Wolves should complete the signing of Liverpool striker Divock Origi in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Josh Holland.
The Lowdown: Origi set to leave
The 27-year-old will leave the Reds at the end of the season, having enjoyed a memorable career at Anfield over the years.
Origi has become a cult hero on Merseyside, scoring some iconic Premier League and Champions League goals against the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham and Everton, in addition to being hailed as a ‘monster’ by Jurgen Klopp.
Wolves have been linked with a move for the forward in the past few months as Bruno Lage looks for summer reinforcements.
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The Latest: Journalist backs Wolves move for Origi
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Holland talked up the idea of Wolves signing Origi, claiming that the Belgian would be superior to current Old Gold marksman Raul Jimenez, who has netted 54 goals for the club.
The reporter stated:
“I think he’s better than Jimenez. If they can bring Origi in and have him starting as their number nine going forward, I think that would be perfect.
“I think he is quality and has an eye for goal. He is always in the right place at the right time.”
[freshpress-poll id=“388780″]
The Verdict: Seems highly unlikely
Origi would be an excellent signing for Wolves, given the pedigree he possesses and the fact that he is still at a good point in his career age-wise.
Although he hasn’t started a single Premier League game this term, he still has six goals in just 572 minutes of football across all competitions. That equates to one every 95.3 minutes, illustrating his predatory goal-poaching nature.
Sadly, it looks likely that the Belgian will be joining AC Milan instead at the end of the season, with the Rossoneri guaranteeing him Champions League football.
However, if Origi has a sudden change of heart and wants to remain in the Premier League, then Wolves should do all they can to acquire his services.
In other news, a Premier League player has emerged as a target for Wolves. Find out who it is here.
Manchester City have been one of the most successful teams in the Premier League over the past decade or so in terms of the number of trophies they’ve won.
Since the 2010/11 season, the Etihad Stadium outfit have won six League cups, two FA Cups and five Premier League titles.
One figure in their current squad who has been a big part of that success over recent years is Fernandinho.
Since arriving at the Etihad back in the summer of 2013, the soon-to-be 37-year-old has gone on to make 378 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions. In that time, the Brazilian has scored 26 goals and provided 33 assists along the way.
With 28 appearances to his name this season, the midfielder has only started 14 times, as he looks to run down the final two months of his current contract.
Having claimed that this could be his last season with City, the club could have a big challenge on their hands to try and find a suitable replacement for the Brazil veteran.
However, there is one player with whom the Manchester club have been linked recently who could be a dream heir for Fernandinho – West Ham United’s Declan Rice.
Labelled a “freak” in terms of his physicality, the 23-year-old has also been described by former Irons team-mate Jack Wilshere as a player that “can do anything” on a technical level on the pitch.
From a defensive point of view, the England international has racked up a combined total of 585 tackles and interceptions in the Premier League since the 2017/18 season.
By comparison, Fernandinho has 313 tackles and interceptions to his name during the same period of time, highlighting just how tough the West Ham star is to play against.
With that in mind, and only two other midfielders in the Premier League having a higher pass completion percentage than Rice this season, he could well be the perfect long-term replacement for City’s long-serving stalwart.
Even though it could cost Pep Guardiola’s side a hefty fee of £100m for the 23-year-old’s services, shelling out this sort of money could be a wise investment for the club as they prepare for the future without Fernandinho.
In other news: Man City plot bid for “unbelievable” £60m ace who’s “one of the best”, Pep would love him
Leeds United have been dealt a huge blow in their bid to keep Raphinha at Elland Road beyond the summer transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that Barcelona have already agreed terms with the 25-year-old ahead of a summer move, with the outlet suggesting that the Brazilian’s switch to the Camp Nou is now very close.
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However, the report does go on to state that the Catalan side are yet to come to an agreement with Victor Orta and Leeds regarding the sale of the winger, with it being said that Barca face a far more difficult challenge in agreeing terms with the Premier League outfit.
Supporters will be gutted
While it is undeniable that Leeds receiving a £63m fee for a player they signed for £17m a little under two years ago would represent fantastic business by Orta, considering his importance within the Whites first-team, the news that a deal is close for Raphinha’s transfer this summer is nevertheless sure to leave the Elland Road faithful gutted.
Indeed, over his 30 Premier League appearances last season, the £40.5m-rated forward was in breathtaking form, scoring six goals, providing nine assists and creating 12 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.2 shots, making 2.1 key passes and completing 1.9 dribbles per game.
These returns saw the 25-year-old earn an extremely impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.14, ranking him as his club’s third-best performer in the top flight.
This is form the Brazil international has continued over his 30 Premier League outings this term, with the £63k-per-week sensation bagging ten goals, registering three assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.6 shots, making two key passes and completing two dribbles per fixture.
These metrics have seen the attacker average a fantastic SofaScore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s second-best outfielder in the league.
As such, it is clear to see just how important a player Raphinha is for Leeds, and the prospect of the Brighton & Hove Albion fixture being the winger’s last outing at Elland Road is sure to be something Leeds supporters will be having nightmares about.
AND in other news: Source: Orta plotting £15m bid for “tremendous” talent, he’d be a “beast” for Leeds
Rangers’ winning streak continues, albeit in far from convincing fashion.
On Saturday, the Gers battled to a 2-1 victory over bottom of the table Livingston at Ibrox, with Emmanuel Fernandez marking his first start since August by scoring a towering header, only for Tete Yengi to equalise soon after, but Mohamed Diomandé’s goal 12 minutes from time, Bojan Miovski putting it on a plate for him, enough to snatch victory.
This makes it four Premiership wins out of four since Danny Röhl was appointed manager, the Gers’ longest streak since February, albeit they remain fourth, given that Hibernian beat Dundee 2-0 at Easter Road simultaneously.
Next up, Röhl’s team will take on Braga in a must win Europa League tie on Thursday and, despite victory on Saturday, which starter should be axed ahead of this one?
Rangers' current injury crisis
After some very underwhelming summer recruitment, most Rangers supporters agree that their squad lacks quality, so, when that is the situation, the last thing a coach needs is a lengthy injury list.
First-choice centre-back pairing John Souttar and Derek Cornelius are both expected to be sidelined until after Christmas, after suffering serious injuries while on international on the same evening, doing so within hours of one-another but more than 4,200 miles apart in Glasgow and Miami.
Meantime, just as he had started to click into gear, Mikey Moore suffered a muscle injury in training, so is set to spend weeks on the sidelines.
The Tottenham lonaee had made an inconspicuous start to life in Glasgow, but had started to show glimpses of his talent in recent weeks, scoring his first goal for the club at Dens Park in the last game prior to the international break.
In the absences of the teenager, Röhl’s team lacked dynamism, panache and flamboyance in attacking areas, with the player tasked with deputising certainly not earning rave reviews.
The Rangers star Röhl must axe after Livingston
Röhl went for a more attacking 4-2-3-1 formation for Livingston’s visit on Saturday, with Thelo Aasgaard given the free role as the central number ten.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The Merseyside-born midfielder helped Norway qualify for a first World Cup since ’98 during the break, coming off the bench as his country crushed Italy 4-1 at San Siro last Sunday.
Thus, Aasgaard was handed a first club start since being sent off during the League Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Celtic at Hampden.
Well, he certainly did not grasp this opportunity with both hands, as the table below documents.
Shots
Zero
12th
Successful dribbles
1
11th
Accurate passes
12
16th
Key passes
1
4th
Duels won
2
24th
Touches
19
23rd
SofaScore rating
6.4
21st
The statistics underline that Aasgaard was generally pretty anonymous during Saturday’s victory, completing just 12 passes and only one dribble, not registering a single attempt.
The most galling number is the fact that the Norwegian international touched the ball only 19 times before being hooked at half time, nine fewer than goalkeeper Jack Butland and six less than Livi scorer Yengi.
Writer Kai Watson asserted that Aasgaard went “missing” in the first half, adding that he “needs to offer something” and is “capable of much more than we’re seeing”.
Meantime, Aheed Abrar of Ibrox News exclaimed that the midfielder was “embarrassing” on Saturday, awarding him a 3/10 rating, while Let’s Talk Rangers believes he should not be an “automatic starter” over Nedim Bajrami, Lyall Cameron and others.
Thus, despite their ongoing injury issues, Röhl does appear to have better attacking options than Aasgaard, who did little to stake a claim for a start against Braga this weekend.
Rohl's own Maeda: Rangers begin talks to sign "very pacy" sensation
With Rangers set to heavily invest in January, they have reportedly began talks to sign a “very pacy” star who would be Danny Röhl’s own Daizen Maeda.
Everton’s 2025/26 season has begun with a mixture of promise and frustration.
The Toffees opened the Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Leeds, a match played in a raucous Elland Road atmosphere.
They bounced back impressively at home, securing a 2-0 victory against Brighton to restore confidence among fans.
A thrilling 3-2 win at Molineux demonstrated their attacking potential, while a 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa highlighted some inconsistency.
Most recently, Everton fell 2-1 to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, underscoring the challenges of competing at the top level. David Moyes’ side currently sit 10th in the league and face struggling West Ham at Goodison Park in their next fixture on Monday.
The Toffees’ attacking setup, led by Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Iliman Ndiaye, has shown flashes of creativity and menace, but the lack of a top striker has limited their output.
Everton’s recent 2-0 exit from the Carabao Cup to Wolves adds to the sense of disappointment.
Moyes may now be looking for solutions within his squad to spark a more effective attacking threat.
Beto's struggles since joining Everton
Beto, the towering 27-year-old striker, has become a focal point for debate among Everton fans.
The Portuguese forward joined the club from Udinese in 2023 for £25m, bringing with him a strong Serie A record and international experience.
Standing at 1.94m, Beto has made 60 Premier League appearances for Everton, scoring 11 goals, per Transfermarkt.
Last season, he found the net eight times in 20 appearances, showing glimpses of his potential. Despite these credentials, Beto has struggled to establish himself as the man to lead Everton’s frontline.
He has scored just once in the current campaign and has struggled to impose himself in key moments.
Statistically, his contributions show limitations compared to some of his peers. Last season, Beto averaged 0.88 progressive carries per 90, 0.94 progressive passes per 90, and 1.35 shots on target per 90, per FBref.
His progressive passing distance of 16.6 per 90 and shot-creating actions at 1.52 per 90 indicate a forward with a more limited impact on a team shifting towards a more possession-based approach.
These metrics reflect a player capable of contributing in certain areas but not providing the dynamic presence Everton require in modern attacking football.
With Moyes increasingly looking to implement a more possession-oriented, technically fluid approach, Beto may not be the ideal fit for leading the line.
Why Everton should unleash Thierno Barry
Enter Thierno Barry.
The French U21 international signed from Villareal this summer for £27.6m, and offers a contrasting profile to Beto.
The 6ft 5in striker scored 11 goals from an xG of 12.41 last season and registered four assists, per Sofascore, showcasing his ability to dominate the penalty area while contributing to team play.
Described as a “serious No.9 prospect” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Barry’s style has drawn comparisons to Dušan Vlahović and Ollie Watkins, blending physical presence with technical awareness.
Barry excels in aerial duels, ranking in the 87th percentile with 3.84 aerials won per 90, winning nearly two-thirds of the aerial contests in the penalty area, per FBref.
His ability to carry the ball forward is also notable, ranking in the 74th percentile for progressive carries per 90 (1.70), while completing 62% of his take-ons.
He can stretch defensive lines and create space for teammates, a trait Moyes will likely value in Everton’s evolving system.
Despite needing time to adapt to the Premier League, Barry has already made five appearances this season, logging 142 minutes.
Matches Played
5
Starts
1
Minutes
144
Progressive Carries
2
Progressive Passes
2
Compared to Beto, Barry’s 2024/25 stats indicate a player with greater overall influence: 20 goal involvements versus Beto’s 8, 1.71 progressive carries per 90 versus 0.88, 1.05 progressive passes per 90 versus 0.94, and higher involvement in shot-creating actions (1.78 per 90 compared to 1.52).
His progressive passing distance per 90 (21.2) also surpasses Beto’s 16.6, aligning with Moyes’ desire for a striker comfortable in possession-based play. Barry offers Everton the chance to implement a forward capable of linking play, finishing opportunities, and contributing to a more dynamic attacking structure.
As Moyes looks ahead to upcoming league fixtures, including the home clash with West Ham, deploying Barry over Beto, who should be ruthlessly dropped, could be the catalyst Everton need to maximise their offensive potential.
The Frenchman’s combination of physicality, technical skill, and aerial dominance marks him as the player to build around in attack, particularly in a team seeking to flourish in the Premier League.
Nuno Espirito Santo has officially been axed at Nottingham Forest. It’s time for a new era at the City Ground.
Despite picking up 30 wins in charge of the Tricky Trees, with Europa League football also on the menu this season, the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers boss’ fiery relationship with chairman Evangelos Marinakis and Edu has ultimately been his downfall.
Forest have moved swiftly to secure an immediate successor to Nuno, with the Premier League side having announced Ange Postecoglou as their new boss on Tuesday afternoon.
He, of course, guided Spurs to a Europa League triumph just last campaign and is seen as the man to take the Midlanders to the next level.
Known for an exciting brand of attacking football while situated in North London, he could well be a breath of fresh air away from Nuno’s more attritional approach.
That means Morgan Gibbs-White could thrive even more under the Australians’ new methods.
Why Gibbs-White could thrive under Ange
Postecoglou will walk into the dug-out at the City Ground pretty content with the attacking options at his disposal.
Of course, he will have the imposing goal machine of Chris Wood to rely on – who has two Premier League strikes already this season – alongside knowing he also has an enthralling playmaker setting him up with chances galore in the aforementioned Gibbs-White.
Staggeringly, it wasn’t too far back that Forest fans were resigned to the prospect of their star man defecting to Postecoglou’s ex-employers.
Now, however, he could be the 60-year-old’s leading attacking force alongside Wood, with a bumper 15 goal contributions last season from 34 Premier League clashes setting the very high standards.
After all, Postecoglou, when back at Spurs during his up-and-down stint, got the very best out of similarly skilful, but potent presences in attack, as seen in him overseeing Maddison picking up a whirlwind 23 goals and assists last campaign.
The former Celtic boss would even herald Maddison as “loveable little rogue” during their time together at the Lilywhites.
Therefore, you might well expect Gibbs-White’s numbers to rise to these lofty heights shortly.
However, the soon-to-be new Tricky Trees manager might well see even more promise in a rising star at Forest as his next potential Maddison-style project.
Ange Postecoglou and James Maddison celebrate
Ange's new Maddison at Nottingham Forest
Despite Nuno falling out with Marinakis regularly at the City Ground, it’s fair to say the now jobless 51-year-old was backed in the summer transfer window, before parting ways dramatically.
Indeed, the likes of Dilane Bakwa would join on deadline day for a whopping £35m to bolster the options available on the right wing, on top of plenty of exciting English talent also entering the building in the form of record signing Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee.
In particular, the brand-new Forest number 24 might well have caught the eye of the incoming manager, with McAtee once being noted as being a “special” talent by his former Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, before severing ties with his boyhood side to join Forest.
More first-team opportunities should come the ex-Sheffield United loanee’s way at the City Ground, with a hope on Postecoglou’s end that he can get even more out of another entertaining and captivating number ten who was previously seen as the next best thing, like he did so effortlessly with Maddison at Spurs.
Games played
75
200
Goals scored
16
67
Assists
21
37
Trophies
1x
9x
After all, much like his fellow compatriot who scored and assisted a bumper 96 times for Leicester City, McAtee has shown off his class for the Citizens at both a senior and youth level, as well as starring out on loan at the Blades, with a mammoth 67 goals and 37 assists to shout about for his fledgling career to date.
With Postecoglou managing to extract 16 goals and 21 assists from Maddison in North London, it remains to be seen what magic the Australian can now conjure up with yet another thrilling attacking midfielder.
The up-and-coming 22-year-old will likely have to fight it out with Gibbs-White for a starting spot under Postecoglou.
But, if he can shine when thrown into the action, it could well be that McAtee goes on to be the former Spurs manager’s second coming of Maddison, as he embarks on a daunting new adventure himself in a fresh Premier League dug-out.
Nottingham Forest join race for "intelligent" Man City gem who Pep loves
It will be fascinating to see the future of Marcus Rashford this summer, but it does not seem like he will return to Aston Villa.
The Manchester United forward enjoyed a successful loan spell at Villa Park in the second half of last season, but a return to the club on a permanent deal seems unlikely.
In mid-May, BBC Sport reported that the winger thinks his boyhood club ‘would be prepared to sell him for £40m to anyone this summer’. Reading between the lines, you certainly get the impression that a permanent deal at Villa Park is off the table for Rashford.
If he does end up going elsewhere, the Villans will need a replacement for the electric England international.
Aston Villa eyeing up Rashford alternative
Replacing a player with the impact and star quality of Rashford will not be easy for Monchi and Co this summer, especially with potential PSR restrictions looming over them.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, it seems as though manager Unai Emery has identified his ideal target.
According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, the West Midlands club are ‘keeping very close tabs’ on Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres.
He is a player who ‘has been on the radar of several Premier League clubs’ since leaving Manchester City, with ‘Villa seriously interested’ in adding him to their squad.
FC Barcelona'sFerranTorresin action
This is a move driven by manager Emery. It appears that the Villa boss would ‘absolutely love’ for his side to sign the Spain international this summer.
As for a fee, it was reported by a Spanish news outlet in May that he could cost around the £42m mark for any potential transfer to happen.
How Ferran Torres compares to Rashford
If Torres were to make the move to Villa Park this summer, he would add instant quality to their attack and bring Premier League experience, too. Of course, since leaving Man City, he has represented Barcelona, where, last season, he impressed.
FC Barcelona'sFerranTorrescelebrates scoring their second goal
Breaking into a Barca front three that contains Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and, of course, Lamine Yamal, is not easy. Yet, Torres still showed his quality last season, with 19 goals and seven assists in 45 appearances.
In La Liga, he played 27 times, scoring ten times and grabbing six assists. However, perhaps the most notable game of the 2024/25 season from the Spaniard came against his former side, Valencia, in the Copa del Rey. Torres scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout at the Estadio Mestalla.
It certainly would not be easy to step in for Rashford if the Spaniard moved to Villa. The 27-year-old only played 17 games for the club, but had an incredible impact in such a short amount of time.
The boyhood Man United star played 940 minutes, the equivalent of 10.4 full 90-minute games. He scored four goals and registered six assists in that time, leaving him with a goal-to-game ratio of 0.96.
Stepping into Rashford’s boots will certainly be a challenge for Torres. However, he already had a taste of the Premier League with Man City. In 28 English top-flight games, he scored nine goals and grabbed three assists.
Many Villa fans will surely be hoping the Spain international is essentially the second coming of Rashford, and the stats on FBref are there to back that up. The pair are statistically similar to each other over the past 365 days.
There are some noticeable stats which best showcase the similarities between the pair. For example, Torres last season averaged 3.09 shot-creating actions each game compared to Rashford’s 3.55 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.
Goals per shot on target
0.45
0.36
Key passes
1.54
1.77
Progressive passes
2.85
2.15
Shot-creating actions
3.09
3.55
Goal-creating actions
0.57
0.25
Take-ons completed
0.89
1.14
Stats like that show just how involved in the attack Torres is, which can certainly be said for Rashford, too. In that sense, and the fact that he maintains a similar creative output to the Englishman, suggests he would be a fantastic replacement. He is, as football scout Antonio Mango said, a “special” player.
For around £42m, Torres could be a bargain for the Villa Park side. He is, in many ways, the second coming of Rashford, and should seamlessly be able to step into his shoes. Emery wants to sign him, and the price is fair. This seems like a brilliant deal for Villa.
The next Rogers: Aston Villa pushing hard to sign "explosive" £30m star
Aston Villa could be about to win their next Morgan Rogers if they’re successful in their advances for this rising star.
As PSG celebrated winning the Champions League on Saturday evening, Arsenal fans were longingly contemplating whether that would have been them had they signed a striker last summer or even over the winter.
The Gunners swept aside Real Madrid with absolute ease but came unstuck against the might of PSG, although they certainly were not disgraced in the semi-final stages.
That said, you’re not going to get very far if Mikel Merino is your striker in the semi-finals of a major European competition (sorry Mikel).
The Spaniard certainly did a good job as an emergency centre-forward, scoring six goals in 12 appearances in that position, but that cannot continue heading into 2025/26.
The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of a new striker
Andrea Berta came into this summer window needing to tick one box: sign a new striker.
Indeed, after the failed attempts of the last few windows, it’s an absolute necessity if the Gunners are going to challenge for major honours next term.
So, who are their options? Well, Benjamin Sesko appears to be the number one pick at the moment, with Fabrizio Romano revealing last week that initial talks have now started over a move to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal looked at Sesko last summer but the Slovenian decided to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig but a year later he is now set to be on the move.
If a move falls through for a second successive summer, then Berta does have an alternative up his sleeve. That’s according to reports on the continent.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
They suggest that while talks for Sesko have indeed started, there is no agreement on personal terms yet.
As a result, Arsenal’s ‘objective is to make progress on several fronts simultaneously’ so that they are not left empty-handed for another transfer window.
The alternative is Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres. The report notes that the Swedish striker has ‘already given his verbal agreement’ to join the north Londoners this summer.
While Sesko is expected to cost around £70m this summer according to Sky Sports, Gyokeres is likely to cost £67m.
How Sesko compares to Gyokeres
Alexander Isak is allegedly still Mikel Arteta’s dream target this summer but with Newcastle United having secured Champions League qualification, attaining the Swede’s signature is nigh on impossible.
As a result, their striker chase likely boils down to both Sesko and Gyokeres now, but who would be the better signing?
Well, if the club are looking for more of a project striker then the Leipzig star would be their man. Indeed, by signing Sesko, the Gunners would be gambling on his potential but he certainly has all of the raw ingredients to be a huge success in the future.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates
Here, they must take influence from Newcastle’s pursuit of Isak, or to use a more recent reference point, PSG’s transfer strategy. Buy the player before they’re a superstar, much in the way the Parisians have done with players like Desire Doue, Vitinha and Bradley Barcola. Now, they are three of the very best players in the world.
Here’s what Arsenal could achieve with Sesko’s signing. He’s not a plug-and-play forward just yet, scoring 21 times this term, but he ticks a lot of boxes.
Described as the “new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, he’s got pace, he’s got an incredibly powerful shot, he can find the net, and standing at 6 foot 5, he’s got a ridiculous leap on him. There is so much to like about the 22-year-old.
Goals
13
39
Expected Goals (xG)
9.89
30.95
Big chances missed
10
23
Assists
5
10
Successful dribbles *
1.2
1.8
Ground duels won *
2.0
4.4
Aerial duels won *
2.1
1.1
Gyokeres, on the other hand, is certainly the win-now option. He’s the most lethal centre-forward in Europe, scoring a mind-boggling 54 goals in 52 games this season. At the age of 26, he’s reaching his prime and he knows his game inside out.
Considering Arsenal need a goalscorer, they’d be silly to turn down someone of his calibre in front of goal. Described as a “ball-striking monster” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, there simply isn’t a better option on the market right now if you’re looking for out-and-out goals.
For those who doubt the quality of opposition in the Portuguese top-flight, he also scored six in eight Champions League ties, which included a hat-trick against Manchester City.
It could be vital as well that he’s already got experience of English football. He came through the ranks at Brighton and then dazzled at Coventry City, netting 22 times in 50 outings during his final campaign in the Midlands.
Since then, he’s only gone from strength to strength. No player has scored more than Gyokeres in the top ten leagues worldwide this calendar year.
On that evidence, he’d be a seriously exciting signing. Whether he’d be better than Sesko, however, we may never know.
Arteta's £45m star will be totally finished at Arsenal if Sesko signs
Arsenal are planning to sign a new centre-forward in the transfer market this summer.
Manchester United will want to improve all areas of the pitch during the summer transfer window, needing to right the wrongs of the 2024/25 campaign, which was certainly one to forget.
The Red Devils lost in the Europa League final and also finished 15th in the Premier League, with no European football present at Old Trafford next season.
Such a failure will certainly have an impact on finances at the club, restricting any funds that boss Ruben Amorim may have had at his disposal had they claimed victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Ruben Amorim
However, it could be a blessing in disguise, handing the manager the opportunity to work closely with his players and mount a serious charge for the Premier League’s top four in 2025/26.
Regardless of the terrible form, the hierarchy look set to give Amorim the benefit of the doubt and hand him funds to change their fortunes, with numerous players already on the manager’s radar.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap have been on United’s radar in recent days, with the hierarchy holding talks with the Cameroon international over a switch to Old Trafford this summer.
The club have been quoted a fee in the region of £50m for the 25-year-old star, who’s managed to score 20 goals in the Premier League this season, but could face competition from Newcastle United for his signature.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
However, the other end of the pitch is also in need of investment, with Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford emerging as a summer target, according to GIVEMESPORT.
The report claims that the club are exploring potential reinforcements to bolster the ranks, with the future of Andre Onana at United uncertain given his recent showings.
It also states that it’s unknown how much Scott Parker’s side will demand for the signature of the 22-year-old, who kept a staggering 29 clean sheets in the Championship last season, but prior reports this year suggest it may be around £30m.
Why Trafford could be the next Sancho
Winger Jadon Sancho joined United in a £73m deal from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021, but it’s safe to say his time at Old Trafford has been a disaster.
Jadon Sancho
The Englishman has made 83 appearances for the club, scoring just 12 goals and being sent on various loan spells – including back to the side which the Red Devils landed him from.
The 25-year-old is currently on loan at fellow Premier League side Chelsea, but could well be back in Amorim’s side ahead of next season if the Blues trigger his £5m cancellation fee after originally joining with an obligation to join permanently.
He’s only scored four times in his 40 appearances across all competitions in West London, with the club undoubtedly set to lose a small fortune on their investment in the near future.
However, the club could land a repeat of Sancho in a summer move for Trafford, with the goalkeeper following a similar path in his career to the winger over recent years.
James Trafford for Burnley.
The pair both came through Manchester City’s academy, before moving elsewhere to make their name and potentially costing the Red Devils a small fortune in the process.
Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the shot-stopper would set the hierarchy back this summer, it’s one they should look to avoid with better options available in the market.
Games played
28
38
Goals conceded
62
58
Save percentage
65%
75%
Saves made
3.7
3.9
Clean sheets
2
9
Clean sheet percentage
7%
23%
Pass accuracy
65%
73%
Trafford, who’s been labelled “world-class” by current boss Parker, was unable to better current ‘keeper Onana in numerous key areas during his last stint in the Premier League, even dropping to number two in the pecking order as a result.
Whilst there’s no denying that a new goalkeeper needs to be on the agenda this summer, Amorim and the board should be exploring other options, with a more experienced head needed between the sticks.
Given the similarities between him and Sancho’s career path, it’s another reason as to why they should steer clear – needing to find value for money elsewhere given the financial constraints.
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Why don’t we park the negativity for a moment: Liverpool have won the Premier League in Arne Slot’s season, and with plenty of time to spare at that.
You may have seen on social media that Slot is partying out in Ibiza, while Virgil van Dijk has taken the lads off to Dubai for a mini-break to celebrate Trent Alexander-Arnold before his contentious move to Real Madrid as a free agent.
This is amusing to watch, not least because the Reds still have to play Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX on Sunday before the culminating game of the campaign against Crystal Palace at Anfield in two weeks. But it highlights the club’s staggering success this year, so dominant throughout.
To think that FSG’s new iteration achieved league gold with only Federico Chiesa added to the first-team squad. Signings are needed now, and no mistake, with sporting director Richard Hughes acting swiftly to seal a deal for Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool’s right-back-in-waiting.
Why Liverpool are signing Jeremie Frimpong
Frimpong has scored 30 goals and supplied 44 assists across 190 matches for Bayer Leverkusen. The 24-year-old is rapid, physically robust and dynamic, and if Liverpool’s data-driven team are convinced, fans should be too.
Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies in action with Bayer Leverkusen'sJeremieFrimpong
According to Fabrizio Romano, advanced discussions are underway, with details pertaining to the structure of the €35m (about £30m) release clause being ironed out.
Frimpong differs greatly from Alexander-Arnold but he will add an attacking dimension to Liverpool’s backline, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this term for goal contributions and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.
24/25
48
5
12
23/24
47
14
12
22/23
48
9
11
21/22
34
2
8
20/21
13
0
1
The Netherlands star will be a great addition, one who will tussle with Conor Bradley for that number one spot. However, Liverpool are planning surgery across three quarters of the backline, and there’s an even better deal currently in the works.
Liverpool lead race for new defender
While Milos Kerkez remains the top target at left-back, it’s unlikely Liverpool will advance their intrigue, given Bournemouth still have it all to play for in the Premier League.
Transfer Focus
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Dean Huijsen also plays for the Cherries, but the young centre-back is being pursued by almost every top team worth their salt, with a £50m release clause that demands a decision on his future in the coming weeks.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool are ready to lodge an official bid for Huijsen to trigger that clause, though Real Madrid are interested too and it’s felt the young star would be interested in moving to the Spanish capital.
Of course, Liverpool are an interesting destination themselves. According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, not only is a decision is forthcoming, but Liverpool are alongside Arsenal in leading the race.
A decision will indeed be made soon, and FSG must surely be ready to seal the deal with a first major central defensive signing since Ibrahima Konate arrived from RB Leipzig for £36m in May 2021.
Why Dean Huijsen would be Slot's perfect signing
Romano’s revelation suggests a conclusion to this saga will be found soon, and FSG must ensure they are doing all they can to complete Slot’s backline with the young star.
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen
Huijsen really is “the most in-demand centre-back in the world,” as has been noted by analyst Ben Mattinson. At the moment, the race is absolutely open, and Liverpool can only do all they can to convince the Spain international that Anfield presents the best step forward in his career.
Joining Bournemouth from Juventus in a deal worth £15m last summer, Huijsen has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout young stars, playing every minute of his side’s past 23 fixtures.
Would it be fair to say he’d be a better signing than Frimpong for Slot’s trophy-winning Reds? In fairness, Huijsen is regarded as the “ultimate modern-day centre-back” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, and he’s got the statistics to back it up.
As per Sofascore, the 20-year-old has averaged almost three tackles and interceptions per game this term, winning 61% of his aerial battles and keeping seven clean sheets for Andoni Iraola’s side. It’s hardly surprising he’s been named a “world-class” star in the making by one analyst.
Honestly, there’s no question really that he’d be a better signing than Frimpong, not least having proven himself in the Premier League, while bearing all the traits needed to become a superstar in Slot’s Liverpool set-up. Who knows, given his left-footed inclination, maybe Huijsen could even succeed Van Dijk on the left side.
Bournemouth's DeanHuijsencelebrates after the match
As per FBref, Huijsen ranks among the top 7% of defenders in the Premier League this season for goal involvements, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90, effectively illustrating a technical aptitude and athletic ability that marry into his core defensive quality.
Given the uncertainty around Ibrahima Konate, who has been confirmed to have seen contract talks stagnate with just one year remaining on his current deal, Liverpool must surely accelerate their plans to sign Huijsen, insofar as such efforts will hold any sway. Of course, they can canvass a proposal for the ages, one which promises a standout role in a standout team.
Jeremie Frimpong
We’d love to watch Huijsen spray balls out into the path of an electric-bursting Frimpong next season, but there’s no question the Spanish man is the one that FSG should go for, should they need to prioritise.
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