All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers reportedly now face a ‘big fight’ to keep Ryan Kent this summer.

The Lowdown: Europa League hero

Kent was just one of many Europa League heroes for the Teddy Bears as they overcame RB Leipzig 3-1 at Ibrox on Thursday night to book themselves in the final against Frankfurt.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/rangers-news-4/” title=”Rangers news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The winger grabbed the assist for the opening goal of the game by James Tavernier, and also recorded a team-high two key passes, while he won three of his duels, made two tackles and one interception (SofaScore).

The Latest: ‘Big fight’

Taking to Twitter, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team now face a ‘big fight’ to keep hold of Kent in the summer, as he is ‘attracting interest’ from a number of clubs in the Premier League.

Expanding in his latest piece for 90min, Bailey added that the Light Blues have accepted that they will not be able to match teams in the top flight in terms of contract offers, given that he only has a year left on his current deal.

Bailey’s sources have confirmed that the uncertainty over his contract is now attracting interest, with Leeds United, Everton, Wolves and Fulham named as possible destinations.

The Verdict: Worrying

It is certainly worrying for the supporters to hear of uncertainty over Kent’s long-term future, as they will no doubt find it difficult to pull him away from the attraction of the Premier League.

He has been one of their best performers in both the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership, and at 25 years of age, has not yet reached his full potential.

Nonetheless, if the Gers do decide to sell him, then they need to make sure that they get a sizeable fee in order to help find a suitable replacement.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute legend’ Andrew Dickson hailed against Leipzig here!

West Ham United arguably face one of the most important games in the club’s history on Thursday evening, as David Moyes’ side take on Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt in a pivotal, Europa League semi-final showdown.

The Hammers head into that second leg in Germany trailing their opponents on aggregate, having succumbed to a 2-1 defeat on home soil last week, ensuring they have plenty to do to reach the dangling carrot that is the showpiece.

The east Londoners return to action having suffered another 2-1 loss at the hands of Mikel Arteta’s, top-four chasing Arsenal side on Sunday, albeit with that clash having seen Moyes shuffle his pack in preparation for this upcoming crunch meeting.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

One man who was dropped to the bench at the London Stadium at the weekend was Tomas Soucek, although following that well-earned rest, the Czech international should surely be thrust back into the action by his manager.

Although club captain Mark Noble far from discredited himself in midfield on what was a rare league start – the 34-year-old recording an impressive 7.1 match rating according to SofaScore – the Englishman seemingly lacks the unique attributes that make his towering teammate such a force of nature in the centre of the park.

Dubbed “like the terminator” by pundit Jamie Redknapp for his brutal and committed approach, the 6 foot 4 giant is a commanding presence alongside talisman Declan Rice, with the duo having formed a simply telepathic relationship since the 27-year-old’s arrival back in January 2020.

Initially plucked on a loan deal – before being snapped permanently for £15m – the £47k-per-week brute has been a vital part of the club’s rise in recent seasons, proving his worth in both boxes with his aerial presence and never-say-die attitude.

Having bagged ten Premier League goals in his first full campaign in English football last term, the £40.5m-rated gem has added a further five top-flight goals this season, while also boasting an outstanding defensive record to boot.

The former Slavia Prague man ranks fifth in the league for aerial duels won (125), while he’s also averaged 1.5 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 2.7 clearances per game, showcasing his willingness to do the dirty work in front of the back four.

No slouch at the other end of the pitch, however, he also ranks in the top 9% among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area, proving himself a real weapon in the final third.

In a game of such great importance, Moyes needs a man who is not afraid to put his body on the line for the cause, but can also offer a real threat in attack when needed, particularly at set-pieces.

The former Everton boss simply must throw Soucek back into the fray; he could well terrify Frankfurt.

IN other news, Forget Rice: Moyes now set for West Ham disaster on “remarkable” £125k-p/w giant

Celtic once again have the chance to make some changes to their squad when the upcoming summer transfer window opens for business.

In terms of what deals the Parkhead club should be looking to do, we think this period is the ideal time for them to get rid of two current figures in Ange Postecoglou’s squad – James McCarthy and Ismaila Soro.

Soro’s struggles at Celtic

Taking into account how Soro has only played three minutes of Premiership action since September, it’s safe to say that he is not particularly high in the pecking order at this moment in time.

If there is little sign of that changing for the remainder of the season, then the club should definitely consider cashing in on the Ivorian if possible.

Back in February 2021, former Hoops boss Neil Lennon revealed that the midfielder was “struggling with fatigue,” but it may now be the Celtic supporters who are tired of him still being in the squad.

Soro’s overall performances in the league this season have earned the 23-year-old a rather disappointing overall rating of 6.25/10, making him one of the lowest-rated players in the squad according to WhoScored.

Having been linked with a move away from Scotland in January, it seems likely that he could be on the move during the upcoming transfer window.

McCarthy also having a tough time

As for McCarthy, even though he only put pen to paper on a four-year deal last August, the Irishman’s place at the club should be in question.

With just nine Premiership appearances and four starts to his name, the midfielder has failed to impress in the current campaign, just like Soro.

In those league games, the 31-year-old has recorded more fouls (seven) than crosses (five), interceptions (four) or tackles (six), making him somewhat of a liability.

Labelled a “terrible flop” in the past by outspoken Irish pundit Eamon Dunphy, McCarthy is close to regaining that unfortunate billing unless he can show before the end of the campaign that he can offer something to the team, rather than holding them back along with Soro.

Should the Hoops end up waving goodbye to one or both of these midfield strugglers this summer, they will definitely need to ensure that they bring in some suitable replacements so that the squad has enough depth to attack the 2022/23 campaign.

In other news: Postecoglou can finally axe “unacceptable” Celtic dud with move for “class” £1.6m star

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given an encouraging injury update prior to the Gunners’ mouth-watering Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.

Arsenal prepare for Bayern Munich amid injury doubts

Arteta’s side welcome Bayern to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in what promises to be a defining European encounter, with the Premier League title favourites riding high following their dominant 4-1 North London derby victory over Tottenham last weekend.

Arsenal delivered a masterclass against their bitter rivals, showcasing the attacking fluidity and defensive solidity that has characterised their strongest displays this season.

That emphatic win not only reinforced Arsenal’s credentials as top title contenders domestically, but also provided the perfect psychological boost ahead of this crucial European test.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal’s preparation has been complicated by several injury concerns, with captain Martin Odegaard still touch and go after failing to make the matchday squad for Spurs.

Arsenal star makes transfer admission and says club "want" to sign him

He’s responded to the speculation around his future.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 14, 2025

Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke returned to the side on Sunday following their respective injuries with both men ready to play a part tonight, as did Riccardo Calafiori, but Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus were all nowhere to be seen.

Arteta may well be forced to play Mikel Merino as a makeshift number nine once again, a challenge the Spaniard has relished throughout 2025, with this game still coming too soon for Jesus.

That being said, Arteta has some good news about the Brazil international.

Gabriel Jesus in line for 'earlier than expected' Arsenal injury return

According to Arsenal’s manager, speaking in his pre-Bayern press conference, the 28-year-old’s recovery is actually further along than expected, and he’s about to be knocking on the door.

Jesus hasn’t played a single minute since rupturing his ACL during Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Man United in January, so it is approaching a year since he was last able to take part.

The former Man City star is on record stating this is the worst injury he’s ever had, and Jesus was repeatedly linked with a winter window exit following the arrival of Gyokeres in the summer.

Jesus, though, has poured cold water over the possibility of a transfer multiple times recently, even though he confirmed his intention to one day return to Palmeiras.

Arteta, meanwhile, has also said that he’s looking forward to welcoming Arsenal’s ‘unpredictable’ weapon back into the fold.

Newcastle United fell to their third Premier League defeat of the season this afternoon, with Danny Welbeck’s double securing a 2-1 win for Brighton & Hove Albion.

Eddie Howe’s side must have thought they secured a point after Nick Woltemade netted his fourth goal in just five league outings after his summer arrival from Stuttgart.

However, it wasn’t meant to be, as the aforementioned star’s effort was in vain after Welbeck’s goal secured Fabian Hurzeler’s side all three points at the AMEX.

The Magpies now sit in the bottom half of the table at present, with just two wins to their name – needing a huge reaction in the coming games to get their campaign back on track.

Such a result will likely leave the manager bitterly disappointed, but more so, the failure to impress of numerous players who were handed chances to impress from the off.

Newcastle’s disappointing performers against Brighton

Despite being under fire for his lack of impact of late, Howe decided to stick with Brazilian international Joelinton as part of his three-man midfield.

However, his showing against the Seagulls was a hugely disappointing one, with the 29-year-old subsequently being withdrawn from the contest at the break.

He failed to create any chances for his teammates despite completing 21 passes, whilst also losing 100% of the aerial battles that he entered on the South Coast.

Joelinton wasn’t alone in failing to deliver against Hurzeler’s men, with full-back Dan Burn unable to help the Magpies secure all three points against his former employers.

The 33-year-old only managed to win four of the 14 duels he entered during his 90-minute performance, subsequently being dribbled past twice by former Newcastle star Yankuba Minteh.

Despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other first-team member produced an afternoon to forget, with Howe desperately needing to take action.

The Newcastle star who needs to be dropped after Brighton

After the sale of Alexander Isak during the summer window, it was vital Newcastle invested well into the squad to avoid a drop off in the Premier League standings.

As previously mentioned, Woltemade has hit the ground running for the Magpies, already looking like the club’s most threatening option within the final third.

The opposite end of the pitch also received hefty investment, with Malick Thiaw joining in a £40m deal from AC Milan – subsequently cementing his place in the starting eleven in recent weeks.

However, fellow summer addition Anthony Elanga has struggled to produce the type of displays that saw the hierarchy fork out a fee in the region of £55m for his services.

The Swede has failed to score or assist in any of his ten outings across all competitions, with his showing against the Seagulls highlighting his lack of impact to date.

He was named in the starting eleven for the clash against Hurzeler’s men this afternoon, but once again failed to match the faith shown in him by his manager, Howe.

Like Joelinton, Elanga was hooked at half-time due to his lack of impact, with his underlying figures showcasing how dismal he was during the Magpies’ latest defeat.

Minutes played

45

Touches

20

Passes completed

12

Crosses completed

0

Dribbles completed

0

Duels won

50%

Dribbled past

1

Match rating

4/10

He failed to complete any of the dribbles or crosses that he attempted, with only one of his attempted passes being made into the final third of the pitch.

Elanga also came out on top in just 50% of all the duels he contested, even being unable to create any chances for his teammates during his 45-minute outing.

To further highlight his lack of impact, he only achieved a total of 20 touches, a tally lower than that of goalkeeper Nick Pope, who achieved a total of 40.

As a result of his performance, Elanga was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Newcastle World journalist Jordan Cronin – further showcasing his lack of impact.

Given his display, Howe desperately needs to get the winger firing, which should see the 23-year-old being dropped to the substitutes’ bench in the coming matches.

His mammoth price tag has certainly increased the pressure on his shoulders, but time needs to be handed his way to allow the attacker to adapt to the demands in the North East.

Newcastle are brewing the homegrown Elanga in 18-year-old "huge talent"

Newcastle’s attack has struggled this season, but rising star could be the future spark they need

ByWill Miller Oct 17, 2025

Newcastle United’s season is up and running and now there is cause to put the stress of the summer transfer window to bed and look only ahead at what Eddie Howe and his squad can achieve this year.

The summer signings, after all, have bedded in nicely, and that’s without even considering Yoane Wissa, who joined from Brentford for £55m this summer and has yet to train or play for the Magpies as he recovers from a knee injury. November is the time slated for the striker’s return.

Newcastle’s squad is populated with varying talents, some more prominent than others. All are together, though, and they play their roles with a consummate ease that many Premier League rivals fail to establish.

But the rise of St. James’ Park over the past four years has seen some truly elite players take the leading positions in Howe’s set-up.

Newcastle's star players

Alexander Isak left Newcastle and signed for Liverpool for a British record fee of £125m on deadline day. A bitter transfer saga, but Newcastle have adapted and have shown signs in recent matches of a return to their full attacking capacity.

Wissa is joined by club-record £69m signing Nick Woltemade in leading the line, and between them, the Toon surely have enough firepower to concern their rivals in the fight for a Champions League finish and a battle for more silverware after getting a taste last year.

Now that Isak has left, it is time for the 24-year-old Anthony Gordon to step up and lead the frontline. The left-sided forward is physical and dynamic, but he has lacked fluency over the past year, having been awarded Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24 after scoring 12 goals and supplying 11 assists in all competitions.

Newcastle might want to keep onto that one. We all know his talent, with the likes of Liverpool actually sniffing around in the past for the £100m-valued Englishman.

And Gordon’s not the only one. Club captain Bruno Guimaraes would also fetch a pretty penny if sold in the near future, himself priced at £100m earlier in the year, when Manchester City registered their interest.

But there’s actually another Toon star who could be the outfit’s next £100m star. Indeed, Sandro Tonali’s meteoric rise has been a remarkable thing.

The rise of Sandro Tonali at Newcastle

One year into Tonali’s time at Newcastle, things weren’t exactly looking peachy. Eight Premier League appearances were all he made in 2023/24 before being charged in October 2023 for betting offences in Italy. He was suspended from professional football for ten months.

Having arrived from AC Milan for a £55m fee only months before, the 23-year-old was in purgatory, but he rebounded with vim and vigour last season and grew considerably in quality and squad stature when Howe placed him in the deep-sat midfield role, opening up possibilities for the multi-faceted Guimaraes and striking a new level of balance.

Five years ago, Italian journalist Carlo Garganese remarked that Tonali possessed the faculties to become a “world-class” player. Now this praise rings true across Premier League and European pitches. Now Tonali is proving he is as good as anyone in the middle of the park.

Tonali plays in a subtle way. There’s an old adage in football that the best midfielders can play through a game unobserved, but if scrutinised, you would see that everything flows through them.

Matches (starts)

36 (28)

7 (7)

Goals

4

0

Assists

2

1

Touches*

53.4

67.9

Accurate passes*

34.9 (86%)

43.4 (85%)

Chances created*

0.8

1.7

Dribbles (success)*

0.6 (59%)

0.7 (60%)

Ball recoveries*

4.9

3.9

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

2.6

Ground duels (won)*

3.3 (55%)

3.4 (60%)

This is true in the case of the Italian, now 25 years old. And he is earning attention. Pundit Paul Scholes remarked earlier this week that he’s “better than Declan Rice” – and that’s quite a claim.

Given that Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United for £105m in 2023, there’s no reason why PIF couldn’t justify a similar ballpark for Tonali, if and when he is sold. With this in mind, he might even eclipse the valuations of peers like Gordon and Guimaraes.

Tyneside correspondent Mark Carruthers said only last month, “He’s the best midfielder I’ve seen in 38 years of watching Newcastle.”

Apologies, Bruno, but this might actually be true. If Guimaraes is a £100m player, then what does that make the Italian maestro?

PIF have overpaid for "mega-money" Newcastle signing & it's not Woltemade

One of Newcastle’s key signings over the summer may well have an “inflated valuation” & it’s not Nick Woltemade.

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 9, 2025

Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signings of both Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, but there is another target who sporting director Andrea Berta is also making significant moves for.

£140m signings start alongside Zubimendi: AI predicts Arsenal's 2025/26 line-up

It could be a productive transfer market for the Gunners.

4 ByCharlie Smith Jun 28, 2025

Mikel Arteta, following Noni Madueke’s £50 million move from Chelsea, is reliably reported to be closing in on both Gyokeres and Mosquera too.

In what is a huge boost for the Gunners boss, Arsenal have reached a full agreement to sign Mosquera for a total package of around £17 million, including add-ons, and the versatile centre-back is due for a medical this week (Fabrizio Romano).

The Spaniard appears set to replace Takehiro Tomiyasu, after Arsenal mutually agreed to terminate the latter’s contract, with Arteta also believed to be closing in on Gyokeres.

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

25/26 – summer

£75m

A prolific striker has long been viewed by some as the final missing piece of Arsenal’s jigsaw which could transform them into Premier League title winners once again, following an agonising two-decade-long-plus wait.

After deciding not to pursue RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Gyokeres emerged as their priority centre-forward target following a stellar second season at Sporting – where he bagged an incredible 54 goals in all competitions and spearheaded Rui Borges’ side to a domestic double.

Arsenal have been in talks with Sporting over a deal for Gyokeres, and it’s taken some time to find middle ground over the final fee after agreeing personal terms with the Sweden international last week (David Ornstein).

However, according to some reliable media sources, like Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg and The Athletic, Arsenal’s move for Gyokeres is now considered a “done deal” – with an agreement in principle now reached on a total £64 million deal including add-ons.

After Gyokeres and Mosquera, Arsenal are reportedly turning their attention towards £100,000-per-week Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze – who’s been repeatedly linked in the last fortnight.

Eberechi Eze loosely agrees personal terms to join Arsenal

Eze’s representatives have apparently held positive talks with Arsenal, but formal club-to-club negotiations are yet to open with Palace over a potential deal for the England international.

Now, Football Transfers have an update on the situation, and the outlet states that a player-plus-cash bid isn’t off the table as Arsenal look to agree a deal beneath his release clause.

The news website estimates his clause could be as high as around £70 million, so the north Londoners have looked at offering certain players as makeweights to bring his price down – including Leandro Trossard, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.

Any player going the other way would be in a separate, ‘unofficial’ swap deal for accounting purposes – but Oliver Glasner’s side are said to be “open” to the prospect of accepting this as a potential solution in talks.

What’s more, Football Transfers has also reported that Eze has reached a “broad, informal agreement” on personal terms with Arsenal, so this story could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks as Berta continues making serious statements of intent.

The 27-year-old scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions last season, and Arsenal view Eze as a central playmaker to complement club captain Martin Odegaard.

Celtic will have to fight hard to keep hold of their best players during the summer transfer window, as teams are already circling around some of their top talents.

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Italian side Como have made an approach to sign Nicolas Kuhn from the Scottish Premiership champions.

The journalist claims that the German winger is “in demand” and that German outfit RB Leipzig are also among the teams interested in a swoop to sign the 25-year-old star before the end of the summer transfer window.

Joseph adds, though, that the Hoops are in a strong position with the forward because he still has four years left to run on his contract at Parkhead.

Whilst losing Kuhn, who produced 13 goals and nine assists in the Premiership this season, would be a blow for the Scottish giants, Celtic must also be wary of losing their exciting young prospects.

The Hoops have been burned in the past by failing to keep hold of promising young players, and Ben Doak is one notable example of a starlet the club surely wished they had managed to keep.

Ben Doak's soaring market value since leaving Celtic

In the summer of 2022, the Scottish winger turned down a contract with the Bhoys and sealed a transfer to Premier League giants Liverpool on a ‘free transfer’.

The Reds had to pay a compensation fee of £600k for the young attacker, who had made two first-team appearances for the Hoops, and that deal has turned out to be a bargain for the English side.

Doak has only made ten appearances for Liverpool in three years, but played 24 games on loan at Middlesbrough this season and has been capped six times by Scotland.

At the time of writing, Transfermarkt values the 19-year-old winger at a whopping £12m, which is significantly more than the £600k that the Premier League team paid for him in 2022. This means that the Reds got a bargain deal and Celtic were left hard done by, as they did not get good value for his services.

Starts

21

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

xA

4.52

Key passes per game

1.9

Assists

7

Successful dribbles per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, the teenage talent caught the eye with his performances on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship this season, showing off his creativity on the right flank on a regular basis.

Overall, the Hoops will surely rue not being able to convince Doak to stay at Parkhead because he has thrived since leaving Scotland for a minimal fee, and they must now avoid a repeat of that with Johnny Kenny.

English club bid for Johnny Kenny

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, English League One side Bolton Wanderers have made an offer to sign the Irish centre-forward.

The reporter claims that Celtic have turned down a bid worth up to £500k from the third tier outfit for the young marksman, as they value him at more than that.

Transfer Focus

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

Joseph adds that Bolton are expected to come back in with a second offer to land the former Shamrock Rovers number nine before the end of the summer transfer window.

However, the journalist reveals that the Premiership champions are not actively looking to cash in on the 22-year-old striker, although they could sanction a loan move later in the window if the right move comes up.

The Hoops must, now, maintain this stance because they could find themselves on the wrong end of another Doak repeat if they allow Kenny to leave the club for anywhere near the £500k bid that Bolton have made for him.

Why Celtic must not sell Johnny Kenny

The Scottish giants must keep hold of the Irish marksman and either keep him as part of the first-team squad or send him out on loan to a good level for the 2025/26 campaign, because he is a promising young talent.

Although he is a bit older than Doak was when he moved on from Glasgow, at the age of 22, he is still very young for a centre-forward and has shown plenty of promise already.

Kenny spent 2024 on loan at Shamrock Rovers in Ireland and caught the eye in his home country, scoring 13 goals in 29 Premier Division matches for the club.

The young attacker, who was dubbed “brilliant” by Brendan Rodgers, also impressed on the European stage with his contributions in front of goal in the Conference League in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign.

xG

3.78

Top 8%

xG on target

5.56

Top 6%

Goals

5

Top 9%

Shots on target

10

Top 8%

Assists

1

Top 39%

Dribbles completed

7

Top 13%

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic loanee ranked highly among strikers in the competition when it came to scoring goals and testing goalkeepers with high-quality shots, firing in 5.56 xG worth of shots on target.

His form for Shamrock Rovers led to Rodgers making him a part of the Celtic squad for the second half of the season, and Kenny showed that he has something to offer to the team in his limited Premiership minutes.

Kenny only played 159 minutes across eight games in the division for the Hoops, but still managed to score one goal and provide one assist, with his goal coming in the form of a header against Aberdeen, as shown in the clip above.

His statistics for Shamrock Rovers and in limited game time for Celtic show that he has the potential to develop into an effective centre-forward option for Rodgers, because he has scored goals when called upon, which is why cashing in on him for a minimal fee this summer would be a big mistake.

Dream Kyogo replacement: Celtic confident of signing "phenomenal" striker

Celtic are reportedly keen on a deal to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi.

2 ByDan Emery Jun 24, 2025

Kenny could follow in Doak’s footsteps and soar in the value if he continues to improve and grow as a player if the club allow him to leave for a small fee, and that is why they must either keep him or loan him out this summer to ensure that they benefit from his development in the future.

Manchester United’s hunt for a new striker this summer has constantly led them back to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish international firmly on their radar.

Ruben Amorim has previously managed the 27-year-old during his stint in Portugal, which has undoubtedly contributed to the rumours around his move to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils would be getting themselves a clinical option if his current goal record is anything to go by, after he registered a total of 54 goals in his 52 club appearances in 2024/25.

However, despite holding talks with the striker’s representatives, he’s currently involved in a dispute with the Liga Portugal side that could scupper any potential reunion with Amorim this summer.

As a result, other targets have been considered, with the manager working tirelessly with the board to secure the additions he needs to turn the current situation around.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Whilst Matheus Cunha has already secured his move to join United, it’s expected that the Brazilian international is set to operate in a number 10 role behind the striker.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been considered for the role, but appear to be backup options given the moves made elsewhere.

In recent days, it’s emerged that the Red Devils have made contact with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential move for forward Hugo Ekitiké, according to Sky Germany.

They claim that the French star, who’s scored 22 times across all competitions this campaign, has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his current deal, with Chelsea and Arsenal also interested.

It also states that Amorim’s men have expressed concrete interest over a move for the 22-year-old, but doesn’t mention if they are willing to pay the clause in his current deal.

Why United’s £84m target could be their own Isak

The Premier League has become a brutal division over recent years, with many sides taking advantage of you if you fall below the required standard of England’s top flight.

Alexander Isak is a player who has been the thorn in many teams’ sides over recent seasons, netting a total of 54 Premier League goals in his last three seasons at Newcastle United.

Such form has led to him being one of the most sought-after talismen in Europe, with Eddie Howe’s side placing a £150m price tag on him amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.

If any side were to pay such a fee, it would make him the most expensive signing in the history of English football, but United could look to steer clear of any move in favour of a switch for Ekitike.

When comparing his stats to those of Isak from the 2024/25 campaign, the Frankfurt ace has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – making the £84m fee appear somewhat of a bargain.

He’s been ranked as a similar player to the Swede by FBref, managing to register more shots on target per 90 – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig labelling the French star as “world-class”.

Ekitike also completed more passes than Isak, whilst completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, offering Amorim an all-round option in his attempts to take United back to their former glory.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

23

29

Progressive carries

3.3

2.7

Shots on target

1.5

1.3

Shots taken

4

3.1

Pass accuracy

76%

74%

Shot-creating actions

3.5

3

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

If he can transfer his form from the Bundesliga over to England in the coming months, it would be a deal that could be one of the best in the club’s history – allowing him to cement himself in the club’s history forever.

It may be a deal that will cost the club somewhat of a small fortune this summer, but the key is the limit for the youngster, with such a price tag being worth every penny if he can catapult them up the table in 2025/26.

He'd be amazing with Ekitike: Man Utd "optimistic" of sealing deal for star

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to completing a deal for one top-level talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

Liverpool have now joined Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign an “excellent” £42 million player, according to a new report.

Liverpool chasing teenage defender as Joe Gomez future unclear

There are a number of areas of the team that Arne Slot will want to address this summer, but none may be more important than the defence. That is because Trent Alexander-Arnold has already left, while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk are not getting any younger despite their legendary status.

Milos Kerkez is edging closer to a move to Anfield, and he is likely to replace Robertson straight away, and now the Reds have their eyes on a young central defender who could one day succeed Van Dijk.

Their own Mbappe: Liverpool make £150m star their dream target after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to make another huge move for a player during this summer’s transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 4, 2025

According to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport, via Sport Witness, Liverpool have made a concrete offer to sign Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal from Stade Rennais. It isn’t clear how much this offer is worth, but the Reds have obviously seen enough, despite the fact that the teenager hasn’t played for Stade Rennais’ first team, to make an offer. They are not alone in their pursuit, as Newcastle United have met with the player’s agent and are also interested in a deal.

This comes as Premier League bound Burnley are interested in signing Joe Gomez. Liverpool are said to be open to offers for the defender, and this has alerted the Clarets as well as teams such as Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, Leeds and Sunderland, who are all keeping a close eye on his situation. Gomez is valued at around £25 million by the Premier League champions.

Liverpool join PSG in transfer Zabarnyi race

The Reds’ decision to allow Gomez to leave may be because, according to TBR Football, Liverpool are interested in signing defender Illia Zabarnyi from AFC Bournemouth.

The Cherries have already lost Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid this summer, and Kerkez looks set to move to Anfield, but the departures may not stop there. Zabarnyi was another impressive individual for Bournemouth last season, and while the Cherries don’t want to lose him, that might be easier said than done.

L’Equipe have already reported that Zabarnyi has become a defensive priority for PSG, as Luis Enrique has been left impressed by his defensive capabilities. The French champions have made contact with Bournemouth over a move, as they want the defender in before the Club World Cup.

However, they are not alone, as now Liverpool and Chelsea have also joined the race to sign the defender, who will not be allowed to leave Bournemouth for anything less than €50 million, which is roughly £42 million.

Appearances

36

Clean sheets

8

Interceptions per game

1.1

Tackles per game

1.4

Balls recovered per game

4.4

Clearances per game

5.0

Errors leading to a goal

0

Liverpool are huge admirers of Zabarnyi, who has been dubbed “excellent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and they are keeping an eye on his situation. The Reds’ move for Zabarnyi may depend on what happens to Gomez, but either way they will have a smooth route to negotiations, as the 47-cap Ukraine star uses the same agency as midfielder Curtis Jones.