All posts by z3u9t.icu

One club are willing to sell their star midfielder to Tottenham Hotspur this summer and plan to replace him with Sunderland ace Jobe Bellingham, according to an intriguing report this week.

Tottenham target midfielder after 2024/2025 injury crisis

Ange Postecoglou was left desperately short of options in numerous areas throughout 2024/2025, which undoubtedly played a key role in their lowly 17th-placed finish and record number of Premier League defeats.

Salah-like forward considers joining Tottenham as contract expires in 2025

Spurs have an opportunity to strike a bargain deal.

ByEmilio Galantini May 28, 2025

Injuries threatened to dampen their Europa League final success as well, particularly in midfield, with Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison both forced to sit out of their eventual 1-0 win over Man United in Bilbao.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Star midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has suffered fairly frequent lay-offs over the last two campaigns as well, and the South American’s presence is always missed when unavailable.

Postecoglou or any new manager is also facing the looming threat of AFCON midway through 2025/2026, with both Pape Sarr (Senegal) and Yves Bissouma (Mali) set to compete at the tournament in Morocco.

The Lilywhites face being left very short in the middle through a combination of possible injuries and international obligations, leaving little surprise that chairman Daniel Levy reportedly has his eyes on new options.

Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is a reported target for Tottenham, with the England international recently confirming that he’s set to quit his club this summer after his contract expires.

“After four unforgettable years at LOSC Lille, it’s time for me to say goodbye,” he said.

“This club has been more than just a team – it’s been a family, a home, and a place that has shaped me both on and off the pitch. Like any journey, there were ups and downs, highs and lows, but I’m truly grateful to my team-mates and the fans for sticking with me throughout.”

Gomes’ availability at zero transfer cost makes him a prime candidate to reinforce Spurs’ midfield, but he’s by no means their only target.

Eintracht Frankfurt prepared to sell Larsson to Tottenham

According to GiveMeSport, Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson is on their radar as well, following his very productive campaign with the Bundesliga side.

GMS report that Eintracht are “prepared” to sell Larsson to Tottenham, if Levy pays the required £50 million to secure his signature, and Dino Toppmoller’s side are targeting Sunderland’s Bellingham as a replacement for the 20-year-old.

However, while the door is described as open for Spurs to move ahead with negotiations, the £50m asking price could still prove to be a sticking point, despite the riches acquired from qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

The Sweden international could be considered an elite midfield technician, having registered an 87.4% passing accuracy in the Bundesliga this season (WhoScored), and he’s even been compared to Balon d’Or winner Rodri by some.

His “skillfulness” and “close control” also has shades of Man City legend Kevin de Bruyne, as per the Bundesliga website, so Spurs risk missing out on a potentially world-class talent.

Tottenham Hotspur finally put an end to 17 long years of hurt last night.

Despite their diabolically poor domestic campaign and the absence of Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Lucas Bergvall, Ange Postecoglou’s side managed to do what would have been unthinkable a few months ago and won the Europa League.

It wasn’t the prettiest or highest quality of games, but that hardly matters, as all the fans will remember is their players’ gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance and how they brought home the club’s third European trophy.

Moreover, one of the players in the squad now has to go down as one of the biggest legends in Spurs history, someone who now has an even bigger legacy in North London than Gareth Bale.

Spurs' heroes in Bilbao

Before getting to the legend in question, it’s worth going over some of the other heroes for Spurs last night, such as Micky van de Ven.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Flying Dutchman was a rock at the back for the North Londoners, and on helping to suffocate Manchester United, he also managed to pull off a sensational goal line clearance after Guglielmo Vicario misjudged a cross mid-way through the second half.

Equally impressed with the former VfL Wolfsburg star, Spurs writer Alasdair Gold awarded him a justifiable 10/10 match rating at full-time, the same rating he gave Cristian Romero.

The World Cup winner, who has now won all five of the finals he’s played in, was named the Man of the Match, and, to be honest, that’s a difficult decision to argue against, as he was utterly immense.

If the Argentine titan wasn’t getting his head to a ball or intercepting a pass, he was getting the heads of United’s players, and by the end of the game, he had a number of them on strings.

Both Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro were also handed 10/10 ratings by Gold on the night, with the former actually being the more attacking of the two as the encounter went on and the latter showing that when it really comes down to it, he can put in a solid defensive showing at right-back.

Finally, while he only got a 7/10 from the football.london journalist, we reckon Richarlison was just as important as anyone else on the team last night, as from the first minute until he was taken off in the 67th minute, the Brazilian forward worked like a dog.

If he wasn’t making runs down the left, the former Everton star was putting in a monstrous defensive effort that most probably wouldn’t associate with him, and if the 28-year-old does end up leaving in the summer, he’ll do so as a cult hero for his display.

However, with all that said, another player who didn’t even start last night can now go down as one of the most important players in Tottenham’s history and someone with an even greater legacy than Bale.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

The Spurs star with a greater legacy than Bale

While every player in the team last night will now go down as a Spurs hero at a minimum, there is one star for which the victory secured him a legacy that few in the modern era can match: Son Heung-min.

Yes, even though the South Korean superstar only came on in the 67th minute, and aside from a free-kick that Kevin Danso almost got on the end of offered very little, he has now gone from club icon to club legend.

Arguably, the only player in the last 25 years who can be placed on a higher pedestal than the former Bayer Leverkusen star is Harry Kane, and that’s only down to him being the club’s all-time goalscorer.

Moreover, while Bale has a good legacy with the North Londoners, he only played one game in their successful League Cup run in 2007/08.

In contrast, the Chuncheon-born superstar made ten appearances in the Europa League this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

Furthermore, the victory last night was just the icing on the cake to remove any question over his status as a club legend, as since he moved to N17 in the summer of 2015, he has been nothing short of brilliant.

For example, in 454 appearances for the club, the “incredible” phenom, as dubbed by Postecoglou, has scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists, which is an absurd average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games.

Appearances

454

Minutes

32186′

Goals

173

Assists

101

Goal Involvements per Match

0.60

Minutes per Goal Involvements

117.46′

Major Trophies

1

Ultimately, Son was always going to go down as a Spurs icon regardless of what happened last night, but the victory in Bilbao has now ensured he’ll leave the club as a legend and as someone with an even greater legacy than Bale.

Spurs hero just proved why he's a £100m star in the making in Bilbao

Spurs ended their 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League trophy in Bilbao.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

Burnley are now set to sign an “outstanding” player in a new £8 million update after promotion to the Premier League, according to a Sky Sports reporter.

Burnley seal promotion to the Premier League

The Clarets have managed to live up to expectations and seal their return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. A 2-1 win over Watford and a 2-1 win over Sheffield United during the Easter weekend saw Burnley secure promotion at the expense of the Blades, who have been fighting them and Leeds United for the top two spots in the Championship.

Burnley ace tipped to be axed and won't get to play in the Premier League

Would this be the right decision?

ByHenry Jackson Apr 22, 2025

Burnley’s promotion was confirmed on Monday night after they beat the Blades, and manager Scott Parker paid a significant tribute to his side and how hard they have worked to secure promotion.

Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: “The ambition and the target at the start of the season was to get back to the Premier League, and we’ve managed to do that, so I’m hugely proud of the squad.

“It’s come down to real, pure commitment from every one of the players, their dedication and the sacrifice that they’ve made, that leads us to this point. In this moment, I explained to the lads, that there is emotion from me because I see the commitment that everyone has brought.

“We live in a world where you win, or you lose, and you get judged, and at the end of the season you’re either promoted or not, and that’s how quickly people will judge it. I‘m just delighted all that work, all that effort, all that sacrifice has been worth it and people can see it. The facts are if you don’t get promoted, people can see it.”

Burnley set to sign 25 y/o in new £8m update – Sky Sports

As the Clarets’ return to England’s top tier is now confirmed, there is now a fresh update on the future of a player who has been key for the Lancashire side this season. According to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, Burnley are set to sign Jaidon Anthony from AFC Bournemouth in a deal now worth £8 million.

The 25-year-old joined Burnley on a season-long loan deal from the Cherries last summer, and the Clarets had a way of making the deal a permanent switch. McAdam states that Burnley will now pay £8 million to sign Anthony, instead of the £10m that was reported last year as an obligation with promotion.

Anthony, who has been dubbed “outstanding” by football writer Josh Wyatt for his recent performance against Plymouth Argyle, has scored seven goals and assisted seven in 41 league games this season, as he’s been a key performer in Parker’s side.

Apps

41

Goals

7

xG

8.08

Big chances missed

6

Shots per game

2.2

Assists

7

xAG

7.43

Big chances created

12

Key passes

1.8

Successful dribbles per game

1.5 (44%)

Anthony worked with Parker during his time with the Cherries, and that relationship is now going to continue at Turf Moor, as Parker will hope his winger can make a difference in the Premier League.

Amid concerns that Real Madrid are plotting a move to sign Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive midfielder who could replace their star man.

Man Utd eye playmaker amid Fernandes links to Real Madrid

The last thing that the Red Devils need is for Fernandes to head for the exit door, no matter how much his captaincy divides opinion at Old Trafford. Without their star man, it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Manchester United would be concerningly close to the relegation zone given that they’ve only managed to drag themselves to mid-table whilst enjoying his talents.

It’s those same talents that have reportedly attracted the attention of Real Madrid and whilst Ruben Amorim was defiant in his message that Fernandes is set to stay put at Old Trafford, what the Spanish giants want they often get – just ask those at Anfield.

The United boss told reporters when asked about the Madrid links: “Bruno Fernandes to Real Madrid? It will not happen. He’s going nowhere. One day we want to win the Premier League again. So we want the best players to continue with us… and Bruno won’t leave, I already told him.”

Nonetheless, it seems as though the Red Devils are planning for the worst. According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now eyeing a move to sign Mikkel Damsgaard from Brentford if Fernandes swaps Old Trafford for the Bernabeu this summer.

Man Utd can forget Mantato & Dorgu by unleashing "phenomenal" 18-year-old

Bendito Mantato won’t feature in Manchester United’s next game.

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 1, 2025

The impressive Dane has rediscovered his best form under Thomas Frank this season and is finally looking like the youngster who initially stole the headlines at Euro 2020. Now, five years on from that tournament, Fernandes’ potential exit could trigger the biggest move of Damsgaard’s career yet.

"Fantastic" Damsgaard can become chief creator

As much as replacing Fernandes would feel like mission impossible, Manchester United are certainly looking in the right direction in setting their sights on Damsgaard. Whilst the Dane would struggle to replicate their captain’s goalscoring record, he has proven time and time again this season that his eye for an assist is up there with the best in the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah

17

Mikkel Damsgaard

10

Antonee Robinson

9

Bruno Fernandes

9

Son Heung-Min

9

Earning deserved praise as a result of that impressive record, Frank told reporters when asked about Damsgaard following victory over Leicester City earlier this season: “He just got better and better.

“Today he was fantastic in every way possible. He had another performance and also did an assist. He ties our team and games together amazingly. It’s cool to see.”

As INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe aim to cut costs around the club, signing an option like Damsgaard over the more expensive Xavi Simons would also go a long way towards finally dragging United out of their financial woes. At this stage, however, the ball is very much in Fernandes’ court before United can even consider the Brentford star.

The last six years have been nothing short of a whirlwind for Tottenham Hotspur.

The fans have seen their club go from a Champions League final to the bottom half of the Premier League and their all-time top goalscorer sold to Bayern Munich.

On top of that, Daniel Levy has been through a plethora of managers, with José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, and Antonio Conte all failing to live up to expectations.

To his credit, Ange Postecoglou was at least able to bring the entertainment factor back for a while, but it’s now starting to feel like time is running out for him as well.

In fact, if recent murmurings are to be believed, there is a slim chance that the Australian might be replaced by the last manager who was able to steer the club in the right direction for a sustained period: Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino's potential return

On November 19th, 2019, just five months after he led the club to their first Champions League final, it was announced that Pochettino had been sacked by Spurs, who were 14th in the Premier League at the time – sound familiar?

While the North Londoners made their way through the aforementioned list of managers in the following years, the Argentine took some time out before taking a job with Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021, where he won the League, French Cup and French Super Cup, but was sacked in the summer of 2022.

Out of work once again, the former Lilywhites boss took another year out of the spotlight before making the shock decision to manage Chelsea heading into last season, where, unfortunately, things did not work out, as after finishing in sixth place, he left by ‘mutual consent.’

It was a much quicker turnaround in terms of finding a new job this time, though, as in September, it was announced that he’d be taking charge of the United States Men’s National Team through the next World Cup, which is to be hosted in the States, Mexico and Canada.

However, things have not entirely gone according to plan for Pochettino, as while he won five of his first eight games in charge, his side lost their CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Panama and then the third-place play-off against Canada.

So, with things not going great in his current role and things going even worse for Postecoglou in London, it’s not massively surprising to see reports jumping on him saying, “Yes, I would like one day to come back” last week.

However, while anything can happen in football, it seems like a distant possibility, as it would reportedly require a compensation package in the region of £21m, which seems unlikely to be something Levy and Co would be willing to pay.

That said, if the former Spurs boss were to return and be handed the reigns, we are sure there are some things he’d like to do quite differently and mistakes he’d like to avoid, mistakes like the signing of Tanguy Ndombele.

Pochettino's worst Spurs' signing

So, during Pochettino’s time at Spurs, he was responsible for some brilliant signings, but also his fair share of dire ones, such as Serge Aurier, Clinton N’Jie and Vincent Janssen, but the worst, by far, has to be Ndombele.

The French midfielder joined the club for a then-club-record fee of around £63m and with a mountain of hype, so much so that some journalists were referring to him as the club’s new Mousa Dembélé.

Unfortunately, those comparisons could not have been any further away from reality, as while the former Lyon star was able to show his quality here and there, he was often underwhelming, if not an actual drag on the rest of the side.

Appearances

91

Goals

10

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.20

In all, the 28-year-old midfielder, who journalist Paul Brown dubbed “one of the worst signings Spurs have ever made,” made 91 first-team appearances for the club, scoring just ten goals and providing nine assists.

Worse yet, the Longjumeau-born dud was handed a £200k-per-week contract when he initially put pen to paper, so for the first two and a half years at the club, he earned £26m in wages, before moving back to Lyon on loan for the latter half of the 21/22 campaign.

The following season saw him spend the year in Italy with Napoli, but the Lilywhites still had to pay around £7.4m of his wages, and then, last year, they had to pay £7.8m of it to convince Galatasaray to take him on loan.

Fortunately, the club terminated his deal last summer, so as not to pay any more money for someone who was never going to make it into the first team, but when you add up the money he did make in wages and his initial fee, the Frenchman cost Tottenham an eye-watering £104.2m.

Transfer Fee

£63m

Wages (Total)

£200k (£41.2m)

Appearances

91

Cost per Appearance

£1.1m

Goals

10

Cost per Goal

£10.4m

Assists

9

Cost per Assist

£11.5m

Goal Involvements

19

Cost per Goal Involvement

£5.4m

When broken down, that comes out to around £1.1m-per-appearance, £10.4m-per-goal, £11.5m-per-assist or £5.4m-per-goal involvement, which is the sort of money you’d pay for a truly game-changing signing.

Ultimately, if Pochettino is to make a return to Spurs this year, he could help take the club back to where it belongs, although he might want to avoid expensive midfielders from the South of France this time.

Cost £10m, sold for 750% more: Spurs hit gold on "once in a lifetime" star

The incredible international remains Spurs’ best-ever sale.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 25, 2025

One manager has told Sky Sports that he’d be keen on managing Tottenham Hotspur, adding that he speaks with chairman Daniel Levy.

Tottenham manager rumours with Ange under pressure

Ange Postecoglou appears to be under pressure at Spurs following a 19th defeat of the season in all competitions on the weekend.

Tottenham fell to a 2-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage, which has resulted in Marco Silva being linked with a move to Spurs to replace Postecoglou.

"Outstanding" manager now Levy and Tottenham's first choice to replace Ange

The Spurs chairman has identified his top target to replace Postecoglou.

ByDominic Lund Mar 18, 2025

As well as Silva, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is among the leading candidates to come in, should Tottenham decide to axe Postecoglou following two seasons in charge.

Spurs still have the chance to end the campaign with silverware in the Europa League, but if they don’t it will be deemed a huge failure with Tottenham occupying a place in the bottom half of the Premier League for the majority of the season.

Now, interestingly, a manager who Spurs fans will know well has openly admitted he’d be keen on a move back to north London in the future.

Mauricio Pochettino still keen on Tottenham return

USA manager and former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino spoke to Sky Sports this week, and Tottenham came up in conversation after the 53-year-old admitted he still speaks to Levy.

When asked if he could return to Tottenham one day, Pochettino said: “Look, when I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham and that is of course.

“I am in the USA, I am not going to no, I’m not going to talk about that, but what I said then still after six years or five years, I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back. We see the timing, like Daniel said.”

However, Pochettino, who plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, went on to add regarding Spurs that time and trust are required in north London.

Games

293

Wins

160

Draws

60

Losses

73

Players used

67

Points per game

1.84

“We suffered something in Chelsea from the beginning when we suffered too many issues and when you don’t have your squad you cannot manage this type of thing and it forces you to try to find different ways to approach the team and it is always going to affect your result.

“It’s not an excuse because it happened with other teams, but sometimes that happens and you need to trust. I think they start to feel and to recover the path to start to win and then to start to improve in the Premier League.”

Pochettino, who has 324 wins as a manager to date, is preparing to lead the USA at a home World Cup in 2026, but after that, he is set to be out of contract, so a return to Tottenham could be on the cards.

Arsenal could now miss out on signing an “elite” £50m player, with Real Madrid confident about winning the race for his signature, according to a report.

Mikel Arteta keen on a midfielder

There were no new arrivals at the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window, with Mikel Arteta opting to wait until the end of the season before making any new additions to his squad.

There have been widespread calls for the Gunners to sign a striker, with doubt remaining over whether Kai Havertz is good enough to lead the line for a Premier League title-winning side, while Arteta also wants to strengthen the spine of his team.

It recently emerged the north Londoners are vying for the signature of Chris Rigg, with Sunderland now willing to sanction the midfielder’s departure for a fee of £25m in the summer.

Arsenal keen on "special" £25m ace who's now available to sign this summer

The Gunners have set their sights on a hot prospect, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs.

ByDominic Lund Feb 9, 2025

At just 17 years old, Rigg is likely to be one for the future, but Arsenal are also keen on a player perhaps capable of making a more immediate impact, and it has long been expected that Martin Zubimendi will move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

However, there has now been a worrying twist in the transfer saga, with reports from Spain revealing Real Madrid are now confident about winning the race for Zubimendi, as they believe he could be tempted by the opportunity to remain in his home country.

The Gunners aren’t going down without a fight, however, with the report revealing they are still pushing to get a deal done, as they are convinced the Spaniard would fit perfectly into their team.

Arteta is not willing to give up, and the north Londoners remain well-placed to win the race, but there will certainly be concern about Madrid’s interest as it looked like he was on course to move to the Emirates.

Zubimendi would be an "elite" signing for Arsenal

Arsenal are already well-stocked in central midfield, with Declan Rice once again emerging as one of their best-performing players in the Premier League this season, but the Real Sociedad star could take them to the next level.

The 26-year-old, who is expected to cost £50m, has been lauded for his ability in possession of the ball by scout Ben Mattinson.

Not only that, but the Spain international is also capable of pitching in defensively, ranking in the 90th percentile for clearances per 90, and the 90th percentile for aerials won when compared to his positional peers.

It will be a real concern that Madrid fancy their chances of winning the race for Zubimendi, but there is no reason to panic at this stage, with Arsenal still well-placed to get a deal done, and they can boost their chances with a strong finish to the season.

Signing a replacement for Andre Onana has seemingly been one of Manchester United’s biggest priorities since the start of the summer. Now, chasing exactly that, the Red Devils have reportedly joined the race to sign a Club World Cup star.

Man Utd's goalkeeper search goes on

Although reports have suggested that Onana believes he’ll still be the No.1 at Manchester United next season and he’s keen to fight for his place, Ruben Amorim may not share that view. The Portuguese manager must be ruthless and showing the Cameroon international the door should be one of his first acts this summer.

He's better than Cunha: Man Utd close in on signing "phenomenal" star

Manchester United look set to complete their second signing of the summer after Matheus Cunha.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 25, 2025

That said, the Red Devils must get their next move right after Onana. They cannot risk signing another liability. Whoever arrives, be it Emiliano Martinez, Andriy Lunin, Diogo Costa or another option, simply has to be a significant upgrade on the former Inter Milan man.

Whilst Martinez has been the most prominent name in recent rumours, the numbers indicate that the Aston Villa man would not be the much-needed upgrade that Amorim needs, as highlighted by Statman Dave.

Four errors leading to shots is far from an ideal record, but signing Martinez wouldn’t exactly solve that problem for United. Instead, their troubles may simply take the shape of a new No.1 if they sign the World Cup winner this summer.

Those at Old Trafford certainly have plenty to think about and that thinking has reportedly seen them turn towards the Club World Cup for a fresh option.

Man Utd plotting John Victor move

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Manchester United are now plotting a summer swoop to sign John Victor from Botafofo who has a release clause worth just $8m (£6m).

The impressive shot-stopper agreed to stay put at the Brazilian side to play at the Club World Cup in a decision which has resulted in a moment to remember against Paris Saint-Germain.

Joining Alisson Becker as the only goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against PSG this season, the Botafogo goalkeeper played a pivotal part as his side shocked the Champions League holders to win 1-0.

For just £6m, Manchester United could sign a goalkeeper who managed to keep Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia out and someone who is ready to step into European football.

Having reportedly sent scouts to watch the 29-year-old in action, United should be well aware of Victor’s talents and, more importantly, his ability to play at the very top level.

Rather than signing the likes of Martinez or Costa this summer, INEOS could yet turn towards an unexpected option in the Brazilian.

Arsenal have been told exactly what it will take for Benjamin Sesko to leave RB Leipzig this summer, as his agent speaks out about reports linking his client with a move away from the Red Bull Arena.

Arsenal offered 21-goal striker who's a "priority signing" for Tottenham

The north London clubs could go head-to-head.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

Sesko has just finished a career-best Bundesliga campaign, bagging 21 goals in all competitions, but he couldn’t quite guide Leipzig to a European spot – with the Germans missing out on a place in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League.

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

It is the first time Leipzig haven’t qualified for Europe since their top-flight arrival in 2016, and this will surely get Sesko thinking about his immediate future as Arsenal reportedly circle to offer him a route out.

The Slovenia international is a top target for Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, who’s been chasing his signature for 12 months.

Arsenal had a proposal rejected for Sesko last summer, who instead put pen to paper on a contract extension to remain at Leipzig and further his development, with the north Londoners also having an attempt rebuffed in January (Ben Jacobs).

They’re now trying to make it ‘third-time-lucky’ with another move for Sesko, and “concrete talks” have been taking place since late May (Florian Plettenberg). However, as things stand, Sky Germany are reporting that Arsenal are unwilling to match Leipzig’s financial demands for the centre-forward.

With plenty of work still to do, the 22-year-old’s own representative, Elvis Basanovic, has now provided an update on his client’s future in an interview with GiveMeSport this week.

Arsenal told key transfer condition by Benjamin Sesko's agent

Speaking to GMS, Basanovic has revealed the key condition for Sesko to depart Leipzig before summer deadline day on September 1.

The agent claims he’ll only leave Leipzig for a “special” new destination, refusing to clarify whether Arsenal fall into this category. When asked if the plan for Sesko is to find a new club, Basanovic said: “Well, his numbers at his age compared to some strikers with already great careers at his age are confirming my words.

“He will move from RB Leipzig only when we recognise a special club, a special project with a special coach.”

More worryingly for Arteta, the intermediary even suggested that Sesko could stay at Leipzig for years if they deem it the right call.

“It can be next week, or next year, or in 3 years,” Basanovic continued.

“Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig. I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.

“I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests, but no matter what, I believe in the football world ‘there’ should be more respect. So that’s why we do things in the right way, or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”

St. James’ Park’s overseers are not yet in situ, with sporting director Paul Mitchell set to leave at the end of the month, but Newcastle United plan to make headway in the transfer market all the same.

Namely, Eddie Howe has his sights set on Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro, a dynamic and versatile striker whose qualities would see him complement and contest Alexander Isak in equal measure.

However, with Liverpool running rampant in the transfer market and monitoring Anthony Gordon, the Magpies may need to find an out-and-out winger to join Howe’s cause, too.

Newcastle in the race for PL star

As per Caught Offside, Newcastle United are in the race to sign Jadon Sancho, who is almost certain to leave Manchester United this summer.

However, the Toon are joined by a host of clubs on the continent – including Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and AC Milan – after his loan spell with Chelsea, who paid a £5m penalty to waive their obligation to buy the 25-year-old for £25m.

A swarm of interest from the Saudi Pro League throws a spanner in the works, but from a sporting perspective, Howe may offer the electric winger the perfect lifeline in his homeland.

Why Jadon Sancho could thrive at Newcastle

There’s no denying that Sancho has fallen by the wayside since leaving Borussia Dortmund and signing for Man United in a £73m package.

His recent campaign at Chelsea wasn’t poor by any stretch, but neither was it show-stopping to the degree that was promised upon his first move to the Premier League.

24/25 – Chelsea

31

3

5

23/24 – Man Utd

14

2

3

22/23 – Man Utd

26

6

3

21/22 – Man Utd

29

3

3

20/21 – Dortmund

26

8

12

19/20 – Dortmund

32

17

17

His numbers for Chelsea in the Premier League certainly left something to be desired, but then Sancho also demonstrated his intense levels of fitness and athleticism, ranking among the top 11% of the division’s attacking midfielders and wingers for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 15% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Contrast that with Gordon, who may yet leave and sign for Liverpool this summer in an £80m deal, and you begin to see how Sancho might just thrive in stable conditions on Tyneside.

Indeed, Gordon, for all his qualities, only scored six goals and assisted six more in the league last term, ranked only among the top 22% for progressive carries and the top 46% for successful take-ons per 90.

FBref considered through statistical analysis the two players to be of a certain likeness, but Sancho, arguably, offered a finer illustration of his underlying qualities and the potential for even more with a more potent finish.

He’s a powerful and pacy winger, but perhaps he didn’t activate his physical attributes to the best of their ability, evidenced by Howe’s decision to bench him across five of the final eight matches of the 2024/25 campaign.

Gordon is a brilliant player, but as pundit Stan Collymore says, “at his best” Sancho is an “unplayable” forward, outfoxing his opponents with fleet-footed movements and a potency that was, frankly, ridiculous during his Dortmund days.

It’s been a rough road for the Three Lions star these past several years, but his finest football lies latent, and Howe’s remarkable tactical and interpersonal skills might just see Sancho revived as a starring member of a high-flying Newcastle team.

Therefore, Newcastle could provide the perfect stomping ground for Sancho, whose fall from grace may yet see a resurgence that could see him realise his potential and surpass even the £80m-rated Gordon.

Newcastle now eyeing £40m Gordon upgrade who's "the closest thing to Gazza"

Newcastle have yet to heave over some attacking additions in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 19, 2025