All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Leeds United ended the window in frustrating fashion, but could now be ready to make amends with a statement signing in January.

Leeds miss out on late window targets

Supporters at Elland Road will feel a sense of frustration at the closing stages of the market period, where the Whites missed out on a number of targets that would’ve helped Daniel Farke to shape his squad for the bulk of the campaign.

Despite Leeds lodging a late move for Gustavo Hamer, Sheffield United made it clear that he wouldn’t be sold for under their valuation of the playmaker, hence why he remained at Bramall Lane.

Report suggest that the Whites also missed out on Fulham star Harry Wilson, while Pete O’Rourke has signalled that Farke has to carry a level of frustration amid the club being unable to bring Manor Solomon back to Yorkshire from Tottenham Hotspur.

He told Football Insider: “There will be a hint of frustration for Daniel Farke – they missed out on some targets. They are still lacking a bit up front, Leeds and he fears for them on that front – not getting the deal done for Manor Solomon will be a blow to Farke and the Leeds fans, because he had such a great impact there on loan last season.

“They tried to sign Harry Wilson on deadline day from Fulham and weren’t able to get that deal over the line as well, so they were looking to add some creativity in the final third.”

Joe Rodon’s injury scare has issued a reminder that there is still work to do at Leeds to bring in the depth required to handle Premier League football, and they may now look to add to their backline once the transfer window opens.

Leeds plotting January move for Nico O'Reilly

According to CaughtOffside, Leeds are plotting a January move to sign Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly, who is also said to be in the sights of Brighton & Hove Albion, Lyon, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea. Capable of playing at left-back or central midfield, the 20-year-old has registered five goals and two assists in 23 appearances across all competitions for the Sky Blues.

Tottenham plan January talks for £160k-a-week Man City star after Frank request

Spurs have their eyes on another City man after links to Savinho and Manuel Akanji.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 4, 2025

Dubbed “awesome” by Mark Kennedy, Bayer Leverkusen saw two bids rejected for the England Under-21 international during the summer window, and he may be set to pen new terms at the Etihad Stadium on a long-term basis.

Nevertheless, Leeds could look to offer first-team guarantees before that scenario becomes a reality. The outlet claim nothing has been signed yet, offering a chance for Farke’s men to sell a vision before January comes around, when Leverkusen will again be in the mix.

Acquiring promising talent could be one avenue to securing Premier League survival, but it remains to be seen whether the 49ers could push such a statement deal over the line.

Change has very much been afoot for Liverpool this summer, and Arne Slot’s managerial capacity will be put to a new kind of test as he prepares to defend the Premier League title he claimed in his first term at the helm.

Jurgen Klopp parted ways with Liverpool in 2024, and many expected his predecessor to fail in his place. When FSG’s new era failed to bring in significant transfer investment with the 2024/25 campaign kicking off, such concerns were magnified.

This hinges on Newcastle United’s ability to sign a replacement. The Magpies are fighting to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but they are fighting against Manchester United, who are pushing to win the race and concurrently strike a blow to Liverpool’s plans.

However, for all the Florian Wirtz’s and Hugo Ekitike’s and maybe Isak’s too, Slot also has command of one of European football’s most exciting up-and-comers.

And Rio Ngumoha is showcasing his potential to become a mainstay in the years to come.

Rio Ngumoha's potential at Liverpool

Ngumoha turned 16 one month ago, and already he’s establishing himself as an important part of Liverpool’s pre-season plans, starring against Preston North End before claiming an assist against AC Milan and scoring against Yokohama FM in Japan.

The silky winger’s performance against Milan, Serie A giants, was particularly striking: as per Sofascore, he complemented his assist with two key passes, three successful dribbles and four won duels.

But perhaps he truly came into his own against Yokohama, making mazy runs the (admittedly inferior) opponents knew not how to handle.

While Luis Diaz’s £65.5m sale to Bayern Munich has polarised the fanbase, there’s little question that Ngumoha has the potential to become a star every bit as bright down the line.

After the event, The Athletic’s James Pearce, who was in attendance, said, “This kid is a joy to watch.”

Liverpool discuss move for Diaz heir

Plenty of rumours have floated about in recent weeks, with speculation rife over Diaz’s future and who could be welcomed to the fold in his place.

But Fabrizio Romano has shed some concrete information on the matter, revealing to GIVEMESPORT that Lyon’s Malick Fofana has been discussed internally, although a bid or indeed talks have not yet started.

Everton have submitted a bid and are hopeful that they will add the 20-year-old Fofana to their ranks, but he is holding out for a club boasting Champions League football. A club like Liverpool.

Furthermore, Newcastle have registered their own interest this summer, with reports claiming it would take a £43m fee for Lyon to part with their prospect.

Why Liverpool want Malick Fofana

Fofana is only young, but he’s already demonstrated his quality. After the 2024/25 campaign, talent scout Jacek Kulig remarked that he’s “still a bit inconsistent, but already showing flashes of his enormous potential.”

And it’s that enormous potential which has charmed the Liverpool data analysts, for Fofana has caused quite the stir across his season-and-a-half with Lyon, scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists across 64 matches.

Fofana would be a work in progress, for sure, but you can see why Liverpool fancy him as the successor to Diaz’s place in Slot’s squad. He’s got a goalscoring focus to his game, and he’s versatile too.

Goals scored

0.47

0.48

Assists

0.21

0.15

Shots taken

1.84

2.52

Shot-creating actions

3.38

4.34

Goal-creating actions

0.60

0.53

Touches (att pen)

6.08

6.18

Pass completion

77.1%

83.5%

Progressive passes

2.44

3.95

Progressive carries

6.72

3.98

Successful take-ons

1.41

2.17

Tackles + interceptions

1.84

1.69

However, with Cody Gakpo already on the left flank and with Ekitike’s high-speed running and controlled dribbling sure to be utilised on the left at times if Liverpool sign Isak, should they really be investing in such a player as Fofana when Ngumoha is pushing to make waves on the senior stage?

The English talent may only be young, but he’s got the makings of something special, so powerful and balanced on the ball, carrying the seeds of prolific potential.

Of course, neither player will provide the solution to the loss of Diaz’s experience, but might Fofana end up inhibiting Ngumoha’s development, just when he’s getting ready to take the next step?

Praised for his “electric” style by content creator Dev Bajwa, Fofana could prove a jackpot signing for the Reds, to be sure, with similarities to Diaz’s athletic approach to the game.

And, of course, there’s no reason why Ngumoha won’t have the chance to showcase his quality at some stage next season, even if Fofana were added to the fold, although such an addition would be an obvious obstacle to first-team opportunities.

And it’s clear, too, that the Belgium international has the potential to become something special in the Premier League, and it’s clear that Diaz does need replacing.

This is a nuanced issue, and one that sporting director Richard Hughes will have given a lot of heed to.

Liverpool have emerged as the leading club in England since Slot arrived at Anfield, so those of a Liverpool persuasion should have no problem entrusting their faith in the powers that be, whose judgment and shrewd planning have set the club up for another sustained period of success.

The new Salah: Liverpool agree personal terms to sign "world-class" star

Liverpool are preparing to sign a new forward as Luis Diaz leaves for Bayern Munich.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 30, 2025

He might have just the one FA Cup to his name, but Mikel Arteta has got a lot right since taking the reins at Arsenal.

He has helped to transform the club from one that looked destined for decline into one genuinely competing for Premier League and Champions League titles.

While his tactics and overall approach to management have played a significant role in this dramatic turnaround, so have the signings made under his leadership, such as Martin Odegaard, David Raya, Gabriel Magalhães, and Declan Rice.

The latter has arguably been the most seismic during Arteta’s tenure, and now it looks like the club could be set to repeat the move with another international star.

Arsenal target their new Rice

While there is still over a month to go, and therefore plenty of time for things to change, this transfer window is shaping up to be one of Arsenal’s most exciting in some time.

Transfer Focus

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

The North Londoners have already announced the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Additionally, Cristhian Mosquera could be announced at any moment, and talks over add-ons in the deal for Viktor Gyokeres appear to be entering their final stages.

Yet, even still, Andrea Berta and Co look to be on the hunt for more game-changing additions to the team, including one player who could be another Rice-esque signing.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Arsenal insider Hand of Arsenal, who has confirmed that Arsenal are still interested in Eberechi Eze.

In fact, they go a step further, confirming that talks have been held with the player and that his preference would be to join the Gunners, and most crucially, that Arteta is “obsessed” with him.

The insider continued: “My understanding is personal terms have never been an issue. One source said, he would sign a 5 year deal tomorrow.”

The report states that a sale of someone like Leandro Trossard may create room for the club to sign the Crystal Palace star, who has a widely reported £68m release clause in his current contract.

It would be a lot of money to spend on one player, but Eze has proven he’d be more than worth it over the last few years, and his move could be a Rice repeat of sorts.

Why Eze could be a Rice repeat

While they both primarily play in midfield, it’s essential to note that they’re very different players and play in distinctly different ways; however, that’s not the primary basis of this comparison.

Instead, one of the main reasons it would be a move reminiscent of the one for the 26-year-old, aside from the similar age, is that it would be another example of the Gunners signing one of the best players from a fellow Premier League side, and a London-based one at that.

For example, his 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 games last season made him Palace’s most productive player, and it wasn’t even a close run thing, with the next best player being Jean-Philippe Mateta, who produced 21 goal involvements in 46 games.

Appearances

36

43

Minutes

2285′

3303′

Goals

11

14

Assists

6

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

134.41′

132.12′

Moreover, this level of output for a mid-table side suggests that, much like the former Hammers star did when he joined the club in 2023, the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, could have a transformational impact on the North Londoners’ midfield, but just in an attacking sense.

Furthermore, this transfer would be another case of the Premier League runners-up adding yet another full England international to their squad, as while the former QPR star isn’t quite as established in the Three Lions setup as Rice was when he joined, he’s still a regular feature in the squad and has now won 12 senior caps.

Finally, like the former Irons star did in the Conference League in his last season with the East Londoners, the £100k-per-week star gem played a key role in the Eagles finally winning a major trophy last season, scoring in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup.

In other words, the incredible international has more than proven he has what it takes to deliver in the big games.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be doing everything they can to sign Eze this summer, as not only is he an extraordinarily talented player in his own right, but he could also have as significant an impact as Rice.

Their new Auba: Arsenal start talks to sign "world-class" £43m goalscorer

The prolific forward could be just what Arsenal are missing as they hunt down their next Aubameyang.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 22, 2025

Leeds United are closing in on a deal to sign Newcastle United central midfielder Sean Longstaff to bolster Daniel Farke’s options in the middle of the park.

Fabrizio Romano claims that the club have placed a £12m bid on the table for the English maestro, who has already agreed personal terms with the Championship champions.

The 27-year-old midfielder started eight of his 25 appearances in the Premier League for the Magpies last season, and would arrive at Elland Road as a proven performer in the top-flight.

However, Longstaff did end the campaign without a single goal to his name in 32 games in all competitions, which suggests that he is not likely to provide much of a goal threat for the Whites from midfield.

Leeds eyeing another Newcastle midfielder

The Premier League newcomers, however, are reportedly eyeing another Newcastle midfielder who could provide a threat at the top end of the pitch.

Transfer Focus

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

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United have held internal talks over the possibility of a swoop to sign versatile Newcastle star Joe Willock this summer.

The report claims that the Whites are considering a swoop to sign the English attacker as an alternative to Manor Solomon, as he has the versatility to play in a central midfield role as a left winger.

It adds, though, that Crystal Palace are also monitoring the former Arsenal man’s situation and that he would prefer a move to London over Leeds if given the chance to pick.

This means that it could be a difficult deal for the Whites to get over the line if they decide to act upon their interest in him, but if they can convince him to make the move to Elland Road, Farke could have his own Mateusz Klich.

Why Willock would be the new Klich for Leeds

When Marcelo Bielsa brought Leeds up to the Premier League, Klich played a key role in the middle of the park with four goals and five assists in 35 games.

The Poland international made 1.4 tackles and interceptions per game to go along with his nine goal contributions in 29 starts in the top-flight that term, providing dynamism and energy to the team.

Willock has scored 18 goals in 143 matches for Newcastle in all competitions in his career to date, which suggests that he has the attacking potential to replicate the kind of performances Klich put in for Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.

xG

0.14

Top 21%

xG on target

0.09

Top 42%

Goals

0.00

Bottom 3%

Assists

0.17

Top 20%

Chances created

1.84

Top 13%

Touches in the opposition’s box

4.86

Top 5%

He may have ended last season without a Premier League goal to his name but, as you can see in the table above, the midfielder was doing all the right things.

Willock got himself into high-quality shooting positions and delivered decent shots, with 0.09 xG on target per 90, but was foiled by quality goalkeeping, whilst his touches in the opposition box per 90 show that he is a constant threat on the pitch.

The 25-year-old star, who was once described as “special” by Mikel Arteta, has the potential to deliver goals and assists at an impressive rate if given more opportunities at Leeds, and if he gets more luck with goalkeepers not stopping his high-quality shots.

Willock only started 11 times in the Premier League under Eddie Howe last season, and a move to Elland Road could provide him with a chance to play week-in-week-out and deliver quality in the final third on a regular basis, to be Farke’s own version of Klich in midfield.

More important than Gudmundsson: Leeds open talks to sign £19m star

Leeds have made an enquiry about a deal to sign a star who would be an even more important signing than Gabriel Gudmundsson.

ByDan Emery Jul 8, 2025

Sunderland are back in the Premier League and have now engaged in talks over a signing that would send out a signal of intent to their competitors, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Sunderland find out the latest in pursuit of Clement Bischoff

In the modern day, club chiefs speaking out on the availability of a player or their current situation isn’t an uncommon practice at this time of year.

Subsequently, it will come as no surprise to hear that Brondby sporting director Benjamin Schmedes has addressed rumours surrounding Sunderland target Clement Bischoff amid links between both parties.

He stated: “Clement has one year left on his contract, and that puts us in a situation where we’ve had strong discussions for a long time. But nothing is official yet, so there’s no agreement.

“We’re in dialogue, and we’ll see where it ends. Noah has two years left, so it’s a different case.”

Making strides ahead of their official Premier League return, Clermont Foot midfielder Habib Kieta is also on Sunderland’s radar and QPR, Stoke City and Crystal Palace are also believed to be in the running for his signature.

Sunderland in advanced talks to sell "fantastic" 22 y/o in permanent deal

Would moving him on be the right decision?

ByHenry Jackson Jun 22, 2025

Inevitably, beating the drop will be the immediate priority for Sunderland in 2025/26. While Jobe Bellingham’s sale will enable money to be spent, they will need to invest wisely to compete with other financially secure competitors in the grand scheme of things.

Nevertheless, Sunderland hold a pull that is rare for a promoted side due to their rich history in the English top-flight, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone like Jordan Henderson return to the North East if a deal were right for all parties.

Letting their presence be known to others, the Black Cats are now reportedly plotting a swoop for an international goalkeeper that would make headlines.

Romano: Sunderland in active talks to sign Marcin Bulka

Taking to social media platform X, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Sunderland are in ‘active talks’ to sign OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka as part of their ambitious project to stay in the Premier League.

Despite being ‘approached’ by several other clubs, the Black Cats are the only side mentioned in the conversation and it remains to be seen whether further developments will occur down the line.

Labelled “superb” by PSG boss Luis Enrique, the Poland international kept eight clean sheets in 40 appearances last term and recorded a save percentage rate of 75.8% in Ligue 1.

Admittedly, Sunderland will need to rely on their goalkeeper next campaign to have a realistic chance of staying in the top-flight, so bringing someone of Bulka’s calibre in would certainly help, even if that puts Anthony Patterson’s future as number one in doubt.

Still on the hunt for an Andre Onana upgrade, Manchester United have now reportedly submitted an opening offer worth £13m to sign a Champions League-winning shot-stopper.

Man Utd's goalkeeper search still ongoing

Having already reinforced their attacking options with the arrival of Matheus Cunha and with negotiations ongoing to sign Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United have turned their focus towards their goalkeeper department.

Onana’s position as Old Trafford’s No.1 has seemed at risk since his debut season and the former Inter Milan man could finally be forced to relinquish his role if United get their wish this summer.

To that end, a number of names have been mentioned as potential options, with the most prominent of which being Emiliano Martinez.

The World Cup winner reportedly prefers a move to Manchester United over Barcelona and could be on his way out of Aston Villa amid their PSR concerns this month.

Meanwhile, what would help speed things up in the goalkeeper department is if AS Monaco complete their move to sign Onana. The Ligue 1 side are reportedly interested in signing the Cameroon international in an unexpected move this summer.

By showing Onana the door, it would almost be a guarantee that Manchester United will welcome another goalkeeper this summer. It would just be a matter of who. As much as Aston Villa will be concerned about their PSR situation, they’ll no doubt be desperate to avoid selling one of Unai Emery’s star players to a Premier League rival this summer and that may leave INEOS scrambling for other options.

If the Villans successfully fend off any interest from United, then the Red Devils could yet reportedly welcome a two-time Champions League winner in the coming months.

Man Utd submit first Andriy Lunin bid

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United submitted a bid worth €15m (£13m) to sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid but have since had that offer rejected by the Spanish giants. A deal is still there to be made, however, even if the Red Devils must increase their offer.

Having rejected the £13m offer, Real Madrid are reportedly demanding around €25m (£21m) to sell Lunin this summer in what should be seen as an affordable price for those at Old Trafford to match.

Starts

7

34

Saves P90

1.86

2.59

Save Percentage

65%

68.9%

Whilst the Ukraine international deserves credit for how he stepped up for Thibaut Courtois at times last season, there remain question marks over his ability to become a permanent No.1 elsewhere.

It is Lunin’s ability on the ball that stands out rather than his shot-stopping skills according to Ben Mattinson, however. The analyst was full of praise for the Madrid man, dubbing his ball-playing ability “great” albeit whilst also describing the goalkeeper as a “top shot stopper”.

Amorim keen: Bayern Munich now open to selling Man Utd target for just £30m

Ruben Amorim wants to sign him this summer.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 22, 2025

Although the jury is still out on Lunin, it’s clear that United must replace Onana this summer and doing so by signing a two-time Champions League winner could be the way to do exactly that.

Arsenal are going to sign a forward or two this summer, going by numerous reports over the last few months, and it is vital that new sporting director Andrea Berta gets these transfers right as the club look to win their first Premier League title in decades.

Arsenal targeting new striker and winger this summer

A lot of headlines recently have centered on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal appearing to settle on the Slovenian as their priority striker target as things stand.

Fabrizio Romano says "deal is agreed" for "perfect" player to join Arsenal

Everything is in place for a move to be finalised.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 10, 2025

It was believed that Arsenal had been working on deals for both Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, before deciding which move would be better suited to the club (BBC), but it appears the former is now their preferred striker signing.

Fabrizio Romano shared news late last week that the north Londoners began advancing in talks for Sesko, with discussions underway between all parties.

RB Leipzig are said to be holding out for at least £70 million to sell Sesko, and Arsenal are expected to make their first official offer this week.

“I have a very good feeling on Sesko moving to Arsenal. Meetings have already taken place,” said Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg over the weekend.

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

“RB Leipzig are expecting the first offer from Arsenal for Benjamin Sesko next week. I am totally convinced Sesko will play for Arsenal next season.”

Alongside their pursuit of a new striker, Berta is believed to be targeting a new winger. Bukayo Saka’s long-term absence midway through 2024/2025 seriously hampered Arsenal last season, while uncertainty surrounds Leandro Trossard’s long-term future as he enters the final year of his contract.

Leroy Sane wants to join Arsenal after talks with Mikel Arteta

According to recent reports, £242,000-per-week Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane is a genuine target for Mikel Arteta.

The Germany international was rumoured to be closing in on a new deal at Bayern, but despite reportedly agreeing terms, Sane hired a new representative in the form of super-agent Pini Zahavi to help negotiate an even better extension.

This has majorly stalled Sane’s agreement over fresh terms, allowing Premier League sides to swoop in and tempt the former Man City star with a return to England.

Christian Falk reported last week that Arsenal have held talks with Sane’s camp over a move to the Emirates, where’d be reunited with Arteta, and now CaughtOffside have provided a further update on the situation.

They now report that Sane wants to sign for Arsenal after holding talks with Arteta, and it is also believed that the 29-year-old has a “written offer” to join them on the table.

However, Galatasaray, Fenerbache and Bayern have all presented larger salary offers, so while Sane has a preference for N5, Arteta’s side will need to up their proposal.

“He (Sane) currently has four written offers,” said the unnamed CaughtOffside source.

“The highest is from Fenerbahce, followed by Bayern Munich contract extension, and then Galatasaray, and lastly Arsenal.

“His preference is Arsenal, but he wants them to offer more in wages. His first wish in making his decision is Champions League football, and that’s why he has not told Fenerbahce yes, because they play Champions League qualifiers.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is certainly not hanging about when it comes to improving his squad.

After a first trophyless season since 2016/17, the Spaniard has begun the summer transfer window with a bang.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss looks to have completed a deal for Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for a fee in the region of £46.3m, while Lyon’s Rayan Cherki is close to signing on a deal worth at least £25m.

Why Man City are signing Reijnders and Cherki

Reijnders could turn into a bargain given how impressive he was for Milan last season. Across 54 games for the Italian side, he scored 15 goals and grabbed five assists.

This came despite the club missing out on European competition after finishing eighth in Serie A last term.

The Dutchman may prove to be an ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who leaves at the Etihad end of the month. In Cherki, Guardiola has also secured a player for a fee which may well turn out to be one of his finest deals.

The Frenchman shone for France in their Nations League defeat to Spain on Thursday evening. Making his debut when he came on with just 30 minutes left, the winger scored and provided an assist in the 5-4 defeat.

For a combined fee of just over £70m, it is certainly money well spent by the Spaniard as he looks ahead to the Club World Cup and next season.

There is a player at the club who is worth more than the pair put together, however, and he shone throughout 2024/25.

The Man City star who's worth more than Reijnders & Cherki

Brazilian winger, Savinho, made the move from Troyes to City last summer after impressing on loan at Girona.

Not many expected him to settle in as well as he did, as the youngster went on to register 14 goal involvements – two goals and 12 assists – in 45 games for the club.

Goals

1

Assists

8

Big chances created

11

Successful dribbles

1.8

Shots per game

1.9

Key passes per game

1.6

Such was his impact at the start of last season, former Arsenal midfielder turned pundit, Paul Merson, claimed that the winger could turn into a “superstar” for City.

Indeed, when compared with his peers across the big five European leagues, Savinho ranks in the top 4% for progressive carries (6.61) and in the top 4% for successful take-ons (2.69) and touches in the attacking penalty area (7.57) over the previous 365 days.

These statistics are evidence of his stature among the best wide players on the continent, and he will only go from strength to strength next season.

According to the Football Observatory, Savinho is currently valued at €100.5m (£85m) after an excellent debut season in the Premier League.

Therefore, he is worth more than what look to be two of City’s newest arrivals, demonstrating how good he has been since the start of last season.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Guardiola will be hoping that Reijnders and Cherki can make similar sorts of impacts at the club when the 2025/26 campaign begins in August. No doubt about that.

Forget Cherki: Man City also open £42m talks for "one of the best" #10's

City are now making moves for another attacking midfielder…

ByDominic Lund Jun 5, 2025

The season is over and attention will now turn to what Celtic are going to do in the upcoming summer transfer window to improve their playing squad.

Brendan Rodgers already has one new addition lined up to come in this summer, as Kieran Tierney will join on a free transfer at the end of his contract with Arsenal.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Scotland international enjoyed an incredibly successful first spell at Parkhead after coming up through the academy system, winning five Scottish Premiership titles before his £25m move to Arsenal in 2019.

He is now set to return on a free transfer to bolster the manager’s options at left-back as the first signing of the summer transfer window for the Hoops.

Whilst there will be a focus on incoming signings and how the Premiership champions can strengthen their squad, Celtic also have to be wary of losing their top talents.

They sold Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer and Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes in January, and Nicolas Kuhn is one star who could follow them out of the door.

Why Nicolas Kuhn could leave Celtic this summer

Writing for Sky Sports last weekend, journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that there is ‘plenty of interest’ in the left-footed wizard after his impressive season for the club.

Crystal Palace, Everton, and Leeds United have all been credited with an interest in the German attacker this year, but it remains to be seen whether any of them are prepared to make a tangible move for him this summer.

This interest in his services, though, does suggest that there is a chance that the former Rapid Vienna winger could move on from Parkhead ahead of next season, if offers start coming in for him.

Clubs being keen on snapping him up should not come as a surprise to anyone, though, because Kuhn enjoyed a terrific season for Celtic across all competitions.

Appearances

32

Goals

13

Big chances created

11

Key passes per game

1.6

Assists

9

Dribbles completed per game

1.8

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old wizard delivered brilliant performances in the Scottish Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign, with 24 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 32 appearances.

It would be a big blow to lose Kuhn from the squad, because of the goals and assists that he can provide from the right flank, but the Hoops are reportedly looking at a star who could be a dream replacement for him.

Celtic eyeing move for new winger

According to GIVEMESPORT, Celtic are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Peterborough United forward Kwame Poku in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that there are up to a staggering 26 teams eyeing up the Ghana international, whose contract with the Posh is due to expire at the end of next month.

Transfer Focus

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

It reveals that the Hoops have sent scouts to watch the attacker on a regular basis this season, with a view to potentially swooping for him in the coming weeks.

GIVEMESPORT adds that Celtic and Rangers are both in a strong position to sign the winger because they would not have to pay as much money in compensation as English teams, due to UEFA’s cross-border compensation rules, which would allow them to offer a more attractive contract.

The report does reveal, though, that Birmingham City, who have been promoted to the Championship in England, have already submitted their contract offer to the left-footed star.

With this in mind, Celtic must press ahead with their interest in Poku to challenge Birmingham for his signature, because he could be a fantastic replacement for Kuhn.

Why Celtic should sign Kwame Poku

If the club’s German wizard does move on from Parkhead in the weeks or months to come, Rodgers will need a new left-footed right winger who has the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

Poku’s performances for Peterborough in the third tier of English football suggest that he could be an ideal signing to replace the impact that Kuhn has at the top end of the pitch.

Whilst some may question the standard of League One, it is worth remembering that Matt O’Riley produced seven goals and five assists in 27 League One matches for MK Dons before his move to Celtic.

Poku could follow in his footsteps by making the move to Glasgow to be a star for the Hoops as an exciting attacking force on the right wing, coming in to replace the productivity that Kuhn provides.

The 23-year-old sensation, who was described as “unplayable” by manager Darren Ferguson, has provided goals and assists on a regular basis in England over the past two seasons.

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, Poku has delivered 23 goals and 19 ‘big chances’ created in 64 appearances in League One for Peterborough, which shows that he has the potential to make a big impact in the final third.

Like Kuhn, the Posh star is also a left-footed attacker who predominantly plays on the right flank, cutting in onto his stronger foot to cause problems for opposition defenders as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

With this in mind, Poku could come in as a dream replacement for the Celtic number ten, if he does move on this summer, because he is similar in style whilst also having the potential to provide goals and assists at a similar rate.

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It is now down to the Hoops to submit a contract offer of their own in an attempt to convince the winger to turn down the chance to sign for Birmingham.

Despite their struggles at times this season, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been fairly consistent in front of goal. They currently sit in the middle of the pack when it comes to goals scored in the Premier League, and their 51 strikes is more than seven clubs.

According to Understat, the Old Gold have massively overachieved in their expected goals tally this term.

The metric currently has Vitor Pereira’s side at 42.83 xG, meaning they have scored 8.17 more goals than they should have. It is also the biggest overachievement on expected goals this season by any Premier League club, and by some distance.

If there is one man who has helped them to overperform so much, it is undoubtedly Mathues Cunha.

Cunha's form this season and his Wolves future

It has been yet another unbelievable campaign for Old Gold talisman Cunha. Their number 10 has been sensational for the second consecutive year, helping to keep them in the Premier League and dragging the club through tough times on the pitch around Christmas.

The 25-year-old, who is an Olympic Gold medalist with Brazil, has bagged 15 goals and managed six assists in 31 Premier League games this season. His 17 goals in all competitions are the club’s most, with Jorgen Strand Larsen the only other player in double figures.

He has put in some excellent performances, including one goal and two assists against Leicester City just weeks ago. However, perhaps his most significant was a goal and an assist against Manchester United in December, in a 2-0 win at Molineux.

However, the Old Gold forward, who has become a star at Molineux over the last two seasons, may not be able to call himself a Wolves player much longer.

A few days ago, Fabrizio Romano reported that ‘talks remain ongoing’ for Manchester United to sign him this summer, who explained ‘deal remains at advanced stages’, which suggests it will be done soon enough.

It does not appear that Cunha will stay at Wolves beyond this season, so they will need to replace his goals. They have recently been linked with someone who could do just that.

Wolves' ideal Cunha replacement

If Cunha does love Molinuex, which does seem likely at this stage, then a shock move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, who has previously played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace, could be on the cards for Wolves.

Caught Offside reported earlier this week that he is ‘attracting interest from the Premier League’, with Wolves, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa all linked with a move. The price is not clear at this stage, but he cost the Spaniards £27m last season, so it could well be around the same number.

If the Old Gold are looking for someone to help them forget about losing Cunha, Sorloth could be that guy.

He has been excellent for Atleti in 2024/25, scoring 17 goals and grabbing two assists in 32 appearances. Earlier in the season, Dougie Critchley described him as “sensational”, and it is easy to see why.

The Norwegian made headlines recently for scoring an incredible four goals in 30 minutes in Atleti’s 4-0 La Liga win over Real Sociedad. After just 11 minutes, he already had a hat-trick, in one of the most eye-catching performances of the season.

It is for reasons like that, as to why Sorloth could be the perfect man to step into Cunha’s shoes. There are stats, via FBref, which suggest he can take on the mantle of scoring consistent goals for the Old Gold.

For example, he averages 1.09 goals and 0.55 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes. Comparatively, Cunha averages 0.54 goals and 0.37 goals per shot on target each game.

Goals

1.09

0.54

Shot on target %

45.3%

41.4%

Goals per shot

0.25

0.15

Goals per shot on target

0.55

0.37

Expected goals

0.81xG

0.29xG

Earlier, Wolves’ overachievement on expected goals was referenced, and that is certainly something that stands out for Sorloth. He is overachieving on expected goals by 0.28 per game this season, showing that he, too, can help maintain such a record.

There is no doubt about it, Cunha would be a big loss for the Old Gold. However, replacing him with such a clinical player like Sorloth, who can maintain such an impressive goal scoring rate, would be excellent business.

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