This season feels like it could be a brutal one for West Ham United.

The board have made a few good signings, such as Mads Hermansen and El Hadji Malick Diouf, but with Callum Wilson being their only attacking signing, it feels like they have left themselves short.

Moreover, it now looks almost certain that Edson Alvarez will be leaving the London Stadium before the window shuts, leaving the squad even lighter on quality.

Fortunately, reports have linked the club to a midfield talent who’d be a brilliant addition to the side and a significant upgrade on the Mexican.

West Ham target Alvarez upgrade

When West Ham signed Alvarez from Ajax in the summer of 2023, there was a lot of understandable excitement around the deal.

Transfer Focus

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

After all, the Mexican international won two league titles with the Amsterdam outfit and left with 147 appearances under his belt.

However, instead of coming in and making up for the loss of Declan Rice, the 27-year-old has struggled with the pace and intensity of English football, and now looks like he could leave the club this summer, either on loan or permanently.

Interestingly, the East Londoners are now being linked with an up-and-coming talent who could come in and replace Alvarez.

At least that is according to a recent report from Sky Sports’ Tim Vickery, who has claimed that West Ham are interested in Andrey Santos.

It’s not the first time the Hammers have been credited with an interest in the exciting Brazilian, as reports from earlier this month claimed that they have already seen an offer of around £42m rejected.

It remains to be seen whether this is a transfer that could happen, but if there is any chance at all, West Ham have to take it, as Santos would be an excellent signing and a massive upgrade on Alvarez.

How Santos compares to Alvarez

So, the first thing to point out is that while Santos is certainly a midfielder who can get forward and attack, and is more inclined to do so compared to Alvarez, he has still spent almost half of his playing career in the six position.

Moreover, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has gone as far as calling him a “duel monster” for the tenacious way he wins the ball off opposition players and argues that this, combined with his “top tackling ability”, helps to make him “brilliant at screening the backline.”

In other words, the 21-year-old is no pushover when it comes to the defensive side of playing in the middle of the park.

With that, how do the pair stack up against one another when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers?

Unfortunately for the Mexican international, it’s an incredibly one-sided affair, as the former Vasco da Gama gem outperforms him in practically every relevant metric, including things like expected and actual non-penalty goals, progressive carries, shot and goal-creating actions, tackles, blocks, interceptions and more, all per 90.

These numbers help to paint the picture of an all-action midfielder who is dynamic and dangerous in attack, but also robust and solid enough in defence.

Finally, on top of everything else, the Blues ace is able to transform his impressive attacking numbers into real output.

In 34 appearances for Strasbourg last season, the 21-year-old phenom scored 11 goals and provided five assists and was praised by Mattinson for the way he “crashes the box.”

Ultimately, while it might require a massive fee, West Ham should be going all out to sign Santos this summer, as not only would he be a huge upgrade on Alvarez, but he’d help elevate the entire team.

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1

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Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 20, 2025

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor revealed an outrageous question she has been forced to answer that other clubs would "never ask" a man. Despite steering the Blues to a historic domestic treble last season, the Frenchwoman says people still question whether she can balance being a mother of four with leading one of the biggest clubs in women's football.

Survey paints grim picture for women in football

A damning new Women in Football report has exposed the scale of discrimination across the sport. The findings, released on Wednesday, showed that 78% of women working in football have faced discrimination, while nearly two-thirds admitted to experiencing sexist ‘banter’ or degrading jokes in the workplace. Perhaps even more alarming, 56% of those who reported gender-based discrimination said no action was ever taken.

AdvertisementBombastor hit out at sexist double standards

For Bompastor, none of it comes as a shock. "Guess what was almost the first question everyone is asking me when I want to become a head coach or a manager?" the 45-year-old said. "So I'm going to tell you – 'do you think it's possible to be a mum of four kids and being a manager for a high club?' I think if you have a man in front of the same people, they will never ask that question."

Getty Images SportChelsea have been different

Bompastor was quick to stress that Chelsea themselves have not been guilty of such attitudes. "It wasn't the case in Chelsea," she added with a laugh.

Still, the fact she continues to be asked whether she can juggle motherhood and management highlights how far football has to go. "We still have room for improvement in that area, and I'm glad the people are honest and they are brave enough to raise that," she said.

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Arsenal boss agrees that fight is far from over

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers also weighed in, agreeing that football has taken steps forward but warning against complacency.

"There is still a lot of work that needs to be done," Slegers said. "I think we need to stay critical, although there's been a lot of progress in that sense. It's not always in the big things; it can be in the small things as well. It's good to be aware of it."

علق أشرف صبحي وزير الشباب والرياضة، على تأهل منتخب مصر إلى نهائيات كأس العالم 2026، موضحًا رأيه في التجهيز للمونديال القادم.

والتقى منتخب مصر مع نظيره غينيا بيساو، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة على ملعب القاهرة الدولي، في الجولة العاشرة والأخيرة من تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وحقق منتخب مصر الفوز على غينيا بيساو، بهدف دون رد، ليُنهي الفراعنة مشوار تصفيات كأس العالم، منفردين بصدارة المجموعة في تصفيات كأس العالم، وبدون أي هزيمة.

وقال أشرف صبحي في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “سي بي سي”: “تأهل المنتخب إلى كأس العالم مرتين خلال السنوات الأخيرة يعكس حجم التطور الكبير الذي تشهده كرة القدم المصرية”.

وأكمل: “إن شاء الله من الآن فصاعدًا سنتواجد في كل دورة من دورات كأس العالم، والعلم المصري سيظل مرفوعًا في المحافل الدولية الكبرى”.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة منتخب مصر بعد نهاية تصفيات كأس العالم

وأردف: “ما يتحقق من إنجازات ينعكس إيجابيًا على الروح العامة في السياسة والرياضة، الجماهير أصبحت تشعر بالانتماء والفخر، خاصة بعد الانتصارات المتتالية التي يحققها المنتخب”.

وتابع: “تأهل منتخب مصر الأخير خطوة مهمة ضمن سلسلة النجاحات المتواصلة، الحياة كلها فرحة، من اللاعبين إلى الجماهير، وكلنا فخورون بالوصول لكأس العالم”.

وأتم: “إن شاء الله الفترة المقبلة ستشهد مزيدًا من التطوير والاهتمام بالقطاع الرياضي على مستوى التشريعات والبنية التحتية”.

Sunderland have made some great strides in the market this summer and still find themselves in the hunt for fresh blood to help bolster their Premier League survival prospects, per reports.

Sunderland plot further signings under Regis Le Bris

Nobody could accuse Sunderland of not showing ambition this summer in the market, and there is plenty more where that came from as the Black Cats aim to take their spending spree beyond £147.9 million

Regis Le Bris delivered a coy response when asked whether his side will add one or two more new faces to the group ahead of Monday’s deadline, specifying that he is happy with his squad no matter what happens over the next few days.

He stated: “The amount of work is huge (that Sunderland have done this summer). Not an easy challenge. Connection with players now is good. They understand identity of the club, the connection with team-mates.”

With that in mind, Sunderland are hopeful of striking a deal for Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi and could also look to add Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson to compete with Anthony Patterson between the sticks alongside Robin Roefs.

Furthermore, West Ham United outcast Nayef Aguerd is a target for the Black Cats. However, Marseille are also pushing to add the Morocco international to their ranks, which could lead to a tense battle between the two clubs to secure his signature.

Making the jump to the top-flight was never an easy ask for Sunderland, though they are making their mark in the window and could now be set to ramp up interest in an exciting attacker.

Sunderland looking to sign Dario Osorio

According to reports in South America via Sport Witness, Sunderland are plotting a late move to sign FC Midtjylland winger Dario Osorio alongside Ligue 1 outfit Lille.

Given the deadline is on Monday, the Danish outfit are in no rush to sell, but it is claimed that £15.5 million may be enough to entice the Chile international to swap MCH Arena for the Stadium of Light.

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Compared to Alexis Sanchez in Chile due to his rise to prominence, Osorio has already registered four goals and four assists in 11 matches this campaign, including pivotal strikes in Europa League qualifying against KuPS and Hibernian.

His former club Universidad de Chile are said to retain a 15% stake in the 21-year-old, and it remains to be seen how that stipulation could reflect in negotiations with Midtjylland as they aim to collect a fair fee for their prize asset.

Sunderland have made a habit of finding gems from markets around Europe and Osorio could be the next on their conveyor belt if circumstances align in the North East.

In the wake of the contentious run-out incidents during the last-ball thriller between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians on February 15, the WPL has notified teams that the Zing bail will need to be fully dislodged for umpires to judge that the wicket is broken in the context of run-out and stumping decisions.This means the pre-existing playing condition, which states that the stumps are deemed to be broken when the bails light up, will not be applicable in WPL 2025 going forward. Appendix D of the tournament playing conditions, which was shared with teams in the lead-up to the season, states: “where Zing wickets are used, the moment at which the wicket has been put down shall be deemed to be the first frame in which the Zing lights are illuminated and subsequent frames show the bail permanently removed from the top of the stumps.”ESPNcricinfo has learned that the reason for the rule change is that the batch of bails being used during this WPL have been lighting up at the slightest disturbance, even when both spigots have not come off the grooves on top of the stumps. Under the Laws of cricket, a bail is completely dislodged only when the bail comes entirely off the groove.Related

• Run-out calls in MI-DC game turn focus on rules around LED stumps

The BCCI has used Zing bails both in bilateral and domestic cricket including the IPL and WPL. Each bail contains a microprocessor that detects the moment when both spigots have come off their grooves, and causes the bail to light up within 1/1000th of a second. During this WPL, it is understood that the bails began to flash even when one spigot was still resting on its groove. Consequently it was decided that third umpires would base their final ruling on the moment when the bail becomes completely dislodged, with both spigots coming off their grooves.This was why Gayathri Venugopalan, the third umpire for the Capitals-Mumbai match, made her final ruling in the three run-out decisions – which led to widespread debate – based on the point when the bails were completely off their grooves.It is learned that the match officials were told about this rule change on the morning of the Capitals-Mumbai match, which was the second game of the season. The teams, though, were notified on the day after the match.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence kicked off with three points. Bournemouth were valiant and impressive at Anfield, but the Reds dug in and showcased their quality as they rallied in the final stretch of the curtain-raising game.

While the Reds showcased a remarkable array of attacking talent against the hard-fighting Cherries, they lacked something in defence, with Arne Slot’s side squandering a two-goal lead in the second half.

Antoine Semenyo had a field day against a discordant Reds backline, who must find balance and coherence in the weeks ahead if they wish to rebuff the danger that is bound to spring from title rivals who are expected to improve after last year.

And Ibrahima Konate, in particular, suffered from a rusty performance at the back. It was a display that, perhaps, new recruit Giovanni Leoni and top transfer target Marc Guehi would have taken heed of.

Ibrahima Konate's performance vs Bournemouth

Semenyo’s second-half double proved a blow to Liverpool’s start to their title defence, but the impressive right winger deserved both of his goals and will have felt be got the better of the hosts’ unfluent backline.

Konate was at the epicentre of the struggles, with Jamie Carragher remarking on Sky Sports co-comms that the France international was “all over the place” for Slot’s side, making seven clearances throughout the evening but lacking the control nor composure to ensrue the home side moved toward three points in a smooth fashion to start their campaign.

Completely exposed for Bournemouth’s second and suffering across numerous offensive pushes from the lively south coasters, Konate, 26, will be frustrated with his performance, not least because noise rumbles in the background regarding a potentially forthcoming move for Crystal Palace’s Guehi.

While Konate struggled to produce anything close to his finest form, he wasn’t the only one to have flattered to deceive, with Florian Wirtz leaving plenty to be desired on his Premier League debut.

Florian Wirtz left plenty to be desired

Wirtz joined Liverpool in a club-record £100m move in June, and that may yet rise to a £116m fee with add-ons that would see him eclipse Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo as the record-breaking signing in British history.

But he struggled to produce a befitting performance against a well-oiled Bournemouth side, enjoying some high-level touches and neat layoffs but struggling to lay down his marker as he would have hoped.

Without a doubt, these first two outings have left something to be desired, but they’ve also demonstrated the German international’s first-class quality on the ball, invariably creative and finding openings for his teammates.

Minutes played

84′

82′

Goals

0

0

Assists

1

0

Touches

74

69

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

1 (0)

Accurate passes

50/57 (88%)

37/48 (77%)

Key passes

4

3

Dribbles

0/2

0/0

Tackles

2

2

Duels won

3/9

3/9

After the Bournemouth clash, The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed the 22-year-old a 6/10 match rating acknowledging his playmaking ability but struggle to influence proceedings as would have been desired. Indeed, he would depart after losing the ball on average every 3.6 touches, having lost possession 19 times in all.

He will need to muscle up over the coming weeks, adapting to the rigorous nature of the Premier League, but there’s no doubt that Wirtz is a top talent.

However, as with Konate, he left plenty of room for improvement against Andoni Iraola’s side, and his performance will be under greater scrutiny against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park next week.

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ByAngus Sinclair Aug 15, 2025

For Newcastle United, strikers have always been at the heart of the club’s identity.

From Alan Shearer’s record-breaking heroics to the short but sparkling spells of players like Demba Ba and Papiss Cissé, Newcastle’s frontmen have shaped eras on Tyneside.

Shearer is the undisputed benchmark, a local hero who scored 206 goals for the club and remains the Premier League’s all-time top scorer. But Newcastle’s striker lineage is full of memorable names.

Ba’s 29 Premier League goals earned him a big move to Chelsea, Cissé’s wonder strikes helped fire the Magpies to fifth under Alan Pardew, and Ayoze Pérez developed from a Tenerife prospect into a Premier League regular.

Even Salomón Rondón, who spent just a single season on loan, left an impression with his strength and work rate, although Mike Ashley’s refusal to sanction a permanent deal frustrated supporters.

Yet the hunt for a true successor to Shearer’s crown has often defined Newcastle’s modern history. In the recent past, one player in particular has carried the burden of comparison: Alexander Isak.

How Isak compares to Shearer's start

When Shearer arrived at Newcastle for £15m in 1996, he did so as the most expensive player in the world.

Shearer was the archetypal English centre-forward. Powerful, commanding in the air, and unerringly ruthless in front of goal.

He embodied grit and consistency, traits that made him one of the most revered strikers in football history.

Isak, meanwhile, represents a new generation. His acrimonious transfer to Liverpool in 2025 for a British-record £125m confirmed his status as one of the continent’s top forwards.

Signed from Real Sociedad in 2022, the Swedish striker gave Newcastle exactly what they had been missing: goals at the highest level.

In just 109 appearances, he scored 62 times and provided 11 assists, his efficiency and composure drawing attention from Europe’s elite.

That included 54 goals across his three Premier League campaigns at St James’. For context, Shearer’s first three seasons at the club – albeit while impacted by injury in 1997/98 – yielded only 41 league goals.

Isak somewhat differs from Shearer in style, however. Where Shearer bulldozed through defenders and imposed himself physically, Isak glided past opponents with skill, pace, and creativity.

He was as comfortable linking play outside the box as he was finishing inside it.

His 23 league goals last season helped Eddie Howe’s side to reach the Champions League last season, stretching defences and creating space for teammates such as Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy along the way.

Like Shearer, Isak thrived under pressure, scoring in big games and shouldering the weight of expectation from a fanbase that reveres its strikers.

Though his time on Tyneside was shorter than his predecessor, Isak proved that Newcastle could still nurture world-class forwards capable of defining an era. Could there have been another player of Shearer-ilk lost along the way, however?

Aleksandar Mitrovic was meant to be Shearer 2.0

Before Isak, it was Aleksandar Mitrović who was one of many players tipped as Newcastle’s long-term number nine.

Signed from Anderlecht in 2015 for £13m, the Serbian striker arrived with raw potential and a reputation for physical dominance.

Matches Played

59

Starts

33

Goals

13

Assists

10

Shots on Target

49

At the time, manager John Carver was bold in his assessment:

Stylistically, the comparison made sense.

Mitrović, like Shearer, thrived on aerial duels, physical presence, and link-up play. But while Shearer channelled his aggression into goals, Mitrović often let his emotions boil over.

The Serbian received two red cards in black and white. It was only after leaving St James’ Park that Mitrović truly blossomed.

At Fulham, he became one of the Championship’s most feared strikers, scoring 111 goals in 206 appearances and breaking the all-time record for goals in a single season with 46.

He dragged Fulham back into the Premier League, becoming a cult hero at Craven Cottage.

His career then took him abroad. At Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, he scored 68 goals in just 79 appearances, forming a lethal partnership with Serbia teammate Sergej Milinković-Savić.

In 2025, he moved again, this time to Qatar Stars League side Al Rayyan, where he hopes to continue delivering elite numbers.

Mitrović may not have fulfilled the Shearer prophecy at Newcastle, but his career proves he was always capable of being a prolific scorer.

He simply needed the right environment to thrive.

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2 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 5, 2025

The Indian players have stepped up for RCB while MI have relied heavily on their overseas players so far

Sruthi Ravindranath20-Feb-2025

Who’s playingRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Mumbai Indians (MI)
Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, February 21, 2025
What to expect: RCB’s Indian unit vs MI’s overseas playersThe formidable RCB side will be looking to continue their imperious run as they enter the home leg. They have a lot going for them this season and though they are without several match-winners from last season, their Indian players have stepped up. Smriti Mandhana continued her purple patch, Richa Ghosh looked in fine touch against Delhi Capitals after her blinder against Gujarat Giants, and Renuka Singh’s new-ball bowling has also been a big positive. They will want to make the most of playing in front of their home crowd at Chinnaswamy, where they won three out of five games last season. They will play four home matches this season.For MI, though, it’s been all about the overseas players so far. They have banked on Nat Sciver-Brunt’s excellent form with the bat and ball. She followed up her 59-ball 80 not out in the loss against DC with a solo effort of 57 against Giants and gave her side their first win of the season. In the bowling department, Hayley Mathews and Amelia Kerr have been their key wicket-takers. MI will be looking for more support from their Indian line-up, especially in the batting department, to put up bigger scores.Team news and likely XIsRCB left Prema Rawat out and brought in senior left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht for the match against DC. Bisht marked her return with figures of 2 for 35, dismissing Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen.RCB (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bist, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Ekta Bisht, 9 Kim Garth, 10 VJ Joshitha, 11 Renuka SinghMI made two changes for their match against Giants, bringing in Parunika Sisodia for Saika Ishaque and G Kamalini for Jintimani Kalita. Kamalini played down the order and scored a boundary off the only ball she faced, while Sisodia went for 20 runs in her two overs.MI (probable): 1 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 2 Hayley Matthews, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amelia Kerr, 6 G Kamalini, 7 S Sajana, 8 Amanjot Kaur, 9 Sanskriti Gupta, 10 Shabnim Ismail, 11 Parunika SisodiaPlayers to watch: Renuka Singh and Hayley MathewsRenuka Singh had a lacklustre WPL 2024 but has staged a superb comeback this season. Continuing from where she left off for India in the West Indies ODIs in Vadodara, where she picked up 10 wickets in three games, she has used the assistance off the pitch with the new ball to take five wickets in RCB’s last two games. After the win against DC, she admitted to have worked on her pace and outswing. She will be looking to maintain her rhythm as the action moves to Bengaluru.Hayley Matthews may not have had great outings with the bat so far but her bowling has been valuable. In the first game, she dismissed the dangerous Shafali Verma with her offspin. In her second match, she finished with frugal figures of 3 for 16 to restrict Giants to 120 as she took the Player-of-the-Match award.Stats that matter RCB have won two out of their five games against MI so far in the WPL. At the centre of those two wins was Ellyse Perry. After bagging stunning figures of 6 for 15 in the reverse fixture in Delhi, she scored 66 off 50 in the Eliminator to lead RCB to the final. All six matches in the WPL 2025 so far have been won by the chasing side.

Unlike the team he inherited over five years ago, Mikel Arteta could point to a number of world-class players in his Arsenal squad.

From the centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães to the likes of Declan Rice and potentially Martin Zubimendi, this team is full of talent.

However, when it comes to the most essential player in the North Londoners’ squad, it’s impossible to look past Bukayo Saka.

At just 24 years old, the talismanic winger has already made 265 appearances for the side, in which he’s scored 71 goals and provided 71 assists.

Moreover, it appears that the club have already got another version of him coming up through the ranks, and despite his unreal performances over the last week, we are not talking about Noni Madueke.

How Madueke is impressing fans already

While we do not think Madueke is going to be Arsenal’s next Saka-esque star, that doesn’t mean we think he’s not going to be a success for the club.

After all, the last couple of weeks have more than shown the kind of impact he can have both at club and international level.

For example, even though he didn’t score at Anfield, the former Chelsea ace was undoubtedly the Gunners’ best attacker on the day, completing 100% of his dribbles, registering a shot on target and taking 29 touches on a day when both teams struggled for chances.

Then, over the last week, he has proven that he’s one of England’s most effective wingers by forcing an own goal against Andorra and scoring his first international goal against Serbia.

In all, the former Chelsea ace looks like a player ready to explode and play a crucial role in Arsenal’s title charge this season.

Yet, he’s still not the closest thing the club have to their next Saka, that accolade belongs to another star in the making.

Arsenal's next Saka

Some may point to Ethan Nwaneri as being the closest thing Arsenal have to another Saka in the side, and while that makes sense, it looks like he will be spending far more time in the middle of the park this season.

Chalkboard

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

Instead, the youngster who looks set to battle it out with Madueke on the right is Max Dowman, and, for our money, he is the closest thing Arteta has to another Saka-esque star.

For example, unlike the former Chelsea ace, the teenage sensation is another product of the incredible Hale End academy, and therefore has that bit more of a connection to the team.

Moreover, despite being so young, he has already made himself impossible to ignore.

For example, even though there was talk of easing him in slowly this season, the manager has already given him his Premier League debut and given him minutes away to Liverpool.

Not only that, but he’s also been included in the club’s Champions League squad, and should he get any minutes before the turn of the year, he’ll become the youngest player in the competition’s history.

It also looks like he’s going to share the trait of being constantly fouled with Saka, as thanks to his incredible control of the ball and impressive agility, opposing players often have no option but to bring the youngster down.

We saw this in the pre-season friendly against Newcastle United and then in the league against Leeds United, where his quick movement won a spot kick for the side.

Finally, just as the Gunners’ mercurial number seven has become an output machine for them in recent seasons, the “insane” 15-year-old, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, looks like he could follow the same path.

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

For example, in just 23 appearances last season, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.

Ultimately, Saka is a world-class star, and while it is still early in his career, everything we have seen and know about Dowman suggests he has the potential to become world-class in time.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 10, 2025

A 5-0 win and the announcement of Eberechi Eze. Weekends don’t get much better if you’re an Arsenal fan.

This has been a spectacular window and it was capped off by Eze’s arrival last week, signing for his boyhood club, returning to the team that rejected him at the age of 13.

It’s a dream fulfilled. The smile on his face over the last week has been joyous. Very rarely have we seen a player so delighted to sign for the Gunners.

Yet, Andrea Berta and Co aren’t done quite yet. Anyone fancy another left-sided defender? Mikel Arteta, of course you do. The window wouldn’t be complete without one arriving.

Arsenal's transfer plans after signing Eze

Surprising news emerged at the beginning of the week that with Jakub Kiwior set to depart the Emirates Stadium, another defender could arrive.

That player is Bayer Leverkusen star, Piero Hincapie. One of the most exciting defenders in the game, Hincapie has proven himself to be a rampant threat when playing as a left-back, but also a pillar of solidity when playing as a centre-back.

This move would be the icing on the cake as far as Arteta is concerned, but despite a near £300m summer spend, more forwards are still on Arsenal’s radar.

Indeed, according to Caught Offside, the Gunners and Chelsea are monitoring Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman.

Transfer Focus

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

It’s reported that Lookman’s future in Italy is hanging by a thread after falling out with key figures at the club, thus opening up the possibility of a transfer in the remaining week of the window.

Inter Milan have been the most serious suitors for much of the summer but with no move forthcoming yet, a number of clubs in England have weighed up swoops.

Arsenal are said to be considering an approach, while Chelsea and Aston Villa are also interested in the £45m forward.

The two London clubs may hold an advantage. It’s claimed that Lookman has moved back to the English capital this summer.

Why Lookman could be Eze 2.0 for Arsenal

It’s safe to say that Eze and Lookman have enjoyed/endured similar journeys on their rise to footballing stardom.

Born a matter of months apart, both in London, the two 27-year-olds grew up in the capital and began their careers in a similar fashion.

While Eze was rejected by Arsenal, eventually going onto play in the academies at Fulham and Millwall, before he got his big break at QPR, it was in the EFL and London where Lookman was also first spotted, playing for Charlton Athletic.

While they caught their eye with trickery, it’s not been until the last few years that they’ve become talents worthy of playing for one of the Premier League’s biggest and best clubs.

Indeed, over the last two campaigns, Eze has dazzled for Crystal Palace, scoring 25 goals and registering 17 assists in all competitions. He’s in his prime and the numbers showcase that.

Lookman is cut from a similar cloth. He’s a “superstar” in the words of 90min’s Sean Walsh and has really exploded over the last two years in Italy. Who can forget his famous hat-trick that won Atalanta the Europa League in 2023/24?

Those are just three of 37 goals he’s scored in the last two seasons, years where he also supplied 17 assists for good measure too, the same number as Eze.

While the Nigeria international has predominantly played as a centre-forward in Serie A, like Eze, he’s capable of playing on either flank or behind the striker.

They’re dazzling with the ball at their feet too, the former Palace star notably ranking inside the top 15% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90 minutes and Lookman sitting among the best 6% of positionally similar players for progressive carries.

London-born, the same age, similarly versatile, explosive and in their primes, there is a lot to compare between the two players. Arsenal could do far worse than Lookman if they are on the hunt for even more firepower before the window closes.

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