Chelsea are continuing their serious progress when it comes to selling players this summer, with talks ongoing to offload another star with Lesley Ugochukwu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka.
"Brave" Chelsea player who Maresca loves now "wants to leave" this summer
The Blues could lose one of their best prospects.
ByTom Cunningham Aug 4, 2025
In the last 72 hours, Enzo Maresca’s side have raised around £65 million in outgoings, starting with Armando Broja, who’s completed a move to Burnley (Fabrizio Romano).
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
Since then, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall has agreed a switch to Premier League rivals Everton and Ugochukwu has agreed to follow Broja to Turf Moor. Once all of those deals are announced, the club are expected to raise their total transfer income to far north of £200 million.
As things stand, Chelsea are around £58 million away from completely balancing their books, which is imperative considering their pact with UEFA.
Their seismic financial windfalls from winning the Club World Cup and qualifying for the Champions League next season have already put Chelsea in solid financial stead when it comes to PSR, but it is an entirely different case when it comes to FFP.
The Blues were fined for breaching FFP rules last month and must produce a ‘positive transfer balance’ if they want to register new signings for the Champions League next season, which explains their impressive hustle in agreeing a host of exit deals recently.
Amid Chelsea’s talks to sign both RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho, the need to make sales won’t stop here.
Borussia Dortmund are in talks to sign Carney Chukwuemeka again, so there could be yet another opportunity for Chelsea to seal another quick-fire exit this week.
Alongside the aforementioned quartet who have played their last games in Chelsea blue, £195,000-per-week attacker Christopher Nkunku can still leave Stamford Bridge before deadline day.
Chelsea in talks to sell Christopher Nkunku
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who says Chelsea are in ongoing talks over selling Nkunku after a mixed campaign.
The Frenchman still managed to rack up 15 goals in all competitions, despite not being a key player under Maresca last season, and there is a belief that United are still targeting Nkunku among other interested sides.
Called a “top player” by ex-teammate João Félix, Chelsea have apparently been forced to reduce their asking price for the ex-Leipzig sensation too, so clubs will certainly be tempted to bite the bullet.
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.
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
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.
Hoffenheim'sAntonStach
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.
Newcastle United'sCallumWilsonsalutes their fans after the match
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.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin in action for Everton.
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.
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Still only 28, the former Everton striker could shine in the northeast.
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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.
Arsenal's most expensive signings of all time
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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.
As they look to commence their summer business, Fulham have now reportedly become the latest side to enter a hectic race to sign a Premier League-winning midfielder for Marco Silva.
Fulham confirm released and retained list
With another impressive Premier League season under Silva now over, the Cottagers have already commenced planning for the next campaign – confirming the list of players that will be leaving when their contracts expire this summer. The list includes Willian, who arrived for a short period in January, and striker Carlos Vinicius, whilst the likes of Tom Cairney have been offered new deals.
Whether Cairney joins Fulham’s list of departures amid interest from Wrexham is the big question. The experienced midfielder told reporters last month: “Nothing is sorted yet. Next week is my final game for Fulham. Hopefully it’s not. In football, sometimes things go to the last minute, and hopefully it’s not my final time at Craven Cottage next weekend.”
With a deal now on the table, all that is left for Cairney to do is put pen to paper and commit his future to the West London club once again. The midfielder was fairly clear that he wants to stay put at the club and that in itself suggests that negotiations should be routine at this stage.
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Whether it’s this summer or in the coming years, however, Fulham will need to find a replacement for their 34-year-old midfielder sooner or later. Replacing that experience won’t be easy, either, but those in West London may well hope that the lure of Silva’s project is far more tempting than it once was.
An established Premier League side these days, who have been threatening to creep into the European places in recent years, Fulham could even welcome a Premier League-winning midfielder this summer.
Fulham enter Kalvin Phillips race
According to Caught Offside, Fulham have now entered the race to sign Kalvin Phillips this summer. They have reportedly joined Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town in the battle to secure the Manchester City midfielder.
It’s been a rough few years for the England international. Ever since completing what would have been a dream move to Manchester City, Phillips has struggled for game time and form. Even out on loan at both West Ham United and Ipswich, the 29-year-old has still struggled to ever truly rediscover his best form. Now, he simply has to get his next move right.
Ipswich Town'sKalvinPhillipslooks dejected after the match
Craven Cottage may be the perfect environment for revival too. The likes of Andreas Pereira and Raul Jimenez have burst into life courtesy of Silva’s Fulham side. The same can be said for Alex Iwobi. Now, Phillips could be next in line to complete a similar transformation.
Dubbed “strong” by Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna whilst on loan last season, Phillips showed glimpses of the quality that he could yet take to West London this summer. A Premier League winner no matter the criticism he has received, the midfielder has another crucial decision to make this summer.
West Ham United need a big summer window to rectify the misgivings of the 2024/25 campaign. It has been a tough season for the Hammers, who are likely safe from relegation but sit in 17th in the Premier League, 15 points clear of Ipswich Town.
However, the Tractor Boys host Graham Potter’s side on the final day of the season, so a huge swing of momentum in the final throes of the campaign could add more significance to the game for the East Londoners.
West Ham United managerGrahamPotterapplauds fans after the match
Potter will need to be backed this summer, to shape the squad his way and improve the Hammers fortunes in 2024/25. Already, they have been linked with someone who could add quality to their side.
West Ham want to sign Chelsea outcast
The Hammers have made some big signings over the past couple of transfer windows, chiefly spending a lot on the likes of Max Kilman and Mohammed Kudus.
However, with the threat that Kudus heads to Chelsea, as per reports, they could actually look at bringing in someone from Stamford Bridge as a replacement.
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According to a report from TBR Football, the Hammers are ‘interested in a deal’ to bring Joao Felix to the club next summer, after Chelsea ‘made it clear to the Portugal international that he is not of the club’s long-term plans’ beyond this season.
He is currently contracted to Chelsea, and on loan at Italian giants AC Milan, but the Blues seemingly have not been impressed by his displays in Italy.
Unsurprisingly, the East Londoners will not be the only side considering a move for the £45m playmaker. Fellow Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers are also interested, with both clubs plotting a move. Both teams are thought to be ‘willing to consider loan moves’ for the Portugal star next season.
Why Felix would be a good signing
It has not been an easy season for Felix in the 2024/25 campaign, since his summer move back to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid. He struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge and departed on loan to Milan in January.
Overall this season, he has played 34 times for both Chelsea and Milan, scoring eight goals and grabbing three assists. However, just one of those goals has come in a top-flight, for Chelsea against Wolves in their 6-2 win on the opening day of the season.
Yet, despite the tough campaign so far, Felix’s stocks have previously been incredibly high. As a youngster for Benfica, he managed 20 goals and 11 assists in 43 games, and for Atleti, he had over 50 goal contributions.
Benfica
43
20
11
Atleti
131
34
18
Chelsea
40
11
2
Barcelona
44
10
6
Milan
14
1
1
One thing he would bring to the London Stadium is experience. Despite being just 25 years of age, and having not been in the best form, he has played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. He was also on loan at Barcelona last season, and managed ten goals and six assists in 44 games.
Should Felix make the move to the London Stadium over the summer, Hammers fans would surely hope he can replicate the impact of another magical playmaker, Dimitri Payet. Jamie Carragher once described him as “sensational” and said it was a “joy to watch” him play. How right he was.
Former West Ham star Dimitri Payet.
The Frenchman was exceptional for the Hammers, despite his short time at the club. In just 60 appearances, he scored 15 goals and grabbed 22 assists, leaving him with an impressive goal involvement ratio of 0.61.
He was a wizard with the ball at his feet, running rings around opponents with ease, week in, week out. Just look at this goal against Middlesbrough, a prime example of how dangerous Payet can be with the ball at his feet.
Although Felix has struggled for form, he possesses the same ability to create something out of nothing. The flair is there for the 25-year-old, too, with talent scout Jacek Kulig once describing him as a “nightmare for defenders”.
It would be a statement signing from West Ham, with the impact Felix could have if he finds his best form astronomical.
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