Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to battle it out for the signature of Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry, despite a winger not being a ‘priority’ in the summer.
The Lowdown: Impressive form
The 26-year-old, who first arrived at the Allianz Arena from Werder Bremen in 2017, has just one year remaining on his current contract and has been scintillating for the Bundesliga outfit this season, scoring 16 goals and registering ten assists across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
Such form has seen him catch the eye of Antonio Conte, who – according to the Daily Star just last month – is pushing for the Lilywhites to pursue a cut-price deal for the German, but they are set to face serious competition from Real Madrid.
When asked for his thoughts on the possibility of Spurs pulling off a move for the 31-cap Germany international, Robinson told Football Insider:
“Gnabry is a world-class player. If he is to leave Bayern Munich you would like to think that Spurs are in the hunt for him.
“It is going to be a big summer for Spurs. A lot will depend on whether Harry Kane stays at the club, which I hope he does.
“I’d question whether Gnabry would get into the Tottenham team ahead of Son, Kane and Kulusevski right now. He’d be competition for Kulusevski but I don’t think that position is a priority at the moment.
“That level of player is what you want Spurs to be signing though.”
The Verdict: Would Gnabry have a place at Spurs?
The £63m-rated talisman has proven to be a brilliant attacking threat for Bayern this term, where he is currently averaging two shots, 1.9 dribbles, and 1.4 key passes per league game (via WhoScored), showing just how prolific he can be in the final third.
Once dubbed an “unbelievable” player by ex-Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Gnabry will already be used to life in the Premier League, having previously had a spell with Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal, so he could be tempted to make the transition back into English football should the right offer arise.
As Robinson stated, though, it might be tough for Gnabry to get into the Spurs team ahead of the likes of Kulusevski, who has become a pivotal player in recent weeks. There seems little doubt that the German will want to be in the starting XI consistently rather than occupying a place on the bench, so the best option for him could be to stay at Bayern if he desires plenty of game-time.
In other news… one journalist has reacted to recent behind-the-scenes ‘doubts’ at Tottenham
It’s no secret that Everton have been pretty reckless in the transfer market in recent times, with uber-rich owner Farhad Moshiri having thrown his weight around in the transfer market far too readily – and with little success.
In the six years since the Iranian billionaire took over the club, the Toffees have spent north of £560m on a string of ‘talent’ in an attempt to try and close the gap on the so-called ‘Big Six’, although have since plummeted to such depths that a first-ever Premier League relegation is very much on the cards.
One of the seemingly endless figures on that list of transfer mistakes is Cenk Tosun, with the Turkish striker having failed to ever deliver the goods for the Merseyside outfit in his four-and-a-half-year stint in English football.
Plucked from Besiktas on a £27m deal in January 2018 by Sam Allardyce, the previously prolific striker arrived with big expectations, having netted 80 Super Lig goals across both his time in Istanbul and with Gaziantepspor.
Speaking at the time, Allardyce suggested that the forward was the “best in Europe” at that price, although he has hardly looked anywhere close to such a status since then, having scored just 11 goals in 61 appearances in all competitions.
While the frequent change in manager has arguably not helped his cause – with current boss Frank Lampard the fifth permanent figure that the 30-year-old has worked under in his Goodison career – the player himself must take accountability for his own failures, having rarely looked up to scratch when he has featured.
Brief loan stints at former club Besiktas and Crystal Palace have also failed to reinvigorate the 6 foot marksman, with the 45-cap international now simply a forgotten figure among a crop of underperforming players at Lampard’s disposal.
Even with Dominic Calvert-Lewin spending long stints on the treatment table, Tosun has still been unable to force his way into the manager’s plans, with his only Premier League outing of the campaign to date having come, bizarrely, in the 4-1 defeat to rivals Liverpool back in December, during Rafa Benitez’s ill-fated stint in charge.
In truth, the biggest blessing for all parties is that the striker is now coming to the end of his existing contract, with the club no longer having to fork out for his hefty £69k-per-week wage.
Despite that minor ray of shine, the German-born flop has still proven a costly error regardless, with almost £17m having been dished out on his wages by the time of his exit, while his total burden on the club stands at roughly £44m when factoring in his initial fee.
Even if he were not set to be leaving on a free transfer this summer, Lampard and co would likely have generated little from a possible sale, with the player’s current market value at a fairly meagre £2.25m – such has been his stark decline since joining the club.
At a time of real uncertainty at the club, one thing that can at least be something of a relief for supporters is that Tosun won’t be part of the squad next season.
In other news: Lampard can now axe “desperate” flop as EFC plot bid for “exceptional” £37k-p/w dynamo
West Ham United have a proud history of developing and promoting some brilliant youngsters from their academy system.
The most recent one to really make his mark on the team and then be sold on for a massive fee was Declan Rice.
Freddie Potts looks like he could be the Hammers’ next homegrown superstar after his sensational Premier League displays before the international break.
However, while the club try their best to keep hold of their most promising talents, they aren’t always able to, and one youngster they may rue losing more than any other looks like he could be a bigger prospect than Potts and a future England star.
West Ham's next academy star
While Potts is the current academy product getting the attention and adulation from fans and pundits alike – justifiably so – he could soon be joined in the first team by another of Rush Green’s best: George Earthy.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
Now, the 21-year-old has made four appearances for the first team and even scored a brilliant goal against Luton Town in the Premier League a couple of years ago, but due to loan moves and injury, those four appearances have amounted to only 36 minutes.
In other words, most fans aren’t really thinking about the youngster, and those that occasionally do aren’t sure what sort of player they’ll be getting when he returns from his hamstring injury.
Well, firstly, even though his primary position is attacking midfield, the Havering-born gem has and can play in several positions across the pitch.
Second, he’s as comfortable scoring goals as he is providing assists, and has a seriously impressive record from his time in the academy.
For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists.
That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.
Appearances
60
55
Minutes
4804′
3618′
Goals
25
18
Assists
18
14
Goal Involvements per Match
0.71
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
111.72′
113.06′
Then, during his time with the u21s, he scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3618 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 113.06 minutes.
Finally, while he’s not played much for the Hammers, he has gained a decent amount of first-team experience from his time on loan with Bristol City last season, where he was named Young Player of the Season.
In all, so long as he can remain fit, West Ham have another superb homegrown talent on their hands in Earthy, which should help make up for them losing another, arguably more promising talent last year.
The Academy gem West Ham will rue losing
One of the most exciting talents to come through West Ham’s academy in the last five years or so was undoubtedly Divin Mubama.
During his time in West London, the Englishman was utterly unstoppable for the junior sides, racking up a staggering tally of 40 goals and five assists for the u18s and then 18 goals and two assists for the u21s.
This brilliant output saw him get a chance with the first team, and over the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons, he made 18 senior appearances, totalling 431 minutes.
West Ham
18
1
1
WH U21s
34
18
2
WH U18s
57
40
5
Man City
2
1
0
Man City U21s
9
8
4
Stoke City
15
5
1
However, in August 2024, then Premier League champions Manchester City came knocking, and despite their best efforts to keep him, Julen Lopetegui and Co had to make do with a measly £1.2m as he joined the Citizens.
To nobody’s surprise, the goalscoring machine continued his fine form in the North West, and ended the 24/25 campaign with 16 goals and four assists in 14 appearances for City’s u21s.
Moreover, Pep Guardiola gave him two run-outsrun-outs in the first team, and on his debut in an FA Cup game against Salford, he scored his first senior goal for the club.
Coming into this season, it was crystal clear that the 21-year-old is too good to play in the youth sides, and so he was sent out on loan to Stoke City in the Championship, where he has done a reasonable enough job.
For example, even though it’s his first season of regular first-team football, the “powerful” strike, as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored five goals and provided one assist in 15 appearances.
In addition to making his way in the club game, the Newham-born monster has also been in incredible form for England’s u21s.
In five caps, the game-changing marksman has already scored five goals and provided one assist.
Ultimately, it’s not West Ham’s fault, but if Mubama continues to develop in the way he has over the last year or so, they could really come to rue losing him.
West Ham given January greenlight to sign forward who Nuno called "unique"
West Ham United have agreed a deal with Nuno Espírito Santo to replace Graham Potter, who was sacked on Saturday morning after just nine months and 25 games in charge.
Nuno Espírito Santo takes over from Graham Potter at West Ham
The 51-year-old, after leaving Nottingham Forest due to a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, has wasted absolutely no time getting back to work, replacing Potter at West Ham.
The latter recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, with the Irons conceding a calamitous seven of their 13 goals from corners so far this season.
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12 Graham Potter
26.1%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
It quite simply couldn’t go on, and West Ham shareholders held a very real worry that relegation was staring them in the face (Claret & Hugh), despite senior members of the squad telling close friends that Potter was the right man for the job (The Telegraph).
ExWHUemployee was first to report earlier this week that Nuno was close to agreeing a West Ham deal, and widespread reports suggested that the former Wolves and Tottenham boss was a standout favourite.
Now, those reports have come to fruition, with the tactician poised to take charge of his first game away to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.
It is interesting to note that chairman David Sullivan was reportedly in favour of Slaven Bilic’s return on a short-term contract until the end of the season, with some media sources claiming that Nuno was demanding big wages to join West Ham and a longer-term deal.
The driving force behind Nuno Espírito Santo's move to West Ham
Therefore, it is little surprise that he wasn’t the driving force behind Nuno’s move to East London.
Indeed, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, vice-chairman Karren Brady was leading West Ham’s charge to appoint Nuno, with the journalist also revealing a disagreement between the official and Sullivan over Potter’s previous contract.
It appears Brady has overruled Sullivan for the second time in a year through Nuno’s arrival, but considering the coach’s obvious credentials, her decision could prove to be the right one.
Why Brady was right to push for Nuno's appointment at West Ham
A succession of other candidates were linked with the post, including Bilic, Gary O’Neil, Scott Parker, Marco Silva, Sean Dyche, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.
However, Nuno stands above all the aforementioned names.
Following his appointment at the City Ground, the ex-Al-Ittihad boss – who won a Saudi Pro League title there before leaving just months later – steadied the ship, solidified Forest’s leaky backline, improved their set-piece fragility and gave his former team a clear counter-attacking identity.
What followed was a sensational 2024/2025, where Forest stood out as last season’s major surprise package, and they were justly rewarded via securing a place back in European football for the first time in 30 years.
Nuno eventually got the very best out of his players, despite inheriting what was once a dire situation. West Ham supporters will be hoping he can now replicate that feat down south, with Nuno aiming to end 2025 on a high in very testing circumstances.
Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season hung heavy over Anfield as the Arne Slot era looked to get up and running, and many thought the former Feyenoord coach would fall quickly by the wayside.
But Liverpool won the Premier League, and Slot is now renowned not just for his shrewd triumphs in his Dutch homeland but his success on a grander scale with Liverpool, who have fortified last year’s exploits with an utterly merciless spending spree across the summer transfer window, now the overwhelming favourites to retain their crown.
Liverpool did have to haul some surplus this summer, selling a whole host of first-team players in a major reshuffle. Up-and-coming stars such as Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah were sold despite making headway as top English talents over the past few years.
Quansah fell toward the fringes under Slot’s wing last season, and was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m after being told he would continue to play a peripheral role throughout 2025/26.
Liverpool signed 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni to replace him, but Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi was the one who was viewed right up until the final moments of the transfer window as the perfect player to slot in alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool missed out on Guehi
When Guehi scored a peach against Aston Villa before the September international break, his celebration carried with it the sense that he had written an incredible, fairytale ending to his chapter at Crystal Palace.
A move to Liverpool wasn’t just on the cards, but imminent, only it fell through at the eleventh hour on deadline day after the Eagles failed to secure an adequate replacement for Oliver Glasner’s captain, who has been instrumental across 2025 for the multi-trophy-winning side.
Guehi, 25, has emerged over the past few years as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, with his combative and composed defensive style merging with a technical game that stretches beyond what is expected of a centre-half.
Indeed, he has been described as an “absolute gem” by his former coach Michael Beale, who singled out his formative years at Chelsea’s Cobham as building his technical level.
Glasner, for his part, is adamant that certain stories of his desperate – and successful – efforts to keep Guehi at the club were false.
In any case, Guehi remains a Palace player and has no intention of penning a new deal that would extend his contract beyond its expiry at the end of the season.
A move to Merseyside remains a convincing possibility, with Liverpool snapping him up for free.
In this way, Guehi could mimic another deal from the closed summer transfer window, becoming Liverpool’s version of a player who actually left Anfield for a European giant just a few months ago.
Liverpool's own version of Guehi
While the Anfield side were willing to part with such players, it was a different tale with homegrown hero Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was billed by many as Liverpool’s new version of Steven Gerrard after emerging from the academy.
But the 26-year-old instead left at the end of his contract and signed for Real Madrid.
It was a contentious decision, but one which the 26-year-old made after much consideration, leaving England and the Premier League and joining Los Blancos, Liverpool’s biggest European rivals of modern times, for a fresh challenge and a chance to take his career to the next level.
Many Reds couldn’t understand the decision, with jeers when the right-back entered the fray after confirmation of his decision was made known in May, during a draw with Arsenal, pushing the unsavoury situation toward boiling point.
Premier League
257
18 (67)
Champions League
60
2 (13)
FA Cup
13
1 (3)
Carabao Cup
10
0 (6)
Europa League
5
0 (2)
Club World Cup
2
0 (1)
CL Qualifying
2
0 (1)
Community Shield
2
1 (0)
UEFA Super Cup
1
0 (0)
Even so, Alexander-Arnold celebrated Liverpool’s Premier League title with his peers and showed an outpouring of emotion after playing his final match in a Liverpool shirt at the end of the season. The Three Lions star was synonymous with his former outfit’s resurgence of the past decade, after all.
Hailed as a “generational” talent by content creator Asim Mahmood, Liverpool must regret losing such an incredible, irreplaceable playmaker, one of the greatest passers of the ball in English history.
There are parallels between his situation and Guehi’s at Palace, to be sure, and those similarities might become more pronounced in the coming months, when talk of a pre-contract agreement with the Eagles captain gathers steam.
Whether Liverpool win that battle remains to be seen, with sources recently suggesting Chelsea are gearing up to make a move of their own for Guehi after the new year.
But if Guehi does have his heart set on a move to Liverpool, as has been suggested, Slot might just find himself welcoming his own version of Alexander-Arnold, landing an elite player on a Bosman and one who is cherished by the fanbase of a club who cannot bear the thought of his departure.
Of course, Trent will return to his old stomping ground sooner than he might have hoped for, with Real Madrid drawn against Liverpool in the league phase of the Champions League.
Liverpool chiefs will be frustrated that they couldn’t convince the Scouser to stay put, but Slot’s side have already shown they can overcome the setback, just as there is confidence that the failed attempt to sign Guehi from Crystal Palace will not stop the club from achieving their goals.
FSG have already sold Liverpool's homegrown Zubimendi for just £15m
Former Liverpool player is now starring as a deep-lying playmaker reminiscent of Zubimendi.
Newcastle United have turned their transfer window around, having for so much time across the past several months looked to have fallen by the wayside after a terrific 2024/25 campaign.
But, despite all the drama, Howe must be delighted with how PIF have pulled through with a series of exciting signings, the latest of which comes in the form of Nick Woltemade, who has joined from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee.
Woltemade, 23, scored 17 goals for the German side last season, and is considered to carry a deceptive depth of skill, belying his 6 foot 6 frame.
A thrilling addition, one of the most talented young nines out there, but Woltemade’s signing does come with the caveat that he is viewed as Alexander Isak’s replacement at the front of Howe’s system.
Isak remains a Newcastle player with t-minus 24 hours remaining of the market, but his incendiary comments earlier this month and fierce desire to leave St. James’ Park and sign for Liverpool have scoured all but the slimmest hopes of a harmonious and continuing relationship between the player and club.
Newcastle have only claimed two points from their opening three fixtures of the campaign, but the quality coursing through Howe’s squad remains intact, and the wins are sure to be around the corner.
However, it wouldn’t hurt to add another player to the ranks before the market slams shut on Monday evening, and there’s a feeling from some circles that PIF are gearing up to strike a deal for one of the world’s finest midfielders.
Newcastle lining up midfielder deal
Newcastle added Jacob Ramsey to their ranks in a package rising to £40m this month, but he was withdrawn with an issue against Leeds United, and injuries to Sandro Tonali and Joelinton against Liverpool have heightened the need for a deeper-lying midfielder.
Jacob Ramsey for Newcastle
And according to Spanish reports, an ambitious move for Eduardo Camavinga has beenprepared, though it will be difficult to land the Real Madrid star, with the La Liga giants issuing a firm not-for-sale response to intrigue.
Reports from earlier this week outline the Magpies’ interest in the France international, who has been valued at €70m (equating to around £61m) at this late stage of the window.
Camavinga, 22, would be a marquee addition for the Toon, and though Los Blancos are outwardly denying any chance of him leaving, there is a feeling that a bid entering the aforementioned ballpark would be considered.
What Eduardo Camavinga would bring to Newcastle
Camavinga joined Real Madrid from Rennes in his homeland in 2021, and he has won La Liga-Champions League doubles in 2022 and 2024, featuring 180 times for the Spaniards all told.
A deep-sitting midfielder, Camavinga blends grit and gusto from number six, specialising in combative defensive work and progressive passing play.
Thanks to FBref’s data, it can be observed that the Frenchman ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 16% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for ball recoveries and the top 1% for tackles won per 90.
Tonali’s injury heightens the need for such a player, but Camavinga could even prove to be an upgrade on the Italian maestro, statistically comparable to Premier League heavyweights like Ryan Gravenberch and Moises Caicedo.
Having bounced back from a lengthy suspension last term, 25-year-old Tonali became a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Magpies, instrumental in building top form throughout the winter and winning silverware thereafter.
But Camavinga might add even more to the St. James’ Park centre.
Injuries had a prohibitive effect on Camavinga’s form and fluency in La Liga last season, but from the matches he did play, he stood out. Indeed, his dynamism and range suggest he might even prove an upgrade on Newcastle’s star.
Matches (starts)
19 (11)
36 (28)
Goals
1
4
Assists
2
2
Touches*
53.5
53.4
Pass completion
89%
86%
Key passes*
0.6
0.8
Dribbles*
0.8
0.6
Ball recoveries*
4.7
4.9
Tackles + interceptions*
3.1
2.3
Duels (won)*
5.7 (60%)
3.7 (54%)
Similar players, Camavinga would ease the workload on Tonali while ensuring that Howe is able to rotate as Newcastle challenge both domestically and in the Champions League without working to the detriment of the squad’s performance levels.
Hailed for his “world-class” quality by journalist Thom Harris, Camavinga would cost a pretty penny to bring over to Tyneside, but there’s just cause for such a mammoth bid.
Of course, reservations stemming from the rangy player’s injury record are understandable, but while Camavinga, in his finest form, has a higher ceiling and more about him than the impressive Tonali, he wouldn’t displace the Italian, but rather, jockey for a position, perhaps leading Howe to eke out the best from both players.
A strong ball-carrying presence with physicality and athleticism to take him far in the Premier League, Camavinga could hit the jackpot by stepping away from Real Madrid and rehousing in Newcastle’s midfield, where he could showcase his skills as a talismanic part of Howe’s project, raising the level of those around him too.
Having enjoyed a trophy-laden start to his career, Camavinga could bring that mentality to the Premier League and take Newcastle to the next level, with the English club having enjoyed a taste of true success at the highest level and now hungering for more.
Imagine him & Bruno: Newcastle lodge bid for "one of the world's best DMs"
Newcastle are looking to sign one of the best midfielders on the planet to partner Bruno Guimaraes
All Leeds United fans will be crossing their fingers now that the Whites can maintain a Premier League position for the foreseeable.
Daniel Farke’s side do jump back up the unforgiving league dripping with confidence, having just lifted the Championship title with a colossal 100 points, but the West Yorkshire outfit will be very aware of how challenging the step up can be.
Leeds United celebrate winning Championship title.
The Whites unfortunately tasted the bitterness of relegation at the close of their dire 2022-23 season, with another relegation also on their record way back in 2004 when Mark Viduka was still leading the line.
To avoid a hat-trick of slip-ups, Leeds will now be in the market for a whole host of players to enhance their options in the Premier League, with this defensive target one body who could really boost Farke’s side.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkecelebrates after the match
Leeds now ready to sign £1.2m defender
As per a report in the Express journalist Charlie Gordon, Leeds are readying a move for Millwall star Japhet Tanganga with his transfer valuation all the way down at a meagre £1.2m.
This is the case as Tanganga has a release clause around this slim amount for all Premier League clubs, which has alerted Farke’s men back to his services, who would be more than happy to fork out this reasonable fee. However, they are not alone in their advances.
As is revealed above, Crystal Palace view the ex-Tottenham Hotspur defender as a cost-effective possible replacement for Marc Guehi, with both Sunderland and Burnley also keen on Tanganga’s services after their own jubilant promotion stories.
If Leeds were to win the services of the cheap 26-year-old, they could be about to land their next Ethan Ampadu, with Ampadu now viewed as a successful bargain in his own right after repairing his career in the EFL.
How Tanganga could be Ampadu 2.0
Ampadu would join the Elland Road ranks for around the £7m mark in the summer of 2023, having failed to ever make an impression at Chelsea.
The Welshman won’t be plagued with any lingering disappointment in the here and now as to how his Stamford Bridge tale ended, however, with the 24-year-old going on to be a key part of Farke’s camp. Last season saw Ampadu notch up a formidable 16 clean sheets from 29 league appearances, on top of looking ice-cold with the ball at his feet with a 90% pass accuracy averaged per clash.
Tanganga will hope he can be as pivotal to Leeds’ defence if he relocates from the Den to West Yorkshire shortly, with the 6-foot defender also having to get over the dismay of walking away from Spurs, much like Ampadu at Chelsea, to be the imposing option at the back he is today.
He will already be known to Leeds fans for this poked finish he managed against Farke’s champions last season, but away from silencing the Whites masses in this instance, he could soon be cheered in the same manner as Ampadu for his similarly classy yet dominant performances.
Games played
40
Goals scored
2
Assists
0
Touches*
49
Accurate passes*
26 (78%)
Tackles*
1.4
Ball recoveries*
3.8
Clearances*
5.4
Total duels won*
5.8
Clean sheets
14
As can be seen glancing at the table above, the Hackney-born target operates in a very similar vein to Ampadu, with Tanganga an equally capable performer on the ball when looking at his passing statistics, on top of his ability to rise valiantly into duels with 5.8 won on average. To add context, his Welsh counterpart won less at 5.1 on average, even as promotion was sealed.
The former Spurs youth product was even hailed as ‘magnificent’ by Premier League icon Alan Shearer when starring for the North London titans previously, with Tanganga actually already boasting 27 top-flight appearances on his career resume.
Pundit Carlton Palmer also claimed that the defender is “capable of playing in the Premier League” because of his “tremendous recovery pace”.
Millwall'sJaphetTangangain action with Portsmouth's Isaac Hayden
He could well be a perfect fit in West Yorkshire, therefore, as Farke’s men continue to hunt down Premier League-ready talents.
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Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has heaped praise on a reported Andrea Berta transfer target, amid claims they’re the main contender for him if he does eventually leave his current club.
Arsenal identify striker targets as Berta searches for centre-forward
Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus left Mikel Arteta exposed during the second half of 2024/2025, so much so that midfielder Mikel Merino needed to be deployed in an emergency striker role.
When Arsenal could now announce Martin Zubimendi deal after surprise update
The Spain international is on his way to north London.
ByEmilio Galantini May 29, 2025
Even before Arsenal were left without a recognised number nine for an extended period, their struggles to find the net resulted in Liverpool beating them to the Premier League title by a seismic 10-point gap.
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
The north Londoners scored just 69 goals in the league, far lower than the 91 and 88 they’d scored in the previous two top-flight campaigns, which adds further weight to the argument that Arsenal quite simply must bring in a prolific frontman before the start of next season.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres for the last three weeks and beyond, with some reports in Portugal claiming Berta has already proposed contract terms to the Swede (O Jogo).
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
Meanwhile, reliable media sources indicate that Arsenal are holding “concrete” talks over a move for RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko as well (Florian Plettenberg), with Arteta and Berta weighing up their best options.
Berta has been holding “numerous” talks with key attacking targets, as he’s been doing when it comes to Arsenal’s preferred names for the wing (Florian Plettenberg), so it would be little surprise if the Italian is doing the same for Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker.
Another centre-forward who’s been linked this week is £114,000-per-week Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez.
Spanish newspaper Marca even reported that Arsenal are the “strongest bidder” for Alvarez, even if Fabrizio Romano has since claimed that Diego Simeone’s side will stand firm in their bid to keep hold of the Argentine.
Thierry Henry hails "complete" Julian Alvarez amid Arsenal links
Speaking on The Overlap, Henry shared his verdict on the ex-Man City striker, amid these claims that Arsenal are expressing an interest.
Henry is quoted as saying Alvarez is the “most complete” number nines he’s seen recently, with the Arsenal legend even calling the 25-year-old one of his favourite current strikers.
“One of my favourite 9s out there at the minute is Julian Alvarez,” said Henry.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
“Putting pressure, playing alone, low, whatever you want to do. He can hold the ball alone. He played at the Olympic games, he played the Copa America, I don’t hear him saying ‘I’m tired’, and the way he plays it to you, you know, I just like him.”
Even if Atlético became open to selling, the cost of a potential deal would be lofty, with some reports claiming he has a £126 million release clause in his contract.
After an excellent debut campaign in La Liga, where he’s racked up 29 goals and seven assists in all competitions, tempting him back to the Premier League so soon is set to be a big ask for Berta.
Glasgow Rangers transfer business has been a major cause for concern since the summer of 2021.
Plenty of managers have come and gone during that time, but not one has been able to say they enjoyed success in the transfer market.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst spent big on the likes of Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, and Ridvan Yilmaz, but they have hardly set the world on fire at Ibrox.
Former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Michael Beale also had money to spend, but like his predecessor, it was wasted on flops such as Sam Lammers and Jose Cifuentes, who are now playing elsewhere.
Last summer, Robin Propper and Nedim Bajrami arrived in Glasgow under Philippe Clement, but they also failed to live up to the hype generated upon their move to Scotland.
Of course, not every signing has been poor. Nico Raskin has emerged as one of the club’s best players this season, winning the club’s Player of the Year. Todd Cantwell was solid in spells, while Hamza Igamane could generate a profit for the Light Blues following a stunning debut campaign.
Perhaps the player who could become one of the most important for the club is Mohamed Diomande, who has gone about his business without much fanfare since joining in January 2024, initially on loan.
Mohamed Diomande has been a great signing for Rangers
The Ivorian midfielder joined the Gers on a six-month loan deal in the 2024 winter window, which would become permanent that summer for a fee in the region of £4.3m.
It was a gamble, especially with the money involved, but the move turned out to be a success.
He showed glimpses of his ability during the loan spell, scoring twice in 19 games, grabbing an assist too, and it looked as though he could become a key figure in Clement’s midfield.
Able to operate either as a number ten or in a slightly deeper role, Diomande’s ability to run with the ball and glide past opponents ensures he is a success in either of these roles.
With the likes of Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence likely to leave this summer, a space for someone like Diomande to play higher up the pitch could be available regularly. This season, the 23-year-old has scored six and registered nine assists in all competitions for the Light Blues.
His game is well-suited to a more advanced role. When compared to his positional peers across the Europa League this season, the midfielder ranks in the top 6% for assists (0.23) and in the top 11% for successful take-ons (1.14) per 90.
He has still to reach his peak years as a player, and if Rangers can keep hold of Diomande under the new manager, he could become the new fulcrum of the team.
Whoever does take charge of the Glasgow giants on a permanent basis will be keen on making their own signings. It appears as though the 49ers Enterprises have earmarked a Brazilian midfielder as one of the first of a new era this summer.
Rangers need a new midfielder
Several names have already been linked with a move to Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window opening in a few weeks.
The 49ers will be aiming to build a side that can challenge Celtic for domestic dominance, hoping that the club will return to the summit of Scottish football once again.
According to the Scottish Sun last week, the Light Blues have earmarked Basel loanee Metinho as a top target this summer.
He is currently valued a £4m, which is a significant outlay for the club. A potential move could depend on whether the new manager can raise funds by selling some deadwood.
He will return to his parent club, Troyes, when the season finishes, but with Championship clubs showing interest, acting swiftly will be key.
With Raskin being touted for a move to England this summer, the 49ers will need to replace the Belgian international sufficiently.
Nico Raskin
If Metinho arrives in Scotland, he could fill the gap left by Raskin, which, in turn, would allow him to thrive with Diomande in the midfield.
Why Rangers must sign Metinho
Metinho came through the Fluminense academy and was one of the best prospects of his generation.
Indeed, in 2021, he was lauded by SelecaoTalk, who said: “Brazil’s best from his generation. He’s called ‘Little Pogba’.”
“He’s got everything, so complete. Very similar to Gerson who also came through the Fluminense academy.”
Moving to Europe later that year, the Brazilians struggled to make much of an impact. An 18-month loan spell at Sparta Rotterdam saw him demonstrate glimpses of his talent.
Metric (per 90)
Raskin
Metinho
Tackles
2.9
3
Interceptions
0.7
1.1
Possession lost
10.1
6.2
Total duels won
6.6
4.7
Balls recovered
5.7
4.5
Accurate passes
46.7
29.3
It wasn’t until moving to Basel earlier this year, however, that the 22-year-old finally matured enough to perform consistently well.
Operating at the heart of the midfield, Metinho has played a solid role in the club winning their first league title since 2017.
Across ten matches, he averages three tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game domestically, while also recovering 4.5 balls per game for the Swiss side.
Furthermore, his ability to retain possession is excellent, losing the ball just 6.2 times per game. The midfielder even wins an impressive 4.7 total duels per game – a success rate of 66% – for Basel.
These statistics would not only make a solid replacement for Raskin, but also someone who could work well deployed behind Diomande at the base of the midfield.
As evidenced, the Ivorian star looks better when playing in a more advanced role. Having someone like Metinho mopping up everything behind him would certainly give Diomande plenty of freedom to attack.
Much will depend on the finances available to the new manager this summer. If the Brazilian is still available for around £4m by the time he arrives at Ibrox, it is a move which could be worth pursuing.
He could be a player who may generate a magnificent profit in the years to come for the Glasgow side.
Rangers could sign the next Ryan Kent with move for "outstanding" star
As the 49ers look to rebuild Rangers’ squad during the summer, could they secure an “outstanding” winger on a free, who could be the next Ryan Kent?
Manchester United are still alive in their quest to obtain Champions League football and could now have an opportunity to land one of Europe’s most talked about playmakers, per reports.
Manchester United look to boost summer budget
Despite a fairly dismal domestic campaign, the Red Devils could still wheel away with a place in the Champions League league phase next season should they claim the Europa League crown later this month.
After a storming victory over Athletic Club last Thursday, Manchester United have one foot in the final and will look to build on their three-goal advantage next week at Old Trafford.
Should they prevail, Ruben Amorim would then be tasked with a money-spinning winner-takes-all clash against either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt, with the former looking the more likely to progress to the showpiece occasion.
Financially, Manchester United could make around £85.8 million from winning the Europa League, factoring in subsequent Champions League qualification. Unsurprisingly, this could give INEOS a much-needed leg-up in the market, so Viktor Gyokeres and Matheus Cunha could join the Red Devils from Sporting and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively, if all goes to plan.
Manchester United’s remaining fixtures in all competitions
Brentford (A)
Premier League
Athletic Club (H)
Europa League semi-final second leg
West Ham United (H)
Premier League
Chelsea (A)
Premier League
Aston Villa (H)
Premier League
*Potential Europa League final appearance on 21/05/2025
Talks have been held over Manchester United signing Jonathan Tah on a free transfer once his contract at Bayer Leverkusen expires, though there is further interest in his services from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Fundamentally, it remains to be seen how Amorim’s squad takes shape. Plenty of individuals could be moved on, but how you supplement their departures is what counts. Now, Manchester United have found out that they can sign one of the top playmakers in all of Europe’s top-five leagues if he is made the star man at Old Trafford.
Manchester United given demands by Lyon's Rayan Cherki
Per reports in Spain, Manchester United could see Rayan Cherki arrive from Lyon this summer if he is given a ‘leading role’ in their line-up moving forward under Amorim. The France Under-21 international would be open to a new challenge at the end of this season and it is said that negotiations could intensify over the next few months that may see him end up at Old Trafford.
Perfect for Cunha: Man Utd in advanced talks to sign "world-class" talent
Manchester United have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements, with a deal edging closer for one star.
ByEthan Lamb May 2, 2025
Earning adulation for his entertaining displays, Cherki has registered 12 goals and 19 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this season for Lyon. Creating 68 chances on Ligue 1 duty, the 21-year-old has shot to prominence as one of Europe’s maverick inventive forces and now looks destined to take the next step in his career at one of the elite.
Now, Manchester United need to make sure they can give him assurances on first-team action, which may be the factor that helps any deal over the line.