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Liverpool have opened the 2024/25 season in perfect fashion, sitting top of the Premier League with four wins from four.

Under Arne Slot, they’ve quickly shown resilience and attacking flair, but the journey has not been without its flaws.

Three times already this season – against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Atlético Madrid – the Reds have let two-goal leads slip, only to be rescued by late winners. The most special of all perhaps being Rio Ngumoha’s strike at St James’ Park.

That ability to find decisive moments in the dying stages has become a hallmark.

The 93rd-minute strike against Atlético was Liverpool’s fourth goal scored in stoppage time across all competitions this season, underlining the winning mentality that carried them to their second Premier League crown last season.

While Dominik Szoboszlai has been central to the team’s fluid play, it is a different player who increasingly embodies the leadership once associated with the great Steven Gerrard.

Szoboszlai: A creative hub and tactical fix

Szoboszlai’s start to the season didn’t go smoothly.

Slot publicly criticised him for his role in Bournemouth’s opening goal during the 4-2 win at Anfield on the opening weekend.

Since then, however, the 24-year-old has responded with consistent excellence and versatility.

Last season, the Hungarian produced 12 goal involvements this campaign, a reminder of his value in the final third. His numbers reflect a midfielder who drives play forward relentlessly:

Progressive Carries per 90

2.60

Progressive Passes per 90

4.73

Shot-Creating Actions per 90

4.30

Pass Completion Rate

84.3%

Progressive Passing Distance per 90

131.4m

These metrics paint a picture of a player who not only initiates attacking moves but sustains them with precision passing and clever movement.

His decisive 30-yard free-kick against Arsenal was the standout moment of Liverpool’s season so far, sealing a 1-0 win that kept their perfect record intact.

What makes Szoboszlai even more valuable is his tactical adaptability.

Against Newcastle, with Liverpool stretched at St James’ Park, he filled in at right-back and barely put a foot wrong all evening. He did the same when Arsenal came to town a few weeks ago.

This flexibility makes him a manager’s dream – a midfielder capable of influencing games both with creativity and discipline.

It’s tempting to compare Szoboszlai to Gerrard, as many pundits have, but this season he is functioning as Liverpool’s alternative to Florian Wirtz.

While Wirtz has struggled to adapt since his high-profile Premier League arrival, Szoboszlai has thrived in high-pressure situations, reinforcing why Liverpool chose him as a centrepiece in midfield.

That said, the Hungary international isn’t quite as iconic as Gerrard just yet.

Liverpool's new Gerrard

If Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s creator, Virgil van Dijk is their leader.

At 34, the Dutchman remains a colossal presence at the back, but this season he has added moments of attacking inspiration too.

His stoppage-time winner against Atlético epitomised a player taking responsibility in decisive moments.

Football analyst Josh Williams has described Van Dijk as “outrageous” this season, adding that he “takes responsibility like Gerrard used to.”

It is rare for a centre-back to be compared with Liverpool’s most iconic midfielder, but the parallels are clear.

Just as Gerrard dragged teams through games with moments of inspiration, Van Dijk is now doing the same from defence.

Statistically, his influence remains elite and he showcased that against Atletico.

To illuminate his qualities, Van Dijk ranks in the 86th percentile among his fellow central defenders for pass completion (91.5%) over the last year, ensuring that Liverpool can build calmly from the back.

He is also in the 90th percentile for progressive passes (5.24 per 90), showing how often he breaks lines with distribution from deep.

Defensively, he dominates in the air, winning 3.02 aerial duels per 90, placing him again in the 86th percentile among centre-backs.

Statistical comparisons with Ronald Araújo and Gabriel Magalhães highlight his profile: a defender who combines physical dominance with elite ball progression.

But Van Dijk’s role extends beyond numbers. As club captain, with a contract running until 2027, he is the figure setting standards in this rejuvenating side.

Liverpool’s start has not been flawless. Throwing away leads three times already is a warning sign for a team with ambitions of another title.

Yet those setbacks have been countered by players willing to step up in decisive phases.

Szoboszlai has driven the creative rhythm with his passing and chance creation, while Van Dijk has shown the authority and timing to decide contests late on.

Together, they have shaped Liverpool’s early-season identity: a side capable of brilliance, but reliant on its big leaders to seize the big moments.

Not Salah or Van Dijk: Liverpool star is now "one of the best in the world"

Liverpool left it late once more to collect a Champions League victory at Anfield over Atletico Madrid.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 18, 2025

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has set summer signing Viktor Gyokeres a huge goal target for his debut season in England. Gyokeres moved to the Gunners after a goal-laden spell with Portuguese side Sporting CP. And while the Swede has failed to score in five games, Martinelli believes that hefty goal target is attainable as Arsenal look to land domestic and continental success.

Getty Images SportGyokeres has struggled in the opening weeks at Arsenal

Gyokeres has struggled in the opening weeks of his Arsenal career following his arrival from Sporting, however. Indeed, the Sweden international, who scored 39 league goals in Portugal last season, has netted just three goals across his opening nine appearances after drawing a blank against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Goals from Martinelli and Bukayo Saka either side of half time saw the Gunners make it two wins from two to kick off their European campaign as one of six teams to win both opening matches.

AdvertisementGyokeres goals will surely come

The goals, though, will surely come for Gyokeres, who managed three shots in midweek and has had more shots (13) than any Arsenal player in the Premier League this season.

And teammate Martinelli, who has scored in three of his last five appearances for Mikel Arteta's side after bagging the opener on Wednesday night, has set a monster goal target for the 27-year-old despite blanking for five games straight.

Getty Images Sport'He’s one of the top strikers in the world right now'

Following Arsenal's win over Olympiacos, Martinelli, quoted by Standard Sport, was quick to praise Gyokeres, stating: "We are really happy with him. We trust him. We know his qualities and he’s one of the top strikers in the world right now. We trust him and we are trying to give him the confidence to score and to do his best on the pitch to help us."

The Brazil international believes having a player of Martin Odegaard's quality will aid Gyokeres, adding: "It’s really good to play with Martin [Odegaard] there because he’s always trying to find you, when we make the movement. And for Viktor as well, his qualities, he likes to go in behind and attack the opposition’s box. So, I think him playing with Martin as well is going to be good for him. We are going to try to give him the ball as much as possible to make him score, I don’t know, 30 or 40 goals a season."

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Martinelli welcomes competition for club and country

Gyokeres wasn't Arsenal's only summer signing, with Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze joining from Chelsea and Crystal Palace, respectively, but Martinelli, who started Wednesday's win on the right with Leandro Trossard on the left, welcomes the competition at the Emirates and isn't worried about fighting for regular minutes at club level because it's similar with the Brazil national team.

"It’s the same in the national team for me. I’m not going to complain to have Vini and Rodrygo and Raphinha playing with me! I’m really happy to have them there and happy to have the players that we have here as well," Martinelli said.

"With the signings that we brought in, we’ve got a huge squad now. So let’s try to use this squad, because it’s a long season, everyone knows it and sometimes we have injuries and with a big squad, we have more opportunities to win the game.

"We play for Arsenal. We have to use every single one that is available. So, if someone gets injured, we’re going to try to use someone else. This is why we have a huge squad right now I mean, I want to play. I want to start every single game. And as I said, I’m going to help the team as much as possible. 

"The manager is the one that takes the decision. We have to respect him. And when I have the opportunity, I always try to give my best."

Tottenham have rejected an expression of interest in a takeover from a United States consortium, headed up by Brooklyn Earick, but the former DJ has posted a cryptic Instagram update hinting at a countdown to becoming owner of the north London club. Reports suggest the bid for the club is worth £4.5 billion ($6bn).

GettyBid launched

According to The Sun, Earick is heading up a consortium that is ready to make a bid worth £4.5bn to buy Tottenham from the Joe Lewis family. The club have undergone serious changes in the boardroom, with former executive chairman Daniel Levy ousted earlier this season. Now, Spurs are said to have rejected the expression of interest from the consortium, per the Athletic, with the Lewis family once again repeating their stance that the club is not for sale. The report quotes a source who claims the interest is "unsolicited and unnecessary". A formal bid has yet to be tabled but Earick's groups must now either announce their intention to bid for the club or announce that it will not follow up by October 24. 

AdvertisementWhat Spurs have said

Spurs have issued a formal statement, reading: "The Board of Tottenham Hotspur Limited is aware of recent media speculation and confirms that its majority shareholder, ENIC Sports & Developments Holdings Ltd, has received, and unequivocally rejected, an informal expression of interest in relation to a proposal to acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of the Club from a consortium led by Mr Brooklyn Earick.

"The Board of the Club and ENIC reconfirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC is not looking to sell its stake in the Club.

"In accordance with the obligations under Rule 2.6(a) of the City Code, the Consortium is required, by no later than 5.00 p.m on 24 October 2025, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the City Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for the Company, in which case such announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the City Code applies.

"This deadline can be extended with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the City Code.

"The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Tottenham Hotspur is Peter Charrington."

Earick's hints

Earick is clearly revelling in the attention he and his consortium have received, with two social media posts on Friday hinting towards further developments. 

On X, he wrote: "Pretty low key morning so far" alongside a picture of The Sun's article revealing his interest in Spurs. 

He has also posted on Instagram a photo of the club's dressing room, along with a countdown, for 27 days from now. That would be October 23, the day before the consortium are formally required to reveal whether or not they intend to make an offer for the north London giants. 

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Who is Earick?

Earick is a former DJ and music producer who also worked at NASA. After his time there, he founded a company called Redacted RnD, which operates in the "blockchain" space, and invests in "digital assets". The company is based out of Singapore. He also founded Algorith Capital, another investment fund that focuses primarily on technology. It remains to be seen if he can finance a bid for Spurs, or if he is merely attempting to burgeon his own reputation. 

Do Celtic lack attacking firepower?

So far, Brendan Rodgers’ side have started the Premiership campaign with two wins out of two, albeit they’ve been made to work hard for these victories, requiring a late Luke McCowan strike to overcome St Mirren 1-0, before a 2-0 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Only once since 2012 have the Hoops scored three goals or fewer across their opening two league fixtures, doing so in 2018, albeit they did then demolish Falkirk 4-1 in the League Cup on Friday night.

Nevertheless, ahead of Wednesday night’s season-defining Champions League play-off against Kairat at Parkhead, supporters are concerned that Rodgers’ squad lacks the top-end talent to compete at European level.

With that in mind, could the Scottish champions sign a “world-class” striker, available on a free, that Rodgers knows rather well?

Celtic's need for attacking reinforcements

Since Rodgers returned to Celtic two summers ago, nine players have scored ten or more goals for the club, of whom four are no longer there, namely Kyōgo Furuhashi (31 goals), Nicolas Kühn (24), Matt O’Riley (19) and Luis Palma (10).

Adam Idah is on that list with 29 goals, second only to Daizen Maeda in the current squad, but the Republic of Ireland international is yet to get off the mark this season, with his compatriot Johnny Kenny given the nod on Friday night.

Following a fruitful loan spell, Idah’s move to Glasgow was made permanent for a humongous fee of £9.5m, but he has largely flattered to deceive since, so could Celtic target an upgrade during the remaining weeks of the transfer window?

Well, according to a report by the Scottish Sun, Rodgers ‘would love’ Celtic to sign free agent Jamie Vardy this summer.

They claim that the 38-year-old has ‘his heart set’ on a move to Parkhead, adding that the England international is a ‘model professional’ who ‘believes he can play week in week out’ at the highest level for another two years at least.

Transfer Focus

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

So, will the Vardy party relocate from the East Midlands to Glasgow’s East End?

What Jamie Vardy would bring to Celtic

Earlier this year, Vardy waved goodbye to Leicester City after 13 years with the Foxes, during which time he won a Premier League title and the FA Cup.

He marked his final appearance for the club with a goal against Southampton, thereby bowing out with 200 goals in exactly 500 appearances, very satisfying for fans of symmetry.

Overall, Vardy netted nine times in the Premier League last season, a more than respectable feat for a generally woeful Leicester team, this representing 36% of their total goals.

However, as documented below, it is Vardy’s exploits during the Foxes’ promotion-winning campaign from the EFL Championship the year before that provide the biggest cause for optimism.

Goals

18

5th

Goals inside the box

18

3rd

Shots

53

51st

Shots on target %

50.9%

9th

Goals-per-shot

0.26

5th

Average shot distance

11.4 yards

1st*

Big chances missed

16

7th

Offsides

17

19th

Average Sofascore rating

7.02

14th**

*minimum 44 shots. **among strikers only.

As the table outlines, in the Championship, Vardy was prolific; the fact all 18 of his goals were scored inside the penalty area underlines his penalty-box poacher style of play, as does the fact his average shot distance was just 11.4 yards, so round about the penalty spot.

Also, impressively, these goals were scored from only 53 total shots, squandering a mere 16 Opta-defined big chances, emphasising that he still possesses that clinical edge.

Worth also noting that, according to Global Football Rankings, the EFL Championship is the seventh-best league in the world, while the Scottish Premiership is down in 27th, further suggesting Vardy would score goals for a dominant team in Scotland.

When the pair were together at Leicester, following a Premier League win over Arsenal in October 2020, Rodgers labelled Vardy a “world-class striker”, while then-Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy described him as a “living legend” prior to his Foxes farewell.

So, would he represent an upgrade on Idah?

Well, the Irishman did score 20 goals across all competitions last season, but his highest-ever total in an EFL Championship campaign was six, exponentially fewer than Vardy.

So far this season, starting both Premiership fixtures against St Mirren and Aberdeen, Idah has had five shots but missed three big chances, yet to find the back of the net and failing to make much impact, which has to be a concern with tougher tests to come.

Thus, it is clear that Vardy would score goals at Premiership level, and in Europe too, so signing the Englishman appears to be a no-brainer.

Forrest upgrade: Celtic "pursuing" deal to sign "exciting" £5m star

Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a winger who would be an upgrade on James Forrest.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 18, 2025

Last summer, Celtic reportedly banked a joint-club-record fee of £25m for Denmark international Matt O’Riley when they sold him to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 24-year-old maestro moved on from Parkhead after an exceptional return of 18 goals and 13 assists in 36 appearances in the Scottish Premiership during the 2023/24 campaign.

O’Riley provided a huge threat at the top end of the pitch, particularly as a goalscorer, and that earned him a big-money move to the Premier League last year.

The Dane’s departure meant that Brendan Rodgers did not have a natural goalscoring midfielder who could chip in with anywhere near as many as the left-footed star did.

Celtic lacked a consistent goal threat in midfield

The Hoops signed Arne Engels from Augsburg to ‘replace’ O’Riley and the Belgian did provide a threat at the top end of the pitch, ending the season with ten goals and 12 assists in all competitions.

However, seven of his nine goals in the Premiership came from the penalty spot in his first year in Glasgow, which shows that he did not offer a huge threat from open play as a goalscorer.

Arne Engels

21

2

Reo Hatate

24

9

Callum McGregor

29

8

Luke McCowan

12

5

Paulo Bernardo

11

2

As you can see in the table above, none of Celtic’s central midfielders hit double figures for goals last season, but they did spread the goals among them.

The Premiership champions are now reportedly one of the teams in the race to sign former Burnley star Josh Brownhill on a free transfer, and he could be their best central midfield signing since O’Riley.

Why Brownhill would be Celtic's best midfielder since O'Riley

The experienced midfield star would be an influential figure in the middle of the park for the Hoops, as he is fresh off the back of an exceptional campaign with Burnley in the English Championship.

His brilliant performances in central midfield helped the Clarets to earn promotion to the Premier League by finishing in second place in the league, as he showcased his ability to make a big impact in the final third.

Unlike the options Rodgers currently has in his squad, Brownhill has the potential to deliver O’Riley-esque numbers in front of goal after an 18-goal haul in the Championship.

Only three of those 18 goals came from the penalty spot, which means that he scored six more goals than the top-scoring Celtic midfielder at league level last term.

The 29-year-old star, who was lauded as “immense” by journalist Josh Bunting, could be the man to finally replace the prolific level of scoring that O’Riley provided when he was at Parkhead in the 2023/24 campaign.

Brownhill also made 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game for his team, whilst no Hoops midfielder managed more than 2.0 tackles and interceptions per match, which suggests that the potential is also there for him to offer more to the team out of possession as a screening presence in front of the defence.

These statistics show that the free agent maestro has the qualities to be an exceptional addition to the squad on a free transfer, as he has the goalscoring and defensive capability to be the club’s best central midfield player since O’Riley left to sign for Brighton as a standout offensively and defensively.

Giakoumakis repeat: Celtic are in "talks" to sign "exciting" £7m forward

Celtic are reportedly in talks to sign a £7m-rated star who could be a Giorgos Giakoumakis repeat.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 29, 2025

No Celtic midfielder has stepped up to take on the goalscoring mantle from the Dane in the past 12 months, but Brownhill’s form for Burnley suggests that he is the man to step up for Rodgers, which is why they must push to get a deal done for him in the coming days.

How many more new signings will Chelsea make before the transfer window closes on 1 September?

So far, the Blues have brought in eight new recruits, including João Pedro and Liam Delap, both of whom featured during their victorious Club World Cup campaign, as well as Estêvão Willian, Jamie Gittens, Kendry Páez, and others.

However, they are far from done yet, with Xavi Simons on course to arrive from RB Leipzig, while they remain interested in Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, as the Blues seemingly aim to sign all the attacking midfielders and wingers.

Now, could Enzo Maresca’s side strengthen the other end of the pitch, targeting a repeat of Thiago Silva’s arrival from five years ago?

Chelsea targeting a new goalkeeper

As outlined by Nizaar Kinsella of BBC Sport, many believe Chelsea need a new first-choice goalkeeper if they’re to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League, with a lot of observers remaining unconvinced by Robert Sánchez.

The table below documents why.

Minutes

2,880

10th

Goals conceded per-90

1.06

4th

Saves

92

10th

Save %

76.4%

1st

Clean sheet %

31.3%

6th

Post-shot xG – goal conceded

+1.7

11th

High claims

44

3rd

Crosses not claimed

2

2nd

Punches

12

14th

Errors leading to goals

5

1st

Average SofaScore rating

7.03

24th

As the table outlines, Sánchez’s statistics in the Premier League last season were, at best, mixed, ranked first for save percentage, but also first for errors leading to goals, hence why a team with aspirations of winning the title may want better.

With that in mind, according to a report by Ahad Shaukat of Caught Offside, Chelsea are ‘in the mix’ to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, with Manchester United and Manchester City also interested.

Les Rouge-et-Bleu are closing in on the signing of Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, so are looking to offload their Italian shot-stopper, valued at around £35m, according to a report by La Repubblica.

So, could Donnarumma become the latest Italian superstar to call Stamford Bridge home, following in the footsteps of Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Di Matteo, Gianluca Vialli, and many others?

How Gianluigi Donnarumma would improve Chelsea

Amazingly, Donnarumma is still only 26 years old, having made his senior debut for AC Milan a decade ago, racking up 251 appearances for the Rossoneri, before featuring 161 times for Paris Saint-Germain, since moving to the French capital in 2021.

On top of this, he has racked up 74 caps for Italy, currently Gli Azzurri’s captain, having been instrumental to their triumph at Euro 2020, named player of the tournament following his exploits in the shootout victory over England.

Then-Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti asserted ahead of Euro 2024 that the goalkeeper is “world-class”, while his agent Vincenzo Raiola, who admittedly isn’t a neutral observer, believes he is the “best goalkeeper in the world” who “deserves [to win] the Ballon d’Or”.

Well, let’s put those assertions to the test.

Goals conceded per 90

0.91

5th

Saves

35

13th

Save %

70.8%

20th

Clean sheet %

40%

9th

Post-shot xG – goals conceded

+2.2

13th

Crosses stopped

4th

3rd

Punches

13

1st

High claims

13

4th

Errors leading to a goal

1

13th

Average SofaScore rating

7.1

16th

As the table documents, Donnarumma was a key figure in the Paris Saint-Germain side that won the Champions League last season, posting very impressive statistics across the board, emphasising that he is a top-class goalkeeper, even if he is no longer wanted by the European champions.

Similarly, five years ago, Thiago Silva was deemed surplus to requirements in the French capital, cast aside when his PSG contract expired in 2020, before proving he certainly still had the quality to compete at the highest level after joining Chelsea, making 155 appearances across four seasons in West London, most notably winning the Champions League.

Tom Sanderson of the Guardian documents that the Brazilian centre-back was very ‘successful’ during his time at Chelsea, able to perform at a very high level, labelling him a ‘great leader’.

Well, albeit significantly younger, all available evidence suggests that Donnarumma could have a similar impact, should he arrive at Stamford Bridge later this month, given his performances on the pitch and the leadership qualities that he could provide.

Chelsea confirm signing of "sensation" from Crystal Palace after hijacking move

The Blues have officially secured an eye-catching prospect.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 2, 2025

Newcastle United’s summer transfer window is kicking into life, all right, with Eddie Howe determined to package a squad with enough quality to challenge across the Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

Last season was one of staggering success for the Magpies, who deservedly beat Liverpool at Wembley in March to lift the Carabao Cup, so ending 70 years adrift from that matchless trophy-winning feeling.

On the last day of the top-flight term, the Toon also secured their place in next year’s elite European tournament after finishing fifth in the league.

However, Newcastle’s 2024 summer window still lingers in the minds of all affiliated. It’s something of a miracle that Howe led his troops to glory in spite of the market setbacks.

The new campaign is a little over a month away, and United are planning to make a series of signings despite their slow start to the window.

That slow start has started to gather some pace, in fairness, but more is needed if Howe’s to piece together Newcastle’s dream squad for the 2025/26 season.

The goalkeepers James Trafford becomes the new No. 1

Newcastle have maintained a vested interest in Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford for a while now, and though Howe has been bruised by a number of setbacks in the market, this one looks like it will glide through to the finish line in a potential £30m deal.

Hailed as a “world-class keeper” by Clarets boss Scott Parker, the Englishman will jockey for a regular starting berth with Nick Pope, who has been a staple of the Howe era but missed ten Premier League matches last year due to injury.

Newcastle, for sure, aren’t strapped for options between the sticks. Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie all form a bloated chunk of the St. James’ Park first-team squad.

Profit and Sustainability technicalities have played heavily into the unique situation, but there’s no question that Trafford would sit atop the pile if signed this summer.

Full list of goalkeepers: James Trafford, Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy, Mark Gillespie

The defence Howe finally lands a new centre-back

Amid the long list of rejections this summer is likely to be Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who was the subject of four failed bids from the Tynesiders in 2024 and has entered Newcastle’s sights once more this year.

But Liverpool appear to hold the lead in the race, and Newcastle have thus swivelled their attention to Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini, who, aged 22, is valued in excess of £50m.

The dynamic defender will complete a backline already replete with depth and quality. A fully-fit Sven Botman could provide the right-footer with a formidable partner, while Fabian Schar and Dan Burn offer high-level competition that will be vital across a multi-front campaign.

And Howe’s diligence and planning over the past few years has also limited the attention required on the flanks. Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall make for one of the most exciting young partnerships in the game, while Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier bring leadership to the fold.

Full list of centre-backs: Fabian Schar, Giorgio Scalvini, Jamal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Dan Burn

Full list of right-backs: Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth

Full list of left-backs: Lewis Hall, Matt Targett

The midfield Magpie midfielders remain the essence of Howe's system

Newcastle’s defence is in pretty good nick, but not so much as the midfield, which has been pieced together masterfully over the past few years. When Sandro Tonali gelled with Bruno Guimaraes after last winter’s blip, United reached new levels, establishing the form that would lead to silver-tinted glory.

Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy has certainly sung their praises, saying of the midfield: “One of the best in the league. Probably just behind Liverpool’s or maybe even on par with Liverpool’s. They’ve got a blend of everything and incredible players. I think they’ve got some of the best players in the world in that position.”

Tonali’s redefinition as a number six promoted the ball-playing focus of Howe’s game and allowed Guimaraes to operate in a more advanced, fluid role. Joelinton’s undying energy was magnified but Sean Longstaff, who has been linked with a summer sale could exit to please PSR. Leeds United have already tabled an offer.

In his stead, Newcastle have been named suitors for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, with the England international valued at £50m. His completeness and athleticism would be the perfect counterpoint to a midfield already rich with contrasting quality.

Newcastle would likely look to whittle down Atletico’s asking price, but it’s an exciting time for the Toon, who already are so strong in the centre, with Joe Willock and the young Lewis Miley looking to play their part too.

Full list of central midfielders: Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Conor Gallagher, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley

The forwards Sweeping changes built around Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak remains Newcastle’s talisman, and PIF’s £200m price tag for the Sweden star should keep him at St. James’ Park for at least one more year.

He does need competition though, since Callum Wilson has packed up and left at the end of his contract. There have been a few blows in that regard so far, but Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has recently been lined up. The sticking point, of course, is that the Bees want £50m.

And despite signing Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest in a £55m deal, more is needed, to be sure. Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes hold down the fort pretty well on the left flank, but Newcastle are still interested in signing another name to enrich the ranks.

And that would be Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, who is set to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer. His £40m price tag might put the Magpies off, for this would take their spending over £200m after having bagged Elanga already.

Instead, a loan move looks like it could be the order of the day, one which would provide creative relief and allow a deal for someone like Wissa to be pursued too.

Centre-forward

86

34

8

Left winger

28

6

4

Right winger

7

4

0

Attacking midfield

3

1

0

The recent rumours surrounding Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike make for compelling reading, but it’s just hard to envisage a world where Newcastle win the race for the £85m-rated centre-forward while keeping Isak on the books too.

And Isak is staying. Thus, a more pragmatic, but still impressive, deal for a Premier League-proven and positionally dynamic player in Wissa could prove the order of the day for Newcastle as they look to polish off this remarkable squad of Magpies.

Full list of right wingers: Anthony Elanga, Jacob Murphy

Full list of left wingers: Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Jack Grealish

Full list of strikers: Alexander Isak, Yoane Wissa, William Osula

Elanga's new Gibbs-White: Newcastle leading race for £40m "magician"

Newcastle are hoping to make more signings after landing Anthony Elanga.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 12, 2025

There have been a lot of players who have tormented Arsenal over the years, from Roberto Firmino to Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah.

However, when it comes to the striker who has scored more goals against the North Londoners in the Premier League than anyone else, it’ll come as no surprise to most that it is Harry Kane.

The former Tottenham Hotspur star scored 14 goals against the club in 17 appearances before moving to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, and then added another in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.

So, the Gunners faithful should be excited about reports linking them to a free-scoring striker who’s won comparisons to the England captain.

Arsenal's striker search

With Arsenal’s need for a striker this summer practically undeniable, the last few weeks have seen the club linked with a host of talented options, from Benjamin Sesko to Evann Guessand.

The club are reportedly in talks for the former at the moment, who could cost around £67m, which might just prove to be a bargain price, as in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig this season, the 22-year-old dynamo was able to score 21 goals and provide six assists.

Coming in with a cheaper price tag that is said to be around the £25m mark, Guessand would be the more economical option, and with a tally of 13 goals and ten assists in 42 games, it would be a tempting one at that.

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Yet, there is now another forward whose price fits nicely between both and has been compared to Kane: Nick Woltemade.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams incredibly interested in the VfB Stuttgart poacher.

In fact, the report reveals that the Gunners, as well as Liverpool, have made contact with the German outfit over their star striker, who could be available for around €50m, which comes out to about £42m.

He might not be a known quantity to fans in England, but given Woltemade’s ability and potential, this is a deal worth pursuing – with the comparison to Kane a nice bonus.

How Woltemade compares to Kane

Now, there are several reasons why Arsenal might want to go out and sign Woltemade this summer, but before getting to them, it’s worth examining this comparison to Kane and where it originated from.

In this case, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in the Bundesliga this season and came to the conclusion that the Englishman was the second most similar forward to the German.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, live passes, expected assists, passes into the penalty area, tackles won and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.70

0.70

Goals per Shot

0.22

0.16

Expected Assists

0.19

0.21

Live Passes

26.5

23.4

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.28

1.36

Tackles Won

0.39

0.42

Successful Take-On %

43.7%

43.4%

However, while the comparison to England’s captain and one of the best strikers in the game is certainly encouraging, it’s not the only reason the Gunners should be looking to sign the Stuttgart star.

For example, despite playing for a midtable side, the “exceptional” marksman, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was able to rack up an impressive haul of 17 goals and three assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2039 minutes.

That means the 23-year-old goalscorer maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games this year, or every 101.95 minutes, which is undeniably impressive.

On top of that, the Bremen-born star comes in at a massive 6 foot 6 but remains agile and quick on his feet, so not only could he interchange with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard at the Emirates, but he’d add even more height and physicality into the Gunners’ squad.

Ultimately, Woltemade has been incredible this season, and his goalscoring abilities combined with his physical characteristics make him someone Arsenal should not miss out on – the comparison to Kane is just another reason they should be going all out to sign him.

A Rodrygo clone: Arsenal could hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"

The sensational talent could add so much to Arsenal’s attack.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 5, 2025

Chelsea have reportedly submitted their opening offer for a Serie A star who’s openly admitted that he’ll consider offers to leave his club, with Enzo Maresca’s side expected to move quickly in the transfer market after their Conference League victory.

Chelsea seal Real Betis comeback to win first trophy under Maresca

The Premier League heavyweights were tipped as heavy favourites to lift this year’s Conference League trophy, but Real Betis threatened to give them a major shock.

Chelsea offer £21m striker a 6-year contract, agreement "just a matter of time"

He’s been clocked as the fastest player in his league.

2 ByEmilio Galantini May 28, 2025

Former Real Madrid star Isco gave them a hard time in the first-half, with Moises Caicedo struggling to contain the Spaniard, and it didn’t take long for Betis to secure a surprise early lead through Abde Ezzalzouli on the nine-minute mark.

Chelsea failed to kickstart any sort of momentum until midway through the second period, when Maresca’s side suddenly came to life and sparked a tremendous comeback against Manuel Pellegrini’s underdogs.

Goals from Enzo Fernández, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Caicedo, in the space of just half an hour, put the result beyond all doubt, with Chelsea taking home the Conference League spoils and confirming Maresca’s first piece of silverware since taking over as manager last year.

“We’ve improved a lot since we started,” said Maresca about Chelsea’s evolution in the last few weeks.

“We also started to win games in an ugly way. That is something with a young squad that you struggle to do that, but I think, for instance, in the Nottingham Forest game we won in a little bit of an ugly way. We found the way to win the game, that was very, very important.

“And then the best picture for me for tonight that made me understand that we were in the right direction is when we scored the first two guys to celebrate was Malo Gusto and Benoit Badiashile. The two that we changed. And this, probably sometimes we judge games, but this for me, for a manager, when you change players that they are not playing good and they are the first that they enjoy the celebration, that means a lot.”

Palmer in particular was vital in their comeback against Betis, putting in a genius attacking display, and BlueCo reportedly have every intention of providing the England international with quality new teammates this summer.

Chelsea submit opening bid for Lazio star Mario Gila

One of the key items on their agenda is the signing of a centre-back, according to Simon Phillips and other reliable sources. Chelsea held rounds of talks with Dean Huijsen before his switch to Real Madrid, but they haven’t given up on their chase for a new defender after missing out on the 20-year-old.

According to newspaper Il Messaggero, Lazio centre-back Mario Gila has now found his way onto Chelsea’s shortlist of targets as they seek an alternative to Huijsen.

The 24-year-old was a mainstay of Lazio’s backline throughout 2024/2025, with only midfielder Matteo Guendouzi playing more league minutes for them than Gila. However, he may well have played his final game for Marco Baroni’s side, and admitted midway through the campaign that he’s ready to listen to other offers despite becoming a “special” figure in Rome.

“I am very happy. Since last year, I started playing midway through the season, and everything is going very well. For a player, being a special figure is very important,” said Gila.

“At this moment, I am happy to be here. After that, whatever happens, I am ready to listen to everything. I have ambitions, and if there are options, I will listen to them and evaluate them. But I am very happy here; the team values me.”

Now, it would appear the Blues have taken him up on this.

Il Messagero reports that Chelsea have made an offer of around £29 million for Gila, but Lazio value him somewhere closer to £44 million, given his key player status and the fact Real Madrid possess a 50% sell-on clause – meaning they’d get half of any transfer fee received for the Spanish defender.

Gila is a reliable centre-half, possessing a unique blend of youth and experience at the top level, which leaves little surprise that Maresca’s side are now expressing a serious interest.

Arsenal chiefs are facing a renewed Real Madrid threat after Los Blancos swooped in to win the race for Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen, with the La Liga giants posing some worry for Gunners transfer chief Andrea Berta and his deal to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal reach Zubimendi agreement as Huijsen nears Real Madrid move

Earlier this week, it was reliably reported that Arsenal reached an agreement to sign Zubimendi, with Fabrizio Romano even dropping the ‘here we go’ on his switch to the Emirates Stadium.

Berta favourite decides he wants to join Arsenal after £7m salary offer

He has his heart set on a north London switch.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 15, 2025

The Spain international’s signature is believed to be all-but officially sealed, with Berta seemingly wrapping up his first signing as Arsenal’s new sporting director.

Arsenal are poised to lose Jorginho, who’s agreed to join Brazilian side Flamengo after his contract expires, while talks remain ongoing over Thomas Partey’s contract with no guarantee they will shake hands on a renewed deal.

The arrival of Zubimendi is crucial to Mikel Arteta with Arsenal in danger of being left quite short in midfield, and it would come as welcome news after they missed out on a deal for top defensive target Huijsen.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal were in pole position with Chelsea to strike a deal for the 20-year-old, but Real Madrid then got involved. The 15-time European champions swooped in to tempt him towards his homeland, and they’re currently putting the finishing touches on a move which will see Huijsen depart Bournemouth for the Bernabeu.

“Real Madrid are in direct meeting with Dean Huijsen’s camp to complete the agreement on the contract,” said Romano on X.

“The agreement on £50m release clause with Bournemouth has been sealed on Wednesday, as reported. Matter of contract details with Huijsen’s camp, then, here we go.”

Arsenal risk Dean Huijsen repeat after Martin Zubimendi update

After Real eventually beat Arsenal to Huijsen’s signature, despite the north Londoners having reportedly made a “formal” offer of their own (Cadena SER), it is now believed that Florentino Perez could still spoil their swoop for Zubimendi as well.

As per a report from Diario AS, Arsenal’s signing of Zubimendi is already “arranged”, but nothing has been signed in terms of contract or legislation, meaning Real are still able to come in and hijack Berta’s deal.

The Spanish newspaper suggests this is highly possible and a “sharp turn” in the situation cannot be ruled out, as per sources “close” to the talks, with Zubimendi agreeing a move to Liverpool last year and changing his mind at the last second.

Until the “world-class” 26-year-old puts pen to paper, there is every chance Real decide to move with a counter-offer to rival Arsenal, and AS describe the race for Zubimendi as remaining “open”, contrary to previous claims.

Arteta will be hoping Real stay out of this one, as their need for a midfielder of Zubimendi’s cannot be understated following Jorginho’s imminent exit and uncertainty surrounding Partey.