Leeds United appear to have received some interest in one of their first-team players at Elland Road ahead of the January transfer window, according to a report.

Leeds United's festive period

Daniel Farke's side have made a positive start to life in the Championship and look set to be among the main contenders for promotion this season, having taken 31 points from their first 16 games, which has placed them third in the league standings and eight points behind Ipswich Town in second position.

Nevertheless, the German coach will be under no illusion that his side will find it tough to replicate the consistency they have shown in recent weeks, something that has yielded six wins from their last seven encounters in the English second-tier. Looking ahead to their next batch of tussles, Leeds United travel to face Rotherham United on Friday evening at the AESSEAL New York Stadium before a double bill of action against Swansea City and Middlesbrough at Elland Road in the week following.

Leeds interested in signing “unbelievable” full-back for Farke

The Whites are on the hunt for new players as they continue their hunt for promotion.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Nov 23, 2023

Speaking in his pre-match press conference before the trip to South Yorkshire on Friday, Farke has urged his players to show no complacency despite facing a lowly Rotherham United, saying:

"So it’s in many ways important to start on the front foot and a goal is also important but sometimes you can’t choose, also your opponent wants to start on the front foot."

"We have to make sure our awareness and sharpness is on the top level. When you face a side like Rotherham who are, especially in their home games, who I would say is playing brave and with intensity, they can go with a long ball and fight for the second balls."

On a different note, a new topic of conversation has come to light regarding one Leeds United man who could now be on his way out of Elland Road come the New Year, as per a report.

Real Betis want Junior Firpo

According to reports in Spain via Sport Witness, Real Betis have approached Leeds United about Junior Firpo, who could be involved against Rotherham United on Friday evening after making his first appearance of the season against Plymouth Argyle prior to the international break.

Real Betis have been in negotiations with the Whites regarding loanee Marc Roca; however, Firpo has come into the conversation as a potential option to replace Juan Miranda if he were to move on from the Sevillians in January.

Junior Firpo at Leeds United – all competitions (Transfermarkt)
Appearances	52
Goals	2
Assists	4

Atletico Madrid defender Javi Galan has been identified as another target for the La Liga outfit; nevertheless, Firpo is being now being weighed up as a potential pursuit by Manuel Pellegrini.

Labelled "immense" by Youtuber Conor McGilligan earlier this year, Firpo, on £30,000-a-week, is believed to be open to a return to his former club, though he does have attributes that would be missed at Elland Road,

As per FBRef, the Dominican Republic cap has fared well in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues in the art of tackling over the past 365 days, making around 3.01 successful challenges per 90 minutes, putting him in the 93rd percentile for this metric.

Despite this, Leeds have fared well at the back with Firpo absent for much of the campaign, which could tempt them to look to recoup a decent fee for his services, making this one to watch.

Crystal Palace could be set to sell one of their first-team stars early next year, with a reliable journalist revealing that he’s attracting interest ahead of January.

Crystal Palace's summer departures

The Eagles lost Wilfried Zaha, Luka Milivojevic, Jack Butland and Vicente Guaita during the previous transfer window, while James McArthur retired and Luke Plange was sent on loan to Carlisle United for the season.

The Selhurst Park outfit have a further eight players who will have reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the campaign, so the club don’t have long to cash in on them should they not want to risk losing their prized assets for free. (Crystal Palace contracts)

Crystal Palace make contact over "terrific" player, he'd be open to move

Palace are keen to bolster their squad as they quietly go about their business this term.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Nov 27, 2023

Roy Hodgson’s centre-forward Jean-Philippe Mateta is another star who could soon be heading for the exit door having fallen significantly out of favour, making just three starts and eight substitute appearances this season in the Premier League (WhoScored – Mateta statistics).

France’s former youth international wanted to leave over the summer and you could say he was right to feel that way given his lack of game time, but despite a deal failing to come to fruition before the deadline, the 26-year-old could get his wish in the coming weeks.

Jean-Philippe Mateta could soon leave

Taking to X, The Athletic’s Matt Woosnam confirmed that Crystal Palace might consider selling Mateta in the new year should they be able to recruit a suitable successor because he’s emerging as a target overseas ahead of January. He wrote:

“Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta's future is uncertain as he seeks more regular football after being overlooked by Roy Hodgson this season. Has attracted interest from abroad but a move away probably hinges on CPFC finding a replacement.”

Hodgson could keep "goal threat" in Mateta

While Crystal Palace will be aware that Mateta hasn’t been playing as regularly as he would have liked, the striker is still a solid option to have in the building and he can perform to a high standard when called upon, so Hodgson could be better off retaining his services beyond January if a suitable replacement isn't found.

The Sevran native has posted six contributions, three goals and the same number of assists, in 13 appearances across all competitions since the start of the season (Transfermarkt – Mateta statistics), showing that he is capable of making a positive impact in the final third.

Standing at 6 foot 3, the colossus also provides a real physical presence up top with his height, making himself a threat when it comes to aerial duels, not to mention how much of a handful he is for the opposition’s defence to try and deal with.

According to Josh Bunting, Mateta is a real “goal threat” with the ball at his disposal, whereas former boss Patrick Vieira once called him a "massive player", so Hodgson could be wise to consider giving him some more minutes between now and the upcoming window to hand him the chance to prove what he can achieve in SE25.

da bwin： Michael Beale will have breathed the biggest sigh of relief at full-time last time out versus Hull City, his new Sunderland team victorious on their travels courtesy of a Jack Clarke strike in the second half.

da fazobetai： It was a deserved first win for Beale in the Black Cats hot seat, the visitors registering 17 shots on goal over the course of the full 90 minutes with Clarke thankfully sparing blushes late on.

Related Sunderland could give Clarke new role by signing "magic" Dack replacement

This “magic” £9m-rated gem could be the answer to Sunderland’s goalscoring woes.

Posts ByAdam Scully Dec 27, 2023

Yet, despite Sunderland travelling back up to the Stadium of Light three points better off on Boxing Day, Beale could tinker with his lineup slightly for a tough test away at Rotherham United who also won their last encounter in the Championship.

Here's what the Sunderland lineup could look like for the game versus the Millers, with Bradley Dack dropping out of the starting eleven…

1 GK – Anthony Patterson

Anthony Patterson firmly put a shaky performance in Beale's debut match versus Coventry City behind him against Hull, completing six saves in total – as per Sofascore – to thwart dangermen such as Aaron Connolly and Liam Delap for the hosts and pick up a clean sheet.

2 RB – Trai Hume

Trai Hume will also start again at right-back after an impressive display on the road, completing six tackles in total to help Patterson behind him register a clean sheet.

Moreover, Hume was lively venturing forward with one off-target attempt on the Tigers net whilst also completing six successful ground duels.

Beale will want his Northern Irish right-back to put in another solid display against Rotherham to help Sunderland make it two wins on the bounce.

3 CB – Daniel Ballard

It was another imperious display by Daniel Ballard at the back last game too, meaning his spot in the side is set in stone.

Registering six clearances in the game to nullify Hull advancing forward, Ballard was also unerringly calm on the ball in tight spots of the pitch – only misplacing one of 55 passes in the entire contest at the MKM Stadium.

4 CB – Luke O'Nien

Luke O'Nien also shone alongside his centre-back partner in Ballard, showing all the qualities of a leader as Sunderland's captain.

Winning six duels in the game to shore up the defence, O'Nien also showed his midfield capabilities with ten accurate long balls in the game to ease pressure on the Black Cats' goal.

5 LB – Jenson Seelt

Filling in at left-back again with Niall Huggins stretchered off against the Sky Blues, Jenson Seelt didn't look out of place or uncomfortable by the task of playing full-back against Liam Rosenior's men on Boxing Day.

The Dutch defender helped out his rigid back four admirably, launching into three tackles in total to ensure Beale's men came away from the game with a clean sheet and a narrow win for their troubles.

Seelt's individual display was praised by football journalist Andy Tomlinson of the Roker Report after the game was up, handing out a 7/10 player rating to the young Black Cats man who was 'always comfortable on the ball' with his Dad also watching on from the stands proudly.

6 CM – Pierre Ekwah

Pierre Ekwah will also more than likely start away at Rotherham tomorrow night, Sunderland's number 39 largely quiet at the MKM Stadium last game but didn't let his team down in any capacity.

Amassing 66 touches in a holding role away at Hull, Ekwah will hope he can be more impactful receiving the ball against Rotherham with a goal or an assist next to his name come full-time in South Yorkshire.

7 CM – Dan Neil

Dan Neil was the more animated performer out of the two holding midfielders against the Tigers, accumulating three key passes in the 1-0 win.

One of those key passes assisted Jack Clarke's game-winning goal as the clock ticked down, Neil instrumental as a creative spark centrally whilst Ekwah remained conservative.

8 RM – Patrick Roberts

Patrick Roberts faded in and out of the contest against Rosenior's hosts, firing two shots at the Hull goal in a game that saw him blow hot and cold before being hauled off the pitch by Beale for Alex Pritchard to get a run-out.

Roberts' spot in the side should be safe regardless of his mixed time on the pitch versus Hull, the 26-year-old keen to be a difference maker against Rotherham tomorrow evening.

9 CAM – Adil Aouchiche

The first change to Beale's starting eleven could see Adil Aouchiche come into the starting eleven for Dack, with Jobe Bellingham pushed further up the field in the process to lead the line as a sole striker.

Dack's frustrating time in a Black Cats strip to date continues, substituted off just shy of half-time owing to an injury concern.

Aouchiche was a livewire in Dack's place when introduced into the contest and has played his way into the lineup subsequently, the young Frenchman registering three shots on goal in a bid to make the win more convincing.

Once referred to as a "little genius" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig during his Paris St. Germain youth days, the £7k-per-week man – as per Capology – has shown in glimpses his obvious pedigree with a goal and an assist notched up from limited game-time at the Stadium of Light.

10 LM – Jack Clarke

Clarke stole all the headlines as the Sunderland hero once more in this one, the toothless Black Cats attack bailed out again by the ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger, having dazzled Hull defenders with a weaving run before firing home the eventual winner late in the second half.

Clarke's standout display on the road saw the skilful winger pick up an 8.9 Sofascore rating as a result, notching up six successful dribble attempts and four key passes on top of his decisive strike.

da realsbet： Many Liverpool fans will likely be hoping that Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak will be playing Premier League football in red next season, but it doesn’t look likely.

da poker： The Magpies are third in the standings with five games to play, two points ahead of sixth-place Aston Villa, who sit just outside the Champions League-qualifying zone.

Newcastle – Remaining Premier League Fixtures

Date

Opponent

League Position

26/04/25

Ipswich Town (H)

18th

04/05/25

Brighton (A)

10th

10/05/25

Chelsea (H)

7th

18/05/25

Arsenal (A)

2nd

25/05/25

Everton (H)

13th

Having beaten Arne Slot’s side in the Carabao Cup final and set to restore their place at Europe’s elite table, Newcastle hold all the cards, and they aren’t willing to sell, even listing Isak north of £150m.

FSG, quite rightly, won’t entertain such talk and are gearing up to turn their attention elsewhere.

After all, Liverpool will bring in a new number nine this summer, with Darwin Nunez all but confirmed to have entered the final weeks of his Merseyside career.

Liverpool set to sell Darwin Nunez

It’s been clear for several months, Liverpool having rejected winter approaches from Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League due to the importance of keeping the title-challenging squad together.

Fabrizio Romano has now updated the situation, claiming that Liverpool’s plan is to sell their club-record signing, Nunez having scored just seven goals across 42 matches for Slot’s Reds.

Nunez has only started once in the Premier League since Boxing Day, scoring in a win over bottom club Southampton last month.

Having missed 53 big chances in the Premier League since his 2022 arrival, Nunez hasn’t responded to Klopp and Slot’s tactics and can’t shake the erraticness from his final play, thus consigning him to a bittersweet exit, leaving disappointed but with a winner’s medal around his neck.

Isak may well be out of reach, but Liverpool are open to looking elsewhere. Now, news has emerged that FSG are in for a somewhat left-field forward.

Liverpool lining up Nunez replacement

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are interested in signing Brentford’s star man, Bryan Mbeumo, this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

In fact, the Champions Elect have received a boost in their pursuit, with Brentford – who are believed to be open to offers – willing to discuss Mbeumo’s sale for the right price this summer.

Mbeumo, 25, has been one of the Premier League’s standout forwards this season and is also being tracked by Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The Cameroon international supposedly has a £50m price tag, something that has caused Newcastle United to pull out of the race.

Why Liverpool should sign Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo has proved over a number of years his capacity for goals and success in the Premier League, having been involved in 68 goals across 131 divisional outings.

This year alone, the versatile forward has netted 18 goals and laid on six assists across 32 top-flight appearances, a haul bettered only by Salah, Isak, Erling Haaland and Chris Wood.

Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford Stats by Position (24/25)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Right winger

28

14

6

Centre-forward

6

4

1

Attacking midfield

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Though he’s principally a right-sided forward, Mbeumo has been known to play as the focal frontman and has done so to a prolific effect.

We’ve seen throughout the campaign Slot’s willingness to reshape typical widemen – like Luis Diaz – into central attackers, and who’s to say it hasn’t worked out? Liverpool are on the cusp of the title, after all.

Affectionately described as a “mini-Salah” by talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, Mbeumo carries the air of a goalscoring forward who brings much more to the table.

As per FBref, Mbeumo ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 12% for crosses made per 90.

This takes a step toward underscoring Mbeumo’s dynamism, chiefly a goalscorer but also willing to hang wide and whip crisp deliveries in.

The 32-year-old Salah might be staying put for the next couple of years, but he won’t be around forever. The Bees forward could eventually take the veteran’s berth in the years to come.

But for now, he’s more than capable of taking Nunez’s place as Liverpool’s centre-forward, perhaps sharing the berth with Diaz and Diogo Jota.

Given that Mbeumo has only missed eight big chances in the Premier League this term, having scored a whopping 18 times, fans won’t need to worry about Nunez-esque profligacy to hinder Liverpool in their efforts to retain their expected title.

But like all great forwards, those capable of starring for a top-performing outfit such as Slot’s Liverpool, Mbeumo isn’t a one-trick pony either.

He’s averaged 1.8 key passes per top-flight fixture and has created 16 big chances. He might take his share of set-pieces, but this denotes a ranged approach to his play that very much aligns with the role Salah performs with such matchless aplomb.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has recently dubbed Mbeumo as “one of the most deadly players in transition in the Prem,” further evidence – if you needed it – that he’s perfect for this Reds team.

Slot arrived in the Premier League with a reputation for being more ball-focused than his Anfield predecessor, but title-surging Liverpool only rank third in those standings with a 58% average.

This is, of course, not counter-attacking football, but Slot commands one of the deadliest teams in world football when on the break, making that final statement on the myriad reasons behind why this would be a good deal to end Nunez’s frustrating stay and sign the perfect Salah heir at the same time.

Related Firmino 2.0: Liverpool make "one of the best STs out there" a top target

FSG are going to reward Arne Slot’s Liverpool with a new centre-forward this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 19, 2025

Leeds United have been handed a boost after learning that one of their first-team stars has returned to training, according to a key figure.

Leeds injury news

The Whites currently have Stuart Dallas, Sam Byram, Jamie Shackleton and Ian Poveda out on the sidelines with their own respective problems as it stands, so the club will have to continue trying to pick up positive results without having them at their disposal.

Daniel Farke’s side are set to host Coventry City for this afternoon’s encounter in the Championship, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm UK time, and while the manager will be missing several absentees, there has been some positive fitness news that has emerged regarding another player.

Piroe misses out in Leeds predicted lineup vs Coventry

The possible line-up that Daniel Farke could select to take to action on Saturday.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 15, 2023

Left-back Junior Firpo has recently been in the treatment room trying to rectify a hamstring problem, and having suffered with a collateral ligament tear in the early stages of the new season, the defender has been extremely limited when it comes to receiving regular game time.

The Dominican Republic’s former international has made just one start and two substitute appearances over the course of the current campaign (WhoScored – Firpo statistics), but following a promising update, the 27-year-old is soon expected to return to the matchday squad, even though it won’t be happening today.

Firpo stages his comeback

Taking to X, BBC broadcaster Adam Pope shared an update from Farke’s pre-match press conference, where the boss confirmed that Firpo is back in training at Leeds and will likely feature after the Coventry clash.

“Daniel Farke says Junior Firpo (hamstring) has returned to training but he will be picking from the same squad for Coventry City.”

Farke handed boost over "aggressive" Firpo

Being a left-back, Firpo is naturally stronger in the defensive aspect of his game, where he currently ranks in the 93rd percentile for both tackles and interceptions, highlighting his desire to get stuck into challenges in order to try and win back possession for his team (FBRef – Firpo statistics).

The Santo Domingo native is also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted 25 contributions, 14 assists and 11 goals, since the start of his career, showing that he can use his pace to burst down the flank and create chances in the final third (Transfermarkt – Firpo statistics).

The left-footed ace is even a versatile operator having previously been deployed in five different positions over the pitch following his arrival on the professional scene, including everywhere across the backline and two roles in the midfield, so his ability to adapt makes him a wonderful option to have available.

Firpo is “aggressive” in all areas when on the pitch, as described by journalist Josh Bunting, and his return to full match fitness when that day does arrive will no doubt come as a huge boost to Farke, especially considering the issues the manager has had at left-back recently.

Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement to sign a new forward in a similar transfer to the one that brought Paul Pogba to Old Trafford over 15 years ago.

Man Utd prepare for Europa League semi-final with Athletic Club

All of Ruben Amorim’s focus for the remainder of the season will be on the Europa League, with the Red Devils in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

A 1-0 defeat to Wolves at Old Trafford last time out included a side which had 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson and 18-year-old Harry Amass in the starting XI.

Amorim was true to his word by playing some inexperienced Red Devils youngsters from the off in the top flight as they prepare for a semi-final with La Liga side Athletic Club, looking to reach the final in Bilbao.

Following Man Utd’s Europa League quarter-final win over Lyon, Amorim said: “It’s not the best moment or the best season to put some kids to play because they need a strong base to really show what they can do, but in this moment we need to do it.

“And sometimes you have surprises. Ayden just played – and I can be honest, because we had a lot of injuries at that moment – but today I think of Ayden as my player. So when he’s ready – and of course he’s facing competition in the team to do so – he’s ready to play, so you don’t know.

“Amass did really well [against Lyon]. Chido, when he played he played quite well. It’s a difficult moment, it’s not the right moment for the kids to play, but if we have to do it we will do it.”

Top target: Man Utd pushing to sign "incredible" £313k-p/w Barcelona star

The Red Devils are willing to make a huge bid for a Barcelona player this summer.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 23, 2025

The club appear to be planning for the long run with deals for Chido Obi, Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu over the last 12 months, and by the looks of things, they are close to signing another talented teenager.

Man Utd reach agreement to sign forward in transfer similar to Pogba

According to reports from France, Man Utd have reached an agreement with Le Havre striker Enzo Kana-Biyik ahead of a cut-price move to Old Trafford this summer.

Le Parisen state that after ‘very advanced discussions’, Man Utd have ‘obtained the agreement of the player and his family’ to move to England. However, for the 2025/26 season, Kana-Biyik is set to be loaned out to FC Lausanne-Sport, a Swiss club also owned by INEOS.

Kana-Biyik’s stats for Le Havre U19s
Games	17
Goals	9
Assists	1

Kana-Biyik is a centre-forward who, like Pogba, looks set to join Man Utd from Le Havre’s academy. He appears to be a future star, with Man Utd Forever on X stating that the 18-year-old is a ‘Christopher Vivell kind of a signing’, while hailing the forward’s “composure in front of goal”, “instinctive finishing” and “technical skills”.

da bet7： As everyone expected it to be, this summer has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Chelsea.

da aviator aposta： Alongside their incredible performances at the Club World Cup, which they are a game away from winning, the Blues have been as busy as ever in the transfer window.

The likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens have all joined Enzo Maresca’s side before preseason has even begun, and it looks like they might want to add one more forward to the mix in Hugo Ekitiké.

The French dynamo has been linked with the West Londoners for quite some time this summer, and it looks like the club might be making another sale to free up funds for his £85m price tag, and no, it’s not Noni Madueke.

Why Chelsea want Ekitike

It might sound rather simplistic, and it probably is, but it’s undeniable that one of, if not the main reason Chelsea want to sign Ekitike this summer is his output.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

For example, in 48 appearances last season, totalling 3644 minutes, the former Paris Saint-Germain prospect scored a mammoth 22 goals and provided 12 assists to boot.

That means the 23-year-old averaged a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes, which is the sort of productivity that could fire Maresca’s men up the table.

Ekitiké in 24/25

Appearances

48

Minutes

3644′

Goals

22

Assists

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvement

107.17

All Stats via Transfermarkt

On top of his brilliant ability to score and assist goals, the “next Mbappé,” as journalist Graeme Bailey once dubbed him, also has some impressive underlying numbers to his name.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 4% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Overall, Ekitike looks to be a complete and seriously dangerous forward who’d undoubtedly improve Chelsea, but due to his massive price tag, the club might have to make some sales before signing him.

Fortunately, that seems to be what they are doing, as, alongside Madueke, one of their attackers is nearing the exit.

The Chelsea star set to leave

The big exit story regarding Chelsea over the last week or so has undoubtedly been that of Madueke’s.

After all, it is yet another example of Arsenal buying a player the club do not mind losing, and for a massive fee of around £52m.

However, while the Englishman has understandably caught all the headlines, he’s not the only attacker who looks set to leave.

At least, not according to a recent report from Portugal that has claimed João Félix is nearing a return to his former club Benfica.

The report has revealed that following positive talks with the player and his camp, the Liga Nos giants are working on a deal to bring him back to Lisbon on a permanent deal.

The final price the Blues will receive for the player is being kept under wraps per the story, but some reports suggest it could be around €20m – £17m.

Although that isn’t a lot, removing his £130k-per-week wages will help the signing of new talents like Ekitkie.

Felix’s 24/25

Club

Chelsea

AC Milan

Appearances

20

21

Goals

7

3

Assists

2

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.45

0.19

All Stats via Transfermarkt

The former Atlético Madrid ace only joined the West Londoners for £45m last summer, but following an underwhelming first half of the campaign in which he produced nine goal involvements in 20 games – four of which came in the Conference League – he was sent to AC Milan on loan.

Unfortunately, the Viseu-born ace struggled to make much of an impact at the San Siro as well, and ended his stint there with just four goal involvements in 21 games.

Ultimately, it is a shame that it hasn’t worked out for the Portuguese international, but this deal feels like the right move for all parties involved.

He gets the chance to reignite his career, Benfica get their hands on someone who could still be special, and Chelsea can recover some money to spend elsewhere.

Related More dispensable than Madueke: Chelsea star agrees personal terms to leave

It would be great business for Chelsea.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025

Chelsea are back in talks with a “big” striker who they were secretly very close to signing back in January, according to a new report.

Chelsea's shortlist of striker targets for Enzo Maresca

It is no secret that Enzo Maresca requires a goalscoring centre-forward before the start of next season, with the Italian forced to improvise and get creative since the turn of the year due to Chelsea’s lack of options.

Chelsea eyeing "deadly" £45m star likened to Anelka with talks already held

They had negotiations in the winter.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 10, 2025

Pedro Neto has featured as a makeshift striker in the last two months, while both Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku are currently struggling to find their best form.

Chelsea were on the verge of completing a deal for Victor Osimhen last summer, competing with Al-Ahli for the Nigerian’s signature on deadline day, but neither side could get a move finalised – forcing him to settle on a loan move to Galatasaray.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures	Date
Ipswich Town (home)	April 13th
Fulham (away)	April 20th
Everton (home)	April 26th
Liverpool (home)	May 4th
Newcastle (away)	May 10th

Osimhen remains keen on joining Chelsea, but according to recent reports, the African isn’t exactly high on Maresca’s transfer shortlist.

Instead, Chelsea are serious about Benjamin Sesko as a potential option, with the Slovenian’s contract including a £62 million release clause, while Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap remain key candidates to bolster Maresca’s forward line.

There are even suggestions that Chelsea could reignite their interest in Mathys Tel, if Tottenham don’t trigger their £45 million option-to-buy clause, but it is Delap’s name which is currently gaining more and more traction.

In the last 72 hours, news emerged that Delap’s release clause will drop to a bargain value of around £30 million if Ipswich are relegated, which could even be confirmed this weekend.

This has understandably piqued interest from a host of top-flight sides who are on the lookout for a prolific number nine, including the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United and Tottenham, but Chelsea are thought to be the most determined to secure his signature.

Chelsea reopen talks with Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap

That is according to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, who states that Chelsea are very eager to bring in a striker before the Club World Cup commences in June.

As a result, despite a brief pause in contact, Chelsea have reopened “formal” talks with Delap’s agents as they try to get ahead of the intense competition for his signature this summer.

The Blues are “most serious” about striking a deal for the former Man City gem right now, and they’ve allocated enough funds to their transfer budget to do a deal without having to sell a player.

Phillips adds that Chelsea were secretly pretty close to sealing an agreement for him in January “behind closed doors”. Now, they’re yet again pushing to convince Delap to make a Stamford Bridge, and the 22-year-old is also open to joining Chelsea.

It is clear to see why Maresca’s side are so keen, with the attacking enjoying a sensational 2024/2025 and bagging 12 league goals, which are impressive numbers for a side battling relegation.

“He’s a proper striker, and I think for us as well he’s an outlet,” said Ipswich teammate Alex Palmer.

“He’s a big physical boy. He’s not huge, but he’s got that raw strength. Even build up, he helps us stick and set, so he’s not just a goalscorer. He’s an all-round striker.”

Manchester United are working hard to get it right in the transfer market this summer, having approached a critical juncture in INEOS’ ownership.

Things didn’t go to plan last season, with Erik ten Hag dismissed by October and his successor, Ruben Amorim, struggling to get a tune out of the suffering Red Devils, who ultimately finished 15th in the Premier League.

But with Matheus Cunha already signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, his £62.5m release clause activated, there are signs that Old Trafford will rise again.

Man Utd open talks for new striker

Cunha is a brilliant forward, but he’s not a centre-forward. The Red Devils need a partner to field as the number nine, and contacts have been made for such a striker.

Transfer Focus

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

Manchester United are looking to replace Rasmus Hojlund this summer and have set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, as per Tutto Juve, who has resurrected his career on loan at Juventus.

The 26-year-old Les Bleus star was on United’s radar – along with Tottenham Hotspur – in January after falling by the wayside in the French capital, though ultimately settled on a short-term stint in Turin.

Now, the above Italian report claims INEOS have made first contact with PSG for the versatile striker, although the same can be said for Newcastle United. Juventus, moreover, hope to purchase him permanently too.

What Kolo Muani would bring to Man Utd

Amorim is carefully piecing together a strikeforce capable of challenging for honours, capable of going punch for punch with the biggest hitters in the Premier League.

Kolo Muani on his A-game would certainly help in that regard. Leaving Eintracht Frankfurt to sign for PSG for around £76m in September 2023, the France international’s stock has since decreased, but he’s demonstrated with Juve his lingering quality, scoring ten goals and assisting three more across 21 matches in total.

With Cunha bringing his wide-ranging attacking skills to the table, Kolo Muani could find himself born again, thriving as the forward of a Premier League team chasing a return to European competition.

Sometimes, a change of scenery can help reignite the fire that has flickered out for a player. PSG proved to be the wrong career choice for the Frenchman, but a Man United project that he can lead that is showing signs of progress (on the transfer front, at least) is something he should consider pursuing.

Dusan Vlahovic’s Past Five League Seasons
Season	Club	Apps	Goals	Assists
24/25	Juventus	16	8	1
24/25	PSG	10	2	1
23/24	PSG	26	6	6
23/24	Frankfurt	2	1	0
22/23	Frankfurt	32	15	14
21/22	Nantes	36	12	5
Stats via Transfermarkt

United might find that Frankfurt’s €100m (£85m) valuation for Hugo Ekitike is a tad on the costly side, but they could snap up another of Die Adler’s star forwards in Kolo Muani, with that £76m price tag creeping down to a reported £50m if PSG sell this summer.

Once labelled a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, Kolo Muani is a dynamic and incisive striker who has found his footing once again in Italy, ranked among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Furthermore, to have finished the campaign with a scoring rate of 0.50 is pretty impressive, given his woes across the first half of the year. In fact, as per Sofascore, his eight-goal haul in the Italian top flight also saw just four big chances missed, which makes an interesting comment on his prolific instincts.

Working with Cunha, Amorim could create a truly devastating strikeforce (and that’s without even discussing the potential addition of Bryan Mbeumo), with the Brazilian forward having averaged 1.8 key passes per Premier League match last season, creating 13 big chances. He was instrumental in staving off relegation for the Old Gold.

Of course, Kolo Muani is not just restricted to sharpshooting. His silky and furnished attacking style lends itself to creative support, and Cunha would delight in this, having demonstrated an incredible scoring ability for Wolves.

This is exactly the kind of electric signing United need to make to bring them back to a respectable position. That famous Theatre of Dreams pull will need to come into play once again.

Their best signing since Bruno: £40m target now wants to join Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to make another superb signing in this summer window.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 22, 2025

It’s been a busy week or so for Arsenal.

After a slow start to the transfer window, Mikel Arteta’s side have finally started to make moves, with deals for Christian Norgaard and Arrizabalaga right around the corner, and the announcement of Martin Zubimendi’s arrival could come in a matter of days.

However, while those three will undoubtedly improve the squad, especially the Real Sociedad star, what fans really want is for the club to sign some attacking talent.

Fortunately, reports linking Arsenal to Eberechi Eze have emerged in recent days, although another Premier League star is now being touted for a move to the Emirates, a winger who would be an upgrade on the Crystal Palace ace.

Arsenal target big Eze upgrade

Links to Eze aren’t anything new for Arsenal, as the Crystal Palace star was touted for a move to the club last summer, only for him to remain at Selhurst Park.

Transfer Focus

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

However, it would be fair to say that the reports from the last couple of days revealing the Gunners’ interest in him have felt different, with some claiming that talks have already been held with the player’s representatives.

If the Premier League runners-up are to persevere with their supposed interest in the Englishman, they’ll have to stump up a fee of around £68m to activate the release clause in his current deal, and while he may be worth that much money, it would appear as if another talented international from the Premier League has caught the attention of the North Londoners.

At least that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who told GIVEMESPORT that Arsenal are interested in Anthony Gordon.

The Italian journalist has revealed that Arteta and his team are big fans of the Newcastle United star, and that while they’ve not made contact with the player or the Magpies, he has been someone they’ve “discussed internally.”

How much the former Everton gem might cost the Gunners is not mentioned in Romano’s report, but according to stories from earlier this summer, he could be available for around £80m.

It would be a complicated and incredibly costly transfer to get done, but given Gordon’s ability and potential, it is one Arsenal should pursue, especially as he could be an upgrade on Eze.

How Gordon compares to Eze

First and foremost, signing either Eze or Gordon would be brilliant business for Arsenal this summer, as it would be fair to say that neither Leandro Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli grabbed the left wing position this season.

Moreover, if Arteta and Co sign the Palace star to play him in attacking midfield, then he’d be great competition for Martin Odegaard, but, with that said, there are a few reasons why we still reckon the Newcastle gem would be the better signing.

The first relates to his output, as while the former QPR gem was more productive this season, the former Toffees star had him comfortably beaten last year with a haul of 28 goal involvements in 48 games to 17 in 31, which just shows that when properly platformed, he can reach a higher level of performance.

However, examining their raw output is only one way to assess a player’s ability; another is to take a closer look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.

Interestingly, when we do that for this season, the Toon star comes out looking far more impressive than his competitor.

Gordon vs Eze
Statistics	Gordon	Eze
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.42	0.53
Progressive Passes	3.63	3.37
Progressive Passes Received	7.93	5.31
Progressive Carries	4.48	2.40
Key Passes	1.89	2.01
Passes into the Penalty Area	2.04	1.35
Crosses into the Penalty Area	0.63	0.14
Passes into the Final Third	2.41	1.70
Shot-Creating Actions	3.74	4.69
Goal-Creating Actions	0.44	0.35
Carries into the Penalty Areas	2.07	0.76
Carries into the Final Third	2.30	1.67
Aerial Duels Won	0.30	0.24
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

For example, the 12-capped “nightmare,” as he describes himself, performs better in creative metrics, such as progressive passes, passes into the penalty area, and goal-creating actions, while also excelling in direct possession statistics, including progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, all per 90.

Numbers like these help show that the Magpies’ dynamic winger could aid the Gunners in build-up play, as well as making them far more dangerous in those games that develop into transitional, slogging matches.

Finally, and this is important with regard to squad building, the Newcastle ace is just 24 years old, whereas the Eagles star has just turned 27 and, based on research carried out by The Athletic, that means, we can expect the former to continue to improve in the coming years, but that isn’t the case for the latter.

Ultimately, based on his underlying numbers, ability to produce a high volume of goal involvements, and his age, Gordon appears to be the better signing for Arsenal. Therefore, the North Londoners should do all they can to bring him to the Emirates this summer.

Sesko will love him: Arsenal open talks to sign "one of the best in the PL"

Imagine this signing and Benjamin Sesko at Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 1, 2025