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Arsenal are ready to open negotiations with an elite club over signing a big-name striker, as Mikel Arteta’s side also plan an eight-figure bid to secure his services ahead of the 2025/2026 Premier League campaign.

Arsenal planning to sign striker this summer

Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have left Arteta desperately short of striking options, even if they managed to cope well against PSV Eindhoven with a record-breaking 7-1 victory in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Arteta makes exit decision as talks held with £180k-per-week Arsenal star

The Spaniard is already planning for next season.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 6, 2025

There are suggestions that Jesus may not return for Arsenal until 2026, given the severity of his ACL rupture, while Havertz is set to miss the rest of this current campaign after tearing his hamstring in Dubai.

Man Utd (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

If Arsenal are to mount a more successful title challenge next term, then acquiring a prolific centre-forward could be imperative. It has even been reported that Arsenal could look to sign two new strikers this summer, with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko both high on their list of targets.

Elsewhere, Juventus forward Dušan Vlahović remains a player of interest to Arteta’s side, especially with his £313,000-per-week contract expiring next year.

Thiago Motta could be forced to cash-in on his chief goal-getter for a low fee, if Juve don’t manage to agree fresh terms with the Serbian, which would be a real shame for the Old Lady even if his seismic salary must be a drain on the wage bill.

The 25-year-old earns an extraordinary rumoured amount when compared to salaries at other Serie A sides, and he’d perhaps need to take a pay-cut if he were to join Arsenal, considering Havertz is their highest-paid player on £280,000-per-week right now.

That being said, in terms of a club-to-club fee, Vlahovic’s price tag wouldn’t exactly break the bank, and Arsenal already have a valuation in mind.

Arsenal ready to open talks for Dušan Vlahović in potential £25m bid

According to journalist Massimo Pavan, writing for Tutto Juve, Arsenal are ready to open talks with Juve for Vlahovic.

It is also believed that a £25 million bid from the Gunners “could be on the table”, and while Juve would want more than that to sell this summer, a figure even close to this number would be deemed good value for money.

Vlahovic has bagged 14 goals in all competitions so far this campaign, including four in the Champions League, and against top-quality opposition like Man City. His best season to date came during the 2021/2022 season, where he netted 29 in total at both Fiorentina and Juve.

He could be an astute option for Arteta if they can bring his salary down, and Arsenal intend to take full advantage of Juve’s failed talks to extend Vlahovic’s contract.

“I’ve been saying it for a long time. He’s strong, massive, he fills up front, he’s a reference, he’s a ‘left-footer’ full of courage,” said ex-Juve star Roberto Boninsegna. “A good centre-forward.”

Manchester United and INEOS are now plotting a move to sign a “versatile” £67 million star alongside a new striker, according to Sky Sports.

Man Utd add new striker to transfer radar

It has become quite clear to Ruben Amorim that signing a new striker during the summer transfer window should be a top priority given the lack of goals in the team throughout this campaign.

Man Utd eye Isak-like forward who's outscored Hojlund and Zirkzee in 24/25

Man United have set their sights on signing a new striker this summer and a fresh name is on their radar.

1 ByBrett Worthington Mar 20, 2025

Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been tasked with leading the United line this season, but the pair have struggled to make a regular impact in terms of goals on a consistent basis. In fact, Hojlund’s struggles have meant he is now being linked with a move to Napoli.

The Italian side are said to be keen on landing the Denmark international, as Antonio Conte sees him as someone who can compete alongside current striker Romelu Lukaku.

So as Hojlund is linked with a move away from Old Trafford, United have now added Mainz striker Jonathan Burkardt to their transfer wishlist.

Burkardt is the latest striker to be added to their list after impressing club scouts in the 3-4-3 system that the German side like to play, which is identical to how Amorim sets up his United team.

Man Utd plotting move to sign £67m Bundesliga star

While the Red Devils continue their search for a new number nine, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Man United are also weighing up a move to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig alongside a striker.

Plettenberg states that United have now moved away from holding an interest in signing Simons, as they are looking to sign a “versatile” attacking midfielder as well as a new striker. However, he states the issue for the Red Devils could be the cost, as Simons is considered very expensive.

The German side are looking to get around €80 million for the Netherlands international, which is roughly £67 million. Despite the hefty price tag, it is possible that Simons will leave Leipzig in the summer.

Apps

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Goals

18

Assists

19

Despite Leipzig’s struggles in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, it has been another impressive campaign on a personal level for Simons. The midfielder has netted seven goals in 18 league games, as well as grabbing four assists along the way.

The Dutchman, who has 24 caps to his name, is under contract until June 2027, so Leipzig still have time left to decide on his future, but given the team’s struggles this campaign, Simons may be looking for a new challenge in the summer.

Despite still having a lot to play for this season, Aston Villa are slowly turning their attention to the summer and are now interested in signing a “special” Real Madrid player, with the pursuit being led by transfer guru Monchi.

Rashford double sends Villa to FA Cup semi-finals

Two second-half goals from Marcus Rashford helped secure Villa’s place in the last four of the FA Cup this weekend, as the Midlands side eased past Preston North End. It was Rashford’s first and second goals for Villa since joining on loan from Manchester United, and manager Unai Emery believes Rashford has now made “one step forward”.

As good as Rashford: Aston Villa star just gave Emery a big headache

Aston Villa ended up cruising through to the semi finals of the FA Cup with a big away win at Preston North End.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 30, 2025

The Villans do have the option of making Rashford’s deal at Villa Park a permanent switch, and after the game against Preston, the boss was asked about the situation, but Emery didn’t want to waste time talking about that.

“We can’t waste time speaking about that,” he told the BBC. “If next year we are in the Champions League, in the Europa, or the Conference League or not. Or we don’t win a trophy – it is completely different.”

Monchi wants Aston Villa to sign Real Madrid star Güler

As the Midlands side continue their focus on what remains of this season, according to a report from Spain, Monchi has confirmed Aston Villa’s interest in signing Arda Güler from Real Madrid this summer.

The report states that despite injuries affecting his game time this season, when he’s played for Real Madrid, he has impressed with his enormous attacking quality. Villa have now taken notice of his performances, and Monchi sees Guler as the ideal player to reinforce their attack as the Villans look for young players who can continue their growth in the Premier League.

However, any deal Villa wishes to do for Güler will be considered difficult to complete, as Real Madrid consider the Turkey international an important player for their future. The report does state however that Madrid will have to make a decision about what they want to do with Güler soon – the player himself will also have to decide what he thinks is best for him and his career amid such limiting playing time this season.

Apps

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6

Guler, who has been dubbed “excellent” by Alex Barker, joined the Spanish giants in July 2023, and so far, he’s had to remain patient when it comes to game time. The midfielder, who earns €100,000 a week (£83,000), has played 19 times in La Liga this season but has only started 12.

Despite their success since his departure, Aston Villa have never really found a like-for-like replacement for Jack Grealish. His sale was something of a catalyst at Villa Park, helping his boyhood club spend money freely and become a side challenging for European football.

Grealish was sensational in that famous Claret and Blue shirt. In 213 appearances, he scored 32 goals and grabbed 43 assists, playing a huge role in their Premier League survival in his final two seasons.

In terms of the skillset he has, it feels like the West Midlands club never really managed to find someone in the same mould. However, this summer, that could all change with Villa’s latest transfer rumour.

Aston Villa’s latest transfer target

It is never easy to replace a player as influential as Grealish, not only in terms of his ability but also the leadership he provides. With that being said, they have been linked with one Premier League star who could be the player they’re looking for.

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 a recent report from The Athletic, Villa are one of the many top Premier League sides in the race for Southampton attacker Tyler Dibling. The report explains that Unai Emery’s side have ‘watched’ Dibling, ahead of what will be a busy summer transfer window at Villa Park.

It is a summer in which he will seemingly leave the Saints. Football Insider confirmed at the start of the week that Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are also interested in a move for the attacker, meaning Villa will face competition for his signature.

As for a price, the same article suggests the South Coast outfit would want £55m for a transfer to happen.

Why Dibling would be a good signing

Last season for Southampton was a disaster. They finished rock bottom of the Premier League, and just about avoided being the worst Premier League side of all time. However, in such a poor campaign, one shining light was Dibling.

The 19-year-old attacker, who is an England under-21 international, left a real impression in his 33 top-flight appearances. Despite the fact that he only scored two goals and assisted one other, he showcased real skill.

In fact, take a look at one of the two assists he grabbed against Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup last term. The winger showed some excellent ball-carrying skills under pressure to evade the defender, before playing a well-weighted pass to Mateus Fernandes, who fired home.

It is easy to see why Ryan Garry, who coached Dibling at England under-17 level, said he plays with an “X-Factor”. There is a certain swagger about Dibling’s game which is similar, in many ways, to Grealish, suggesting he could be Villa’s replacement for their former number 10.

In fact, former England international Stuart Pierce picked up on the similarities earlier in the season when the Saints played Man United. He described the teenager as a “devotee” of Grealish and compared “his mannerisms and how he carries himself” to the England star.

This is further personified in this video of Grealish playing for England back in 2020. Look at the way he carries the ball and is able to shield it from the oncoming defender.

Comparing that to the earlier clip of Dibling, the similarities are, once again, clear.

Looking at Grealish’s FBref stats from the 2019/20 Premier League season, an iconic campaign for him in a Villa shirt, they are not too dissimilar to Dibling’s this term. For example, the Saints star averaged 2.16 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, compared to 2.03 each game for Grealish.

Successful take-ons

2.13

2.06

Take-on success rate

40.9%

62.4%

Progressive carries

3.32

5.91

Carries into final third

2.4

3.54

Carries into penalty area

1.25

2.01

Dibling seems like he could be the second coming of Grealish at Villa Park. The similarities are endless, and whilst the 19-year-old hasn’t necessarily had the goal and assist output to live up to Grealish yet, he is clearly a huge talent.

£55m is roughly half of what they made for Grealish, and being a carbon copy of one of their most iconic players seems a fair way to theoretically spend the money he brought to the club.

A "magical" Bailey upgrade: £13m star now open to signing for Aston Villa

With Leon Bailey potentially set to leave Aston Villa for Saudi Arabia this month, Unai Emery should insist that they sign a “magical” replacement.

ByBen Gray Jun 3, 2025

Rangers icon Ally McCoist has been reacting to claims of an Ibrox move for a £15,000-a-week Celtic star.

Rangers and 49ers planning for exciting summer transfer window

The Gers are in the process of being taken over by the 49ers Enterprises, who have agreed a deal in principle at Ibrox. There is confidence a deal will be completed ahead of the 2025/26 season, and the 49ers seemingly have some exciting transfer plans at Rangers.

He's signing for Rangers: Ibrox chiefs now set for talks on fee for 22 y/o

He’ll soon be on his way to Glasgow.

1 ByCharlie Smith Apr 9, 2025

Reports have suggested that the 49ers could give a new Rangers boss more than £20m to spend on new players this summer, and they are aware that they can sign loanee Vaclav Cerny on a permanent transfer.

Rangers have until the end of May to sign Cerny for around £5.5m, and elsewhere, those at Ibrox are set for talks with Dundee over a fee for Lyall Cameron.

The 22-year-old has penned a pre-contract agreement with Rangers, but the two clubs are yet to agree on a compensation package, which could result in a tribunal.

McCoist reacts to Rangers claims of move for Celtic’s Greg Taylor

Recently, Celtic left-back Greg Taylor has been linked with a move to Rangers. Michael Stewart have backed the defender to move across Glasgow when his £15,000-a-week deal at Celtic expires in the summer.

However, talking to the media, relayed by Rangers Review, McCoist said it would be “madness” for the Gers to sign Taylor due to already having Ridvan Yilmaz and Jefte, although he does feel Taylor is good enough to play for Rangers.

“He absolutely could get in the team and play, I don’t have any doubt about that. He’s a good player. In this day and age, it’s probably not as big a deal as it was years and years ago. But I definitely think he could play in the team.

“The only thing I would say is, you have two left-sided players there already in Yilmaz and Jefte. So, for that reason, he’s not a priority. I think Rangers have got far bigger priorities in terms of positions that they should address and will address.

Games

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“But if you are asking me if he’s good enough to play in the team? Without a doubt. I don’t see any reason why not. I was around when wee Mo did it, so after wee Mo, anything is possible! It wouldn’t be as big a deal as wee Mo, there’s nothing that would be as big a deal as wee Mo.

“You talk about Elvis, Kenny Miller, Alfie Conn… so I don’t think it’s such a big deal as years gone by. I just can’t see it happening because Rangers have got two left-sided players in that position. It would be madness for Rangers to go and strengthen in that position where they’ve got cover and they need strengthening in other positions.”

Nottingham Forest are now willing to offer attacker Jota Silva in exchange for an “incredible” star who has become a top transfer target for Evangelos Marinakis and Edu Gaspar, according to a recent report.

Nottingham Forest join transfer race to sign goalkeeper and striker

The Reds’ Champions League hopes suffered a slight blow over the weekend as they were beaten by Aston Villa, but Manchester City failing to win means they still have a five-point gap in the race to secure a top-four finish.

£25m release clause: Nottingham Forest join hectic race for "superb" star

They could trigger his release clause.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 7, 2025

There are seven games remaining to go in the league and the dream is becoming a real possibility for Nuno Santo’s side, so fans can be forgiven for looking ahead to the summer, as it could be a busy time if European football is secured.

Indeed, Nuno has his eyes on improving a couple of positions in this Forest team, as they’ve already been linked with several new defenders and attackers, but he is also planning on strengthening his goalkeeper department.

According to the Boot Room, Forest are the latest team to join the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton. The Saints’ relegation to the Championship has now been confirmed, and Ramsdale is said to have a £25 million release clause in his contract, which has alerted Forest, and they have now joined several Premier League teams in looking to secure his transfer.

As well as looking at Ramsdale, Forest have also made contact with Jean-Philippe Mateta over a potential move to the City Ground. The centre-forward has impressed once again for the Eagles this season and has put himself on Forest’s radar, but they face competition from Manchester United, who are also keen on a deal.

Forest ready to offer Jota Silva in exchange for Gyokeres

Mateta is not the only striker the Reds are looking at to help Chris Wood next season, as according to Correio da Manha, relayed by Nottingham Forest News, Forest are prepared to offer winger Jota Silva to Sporting CP in exchange for Viktor Gyokeres.

The report states that the Premier League side and Marinakis have come up with a plan to offer Silva, as he’s highly rated by Sporting boss Rui Borges, and he’s struggled with game time at Forest this season. The Forest owner wants to do everything he can to bring Gyokeres to the City Ground this summer, and offering Silva may help them when it comes to negotiating a transfer.

The report does go on to add that despite the Reds being willing to offer Silva plus presumably a hefty chunk of cash, the deal will come down to the wishes of Gyokeres, who is not short of options heading into this summer. The Sweden star, who has been dubbed “incredible” by scout/writer Jacek Kulig, is valued between £50-58 million.

Apps

26

Goals

30

xG

24.63

Shots per game

4.2

Goals per game

1.2

Goal conversion

28%

Big chances missed

18

Assists

6

xAG

6.14

Big chances created

11

Silva, who is on a weekly wage of £25,000 at Forest, has played 26 times in the Premier League this season, but he has only started four games, and while he’s made an impact with some important goals and assists, he obviously hasn’t done enough to be a certain part of Nuno’s plans for next season and beyond.

It may feel bizarre to say, following a 15th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon, but there is a growing sense of optimism at Manchester United, following a potentially pivotal week both on and off the field.

On Thursday night, of course, the Red Devils completed a barnstorming turnaround against Lyon to progress into the last four of the Europa League, with Ruben Amorim edging ever closer to European glory and potential Champions League qualification.

Even the weekend loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers was somewhat overshadowed by the standout display of the club’s latest academy debutant, Tyler Fredricson, while the man pictured next to him, Matheus Cunha, looks like he could be back at Old Trafford permanently.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, last week provided a positive update regarding Amad Diallo’s injury rehab, with Amorim no doubt itching to have the Ivorian back fit and firing again.

Latest on Amad's injury return

Excluding Bruno Fernandes – who yet again leads the way for goals and assists at Old Trafford – the shining light of 2024/25 has been Amad, with the 22-year-old notably contributing 12 goals and assists in just 20 games following Amorim’s arrival.

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

20

6

6

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

57

12

9

From his late heroics against both Manchester City and Liverpool, to his stunning hat-trick against bottom side Southampton, the former Atalanta starlet had repeatedly stepped up in the early months of a real breakthrough campaign on an individual basis.

Frustratingly for all concerned, the £120k-per-week winger – who signed a new contract in January – was struck down by an ankle issue in early February, with Amorim seemingly ruling him out for the season at the time.

The former Sporting CP boss did subsequently hint that Amad could actually return before the campaign is at an end, a fact that has been bolstered by images of the youngster back in training last week.

Amorim suggested that while his rising star is “not ready” to feature in April, his return could well come in May, with that set to be a welcome sight amid United’s shortcomings in attack.

A welcome sight would also be the signing of a similarly exciting young talent this summer, with United seemingly stepping up their search for the next big thing from across the globe.

Man Utd ready to sign teen sensation this summer

While it has taken time to come to fruition, United are beginning to reap the rewards of having plucked Amad from Italy as a teenager back in October 2020, with the then-17-year-old ultimately arriving in January 2021 on an initial £19m deal that could reach £37m with add-ons.

Transfer Focus

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

That relatively costly deal looks like it could be repeated in the near future, with reports outlining that INEOS are ready to trigger the £38m release clause for River Plate sensation, Franco Mastantuono.

The 17-year-old is believed to be being watched closely by those at Old Trafford, with United seemingly needing to act quickly if they are to win the race, amid rival interest from the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Inter.

The report claims that while the Argentine outfit are keen to hang on to their teenage diamond, a ‘serious bid’ from those in Manchester would likely ensure a deal gets done.

Why Man Utd are keen to sign on Franco Mastantuono

Having already looked to the South American market to sign Paraguayan full-back, Diego Leon, ahead of next season, United appear to be ready to add to that deal with the signing of another potential superstar, in the form of Mastantuono.

Like Amad before him – who was likened to Lionel Messi by Atalanta teammate, Papu Gomez, before joining United – the River starlet is earning rave reviews in his homeland, amid comparisons to Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

A left-footed attacker, like both Foden and Amad, who can operate on the flanks or as a number ten, Mastantuono has been hailed as a “creative genius” by analyst Ben Mattinson, following a fine start to life at senior level.

Still just 17, the Argentina U20 international has already made 53 appearances for his current side in the first team, with that regular involvement seeing him chalk up 11 goals and assists to date.

What particularly sets the teenager apart is both his ability to create chances for his teammates, but also his innate ball-carrying ability, as evidenced by the fact he averages 2.3 key passes and 2.9 successful dribbles per game in the league in 2025.

To put that into perspective, that places the in-demand talent just ahead of Amad in that regard, with the current United man averaging 1.8 and 1.6 for those same two metrics, respectively, in 2024/25.

Like with the Ivorian, it may not be expected for Mastantuono to immediately hit the ground running in a United shirt, although all the signs point to him being a future star, with Mattinson even noting that there are “shades of Kevin De Bruyne” about him.

Seemingly a perfect fit in one of the two number ten roles in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, the £38m playmaker certainly appears worth investing in, even despite the eye-catching nature of the price tag, with the case of Amad showcasing the benefits of putting faith in the next big thing.

After years of being burned by short-term, expensive signings, the Red Devils now need to do things differently.

After Cunha: Man Utd in talks to sign a "monster" upgrade on Delap

Man Utd could be set to land another sparkling forward this summer, alongside Matheus Cunha

ByRobbie Walls Apr 22, 2025

Trent Alexander-Arnold might be jetting off to the Spanish capital this summer, but there’s plenty to be happy about for those of a Liverpool persuasion right now.

With the Reds winning their 20th top-flight title under Arne Slot’s management this year, Alexander-Arnold has very much played a pivotal part in putting his boyhood club back on its perch – not just this year, but across the illustrious sweep of his career.

But the vice-captain is going to leave for Real Madrid on a Bosman, and his departure will have a say on the roads taken across the transfer market months.

While sorting out Liverpool’s defensive flanks is sure to be a priority for FSG, there’s no question that changes are going to be enforced from an attacking standpoint.

Liverpool eyeing attacking changes

Liverpool are gearing up for a busy summer, and no mistake. FSG’s approach toward transfer business has stoked frustrations over the years, but can we really begrudge them, given the club’s success over the past decade?

This new version, it must be said, feels different. The framework has been reshaped and Slot is expecting sweeping changes after minimal investment last summer.

Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota may both reportedly depart, opening ample room for a high-level centre-forward. However, with Luis Diaz anticipating new talks to renew his contract, Liverpool’s need for a left winger has been lessened considerably.

That hasn’t stopped the Merseysiders from registering their interest in Morgan Rogers, though, a versatile attacker who shifts seamlessly between the wide lane and a more central berth, and has struck 27 goal contributions from 51 outings this season.

However, Liverpool have yet to double down on a target, and might have found one who would be a better fit than the Aston Villa sensation.

Liverpool could see bid accepted for Premier League star

Sources have confirmed to Caught Offside that Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo is on Liverpool’s radar this summer, with the Bees seeking bids of £60m-£65m in order to let him head to Anfield or any other interested party.

Transfer Focus

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

However, sporting director Richard Hughes will need to accelerate his plans if Liverpool are to prevail, with Manchester United set to make their opening offer in the coming weeks.

While the urgency for a right-sided forward has been eased after Mohamed Salah’s contract renewal, Federico Chiesa has scarcely featured under Slot and is mooted for a return to Italy, with AC Milan reportedly interested.

Mbeumo could be the perfect addition, adding the athleticism and dynamism needed ahead of a title-defending campaign.

What Bryan Mbeumo would bring to Liverpool

Salah’s peerless output in the Premier League this season is something Slot will be hoping to replicate next year. Signing a ball-carrying star such as Rogers could be a way to make that happen, but Liverpool already have a tried and tested midfield three and Diaz is rumoured to be staying put.

1

Mohamed Salah

28

18

46

2

Alexander Isak

23

6

29

3

Bryan Mbeumo

18

7

25

4

Erling Haaland

21

3

24

4=

Cole Palmer

15

9

24

However, he’ll be 33 by the time the 2025/26 campaign arrives, and Mbeumo could be the perfect forward to ease the Egypt international’s workload.

Of course, Mbeumo’s capacity to perform at number nine is something Thomas Frank has made good use of throughout the season and Slot will be sure to take a leaf from the Dane’s book, with his usage of Diaz’s dynamic qualities this year already underlining how he can guide the Brentford man toward new heights.

The 25-year-old has scored 68 goals and provided 50 assists across 239 matches in England, but it would be hard to argue against the current campaign being his finest for the Bees.

After missing only eight big chances in the Premier League this season (scoring 18 times), he’s proven his clinical edge to be the hallmark of a broad-ranging skill set. Of course, that’s not all, with 16 big chances created and 1.3 tackles and dribbles averaged per game, over four duels won each fixture too.

While Villa’s Rogers would be an attractive option given his prolificness in Unai Emery’s system, Mbeumo is the more dangerous goalscorer while proving himself a multi-dimensional player too, creating heartily.

Highly-regarded, Rogers has pulled all the stops this term and would no doubt prove a worthy addition to Liverpool’s high-flying team.

That said, recent rumours have suggested that Rogers will cost suitors around £70m, which is no small sum. Villa’s reluctance to sell could see that stretch even higher.

Meanwhile, Brentford seem open to selling their talisman which could play into Liverpool’s plans, with Mbeumo’s specific quality suggesting that he could one day succeed Salah while serving as his understudy for now and filling in at centre-forward too.

He’s been more prolific than Rogers in the Premier League this season while outstripping him across most underlying metrics. Rogers has won more duels per game, but only by a 0.2 average.

Hailed for his “sensational” efforts in west London by Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, Liverpool will kick themselves if they fail to beat off competition from their Red Devil rivals and secure Mbeumo’s signature.

Liverpool are going to want an out-and-out striker to join their ranks ahead of Slot’s second season, but if Nunez and Jota both depart, Mbeumo’s addition would make a significant difference to an outfit looking to challenge across four fronts.

Both the Cameroon international and Rogers have the qualities to leave marked effects on Slot’s Liverpool project, but Mbuemo’s goalscoring ability and completeness have the decisive say on the matter: FSG need to bring him in.

Slot's own Suarez: Liverpool plot big move for "one of the best CFs" around

Liverpool could be about to make a move for a player who could become Arne Slot’s own Luis Suarez.

ByEthan Lamb May 5, 2025

While there is a Europa League final on the horizon for the fans and players to look forward to, the board at Tottenham Hotspur now have to start planning for a monumental summer of business.

Daniel Levy and Co must seriously back Ange Postecoglou, or whoever takes his place, to ensure that next year is nothing like this one.

One area of the squad that needs to be bolstered is left-wing, as Wilson Odobert is yet to prove he has what it takes to make it his own, Mathys Tel may not agree to stay, and Son Heung-min is no longer the player he once was.

Fortunately, the club seem to recognise this, as recent reports have linked them to an incredibly exciting winger who’d finally send the captain packing.

Tottenham transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attacking talents who have been touted for moves to Spurs in recent weeks, like Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be available for around £59m, and while that’s an awful lot of money, his tally of 12 goals and five assists in 47 games suggests he may well be worth it.

Likewise, Delap’s reported release clause of £30m could prove to be a bargain, as even though he’s played for the third-worst team in the Premier League this season, he’s managed to score 12 goals and provide two assists in 35 games.

However, to replace the iconic Son, Levy and Co are going to need to sign someone truly special, someone like Rayan Cherki.

Yes, according to a recent report from the French publication Le Parisien, Tottenham are one of several sides seriously interested in the French dynamo.

In fact, alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Manchester City and Liverpool have already inquired about the player, who will be allowed to leave for €22.5m this summer, which is about £19m.

It could be a complicated deal to get done, but given Cherki’s immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be the perfect player to replace Son.

Why Cherki would be a dream Son replacement

So, the first thing to say here is that while Cherki has primarily played off the right this season, he has also played in midfield, just behind the striker and, most crucially, off the left.

In fact, if he were to join Spurs and permanently move to that side of the attack, his career would mirror Son’s in that respect, as he spent some time off the right when he was younger and has also played behind a striker at points.

However, with all that said, why do we think the young Frenchman would be the perfect player to come in this summer and be the permanent replacement for the South Koreans?

Well, first and foremost, his raw output is out of this world.

For example, in just 43 appearances this season, the “incredible” entertainer, as dubbed by French journalist Julien Laurens, has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.38 games.

Appearances

43

44

Minutes

3009′

3093′

Goals

12

11

Assists

19

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.72

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

99.96′

134.47′

In contrast, the North Londoners’ captain has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 44 games, which is still great but results in a worse average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games.

On top of the undeniable output, the Lyon-born “genius,” as dubbed by Laurens, has some sensational underlying numbers to his name, with FBref placing him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for assists, expected assists, key passes, passes into the penalty area, through passes and more, all per 90.

Last but not least, what makes all of this even more remarkable is that he’s doing it at just 21 years old, so when The Athletic’s Alex Barker calls him a “future Ballon d’Or winner,” it doesn’t feel that absurd.

Ultimately, Son has been an incredible player for Spurs, but with him turning 33 in the summer, Levy and Co need to find someone worthy of being his long-term replacement, someone like Cherki.

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Whilst Birmingham City did splash out some serious cash to land Jay Stansfield last summer, the Blues did also operate rather shrewdly before the 2024/25 campaign got underway.

The eventual League One champions didn’t go overboard when landing potent goal machine Alfie May, with the decision to fork out a respectable £775k for the 31-year-old’s services more than paying off, considering the ex-Charlton Athletic man would go on to bag 17 strikes in all competitions.

Already, Birmingham have displayed this astute approach once more by recently snapping up Phil Neumann on a free transfer, with another rumour now suggesting that Chris Davies’ men aren’t finished there with savvy purchases.

Birmingham could soon land another golden deal

Unsurprisingly, the Tom Wagner-backed Blues have also been linked with some star names ahead of Championship action returning to St Andrew’s.

Indeed, Che Adams has been heavily linked with an audacious move back to the second-tier side, alongside Kwame Poku also being tipped to swap Peterborough United for a fresh location in the league above.

But, one move that is slipping under the radar in contrast is Birmingham’s hunt for Kanya Fuijmoto, with journalist Sebastião Sousa-Pinto revealing via his social media that Davies’ men are now moving towards an advanced stage in their attempts to sign the Japanese ace on a free transfer having already submitted a bid for the player.

If they were to land the Gil Vicente midfielder for nothing, this might go down as yet another golden deal where Birmingham don’t lavishly break the bank.

Further, Fuijmoto has the potential to be as popular as Tomoki Iwata in the midfield department at St. Andrew’s, with Iwata once a rather unknown entity to Blues fans – much like his fellow Japanese counterpart – before he more than exploded into life.

How Fuijmoto could be Birmingham's Iwata 2.0

Away from sharing the same nationality, the pair also possess a similar eye for goal and carving out chances centrally.

After all, Iwata would close out his debut campaign in England with a high eight goals and two assists from 47 overall contests.

Akin to the former Celtic man, the Vicente number ten would pick up five goals and five assists himself from 31 games over the same time span, with a hope in the air that he can potentially adapt to the hustle and bustle of Championship life well by putting in similarly electric performances in attack.

He could well offer more competition to the aforementioned Stansfield in the number 10 spot just behind the main centre-forward, therefore, alongside also being capable of slotting into a more traditional central role next to his Japanese compatriot based off his numbers below.

Games played

40

30

Goals scored

6

5

Assists

1

5

Touches*

67.1

34.6

Accurate passes*

49.7 (89%)

20.3 (83%)

Big chances created

4

8

Big chances missed

1

3

As can be seen looking at the table above, both players in question stand out as classy operators on the ball.

A “silky” midfielder – as he’s been previously lauded by analyst Ben Mattinson – he is more of an attack-oriented body that will push forward, compared with Iwata who will likely sit back and then burst into attack when necessary.

This could well be an intriguing partnership to watch next season as they work out each other’s varied games, with the extra addition of Fujimoto perhaps boosting Davies’ men even more in the forward areas as they embark on an initially challenging Championship step-up.

Whatever does happen, at least Birmingham aren’t dropping lots of money on the 25-year-old’s services.

But, as was shown with Iwata – who entered for around the £800k range – sometimes these are the deals that end up being the standout swoops.

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