Tottenham Hotspur could strike a summer reunion with one of their former players, and one who Mauricio Pochettino rated “very highly”, according to an update this week.

Spurs await season-defining Europa League final in Bilbao

Ange Postecoglou will soon face a blockbuster 90 minutes in Bilbao, which has the power to define his potential final season in charge of the Lilywhites.

Tottenham star clear he wants to join club as they hatch £84m transfer plan

Spurs face losing him to a big club.

3 ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

Spurs play fellow Premier League strugglers Man United in the Europa League final on May 21, with the club’s first piece of major silverware in 17 years and qualification for next season’s Champions League all on the line.

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

After Tottenham broke their record for most Premier League losses in a single season last weekend, Postecoglou could save face by clinching a precious trophy for Spurs, amid reports that the 59-year-old is likely to leave once the campaign has concluded (David Ornstein).

Unfortunately, following news of Dejan Kulusevski’s knee surgery, Postecoglou will be without a trio of his star midfielders, with the Swede joining both James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall on the injury list.

Injury absences have been a thorn in Tottenham’s side throughout 2024/2025, and they’ve seriously exposed the lack of depth in Postecoglou’s squad whilst emphasising the need for chairman Daniel Levy to acquire fresh faces.

Spurs will need to be clever when the summer window reopens, though, as they’re apparently likely to adopt a ‘sell to buy’ policy amid their lack of funds (The Telegraph).

Tottenham make contact with Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters

The free-agent market could be a fruitful pool of talent for the club, with ex-Spurs defender Kyle Walker-Peters currently set to leave Southampton on a Bosman once his contract expires on June 30.

A host of English sides are showing interest in Walker-Peters, who has arguably been one of the better performers in an otherwise dismal Saints side this term. According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in an interview with Leeds United News, Postecoglou’s side are among them.

Bailey states that Tottenham have held talks with Walker-Peters’ camp, but the competition for his signature will be rife.

“I’m told no decision just yet,” said Bailey on the Englishman’s future.

“Leeds have had contact, but as we know they’re one of many clubs to be in touch with him. West Ham, Spurs, Everton, there’s loads. And some foreign clubs are lurking too. Can Leeds get him? Of course. But from what I can make out it’s going to be tough.”

While Spurs eventually let the right-back, described as a “beautiful” footballer by ex-Saints boss Russell Martin, depart in 2020 for around £12 million, Pochettino did shower Walker-Peters with praise during his time in the English capital.

“For me, he’s one of the best options,” said the Argentine about Walker-Peters in 2018.

“Like always, who deserves it more is going to play — you know me. I’m so happy with his performance. I’m so happy and so proud of how he managed the pressure. I’m very pleased and I talk very highly of him.”

Liverpool are champions of the Premier League once again, and you can tell that a weight has been lifted from the shoulders of all involved.

The celebrations raged on for days, Anfield having played host to the title-clinching occasion last weekend as Tottenham Hotspur were put to the sword.

It’s been a long and gruelling season, but the squad have worked tooth and nail toward getting back on their perch, with Arne Slot the mastermind. Curiously, the Dutch coach has allowed a fuzz of facial hair to carpet his face, emphasising the loosening of the focus now that gold medals have been secured.

While Slot is finally prepared to enforce some rotation in the top flight, having been stringent in his team selection across the campaign, there’s no question that he and sporting director Richard Hughes are very much headset on preparing for the summer ahead.

That, for sure, is one area of attention that will have only intensified since the jubilation of last weekend, and while a wave of signings are anticipated, Liverpool are also gearing up to present Luis Diaz with a new contract.

Liverpool looking to extend Luis Diaz's contract

Diaz’s future has been a topic of debate throughout the 2024/25 campaign, and while he lulled for a sizeable patch through the middle of the year, the Colombian has been one of Liverpool’s most influential players.

Having plundered 16 goals and eight assists across 47 matches in all competitions, Diaz is behind only Mohamed Salah in Anfield’s goal contribution charts.

However, the 28-year-old is approaching the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week deal and has been consistently linked with a move away in recent months. Barcelona are among the recognised admirers.

Unless a mammoth bid comes FSG’s way, they’d be shrewd to march ahead with plans to tie the left-sided forward down. He’s been brilliant this year, and he perhaps doesn’t get the respect he deserves for his numbers, which are not all that shoddy.

Most Goals + Assists from LWs (Europe’s Top Five Leagues)
Player	Apps	Goals	Assists
Raphinha	31	15	11
Bradley Barcola	31	13	11
Luis Diaz	33	12	7
Vinicius Junior	27	11	7
Vincenzo Grifo	31	8	10
Stats via Transfermarkt

Is he perfect? No, but Diaz is criminally underrated within certain pockets of Liverpool support, having performed dutifully and dynamically under Slot’s wing.

The fact that Raphinha and Bradley Barcola are the only recognised left wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season to have outperformed him from a prolific standpoint says it all.

However, this argument carries substance on both sides, and if Liverpool were to receive an irresistible offer this summer, there’s one man above all others who has been identified as the perfect replacement.

Liverpool target is open to leaving

According to GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are ready to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo this summer, should Diaz end up leaving, with the wing wizard having ‘doubts’ over his future at the Bernabeu.

Transfer Focus

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

The Brazil international, 24, has become disillusioned with his role at Los Blancos, often shunted onto the right flank to accommodate Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.

The report suggests that he is, for the first time, ‘questioning’ his future at the club, while remaining ‘open-minded’ over which club he could potentially join next.

Spanish sources suggest it could take a bid worth €120m (£102m) to convince Florentino Perez to part with his club’s forward, but if Rodrygo truly wishes to leave for a new chapter, this towering figure could be reduced.

Why Rodrygo would be perfect for Liverpool

Hailed as a “world-class” part of Real Madrid by Jurgen Klopp, Rodrygo has lived in the Spanish capital since leaving Santos in his Brazilian homeland back in June 2018. He was only 17, with the figure totalling €45m (£38m).

The problem, of course, is that Madrid have packed their squad full of attacking superstars over the past few years, with the likes of Endrick, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz also assuming space in the first-team squad.

Rodrygo, though, no doubt feels he is on par with Mbappe and the like, surely doubling his frustrations over being routinely played as a right wing.

The right-footed forward has demonstrated a raised level of prolificness when rarely handed the chance to feature on his preferred flank. This season, he’s only posted 13 goals and ten assists across 50 matches in all competitions, but 12 of those involvements have come from just 12 fixtures as a left winger.

Rodrygo – Career Stats by Position
Position	Apps	Goals	Assists	G/A Rate
Right winger	145	34	30	0.44
Centre-forward	82	22	8	0.37
Left winger	78	23	16	0.50
Attacking midfield	4	0	1	0.25
Stats via Transfermarkt

It wouldn’t make much sense to sign Rodrygo if Diaz was kept on Liverpool’s books, for then he would be jockeying with the Colombia international and Cody Gakpo for a starting berth, or indeed placed out on the opposite flank, though Salah’s contractual renewal makes it rather hard to imagine this would convince him to make the move.

Even though Rodrygo hasn’t enjoyed the finest of seasons, his underlying qualities have still shone through. As per FBref, ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90.

This is interesting, with Diaz also renowned for his technical ability and crispness when on the ball. He’s also an electric player, with fast pace and a skilful kind of flair in possession.

Rodrygo has reached an important juncture in his career: turn one way, and he may continue to sit in the shadow of some of his Los Blancos peers; dart down the other lane, and the Brazilian could finally forge the career that his ‘world-class’ quality demands.

He’s already done it all for Real Madrid, and if he were to make the move to Merseyside, Rodrygo could not only prove to be an upgrade on Diaz but also become Liverpool’s undisputed talisman once Salah bows out too.

Liverpool could sign their best forward since Salah in £87m "superstar"

This talented player is open to leaving his club this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 2, 2025

Arsenal are now “working behind the scenes” to sign an £85m “superstar” as a potential replacement for Gabriel Martinelli, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Gunners pursuing new winger amid Martinelli criticism

Martinelli has been a key player for the Gunners for several seasons now, having made the left-wing spot his own, but the Brazilian has received some criticism as of late, with Jamie Carragher suggesting he isn’t good enough for a Premier League title-winning side.

Speaking earlier this year, Carragher compared Mikel Arteta’s current frontline to the attacking options Arsène Wenger had at his disposal in the 1997/98 season, saying: “They had [Marc] Overmars, [Nicolas] Anelka and Dennis Bergkamp. This team, at the moment, is playing with [Gabriel] Martinelli, [Leandro] Trossard and [Kai] Havertz. It’s not enough.”

After a very impressive 2022-23 campaign, the 23-year-old’s attacking output has certainly declined over the past two seasons, which indicates that Carragher may be correct about an upgrade being necessary.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

Assists

2022-23

36

15

6

2023-24

35

6

4

2024-25

32

8

4

As such, according to Brown, in an interview with Football Insider, Arsenal have now set their sights on a potential replacement, namely AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, having already started work on a deal.

The former scout said: “Rafael Leao is one of the players Arsenal have been looking at. They’ve been working behind the scenes, scouting him and figuring out what it would take to sign him.

“He’s very direct, quick and skilful which is exactly the type of winger they’re looking for. I think Arsenal have lacked that type of player this season because apart from Saka they don’t have decisive players in the final third who will make a difference.”

Club now happy to sell top Arsenal target for £60m+ as Berta talks advance

There has been a development in the Gunners’ pursuit of their “number one target”.

1 ByDominic Lund May 18, 2025 "Superstar" Leao could be Martinelli upgrade

The report makes it clear the Gunners are willing to sell Martinelli this summer, should they be able to find a top-level replacement, and there are plenty of signs the AC Milan star could be exactly that.

The Portugal international has been one of the Serie A’s star players for quite some time, and the current campaign has been no exception, picking up eight goals and ten assists in 34 league outings.

The 25-year-old, who has been lauded as a “superstar” by members of the media, has also outperformed Martinelli across a number of key attacking metrics over the course of the past year.

Per 90 minutes

Gabriel Martinelli

Rafael Leao

Non-penalty goals

0.28

0.34

Assists

0.14

0.26

Shot-creating actions

2.88

4.17

Successful take-ons

1.50

2.84

A deal for Leao will not be cheap, with previous reports revealing AC Milan could hold out for a fee of £85m, but there are clear signs the winger could be an upgrade on Martinelli, whose performance levels have undoubtedly dropped in recent times.

Arsenal’s season now rests on 90 minutes in Paris next week.

Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to win the Premier League for a third campaign on the bounce, but as things stand, they still have a genuine chance of overturning Paris Saint-Germain’s one-nil lead at the Parc des Princes and making it to their first Champions League final in 19 years.

However, to do that, they’ll have to play substantially better than they did on Tuesday night, and more specifically, club captain Martin Odegaard will have to step up in a big way following his dismal showing at home.

Appearances

40

Minutes

3072′

Goals

5

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.37

Minutes per Goal Involvement

204.8′

With just 15 goal improvements in 40 appearances, the Norwegian international has been a massive disappointment this season, so it’s excellent news that recent reports have linked the club with a striker who should be able to revive his fortunes next year.

Arsenal's striker search

Ask any Arsenal fan what they desperately need in the summer, and we’d hazard a guess that almost all of them will say a striker. After all, despite being just one place ahead of them in the Premier League, Liverpool have scored 17 more goals this season.

Transfer Focus

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

Fortunately, the board clearly agrees with this sentiment, as there have been a whole host of centre-forwards touted for moves to the Emirates in recent weeks, one of the more recent being Jonathan David.

Thanks to his contract expiring at the end of next month, the Canadian international will be available for nothing in the summer, and as he’s already scored 25 goals and provided 11 assists in 46 games this year, he’d undoubtedly be an incredible addition to Arteta’s squad.

A little closer to home, the Gunners have once again been linked with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins in recent weeks.

The Englishman was the subject of a failed £45m bid from the North Londoners in the winter window, and while it’s unclear just how much he’d cost in the summer, it’s clear that with 29 goal involvements in 50 games this season, he’d be a brilliant signing.

However, to really propel the club to the title next year and get the likes of Odegaard firing again, Arteta and Co need to sign a goalscoring machine, which is where Viktor Gyokeres comes in.

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, as relayed by GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal remain incredibly keen on bringing the Swedish international to N5 this summer.

A potential price tag is not mentioned in the story, but other reports from this week claim that the striker could be available for up to £70m.

It’s certainly a lot to spend on one player, but given his immense ability and the effect he could have on the likes of Odegaard, it’s a transfer worth doing for Arsenal.

How Gyokeres would revive Odegaard

While there might be several small reasons here and there why Gyokeres would be able to get more out of Odegaard, like his application in training sessions and his attitude during games, his raw output is what matters more than anything.

After all, it doesn’t matter how hard he works if he can’t finish the chances the Norwegian creates for him.

Fortunately, when it comes to being a pure out-and-out goalscorer, it’s hard to think of anyone better than the former Coventry City star in Europe at the moment.

Appearances

48

Minutes

3858′

Goals

52

Assists

12

Goal Involvements per Match

1.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

60.28′

For example, in 48 appearances for Sporting CP, totalling 3858 minutes, the 6 foot 2 “powerhouse,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored a simply staggering 52 goals and provided 12 assists for good measure.

In other words, the 26-capped monster is currently averaging 1.33 goal involvements every game, or one every 60.28 minutes, which is undoubtedly a world-class rate of return.

Just imagine a striker as unrelentingly efficient as that in front of the Gunners’ captain – he’d almost instantly see his assist tally skyrocket.

Moreover, if opposition defenders had to spend more time worrying about the North Londoners’ new monstrous forward as well as Bukayo Saka off the right, there would be more room for the former Real Madrid prospect to operate in, and as a result, his own goal tally would likely increase as well.

Ultimately, while it’s a lot of money, Arsenal should be doing all they can to bring Gyokeres to the Emirates this summer, as not only could he fire them to the title next year, but he could be just the man to get Odegaard back to his mercurial best as well.

He's becoming their new Ozil: Arteta must axe "frustrating" Arsenal ace

The impressive Arsenal star has fallen off a cliff this season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 1, 2025

Leeds United might have well strolled to automatic promotion in the end with a sizeable 100-point haul next to their name, but the Whites will know the Premier League is a different beast altogether compared to the Championship.

Indeed, Daniel Farke will be the manager tasked with turning the West Yorkshire giants back into a Premier League-ready outfit, with Leeds unfortunately falling back down to the EFL at the end of the 2022/23 season after three campaigns at the daunting level.

To help achieve that, the German looks to be in the market for some new defensive buys to shore up his newly promoted side, with a fresh goalkeeper very much a must when leaping up to the unforgiving top-flight.

Leeds' targets in defence

Of course, one of the main talking points towards the back-end of their promotion campaign was Farke axing Illan Meslier due to far too many errors seeping into the Frenchman’s game.

Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a great shock to anyone that the Whites are prioritising an upgrade in the number one position, with Serbian shot-stopper Djordje Petrovic reportedly catching their eye.

A new report from TEAMTalk suggests that Leeds are seriously considering a move for the Chelsea goalkeeper off the back of a standout loan stint in France with RC Strasbourg.

With Petrovic’s first-team situation uncertain at Stamford Bridge, Leeds could offer the 25-year-old plenty more game time, with the five-time Serbia international perhaps finding a new defensive teammate in Leonardo Balerdi if he also relocates to Elland Road shortly.

Further reports claim that the Whites are ready to put forward a bumper £38m bid for the Argentine centre-back, meaning their defence could have a fresh look ahead of their Premier League adventure if both signings enter the building, with the new duo in question potentially helping Leeds to stay afloat.

How Farke could transform Leeds' defence

Amazingly, despite playing for two separate Ligue 1 clubs currently, the standout pairing could both be donning Leeds colours next season if everything goes smoothly.

Both defensive figures do look ready for the challenge of top-flight football in England too, with Balerdi a calm orchestrator at the back for Marseille with a mammoth 104 touches of the ball averaged per league clash, alongside Petrovic also receiving some glowing praises in-between the sticks for Liam Rosenior’s men.

Petrovic’s constant class in goal for Strasbourg has even seen the ex-Hull City boss label the 25-year-old as “world-class”, alongside also stating that the 6 foot 4 ‘keeper will go on to have a “remarkable” career after his formative loan experience in France is up.

Leeds will hope the promising stopper morphs into an even better ‘keeper in West Yorkshire, therefore, with his numbers in Ligue 1 this campaign making him a huge upgrade on a waning Meslier in terms of being able to handle the pressures of a top division.

Petrovic’s league numbers (24/25) + Balerdi’s (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Petrovic

Balerdi

Games played

29

25

Minutes averaged*

90

84

Touches*

56.9

107.4

Accurate passes*

36.1 (78%)

89.4 (94%)

Ball recoveries*

9.0

6.1

Clean sheets

10

4

Stats by Sofascore

Combined, both Petrovic and Balerdi have managed to collect 14 clean sheets this season in league action, with the Serbian also proving himself to be a calm presence on the ball much like his South American counterpart, seen in him averaging a 78% pass accuracy from 29 league contests.

To add context, Meslier has only amassed 21 clean sheets in the Premier League from a far higher 107 clashes, with Petrovic already up to five at the intimidating level when infrequently featuring under Enzo Maresca.

Whilst Balerdi might find it hard to displace the likes of Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon in the heart of defence immediately, his hefty £38m price tag must count for something in terms of his game time not being too thin.

With a safer pair of gloves in Petrovic too, Leeds will pray they don’t fall victim to a leaky Premier League campaign that ends with the all-too-familiar taste of relegation.

Related Farke's next Pukki: Leeds looking to sign "powerful" £17m striker

Daniel Farke will hope this new potential signing can become his next Teemu Pukki at Leeds United.

Posts ByKelan Sarson May 9, 2025

While defences are supposed to win you leagues, that hasn’t been the case for Arsenal in recent seasons.

Mikel Arteta’s side produced the best defence in the Premier League for the second successive campaign this year but once again ended up in second place, this time miles off Liverpool in first.

So, to close the gap, the club need to go out and sign an effective forward this summer, someone who could finally get them over the line in the biggest competitions.

Fortunately, that seems to be the plan, as recent reports have linked the club to a striker who’s been compared to Kylian Mbappé and Alexander Isak.

Arsenal's striker search

Given the club’s comparative lack of firepower this season, the last few weeks and months have seen Arsenal linked with plenty of top-quality strikers, with perhaps the most consistent being Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sekso.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The former has been on fire for Sporting Cp, scoring 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 games this season, and while he’s not proven himself in a top-five league, his reported price tag of around £54m doesn’t feel unreasonable.

On the other hand, Sesko could cost up to £75m, but he has that experience of playing in a top-five league, and in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig this term, he scored 21 goals and provided six assists.

Yet, recently, a more prolific striker than the Slovenian and someone younger than the Swede has been touted for a move to the Emirates: Hugo Ekitiké.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are among several sides keen on signing the Eintracht Frankfurt star this summer.

The report reveals that Arsenal and Manchester United have already made contact with the player’s camp, while fellow Premier League rivals Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle United are all ‘monitoring’ the Frenchman closely.

On top of dealing with the competition, the Gunners will have to stump up a hefty fee to get their man, with the report claiming that Frankfurt want up to €90m for the player, which comes out to about £76m.

It would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Ekitike’s ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially considering his comparisons to Mbappé and Isak.

How Ekitike compares to Isak & Mbappé

So, before looking at why Arsenal might want to sign him and the similarities to Mbappé, it’s worth examining this comparison to Isak and where it comes from.

In this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Swedish international is the sixth most similar forward to the Frenchman across the last 365 days.

Ekitike & Isak

Statistic per 90

Ekitike

Isak

Expected Goals

0.76

0.66

Goals per Shot

0.12

0.20

Passing Accuracy

75.5%

75.3%

Expected Assists

0.19

0.12

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.09

1.01

Through Balls

0.21

0.20

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.46

Successful Take-Ons %

43.7%

46.2%

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to expected goals, goals per shot, passing accuracy, passes into the penalty area, goal-creating actions, through balls and more, all per 90.

On top of sharing a considerable number of statistical similarities with the Newcastle star, the Reims-born gem has also been described as the “next Mbappé” by many in France, per journalist Graeme Bailey, and while that might sound hyperbolic, it’s not too hard to see where they could be coming from.

For example, like the Real Madrid star, the Frankfurt ace is a brilliant goalscorer, finding the back of the net 22 times in 48 games this season, but is also something of a creator, producing 12 assists.

Moreover, according to FBref, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem sits in the top 4% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and successful take-ons, the top 5% for expected assisted goals, the top 6% for shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it wouldn’t be a cheap transfer, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Ekitike this summer, as he’s proven himself capable of scoring plenty of goals, as well as creating some – just like Mbappé and Isak.

Related £45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again

The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have now submitted an opening bid for a defender who “never puts a foot wrong”, but there could be competition from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Wolves looking to kick on under Pereira

Vitor Pereira’s arrival last season marked a change in fortunes for Wolves, with the manager overseeing a major improvement in results, which meant relegation fears were quashed way before the business end of the season.

Pereira has stated he wants to “do better” next season, however, which means some new arrivals may be needed this summer, particularly with Matheus Cunha on his way to Manchester United, and there have been suggestions Nelson Semedo could follow the forward to Old Trafford.

Quite rightly, the manager may also be keen to strengthen his backline this summer, given that the Old Gold conceded the most goals of any side not to be relegated from the Premier League last season.

Club

Final position

Goals conceded

Tottenham Hotspur

17th

65

Wolves

16th

69

Manchester United

15th

54

West Ham United

14th

62

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), Wolves have now made an offer for Lazio defender Mario Gila, but there could be competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, with Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion also keen.

Lazio’s failure to qualify for Europe could have a big impact on their summer transfer window, and there is now growing interest in Gila, with the Italian club looking to hold out for a fee of €50m (£42m) for his services.

However, the Old Gold only appear to be willing to fork out €35m (£29m) for the centre-back’s signature, so the two clubs remain some way apart at the moment, and he is thought to be keen on playing for a top club next season.

Wolves can sign their new Raul Jimenez with "extraordinary" £29m star

Wolves will need to replace Matheus Cunha this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 25, 2025 Gila "never puts a foot wrong" in defence

Former Lazio sporting director Igli Tare was full of praise for the Spanish defender upon signing him from Real Madrid, saying: “He is fast, intelligent and never puts a foot wrong. He can become one of the top 3-4 defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”

The Barcelona-born defender has since emerged as a key player for Lazio, making 32 Serie A appearances during the 2024/25 campaign, and CBS’ Matteo Bonetti believes he could be in line for a move to a top club due to his “unique” profile.

As such, Gila could be a real coup for Wolves, but given that European football will not be on offer next season, it would be a surprise to see him move to Molineux.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has one player at the very top of his list of targets, and it is now believed the man in question is just as determined to make a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta makes new Arsenal transfer admission

With the first summer window just weeks away from opening, Arsenal supporters are eager to hear what their club has planned after reportedly striking an agreement for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal hold initial talks over signing £202k-a-week Real Madrid star

The Gunners have reached out and made contact.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 14, 2025

Zubimendi will be Arsenal’s first signing of the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano and fellow reliable media sources, but one position they need to reinforce is further up front.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining	Points
2. Arsenal	68
3. Newcastle United	66
4. Man City	65
5. Chelsea	63
6. Aston Villa	63
7. Nottingham Forest	62

Injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have forced Mikel Arteta to deploy midfielder Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role over the final stretch of this season, and supporters are desperate for Berta to end Arsenal’s long wait for a prolific number nine.

“I understand the narrative [about signing a No 9],” said Arteta about Arsenal’s rumoured pursuit of a striker.

“When you create five expected goals but only score one, it’s going to happen. It’s normal. We look at the things with much more data and resources than many people, but a lot of people have very good intuition on what is needed – and it’s good to listen to those opinions.

“We have a very clear vision from the ownership, the owner and the board, the new sporting director, we are all aligned on what we want to do. We are very close to achieving it – and that’s it.”

While Arteta remains coy, a host of strikers have already been linked with moves to N5, but one who stands out among them is Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

The Sweden international’s exceptional tally of 52 goals across 50 appearances in all competitions is understandably turning heads, and reports suggest Gyokeres could leave for much less than his £84 million release clause this year.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported earlier this week that Arsenal are offering the 26-year-old a £7 million-per-year salary to join them, roughly equating to around £135,000-per-week.

Now, that same source has provided another update, revealing the ex-Coventry star’s stance on returning to England with Arsenal.

Viktor Gyokeres decides he wants to join Arsenal

As per A Bola, Gyokeres has his heart set on joining Arsenal after being “emotionally” and “financially” convinced Arteta’s side are the right option for him ahead of Chelsea.

He is said to be at the top of Berta’s personal shopping list as well, with Sporting’s hopes of an auction between Arsenal and Chelsea quashed by Gyokeres’ burning desire to make a move to the former.

Gyokeres’ potential Arsenal deal would be a four-to-five-year contract, and the player apparently has an agreement already in place with Sporting that he can leave for around £63 million.

All signs are pointing towards an imminent Arsenal move for Gyokeres, but Emirates chiefs will be wary of potential hijacks, akin to Real Madrid’s swoop for Dean Huijsen.

Whilst promotion back up to the Championship was joyously celebrated, everyone at Birmingham City will have known in that moment that this was just the first step in the Blues’ mission to restore the club to its previous grandeur.

After all, Chris Davies’ giants were Premier League regulars all through the noughties, with an unbelievable EFL Cup trophy success even coming their way in 2011 when Alex McLeish was at the helm.

The desire up a division from Birmingham’s perspective will be to compete with the top dogs of the division again, therefore, with a new addition here and there this summer undoubtedly improving the Blues’ chances before they officially get underway in the challenging league.

How Birmingham could strengthen this summer

Much like Wrexham who will want to spend big after promotion, Birmingham won’t be shirking away from attempting to land statement buys to make an impression in the Championship.

Already, the ambitious Blues have been tipped to bring back Che Adams to St. Andrew’s to enhance their impressive attacking personnel, with their interest also stretching out to potentially adding in Premier League experienced Mark Travers in goal.

But, the deal on everyone’s lips at Birmingham is the one that could see Peterborough United superstar Kwame Poku enter the building shortly, with reports last month suggesting that there is a lucrative £30k-per-week deal on the table for the Ghanaian to jump up a division.

Whilst the “outstanding” EFL performer – as he’s been labelled by journalist Lukman Evergreen – has been known to fire home goal after goal for Darren Ferguson’s Posh at a devastating rate, he has also shown throughout his bright stint in Cambridgeshire to date his unselfish approach when teeing up teammates for countless opportunities.

How Poku could make Stansfield better

Poku’s arrival on the scene could end up making everyone around him even better, judging by his unplayable wing play, but it’s Jay Stansfield who will no doubt be licking his lips the most at the idea of linking up with the in-demand 23-year-old.

Transfer Focus

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Whilst the 22-year-old striker is unquestionably one of the finest talents to recently grace the third tier – seen in his 19 league strikes across 2024/25 – he is arguably not the finished product yet in the league above.

Indeed, the former Exeter City forward has only amassed 12 Championship goals across his varied career to date.

But, with Poku by his side who will be equally keen to prove himself in his new terrain, he should be able to keep up his blistering League One form.

Games played

37

27

Goals scored

19

12

Assists

3

8

Shots*

2.7

2.4

Touches*

29.0

46.3

Accurate passes*

8.1 (69%)

20.3 (80%)

Big chances missed

13

3

Big chances created

6

9

Combined last season in League One, the dynamite duo would pick up a mammoth 42 goals and assists across 64 appearances, meaning the thought of both of them together under Davies’ wing in the Championship is a frightening prospect.

Eight of Poku’s sizeable 20 goal contributions for the season would fall into the assist category too, with the 23-year-old far more comfortable than his counterpart in roaming forward and creating openings, seen in his far higher amount of touches averaged per league clash.

Whereas, the Birmingham number 28 excels more as a poacher waiting in the box to pounce, with the 22-year-old perhaps capable of finishing off even more opportunities moving forward if Poku was supplying him with chances galore.

With Poku down the right wing and Stansfield as a number ten, Davies could make his attacking options even deadlier by landing the aforementioned Adams as an out-and-out centre-forward, with this potential front three running rings around Championship defences.

Of course, no such statement deals have crossed the line just yet, but expect Davies’ side to look unfazed by the pressures of Championship action if Poku enters the building very soon.

Instant Neumann upgrade: Birmingham line up move for "heroic" EFL star

Birmingham City could be about to land an upgrade on new defender Phil Neumann with this inspired buy.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 13, 2025

Leeds United are preparing for their return to the Premier League and are now readying a bid to sign an exciting top-flight star this summer, per a report.

Leeds United looking to build ahead of Premier League return

Now the dust has settled on a dramatic season that culminated in the Championship title at Elland Road, Daniel Farke and the 49ers Enterprises will now turn their attention towards potential incomings ahead of the new campaign.

Setting his expectations, the German coach believes survival in the Premier League is a realistic target for the Whites despite the regular occurrence of newly-promoted sides struggling to adapt a level up the pyramid.

He stated: “That’s definitely the plan (survival). I don’t want to come across as arrogant and tell everyone it’s easy. All the recently promoted sides are really good, big names, spending lots of money but not able to stay in the league. But one thing is for sure, we will try.”

Money will need to be spent by the 49ers to ensure Leeds can extend their stay in the Premier League, and there is no shortage of targets in Yorkshire now the off-season is in full swing.

Mjallby goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist has entered Farke’s eyeline, though he is likely to be a backup solution as opposed to a direct replacement for Illan Meslier between the sticks.

Leeds now want to sign £20m Championship star who outperformed Gus Hamer

The Whites are looking to raid one of their 2024/25 Championship rivals this summer.

1 ByDominic Lund May 28, 2025

Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz could add some flair in the engine room for Leeds, but there is every chance they also move for some proven Premier League operators to ensure there is experience in the camp before they kick off the new campaign.

Tapping into that school of thought, the Whites are now lining up a swoop for an exciting addition at Elland Road that would please supporters.

Leeds United prepare £16.8m offer for Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal on X, Leeds are preparing a £16.8 million offer to sign Aston Villa “playmaker” Emiliano Buendia ahead of the summer window.

Farke previously worked with the Argentina international at Norwich City, and it is believed that he will be allowed to leave Villa Park this summer with the blessing of Unai Emery, and the Leeds boss is keen on a reunion at Elland Road.

Enduring a tough time with injuries, Buendia spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, registering two goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.

The 28-year-old may be in need of a revival, but there is every chance Leeds could give him the platform to shine following a difficult period in maintaining consistent availability. Buendia moving to Yorkshire appears to be an agreeable move for all parties and may be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.