The former USMNT star questions decision-making, says Pochettino's side need to make a statement against Japan
Arsenal have been dealt a setback in their pursuit of a top target this summer, with Andrea Berta’s move for the player becoming increasingly complex as the Gunners face missing out on his signature.
Arsenal could also terminate 23-year-old's contract after Takehiro Tomiyasu
He’s ready to accept an offer to leave.
1
By
Emilio Galantini
Jul 16, 2025
Most recently, Mikel Arteta has welcomed Chelsea winger Noni Madueke to the Emirates Stadium, following the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.
Madueke agreed personal terms with Arsenal at the start of July, and it didn’t take long for the north Londoners to shake hands on yet another club-to-club deal with Chelsea themselves – agreeing a £52 million fee to make the 23-year-old their seventh arrival from Stamford Bridge in six years.
|
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta through deals announced (via Sky Sports) |
Money on new signings |
|---|---|
|
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 |
£75m |
The England international signed his five-year Arsenal contract on Wednesday morning (Fabrizio Romano), and it is only a matter of time before Madueke makes his Gunners debut.
After Madueke, Berta and Arteta are believed to hold a serious interest in Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, who the club views as a potential central attacking midfield addition to complement captain Martin Odegaard – not a winger (Ben Jacobs).
Arsenal are planning to make an approach to Palace over signing Eze after talks with the 27-year-old’s camp, and talkSPORT reported earlier this week that, despite this, the north Londoners are still very keen on Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
The Brazilian, who could end up costing £80 million, remains high on Arsenal’s target list, and Rodrygo has given “positive” indications that he’d be willing to join Arteta’s side, according to the BBC’s Sami Mokbel.
However, reports in Spain now suggest that the potential deal is proving a real mountain to climb.
Cadena SER, citing their “close” Arsenal sources, state the situation between Real’s versatile forward and Arteta’s side has become “very complicated”.
While not impossible, an Arsenal move for Rodrygo is becoming increasingly unlikely, especially as they close in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and having just signed Madueke.
Contacts have taken place between Premier League clubs and the 24-year-old’s agents, but as of now, everything is apparently at a “standstill”. Real actually view Rodrygo as one of the top 10 strikers in world football, with the former Santos sensation able to play as a centre-forward as well as on either flank, so they’re refusing to drop his price tag.
Liverpool apparently remain interested in him as an alternative to Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitiké, but for now, Xabi Alonso’s side are not considering his departure. Los Blancos could now leave any exit discussions for August, with the player’s future set to be a talking point for some time yet.
Rodrygo was scarcely used at the Club World Cup by Alonso, and it remains to be seen how the attacker fits into his plans, despite the obvious quality.
“For me he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad,” said Jude Bellingham about Rodrygo.
“The things he can do with the football – we’ll be messing around and he’ll flick the ball up somehow, and you’re like, ‘How do you do that?’. I’m trying to do it, twisting up my ankles and everything like that. He’s a pleasure to play with.”
Celtic have been fairly active throughout the summer transfer window in terms of moving players who are not part of Brendan Rodgers’ plans out of Parkhead.
The Hoops have cashed in on both Gustaf Lagerbielke, who signed for Braga, and Hyeok-kyu Kwon, who signed for Nantes, after they both spent the 2024/25 campaign out on loan.
Maik Nawrocki and Luis Palma have also been allowed to leave the club on loan for next season, joining Hannover and Lech Poznan respectively, as they look for more regular game time.
This shows that Celtic are starting to thin out their squad in order to make room for new recruits, as Rodgers has decided that those four players were not going to play integral roles for him on the pitch in the 2025/26 campaign.
These exits now mean that both of the centre-backs who were signed to replace Carl Starfelt in the summer of 2023 will not be part of the squad next season.
Lagerbielke and Nawrocki were both part of the squad in the 2023/24 campaign and the latter played a small role in the side last term, but they have now both moved on.
Celtic have failed to replace Carl Starfelt
The Sweden international signed for Celta Vigo in LaLiga shortly after Rodgers returned to Parkhead for a second spell in the summer of 2023, which led to the signings of Lagerbielke and Nawrocki.
However, the pair combined for just 13 starts in the Scottish Premiership in the last two seasons, and it has now been decided that they are not good enough to be regulars for the Hoops next season.
This shows that the Scottish giants failed to bring in a right-footed centre-back who is good enough to play in place of Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has missed 22 matches in the last two seasons through injury, or alongside him.
They had a player with the quality to fulfill that role when Starfelt was at the club, as the Swedish titan was a regular starter under Ange Postecoglou in the Premiership in the 2022/23 campaign before his move to Spain.
Appearances
28
Goals
3
Pass accuracy
92%
Clean sheets
11
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.1
Ground duel success rate
60%
Aerial duel success rate
70%
As you can see in the table above, the powerful defender played a pivotal role as part of the treble-winning team, winning the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air across 28 appearances in the league.
Lagerbielke and Nawrocki, as evidenced by how their careers at Parkhead have gone, failed to adequately replace him in the summer of 2023, but the Hoops are now eyeing a central defender who could be a Starfelt repeat.
Celtic lining up move for Swedish centre-back
According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, as relayed by The Scottish Sun, Celtic are lining up a potential swoop for Hammarby centre-back Victor Eriksson this summer.
The reporter claims that Rodgers sent his top scout, Paul Tisdale, to watch the Swedish colossus in action against Charleroi in a Conference League qualifier on Thursday night, a game in which he scored the winner in the 119th minute.
Nixon adds that the Scottish Premiership champions are monitoring the 24-year-old defender, hence why they sent Tisdale to assess him in the flesh earlier this week.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It now remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to pay the reported fee of £2m that it would take to prise him away from the Swedish outfit before the end of the summer transfer window.
Why Celtic should sign Victor Eriksson
Celtic should push ahead with a deal to sign the Sweden international because he could arrive at Parkhead as a Starfelt repeat, and not just because they were born in the same country.
The £2m-rated star is another right-footed central defender who could provide valuable back-up to Carter-Vickers, whilst also being competition and a potential centre-back partner for him. This is a role that needs to be filled, given the USA international’s aforementioned injury problems in the past two seasons.
Eriksson could come in as a Starfelt-esque figure in that respect to take up that position in the squad, competing with Carter-Vickers for a starting spot whilst also providing broader centre-back depth alongside left-footed defenders Liam Scales and Auston Trusty.
The 24-year-old titan’s performances in the Swedish top-flight in the last two seasons also suggest that he has the potential to be a dominant figure at the heart of the defence when called upon for Celtic, much like Starfelt was during his time in Glasgow.
Eriksson, who has only made one error that led directly to a goal in the last three Allsvenskan seasons combined, has showcased his ability to make numerous defensive interventions whilst also winning the majority of his duels in Sweden.
Appearances
17
18
Tackles + interceptions per game
4.2
3.3
Clearances per game
6.8
4.4
Dribbled past per game
0.4x
0.2x
Ground duel success rate
65%
50%
Aerial duel success rate
62%
71%
As you can see in the table above, the towering star is particularly dominant in aerial battles and is aggressive in his defending, with plenty of tackles and interceptions each game on average.
As well as being impressive on paper, the Hoops target is also highly regarded by his peers. Former teammate Abdelrahman Boudah said: “He can’t lose a duel, he’s an animal. I think he is the best centre-back in the Swedish league of all time. People don’t understand how crazy fast he is.”
Putting all of this together, Eriksson appears to be an incredibly dominant and mobile central defender who can use his speed and strength to consistently make tackles, interceptions, and clearances, as well as win duels.
This is why he could arrive at Parkhead as a Starfelt repeat. Not because he is Swedish, but because the Hammarby star has the potential to be a colossal right-footed centre-back for Rodgers next season if the club can get a deal over the line.
Celtic could sign their best CM since O'Riley in swoop for 18-goal star
Celtic could sign their best midfielder since Matt O’Riley by landing this reported target.
ByDan Emery Jul 31, 2025
“It wasn’t what I signed up for,” he says, “but this is one of those situations in which you just need to go with the flow”
Danyal Rasool24-Oct-2024
Jason Gillespie’s scope as head coach has reduced in a short span•Associated Press
Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has admitted to “frustrations from time to time” over the reduced scope of his job, emphasising the need for clear communication. Gillespie, who, alongside captain Shan Masood, was recently removed from the selection panel, said his current role “wasn’t what he signed up for”, but one he was happy to adapt to.”I think there’s always frustrations from time to time,” Gillespie said, in an interview with . “For me, when I came on board with Pakistan cricket, I was told there was a long-term plan, and we need to make sure our communication’s spot on. I made that a real focus and so you can get frustrated if those things aren’t done how you would like.”It wasn’t what I signed up for, I’ll be completely honest. But this is one of those situations in which you just need to go with the flow. As I said, I’m in a different environment and things are done differently. One can agree or disagree with how things are done, but ultimately I’m here to help the Pakistan team do well, help the players get better, improve. So I’ve put all my focus and energy into that.”Related
Gillespie: I was 'completely and utterly blindsided' by the PCB
PCB says Gillespie will remain head coach for South Africa Tests
Aaqib Javed set to replace Jason Gillespie as Pakistan head coach
'Sometimes people need a break' – Masood backs Babar to make strong comeback
Kirsten resigns as Pakistan's white-ball coach
Gillespie had long-term ambitions when he took the role earlier this year. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, he had cautioned against the dangers of “people on one-or two-year contracts” prioritising self-preservation over long-term development. “If everyone has that approach,” he said at the time, “nothing long-term gets done.”The last fortnight has seen those fears play out with near-forensic accuracy. After a chastening innings defeat in the first Test against England, Pakistan announced a new selection panel that took the number of selectors involved with the side since 2021 past two dozen. Gillespie and Masood were not consulted over the squad for the second Test or the kind of pitch Pakistan prepared; they were formally taken off all selection duties, with Gillespie admitting his role was that of a “match-day strategist”.”A lot’s changed. Since I’ve been involved, we’re already on our third selection panel. These are the things you just got to take it all in your stride and understand that we’re in a different environment and go with the flow. I ask a lot of questions and ask for clarity, which as head coach I’m well within my rights to ask.Masood and Gillespie were not consulted over the squad for the second Test•Associated Press
“But I want to make it really clear that everyone in Pakistan wants what’s best and there’s a lot of very passionate people here. That’s driving me to continue to help the players, and it’s been a great experience so far working with them. I really excited about what the future holds and as a coach.”Gillespie also acknowledged there was a learning curve to his own experiences, and felt it was only natural it would take time for him to settle at the PCB.”Lots of things change in Pakistan at the drop of a hat. You just sort of take that in your stride and understand that this is the environment you’re in. I’ve got to always remember that I’m a foreigner in Pakistan and I’ve got to respect that and that things are probably done differently to what I’m used to or what I expect in the environment I’ve come from in Australia. So not saying one way is the right way or the wrong way or whatever, it’s just different and you just have to adjust and adapt.”Gillespie’s relationship with the players, though, has never really been in question. He praised captain Masood as “the epitome of calm”, and said he viewed taking care of the players as his primary role. It is a note he has struck through his brief tenure, and one he asked former Pakistan players to help him with.”I’m very protective of players and very protective of staff I work with and just want to make sure that the environment that we’re trying to create is a safe space for everyone and if that gets eroded then that can lead to a bit of frustration.”A lot of former players have their own space on social media, YouTube, whatever, and they’re paid to have an opinion. One thing that I have noticed here is that the players notice everything and if they get some positive feedback from former players they idolised as kids, that goes a long way when they get some positive reinforcement. But it can have the opposite effect, too if there’s a lot of criticism of by those former players.”Pakistan are currently in the midst of their busiest Test season this century. The ongoing Test is the fifth of the season, with four more to follow after this. Former captain Babar Azam’s involvement – or lack thereof – remains a point of contention, and though Gillespie pointed out he had no say in whether he would return, he threw his weight behind what he called “one of the best players in the world”.”What I will say is that Babar is a fine player. He’s had a bit of a lean patch, but I don’t think there’s many great players around that have never had a lean patch. I’m very confident Babar will be back scoring a lot of runs for Pakistan in all formats. He’s just too good a player, works really hard at his game, is very precise with his preparation. I fully expect him to have a huge role going forward in the next little while for Pakistan.”
Manchester United have held a meeting with the representatives of an “exceptional” player over a summer move to Old Trafford, according to a fresh transfer claim.
Man Utd eyeing more attackers after Mbeumo
It looks as though the Red Devils are gradually closing in on a move for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, with a third offer of over £70m everything included reportedly accepted.
The Cameroonian will be an excellent signing for United, but Ruben Amorim will know that further attacking reinforcements are needed before the new Premier League season gets underway, in order to improve drastically on last year’s woeful showing in the top flight.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, with an upgrade on the struggling Rasmus Hojlund required in the No.9 role, but it remains to be seen if the Blues would even entertain the idea of selling him to a Premier League rival.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins has been mentioned as an alternative option to lead the line for United, with the 29-year-old now a hugely experienced and proven player at both club and international level. Now, another attacking player has been backed to come in for the Red Devils this summer.
Man Utd hold talks with "exceptional" ace's agents
According to a new report from Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have had a meeting with Xavi Simons’ representatives over a move to the club before the current window slams shut at the start of September.
Chelsea are also in the same position when it comes to the £67m-rated RB Leipzig attacker, who is desperate to seal a move away from his current club this summer.
Simons is a fantastic option for United, with the 22-year-old already achieving plenty in his career, being hailed by Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund.
“He is a very good player. He had a very good European Championship and a great season with Leipzig. He’s developed really well. I think he’s going to have a really good career at the highest level. He has everything, mentality, character and is just an exceptional player.”
Simons impressed for the Netherlands at Euro 2024, not least scoring a stunning goal in the semi-final defeat to England, and he is adept at shining both as an attacking midfielder and out wide.
Appearances
25
Starts
25
Minutes played
2157
Goals
10
Assists
7
Key passes per game
2.0
Shots per game
2.0
Dribbles per game
1.3
Tackles per game
1.1
The Leipzig ace’s end product is highlighted by an impressive tally of 10 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last season, and given his age, there would be so much time for him to mature under Amorim at United.
Ferguson picked up the injury during the T20I against Sri Lanka on Sunday in Dambulla, where he claimed a hat-trick
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2024Lockie Ferguson will be flying back to New Zealand after picking up a calf injury in their series-levelling T20I victory over Sri Lanka in Dambulla. The 33-year-old fast bowler has been ruled out of the ODI leg of the tour which begins with the first of three matches on November 13.Ferguson was only just returning from injury – a different one, right hamstring – and was heavily involved in changing New Zealand’s fortunes, his hat-trick helping them defend a total of 108 as they came back from 0-1 down to share the spoils.An NZC release said he felt some discomfort while bowling his second over of the chase on Sunday. Ferguson left the field thereafter and was unable to take any further part in that T20I, although he did return to pick up the Player-of-the-Match award. He has been ruled out of the rest of the Sri Lanka tour based on initial assessments and is scheduled to undergo scans upon arriving in New Zealand to ascertain the full extent of the damage. Adam Milne has been called into the squad as Ferguson’s replacement and will arrive in Dambulla on Tuesday.”We’re gutted for Lockie,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said, “He showed in the space of just two overs what an asset he is with the ball and he’s also brought a lot of leadership to this group, so he’ll be a big miss heading into an important ODI series for us. To be ruled out so early in a tour is always tough to take, but we’re hopeful his recovery will be short and he’ll be back out on the field in no time.”Adam is a like-for-like replacement who brings genuine pace and plenty of international experience, so we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the group.”Ferguson has played one Test, 65 ODIs and 43 T20Is for New Zealand since making his debut in December 2016. He has been one of the team’s first-choice picks in white-ball cricket, a status he underlined by recording his country’s sixth T20I hat-trick. New Zealand will now be relying on a relatively inexperienced seam-bowling attack, although Milne’s inclusion – 49 ODIs and 53 T20Is played – does offset that a little. Milne will join Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith to make up the team’s frontline seam-bowling options with support from allrounders Zakary Foulkes and Josh Clarkson.New Zealand are on the back end of a long tour of the subcontinent which began with a washed-out Test against Afghanistan in early September. That was followed by a 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka a few weeks later and a 3-0 win over India in India earlier this month.
تقدم النادي الأهلي بالهدف الثالث، أمام حرس الحدود، في المباراة المقامة بين الفريقين الآن، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، لتصبح النتيجة 3-2 لصالح المارد الأحمر.
ويلتقي الأهلي مع حرس الحدود، في إطار الجولة الثامنة من عمر مواجهات بطولة الدوري المصري، على ملعب الكلية الحربية.
وأحرز هدف الأهلي الثالث، ياسر إبراهيم في الدقيقة 79 بعد متابعة لكرة مرتدة من القائم عقب تسديدة رائعة من محمود حسن تريزيجيه، ليمنح التقدم من جديد للقلعة الحمراء. هدف الأهلي الثالث أمام حرس الحدود.. ياسر إبراهيم
طالع | ترتيب هدافي الدوري المصري بعد هدف تريزيجيه أمام حرس الحدود
وكان النادي الأهلي تقدم عن طريق جراديشار في الدقيقة 3 وتعادل الحدود بواسطة لاعبه محمد حمدي في الدقيقة 8.
وعاد وتقدم محمود حسن تريزيجيه بهدف المارد الأحمر الثاني في الدقيقة 45+3 من الشوط الأول للمباراة، ثم تعادل مجددًا لـ حرس الحدود من خلال إسلام أبو سليمة في الدقيقة 53 من زمن الشوط الثاني.
Will Manchester City be back on top of the Premier League next season?
Last time round, Pep Guardiola’s team endured a nightmare campaign, losing 17 times across all competitions, seeing their historic sequence of four successive Premier League titles come to an end.
As they aim to change that, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Sverre Nypan have all been signed so far this summer, but are the Sky Blues now aiming to make a marquee addition that could restore their position of dominance?
Manchester City seeking a statement signing
Even by the usually astronomical high standards, the Premier League’s biggest clubs have been spending an enormous amount this summer already, and we’re not even into August yet, as the table below documents.
Liverpool
5
£294m
Chelsea
8
£227m
Arsenal
6
£187m
Manchester United
2
£136m
Manchester City
5
£125m
Tottenham Hotspur
6
£124m
Please note: all information is correct at the time of publication
As the table documents, all of the Premier League’s traditional heavyweights have spent big this summer, most notably Liverpool.
The reigning champions have already splurged almost £300m to sign Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké, Miloš Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili, but a report by Mark Ogden of ESPN claims they’re willing to spend as much as £165m to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle, with the Swede pushing for the move, which would be quite the statement signing.
In response, reports in Spain claim that Manchester City have ‘made an initial offer’ of £170m to Chelsea in an attempt to re-sign Cole Palmer, adding that he is valued at closer to £250m by the Blues, which would smash the world-transfer record of €222m held by Neymar.
Palmer joined the Citizens’ academy as an eight-year-old, making just 41 appearances for the first team, 28 of which came as a substitute, thereby leaving for Chelsea two summers ago for a reported fee of £42.5m, in search of more opportunities.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, from Man City’s point of view, this has turned out to be one of the great modern-day transfer market mistakes, given Palmer’s form in West London, with former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison asserting back in December that “he is the best player in the Premier League… of that there is no doubt”.
Now though, is Guardiola leading a sensational attempt to bring Palmer back to the Etihad?
How Cole Palmer's return would transform Manchester City
Just before his move to Chelsea, Palmer scored in both the FA Community Shield against Arsenal and the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla but, even so, no one could’ve forecast the impact he would make at Stamford Bridge.
As the table below outlines, few have been more productive in front of goal in the Premier League since he joined Chelsea.
Mohamed Salah
47
28
75
Erling Braut Håland
49
8
57
Cole Palmer
37
19
56
Ollie Watkins
35
21
56
Alexander Isak
44
8
52
Jarrod Bowen
29
14
43
Son Heung-min
24
19
43
Bryan Mbeumo
29
13
42
Bukayo Saka
22
19
41
Matheus Cunha
27
13
40
As documented, only Mohamed Salah and Erling Braut Håland have registered more goals and assists across the last two Premier League campaigns than Palmer, made all the more remarkable by the fact that just three of his goals have come since Boxing Day, emphasising his incredible form beforehand.
Worth also noting that he’s accumulated four more than the aforementioned, in-demand Isak, despite the fact the Swede is a centre-forward. In all, the Englishman has provided 57 goals and assists in 89 Premier League games, only just behind Isak’s return of 63 goal involvements in 86 outings in England’s top-flight.
Palmer was also instrumental as Chelsea won the Club World Cup earlier this month, scoring twice against Paris Saint-Germain in the final, and the Conference League, with Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian describing his second-half performance against Real Betis in Wrocław as ‘astonishing’.
Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout asserts that he is a Premier League “legend in the making”, while his manager, Enzo Maresca, described him as a “top player” who is “not normal”.
Selim Ben Hmida of Total Football Analysis outlines how Palmer is at his best when deployed as an ‘advanced playmaker’, given his ability to shoot from distance, create chances and drive into space.
Thus, while Isak is looking likely to be a frightening signing for Liverpool, Palmer would be a transformational acquisition for Man City, should they manage to re-sign him, given that the England international and Håland would surely form an unstoppable duo.
Better buy than Paqueta: Man City ready bid to sign "outstanding" £50m star
Manchester City could win themselves a better signing than Lucas Paqueta by landing this outstanding ace.
1 ByKelan Sarson Jul 28, 2025
Newcastle United’s summer has been anything but straightforward.
With the new Premier League campaign just days away, the club are still scrambling to resolve the situation at the top of the pitch.
Star striker Alexander Isak has made it clear he has no intention of reintegrating into the squad, regardless of whether he is sold before the close of the transfer window.
The Swede’s stance follows a drawn-out saga sparked by interest from Liverpool.
The Magpies have made it clear a deal will only happen if they secure a replacement, but time is ticking.
Newcastle’s pursuit of Benjamin Šeško ended in disappointment when the Slovenian opted to join Manchester United, and while Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson is also on their radar, he is far from a guaranteed arrival.
Howe’s side are keen to kick on after reinforcing other areas of the squad this summer.
Powerhouse striker on Newcastle's Radar
Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw, and Aaron Ramsdale have all arrived, while a £40m deal for Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey is also close.
But for all these moves, one priority towers above the rest: finding a forward capable of leading the line immediately.
That need has now led Newcastle towards a different profile of striker – one whose power, aggression, and direct approach offers a striking contrast to Isak’s elegance and technical artistry.
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 Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Newcastle are expected to submit a bid for FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, a forward described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as “a true monster in the making.”
Porto are understandably reluctant to lose their talisman, particularly so late in the window, but are braced for offers after the 21-year-old’s outstanding season in Portugal.
Since joining from Atlético Madrid last summer in a deal worth around £15 million, Samu has netted 27 goals in 45 games, including 19 in the league and six in the Europa League.
Standing at 1.93m, he blends physicality with pace, making him a constant threat in attack.
Porto are holding firm with a £70m valuation, buoyed by the fact Atlético Madrid hold a 50% sell-on clause, making any sale difficult.
Samu is said to be open to a Premier League move, drawn by the league’s competitiveness and profile, but happy to stay at Porto if no deal materialises.
For Newcastle, though, his mix of power, directness, and ruthless finishing could be exactly what is needed to replace Isak and keep their attacking structure intact.
A contrasting style to Isak
Newcastle’s interest comes with good reason.
According to FBref, Samu ranks in the 75th percentile for non-penalty xG per 90 (0.43), the 86th percentile for total shots (3.10), and a remarkable 96th percentile for pass completion (77.8%).
His 5.45 touches in the opposition penalty area per game reflect a striker who lives on the shoulders of defenders, while his high work rate – ranking in the 73rd percentile for interceptions – shows his willingness to press from the front.
While both Isak and Samu are prolific centre-forwards, their playing styles differ significantly.
Isak combines close control and quick footwork to manoeuvre through tight spaces.
He excels in link-up play, often dropping deep to bring teammates into the attack, and shows exceptional composure when finishing with either foot.
His intelligent positioning and subtle movement make him difficult to mark, opening channels for runs in behind from the likes of Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon.
Samu, on the other hand, is a more direct, physically dominant striker.
He thrives on aggression, often backing into defenders to hold up play before spinning into space.
His aerial presence is matched by a powerful burst of acceleration, making him ideal for counter-attacking situations.
Unlike Isak’s more measured style, Samu looks to unsettle defences through constant pressure, using his frame to win duels and his pace to exploit gaps.
In statistical terms, Samu’s higher volume of shots and penalty-box touches suggest a striker who is more frequently the direct end point of attacks, whereas Isak’s strengths lie in creating space for others as well as for himself.
The potential shift from one profile to the other would require tactical adjustments.
Newcastle may become more direct in transition, with a greater emphasis on exploiting Samu’s physicality rather than the intricate build-up play often used to accommodate Isak’s style.
For Eddie Howe, that change could also provide a fresh dimension.
Newcastle’s transfer strategy this summer has already been shaped by necessity.
Missing out on Šeško and facing stiff competition for other targets has narrowed their options, but Samu’s profile stands out.
If Newcastle can push a deal over the line, they won’t just have a like-for-like replacement for Isak, they’ll have a completely different type of threat, one capable of bullying defenders, dominating aerially, and finishing with the same efficiency that has made him one of Europe’s most coveted young strikers.
Whether that change will ultimately strengthen the Magpies’ attack or force an adjustment period remains to be seen – but in the short term, it could be the bold, aggressive step they need to keep their season on track.
Their new Gordon: Big-money star "wants to join" Newcastle before Saturday
Newcastle United push ahead with £40m transfer that could weaken direct rivals.
ByWill Miller Aug 13, 2025
Without a doubt, Liverpool have enjoyed an incredible summer transfer window, with FSG spending like never before to establish Arne Slot’s dynasty.
The Dutch coach replaced Jurgen Klopp and won the Premier League last season, and he did so having welcomed only Federico Chiesa to Anfield for a £12.5m fee. Well, Chiesa only started one league game all season and is expected to depart in the coming weeks.
However, the Italian’s not the only one facing the exit doors this summer.
As Liverpool kicked off their pre-season tour with a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan, they could not call upon Luis Diaz or Darwin Nunez, with the respective forwards set to be sold.
While Liverpool have already spent £79m on forward Hugo Ekitike this summer (breaking the British transfer record to reel Florian Wirtz over too), there’s more to come.
We all know that Alexander Isak is on Liverpool’s radar, having informed Newcastle United of his desire to explore a transfer to Anfield. He did not travel with the Toon for their pre-season tour.
However, talkSPORT have now revealed that Liverpool have ‘signalled their willingness’ to pay for the Sweden international, who has rejected the Magpies’ proposals of a new contract. That comes amid rival interest from Al Hilal, albeit with Saudi Arabian officials believing that he ‘wants to join Liverpool’.
If Liverpool want Isak, they will likely have to break the British record once again, forking out some £130m.
This would be a truly remarkable transfer. And it’s beginning to look more and more probable.
Isak, 25, joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad for £63m in 2022, and he’s now renowned as one of the deadliest goalscorers in the world, hailed by Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson for being “the most complete striker” in the Premier League.
While Liverpool’s acquisition of Ekitike might make it feel like this signing would be redundant, this isn’t the case. The respective forwards are both technically sound, but bring different things to the table and could actually become an unstoppable partnership.
Ekitike, 23, is principally a central striker but is known for his pace and power, capable across a range of positional roles. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.
Utilising these attributes, Ekitike could bring out the best in Isak, allowing him to focus more on his incredible goalscoring. There’s no question that the United man surpasses his prospective teammate in ball-striking.
|
Alexander Isak’s Record at Newcastle (all comps) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps (starts) |
Goals |
Assists |
|
24/25 |
42 (41) |
27 |
6 |
|
23/24 |
40 (36) |
25 |
2 |
|
22/23 |
27 (18) |
10 |
3 |
|
Data via Transfermarkt |
|||
The £120k-per-week Sweden native, moreover, has the wealth of Premier League experience, which could prove vital for Ekitike’s development.
With both players in Slot’s system, the coach can manage workloads and utilise the respective strengths of both to the greater effect of his ambitious Liverpool team. The sum is greater than the individual parts, after all.
Given that both strikers are so dynamic, there’s no reason why they couldn’t cohabit at the front of the ship for Liverpool, especially if Nunez is sold in the coming weeks.
Bigger loss than Diaz or Nunez: Barcelona charge into race for £70k-p/w Liverpool star
The Reds could lose a key man.
By
Tom Cunningham
Jul 26, 2025