A £50 million-rated Crystal Palace star has now told club chiefs that he is ready to leave this summer amid interest from Manchester United and others, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace chasing midfield reinforcements

Whether Palace win the FA Cup and therefore secure Europa League football or not, it looks as though the South Londoners are going to be very busy in the summer transfer window.

New target: Crystal Palace interested in signing "fantastic" £9m "monster"

The Eagles have set their sights on a midfielder, who is set to be available for a bargain fee this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 1, 2025

A couple of weeks ago, Palace announced that midfielder Will Hughes agreed a new contract until 2027, but it is still clear Oliver Glasner and co. have their eyes on adding to their options in the middle of the park. Highly-rated Sunderland pair Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have been linked with moves to Selhurst Park, but they are not the only options under consideration.

Palace are now interested in signing Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City, as the midfielder can leave the Foxes for just £9 million, given that he has a relegation clause.

However, they are not alone in the race, as Everton and Fulham from the Premier League are also interested in a deal. Palace are also in the running to sign midfielder Rayan Cherki from French side Lyon. However, the Premier League side are considered ‘dark horses’ in the race, given that there are many other teams from England also looking to snap up the exciting attacker.

£50m Crystal Palace star tells chiefs he wants out

Signing players like Ndidi and Cherki may become a top priority for the Eagles, given the fact they could be about to lose a key player. According to TBR Football, Eberechi Eze has told Crystal Palace he wants to leave the club this summer amid interest from Premier League teams.

TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey has now reported that Eze feels it is the right time for him to leave Palace. This news comes amid significant interest from teams in the Premier League – Manchester United are hopeful of signing Eze, while Spurs consider signing Eze as a replacement for Son Heung-min and Liverpool are considered the frontrunners to secure a deal.

Bailey said on Eze’s situation: “Much will depend on Palace’s demands around his release clause; very few are needed to be paid in one lump sum, and I don’t believe that Palace will do that to Eze either. Tottenham love the player; we know that – but they are not alone – Manchester City like him a lot. I am told that Pep Guardiola is an admirer.

“City are looking at bolstering their attacking midfield ranks, but Florian Wirtz is ahead of him in that regard, and I believe so are Lucas Paqueta, Charles De Ketelaere and Francisco Trincão, but I would not dismiss it totally. Newcastle and Aston Villa also admire him, and if he does go – it will be a team playing in Europe.

Apps

142

Goals

30

Assists

23

“Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all fully aware of him and are fans of his talents, but I don’t believe he is a priority for them as it stands. Eze, for his part, feels the time is right to move and has expressed this to Palace.”

Eze, who has been dubbed “frightening” by teammate Joel Ward, would cost teams a minimum of £50 million this summer.

Over the last couple of days, Liverpool have appeared to make huge progress in the transfer window, looking to land a replacement for the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Englishman is set to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, with Jeremie Frimpong emerging as Arne Slot’s number one target to replace him.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Reds are in talks to land the Dutch international, who currently has a £29.5m release clause in his deal with Bayer Leverkusen.

It’s also been reported that he’s keen on a switch to Anfield in the coming months, with the hierarchy working tirelessly to provide the manager with the tools he needs to build on his Premier League triumph.

However, he’s not the only player on their radar, with groundwork being laid for another signing who could prove to be a more exciting addition than the right-back.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions

Even though the summer transfer window is yet to open, Liverpool have already wasted no time in making moves for multiple players in multiple areas of the pitch.

The likes of Murillo, Rodrygo and Tomas Araujo have all appeared on their list in recent weeks, as Slot looks to provide added depth to his squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, the aforementioned trio aren’t the only ones on their radar, with Lyon star Rayan Cherki attracting huge interest from the Reds, according to French outlet Le Parisien.

Their report claims that Slot’s men have made an enquiry to land the 21-year-old who’s registered a staggering 12 goals and 19 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

It also states that he could be available this summer for as little as £19m, with the Ligue 1 outfit prepared to let him depart during the off-season due to their financial issues.

Why Cherki would be a more exciting signing than Frimpong

There’s no denying that Liverpool’s current squad is full of talent across various areas, playing a massive role in their title success during Slot’s first campaign at the helm.

The Dutchman has only made one first-team addition this season in the form of Federico Chiesa, with the Italian only featuring for a total of 41 league minutes, highlighting the impressive squad he took over upon taking the reins.

However, if they are to sustain such levels of success, additions will be needed this summer, with Frimpong and Cherki just the two latest names thrown into the mix.

Whilst the Leverkusen star would fill a huge void given Trent’s pending departure, a move for the French youngster would inject added life and creativity into an already potent front line.

The attacker, who’s been labelled “world-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, has excelled this season, enjoying the best year of his professional career – with his figures backing up his success.

His tally of 18 combined goals and assists in Ligue 1 to date is the fifth-highest of a player who doesn’t play for PSG, showcasing how impressive he’s been for Lyon.

His underlying stats are just as impressive, averaging 3.2 chances created per 90, along with 2.1 successful dribbles, with his subsequent tallies allowing the likes of Mohamed Salah to build on their own impressive season in 2024/25.

Ousmane Dembélé

28

21

6

27

Bradley Barcola

33

14

10

24

Mason Greenwood

33

19

4

23

Jonathan David

31

16

5

21

Arnaud Kalimunedo

32

17

3

20

Gaetan Perrin

33

10

10

20

Rayan Cherki

29

8

10

18

He’s also averaged 6.4 touches in the opposition box per game, as well as 1.9 shots per 90 – having the ability to find the back of the net on his own should he need to.

Cherki’s flair and creativity make him a joy to watch, with his reported £19m fee a bargain for a 21-year-old who could explode into life in the Premier League over the next few years.

Despite the interest from elsewhere, the Reds should be working tirelessly this summer to complete a deal for Cherki, with the youngster having the tools to thrive in Slot’s system and bolster their chances of retaining their title next year.

A dream Huijsen alternative: Liverpool open talks to sign £67m defender

Liverpool could be about to forget about Dean Huijsen with a move for another defensive star.

ByEthan Lamb May 14, 2025

Arsenal have entered “pole position” to sign a “sensational” Premier League player for Mikel Arteta, according to a very reliable media source, with Andrea Berta remaining hard at work after sealing an agreement with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal transfer plans following Martin Zubimendi deal

The renowned Fabrizio Romano has already given his famous ‘here we go’ to Zubimendi’s north London move, so barring a last-minute disaster, it appears the Spain international is set to become Berta’s first major signing as Arsenal sporting director.

Related Arsenal reopen talks to sign "sensational" target after Berta intervention

The Italian has influenced their decision to reignite interest.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 13, 2025

Arsenal were in negotiations over Zubimendi’s capture for months, but with the 26-year-old now poised to make the Premier League his new home, attention is now turning to who will follow him to N5.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

As per a report from GiveMeSport in the aftermath of Berta’s arrival, Arsenal want to back Arteta with the signings of a second-choice keeper, defender, left-winger, right-winger and striker before summer deadline day on September 1.

That same outlet claimed at the time that £300 million could be spent in a serious show of ambition from the Gunners’ side, but this will likely be dependent on player sales and trimming the wage bill to make room in Arteta’s squad.

Zubimendi will cost around £51 million, the value of his release clause, plus additional costs like agent fees, commission structures and wages.

A significant outlay of Arsenal’s budget will be utilised on Zubimendi’s signing, but Berta is already moving on to other targets. Another key potential signing they’re looking at, Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, is set to cost a similar amount.

The “sensational” 20-year-old has made a name for himself as one of Spain’s most exciting defensive prospects after an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League under Andoni Iraola, and his £50 million release clause is likely to be triggered by an illustrious suitor.

The competition for Huijsen’s signature will be fierce, though, with Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Real Madrid all reportedly contenders.

Arsenal in "pole position" to sign Dean Huijsen

However, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, who shared a promising update on the saga, Arsenal are one of the main contenders to sign Huijsen and sit in “pole position” with Liverpool.

This follows from Romano’s update that Huijsen’s Premier League suitors wish to strike a deal for the ex-Juventus starlet by the end of this month, so things could change very quickly in this rapidly-evolving saga.

“The idea of the three main Premier League clubs involved in this story, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, is to do the deal now as soon as possible,” said Romano on his YouTube channel.

“Now it means by the end of May, so to close the deal this month.”

Will Celtic spend big this summer?

A year ago, the Hoops broke their transfer record to bring in Arne Engels for £11m, but that was not all, also paying £9.5m to make Adam Idah’s loan move from Norwich permanent, with notable fees paid to sign Auston Trusty, Paulo Bernardo permanently and Luke McCowan too.

Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers will want to improve his squad further in the upcoming transfer window, so does he have a “quality” new winger in his sights?

The latest on Jota's injury

As reported by Ewan Paton of the Herald, Rodgers confirmed in his Friday pre-Glasgow derby press conference that Jota will be sidelined for up to nine months, after suffering a knee injury against Dundee United on Saturday.

Just five minutes before the injury occurred, the Portuguese winger had helped the Hoops take the lead at Tannadice, it ultimately went down as a Ryan Strain own goal, but that will sadly be his final contribution for a while.

Jota had only rejoined Celtic as recently as January for £8m from Stade Rennais, making 16 appearances and scoring five goals, but now faces a long period on the sidelines.

Transfer Focus

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

Given this injury blow, the Celts could be forced to enter the transfer market to recruit a new winger, so has Rodgers identified his top target?

Celtic's winger target to replace Jota

As was reported back in early April, Celtic are believed to be eyeing a move to sign Million Manhoef of EFL Championship outfit Stoke City.

The Dutch youth international joined the Potters in January last year from Vitesse Arnhem, costing a reported £3m, although a potential exit could lie in store this summer.

With that in mind, let’s assess his statistics.

Million Manhoef’s Stoke career in numbers
Statistics	Manhoef
Appearances	52
Minutes	3,431
Goals	11
Assists	5
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

Then Stoke manager Steven Schumacher praised Manhoef’s ability to run “towards goal, take people on, get shots away”, believing the 23-year-old will only continue to get better.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him “quality and versatile”, while Dean Jones of Give Me Sport notes that Manhoef is “the sort of player that will get fans out of their seats.”

The youngster has certainly earned plenty of praise, hence why journalist Graeme Bailey reports that he is now valued at £10m, so let’s assess how he ranks amongst his EFL Championship counterparts this season.

Million Manhoef’s EFL Championship statistics (24/25)
Statistics	Manhoef	Championship rank
Appearances	34	185th
Minutes	2,422	170th
Goals	5	61st
Assists	5	27th
Shots on target %	35.6%	91st
Shots per 90	2.71	17th
Progressive carries	82	32nd
Progressive passes received	166	44th
Attempted take-ons	132	9th
Successful take-ons	52	13th
Take-on success % (min 100 attempted)	39.4%	19th
Carries into opposition penalty area	53	10th
Touches	1047	241st
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table underlines, Manhoef is certainly a high-quality and high-quantity dribbler, ranking in the top ten for both attempted take-ons and carries into the opposition penalty area, despite limited touches and the fact he plays for a struggling Stoke side.

Worth noting that a whopping 758 outfield players have featured in England’s second-tier this season, making Manhoef’s high rankings all the more noteworthy.

The 23-year-old also ranks 17th when it comes to shots-per-90, which is pretty impressive, although his shots on target figure of just 35.6% means there is still room for development.

Nevertheless, with Stoke’s season having now finished, Celtic should start negotiations now, before anyone else becomes interested in securing Manhoef’s signature, given that it certainly appears as though he would be an excellent new recruit. He could be the perfect man to fill Jota’s void on the flanks.

Only played 66 minutes: Celtic can fix Jota blow by unleashing young star

With Jota set to be sidelined for an extended period of time, Brendan Rodgers should give Celtic’s “absolutely brilliant” youngster an opportunity.

By
Ben Gray

May 2, 2025

Leeds United have given themselves a chance to hit a century of points in the Championship for the first time in club history on the final day against Plymouth Argyle.

Daniel Farke’s side put on a show against Bristol City at Elland Road on Monday night, winning 4-0 under the lights, and are on 97 points heading into the last game of the season.

The West Yorkshire outfit have already secured their place in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign, having gained automatic promotion alongside Burnley last week.

There is still the small matter of the league title to battle the Clarets for, however, before attention can fully turn to the upcoming summer transfer window.

After the win over Bristol City, Farke revealed that there will be “tough” and “difficult” decisions to be made on players in the squad, as Leeds look to build a team that is capable of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

One player who has sparked debate among supporters is Dutch centre-forward Joel Piroe, who is unproven in the top tier of English football.

Why Leeds may have to replace Joel Piroe

The former Swansea City number nine added a seventh assist to his season tally of goal contributions in the 4-0 win over Bristol City on Monday night, with a sumptuous cross-field pass to Wilfried Gnonto.

Piroe is also the top scorer in the Championship, with 19 goals in 45 appearances, and has outperformed his xG of 16.54 – helped by his recent four-goal haul against Stoke City.

Despite all of his contributions in the final third, Norwich City striker Josh Sargent was selected ahead of the Leeds attacker in the official EFL Team of the Season, voted for by the players.

Whilst Piroe has delivered goals and assists for the Whites, the Dutch striker’s all-round game leaves a bit to be desired, and former Blackburn Rovers star Sammie Szomodics is a good example of how difficult the transition from the Championship to the Premier League is if you lack the physical attributes to make the step up.

Appearances

44

45

Goals

27

19

Assists

4

7

Duels won per game

2.5

1.6

Ground duel success rate

43%

33%

Aerial duel success rate

30%

20%

As you can see in the table above, Szmodics rarely won duels and was dominated on the deck and in the air by opposition defenders in the second tier, but was still able to notch 31 goal contributions.

In the Premier League, however, the Ireland international has continued to lose the majority of his duels (64%) and has only racked up four goals and zero assists in 19 matches for Ipswich Town.

He has not been able to impose himself on games without the physical attributes, whether that be speed or simply strength in duels, and Piroe, as shown by his statistics in comparison to Szmodics’ in the Championship, could suffer similar problems.

With this in mind, Leeds must consider making a move to land an upgrade on the Dutchman in the summer transfer window, which they could do by swooping for one of their reported targets.

Leeds United's interest in £40m Premier League striker

Back in February, OnTheMinute reported that Leeds United are one of several clubs interested in a deal to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United.

The report claimed that the Whites are keeping tabs on the Denmark international because Farke believes that he is a player with big potential at Premier League level, and that the manager believes that the star would be interested in a move to Elland Road.

Transfer Focus

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

OnTheMinute added that West Ham United and Juventus have also been linked with a move for the striker, which suggests that Leeds could face significant competition for his services this summer.

The outlet revealed that, despite Hojlund joining the Red Devils for a fee of £72m from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, he could be available for a fee of £40m, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites are prepared to spend that much money on him to bolser their squad.

Why Leeds should sign Rasmus Hojlund

The 49ers should push the boat out to land the Denmark international for £40m ahead of the club’s return to the Premier League because he could come in as an immediate upgrade on Piroe for Farke.

Hojlund, despite enduring a difficult season this year, has previously showcased his quality in the Premier League and the Serie A for Manchester United and Atalanta, and boasts the physical attributes to compete at the top level.

Content creator Alice Talks Football described the forward as a “physical monster” who has the “speed” and “athletic qualities” required at Old Trafford, whilst there remain question marks over whether or not Piroe has the athletic qualities required for the top-flight.

Hojlund, playing in a struggling Manchester United side, has scored four goals from 3.84 xG in 20 starts in the Premier League this season, but displayed more quality in the final third in the previous two campaigns.

Appearances

32

30

xG

9.47

7.64

Goals

9

10

Assists

2

2

Duels won per game

3.0

2.8

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old attacker scored 19 goals in the Serie A and the Premier League combined, overperforming his xG overall, in those two seasons, whilst winning more duels per game than Piroe has managed in the Championship this term.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for the young marksman, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has “electric pace”, to be a big goal threat for Leeds, as well as a ‘physical monster’ with his strength, athletism, and speed.

Hojlund could provide Farke’s team with a useful athletic presence at the top end of the pitch, and one that Piroe may not be able to provide based on his lack of mobiltiy at Championship level.

Even better than Archie Gray: Leeds must rue selling £1m "animal"

Leeds United once sold a young talent for £1m, and now he is even better than Archie Gray.

ByDan Emery Apr 27, 2025

Therefore, despite his goal return this season, Leeds could land an instant upgrade on the Dutchman by splashing £40m on this Premier League centre-forward.

As Manchester United get set to take on Chelsea in the penultimate game of their miserable Premier League season on Friday night, one man who won’t be involved in proceedings is Old Trafford exile, Jadon Sancho.

The 25-year-old loanee – who is ineligible to feature for the Blues against his parent club – is set to head into a summer of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, with it yet to be seen whether the west London side will secure his services on a permanent basis.

With talk in recent months indicating that Enzo Maresca’s side could actually pay a £5m fee in order to send him back to Manchester, despite agreeing to a £20m-£25m obligation to buy last summer, the Red Devils face the very real prospect of being lumped with the £195k-per-week winger once again.

In truth, even with a change in the dugout following Ruben Amorim’s arrival, the England international should have no future back at the Theatre of Dreams, having proven a simply wasted venture following his £73m arrival in 2021.

Perhaps hampered by a long, drawn-out saga that began in 2020, the former Borussia Dortmund man has been unable to replicate his Bundesliga heroics, having chalked up just 18 goals and assists in 83 games for United to date.

Antony

96

12

5

17

Anthony Elanga

55

4

4

8

Amad

61

13

11

24

Jadon Sancho

83

12

6

18

Alejandro Garnacho

146

26

22

48

Dan James

74

9

9

18

Angel Di Maria

34

4

12

16

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

63

13

11

24

Memphis Depay

53

7

6

13

Alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony, Sancho is a player who INEOS need to cash in on this summer. What they must not do, however, is sign a talent of a similar ilk…

Man Utd's search for a forward

Whether it pays off or not remains to be seen, although it is encouraging to see that United are looking to target current Premier League stars this summer, ensuring there should be less of a need for adaptation next season.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, both Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap appear to be at the top of the shopping list, while recent reports have also indicated that Amorim and co are interested in Bournemouth’s £60m-rated sensation, Antoine Semenyo.

With the Red Devils intent on strengthening the 40-year-old’s attacking options, Sky Sports have since revealed that United are also keeping tabs on Nottingham Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.

As per reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Englishman currently has just a year left on his contract at the City Ground, with talks currently “ongoing” with the Champions League hopefuls regarding an extension.

Reading between the lines, INEOS appear ready to pounce should those negotiations hit a stumbling block, with Forest perhaps willing to cash in, considering that they signed the ex-Chelsea man for a fee of just £3m back in 2023.

Alongside former United academy graduate, Anthony Elanga, Hudson-Odoi has no doubt flourished for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side – but is he what Amorim really needs?

Why Man Utd could be targeting another Sancho

The journey of a young footballer is rarely a smooth one, as Sancho, in particular, has come to learn.

Plucked from Manchester City by Dortmund on a £10m deal in 2017, the wing wizard went on to sparkle in German football over the next four years, with his total record for the Bundesliga side – when factoring last season’s loan spell back at the club – standing at 120 goals and assists in 158 games.

For all that talent and potential, it just hasn’t worked out since then, with Sancho now a forgotten man in Manchester, having also provided only eight goal involvements in the league this season for the Blues. His last Three Lions outing came as far back as October 2021.

It has been a similar story for Hudson-Odoi too, with the one-time wonderkid touted for big things after making his senior international debut at the age of just 18, having also been the subject of a £70m offer from Bayern Munich in 2020.

Injuries and limited game followed back at Chelsea, however, while he was also shipped off to Bayer Leverkusen for an unsuccessful loan in 2022/23, which yielded just one goal and one assist.

After recording 16 goals and 22 assists in 126 games for the west Londoners, the decision was made to cash in on the fleet-footed winger two years ago, while on the international scene, he has been unable to build on his three caps – all of which came in 2019.

To his credit, the man once described as a “monster of a talent” by journalist Nizaar Kinsella has found his feet at Forest, with 13 goals and six assists in 68 games in all competitions, including the winner against Manchester City earlier this year.

Non-penalty goals

0.21

0.16

Assists

0.08

0.21

Shot-creating actions

3.93

3.59

Pass completion

82.2%

82.5%

Progressive passes

2.76

4.65

Progressive carries

5.31

5.28

Successful take-ons

1.51

2.38

Touches in penalty box

3.01

6.39

Progressive passes received

7.78

11.68

That said, like Sancho, he hasn’t exactly pulled up any trees – if you’ll pardon the pun – in Nottingham, having matched his compatriot’s record of only eight goal contributions in the top-flight this term.

Interestingly too, the two widemen – both of whom can play on either flank – are noted as statistically similar players among those in their position in the division, as per FBref, with United at risk of landing another mercurial and inconsistent talent.

Perhaps, for a bargain fee, Hudson-Odoi could prove worth the gamble, although having witnessed Sancho struggle so greatly in recent years, targeting a player of similar quality and ability may well need to be avoided.

Forget Obi: Amorim can finally axe Hojlund for Man Utd's homegrown Gyokeres

Man Utd could have another academy sensation up their sleeve…

1 ByRobbie Walls May 14, 2025

Liverpool have plenty of summer targets in their sights, but they are also aware that departures at Anfield will be needed to supplement incomings.

Liverpool looking to scale upwards in summer window

The Reds have enjoyed a mercurial season under Arne Slot and have been head and shoulders in front of their competitors for the Premier League title.

Nevertheless, the upcoming window is a test of FSG’s long-term ambitions at Anfield. The market sphere is becoming more crowded than ever, and several of their rivals will relish the opportunity to strengthen ahead of next campaign.

Thwarting any optimism that their crown can be deposed is the priority for Liverpool, who now have Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong at the top of their list to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Continuing that theme, the Reds are also monitoring Monaco right-back Vanderson following his exploits in Ligue 1 this term, signifying that they have several contingencies to fill the void that will be left by the academy graduate.

Nevertheless, Alexander-Arnold won’t be the only one to leave Merseyside behind in the coming months. Luis Diaz is being targeted by Saudi Pro League clubs and may fetch £68 million to invest back into potential reinforcements.

Fabrizio Romano reveals what he's heard about Liverpool signing De Bruyne

Could a shock move to Anfield materialise this summer?

By
Henry Jackson

May 9, 2025

Some may think changing things while they are playing out nicely is a strange phenomenon, but there can be no room for sentiment in the hunt for silverware. Ultimately, Liverpool want to be in a position to dominate English football for years to come, so it makes sense to be proactive on all fronts should the right opportunies to conduct business present themselves.

Tapping into that school of thought, Slot may have a decision to make following recent developments involving one of his high-profile stars.

Liverpool receive two offers for Darwin Nunez

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have received offers for striker Darwin Nunez from RB Leipzig and Napoli following his disappointing campaign at Anfield. The Uruguay international is the subject of bids of around £50.7 million, which has plunged his future at the Reds into doubt due to a lack of consistency since joining from Benfica in 2022 for £71.8 million.

Darwin Nunez at Liverpool – has he been a success?
Appearances	140
Goals	40
Assists	26
Trophies	Premier League x1, Community Shield x1

Labelled “wonderful” by Jurgen Klopp, Nunez has registered seven goals and seven assists in 44 appearances this campaign, though Diogo Jota has sometimes been preferred to spearhead Slot’s attack. Finding himself at a crossroads, the Artigas-born man could be the one to make way as Liverpool hunt for an elite striker to build on their title success.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has been mooted as a Reds target. Still, big-money sales are likely to be critical in any successful pursuit of the Sweden international. Nunez doesn’t appear to be front and centre of Liverpool’s plans, making a departure an easy decision for all parties should a deal be agreed upon.

The mood at Liverpool right now is pretty good. Arne Slot’s side have been crowned Premier League champions, after all.

However, now that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave his boyhood club has been confirmed, that same mood has unquestionably soured, with the vice-captain expected to join European rivals Real Madrid when his contract expires in less than two months.

Monday morning’s announcement took the wind out of the fanbase’s sails; even the most optimistic of supporters will have known deep down that the 26-year-old was likely to join the Spanish giants, but FSG have the chance to make it all better in the coming weeks.

Yes, Liverpool are gearing up for a summer of significant spending, bolstering Slot’s squad ahead of next season’s title defence. The Reds are hoping to challenge for silverware across other fronts too.

The best way to help fans forget about the heartbreak of losing Trent to Jude Bellingham and Real Madrid? Bringing in some top-brass signings.

Sadly, Alexander Isak isn’t likely to be among such arrivals.

Liverpool's interest in Alexander Isak

With Darwin Nunez reportedly expected to be sold this summer, Liverpool are in need of a new striker. Newcastle United’s Isak is right at the top of the shopping list, but if financial plates fail to shift, FSG simply aren’t going to lodge a formal offer.

Mohamed Salah is the only player in the Premier League to have outperformed Isak in front of goal this season, so you can imagine how good Liverpool would be with both players combining for the same cause.

However, Liverpool’s interest is unlikely to advance to something more concrete, with reports suggesting that the Magpies will look for a payment in the £150m ballpark.

1

Mohamed Salah

28

18

46

2

Alexander Isak

23

6

29

3

Bryan Mbeumo

18

7

25

4

Erling Haaland

21

3

24

4=

Cole Palmer

15

9

24

Liverpool need to strengthen across a range of areas, and signing Isak would be to the detriment of the greater vision. Jurgen Klopp’s decision to drop out of the race for Jude Bellingham and instead target multiple midfield additions would be something to recall at this point.

And anyway, it’s not like Isak’s the only exciting striker on the market.

Liverpool scouting new striker

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko this summer, though Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping close tabs on him.

Transfer Focus

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

It’s understood that Liverpool had scouts present during Leipzig’s recent draw against Bayern Munich, in which Sesko scored, and though the Gunners have conducted extensive groundwork into the potential signing, a move to Merseyside definitely can’t be ruled out.

Indeed, it’s alleged that Liverpool and Arsenal have held talks with the player’s camp ahead of a possible summer switch.

Valued at £70m, Sesko – labelled “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – might be a raw talent but he’s one who could be willed into a world-class shape under the wing of Slot.

Why Benjamin Sesko is perfect for Liverpool

Sesko is only 21 but has already been making waves in the Bundesliga, hitting 27 goals and seven assists across his first 62 appearances.

In fact, Sesko has clinched 39 goals and eight assists across just two campaigns for Leipzig, hitting 21 goals in all competitions this year.

He’s got the trappings of something special, and it’s hardly surprising that FSG should want to pursue his signature instead of that of Isak, who would cost around £80m more than the Slovenia international.

Harking back to that earlier point concerning Bellingham: Liverpool pulled out of the race for Borussia Dortmund’s prodigious midfielder in April 2023, a decision met with dismay from many of a Reds persuasion.

Where was the ambition? How were Liverpool so resigned to their slumped position? After all, the 2022/23 campaign was one of endurance for a Liverpool side falling apart, ultimately failing to qualify for the Champions League.

But, FSG stuck by their guns and their decision proved the right one. Liverpool welcomed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo instead, four stars who have each played instrumental roles in winning the Premier League this season.

Back to the present, moving for Isak would leave to similarly anticipated financial ramifications, limiting Liverpool’s scope for improvement this year. And change is needed.

Not only is Alexander-Arnold’s departure going to raise questions about right-back depth, but Liverpool need a left-back, maybe a central defender too.

Moreover, with Diogo Jota joining Nunez in falling by the wayside this season, it wouldn’t be remiss for FSG to consider more than one attacking addition.

Sesko, have no doubt, would be Liverpool’s main man if he signed, though. The 21-year-old has already been remarked to be “rewriting the laws of physics” by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his extraordinary power and precision with both feet.

Sesko, as per FBref, ranks among the top 8% and 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-on and aerial duel success rates, his “elite athleticism,” as has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson, and tenacity lending itself to such metrics.

Not just a sharpshooter, and further evidence as to why he could be the perfect Isak alternative, who has been described as “the complete striker” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.

The Sweden star’s pace and link-up play is second to none, also ranking among the top 7% of strikers for progressive carries and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90.

While moving for Sesko would be something of a risk, he’s scored 13 Bundesliga goals this season having missed just ten big chances. He’s powerful and purposeful and intelligent besides, the perfect Isak alternative and for less than half the cost.

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Leeds United are now “making regular checks” on a £16m striker, who could join instead of Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson, according to a report.

Update on Leeds' pursuit of Wilson

A visibly upset Wilson appeared to say farewell to the Newcastle crowd on Sunday afternoon, with the English striker poised to leave the Magpies upon the expiration of his contract in the summer.

The striker has played a sporadic role for Eddie Howe’s side this season, predominantly featuring as a substitute, and he could now be in line to move to a fellow Premier League side, where he wouldn’t have to compete for a starting spot with a striker of Alexander Isak’s quality.

Leeds have expressed an interest in the Englishman, as they look to bring in players with top-flight experience to avoid an instant return to the Championship, but there has now been a new update on their interest in the striker.

According to a report from Football Insider, Leeds now have doubts about signing Wilson, with transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealing that Dinamo Kyiv’s Vladyslav Vanat has been identified as a potential alternative option.

O’Rourke said: “It would be a gamble… [Vanat] has a good goalscoring record for Dinamo Kyiv in Ukraine. He does have a release clause of around £16million, so relatively cheap in today’s market as well.

“It’ll be a huge gamble, but I’m sure that Leeds’ scouts and all those other teams will have been making regular checks on him, and they’ll recommend if they think he could do it in the Premier League or not.”

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Given that Vanat has no experience in a major European league, having never played outside his home country of Ukraine, it would be a gamble for Leeds to pursue a move this summer, but there are some indications it could be a risk worth taking.

The Ukraine international maintained a solid goalscoring record throughout the 2024-25 campaign, playing a major role in his side securing the Ukrainian Premier League title.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Ukrainian Premier League

28

17

4

Europa League

8

1

1

Champions League qualifying

6

2

2

Ukrainian Cup

3

1

2

Football scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the 23-year-old in the past, claiming he could make an immediate impact in the Premier League.

Wilson may have proven himself in the Premier League, but the Newcastle striker is now 33-years-old and has a patchy injury record to say the least, so Vanat could be a fantastic alternative option.

One of the key summer targets for Newcastle United over the next couple of weeks seems to be Liam Delap. The Ipswich Town striker is a player of keen interest to four Premier League clubs, according to TeamTalk, and are ‘holding showdown talks’ in the coming days.

Whilst the Magpies are in contact with Delap via manager Eddie Howe, who is looking to convince him to make the move, they will face competition from top-flight rivals Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton. There are four different projects on the table for Delap, but he would be the same price for each club, given that he has a £30m release clause.

If the North East giants do miss out on the striker, they seem to have a backup option on the cards.

Newcastle chasing Delap alternative

So, it does seem like the Magpies are trying their very best to persuade Delap to make the move to St James’ Park over any of the other clubs interested this summer. However, if that does not work out, their next option could lie in the Premier League, too.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to a report from one Spanish news outlet, Newcastle are firmly in the race for Brighton and Hove Albion star Joao Pedro, with the Tynesiders said to be ‘willing to pay’ a fee of around €70m (£59m) to get their man.

The article suggests that Howe’s side view him as ‘as an opportunity to continue growing’ in attacking areas, although they do face a ‘huge transfer battle’ with newly-crowned champions, Liverpool, for his signature.

It is thought that the player wants to leave the Amex, with both the Reds and Newcastle ready to make a ‘good financial offer’, alongside an ‘attractive sporting project’.

Why Joao Pedro would be a good signing

It has been a strong season for Brighton superstar Pedro. Unfortunately, he could not quite help claw his side back into Europe, meaning they will once again go without continental football after finishing eighth in the top flight.

However, the 23-year-old put in some big contributions across the campaign, playing 27 times in the top flight. In that time, he managed to find the back of the net on ten occasions and also registered six assists.

One of the standout things about Pedro’s 2024/25 campaign was his ability to frequently score against the best sides in the Premier League. The Brazilian managed two goals against Arsenal, a winning goal against Man United and a goal and assist against their cross-city rivals, Manchester City. He also grabbed two assists against Aston Villa.

Of course, with Newcastle looking to compete for higher honours next term, it is surely appealing that he can score against some of the biggest clubs in the top flight. Those are sides the Magpies would have to beat to maybe even challenge for the Premier League.

Should the Magpies sign Pedro ahead of Delap, it could well be a better addition to their squad. Of course, it was a fantastic campaign for the England under-21 star despite Ipswich’s relegation; he is now wanted by clubs across the Premier League.

However, he did not notch up as many goal involvements as Pedro managed in the Blue and White stripes of Brighton. Delap scored 12 times this term, but managed just two assists.

With Pedro grabbing 16 goals and assists, he perhaps offers more with his all-around game than the Ipswich striker.

This is further backed up by the stats on FBref. Not only does Pedro average slightly more goals per game than Delap with 0.46 to 0.42, but he also ranks higher in other key metrics.

That includes shot-creating actions, where the Brazilian averages 3.32 per game compared to the Ipswich star’s 2.15.

Pedro and Delap key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Pedro

Delap

Goals

0.46

0.42

Key passes

1.39

0.73

Shot-creating actions

3.32

2.15

Goal-creating actions

0.42

0.24

Progressive carries

3.06

2.12

Stats from FBref

If Newcastle win the race to sign Pedro, he seems like a far better addition to the club than Delap, for his all-around package. Whilst he can regularly find the back of the net, he also creates chances and brings others into play, which could be deadly given the strength of their attack.

As Dougie Critchley said, he is a “special” footballer, and could be perhaps exactly what Newcastle need to take their attack to the next level.

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