All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea’s transfer plans for the summer window are now in full swing, having just reached an agreement for the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, but their striker search may not be over with the Englishman.

Chelsea could sign second striker after Liam Delap

Earlier this week, Chelsea shook hands on a £30 million deal for Delap, fresh off the back of his 12-goal haul for Kieran McKenna’s relegated side.

Chelsea submit bid to sign £42m Serie A star who's admitted he could leave

The west Londoners are in good spirits after their Conference League triumph.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 29, 2025

The ex-Man City starlet was a beacon of light in an otherwise dismal Ipswich side, and his £30 million release clause was always going to result in club’s poaching Delap from Portman Road after his excellent 2024/2025 campaign.

Delap had offers from Man United, Newcastle and Everton as well as Chelsea, but the latter jumped into pole position after their qualification for next season’s Champions League, with the striker now set to bolster Enzo Maresca’s forward line.

Maresca knows the centre-forward well from their time together at City, and Delap was academy teammates with Cole Palmer, so the 22-year-old already has plenty of connections at the club and should get settled quickly.

Delap is set to undergo a medical on Monday ahead of his proposed switch to Stamford Bridge, but according to recent reports, he may not be their only new addition up front.

Rank

Team

Points

GD

Man City

71

+28

Chelsea

69

+21

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has reported that Chelsea are still “pushing” to sign Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Hugo Ekitike, regardless of Delap’s arrival, following other claims that BlueCo could bring in two number nines before summer deadline day on September 1.

Chelsea’s pursuit of a double-striker deal is described as very possible, especially after their qualification for the Champions League, with player sales also likely to play a key role.

Chelsea in pole position to sign Hugo Ekitike after opening talks

According to CaughtOffside, despite his mammoth £84 million asking price, Chelsea and Liverpool remain interested in Ekitike as we enter the mini-transfer window open from June 1 to June 10.

After opening talks, it is believed Chelsea are currently in pole position to sign Ekitike ahead of Arne Slot’s side, following the Frenchman’s excellent haul of 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances across 24/25.

Despite never quite making it at PSG, the 22-year-old has displayed his obvious quality in the Bundesliga, and those who’ve worked with Ekitike have showered praise on him, so he’s an option worth considering after Delap.

Called an “amazing” talent by French football expert Julien Laurens, Ekitike’s reserve team coach at Reims, Franck Chalencon, has shared exactly what Chelsea can expect from him.

“He’s a very clever player which has seen him to adapt and understand the expectations of professional football,” said Chalencon.

“His main quality? His instinct for goal. It’s very rare that Hugo plays a game without creating a chance himself at any occasion. In front of the goal, his ratio is excellent. But he’s not only a striker, he can play on the wing, too. Very technical. He knows what to do with the ball, when to keep it, when to give it.”

Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker is set to be the main talking point of their expectedly busy transfer window, and if you ask any fan, the addition of a prolific centre-forward would be their top priority.

Arsenal working on Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres deals

At the time of writing, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres stand out as Arsenal’s top two targets for the role.

Ian Wright urges Arsenal to sign "top" £42m forward after alleged talks

The Gunners hero hopes they can do a deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025

Sesko finished 2024/2025 with a modest goal return of 21 in all competitions, which is just six more than Kai Havertz who spent half of last season out injured. However, the 22-year-old is a long-term target for Mikel Arteta.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal had a proposal to sign Sesko last summer rejected, with the Slovenia international choosing to sign a contract extension and shaking hands on a gentlemen’s agreement with Leipzig that he can leave this year or next year instead.

Arsenal also tried to sign Sesko in January, but the player and his club wanted him to see out the Bundesliga season (Ben Jacobs).

Gyokeres, meanwhile, has just fired Sporting to their first domestic double in two decades with a sensational 54 goals in all competitions – so the Swede’s appeal to Gunners director Andrea Berta is glaringly obvious.

According to the BBC this week, Arsenal were simultaneously working on deals for both Sesko and Gyokeres, before making a final decision on which centre-forward to formally pursue.

Now, it appears they’re favouring Sesko, with talks advancing on that front, according to Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources.

Before Sesko, it was reliably reported that Newcastle United star Alexander Isak was actually Arsenal’s “dream” signing.

Arsenal back off in race for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak

However, the striker’s reported £150 million-plus price tag and Newcastle’s qualification for the Champions League make this deal incredibly difficult.

There is also the matter of Liverpool, with journalist Graeme Bailey telling The Boot Room that Arsenal are backing off in the race for Isak, partly because the north Londoners theorise that Arne Slot’s title-winners are in “pole position” if he does leave St. James’ Park.

“Isak is the dream, and I think because Liverpool’s confidence, that’s where Arsenal’s interest is waning slightly,” said Bailey.

“I’ve been told Liverpool are in pole position. If Isak leaves, Liverpool are in pole position, and I think Arsenal learned that and that’s why they backed off slightly as well. Not just because they can’t afford him, because Arsenal probably could if they wanted to.”

Isak’s 27 goals in all competitions tell just half the story, with Eddie Howe’s Swede proving an absolute nightmare for defences to deal with across 24/25.

It would surely take something very special to convince Newcastle to sell the 25-year-old, and even a record-shattering bid might not be enough.

Already closing in on the arrival of Jaka Bijol, Leeds United have now reportedly turned their attention towards a second defensive addition in what would be a bargain deal this summer.

Leeds to face Arsenal and Newcastle in opening run

Two months out from their Premier League return, Leeds now know who awaits them on the opening day in August. With the Premier League fixtures officially released, the Whites will square off against Everton at Elland Road on the opening day, before travelling to Arsenal for their first away game as part of a mixed opening run of games.

That first game against Everton will be Daniel Farke’s first real opportunity to see how prepared his side are for top-flight football. If reports are anything to go by too, it will be a squad full of fresh faces.

Already, Udinese defender Bijol is reportedly on the way to become Leeds’ second signing of the summer and the rumours are not stopping there. The Whites have also been linked to the likes of Rodrigo Muniz with reports even going as far to suggest that they’re prepared to spend £35m to secure the Fulham striker’s signature this summer.

In one swift move, Farke could have two new attacking options in Muniz and Lukas Nmecha, who arrived as a free agent to get Leeds’ summer business underway. The former Wolfsburg forward expressed his delight after officially joining the Yorkshire club, telling Leeds’ official media channels: “It’s just a great challenge and I’m really excited to get to know the team.

“I’ve spoken with the manager many times and I’m excited to play that style of football that they played in the Championship, even in the Premier League. I saw that there was dominance last season in terms of possession and the goals. I’m an attacking player, so obviously that’s exciting for me.”

Firpo replacement: Leeds now keen to sign UCL star who's "likely to leave"

Junior Firpo is set to leave the club at the end of the month.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 19, 2025

It’s not just attacking talents that Farke is after, either, amid reports that Leeds are also now interested in another impressive defender after Bijol.

Leeds keen to sign Lovro Golic

According to Fabrizio Romano, Leeds are now keen to sign Lovro Golic on a free transfer this summer. The 6’3 defender is set to leave AS Roma as a free agent and has attracted interest from Elland Road as well as German club Hoffenheim and Italian club Lecce.

At just 19 years old, Golic is someone who is full of potential and a player who has already been praised by the great Jose Mourinho. The young defender revealed the story of when the former Chelsea boss called him up to the Roma first-team, saying: “The team manager called me and told me that the next day I would have to train with Mourinho.

“At first I asked him if he had called the right player, I couldn’t believe it. When I entered the field, Mourinho asked Dybala what he thought of me, he replied that I seemed a real wall. When Mourinho told him that I was 16 he was incredulous. Even Abraham couldn’t believe I was so young.”

It is set to be a very busy summer for Arsenal.

After three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s team are determined to finally take the next step.

With that objective in mind, could they be about to make yet another statement signing from Spain?

Arsenal's incoming transfer business

By early next week, with Tuesday being the start of July, expect a few of Arsenal’s transfer targets to be unveiled.

Transfer Focus

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

Kepa Arrizabalaga will arrive from Chelsea for a reported fee of £5m, to be the back-up to David Raya, while, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Arsenal are ‘finalising’ a deal to sign Brentford captain Christian Nørgaard for £9.3m.

The Dane, however, is not the only central midfielder heading to North London, given that Martín Zubimendi is set to be unveiled next week, after the Gunners paid his £51m Real Sociedad release clause.

Nevertheless, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho both departing on free transfers, this is an area of the team they do require multiple reinforcements, so are seemingly not done yet.

That’s because, according to reports in Spain, the Gunners are ‘preparing an offer’ of around £35m to Barcelona, as they attempt to sign Marc Casadó.

They also claim that Arteta believes the 21-year-old ‘fits his style of play’ perfectly, hence why the la Másia graduate ‘has become a priority’ for Arsenal.

Given Barcelona’s ongoing financial crisis, they have not ruled out sanctioning a departure, especially one that facilitates Nico Williams’ arrival from Athletic Club which, as Pol Ballús of the Athletic outlines, still faces financial obstacles.

How Marc Casadó would improve Arsenal

As alluded to earlier, Casadó joined Barcelona’s academy as a 13-year-old, making his senior debut for the first team during a Champions League dead rubber against Viktoria Plzeň in November 2022.

Since then, he has accumulated 41 appearances for Barça, but only establishing himself as a key figure this season, a regular starter before suffering a ligament injury in March, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

36

16th

Starts

29

10th

Minutes

2,447

11th

Completed passes

1,682

7th

Progressive passes

154

8th

Passes into the final third

182

6th

Shot-creating actions

64

9th

Tackles

77

2nd

Interceptions

25

8th

Touches

2,122

8th

Ball recoveries

120

8th

Average SofaScore rating

7.03

10th

As the table outlines, Casadó ranked very highly for every metric included at Barcelona this season, including both passing, as well as defensive statistics, namely tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries, underlining that he is an all-rounder.

Following his international debut against Denmark in Copenhagen, in which he came off the bench to replace Zubimendi, teammate Bryan Zaragoza described the midfielder as “barbaric”, adding “I don’t even know what to say about how he played​​​​​​​…. he’s an animal”.

Meantime, Domagoj Kostanjšak of Total Football Analysis believes he is the heir to Sergio Busquets’ throne, stating that Casadó is ‘mostly a ball-recycler’, praising his ‘crisp close control and great decision-making in possession’.

Meantime, Price of Breaking the Lines outlines how the youngster ‘always wants to make progressive passes’, noting that he is almost never dispossessed​​​​​​​ and has the ability to ‘dominate’ any midfield battle he is involved in.

So, we all already know what Zubimendi is all about, with Ogunniyi Abayomi of Breaking the Lines stating that he too is ‘capable of making line-breaking passes​​​​​​​’ as well as dictating the tempo from the base of midfield.

Thus, together, the Spanish duo – both potentially arriving from LaLiga – could form an unstoppable partnership, finally ending Arsenal’s interminable 22-year wait for the Premier League title.

£70m star wants to join Arsenal after Norgaard and Mosquera, talks ongoing

The north Londoners mean business this summer.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2025

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin finally has the chance to meet some of his players in the flesh for the first time after they returned for pre-season testing on Monday.

The Light Blues head coach will have a lot of difficult decisions to make over the playing squad at Ibrox in order to end the summer transfer window with a squad that is capable of competing for the Scottish Premiership title.

Martin will be working with sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who is now in his first window at Ibrox as well, to secure new signings to bolster the team.

In fact, Thelwell is reportedly pursuing a deal for a new player who would leave the Scottish manager with a big decision to make on two of his current options in the same position.

Rangers set to bid for Premier League defender

According to DAVEOCKOP, Rangers are interested in a deal to sign left-back Owen Beck from Premier League champions Liverpool this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the Light Blues are planning to submit a bid to sign the Wales international, as Thelwell aims to add another full-back option to Martin’s squad.

It adds that Liverpool have held talks with Beck over a potential new contract and that the plan has been to send him out on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

However, Rangers are now looking to disrupt those plans by swooping in with an offer to sign the left-footed star on a permanent deal this summer, although it remains to be seen how likely a move is at this moment in time.

Why Rangers should sign Owen Beck

The Light Blues should push to convince the Reds to part ways with the 22-year-old full-back because his performances on loan at Dundee in the Premiership in the 2023/24 season suggest that he has the potential to be an upgrade on Jefte.

Beck spent this season on loan at Blackburn in the second tier of English football and started 21 of his 24 appearances in the division, averaging 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game at left-back.

The Welsh star, who was once hailed as a “spectacular” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, really caught the eye whilst playing in Scotland with Dundee, though.

Jefte started 30 of his 33 appearances in the top-flight during his debut campaign in Glasgow in the 2024/25 campaign, but the arrival of Beck on a permanent deal could put an end to his role as a regular starter.

Appearances

25

33

Big chances created

6

4

Assists

4

4

Key passes per game

2.3

1.0

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.9

3.3

Ground duel success rate

57%

53%

Dribble success rate

60%

46%

As you can see in the table above, Beck’s performances for Dundee suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more to the team as a creator and as an out-and-out defender.

The 22-year-old star put up more impressive creative numbers than Jefte did whilst playing in an inferior team, with respect to the Premiership, which suggests that he could thrive even more at the top end of the pitch as part of a ball-dominant Rangers team led by Martin.

Couple that with his superb defensive numbers, which suggest that he does not shirk his responsibilities going back the other way, and it appears as though Beck would come in with a real chance of being an upgrade on Jefte.

As a proven Premiership performer, the Liverpool dynamo would also have the potential to hit the ground running without having to get used to the physical demands of the style of football in Scotland.

A Colak repeat: Club now pushing to sign Rangers star in the next 48 hours

Rangers could repeat their Antonio Colak masterstroke by selling this star this summer.

ByDan Emery Jun 23, 2025

Therefore, this is a signing that would make a lot of sense for the Light Blues, but it would also leave Martin with some big decisions to make on Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz.

The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday August 15 as Liverpool welcome Bournemouth to Anfield, and as always the eyes of Fantasy Premier League players will be on Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian King has been a near permanent fixture in FPL teams since his Reds debut, but has faced more competition for the top scorer crown in recent years, with the likes of Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer challenging his dominance.

AI predicts the 2025/26 Premier League table

Who are the winners and losers from AI’s table?

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

To help you select your teams for opening night, we’ve asked AI tool ‘Grok’ to predict the ten best FPL assets for the 2025/26 season based on total points.

10 James Maddison (Midfielder, Tottenham) Estimated FPL Points: 130–160

Grok believes a breakout season is on the horizon for England and Spurs star Maddison, expecting an uptick on his end product to around ten goals and 12 assists, with plenty of potential for bonus points due to his chance creation and dribbling ability.

The former Leicester City star has the added bonus of taking several of Spurs’ set pieces, and will hope to take centre stage in Thomas Frank’s new look attack.

9 Eberechi Eze (Midfielder, Crystal Palace) Estimated FPL Points: 140–170

Eze managed 161 points in 2024/2025 and if he stays put under Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park there is no reason he can’t replicate that feat at the bare minimum.

The FA Cup hero has been linked with a move to Arsenal however, which could reduce his ceiling if he is forced to rotate with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

8 Bryan Mbeumo (Midfielder, Brentford) Estimated FPL Points: 140–180

Grok predicts the Brentford star’s move to Manchester United will go through in the coming weeks, but after ranking as the second-highest FPL scorer in 2024/2025 this is actually expected to reduce his points potential.

Indeed, a reduction in role and no penalty taking duties at his new club leads to a prediction of 10–15 goals and 8–12 assists.

7 Bruno Fernandes (Midfielder, Manchester United) Estimated FPL Points: 150–190

Fernandes has a stunning 62 goals and 51 assists in 195 Premier League appearances, proving himself as one of the most potent midfielders in FPL.

His creativity and penalty taking duties make him a must-own asset whenever Manchester United hit a good run of form or some appetising fixtures.

6 Alexander Isak (Forward, Newcastle United) Estimated FPL Points: 160–200

Isak had his finest season yet in 2024/25, scoring 23 times and recording six assists despite missing a few games through injury.

The Sweden international has now improved his goal tally in each year of his Newcastle career, and his sure fire status as the penalty taker and head of the Magpies’ attack makes him a very safe FPL pick.

Starts

17

27

34

Goals

10

21

23

Assists

1

2

6

Shots per game

2.3

2.6

2.9

Dribbles per game

1.5

1.4

1.2

5 Bukayo Saka (Midfielder, Arsenal) Estimated FPL Points: 170–210

“Saka’s assists and consistent performances in 2024/2025 made him a key FPL asset,” writes Grok, predicting further success on the creative front due to the arrival of a clinical number nine, such as Viktor Gyokeres.

The England star takes Arsenal’s penalties and has a good record from the spot in the top flight, with just one of his four career misses coming in the league.

4 Florian Wirtz (Midfielder, Liverpool) Estimated FPL Points: 180–220

It may be a surprise to see Liverpool’s record signing crack the top five, but Grok believes he will reach a minimum of 15–20 goal involvements in his debut Premier League campaign, due in large part to a thriving relationship with Salah.

The Germany superstar may have to compete for minutes however, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s running from the number ten position an important part of Arne Slot’s system.

3 Erling Haaland (Forward, Manchester City) Estimated FPL Points: 200–240

Grok expects a bounce back season for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City after a miserable 2024/25 campaign by their own lofty standards.

Haaland is predicted to score a minimum of 22 goals, but will rack up fewer bonus points than Salah due to his role as a pure number nine.

2 Cole Palmer (Midfielder, Chelsea) Estimated FPL Points: 220–260

Palmer led all players in 2023/2024 with 244 points and followed that up with 214 last season, proving he has the consistency to be one of the best assets in FPL.

As the “creative hub” in Enzo Maresca’s system Grok sees another fruitful campaign for the Blues’ new number ten.

1 Mohamed Salah (Midfielder, Liverpool) Estimated FPL Points: 300–350

No surprises here, as the AI tool predicts Liverpool’s Salah to continue his dominance as the go to captain choice most weeks in FPL.

Salah registered 344 points last season, and will now have even more weapons at his disposal with the addition of Wirtz.

Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, excitement is building at Tottenham Hotspur and understandably so given the success endured at the back end of last season.

The Lilywhites’ claimed the Europa League title with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao back in May, ending their 17-year wait for any form of silverware.

However, their attempts to build on their triumph now fall into the hands of Thomas Frank after the Dane took the reins from Ange Postecoglou last month.

He’s already wasted no time in improving his squad in North London, landing the signature of Mohammed Kudus in a £55m deal from rivals West Ham United.

Despite the big-money arrival, numerous other players remain on their radar ahead of the window, as the new boss looks to make the changes he desires to his first-team squad.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Morgan Gibbs-White is a player who’s been a key target for Spurs in recent weeks, even triggering the £60m release clause within his contract at Nottingham Forest.

However, the deal has taken a turn, after the Reds threatened legal action, after it was alleged that Frank’s side made an illegal approach for his signature.

He’s not the only player who’s appeared on their radar over the last couple of days, with Brentford star Yoane Wissa linked with a reunion with his former boss, according to Football Insider.

They claim that, despite not yet registering a bid for his services, the Lilywhites are stepping up their interest in the DR Congo international, who registered 19 league goals last season.

It also states that the Bees are currently demanding a fee in the region of £50m to part ways with the 28-year-old this summer, as they desperately want to keep hold of their star man.

Why Spurs’ £50m target would be Frank’s answer to Isak

Alexander Isak is a player who has constantly tormented the backlines of multiple sides in the Premier League over recent seasons, undoubtedly cementing himself as one of the division’s best.

The Swede has registered 62 goals in his 109 appearances for the Magpies, 27 of which came in the most recent campaign, which saw him finish as the league’s second top scorer.

During his time in England, the 25-year-old has scored six times in just five appearances against Spurs, offering a constant threat to the Lilywhites’ backline, with all supporters undoubtedly wishing they had a player of his calibre.

However, talents like Isak don’t come around very often, and when they do, they cost a pretty penny, potentially demanding a figure that would be outside of Spurs’ ballpark.

A move for the Swede is unrealistic this window, but the club could land their own version of the talisman this summer with a move for Wissa.

The Brentford star is labelled as a similar player to the Magpies star by FBref, even outperforming him in numerous key areas during the 2024/25 campaign.

Wissa, who’s been labelled one of “the best strikers in the Premier League” by Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, demonstrated exactly why by registering a higher shot on target accuracy rate.

Games played

35

34

Goals & assists

23

29

Shot on target accuracy

46%

43%

Goal per shot on target

0.5

0.4

Pass accuracy

77%

75%

Passes into final third

1.4

1.1

Aerials won

46%

35%

Fouls won

1.6

0.4

Hailed for his “unbelievable” quality by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, he also completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst making more passes into the final third per 90, handing the likes of Kudus an opportunity to hit the ground running in North London.

The 28-year-old’s dominance is further reflected in his tally of aerials won, offering the side the needed focal point they could crave during Frank’s first season at the helm.

£50m may appear to be a mammoth fee for Wissa’s signature, but it’s one they could likely bring down given he only has one year left on his current deal.

However, if he joins the club and can replicate the levels he’s shown at Brentford, it would be a bargain deal and hand the side their own version of Newcastle star Isak.

Gibbs-White will love him: Spurs huge admirers of £80m Premier League star

Tottenham Hotspur’s huge transfer window has shown no signs of slowing down in recent days.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 14, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers may have lost Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha this summer, but Vitor Pereira has recruited wisely.

In come Jhon Arias and Fer Lopez, while Jorgen Strand Larsen has joined on a permanent deal following his season-long loan spell at Molineux, one that saw him end the campaign as one of the top scorers in the division.

The supporters will be keen on more moves to occur over the coming weeks, especially as the new Premier League season draws ever closer.

There are several positions that the Portuguese manager will be keen on bolstering and the latest news surrounds a Bayer Leverkusen winger.

Wolves’ search for a winger

Despite Arias and Lopez linking up with the squad, it is clear that Pereira is still looking to sign someone who could replace Cunha on the left flank.

According to German outlet BILD, Wolves are keen on landing Leverkusen winger Amine Adli this summer and he has already received a ‘concrete offer’ to move to the Midlands.

He is reportedly keen on having talks with the Old Gold, and it would take a bid of around €30m (£26m) to secure his signature.

The report goes on to mention that despite the player being attracted to the project at Molineux, it is unsure whether the club are willing to meet their demands for Adli.

If a move can be struck, Pereira would be signing an excellent player who was even compared to Bayern Munich sensation Jamal Musiala last season…

Why Wolves want to sign Amine Adli

During the 2024/25 Bundesliga season, Musiala was the ninth-most comparable player in the German top-flight to Adli, according to FBref.

Indeed, the duo also registered a host of similar statistics across a range of attacking metrics, including shots per 90 (2.35 vs 3.4), successful take-on percentage (46.9% vs 51.1%) and carries into the final third (25 vs 48) in the German top flight last season.

Furthermore, Musiala and Adli both have strengths, including key passes, through balls and even defensive contribution according to WhoScored.

Due to their attacking abilities and the fact that they like to dribble often, both wingers get fouled a lot, meaning their respective teams usually have free kicks in dangerous areas of the pitch.

While not having quite the level of talent as Musiala, for £26m, Wolves could be getting a bargain in Adli.

Goals

2

Assists

0

Big chances created

1

Key passes per game

0.6

Total duels won per game

3

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

Prior to his move to the Bundesliga in the summer of 2021, talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished plenty of praise on the youngster, stating that he had “electric pace & acceleration” along with having “superb dribbling skills” and these are abilities that the winger has developed over time.

It might take him time to settle into the Premier League, but if given the chance under Pereira, Adli could showcase his talents in the Midlands.

His comparisons to Musiala from a statistical point of view, suggest that the Old Gold could have an excellent attacking talent on their hands.

Wolves will be eyeing a place in the top half of the table this season amid a solid second half of 2024/25. Adli could certainly add something extra to the final third, that’s for sure.

Wolves in race to sign £17m+ striker who has been likened to Olivier Giroud

The teenager could be the next big thing…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 24, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s ambitions to improve their frontline have been evident over the last couple of weeks, as they look to add key depth to the department to hand Thomas Frank the tools for success.

The Dane has already completed the £55m signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, with the Ghanaian likely to play an important role in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.

However, the injury to James Maddison and the departure of winger Heung-min Son have further highlighted the need for added reinforcements before the end of the window.

The Englishman suffered an ACL injury that will rule him out for the majority of the campaign, whilst the South Korean completed his £20m move to LAFC – ending his decade-long stint in North London.

As a result, numerous players are being considered by the board as potential options, with moves desperately needing to be made in the next couple of weeks.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

After suffering relegation to the Championship with Leicester City, Moroccan star Bilal El Khannouss is almost certain to secure a move to a European giant before the September 1st deadline.

Spurs have been one of the sides mentioned as an option for the 21-year-old, who could be available for a bargain fee of just £22m, due to the relegation release clause in his current contract.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently in their sights, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo another player they’re pursuing, according to TBR Football’s latest report.

They claim that the Lilywhites are waiting for a green light from the LaLiga giants that they’re willing to allow the 24-year-old to depart before making their opening offer.

The report also states that North London rivals Arsenal are firmly in the race for the Brazilian’s signature this window, leading to a £70m price tag being mooted in recent days.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s own Bale

Gareth Bale will undoubtedly go down as one of the best ever players to play for Spurs – especially when taking all the factors around his spell at the club into account.

He originally joined the club from Southampton as a left-back, before shifting into a more attacking role, subsequently scoring a hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League back in 2010.

Such a game would catapult him to stardom with the Lilywhites, going on to score 55 times in his 194 appearances during his six-year spell in North London – 26 of which came in his final season.

The Welshman would subsequently join Real Madrid in an £85m transfer back in the summer of 2013 – a then world-record and a fee that remains the highest ever received for a player in the Lilywhites’ history.

His talents of cutting side were there for all to see, scoring banger after banger off the right-hand side, a move that became a real trademark during his career as a professional.

Current boss Frank must wish he had an elite-level talent like Bale within his current ranks, potentially landing his own version of the superstar with a move for Rodrygo this summer.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has already showcased his ability to score similar goals, with his effort against Atlético Madrid evidence of the talent he possesses.

His underlying stats from last season are just as impressive, registering 5.1 progressive passes and 5.3 progressive carries per 90, having the tools to constantly get the ball into forward areas – just as Bale did a decade ago for the Lilywhites.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

11

Pass accuracy

91%

Progressive passes

5.1

Progressive carries

5.3

Successful take-ons

2.3

Shot on target accuracy

50%

Key passes made

1.6

The 24-year-old also completed 2.3 successful take-ons per 90, with such numbers showcasing his ability to glide past the opposition before cutting inside or setting up a teammate – adding the needed quality the hierarchy are hunting for.

Whilst it’s unclear if the player himself is keen on a move to join Spurs, the prospect of Rodrygo plying his trade under Frank is certainly one for the supporters to be excited about.

Should he join the club, it would be a huge coup and one that could help the side in their ambitions of Premier League success – especially if he gets anywhere near the levels Bale produced during his own time in England.

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How strong will Wolverhampton Wanderers be this season?

Last time round, Wolves were rooted in the relegation zone when Gary O’Neil was sacked, only for Vítor Pereira to come in and save them, most notably enjoying a six-match winning streak in the Premier League, the club’s best sequence since 1970.

However, as the Old Gold prepare for an eighth consecutive campaign in the top-flight, arguably their two best players have been sold, namely Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Aït-Nouri to Manchester City, so reinforcements will be required.

Thus, are Wolves about to sign one of the most exciting young players in British football?

Wolves seeking attacking reinforcements

So far this summer, as they seek to replace Cunha, Fer López has joined from Celta Vigo for a reported fee of £19m, while the signing supporters are really excited about is Jhon Arias’ arrival, joining from Fluminense for around £15m.

The Colombian international scored his first goal in old goal on Saturday, netting during Wolves’ 2-1 friendly defeat to Girona at Montilivi.

Now though, could he be joined by an even more exciting winger?

Well, according to a report by journalist David Lynch, Wolves are interested in signing Ben Doak from Liverpool this summer, with West Ham also noted to be “keen”.

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Lynch also states that Liverpool rejected bids from both Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace, worth up to £20m, for Doak in January, with Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph claiming that he is valued at £30m, amid interest from Merseyside rivals Everton in May.

Wolves have only ever spent more on three players, namely the aforementioned Cunha, Matheus Nunes and the enigma that is Fábio Silva, but could Doak soon swap Anfield for Molineux?

What Ben Doak would bring to Wolves

Doak, who is still only 19 years old, joined Liverpool from Celtic for just £600k worth of compensation in 2022 and, even though he’s made just ten senior appearances for the Reds, he’s certainly one to watch.

Following his senior Scotland debut against Croatia in Zagreb last October, speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound, former Scotland midfielder James McFadden was gushing with praise for the teenager.

He labelled Doak “rapid”, while noting he possesses the “technical ability” to go with his raw speed, concluding that he “gets himself in really good positions to cause problems”.

Doak spent last season on loan at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough, making 24 appearances for Boro, before his campaign was curtailed in January by a hamstring injury.

Nevertheless, he certainly produced enough on Teeside to capture attention, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout praising his “on-the-ball bravery and unpredictability”, asserting that “he’s on track to becoming a top Premier League winger”.

Meantime, his then-manager at Liverpool Jürgen Klopp stated that Doak is a “good dribbler” who is capable of using both feet, while Léo Aschi of Give Me Sport adds that he is an “aggressive and powerful player” who is “blessed with physical attributes”.

So, let’s see how he compares to possible future teammate Arias.

Appearances

24

35

Minutes

1,789

3,118

Goals

3

4

Assists

7

13

Shots

1.2

1.3

Shots on target

0.8

0.6

Shots on target %

63.64%

43.06%

Chances Created

2.3

2.8

Take-ons completed

1.8

2

Take-on success %

39.33%

48.34%

Touches

50.8

74.4

As the table documents, while many of Arias’ statistics are more impressive than those of Doak, he did so in significantly more minutes, and the Scotland international is often more of a goal threat, with an exponentially higher proportion of his shots finding the target.

Also, worth noting that the duo were plying their trade at a similar level; Global Football Rankings believe the EFL Championship to be the 11th strongest league in the world, with the Brasileirão only five places higher.

Thus, while the Colombian might be more impactful straight away, he is 27 years old, so the fact that Doak’s numbers are, pretty much across the board, on par if not better, at just 19 years old surely makes him the bigger talent.

Put succinctly, Arias will prove to be a useful addition this season, but Doak could be a transformational signing in both the short and long term.

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