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Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez is very keen for Diego Simeone to bring in one Chelsea star this summer, and has privately urged his club to do so, according to reports this week.

Enzo Maresca attracting criticism at Chelsea

Having led the club to just five wins from their last 16 Premier League games, it’s been a tough time for manager Enzo Maresca as of late, and this run of form has attracted criticism.

Chelsea now prepared to make "hefty" £68m offer for Malo Gusto alternative

The Frenchman has attracted criticism.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 17, 2025

While Maresca is believed to retain the backing of Chelsea’s board for now (The Mail), sections of supporters are starting to question the Italian’s leadership, with boos ringing around Stamford Bridge after their 2-1 defeat to Polish minnows Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Chelsea are in the Conference League semi-finals regardless, and remain firmly in contention to qualify for next season’s Champions League, but the manner of their recent performances are drawing some concern.

Speaking in a post-match press conference after their loss to Legia on Thursday, Maresca suggested he is fully aware of the dissatisfaction right now.

“No, for sure in terms of setback, for sure it’s a setback tonight for us, no doubt, first of all because we lost the game,” said Maresca.

“But I said yesterday, I think probably the other clubs, as you said, in this moment they can feel more confidence around them, not only Aston Villa, Newcastle, all the clubs around us, but this is football and can change very quickly, so it depends a lot on us. As I said, Sunday for us is one of the finals, and winning that game can give us a final boost to reach our target.

“So in this moment, you win games, you see yourself and you are very happy. If you don’t win, no-one is thinking that you can finish in the right way, but for me it’s just how we manage the emotion.”

Despite an electric start to the campaign, when many viewed Chelsea as potential title contenders, Maresca’s side remain very much a work in progress.

They’ll need their star players to step up and take a leading role during this transition phase, but one of them already is.

Julian Alvarez urges Atlético Madrid to sign Enzo Fernández from Chelsea

Club-record signing Enzo Fernandez is well and truly justifying his price tag right now, becoming an indisputable member of Maresca’s team with some outstanding performances throughout 2024/2025.

Maresca has entrusted the captain’s armband to him this term, with former Chelsea midfielder John Obi-Mikel praising Fernandez and stating he’s “becoming” a true leader at Cobham.

Some members of the media have even called the Argentine’s contribution “underrated”, but his quality isn’t lost on international teammate Alvarez, who is desperate for Atlético to strike a deal for the midfielder this summer.

That is according to reports out of Spain, which state that Alvarez has privately urged Atlético to sign Fernandez from Chelsea, amid claims the west Londoners will demand a minimum of £69 million to let him go.

However, it is believed that even this figure is beyond Atletico’s capabilities right now, so a transfer is unlikely, even if Maresca’s side entertained the notion of parting company.

After a tough start to life in west London, the player has now fully found his feet, with Fernandez even attracting praise from Lionel Messi during his time at Chelsea.

Leeds United are currently enjoying their title party and could already be set to kick that up a notch after identifying two candidates to join them on their Premier League journey, according to a report.

Leeds crowned champions after stunning win at Plymouth

Daniel Farke has endured plenty of trials and tribulations this term, but his side have been a class above and deservedly find themselves top-flight bound after a successful campaign climaxed with a last-gasp title winner from Manor Solomon at Plymouth this weekend.

Many would argue that a club of Leeds’ stature belong in the Premier League, though there is plenty of work to be done to ensure his squad are equipped to take on the challenge of surviving after promotion from the Championship.

Dipping into the market, Farke has identified Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda as a primary target at Elland Road following his freescoring campaign north of the border. The Japan international is valued at £25 million, while Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are among a host of clubs ready to swoop for his services.

Confidence is high that Solomon will join Leeds on a permanent deal after a fine campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, with the player said to have agreed to a return next term.

Leeds "well-placed" to sign £6m+ ace who's similar to Phillips and Tanaka

He is tempted by a move to the Premier League.

By
Henry Jackson

May 3, 2025

Kalvin Phillips and Tomas Soucek have been mentioned in connection with the Whites. The former hardly comes a surprise due to his links with his boyhood club, but it remains to be seen if a fairytale return is on the cards.

Scaling up ahead of their Premier League return won’t be easy for Leeds, given the level of side they are likely to come up against on a weekly basis compared to the English second-tier. Nevertheless, they now have two talented players in their sights that could make all the difference, per recent developments.

Leeds want Nicolas Kuhn and Cameron Carter-Vickers from Celtic

According to TBR, Leeds are in the mix to sign Celtic duo Cameron Carter-Vickers and Nicolas Kuhn to strengthen their Premier League survival bid. The pair earn £50,000 per week between them at Parkhead and have lit up the domestic scene in Scotland, emerging as two of the best players in the top-flight, with Carter-Vickers playing a part in the Bhoys conceding only 22 goals in 34 league matches.

On the other hand, Kuhn has notched 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions, earning plaudits for his consistent displays coming off the right flank.

Celtic’s involvement in Champions League football may be a sticking point for Leeds if negotiations were to occur, though the lure of Premier League football can be a tempting one for top performers in Scotland.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will head into the summer transfer window full of confidence that they can secure a top-half finish in the Premier League next season.

Much will depend on Vitor Pereira’s budget, however. Will he be allowed to spend big in order to carry on the momentum gained over the last few months?

There will certainly be a few sales when the window opens as he begins to build his squad.

The key question for the Molineux faithful: Will Matheus Cunha be at the club on the opening day of 2025/26?

Why Matheus Cunha is a wanted man this summer

If it wasn’t for Cunha’s output in the final third this season, Wolves may arguably have been in real danger of relegation.

The Brazilian has been in remarkable form, scoring 15 times in the top flight while chipping in with six assists in the process.

Not only does this account for 41% of the club’s total goals in the league, but he also ranks ninth in the Premier League for goals and assists.

Despite this, Cunha has clashed with supporters on social media following a post he put up on his Instagram.

He even confessed that he wishes to leave in order to challenge for trophies, and if a big offer comes in, the forward may depart.

The forward currently earns £90k-per-week in the Midlands and, should he leave, this would help free up a big chunk of the wage budget for Pereira.

It does look likely he will move on from Wolves. But there is one player the manager should be actively trying to sell, especially considering he is earning more than the club’s talisman at the moment – Goncalo Guedes.

Why Goncalo Guedes must follow Cunha out the door

£35m signing Guedes was given a second chance at the club after returning from a loan spell last summer, but he hasn’t exactly taken the opportunity.

Across 31 games, he has registered ten goal contributions – five goals and five assists – but only two goals have come in the top flight.

He started in the 2-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, but was subbed off after 59 minutes.

During the game, he missed a big chance – notably firing a close-range effort over the far – failed to register a shot on target, failed with his only dribble attempt and won just a solitary duel against the Seagulls.

Due to his lethargic display, Guedes was given a match rating of just 5/10 by Birmingham World with journalist Charlie Haffenden noting that he ‘wasted two big chances in the opening ten minutes’ and was ‘not too involved afterwards’ which just about sums up his time at Molineux.

It’s safe to say that if this was an audition to secure his future at the club, he failed.

The Portuguese forward currently earns the same weekly wage as Cunha which given how differently the pair have performed this season, it is a rather remarkable fact.

With two years left on his current contract, this summer would be the ideal time for Pereira to cash in on the underperforming forward.

If so, he will be able to free up a big part of the wage bill in the process.

Wolves flop is now a Ballon d'Or contender and a bigger name than Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers must surely rue losing this talent who is now arguably better than Matheus Cunha.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

May 12, 2025

With Champions League qualification edging ever closer, alongside next week’s Conference League final, the future certainly looks bright for those at Chelsea under the Todd Boehly regime.

Indeed, there is growing excitement amid the imminent arrival of exciting South American duo, Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez, with the teenage pair set to make their belated moves to Stamford Bridge ahead of next season.

With a deal having also been struck to sign Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP in 2026, the Blues will once again bolster their attacking ranks with another high-potential addition, despite Enzo Maresca already being blessed with the likes of Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke and, of course, Cole Palmer.

Where does all this leave Jadon Sancho, however? The man signed on loan from Manchester United last summer, with a £20m-£25m obligation to buy included, could still move on at the end of 2024/25, having registered just eight goal involvements in the Premier League this season.

Conflicting reports have emerged over his future, with GIVEMESPORT outlining that the west Londoners could make that deal permanent, only to then swiftly sell him on. Alternatively, the Mirror reported last week that Boehly and co could pay the £5m cancellation fee to send him back to Old Trafford, amid interest from the Bundesliga.

Whatever the case, it would appear that the 25-year-old is not the solution for Maresca’s side, with a marquee upgrade needed this summer.

Latest on Chelsea's search for a winger

Sancho – who has 14 goals and assists to his name for Chelsea in 39 games – has also been the subject of interest from both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce in Turkey, with a fresh start seemingly on the cards next season for the struggling star.

With Mykhailo Mudryk still sidelined, there does appear a need to strengthen on the left flank, in particular, with recent reports indicating that the club are stepping up their interest in a statement solution.

As per GOAL, Chelsea have been keeping a close eye on Rodrygo’s situation at Real Madrid, with the report indicating that the Blues are even plotting a bid for the Brazilian when the transfer window opens next month.

Transfer Focus

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

The piece notes that while ‘formal talks’ have not yet begun regarding that potential move, there have been discussions held with the 24-year-old’s representatives, with the player having become unsettled at the Bernabeu.

The suggestion is that Rodrygo is waiting to see what the future holds for him under incoming Madrid boss, Xabi Alonso, before deciding whether to depart, having seen his role limited amid the presence of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

If Chelsea are able to pounce on that uncertainty, it would represent an almighty coup for those at Stamford Bridge, while also ensuring that Sancho can be firmly shown the door.

How Rodrygo compares to Jadon Sancho

There was a time in which Sancho looked like the next big thing in the European game, not least considering his record of 120 goals and assists in 158 games across his two spells at Borussia Dortmund.

Unfortunately for the England international, his stock has plummeted following that £73m switch to Man United in 2021, having registered just 18 goals and assists in 83 games for the Red Devils.

Despite flashes of quality while on loan in west London, including his stunner against Tottenham Hotspur back in December, the winger has failed to truly revive his career under Maresca’s watch, hence the need to look elsewhere this summer.

Rodrygo – who is the same age as Sancho – would surely be the perfect successor, with the former Santos sensation arguably among the “best players in the world”, according to departing coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

As noted below, the relatively young talent has repeatedly delivered the goods on the Champions League stage for Los Blancos, while racking up 118 goal involvements in 267 appearances in total.

Even despite enduring a frustrating 2024/25 campaign, Rodrygo has still easily surpassed Sancho’s return of 14 goal involvements, chalking up 23 goals and assists across all fronts.

It is worth noting that such a return has come despite the Brazil star largely having to operate on the right flank, due to the presence of Mbappe and Vinicius, despite his best work actually coming on the opposite side.

Indeed, in 12 appearances on the left this season, he boasts 12 goals and assists, thus indicating why he could simply soar if handed that role on a regular basis under Maresca next term.

In the case of Sancho, the Blues were taking a chance on a player who was in desperate need of a career revival. With Rodrygo, however, they would be plucking a super-talented and highly-rated asset from one of Europe’s elite clubs.

What a mouthwatering prospect that would be.

He's even better than Liam Delap: £100m star wants to join Chelsea

Chelsea are in the market for a new centre forward.

By
Joe Nuttall

May 20, 2025

Crystal Palace now have Europa League football to look forward to next season, and already the club are planning for the summer as they eye up a move to sign a “superb” Bundesliga midfielder, according to a recent report.

Wharton’s Crystal Palace future in doubt despite FA Cup win

Adam Wharton has been a standout performer since his arrival in SE25, and his performances have caught the attention of teams at home and abroad. Despite missing a large chunk of this season through a groin injury, Wharton has played 20 times in the Premier League and was a huge part of the Eagles’ FA Cup glory.

Heading into the summer transfer window, he is now very much a wanted man, as teams start to circle with significant interest. Last week, it was reported that Man United boss Ruben Amorim is personally driving the Red Devils’ move to sign Wharton. It’s claimed that United are in the strongest position to sign the Englishman this summer, but they are not the only team chasing the midfielder.

Crystal Palace join Man Utd in race to sign £19m ace who could replace Eze

Crystal Palace are among the Premier League teams chasing a player who is leaving his club this summer.

By
Brett Worthington

May 19, 2025

Newcastle United have also been heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old, while Arsenal are said to have joined the race to sign Wharton, as they plan to close the gap at the top of the table.

Liverpool are also interested in Wharton, and it’s been reported that they are planning to make a £60 million bid to sign the Palace man. However, given the Eagles have qualified for the Europa League, their stance has tightened, and it’s been claimed they wouldn’t consider any bid less than £80 million.

Crystal Palace eyeing move to sign "superb" £15m+ midfielder

And while the hope will of course be to convince the England starlet to stay put, according to Sky Germany, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Nadiem Amiri from Bundesliga side Mainz 05, making plans to buff up their midfield ranks just in case.

Sky Germany report that Amiri’s exit from Mainz is a possibility this summer, as Palace, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing the midfielder, as well as teams in Serie A.

The 28-year-old was asked about his future after Mainz’s final game of the season over the weekend against Bayer Leverkusen, which they drew 2-2, and the German didn’t give much away: “Go on holiday now; then we’ll see.”

Amiri, who has been dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, with this report claiming he could cost between 18 and 20 million euros, which is roughly £15-16 million.

The midfielder, who can operate as a number ten or more defensively, is under contract until 2028, and the fact that Mainz have qualified for Europe next season will toughen their stance, given Amiri has been an important player this season with seven goals and five assists in 30 Bundesliga games.

The season may be over, and the fans may still be basking in the glory of Europa League success, but there is still plenty of work for the Tottenham Hotspur board to do in the coming months.

The summer transfer window is set to open in a matter of days, and with Champions League football now secure, Daniel Levy and Co must do everything they can to bring in the best players to support Ange Postecoglou and his squad.

However, it’s not all about incomings, as the club now have a golden opportunity to offload a number of players who simply aren’t good enough.

Specifically, Levy and Co should look to sell someone who’s in real danger of becoming the club’s new Tanguy Ndombele.

Ndombele's Spurs career

Back in the summer of 2019, Spurs were crying out for some midfield reinforcements, and so the club did something quite out of character and smashed their transfer record to bring in Ndombele for around £63m.

There was plenty of excitement around the move at the time, as the Frenchman was coming off a stellar campaign with Lyon, and several prominent journalists were even comparing him to the simply sensational Mousa Dembélé – yes, seriously.

Unfortunately, aside from the good performance here and there, the Longjumeau-born ace never got anywhere near the level that was expected of him, so much so that after just two and a half years, he was sent back to Lyon on a short-term loan.

After that, he spent a season with Napoli and then another with Galatasary, finally leaving N17 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, with 91 Tottenham appearances to his name, in which he scored ten goals and provided nine assists.

With his fee, lack of game time and poor performances all taken into account, it’s not hard to see why journalist Paul Brown described Ndombele as “one of the worst signings Spurs have ever made.”

Unfortunately, the club now have another midfielder who could be in a similar conversation, unless they sell him this summer, that is.

The Spurs player who must be sold

Now, while a number of squad members should be sold this summer, the player we are talking about is Yves Bissouma.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Like Ndombele before him, there was quite a bit of excitement around the Mali international’s transfer to Spurs back in 2022, with content creator George Benson describing the deal as “an absolutely brilliant signing.”

However, instead of getting the unreal midfield destroyer who was sensational for Brighton & Hove Albion, the North Londoners ended up with a player who has had more questionable performances than good ones.

For example, while he was undeniably excellent in the Europa League final, he was terrible against his old club on Sunday, earning himself a 4/10 match rating from Alasdair Gold, who rather charitably described him as ‘clumsy.’

It was a similar story away to Fulham earlier in the season when Gold gave him 3/10 and wrote that ‘his use of the ball was dreadful.’

Go back another few months to December, and he put in such a poor display at home to Chelsea – in which he gave away a penalty – that Jamie Carragher slammed him for being “absolutely ridiculous.”

Finally, on top of being unable to string together a number of good performances, the 28-year-old has a sketchy fitness record at best, which has seen him miss 25 games for club and country since moving to N17.

Ultimately, it’s in Spurs’ best interest to say thanks for the performance in the final and sell Bissouma this summer before another season of dismal displays turns him into the modern Ndombele.

Massive Tel upgrade: Spurs ready £38m offer to sign "unstoppable" star

Spurs could sign an upgrade on Tel for £38m this summer.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 27, 2025

A positive update has now emerged regarding Newcastle United’s efforts to sign a “special” player in the summer transfer window.

Howe in charge of transfers at Newcastle

There has been a big change at St James’ Park since the end of the season, following the departure of Paul Mitchell as sporting director, with the 43-year-old releasing a statement upon his exit.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the last year. I’m leaving at a time that is right for me and the club, particularly with Darren Eales – someone who I have worked so closely with in my career – moving on soon. The club is in great hands on and off the pitch, and is in a fantastic position to continue building.”

It means that Eddie Howe now has far more control of Newcastle’s summer transfer business, amid rumours that the pair didn’t get along, not least last summer when both were reportedly dissatisfied with a lack of business.

It will be interesting to see if Howe flourishes with even more responsibility, bringing in the right players who can suit his style of play, and a new centre-back will surely be a priority. Now, a new report has emerged regarding a potential signing in that area of the pitch.

Newcastle planning approach for "special" defender

According to a new report from Caught Offside, Newcastle are planning an approach for Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti this summer, with the Italian valued at £29m.

Alongside Pedro: Howe readying move to sign £16m-a-year star for Newcastle

He desperately needs a fresh start.

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 9, 2025

The 26-year-old’s future in Turin is described as “uncertain” and he also likes the idea of moving to the Premier League, acting as a boost for the Magpies.

As mentioned, Newcastle must strengthen their defence this summer, considering several of their current options are in their 30s, and Gatti stands out as a strong choice for them.

The Italy international has enjoyed an interesting journey, emerging as a late bloomer rather than standing out at academy level, with Eurofoot describing his career as being on a “special” path.

Gatti enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 season with Juve, including completing 95.2% of his passes in Serie A, highlighting the quality he has in possession, and he is at a perfect age to come straight in as a key man for Newcastle.

It may not be easy for the Magpies to get him, amid competition from the likes of Tottenham, West Ham, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, but they can guarantee him Champions League football, which could prove vital.

With Chelsea having secured Champions League football at the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign, things looked more positive for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Since taking over last summer, he’s done an admirable job in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, notably winning the Conference League on the way to sealing that top-four place.

It’s rare you get the chance to win major silverware over the summer too, but Chelsea have been presented with that at this year’s revamped Club World Cup.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 13, 2025

However, in true Chelsea fashion, they’ve had a topsy-turvy time of it out in the United States.

They won their first game 2-0 against LAFC but were embarrassed by Brazilian opposition, Flamengo, 3-1 on Friday night.

“We know we could hurt them in some areas”, said former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho after the game. Having recently left Arsenal, the veteran rolled back the years against his ex-employers, notably winning possession more times (8) than Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo (7) put together.

Jorginho wasn’t the only one out there embarrassing Chelsea players, as Nicolas Jackson will testify.

Jackson’s moment of madness against Flamengo

Chelsea actually started their game against Flamengo in fantastic fashion.

Pedro Neto – who scored against LA a few days ago – was on hand once again to find the back of the net.

Sadly, it all went pear-shaped in the second half when goals from Wallace, Danilo and Bruno Henrique sealed all three points.

At 2-1 down, their cause certainly wasn’t helped by Jackson. Only a matter of months ago, the striker nearly ruined Chelsea’s top five hopes by getting sent off at Newcastle and he let his teammates down again on Friday.

Liam Delap – fresh off assisting Fernandez’s goal in their Club World Cup opener – started the game but didn’t enjoy as much success this time around, subbed off in the 64th minute for Jackson.

Well, just four minutes later, the Senegalese forward found himself back in the locker room after being sent for an early bath.

Jackson lunged in late with his studs and the referee saw no other option but to send him off. Celebrating his 24th birthday, it’s safe to say this wasn’t the happiest of occasions for the forward.

Chelsea have already been in the market for upgrades to their forward line this summer and in Delap, they have already signed a fine rival. Yet, amid links to players like Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, perhaps BlueCo just better cut their losses on the player now.

As bad as Jackson was, he wasn’t the only culprit in the defeat.

What else went wrong for Chelsea against Flamengo

Jackson will and should no doubt take much of the blame but Chelsea’s defence put in a rather shambolic performance at the back.

Starting with Flamengo’s equaliser, it was right-back Malo Gusto who failed to cover himself in much glory. He was caught out by a deep cross to the back post where Gonzalo Plata got free of every defender.

Poor positioning from Trevor Chalobah and Levi Colwill subsequently allowed Plata to head the ball back across goal where Henrique had a tap-in.

Gusto was once again caught out for the second when he was easily beaten to the ball by the aforementioned Henrique from a corner, with the ball then finding itself to Danilo who converted another tap-in for the Brazilians.

The third was largely down to Colwill, who failed to clear following a bit of pinball in the area. The result? A third and final goal for Flamengo, capping off a truly woeful day for Chelsea’s defence.

Now, while he was far from the worst defender on Friday, Chalobah certainly didn’t have a good night either. Colwill and Gusto made the big mistakes, but the central defender is only proving why Chelsea should be looking to get rid.

Chalobah came back to the club in January after half a season on loan at Crystal Palace and truth be told, that feels like his level.

The Express’ Sam Smith summed things up nicely post-game, handing the Englishman a 5/10 match rating.

He wrote that Chalobah will need “to produce better performances if he is to win admirers in the transfer market,” indicating that a “move for the defender seems likely” amid interest from Italian side Napoli.

Remarkably, Chalobah started ten league games after being recalled over the winter but following Chelsea’s nightmare at St James’ Park, he sat out the remaining games, wins over Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, where clean sheets were kept in both matches.

The defender also sat out of the 2-0 win against LA earlier this week, only further indicating that he should probably be on the bench.

Still, with interest from Naples brewing and the Blues looking at signing players such as Jorrel Hato, space must be opened up for upgrades.

If Maresca has any sense, this could well have been the last time we saw Chalobah in Chelsea colours. Like Jackson, a move elsewhere surely beckons.

FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Qualified teams, format, venues & how to watch

The FIFA Club World Cup takes place this summer, with plenty of teams set to head to the United States in July 2025.

By
Ross Kilvington

Oct 30, 2024

There is a lot for Arsenal to do this summer.

For the third time in a row, Mikel Arteta’s side ended this season as Premier League runners-up, and as things stand, their rivals for next year are making some impressive moves in the transfer market.

However, while the Gunners are yet to announce a signing, that doesn’t mean they aren’t working towards a few, with Martin Zubimendi’s move to the club now looking like a matter of when and not if.

The Spanish international could be a needle mover for the North Londoners, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club are now looking to advance towards another international who could be utterly game-changing.

Arsenal plot move for international superstar

It would be fair to say that the journey to sign Zubimendi has been a long and somewhat stressful one for Arsenal – one that is still not quite complete.

Transfer Focus

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

The first serious reports that the club were making serious progress in securing his services came out in January, courtesy of Sami Mokbel, but in the months that followed, there have been more than a few stories from Spain suggesting that Real Madrid was going to hijack the move.

Fortunately, reports in the last few days, notably from Fabrizio Romano, have revealed that the paperwork is now done and that fans can expect an official announcement soon.

However, while the Real Sociedad will surely help improve the balance of the North Londoners’ midfield, the club now appear to be moving towards an even better signing: Viktor Gyokeres.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, which claims that Arsenal have reignited their intense interest in the Sporting CP star.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are planning to make another offer for the free-scoring forward, which, according to other stories from earlier this week, could be up to 80m, which comes out to around £68m.

Furthermore, according to a recent update from Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, the North Londoners “will sign” the former Coventry man this summer, as he “was their first target from the start.”

It would undoubtedly represent a mammoth investment from Arsenal, but given Gyokeres’ out-of-this-world ability in front of goal, it would be worth it, and he would be a better signing than Zubimendi.

Why Gyokeres would be a better signing than Zubimendi

Firstly, as we’ve already mentioned, fans should be excited about the seemingly imminent arrival of Zubimendi this summer, as the Sociedad star has proven himself to be a defensively solid and inventive creative six at both club and international level over the last couple of years.

However, if we are talking about who could have the more significant and immediate impact on Arsenal’s title chances in the Premier League and Champions League next season and, therefore, be the better signing this summer, we think it’s impossible to look past Gyokeres.

We say this for one massive and simply impossible to ignore reason: his output.

Since moving to Sporting in the summer of 2023, the Stockholm-born phenomenon has been a seemingly unstoppable goalscoring “powerhouse,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson.

For example, in his first campaign with the Lisbon outfit, he racked up a ridiculous tally of 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4169 minutes.

This means the former Coventry City star maintained an average of 1.16 goal involvements every game or one every 71.87 minutes, and somehow, he did even better this season.

In 52 appearances, totalling 4248 minutes, the goalscoring “monster,” as dubbed by one analyst, found the back of the net on 54 occasions and provided 13 assists for good measure, which comes out to an average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Just imagine a centre-forward as outrageously clinical as the 27-year-old leading the line for the Gunners, with Bukayo Saka to his right, Martin Odegaard behind him and potentially a new winger to the left.

Even if he was only able to replicate a third of his output in North London, the Swede could be the difference between a fourth runners-up finish on the spin or finally getting over the line.

Therefore, while Zubimenidi will be a great signing, Gyokeres has the potential to be far better for Arsenal.

The new Saliba: Arsenal schedule talks to sign "exceptional" £43m star

The incredible youngster could turn into something truly special at Arsenal.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 25, 2025

With just days until they’re forced to file their accounts for the Premier League’s PSR deadline, Aston Villa are now reportedly prepared to sanction the sale of a 16-goal star in ruthless fashion.

Aston Villa closing in on PSR deadline

It’s been a summer full of frustration for those in the Midlands thus far, but things will only get worse if they fail to comply with PSR regulations by the time that Monday arrives. As things stand, it looks as though Villa still need to sell at least one player before the deadline even if Philippe Coutinho completes his move to Vasco da Gama in that time.

It is, therefore, time to get ruthless. As the deadlines closes in, Villa Park chiefs have been desperately attempting to find a way past the rules and are even reportedly considering the sale of their women’s team – following Chelsea’s previous methods in doing so.

More question marks would arrive about PSR rules if Aston Villa managed to navigate a way past any sanctions by selling their women’s team like Chelsea decided to do not so long ago. And it wouldn’t be the first time that questions have arrived about the rules, either.

Aston Villa’s co-owner, Nassef Sawiris told reporters last year: “Some of the rules have actually resulted in cementing the status quo more than creating upward mobility and fluidity in the sport. The rules do not make sense and are not good for football.”

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By
Ben Gray

Jun 26, 2025

No matter what Sawiris or anyone else thinks about the rules, however, Aston Villa must ensure that they comply by Monday and may need to get ruthless in attempting to do so.

Aston Villa prepared to sell Louie Barry

With the likes of Emiliano Martinez already linked with a move away, the Villans could now lose a talented gem this summer. According to Hull Live, Aston Villa are now prepared to sell Louie Barry this week in an attempt to meet PSR requirements. The young forward’s sale would count as pure profit thanks to his homegrown status and would go a long way to solving Villa’s problems as a result.

As wise as his exit would be on the PSR front, that doesn’t take away from the frustrating blow that it would deal those in the Midlands. At 22 years old, Barry is a product of Villa’s academy and showed impressive potential on loan at Stockport County last season – scoring 16 goals in all competitions.

Injury then disrupted a later loan spell at Championship side Hull City but the academy graduate more than showed his talent in the first-half of the season.

Praised for a “superb” season by scout Jacek Kulig, it looks as though Barry could be part of Aston Villa’s PSR sacrifice as Monday’s deadline looms.