers, having scored 39 goals and supplied eight assists across 87 matches for Leipzig, of which just 62 have come from the starting whistle.

He’s worth chasing, all right, but if Newcastle prove unable to get the job done, there’s another who has emerged as a candidate who might prove a fantastic signing.

Newcastle make enquiry for Sesko alternative

Newcastle have opened talks with Fulham for striker Rodrigo Muniz, making an enquiry for the Brazilian. That’s according to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, who also revealed that Newcastle are indeed locked in a battle with Man United, both teams having initiated contact.

However, the 24-year-old Muniz would be the ideal fallback, with the discussions with intermediaries leading the Toon to believe that a £40m bid could get the job done.

Newly-promoted Leeds United have also been in for Muniz this summer, but Howe will surely be confident that his team would win the battle, should their interest rise to the next level.

Why Newcastle want Rodrigo Muniz

With Isak reported to be training at his former club Real Sociedad’s facilities in Spain, there’s a growing sense that the damage is irreparable and that PIF should cash in for a record sum.

Especially given that the funds could be shrewdly redirected to a talent such as Muniz, who has been described as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” by his Cottagers teammate Willian.

Joining Fulham from Flamengo in 2021, Muniz has garnered a reputation for his clinical shooting under Marco Silva’s wing, ranked among the top 3% of Premier League forwards in 2024/25 for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

He might not start every week, but Muniz is always improving and would bring a guaranteed goal threat to Howe’s system, something Sesko cannot promise given that he only scored 13 times in the Bundesliga last year, and would be taking the daunting leap over to the English top-flight game.

Rodrigo Muniz in the Premier League

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

26 (18)

31 (8)

Goals

9

8

Assists

1

1

Shots (on target)*

2.8 (1.0)

1.3 (0.6)

Big chances missed

4

5

Pass completion

62%

66%

Key passes*

0.7

0.2

Dribbles*

0.2

0.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.5

0.5

Duels (won)*

4.6 (39%)

3.7 (52%)

Data via Sofascore

Perhaps he is a centre-forward whose output comes in stacks, like bursts of fire with frustrating pauses in between. But even so, there’s no denying the South American’s natural coolness in front of goal.

Indeed, he’s missed just nine big chances across his past two years in the Premier League, scoring 17 times.

Looking at Sesko in the Bundesliga across the same timeframe, the 22-year-old has missed 18 big chances, scoring 24 goals.

Not much to separate them, then. But Sesko is unrefined, yet to tap into those tubes of potential and direct them all to a nucleus which has yet to fully form.

How many times have we seen an exciting talent arrive in England only to fall by the wayside? Instead, Newcastle could sign a player who has proven themselves in the division and would be joining a team with bucketloads of creative flair.

Of course, given the sheer depth of financial recoupment that would come from Isak’s sale to Liverpool, there is no reason why Howe could not welcome both stars to St. James’ Park this summer.

Muniz is tough and tenacious, with his physical style leading pundit Alan Shearer to say he’s “horrible to play against.” Newcastle need a bit of that, marrying into the high technical quality of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and the like.

This clinical striker would add a dimension to Howe’s project, no doubt, and while Sesko’s potential is exciting to think about, there’s every chance he would take a while to get up to speed on English soil, should he even reach his lofty potential at all.

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da bet7： Chelsea have sealed another outgoing from Stamford Bridge, and it takes BlueCo’s transfer income from this summer to nearly £160 million.

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da pinup bet： Enzo Maresca’s side reached a settlement with UEFA recently after breaching the governing body’s FFP rules, but in terms of the Premier League’s separate PSR laws, the west Londoners are in excellent stead.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

After taking home around £87.5 million worth of prize money from their triumph at the Club World Cup, Chelsea have the added benefit of Champions League revenue next season, with the Blues apparently poised to earn a minimum £80 million just from qualifying, according to football finance expert Stefan Borson.

This stream of cash flow doesn’t even take into account the players they’ve already sold this summer, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic, Mathis Amougou and João Félix all bringing in well north of £100 million.

According to recent reports, a plethora of Chelsea fringe players are also nominees for the exit door – including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Tosin Adarabioyo, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Alfie Gilchrist and Nicolas Jackson.

Fulham are reportedly close to agreeing terms with Sterling over a potential £20 million move to Craven Cottage (TEAMtalk), which would add yet more funds to the Stamford Bridge coffers, and it is believed that RB Leipzig are after Chukwuemeka as the Bundesliga side negotiate letting Xavi Simons go the other way.

It appears more and more exits are firmly on the cards, but Chelsea can now officially add another player to their growing list of departures.

Ishe Samuels-Smith leaves Chelsea for Strasbourg

The Blues have agreed a deal worth around £6.5 million to sell defender Ishe Samuels-Smith to sister club Strasbourg, with the transfer announced by Chelsea this afternoon.

The 19-year-old agreed terms on a five-year deal at the Ligue 1 side before travelling to Austria for his medical (Football Insider), as Chelsea strike yet another summer window agreement with their sister club.

BBC journalist Nizaar Kinsella also shared news, in a big boost for Maresca’s side, that Chelsea’s funds raised through player sales now totals around £158 million after his departure.

Samuels-Smith leaves Chelsea two years after signing from Everton, without making a single senior appearance in that time, but he’s at least contributed to the club’s healthy financial standing away from the grass.

da bet7k： Manchester United will need to raise funds this summer to buy more players and could now be set to field an interesting proposal involving one of their sought-after stars.

Manchester United may need to sell to buy

da fezbet： Without a doubt, missing out on this season’s Champions League and any sort of European football has hampered the Red Devils’ ability to conclude deals with ease, though both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were worth the wait at Old Trafford.

Raising funds to add more players won’t be easy. Still, Alejandro Garnacho could leave Manchester United for Chelsea, after giving the West London club “priority” over other options as he looks to remain in the Premier League.

Speaking about his own future, Rasmus Hojlund confirmed he is keen to remain at Old Trafford despite mounting speculation over his future at the club: “My plan is very clear. That is for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens. Competition is fine with me. It sharpens me. I’m more than ready. I’m feeling sharp so I welcome everything that comes.”

He added: “When I came, Martial was there as well, but he had a lot of injuries, so I obviously had to take a lot of the game time. You’re not going to tell me I shouldn’t be playing because I want to play every game. But obviously, I could have done with some help in terms of sharing the games a bit, especially in the beginning.”

Rasmus Hojlund’s scoring record at Manchester United

Appearances

95

Goals

26

Assists

5

Kobbie Mainoo has emerged as a Real Madrid target, offering another route to alternative funds coming in at Old Trafford. However, Manchester United supporters will be intrigued to see that Erik ten Hag could also become involved in that process if reports are to be believed.

Manchester United receive plethora of Rasmus Hojlund interest

According to Caughtoffside, Bayer Leverkusen boss Ten Hag is pushing hard to sign Hojlund from Manchester United. Meanwhile, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are also keen on offering the Denmark international an escape route.

Intriguingly, long-standing interest from Inter has piqued Hojlund’s attention, but the Serie A giants want to sign him on a two-year loan as opposed to an outright sale, which is the Red Devils’ preference.

Lauded for his “huge potential” by Ten Hag, Hojlund registered ten goals and four assists in 52 matches last season, placing him at the centre of a dilemma as Ruben Amorim looks to offload the striker.

Joshua Zirkzee has also been explored by Inter over the past few weeks, indicating that the Red Devils do have a few avenues in their quest to generate financial capital to reinvest back into the first team.

Ultimately, Hojlund will only leave for the right price, though the most intriguing story here is that Ten Hag would be interested in a reunion with his former player, potentially offering an ideal match for all parties.

da supremo： It’s been an interesting summer for Arsenal so far this year.

da bet vitoria： Off the pitch, things have gone about as well as fans could have expected, with Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhães back from their injuries and Andrea Berta making several sensational signings.

For example, the additions of Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera have massively improved the depth of Mikel Arteta’s squad, while Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres have the potential to be transformational in the starting lineup.

However, with two losses on the bounce, the action on the pitch has been less encouraging, and particularly against Villarreal, the team struggled to get the most out of the Swedish marksmen.

Fortunately, the club could help solve this problem by going back in for a Premier League star they’ve been linked with earlier in the window, someone who’d get Gyokeres firing right away.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse Arsenal need to get the most out of Gyokeres

It’s not hard to understand why Arsenal decided to spend around £63.5m on Gyokeres this summer, as last season saw them score 17 goals fewer than Liverpool in the league, and the former Sporting CP star is a lean, mean goalscoring machine.

For example, in just 52 appearances for the Portuguese side last season, totalling 4248 minutes, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, found the back of the net a staggering 54 times, and provided 13 assists to boot.

That means the 27-year-old superstar averaged 1.28 goal involvements every game, or one every 63.40 minutes, which is nothing short of miraculous.

Yet, while he certainly wasn’t bad against Villarreal yesterday evening, fans weren’t able to see him open his account, nor did he look particularly dangerous either.

However, we wouldn’t blame him for that, as he managed to keep the one shot he took on target, was successful in 100% of his dribbles, and wasn’t credited for missing any big chances.

Gyokeres vs Villarreal

Minutes

63′

Shots on Target

1

Shots Blocked

1

Dribbles (Successful)

2 (2)

Touches

14

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (3)

Was Fouled

1

Clearances

1

All Stats via Sofascore

Instead, the problem lay more with his teammates, as neither Ethan Nwaneri nor Martin Odegaard created a single big chance for him from the midfield, and only two were created from the rest of the squad.

In short, Arteta needs the rest of his team to create more chances for Gyokeres, and while that might happen during the season, the club could make it more of a sure thing by signing someone they’ve already been linked with this summer: Morgan Rogers.

How Rogers could get Gyokeres firing

Yes, while he might not be a player too heavily linked with Arsenal at this moment in time, Rogers was touted for a move to the Emirates several times earlier this summer.

While it would likely be a complicated transfer to get over the line, and a very expensive one at that – some reports have priced him at £100m – it would be one worth fighting for, not only for the Englishman’s own ability, but the impact he could have on Gyokeres as well.

The first and most crucial reason he’d be able to get the Swede firing is down to his impressive output.

Rogers’ 24/25

Appearances

54

Minutes

4496′

Goals

14

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

155.03′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in 54 appearances last season, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, managed to score 14 goals and provided 15 assists for good measure.

That means the often “unstoppable” 23-year-old, as dubbed by former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher, maintained a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 155.03 minutes, which is a supremely impressive effort, only made more so by the fact he played against sides like Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus in the Champions League.

Now, just imagine how devastatingly effective the former Sporting marksman could be next season, playing ahead of, or alongside, someone as dangerous as the Villa ace.

Moreover, FBref ranked the England international in the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for long pass completion and the top 7% for through balls, per 90.

These metrics are particularly important and suggest he would be an especially useful teammate for the former Coventry City star, as the goalscoring monster spends most of his time in and around the penalty area, and takes almost all of his shots there as well, meaning he needs his teammates to feed him the ball.

Ultimately, it would be an expensive and ambitious transfer to pull off, but due to his ability and the impact he could have on Gyokeres, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Rogers this summer.

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da bwin： Tottenham Hotspur may have endured a successful start to life under Thomas Frank in the Premier League, winning his first game against Burnley last weekend.

da fazobetai： However, the start in North London hasn’t all been plain sailing, with the Lilywhites’ activity in the transfer market falling way below the expectations of the fanbase.

Daniel Levy has shown glimpses of splashing the cash this summer, already spending £85m on the signatures of Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel from West Ham United and Bayern Munich, respectively.

The pair should’ve been joined by Morgan Gibbs-White, but the owner failed to complete a deal for his signature after triggering the £60m release clause in his contract at Nottingham Forest.

He’s not the only player who should be plying his trade in Frank’s side, with questions certainly starting to be asked about the owner, given the recent antics in the market.

Spurs’ failed pursuit to land Eze this summer

Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been a huge target for Spurs over the last couple of months, with constant talks being held between the two sides over a £60m transfer.

After missing out on Gibbs-White’s signature, the 27-year-old became their main target for the role, leading to advanced talks taking place, even reaching an agreement with the player himself.

However, the deal has since fallen apart, with North London rivals Arsenal taking advantage of the Lilywhites’ failure to complete the deal despite constant deliberation in recent weeks.

It was reported last night that Mikel Arteta’s side had hijacked the move, swooping in at the 11th hour, subsequently agreeing a deal with Oliver Glasner’s men and with the attacking midfielder.

Eze now looks set to join the Gunners, inflicting yet more pain on the Spurs fanbase, with other targets desperately needing to be identified before the September 1st deadline.

Spurs’ hunt for an Eze alternative this summer

As a result of missing out on Eze, other targets may be revisited, including Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss, with the Moroccan set to depart the Foxes this window.

However, like the England international, they could also be set to miss out on his signature, after Palace submitted an offer to land the 21-year-old as a replacement for the outgoing talent.

Despite the interest in the youngster, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with West Ham star Lucas Paqueta the latest player the club are considering, according to CaughtOffside’s latest report.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are closely monitoring a deal for the Brazilian international, potentially seeing the 27-year-old as the perfect alternative to Eze.

It also states that the Hammers have slashed his current asking price by 50%, now only demanding £40m for his signature despite wanting £80m to offload him 12 months ago.

Why Spurs’ £40m target would be the perfect Eze alternative

Missing out on Eze will certainly be a huge disappointment for the fanbase, with anger undoubtedly going to be directed to the hierarchy – especially if they don’t land an alternative before the window slams shut.

The situation has undoubtedly been made worse by James Maddison’s ACL injury, leaving Frank with no recognised attacking midfielder currently within his Spurs first-team squad.

Pape Sarr was forced to operate in such a role against Scott Parker’s men last weekend, highlighting the need for investment from the board as soon as possible.

However, given the lack of time in the current window, they will have to act quickly to avoid embarrassment and further backlash from the supporters.

Paqueta could certainly provide just that with a potential move to North London, offering a bargain solution given the Hammers’ current £40m asking price.

When comparing his stats to those of Eze from the 2024/25 campaign, the Brazilian has managed to outperform the Englishman in numerous key areas – arguably being a better addition for Frank’s side.

Paqueta, who’s been described as “one of the best 10s in the world” by one data analyst, has certainly showcased that when compared with Eze. Indeed, for starters, he posted a better goal per shot on target rate, subsequently handing Frank a more clinical option when in front of goal.

Paqueta & Eze in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Paqueta

Eze

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

4

16

Goals per shot on target

0.7

0.2

Pass accuracy

77%

74%

Passes into final third

5.1

1.7

Passes into the opposition box

1.7

1.3

Take-on success

49%

48%

Aerials won

46%

15%

Fouls won

2.4

1.7

Stats via FBref

However, he was just impressive in setting up his teammates, often the main creator in the West Ham side, as seen by his tally of passes into the final third and opposition box.

The 27-year-old achieved 5.1 passes into the final third, a tally three times higher than that of Eze, with more of his efforts going into the 18-yard box, handing the Lilywhites the needed threat they’ve craved in the number ten position.

Paqueta’s dominance in possession is also highlighted in his higher tally of take-ons completed, leading to him winning more fouls – highlighting that he’s a tougher player to dispossess.

£40m for a player of the Brazilian’s quality is a deal Levy and Co simply can’t look past, potentially landing themselves a bargain given the reported £60m deal for Eze.

If he moved across the capital to join Frank’s side, they would be landing a talent who has the potential to nail down the number ten position, helping the side in their quest for further success in the near future.