All posts by z3u9t.icu

After Ange Postecoglou’s dismal season in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, changes simply had to be made if Tottenham Hotspur were to progress in the right direction.

His Europa League triumph certainly papered over the cracks, but former chairman Daniel Levy saw the bigger picture and decided a switch in manager was needed.

Such responsibility fell into the hands of Thomas Frank, with the former Brentford boss tasked with the responsibility of transforming the Lilywhites’ fortunes in England’s top-flight.

The backline was a real issue for the club last time around, but the 51-year-old has already made an immediate impact – as seen by their tally of six clean sheets across all competitions.

However, the upcoming January transfer window is rapidly approaching, which could see added quality being injected into the opposite end of the pitch.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent in January

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have once again been linked with a deal to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after previously wanting him during the summer.

The Ghanaian international has enjoyed a phenomenal start to 2025/26, scoring on six occasions and registering three assists within his first eight outings.

However, he’s not the only Premier League forward currently on their radar, with Sporting Director Fabio Paratici targeting a move for Everton star Iliman Ndiaye.

The latest report from TEAMtalk states that the Lilywhites see the 25-year-old as a top target for the winter window, but face competition from a fellow top-flight rival.

Newcastle United are also in the race to land the versatile forward in the coming months, which has seen a £60m price tag mooted to prise him away from the Toffees.

Why Spurs’ latest target is even better than Kudus

Landing an attacker from another Premier League side certainly isn’t alien to Spurs, as seen by their deal to land winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £55m for the 25-year-old’s signature, with the Ghanaian seen as the player to take the frontline to the next level.

It’s safe to say he’s already had an immediate impact at the Lilywhites, scoring once and notching four assists within his first eight Premier League appearances.

Kudus has certainly nailed down the role on the right-hand side of the frontline, but he could be joined by another phenomenal talent in the form of Ndiaye.

The Toffees forward has rapidly progressed under David Moyes over the last couple of months, with the Senegalese international now one of the most potent attackers in the division.

When comparing his stats to those of the new Lilywhites addition, Ndiaye has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas throughout the early stages of 2025/26.

The Toffees star has achieved a better shot on target rate and a higher goal per shot on target average – which showcases the added goalscoring threat he possesses.

Games played

8

8

Goals & assists

4

5

Shot on target accuracy

83%

38%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Pass accuracy

77%

73%

Key passes

1.8

1.7

Take-on success

47%

46%

Carries into final third

2.1

1.6

Fouls won

1.5

0.8

He’s also completed more passes and registered a higher tally of key passes per 90 – leading to one analyst labelling him as “one of the best” talents in the Premier League.

Ndiaye’s dominance over Kudus is further reflected in his higher take-on success and better tally of carries into the final third per 90 – highlighting his ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas whenever possible.

£60m would be another huge statement from the hierarchy, but it’s a deal that could add further quality into Frank’s frontline in his quest for success in North London.

The prospect of Ndiaye thriving with Kudus at the Lilywhites is truly one to behold, which could see the club be the home to two of the division’s best attacking talents.

However, the board will have to act quickly in January to complete a deal for his signature, especially given the interest from rivals Newcastle United.

Forget Spence: Frank can bin Porro by unleashing "future £100m" Spurs star

Tottenham Hotspur already have another phenomenal talent within their ranks in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 24, 2025

Aston Villa scouts are being put through their paces ahead of the January window and may now have found a player worth pursuing in PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ismael Saibari.

The Villans struggled for goals in the early part of the campaign, and it is fair to say that their efforts to hit the target need to improve, given they are one of the lowest-scoring sides in the Premier League table.

Yet to hit double figures on that front, at the time of writing, much has been made of Ollie Watkins’ poor form at Aston Villa this season. The England international has hit the target in just one of 13 this campaign, failing to repeat the stellar form he showed in 2024/25.

Undoubtedly, January will be a time where finding potency will be prioritised. Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani is on the Villans’ radar and may be pursued, with Unai Emery set on achieving even loftier goals than the accomplishments he has met during his three years in the West Midlands.

He said before the clash with Liverpool: “Still work to do, still objectives to set and work hard to achieve those objectives – collectively and myself as well, individually.

“One of them is some titles, but of course the title only is winning one, Premier League, the cups in England, and Europe, is the target we can set through to achieve some titles, and we are in this way.”

PSR may force Aston Villa’s hand as Liverpool plot a move for Ezri Konsa. Even then, there will be room to recruit more additions to offer Emery a greater sense of potency in his side’s hunt for continental qualification, something he may now find in his latest target.

Aston Villa scouts blown away by Ismael Saibari

According to TBR in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Aston Villa scouts were blown away by PSV midfielder Ismael Saibari after watching him in action against Feyenoord last weekend, where he scored a hat-trick.

Bailey said: “Saibari is attracting a lot of attention and his treble last week was special. He is one to keep an eye on for January, getting goals in January is something Premier League clubs especially are looking for and he could offer that.”

With ten goals and an assist to his name this term, the engine room operator is also wanted by Leeds United, West Ham United, Everton, Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Aston Villa eyeing Joshua Zirkzee to fill attacking void

Versatility is a key part of his game, something that could potentially signal several arrivals are imminent, given Saibari can feature as a ten, in central midfield or in a role shielding the back four.

Nevertheless, PSV hold the cards in negotiations due to having the Morocco international under contract until 2029. Aston Villa may need to shell out a premium to land his services, though could now be tempted by the prospect of a January bid.

While Chelsea have made more than their fair share of transfer mistakes over the last few years, they’ve also signed several outrageously talented players.

However, while Moises Caciedo, Enzo Fernández and Pedro Neto are all examples of great signings, there is one player who stands head and shoulders above the rest: Cole Palmer.

The England international joined the Blues from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, and since then has amassed a sensational tally of 72 goal involvements in 98 games for the club.

Therefore, the Stamford Bridge faithful should be very excited about reports linking them to someone who could become their next Palmer.

Chelsea target their new Palmer

While their draw to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon has put a bit of a dampener on things, Chelsea have had a brilliant summer in terms of transfers so far.

Transfer Focus

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

The board have been able to get rid of a host of players who weren’t at the level required, while also bringing in a handful of young and hungry talents who could develop into superstars, like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jorrel Hato.

Yet, with just under two weeks to go until the window slams shut, the West Londoners are still keen to add to their squad, and are now moving for someone who could be the next Palmer.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which claims Chelsea are very interested in signing Rico Lewis.

In fact, the report goes further than that and reveals that the Blues have already made contact with City about a deal for the youngster this summer.

It’s not clear how much the Englishman would cost, but the report has also revealed that Nottingham Forest have already made an offer of around €30m for the youngster, which is about £26m.

While it will likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line this summer, Lewis has shown enough in his short career that Chelsea should do what they can to get him, especially as he could be another Palmer.

Why Lewis would be another Palmer

The first thing to say is that, yes, Lewis and Palmer play in entirely different positions on the pitch, and, as a result, play the game in different ways.

However, that doesn’t mean the former couldn’t be a new version of the latter, as the comparison isn’t really about their position on the pitch.

Instead, if this transfer were to happen, it would be another example of City willingly selling one of their young and exciting academy graduates to the Blues.

Not only that, but one who has likely got a future in the senior England setup, as he’s already won five caps for the side at just 20 years old.

In fact, not only would Pep Guardiola and Co be allowing another talented player to move to Stamford Bridge, but they could be letting a genuine superstar in the making move to a rival.

We say this as, when you take a look under the hood, at the right-back’s underlying numbers, they are sensational.

For example, FBref rank the Bury-born gem in the top 1% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 4% for through balls, the top 7% for carries, the top 2% for progressive passes, the top 9% for passes into the final third and more, all per 90.

Pass Completion %

91.9%

Top 1%

Passes Completed

59.83

Top 4%

Pass Completion % (Long)

65.2%

Top 4%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 4%

Passes Received

53.11

Top 6%

Carries

43.58

Top 7%

Progressive Passes

6.03

Top 8%

Live-ball Passes

58.86

Top 8%

Passes into Final Third

4.88

Top 9%

Total Carrying Distance

219.04

Top 10%

Touches (Att 3rd)

24.21

Top 11%

In other words, the “exceptional” talent, as dubbed by Guardiola, is showing serious signs that he could be a world-class player in time, much like there would have been signs that Palmer was something special before his move two years ago.

Ultimately, even if the final fee ends up substantial, Chelsea should do what they can to sign Lewis this summer, as he could be an unmissable market opportunity.

Fewer touches than Sanchez: 5/10 Chelsea star was even worse than Palmer

Chelsea were held to a disappointing draw by Crystal Palace in their opening game of the Premier League.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 17, 2025

Leeds United supporters were hit with a devastating blow on Monday evening when Fabrizio Romano gave Marseille the ‘here we go’ treatment for Igor Paixao.

It had been reported earlier in the day that the Whites were expected to agree a deal in the region of £28m to sign the Brazilian forward from Feyenoord ahead of the French side.

However, as you can see in the post above, Marseille now have a deal ‘in place’ to sign the 25-year-old star, who they have reached an agreement with over a five-year contract.

Romano claims that Paixao ‘wanted’ to sign for the French side despite Leeds United’s attempts to swoop in and convince him to make the move to England.

Given that Lukas Nmecha as a free transfer is the only attacking signing the Whites have made so far this summer, missing out on the winger has come as a big blow for the club.

However, it will be interesting to see how the Feyenoord star handles a move to a top five league in Europe, as Leeds have been burned by Eredivisie stars in the past.

Why Leeds may have dodged a bullet with Igor Paixao

It is, firstly, worth saying that Paixao would have been a very exciting signing for the club, because he enjoyed a phenomenal 2024/25 campaign in the Netherlands.

The 25-year-old star delivered 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions from the left wing position, which shows that he has the potential to provide a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

However, Leeds once splashed out a fee of £21m to sign left winger Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord in an eerily similar move in 2022, after his impressive year in the Eredivisie.

Appearances

30

34

Goals

12

16

Big chances missed

8

11

Big chances created

9

12

Assists

7

10

Dribbles completed per game

3.6

1.7

Duels won per game

8.1

5.2

As you can see in the table above, Sinisterra and Paixao both delivered plenty of goals and assists in their respective seasons in the Dutch top-flight for Feyenoord.

The former Leeds man, though, has only managed eight goals and three assists in 51 Premier League appearances in his career to date, which shows how hard it can be to translate that form from the Netherlands over to England.

With this in mind, the club’s latest reported target to bolster their attack may be just as exciting as the fallen through deal for Paixao would have been.

Leeds in the race to sign English star

According to Calcio Mercato, Leeds United are one of a number of teams lining up a potential swoop to sign Jonathan Rowe from Marseille this summer.

The report claims that the Whites, Bournemouth, and Roma are all interested in signing the England U21 international, whilst Atalanta may also join the race if they miss out on Ademola Lookman.

Transfer Focus

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

In a funny turn of events, Calcio Mercato explains that the former Norwich City attacker may be available for clubs to snap up this summer because of the pending arrival of Paixao, who would take his place in the squad on the left flank.

The report adds that Leeds are not the only team turning to Rowe as an alternative to the Feyenoord star, as Roma are also looking at him after also missing out on Paixao.

It also reveals that it will take a fee in the region of £17m in order to secure a deal for the English winger, which means that he would be significantly cheaper than the Eredivisie sensation, but he could be just as exciting.

Why Leeds should sign Jonathan Rowe

The Whites should push to win the race to sign Rowe before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September because he could be just as exciting as Paixao.

First and foremost, the former Canaries star is three years younger than Paixao and still has plenty of time left before he enters the prime years of his career, which the Brazilian winger is already in.

When the Feyenoord ace was 22, he managed four goals and four assists in 18 games in the Brazilian top-flight and had not played a minute of football in Europe. Rowe, meanwhile, has played 13 Premier League matches and 28 in Ligue 1 in his career already.

The Englishman scored three goals, created eight ‘big chances’, and assisted three goals in 28 games in Ligue 1, but the young forward only started six of those appearances under Roberto De Zerbi.

xG

0.40

Top 14%

xG on target

0.48

Top 13%

Goals

0.34

Top 25%

xA

0.25

Top 16%

Assists

0.34

Top 14%

Chances created

2.04

Top 22%

As you can see in the table above, the £17m-rated star’s underlying statistics, per 90, was very impressive in comparison to his positional peers in the division, which suggests that he could have delivered far more goals and assists if he had been given more game time.

This is why the forward, who scored 13 goals for Norwich in the 2023/24 campaign, could be a very exciting signing for Leeds because he appears to have the potential to explode at the top end of the pitch if given regular starts, which Daniel Farke could offer him at Elland Road.

Whilst he may not have had a season as prolific as the one that Paixao just had, the England U21 international could be a signing that is just as exciting for the Whites because he has shown a lot of promise in a major league and has experience in England, and in the Premier League.

As well as potentially providing quality in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals, the 22-year-old is also a versatile forward who can play on either flank or through the middle, scoring the winner as a centre-forward for England at the U21 Euros this summer.

Rowe was once compared to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Ousmane Dembele as talent scout Jacek Kulig called him a “young Dembele” because the winger was “one of the most perfectly two-footed players” he had seen, which is why he is so adept at playing on either flank.

It is now down to Leeds to ensure that they do not lose another race for an exciting left wing target, because the Marseille whiz appears to have all the tools to be a fantastic signing for Farke.

Better signing than Paixao: Leeds in hunt to sign "exceptional" £30m star

Leeds United are reportedly in the hunt to sign an attacking midfielder who would be a better signing than Igor Paixao.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 29, 2025

While finally getting over the hill and winning the Premier League is going to require a Herculean effort from the team, it would be fair to say spirits are high around Arsenal at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side beat AC Milan in Singapore and then got one over Newcastle United in Hong Kong, and now have a North London derby to look forward to tomorrow.

Unsurprisingly, one of the stars of pre-season so far has been Bukayo Saka, who scored the only goal in the first game and was more than lively in the second.

So, fans should be thrilled about reports linking them with another international superstar who could be Arteta’s new Saka.

Arsenal target their new Saka

While the football in pre-season has been great, it’s been an even better summer for Arsenal off the pitch.

Transfer Focus

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

After years of fans crying out for one, the club have finally signed a new top-quality number nine in Viktor Gyokeres, and that’s not all, as Martin Zubimendi looks like he could be even more consequential at the base of midfield.

Moreover, Arteta won’t have to worry about squad depth quite as much anymore, with Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera all coming in to bolster the squad.

Yet, even with six new faces through the door, the North Londoners want to do more business, business which could see them land their new Saka.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which has claimed Arsenal have a ‘clear name’ in mind when it comes to further improving the squad this summer: Rodrygo.

While the report reveals that the Gunners will likely have to sell a player or two before signing the Brazilian, it does not mention how much he might eventually cost them.

However, multiple stories from earlier this summer indicate that a fee of around £86m could be enough to seal the deal, and while that’s a lot of money, it would be worth it for a player of Rodrygo’s quality, especially as he could be the club’s new Saka.

Why Rodrygo could be Arsenal's new Saka

So, before the pitchforks and torches come out, we aren’t necessarily saying Rodrygo will come in and be just as good as Saka right away, as the Englishman has practically made this team his own over the last few years and is unquestionably now world-class.

However, we are saying that there is every chance the Real Madrid star could come in and end up having a similar impact on the left-hand side, albeit without the homegrown academy product side of things.

Why do we think this? Well, for starters, despite playing out of position for much of the last two seasons, the Brazilian has remained a seriously dangerous attacker.

For example, the “incredible” talent, as dubbed by former manager Carlo Ancelotti, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.

That translates to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes across the last two years, which is a level of output the Gunners’ left side could do with.

Appearances

51

54

Minutes

3707′

3452′

Goals

17

14

Assists

9

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

142.57′

138.08′

Second, much in the same way the Hale End icon has taken the club on his back in the past, the former Santos gem has often been the difference maker in big European games for his side.

In 64 Champions League games, the 24-year-old has scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists, but crucially, eight of his goals have come in the knockout rounds and eight have been game-winning.

Finally, despite neither one of them being particularly tall, they’ve proven themselves to be tough to dispossess in recent seasons, be that through sheer strength or an underappreciated ability with the ball at their feet.

Moreover, when given space, both wingers can be quite explosive and an absolute nightmare for backtracking defenders, with FBref placing the Brazilian in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for carries into the penalty area and the Englishman in the top 11%.

Ultimately, while Saka will likely always be the most popular player at Arsenal thanks to his deep ties with the fans and club, Rodrygo could be almost as effective as him off the left, and therefore, Arteta and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

Arsenal eye "fascinating" Eze alternative with £22.5m release clause

The Gunners are after another number 10.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 30, 2025

Leeds United have spent the first part of the summer transfer window attempting to improve the depth and the quality of Daniel Farke’s defensive options.

Three of their four signings are defenders, as Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Jaka Bijol have all been added to the squad, alongside striker Lukas Nmecha.

The Championship champions are also looking to improve their options in the middle of the park, though, as they were recently linked with a move for Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff.

Sky Sports reported that the Whites were interested in a deal to bring the English maestro to Elland Road this summer, and made three bids to tempt the Magpies into cashing in on him.

However, all three offers were turned down by Eddie Howe’s side, with the most recent proposal worth up to £12m, and Leeds are said to be weighing up where to go next.

The Whites will be hoping that whoever they sign to fill that central midfield role can be as effective as Kalvin Phillips was for Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.

Why Kalvin Phillips was so important for Leeds

When Leeds were promoted to the Premier League under Bielsa in 2020, Phillips stepped up from the Championship and showed that he could compete at the top level with brilliant performances in the middle of the park.

The England international sat at the base of the midfield and provided consistent quality with both his use of the ball in possession as well as his destructive play off the ball to break up opposition attacks on a regular basis.

Phillips, who came up through the academy system at Thorp Arch, played 29 of the club’s 38 games in the Premier League that season, and used his defensive quality to help the team avoid relegation back down to the Championship.

The English enforcer was terrific at making tackles, interceptions, and blocks to prevent Illan Meslier from being worked too often in the Leeds goal, as shown by the statistics in the table below.

Tackles

2.74

Top 12%

Interceptions

1.67

Top 18%

Blocks

1.82

Top 9%

Clearances

1.96

Top 9%

Aerial duels won

1.11

Top 39%

Passes blocked

1.30

Top 15%

Phillips ranked incredibly highly in pretty much every major defensive metric, which speaks to how important he was to Bielsa’s team in the middle of the park.

As you can see in the clip above, though, Jamie Carraghe also explained why the midfielder was an important player in possession with his ability to dictate games with his passes.

Leeds have held talks to sign Bundesliga star

Leeds may be on course to land their next version of Phillips, though, as they are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Anton Stach from Hoffenheim.

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 the Sunday Mirror (13 July, page 76), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds United have already held talks with Hoffenheim over a potential deal for the central midfielder.

The report also reveals that the Bundesliga club are willing to cash in on the German talent if a club is willing to pay a fee of around £17.25m for the 26-year-old titan.

It also states, though, that Eintracht Frankfurt are plotting a possible bid for the 6 foot 4 colossus, which means that Leeds could face some pretty stiff competition to get a deal over the line for the midfielder in the coming weeks.

Why Leeds should sign Anton Stach

The Whites should push to beat Frankfurt to his signature before the end of the summer transfer window because Stach could be Farke’s own version of Phillips.

As aforementioned, the current Manchester City man was so important for Bielsa because of the defensive insurance that he provided in front of the back four, coupled with the technical quality that the English star offered on the ball.

Stach, who also offers a physical presence at the height of 6 foot 4, is a defensive or central midfielder who could arrive at Elland Road to bring similar qualities to Phillips in the middle of the park.

The 26-year-old star averaged 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game, without making a single error that directly led to a goal or penalty for the opposition, in 30 appearances in the Bundesliga last term.

Appearances

29

30

Goals

1

1

Assists

2

2

Tackles per game

2.6

2.2

Interceptions per game

1.6

1.5

Duels won per game

5.3

5.6

Ground duel success rate

53%

59%

Aerial duel success rate

47%

57%

As you can see in the table above, Stach’s defensive numbers last season in the German top-flight are incredibly similar to the numbers that Phillips put up for Bielsa in the 2020/21 Premier League campaign.

These statistics suggest that the German talent would offer similar qualities out of possession in the present day Leeds team for Farke, as a destructive defensive midfielder who can consistently win duels, tackles, and interceptions, whilst dominating opposition players in duels on the ground and in the air.

The £17m-rated maestro, who former teammate Dominik Kohr claimed has an “incredible” shot, also completed 83% of his attempted passes and contributed with two goals and four ‘big chances’ created, which shows that he can also make an impact in possession.

Therefore, Stach could be as important to Farke’s Leeds team as Phillips was to Bielsa’s newly-promoted side in 2020, due to his qualities on and off the ball in midfield, having proven himself in a major European league in Germany.

Big Nmecha upgrade: Leeds have held talks to sign "clinical" new striker

Leeds have held talks to sign a striker who would be an upgrade on Lukas Nmecha.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 14, 2025

That is why the Championship champions should be pushing very hard to beat Frankfurt to the signing of the Hoffenheim man before the opening game of the Premier League season against Everton.

Newcastle United have bid farewell to striker Callum Wilson, who departs the Magpies after five years on Tyneside.

The centre-forward struggled with injury throughout his spell with the club, scoring 49 goals across 130 appearances.

However, with a Carabao Cup winner’s medal around his neck, he will leave Tyneside with fond memories of the club.

The positive news concerning his departure means that it does leave room for Eddie Howe to bring in another striker this summer, especially with European football on the horizon.

James Trafford and Anthony Elanga look set to move to St James’ Park in the coming days. Will another new attacker follow after them?

Newcastle in advanced talks for English striker

Howe was keen on bringing Joao Pedro to Newcastle, but Chelsea’s offer of £60m was beyond what the Magpies were willing to spend.

Despite Champions League football to look forward to next term, Howe is going to have to be diligent in the transfer market and hunt for alternatives.

Well, according to reports, the Toon are now currently in advanced talks to sign former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin following his departure from the Toffees.

The Englishman has been admired for a while now by Howe, but he will have to fend off interest from Manchester United to secure his man.

Transfer Focus

Even though he has scored only 11 goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, could he return to form at Newcastle, however?

Especially with someone like Elanga creating plenty of chances for him.

Why Calvert-Lewin could be a good signing for Newcastle

Last season, Elanga notched up 12 assists for Nottingham Forest in all competitions. Furthermore, he created nine big chances and averaged 1.3 key passes per game in the top flight.

If that wasn’t enough, the Swede ranked in the top 6% for assists and in the top 3% for crosses when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League.

Thus, should Calvert-Lewin make the move to Newcastle, he would surely shine alongside a player like Elanga.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

26

3

2

2023/24

38

8

3

2022/23

18

2

1

2021/22

18

5

2

2020/21

39

21

5

2019/20

41

15

1

2018/19

38

8

3

2017/18

44

8

5

2016/17

20

5

2

While the previous few years have been tough, the 28-year-old did score 13 league goals in 2019/20 and 16 the season after, proving that when he is fit, the striker is among one of the best in the country.

It was around this time that the player received plenty of praise from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who said:

“Calvert-Lewin, I really expected him to make big steps in the next few years and he did. He has everything you need in a top striker: size, mobility, speed, desire, technically really, really good, in the air, finishing with his head, both feet.”

Signing the former Sheffield United starlet on a free transfer could turn into a shrewd piece of business for Howe. But only if he remains fit and healthy.

Adding both Elanga and Calvert-Lewin will certainly give Newcastle more depth in their attacking department and it could well be that the Forest winger is the chance generation machine that the latter needs to revive his career.

Still only 28, the former Everton striker could shine in the northeast.

Their new Gordon: Newcastle "close" to signing "electric" big-money star

As Eddie Howe looks to bolster his attacking options, Newcastle are “negotiating” to sign an “electric” winger who will be sensational Gordon repeat.

Jul 7, 2025

Regis Le Bris certainly loves raiding his native homeland of France for some gems to add to his ever-expanding Sunderland camp.

Indeed, Lorient-born ace Enzo Le Fee was the first major statement purchase on Le Bris’ end when calling back to his birthplace.

It’s safe to say the midfielder made an instant impact on Wearside, registering an amazing assist against Middlesbrough and then scoring against Luton within his first few months at the club.

Now, Le Bris seems intent on exploring the French market once again.

Sunderland eyeing £14m star after Diarra

Habib Diarra will be the next to join in a similar vein, having been a top performer in Ligue 1 for some time now, which was the Black Cats’ manager’s old stomping ground before the Stadium of Light came calling.

Diarra will allegedly cost a club record £30m to obtain but that won’t stop Sunderland in their tracks when it comes to adding even more diamonds who have recently called the French top division home.

As per a report from Italian outlet Corriere Dello Sport, which has been relayed by, Roker Report, Sunderland are keen on adding AFC Bournemouth outcast Hamed Traore to their growing ranks this summer.

It’s stated that Fiorentina, Parma, Sassuolo, and Marseille are all interested in snapping up the £14m-rated attacker alongside Le Bris’ men, with this frenzied interest coming about off the back of Traore setting Ligue 1 alight last season out on loan at Auxerre.

Still, despite coming into his own in France, The Cherries are adamant they want to get rid, with it being stated that the South Coast outfit are undergoing a squad refresh.

Subsequently, Sunderland could be about to pick up another gem who was a standout performer in Ligue 1 last season, with Traore and Diarra as a duo giving the Black Cats lots of quality ahead of their voyage up a division.

Why Traore would be great alongside Diarra

Traore had shown in flashes for Bournemouth that he can also handle the tricky terrain of the Premier League, before tumbling down the pecking order, with a single goal coming his way from 13 Cherries appearances.

He will hope he can kick on and add even more goals to his slim top-flight collection if Sunderland do come calling, with the Ivorian showing off his obvious class in Ligue 1 last season for Auxerre, bouncing back having initially struggled on the south coast.

In total, Traore fired home a mightily impressive ten goals and picked up two assists across 26 Auxerre appearances, with his ability to play all across the forward positions as a left or right winger, alongside being capable as a number 10, making him an even better pick-up for Le Bris.

Diarra can offer the same eye for a goal and assist that Traore possesses, but from a more central place on the pitch, whether that be as a number 10 or as a more defensive anchor, with the pair together perhaps forming a healthy working relationship in both making the jump to move to Wearside shortly.

Games played

26

30

Goals scored

10

4

Assists

2

5

Touches*

42.2

43.5

Shots*

2.6

0.9

Accurate passes*

17.4 (78%)

26.3 (87%)

Key passes*

1.1

0.9

Big chances missed

5

2

Big chances created

4

9

Total duels won*

4.9

3.3

The similarities don’t just end at their comparable levels of electric output, however, with Diarra and Traore both willing to battle for their team’s cause too, notably winning a high number of duels.

This would make them very valuable members of Le Bris’ relegation-threatened squad, with the “magnificent” attacker – as he’s been glowingly labelled by scout Jacek Kulig – ready for a chance to prove himself in the Premier League again, after exploding into life on French soil.

With Diarra also being hailed as a “complete midfielder” by analyst Ben Mattinson, these are two buys that could well see Sunderland stay afloat next season, with more signings past these two surely expected as the Black Cats continue to conduct their business at a blistering pace.

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Despite already reaching a verbal agreement to sign Botafogo trio Igor Jesus, Cuiabano and Jair Cunha, Nottingham Forest have reportedly made an approach to sign another Brazilian ace.

Nottingham Forest set to sign Botafogo trio

Evangelos Marinakis has wasted no time before turning towards the South American market yet again at the City Ground. The Greek owner has had previous success when welcoming the likes of Murillo and may have completed another act of genius by reaching an agreement to sign the aforementioned Botafogo trio.

Jesus particularly stands out among the three. The impressive striker could quickly become the air to Chris Wood’s striker throne at the City Ground, having scored eight goals in Brazil throughout the 2024/25 campaign after netting 25 in all competitions in the season prior at both Botafogo and at Shabab Al-Ahli Club.

Meanwhile, if Nottingham Forest fans needed any further introduction to Jesus and Cunha, then one glimpse at the Club World Cup should have given them exactly that. Both players scored in Botafogo’s 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders, whilst Cuiabano also featured from the bench.

All signs point towards excellent business by Nottingham Forest, but the Tricky Trees are not done there. With European football to look forward to next season, those at the City Ground are in their strongest position for a long time to attract some top talents.

It’s not something that Marinakis is keen to waste, either. With three Brazilian talents already on the way, Forest have also been linked with moves for the likes of Yoanne Wissa. The Brentford forward was the subject of interest from the City Ground in January and now that interest has reportedly been reignited.

Meanwhile, Forest aren’t done in South America either amid reports that they’ve made an approach to sign a fourth Brazilian talent this summer.

Nottingham Forest make Romulo Cardoso approach

According to GE Globo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign Romulo Cardoso from Goztepe this summer. The impressive forward is still just 23 years old and would be arriving off the back of an excellent campaign which saw him score 17 goals and create another 13 in Turkey.

That said, Forest aren’t alone in the race to sign the forward. Joining them, RB Leipzig and Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers are also reportedly interested in signing Romulo this summer. The Bundesliga club will become a particular threat if they are forced to replace Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko in the coming months.

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Whether Forest’s growing Brazilian contingent helps to convince the clinical goalscorer will be interesting to see too. The City Ground is quickly becoming the place to be for South American stars on the rise and Romulo could become the latest to make his way to the Midlands.

With contact already made and a number of clubs chasing his signature, Romulo has arguably the biggest decision of his career to make so far this summer.

Arsenal look set for a busy summer in the transfer market, with Mikel Arteta looking to go one better in the Premier League after three successive second-place finishes.

To do that, the Gunners may make a number of marquee additions ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with attack a key area of focus for those at the Emirates Stadium.

New sporting director Andrea Berta is tasked with bringing a star striker to north London after injuries left Arteta with a lack of final third options in 24/25.

A number of players have been linked with moves to Arsenal, which has resulted in Grok, the AI tool on X, predicting the Gunners’ summer transfer business.

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It has thrown up some interesting results, with Berta potentially spending just over £250m between now and the September 1 deadline.

AI predicts 5 Arsenal summer signings 1 Martin Zubimendi Real Sociedad (£59m)

It shouldn’t come as a shock that AI have predicted Martin Zubimendi to be one of Arsenal’s first summer signings, as it has been widely reported that the Real Sociedad midfielder is set to swap Spain for England.

The Gunners have been chasing the central midfielder since the start of the year and they regard a transfer as “done and signed”.

There were rumours of Real Madrid coming in to hijack Arsenal’s move, however, it looks a matter of time before Zubimendi’s transfer is announced, with Grok citing a £59m fee.

2 Kepa Arrizabalaga Chelsea (£5m)

Set to follow Zubimendi through the Emirates door this summer is goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, so again, it isn’t a shock that he’s on AI’s Arsenal list.

Still the world’s most expensive goalkeeper after his £70m+ move to Chelsea back in 2018, Arrizabalaga has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge and spent the last two seasons out on loan with Real Madrid and Bournemouth.

Arsenal will reportedly pay just £5m to sign the ‘keeper, who will serve as back up to David Raya in north London.

3 Benjamin Sesko RB Leipzig (£70m)

A centre-forward will be at the top of the to-do list for Arsenal after deals for Zubimendi and Kepa, with both Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres mooted as targets for the Gunners.

Grok thinks Sesko will be the striker to arrive in north London following transfer talks at a total cost of £70m.

RB Leipzig

87

39

8

RB Salzburg

79

29

11

FC Liefering

44

22

6

Slovenia

41

16

6

AI state that the Slovenian’s ‘physicality, goal-scoring ability and potential to develop into a Haaland-like forward make him a strong fit for Arsenal’s need for a statement striker’.

4 Nico Williams Athletic Club (£50m)

Should Arsenal land someone like Sesko, they could then move to bolstering their options on the wing, and Nico Williams has been a player of interest to Berta and co.

The Athletic Club could be on the move in 2025 and has been linked with going Arsenal. In fact, there were claims saying the Gunners were very close to signing Williams.

Grok says Williams ‘seems more attainable’ than someone like Rodrygo and would offer ‘pace and youth’ and the Emirates, placing a £50m figure on the Spain international.

5 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace (£70m)

The final of Arsenal’s five predicted summer signings come in defence, with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi backed to move to the Emirates.

A former Chelsea youngster, Guehi has grown into one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, and although Arsenal have William Saliba and Gabriel, the Gunners could be on the search for more.

There have been suggestions Arsenal are ready to swoop for the England international, and Grok says a deal could be worth up to £70m.