All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

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Newcastle added Jacob Ramsey to their ranks in a package rising to £40m this month, but he was withdrawn with an issue against Leeds United, and injuries to Sandro Tonali and Joelinton against Liverpool have heightened the need for a deeper-lying midfielder.

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

ByWill Miller Aug 31, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are apparently wasting no time on another transfer pursuit, right after they finally sealed a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

He'd be better than Rodrygo: Arsenal "are looking" at signing £100m winger

Arsenal are ready to complete their summer transfer window with a big-money signing.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 25, 2025

The last month of their summer window has been dominated by their chase for Gyökeres.

Two weeks ago, Arsenal agreed a deal in principle to sign the Swedish striker for £64 million, paying a £55m guaranteed fee plus around £9m in add-ons (The Athletic), but talks were held up over the structure of the aforementioned bonuses (GOAL).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£153m

However, earlier this week, Arteta’s side finally reached a breakthrough for the ex-Coventry City star, and Gyokeres is now set to become a new Arsenal player (Sky Sports).

The 27-year-old, who scored 54 goals in all competitions last season, became Berta’s primary target after the Gunners abandonded initial talks for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

After signing Gyokeres, attention is turning to their pursuit of a central attacking midfielder, as Arteta looks to add more creativity to his squad following their struggles against the low-block last campaign.

Arsenal confirmed Noni Madueke’s arrival last weekend, but aside from Gyokeres, the England international is their only attacking signing of the window. Their deal for Madueke, which attracted mixed reviews from supporters, was apparently pushed by Berta.

Madueke and Gyokeres, according to recent reports, could soon be joined by Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.

Eberechi Eze convinced he's going to join Arsenal

Arsenal are expected to accelerate their plans to sign Eze, and journalist Graeme Bailey has shared a very intriguing update in a piece for TBR Football.

According to the journalist, Eze has told friends that he’s going to join Arsenal this summer, following talks with the Gunners, and it is reported that Arteta’s side have held discussions with Palace too.

It is by no means a certainty that Arsenal will formally make a bid just yet, according to the journalist, as Berta is known for spinning many plates at once when it comes to transfer targets, and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo remains on their shortlist.

However, Bailey is convinced that there is a strong possibility Eze will sign for Arsenal by the end of next month.

“I am told that Eze remains firmly on Arsenal’s radar, and they have done plenty of work on him,” said Bailey.

“There is a very good chance that Eze will be an Arsenal player before the end of August.”

Eze bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Palace last season, including their FA Cup final-winning goal against Man City, and his release clause is believed to be around £60 million (plus a potential £8m if bonuses are reached).

Chelsea are expected to remain busy on transfers this summer after clinching the Club World Cup in New Jersey, with the Blues receiving an estimated £87.5 million worth of prize money as a result of their success in the tournament.

£22m player very keen to join Chelsea, talks once held, he's a top target

The west Londoners could still make more signings.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

Their statement 3-0 win over European champions PSG at the MetLife Stadium last Sunday, rounding off six wins from seven CWC matches across the pond, effectively paid for both Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens – who cost Chelsea a total of £85 million to sign earlier this window.

This, combined with the exits of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli and Djordje Petrovic, who left for an estimated £96 million, means Chelsea are actually making a profit so far this summer.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

That isn’t even including the undisclosed fee they received for Mathis Amougou, who joined sister club Strasbourg in a permanent deal just months after arriving from Ligue 1 side St Etienne.

Chelsea do have more money to spend whilst comfortably keeping in line with PSR, even if they’re under pressure to sell more players by UEFA, or risk not being able to register new signings for their Champions League squad next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo are pondering unofficial swap deals as a solution to this – given it would allow them to both reinforce Enzo Maresca’s ranks and balance out the squad.

Nicolas Jackson is one of the men who could be used as a makeweight, given the uncertainty surrounding his future and interest from Premier League sides, including Aston Villa.

Writing via his Substack, Phillips reports that Villa’s interest in Jackson could open the door for Chelsea to ask about their star winger Morgan Rogers.

Morgan Rogers "very open" to joining Chelsea

It’s already been suggested by other sources that they hold a serious interest in the England international, and Phillips suggests that Rogers is “very open” to joining Chelsea, who’d absolutely “love” to sign him.

“Chelsea would love to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but they quoted north of £90m for him, so Chelsea haven’t taken it any further yet,” said the journalist.

“If Villa come knocking for Jackson as expected, then Chelsea will mention Rogers. It would have to be a deal that would suit both. Rogers is very open to moving to Chelsea but isn’t actively pursuing a move from Villa, who would also be open to selling Rogers but for the right price.

“They really like Jackson though, so it may well be something that could develop down the line if the deal fits all parties.”

The 22-year-old made a real name for himself at Villa Park last term, bagging 14 goals and 15 assists across 54 appearances in all competitions, including four goals and three assists in the Champions League.

He also fits Chelsea’s usual transfer profile as a young star with bags of potential and plenty of resale value, but Villa will be very wary of green-lighting his exit, considering just how imperative Rogers was for Unai Emery throughout 2024/2025.

Manchester United appear to be making huge strides in their move to land Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo after a second offer was made in recent days.

The Cameroonian has been one of the club’s key targets over the course of this window, as boss Ruben Amorim looks to improve his frontline at Old Trafford.

Such interest is hardly a surprise given his form in the Premier League this campaign, netting 20 times in his 38 appearances – the best return of his professional career to date.

It’s been reported that the latest bid is in the region of £60m for the 25-year-old, but it remains to be seen if such an offer will be accepted, with the player himself wanting the move this window.

However, even if Mbeumo does complete a switch to join the Red Devils this summer, it appears as though he won’t be the last attacking addition, with numerous other names still on their radar.

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

A striker has been high up on United’s radar, with Juventus star Dušan Vlahović the latest name mentioned over a potential switch to join Amorim’s side.

Viktor Gyokeres has been another player hugely linked with the Red Devils, recently stating his desire to leave current side Sporting CP ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, another name has remerged on their shortlist, with Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku again a key target, after previously registering interest last summer, according to L’Equipe.

They claim that United have entered talks with Enzo Maresca’s side over a deal for the Frenchman forward, who cost a staggering £52m back in the summer of 2023.

It also states that current Red Devils star Alejandro Garnacho could be used to lower the fee in any deal with the Argentine expected to depart throughout the off-season.

Why United’s £52m target could be perfect alongside Mbeumo

As previously mentioned, a deal for Mbeumo appears to be heading in the right direction, with his goal tally showcasing the talent he possesses within the final third.

However, should he move to United this summer, it’s unclear which position he will regularly feature in, having operated in the right-wing position at the GTEC this season.

The 25-year-old has also started in a central role when needed, something which he will likely do on a regular basis at Old Trafford considering Amorim operates with a 3-4-2-1 system which uses two central attacking midfielders.

His versatility could be key to any future success endured by the club in the near future, but he could also strike up a key partnership with fellow potential addition Nkunku.

The 27-year-old has struggled for minutes with the Blues this campaign, starting just nine times in the league but still posting a respectable tally of three goals and two assists.

He’s capable of playing as a central striker, or even as a number 10, but he will likely operate in the former, with the Cameroonian handing him the ammunition from a deeper role.

The Chelsea star, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has averaged 1.1 shots on target per 90 this campaign, putting 44% of his efforts on target, subsequently able to provide the needed threat the side have lacked.

Games played

27

Goals & assists

5

Shots on target per 90

1.1

Pass accuracy

90%

Shot-on-target accuracy

44%

Key passes made

1.4

Aerials won

42%

He will certainly be bolstered in the final third by Mbeumo’s creativity, with the Cameroonian registering 3.7 progressive passes per 90, having the tools to hand those in front of him with key opportunities.

Nkunku’s talents don’t end there, also posting a superb tally of 90% of passes completed, with 1.4 of his passes per game being defined as key passes, subsequently able to return the favour to Mbeumo.

He may not be the tallest centre-forward, but he’s managed to win 42% of the aerials he’s entered, having the tools to get on the end of crosses provided by Mbeumo, who ranks in the top 9% of attackers in the division for such a category.

The prospect of the pair linking up together at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one, having the chance to lead the club back up the table throughout 2025/26.

Whilst it’s unclear how advanced a deal for Nkunku is, he has proven that he’s capable of being a success in the Premier League, subsequently weakening a rival in the process.

A better move than Ekitike: Man Utd preparing bid for "top-class" £44m ST

Manchester United appear top be making more moves for a striker ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 23, 2025

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.

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 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”.

He could well be a perfect fit in West Yorkshire, therefore, as Farke’s men continue to hunt down Premier League-ready talents.

Better than Bijol: Leeds targeting "best CB outside the top five leagues"

Leeds United can forget about Jaka Bijol with a move for another star defender.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 14, 2025

Pep Guardiola is pushing Manchester City to offer one of his current players in exchange for a Real Madrid star, according to a recent report.

Cherki looking to create his own Man City legacy

The Blues have been very busy in the early part of this transfer window, bringing in four new players. They have added Marcus Bettinelli to their squad as another goalkeeper option, along with Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon.

City have seen Kevin de Bruyne leave the club and join Napoli this summer, and therefore, signing someone with Cherki’s creativity was crucial. However, the French attacking midfielder has stressed he is “not De Bruyne”, and he is keen to “write my own story” at the Etihad.

“I’m not Kevin De Bruyne; he is the legend. I’m here to help the team and to write my own story. I hope to win all the time with the team.

“When you see Rodri, he won the Ballon d’Or here – it’s clear that with Manchester City it’s possible, and I am here for this.

Man City now "close" to completing signing of "crazy" 15 y/o attacking gem

He is a player with a massive future.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 13, 2025

“When I spoke with Pep, he wanted me – he was very, very clear. Pep told me, ‘when you have the ball, you are free’, which is very good for me because it’s my first quality to help the team.

“The system, the club, the city is very good. I want to win, and I think Manchester City wants to win it all.”

Pep wants Rodrygo to join Man City overhaul

Cherki may not be the last of the new attackers arriving at the Etihad in this transfer window, as according to a report from Spain, Pep wants Man City to offer Jack Grealish to Real Madrid in exchange for Rodrygo.

Grealish has been left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, as his time at the club appears to be coming to an end. Guardiola is keen for the Englishman to get another big move and sees him as someone who can help bring Rodrygo’s price down, which currently stands at £84 million.

However, this report does state that Real Madrid are not interested in signing Grealish, and Xabi Alonso has already made it clear to the Brazilian forward that he is a key part of his plans going forward.

Rodrygo

Grealish

Apps

30

20

Starts

22

7

Goals

6

1

xG

4.0

1.1

Goals per 90

0.28

0.12

Assists

6

1

xAG

3.0

1.8

Assists per 90

0.23

0.12

Progressive carries

113

69

Grealish, who earns £300,000 a week at City, is already wanted by teams such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa, with the Magpies said to be the ones leading the race to secure his transfer.

Last season, Grealish played just 20 times in the Premier League, scoring one goal and registering one assist in the process. Meanwhile, Rodrygo, who has been dubbed a “magician” by Statman Dave, scored six goals as well as assisting a further six in 30 La Liga games.

It will be interesting to see how the summer transfer window unfolds for Celtic ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as Brendan Rodgers enters his third season back at Parkhead.

The Northern Irish head coach has failed to land the treble, falling short with two out of three trophies in both of his two seasons, since returning to Glasgow in the summer of 2023.

He may want to push for most domestic success, as well as pushing on in the Champions League, and big signings could contribute to that, including the addition of Kieran Tierney.

The Scotland international is the only confirmed incoming of the window for the Hoops so far, as the left-back will officially sign for the club at the start of next month after his contract at Arsenal expires.

It has been six years since Tierney left the Scottish Premiership giants to sign for the Gunners in a reported £25m deal, and now he is returning for nothing.

Whilst the experienced defender is coming in as a high-profile signing for Celtic, the club have had success in plucking out lesser-known gems, including from the lower leagues in England, with Matt O’Riley a recent example of that.

How Celtic hit the jackpot with Matt O'Riley

The English-born central midfielder was playing for MK Dons in the 2021/22 campaign and had racked up seven goals and five assists in 26 appearances in League One heading into the January transfer window.

Despite the fact that he was playing in the third tier of football in England, Celtic were willing to gamble on his talent and reportedly spent £1.5m to sign him from MK Dons in January 2022.

The left-footed magician hit the ground running with four goals and three assists in 16 appearances in the Premiership during the second half of that season under Ange Postecoglou.

O’Riley followed that up with a return of three goals and 12 assists in 38 appearances in the division in the 2022/23 campaign, before really hitting his stride in Rodgers’ first year back in Glasgow.

Sofascore rating

7.91

1st

Goals

18

1st

Assists

13

1st

Big chances created

14

1st

Key passes per game

2.5

1st

As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international was incredibly influential for the Northern Irish head coach with his contributions at the top end of the pitch from a central midfield position in the Premiership.

O’Riley was the team’s biggest threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the league, with 31 combined goals and assists, which led to a move to Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of more than £25m.

Overall, Celtic hit the jackpot with O’Riley, as evidenced by his performances and the huge profit they made on his services, because the club were willing to gamble on a talent from the lower leagues in England.

Celtic's interest in League One starlet

The Scottish giants could repeat that masterclass in the current summer transfer window amid their reported interest in a star who played in League One in the 2024/25 campaign.

GIVEMESPORT reported at the end of last month that Celtic are one of a staggering 26 clubs interested in a deal to sign Kwame Poku when his contract at Peterborough United expires at the end of June.

Transfer Focus

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

The outlet named the Hoops and Rangers as suitors for the Ghana international and noted that they would not have to pay as much in compensation as English clubs would due to UEFA’s cross-border compensation rules.

Championship side Birmingham, who won League One with a whopping 111 points, have already made an offer, via Zoom, to the player’s representatives, though, which means that Celtic could need to move quickly to snap him up.

If the Premiership champions can win the race to land the left-footed star, though, then they could repeat the blinder that they played with Matt O’Riley.

Why Kwame Poku would be a Matt O'Riley repeat

As aforementioned, Celtic hit the jackpot with the Danish midfielder because they were willing to gamble on his form in League One in England translating well to the top tier in Scotland.

O’Riley, as Poku would be, also arrived as a young player with time ahead of him to grow and develop, which was illustrated by the way he grew into becoming a superstar at Parkhead in his final season under Rodgers.

At the age of 23, Poku still has plenty of time left to improve as a player and could be a long-term signing for the Hoops, with a view to them making a significant profit on him in the future.

In fact, Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony believes that he has the potential to be worth £30m: “He’s top drawer. He has everything, a great technique, pace and physicality. He will be a Premier League star in the future and that next move will probably cost £30m.”

Do his performances back up that hype from the Posh owner, though? Poku’s output in the final third in the last two League One seasons suggests that they do.

Appearances

37

27

Goals

11

12

Big chances missed

11

3

Big chances created

10

9

Key passes per game

1.5

1.2

Assists

7

8

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic transfer target has been an incredibly productive forward in the third tier as a right winger for Peterborough, delivering 23 assists and creating 19 ‘big chances’.

The Posh magician, who was hailed as “unplayable” by manager Darren Ferguson, has the potential to be an influential figure at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops because he has the ability to provide goals and assists at an impressive rate.

Whether he will go on to be worth £30m is up for debate but that is the potential that he has, as evidenced by MacAnthony’s comments and his statistics in League One, and that is why it would be a worthwhile gamble by the club.

Celtic have shown that they will take a risk on young players, like O’Riley, and that is why they should repeat that masterclass by pushing to win the race for this third tier starlet.

After Bain: Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Celtic flop who's a "bit soft"

Celtic must ruthlessly move on from this flop after they already let go of Scott Bain.

ByDan Emery Jun 4, 2025

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).

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.

“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.

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.

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?

ByBen Gray May 16, 2025

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.