All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Liverpool are looking to close their negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Florian Wirtz, but sporting director Richard Hughes still needs to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

Still, this is a bank-breaking transfer we’re talking about, one which could seal Liverpool’s place among Europe’s elite for many years to come. After all, former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes has claimed Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world” after his exploits in his homeland over the past few years.

Is £113m (or maybe even a bit more), perhaps a little steep? Maybe it is, but that shouldn’t detract from Liverpool hitting the jackpot with such an influential signing, especially since the wide defensive flanks have already been addressed.

Liverpool haven’t yet completed a deal for Milos Kerkez, but the Bournemouth left-back is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium and move to Merseyside in the coming weeks, more i’s and t’s with that one.

Kerkez will prove an upgrade on Andy Robertson, 31, but he won’t reunite with Dean Huijsen, who was pursued by Liverpool but ultimately signed for Real Madrid after they activated his £50m release clause.

Still, Liverpool need a centre-back.

Why Liverpool need a centre-back

In May 2021, Liverpool signed Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig for £36m, sealing a much-needed central defensive recruit. Liverpool have not signed another centre-half since.

This is, in large part, because skipper Virgil van Dijk has been such an indomitable force over the years, one of the chief architects behind Jurgen Klopp’s ascent to greatness in the Anfield hot seat.

Van Dijk and Konate should make the chief partnership once again next season, but a player such as Huijsen could have been the perfect understudy to develop his craft over the coming years and become a superstar under Arne Slot’s wing.

Given that Van Dijk turns 34 next month and has just two more seasons at the club, it would be prudent to find and foster a new rising talent now, especially since the £50m-rated Jarell Quansah has been mooted for a summer sale.

And though Huijsen’s out of reach, Liverpool have entered a race for a young defender who might be even better than the Spain international.

Liverpool enter race for new CB

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola – as translated by Sport Witness – Liverpool have joined the race for Ousmane Diomande, with Sporting Lisbon warming to the idea of cashing in on the defender.

Portuguese sources believe an official approach could come from one of the 21-year-old’s suitors in the coming days, with Liverpool joined by Crystal Palace and Manchester United in having the most concrete interest, ahead of Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

Sporting would let their young star leave if their €60m (£50m) price tag is met, meaning Liverpool may have the financial advantage over the Eagles, especially since they were already willing to fork out such a sum for Huijsen.

Why Liverpool want Ousmane Diomande

Diomande is still young, but he’s already built up a wealth of experience in Portugal, featuring 101 times for the Portuguese club after leaving Danish side Midtjylland in January 2023.

Having been singled out for his “incredibly complete” skill set by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Diomande is the real deal, all right, and might actually prove an even better signing for Liverpool than Huijsen would have been.

So slick and stylish on the ball, he’s the archetypal defender, to be sure, but also a powerful and steely defensive force.

Matches (starts)

32 (26)

31 (29)

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

63.9

77.1

Pass completion

84%

94%

Key passes*

0.5

0.3

Ball recoveries*

3.3

4.5

Tackles + interceptions*

2.7

2.2

Clearances*

6.1

2.6

Ground duels (won)*

3.6 (56%)

4.3 (60%)

Though advocates of Huijsen’s journey would point toward Diomande playing in a division of lower overall quality, it’s clear he’s a naturally crisper central defender, still retaining a degree of creativity and proving more accurate in his combative ventures, especially in the duel.

He demonstrated he can throw down with the best of them on the biggest stage too. As per FBref, Diomande ranked among the top 15% of centre-backs in the Champions League last season for pass completion and for successful take-ons per 90.

Such performances actually led the data-driven site to draw Arsenal’s William Saliba as his most comparable player, and given analyst Ben Mattinson has cottoned on to the likeness, hailing the Ivorian as “a hybrid between Gabriel [Magalhaes] and Saliba”, the importance of Liverpool putting together an official offer is only underscored.

He’s been performing at a high level for several years now, and consistently at that. With distinguishable physicality, speed and technical skill, the 6 foot 3 star has what it takes to become a superstar in the coming years, having been a regular feature in Sporting’s senior squad as they’ve clinched back-to-back Liga Portugal titles and indeed caught the eye while doing it.

With Arsenal’s central defensive pairing one of the finest on the continent, instrumental in conceding the fewest goals across the past two Premier League campaigns, Liverpool could strike gold in bagging themselves a player carrying similar properties.

Diomande could perhaps offer more from an attacking standpoint, but when you’re picking at offensive flaws when trying to identify the chinks in a young centre-backs game, it’s clear that he’s doing something right.

Better than Gyokeres: Liverpool dream of signing "the best ST in the world"

Liverpool plan on signing a new centre-forward in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 7, 2025

Celtic missed out on signing an England international who is now picking up £400,000-a-week and has gone on to star away from Parkhead.

Celtic’s record signings

The Hoops have splashed the cash by their standards in recent years, breaking their transfer record last summer by bringing Arne Engels to Celtic Park.

Celtic chiefs enjoyed more success in the 2024/25 Champions League under Brendan Rodgers, and they may look to spend to become even more competitive in Europe.

Arne Engels

2024

£11m

Adam Idah

2024

£9.5m

Odsonne Edouard

2018

£9m

Jota

2025

£8m

Christopher Jullien

2019

£7m

Jota

2022

£6.5m

Auston Trusty

2024

£6m

Cameron Carter-Vickers

2022

£6m

John Hartson

2001

£6m

Chris Sutton

2000

£6m

Three of Celtic’s five most expensive signings of all time have happened since 2024, and asked whether or not the Hoops will be busy ahead of the 25/26 season, Rodgers said: “Yes, I think so.

“Again, we have to look at and adapt to situations as well. We all know fine well, here there’s a player trading model, which means that we will probably get offers for some of our players in the summer. And if that happens, then we have to be flexible and be able to adapt to that.

“If I said that everyone now would be here, then you’d maybe only have a few, two to three players coming in of high quality, but we’ll just have to see.”

Celtic's most expensive sales of all time

Celtic have let some of their finest talents move for big money in the past.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

Before Rodgers returned to Glasgow, though, Celtic missed out on signing a striker who has gone on to become a star.

Celtic missed out on signing Ivan Toney for £5m flop

Before joining Brentford in 2020, Ivan Toney was wanted in Scotland while on the books at Peterborough United.

Toney actually admitted he had talks with Celtic but “wanted to be the main guy”, which was why he moved to the Bees.

It has proven to be a costly mistake for Celtic, who ended up spending £5m on Albian Ajeti instead, with the Swiss striker not living up to the hype in Scotland.

As we know with Toney, he would help get Brentford promoted to the Premier League and star in the top flight, earning England caps along the way.

Ivan Toney’s career in pictures

In 2024, the centre-forward then sealed a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, where he has continued to score on a regular basis and now collects in excess of £400,000-a-week.

That contract runs until 2028, so Celtic will surely look back on this and wish they offered Toney the main guy role he was after at the time instead of signing Ajeti.

We might say it most years, but this time, it feels particularly true: this summer is going to be a massive one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side found themselves finishing runners-up in the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season and ended a fifth campaign running without a major trophy.

So, while keeping their star players fit and on the pitch is going to be key to finally getting over the line next season, it’s just as crucial that Andrea Berta and Co help the manager by bringing in some brilliant talents in the coming weeks and months.

The good news is that, based on recent reports, that seems to be happening, as the Gunners have now been linked with a midfield destroyer who’s won comparisons to the legendary Patrick Vieira.

Arsenal's midfield mix-up

While fans and pundits alike are calling for Arsenal to go out and sign a new number nine and at least one winger – understandably so – it’s arguably just as important that the club bring in some midfield reinforcements.

Transfer Focus

After all, Jorginho left to join Flamengo and, based on recent reports from Fabrizio Romano, the talks over a new contract for Thomas Partey are not advancing, and the possibility of him leaving is now “concrete.”

Fortunately, the Romano has also reaffirmed that the deal to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad is set to proceed, with the club offering around £51m set to be paid in installments.

Yet, that still means the Premier League runners-up will be short a midfielder unless they move ahead to sign Lucien Agoumé.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are interested in the Sevilla star.

The report claims that the Gunners see the young Frenchman as a potential replacement for Partey, although to get him through the doors, the Spanish side will need to buy out the remaining 40% of his rights from Inter Milan.

It’s unclear how much he would cost Arsenal, but as the £17k-per-week gem joined the Andalusian side for €4m – £3.4m – last summer, he might not cost too much.

Moreover, with comparisons to Vieira and the possibility of seeing him play with Zubimendi, this is a deal worth pursuing.

Why Agoume would be a great signing

So, before looking at how he could complement and learn from Zubimendi, it’s worth looking into this comparison to Vieira and where it comes from, as the former Invincible is undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s greatest players ever.

Well, in this instance, it stems from the respected talent scout Jacek Kulig, who completed a profile on the youngster all the way back in 2019, when he concluded that the star most similar to his style of play was the Gunners’ former captain.

He came to this conclusion by pointing out the mirrored strengths in his game, such as his ability to control the midfield through a combination of pinpoint accurate passes and immense physical and mental strength.

These attributes haven’t left him in the years since that initial report either, with data analyst Ben Mattinson waxing lyrical about him in the winter, describing him as someone who is “composed at dictating the tempo,” a “good dueller” on the ground and in the air, and just as importantly, is a primarily defensive midfielder who’s “very progressive.”

We can see a lot of this in his outstanding underlying numbers, with FBref placing him in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for percentage of successful take-ons, the top 4% for tackles plus interceptions, the top 5% for just interceptions, the top 9% for average shot distance, the top 12% for goals per shot on target and more, all per 90.

Successful Take-On %

73.3%

Top 3%

Tackles + Interceptions

4.73

Top 4%

Interceptions

1.75

Top 5%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.58

Top 6%

Average Shot Distance

15.00

Top 9%

Goals/Shot on Target

0.50

Top 12%

Aerials Won

1.79

Top 13%

Tackles

2.98

Top 14%

So, if Partey is going to be leaving and Zubimendi is going to come in as the starting six, that could create the perfect environment for the Sevilla ace to come in as an understudy to the Spaniard, learn the role without much pressure and eventually – perhaps sooner than some would expect – begin to provide some real competition.

Moreover, given his similarities to Vieira in his tenacity and silky passing range, there is no reason he couldn’t start in a double pivot with the Sociedad star in certain games or come off the bench to form one when the team need to hold on to a lead.

Ultimately, the “extraordinary” ace, as dubbed by former Sevilla manager Enrique Sanchez Flores, might not be a household name just yet, but Agoumé looks like he’s on track to becoming one, and therefore, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign him now, before his price tag skyrockets this season.

He'd make Saka more unplayable: Arsenal open talks to sign £90m "machine"

Arsenal could make Saka even more unplayable by signing a £90m star.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 19, 2025

Perhaps the sheer wealth of activity since then has played its part, although Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool now feels almost like old news, with the Anfield side far too busy looking ahead to reflect on their local hero turned villain.

Having risen up through the youth ranks, the 26-year-old – dazzled by the lights of the Bernabeu – shunned the opportunity to cement a legacy for himself on Merseyside, instead opting to become the latest Galactico signing at Real Madrid.

A leader and a figurehead under Jurgen Klopp, and then Arne Slot last season – alongside the likes of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk – the Englishman is now just one of many at Madrid. A talented, albeit dimmed cog in a far mightier machine.

Alas, for better or worse, the rampaging right-back is now basking in the Spanish sun, with those at Liverpool, meanwhile, basking in a month of business that has already seen Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez join the party.

For all that positivity, however, the talk of potential outgoings may well sour the mood somewhat.

Latest on Liverpool's outgoings

Many a club may well have rested on their laurels after romping to the Premier League title last season, but not Liverpool. No, the Reds are acting ruthlessly in the market, both in terms of arrivals and departures.

In terms of the latter category, Caoimhin Kelleher has already moved on to Brentford, with Jarell Quansah heading for his own exit amid an imminent move to Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen.

While Luis Diaz may well stay put, despite lingering interest from Saudi Arabia, his South American colleague, Darwin Nunez, appears to be inching ever closer to a switch to Napoli.

Transfer Focus

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

The Uruguayan could well be followed out the door by England U21 star Harvey Elliott, if reports are to be believed, with journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that the aforementioned Klopp – now overseeing things at RB Leipzig – is personally pushing to bring the playmaker to Germany.

As per Bailey, while a raft of Premier League clubs have made an enquiry regarding the 22-year-old, there is also interest from abroad, with Klopp keen to be reunited with his former signing at Leipzig.

The suggestion is that Elliott is in fact open to the move, albeit with Liverpool looking to rake in more than £40m, if they are to sanction a sale. Is cashing in the right decision, however?

Why Elliott sale would be a bigger blow than Trent

The fury surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s free transfer exit was somewhat eased by the subsequent £10m agreement for his involvement in the Club World Cup, albeit with there still likely to be a lingering frustration over not raking in a fee for a player deemed to be worth £64m, as per Transfermarkt.

That said, as a product of their academy, Liverpool have more than reaped the rewards of the right-back’s progression, with the creative machine racking up 92 assists in 354 games in all competitions. Just consider what a player of that talent would have cost to buy in the first place?

Over an extended period, the Reds have witnessed Trent blossom, seen his vital role in securing a plethora of major honours. Now, he’s flown the nest.

In the case of Elliott, however, there remains a real intrigue over his talents, an undoubtedly skilled individual who has simply been lost among a pool of other high-class forwards and midfielders at Anfield.

As pundit Joe Cole has stated, perhaps the former Fulham man – who left Craven Cottage as a mere 16-year-old – is almost a “victim of his own skills” as he can “play anywhere”.

Games (starts)

6 (6)

Goals

5

Assists

0

Big chances created

0

Key passes*

1.7

Pass accuracy*

82%

Tackles & interceptions*

1.2

Balls recovered*

4.0

Successful dribbles*

0.7

Described as an “explosive” talent by England youth boss, Lee Carsley, the silky left-footer has been unable to find a settled role for himself at club level, having been restricted to just two starts in the Premier League last term.

Losing such a talent, amid Leipzig’s interest, may not be too great of a mistake with that considered, although as he has showcased on the international stage, Elliott is a potential superstar in the making. Just look at his semi-final winner against the Netherlands in the U21 European Championships.

Back at club level too, he also ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as in the top 14% for assists and the top 2% for progressive passes, as per FBref. In essence, when he is given a chance to impress, he typically takes it.

The match-winner in the first-leg triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Elliott appears deserving of a more prominent role, be it at Anfield or elsewhere, with Slot risking seeing him go on to sparkle elsewhere.

And therein lies the difference with Alexander-Arnold. The England senior star has made his mark on Merseyside already, with Liverpool getting plenty out of him over the last decade or so.

In the case of Elliott, he remains an unknown quantity, a player whom the club could live to regret if he does dazzle at another Premier League or European outfit. Liverpool already know the heights of Trent’s talents – Elliott’s gifts are yet to be truly discovered…

Wirtz will make him world-class: Liverpool getting ready to bid for £85m ST

Liverpool may yet welcome a new centre-forward to Arne Slot’s fold.

6 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 27, 2025

Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell both have a lot on their plate in the summer transfer window as they look to build a Glasgow Rangers team that can compete for the Scottish Premiership title.

The Gers have failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons and the new Light Blues duo are tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox in the years to come.

They recently made their first signing of the summer transfer window with the arrival of Max Aarons on loan from Bournemouth to bolster their defensive options. Lyall Cameron has also joined the Scottish giants, but he had agreed to sign from Dundee on a pre-contract deal in January.

As well as potential incoming signings, Martin and Thelwell will also have to deal with the potential of some of the club’s key players moving on from Ibrox.

Nicolas Raskin, for example, is a reported target for Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as they aim to snap him up from Ibrox in the coming weeks.

Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a big blow for Rangers

If the Belgium international completes a move to England before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September, Martin’s squad could be weaker.

The 24-year-old star walked away from last season with the Men’s Player of the Season and the Men’s Players’ Player of the Season awards to show for his efforts on the pitch for the Gers.

This demonstrates the high regard in which he is held at the club, among players, and by supporters, and it is well-deserved following his impressive displays in the Premiership and the Europa League.

Raskin did produce four goals and ten assists in the Premiership for Rangers, flexing his attacking quality, but it was his defensive work that really caught the eye domestically and in Europe.

Appearances

33

12

Tackles per game

2.8

3.7

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

5.6

7.4

Ground duel success rate

57%

50%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

55%

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian midfielder offered defensive protection in front of the back four with plenty of tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries.

These statistics illustrate why losing the former Standard Liege star would be a big blow for Martin, as he is a combative and quality midfield operator, but the Gers are reportedly interested in a gem who could be a dream replacement for him.

Rangers eyeing deal for Brazilian midfielder

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are lining up a move to sign Troyes central midfielder Metinho on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the Light Blues are long-term admirers of the 22-year-old talent, and have been eyeing him up as a target throughout this summer.

It states that the Scottish Premiership giants are now ready to ramp up their efforts to bring the former Basel loanee to Ibrox, who joined Troyes for a fee of £4m from Fluminense in 2021, ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Scottish Sun adds that Troyes are willing to cash in on the Brazilian star and that Basel are ‘desperate’ to win the race for his signature, which may be why Rangers are now looking to speed up their pursuit of the midfielder.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Thelwell will be able to do enough to beat the Swiss giants to his services before the end of the summer window.

Why Rangers should sign Metinho

The Ibrox side should push to beat Basel to this signing because the 22-year-old midfielder has the potential to be a dream replacement for Raskin this summer.

Metinho spent the first half of last season on loan at Sparta Rotterdam and only started two of his 12 appearances in the Eredivisie, in what was a frustrating few months for the midfield talent.

However, a move to Basel in January helped him to kick on and flourish in the second half of the campaign, as he caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Swiss top-flight as a combative midfielder.

The right-footed star played 12 league matches for the club and completed 86% of his passes, whilst delivering two assists, but his most impressive contributions on the pitch came out of possession in the middle of the park.

Tackles made

2.77

Top 10%

Tackle success rate

71%

Top 20%

Duels won

6.66

Top 24%

Duel success rate

65%

Top 3%

Interceptions

1.51

Top 15%

Ball recoveries

6.66

Top 20%

Dribbled past

0.50x

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, the Troyes loanee ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of defensive metrics, which show that he excelled off the ball as a screener in front of the back four.

His tackle and duel success rates are particularly impressive because they show that he is efficient with his defensive work, rather than competing in and losing a lot of duels. The Brazilian gem is tough to get past, which is why he is a formidable defender.

These statistics also suggest that he would be a dream replacement for Raskin to take up the defensive responsibilities that the Belgian has in midfield at Ibrox. The current Gers star averaged 2.84 tackles and interceptions and was dribbled past 0.86 times per 90 in the Premiership, whilst he won 66% of his tackles.

Metinho, who was once described as an “exciting” prospect by talent scout Jacek Kulig, posted more impressive defensive numbers than that in the Super League, as shown by his aforementioned statistics, which suggests that he has the potential to offer even more than Raskin out of possession.

A Bassey repeat at Ibrox: Rangers agree deal to sign a new "sensation"

Rangers have reportedly agreed a deal to sign a star who could be a repeat of Calvin Bassey.

ByDan Emery Jun 30, 2025

Of course, the £4m-rated star needs to add a goal threat to his game, as Raskin managed four league goals to go along with his ten assists, but he is only 22 and has time left ahead of him to develop into the dream replacement for the Belgian.

Nottingham Forest are now the club pushing hardest to sign an attacking midfielder who’s been likened to Arsenal star Martin Odegaard, and a deal could be possible for a fee of £25m, according to a report.

Forest keen on attacking midfielder amid Gibbs-White uncertainty

There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding Morgan Gibbs-White’s future, with Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett revealing Forest are determined to keep hold of the attacking midfielder, despite Tottenham Hotspur triggering the £60m release clause in his contract.

However, the Tricky Trees may have a hard time keeping the England international at the City Ground, given that he has reportedly made it clear he wants to join Tottenham in talks with chairman Evangelos Marinakis.

It remains to be seen whether Nuno is able to keep one of his star players at the club, but should the move to Tottenham go through, the manager will need to bring in a replacement, and the Europa League side are now stepping up their pursuit of a new attacking midfielder.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which reveals that Nottingham Forest are the club pushing hardest for Manchester City’s James McAtee, who is set to be available for £25m this summer, having been informed he is free to leave.

Forest are currently in discussions with McAtee, working to convince him to move to the City Ground, despite widespread interest from elsewhere, with the likes of West Ham Unied, Everton and Fulham submitting enquiries.

There is also interest from the Bundesliga, with Fabrizio Romano revealing the Man City ace has now travelled to Germany ahead of a potential move.

McAtee could be exciting replacement for Gibbs-White

Forest may have their work cut out trying to get a deal for the Englishman over the line, given the interest from elsewhere, but the fact they are now set to take part in the 2025-26 Europa League should work in their favour.

Should the Tricky Trees win the race, however, there are plenty of signs the 22-year-old could be an exciting replacement for Gibbs-White, with former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba even describing him as “like Odegaard”.

Nottingham Forest now "ready" to make £26m bid for "machine" Wolves target

The Tricky Trees are set to “push’ for the signature of a midfielder.

ByDominic Lund Jul 15, 2025

During his time with the Blades, the Salford-born maestro picked up nine goals and three assists in their Championship promotion-winning 2022-23 campaign, before going on to feature regularly in the Premier League the following season.

Since returning to City, however, McAtee has been unable to establish himself as a regular starter, meaning a move could be best for all parties, and it would be a real bonus for Forest if he decides to move to the City Ground.

With talents such as Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri breaking onto the scene, Arsenal are primed for many years of success and excitement at the forefront of domestic and European football.

But, for now, Mikel Arteta is thinking in the present, and he knows that these prodigious youngsters must be eased onto the senior stage. That’s why he has been so focused on signing superstars to improve his Gunners squad this summer.

Arsenal have finished second across the past three Premier League terms, but there’s no question that this team has made considerable gains since the Spaniard took to the dugout five years ago.

Now, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard need to spearhead this project toward silverware, crowning a golden era with something tangible.

The £63m acquisition of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, one of the most feared centre-forwards in Europe, has certainly inched the club that step closer, but a creative winger is sought-after too.

Arsenal lining up new winger

Arsenal are pushing to sign Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who has a £68m release clause.

A principal agreement for the base layer of that clause has been agreed, but details remain before technical director Andrea Berta steers the deal across the finish line.

Eze operates across multiple attacking berths. His high-speed, fleet-footed dribbling makes him apt to star out on the left, although he has typically been played as a central midfielder with a license to roam while with the Eagles.

Attacking midfield

74

25

11

Left winger

52

9

7

Central midfield

25

6

3

Right winger

3

0

0

The 27-year-old might not be the out-and-out winger that Arsenal need, perhaps even bearing a skill set that could see such a player join the crew alongside him in the coming weeks.

Well, The Athletic have reported that both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, who came under fire at times last term for their performances, may be sold before the summer is up.

As such, it might be wise for Berta to consider signing another left-sided forward, who could sign in Eze’s stead or indeed cohabit with the Three Lions star in the Arsenal squad.

Arsenal lining up Eze alternative

According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, Arsenal are still monitoring the situation of Xavi Simons, with the RB Leipzig player expected to sign for a new club this summer.

Simons, 22, is one of the best young playmakers in Europe, and he’s versatile besides. Chelsea are engaged in talks with the Bundesliga side, but Arsenal and Bayern Munich remain interested. He is expected to cost around £56m.

It won’t be an easy one to pull off. Chelsea are indeed the frontrunners to sign the Netherlands international, so the Gunners will need to get a move on if they hope to steal ahead.

Why Arsenal should sign Xavi Simons

Formerly a prospect at Paris Saint-Germain, Simons arrived in Leipzig as a loanee at the start of the 2023/24 season before signing permanently in a €50m (£42m) deal.

Across 76 appearances for the Germans, he has scored 21 goals and has supplied 23 assists, operating, like Eze, across central and wide attacking midfield roles. Last season, he was most often found out on the left flank, where he notched nine goal involvements across only 17 outings.

Hailed as a “superstar” by analyst Ben Mattinson, this diminutive Dutchman has the remarkable blend of balance, technical skill and confidence to hit the ground running in the Premier League, sure to thrive where Eze would have at the Emirates Stadium, and sure to impress ahead of the aforementioned strugglers on the left flank in north London.

Matches (starts)

25 (25)

34 (31)

Goals

10

8

Assists

7

8

Shots (on target)*

2.0 (0.9)

3.0 (0.9)

Touches*

68.0

46.6

Pass completion

83%

82%

Big chances created

12

11

Key passes

2.0

1.7

Dribbles*

1.3

2.0

Ball recoveries*

5.1

4.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Duels won*

5.4

4.8

Eze is a little quicker, a tad more active in carrying the ball up and tracking back down. The Englishman likes to get shots off with greater consistency; however, a conversion rate of just 8% in the Premier League leaves plenty to be desired in that department.

In Simons, who has been described as a “special player” by coach Harry Brooks, Arsenal would be signing a potent and dynamic threat who would be the perfect Eze alternative, for he is both positionally and tactically similar.

Moreover, he would prove an upgrade on Arteta’s existing left wingers, who have both struggled to assert themselves thus far during Arsenal’s pre-season and will have undoubtedly provided him food for thought.

Martinelli is a talented winger, but he’s struggled to reach elite levels over the past couple of seasons, hitherto renowned as one of the most exciting up-and-coming forwards.

Across the past two Premier League seasons, he’s bagged himself 14 goals and eight assists across 68 matches. Hardly an awe-inspiring return, having drifted in and out of games and indeed the starting line-up too.

Then, with the 30-year-old Trossard, the boss might be seeking a more talented and complete winger, a fine goalscorer though Trossard may be. Last term, in fact, the Belgian missed more big chances (9) than he scored (8), as per Sofascore, which is the first time that has happened in five top-flight seasons.

It’s clear that Simons, a rising star with a point to prove, could be the perfect addition to an Arsenal side in need of some more creativity to complement Gyokeres up top.

Simons could be the perfect signing, should efforts to reel Eze over prove fruitless.

More exciting than Gyokeres: Arsenal have discussed signing £142m "monster"

Arsenal have looked at a wealth of options to fix their centre forward problem.

ByMatt Dawson Jul 28, 2025

Manchester United’s forward line has had somewhat of an overhaul during the summer transfer window, unsurprisingly so given their lack of goals in 2024/25.

The Red Devils only managed a tally of 44 goals in the Premier League, an average of 1.15 goals per 90 – a tally no way near good enough for a side of their stature.

Ruben Amorim has taken measures to improve such a situation, securing the signatures of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – with the pair setting the hierarchy back over £130m.

The pair netted 35 top-flight goals between them last season, potentially forming a deadly partnership with soon-to-be new addition Benjamin Sesko, who has agreed a £74m deal with the club in recent days.

There’s no denying that the trio could cause many sides endless troubles throughout 2025/26, with other areas of the pitch needing similar investment between now and the end of the window.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Carlos Baleba has emerged as a shock option for United in the midfield department, with the Brighton star’s agents in talks with the Red Devils over a move to Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old could well be out of the club’s price range this summer, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side slapping a £100m price tag on his head to fend off any interest in his services.

However, the middle of the park isn’t the only area which could also be strengthened, with United making a move to land Fiorentina centre-back Pietro Comuzzo, according to Firenzeviola.

They claim that Amorim’s side have been spotted scouting the 20-year-old during pre-season, with the club able to get a closer look at the talent in the clash against the Italian outfit this weekend.

The report also states that Sunderland and Bournemouth have also been keeping a close eye on his progress, but any deal could cost any interested party a fee in the region of €40m (£35m).

Why United’s £35m target could be their next Yoro

Leny Yoro was a huge addition to the United squad last summer, joining the club in a staggering £59m in a move to bolster the side in the immediate and long-term future.

The Frenchman had to bide his time during the early stages of the 2024/25 season, but after Amorim’s arrival, he cemented his place in the side and demonstrated signs of being a great buy from INEOS.

He managed to register a total of 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring his first goal against Lyon in the Europa League – helping the side secure their place in the final.

Yoro also ended his debut year at Old Trafford with a tally of 1.7 aerials won per 90, along with a 93% pass completion rate – showcasing his superb ability to be a ball-playing option in the club’s backline.

However, a move for current target Comuzzo could see them land another young, talented defender, with the Italian producing numerous top-tier stats despite his tender age of just 20 years.

When comparing his stats to those of Yoro from the 2024/25 campaign, the Italian managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing how he can follow in the teenager’s footsteps at Old Trafford.

Comuzzo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Raffaele Palladino, made more key passes per 90 last season, showcasing his excellent ability to pick out a teammate in possession.

Games played

33

21

Minutes played

2200

1165

Key passes made

0.4

0.1

Tackles won

0.9

0.8

Blocks made

1.4

0.3

Clearances made

4.6

3.3

% of tackles won

79%

68%

Aerials won

2.6

1.2

Aerial success rate

59%

50%

He also managed to win more of the tackles he entered last season, whilst making more blocks and clearances per 90, handing Amorim the added defensive talent he needs ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 20-year-old’s dominance is further reflected in his tally of aerials won per 90, potentially offering the side an added threat at both ends of the pitch – something which has been greatly lacking in recent months.

Whilst competition for his signature is fierce, the club are building an exciting project which any young player may prove to be tempted by in the near future.

£35m for a player of his calibre could prove to be excellent business, potentially seeing Comuzzo strike an excellent partnership with fellow youngster Yoro in the years ahead.

Perfect for Bruno: Man Utd leading the race to sign "phenomenal" £100m gem

Manchester United could be about to land another big-money talent for Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 7, 2025

An “unbelievable” Liverpool star has now reached an agreement over a big money move to a new club.

Players who could leave Liverpool this summer

It has been a huge summer of change at Anfield, with new signings Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong adding a huge amount of quality to Arne Slot’s squad.

That said, the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Jarell Quansah have left the club, and there could be more current Liverpool players who follow them out of the exit door before the new Premier League season gets underway.

Darwin Nunez appears to be the most likely next person to leave Liverpool in the coming days and weeks, with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal the favourites to snap him up. There are also doubts surrounding the future of Kostas Tsmikas, while Tyler Morton is set to join Lyon.

Meanwhile, there is no guarantee that Harvey Elliott will still be a Reds player come the end of the summer transfer window, as he looks for more playing time at a new club.

"Unbelievable" Liverpool ace close to exit

Now, according to Rudy Galetti on X, Liverpool striker Nunez has reached an agreement to join Al-Hilal, and the Uruguayan has “given the green light” to the move for a “significant” amount of money. The deal is edging closer, but there is still the small matter of agreeing a fee, with talks between the clubs ongoing.

This feels like a good outcome for Liverpool, with the £140,000-a-week Nunez not at the level required to be a genuinely strong option for them moving forward. The 26-year-old has now been a Reds player for three years, but there have only been sporadic moments of quality, such as Ally McCoist hailing his assist for Elliott against Paris Saint-Germain last season.

“Unbelievable football from Darwin Nunez, because nine times out of ten he hits this. He doesn’t, he takes the right option. Watch Nunez, usually he pulls the trigger there, it looks a simple pass and it is but it’s there to hit first time, that’s the secret of it.”

Appearances

143

Goals

40

Assists

26

If Liverpool can get a deal over the line for Alexander Isak, and have Ekitike as another great option, Nunez’s exit is unlikely to affect them much, with all due respect to a popular player Anfield.

His finishing is as unpredictable as it was when he joined Liverpool, and his link-up play can also flatter to deceive – he will depart as a likeable player who ultimately didn’t come close to living up to the hype.

Celtic may be in the market to add another centre-forward to their squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of next month.

It is fair to say that Adam Idah has not had the best start to the Scottish Premiership season as the main number nine for Brendan Rodgers, particularly given his performance against St Mirren.

The Ireland international, as shown in the graphic above, missed three ‘big chances’ and lost the majority of his duels in the 1-0 win on the opening day.

Idah then failed to deliver a goal or an assist in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen in the second match of the league season, despite starting up front once again.

The Ireland international is still looking to prove that he has what it takes to be starting number nine for Celtic this season, after being in and out of the team at points last term.

With his current struggles in mind, the Scottish giants may view their failed pursuit of Danish forward Mathias Kvistgaarden as a bit of a blunder in hindsight.

Celtic's Mathias Kvistgaarden blunder

Back in the summer of 2023, Celtic were reportedly interested in the then-21-year-old number nine from Brondby to bolster Rodgers’ options at the top end of the pitch in his first window back at the club.

They did not heavily pursue a move for him in that window, though, but were reportedly in talks with the Danish outfit in January 2024 to discuss a deal for him.

Celtic were tentatively linked with Kvistgaarden again in the summer of that year, before they reportedly made contact with Brondby once again to talk about a move for the versatile forward in January of the current year.

Despite all of those links and supposed talks, it was eventually Norwich City that landed the striker this summer for a fee of £6.9m, after they activated a little-known release clause, despite a fee of £12m having been mooted.

The post from talent scout Jacek Kulig, from before the end of last season, shows that Kvistgaarden steadily improved throughout his time with Brondby, developing into a sublime goalscorer.

Appearances

29

Goals

17

Minutes per goal

119

Conversion rate

22%

Big chances created

5

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international delivered 23 goals and assists in 29 league appearances for his former club in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he can make a consistent impact in the final third.

Whilst it remains to be seen how well he will do for Norwich, Idah’s former club, in the Championship, he does seem to be the kind of ruthless and prolific striker that the Hoops are currently lacking.

This is why missing out on a deal for him after three or four transfer windows of reportedly serious interest in him could be viewed as a blunder by the club.

Celtic, though, could avenge their howler with Kvistgaarden by winning the race to sign another reported transfer target from Brondby, Clement Bischoff.

Transfer Focus

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

The Hoops have been touted with an interest in the £6m-rated winger this summer, and they should not allow him to slip through their fingers like they did with the now-Norwich star.

Why Celtic should sign Clement Bischoff

Bischoff is an incredibly exciting young talent whom the Premiership champions should be looking to bring to Parkhead before the end of the window, if the initial report on their interest was accurate.

As explained, Celtic were interested in Kvistgaarden for multiple years and transfer windows and were unable to get a deal over the line before he exploded in the 2024/25 campaign and then went elsewhere, to the Canaries.

Bischoff has not quite had the explosive season that his former teammate had last year, yet, which is why this could be the perfect time for the Hoops to snap him up.

If they wait, as they did with Kvistgaarden after their interest in 2023 and 2024, then the Danish winger could have his breakout year this season and then become unattainable due to interest from Europe’s top leagues, or high-spending teams in the Championship like Norwich.

U23 scout Antonio Mango described him as an “explosive” and “flamboyant” star with pace and technical ability, which suggests that he has the potential to be a fan favourite at Parkhead as a forward who can get supporters off their seats with his direct play.

His form at the start of the current campaign suggests that he is starting to turn his exciting potential into consistently impressive displays, which makes him an even more attractive target for Celtic.

Appearances

39

8

Key passes

51

24

Big chances created

10

5

Key passes per 90

2.0

3.8

Assists

5

2

Goals

2

1

Successful dribbles per 90

1.9

2.0

As you can see in the table above, Bischoff is already showing signs of huge progression early on in the current campaign, with already half as many ‘big chances’ created as he managed in the whole of last season.

These statistics, aided by his move from left wing-back to left wing, show that he is on course to deliver far more at the top end of the pitch, in terms of goals, key passes, ‘big chances’ created, and dribbles.

This is why it is so important that the Hoops make a serious move for him in the current transfer window, because if he continues to improve at his current rate, then he may be beyond the club’s reach this time next year.

Therefore, Celtic can avenge their blunder with Brondby’s last superstar, Kvistgaarden, by paying the £6m fee that it may take to snap Bischoff up before September’s deadline to bolster Rodgers’ squad.

Celtic could land big Idah upgrade in swoop for "magnificent" £7m striker

Celtic may find a big upgrade on Adam Idah by swooping to sign this £7m-rated forward.

ByDan Emery Aug 14, 2025