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Who is Liverpool’s star forward? Is it still Mohamed Salah?

Only in May was the 33-year-old handed many individual awards to surmount his team triumph with Liverpool. For his defining role in Arne Slot’s triumphant debut campaign, Salah has put to rest any doubts that he is one of the greatest players in Premier League history.

But even Salah will one day retire, and his start to the 2025/26 campaign has brought to mind the concerns that he has passed his prime and is part of the problem Slot is wrestling with, Liverpool having lost three in a row this season and lacking any of the fluency and zip on show for most of last season.

Given that the Egyptian King signed a new two-year contract on Merseyside in April, it’s clear that he and FSG feel that this story is not yet over, but sporting director Richard Hughes has nonetheless added quality to Liverpool’s attacking ranks, with Alexander Isak the showpiece.

Why Liverpool signed Alexander Isak

For nine years, Liverpool have boasted Salah as their star goalscorer, but the record-breaking addition of Isak from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day underscores a shifting of the plates at Anfield. The balance of offensive power has swung.

Last season, Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions for Newcastle. He scored what proved the decisive second strike in a 2-1 win over Slot’s Reds at Wembley in March. It was there that he lifted the Carabao Cup.

Many attacking departures this summer led to FSG deciding to break the bank for a striker already established as one of the best in the business. Isak, now, will be expected to produce the goods over many years to spearhead a trophy-laden chapter.

Salah, Liverpool’s adopted son. But he’s getting old, and should he recover that same giddy level of 2024/25, it is sure to be a short-lived thing when viewed against the potential of some of his Liverpool teammates.

Like Isak. The Sweden international is 26 years old and fully settled into his Premier League career. Already, he has been described by pundit Ally McCoist as being “the best all-round centre-forward” in England.

However, he’s not Salah. Instead, Liverpool might find another within their ranks to look more like the natural replacement for the £400k-per-week superstar, albeit not quite positionally.

Slot's own Salah-type signing

When Salah first arrived at Liverpool, he arrived under scrutiny. Scroll through the archives and you will find plenty of criticism when Jurgen Klopp oversaw a £34m purchase of Roma winger Salah, formerly of Chelsea, where he failed to impress.

But nine years later, he is a Liverpool legend, having won more than his share of silverware and scored more than his share of goals.

With Salah now winding down, Hugo Ekitike could step up as the new version of the talisman, with some interesting parallels between the two.

Having joined the club from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer for an initial £69m fee, Liverpool felt they had signed one of the finest young forwards in the business. Indeed, talent scout Jacek Kulig said of the Frenchman during his days with Eintracht Frankfurt: “He could definitely reach world-class striker levels.”

But that’s a big some for a 23-year-old who had previously struggled at a big club. Before moving to Germany, Ekitike had swapped Reims in his homeland for the Paris Saint-Germain superpower, arriving in July 2022 for a €35m (about £30.5m) fee.

But, described as a “goal machine” by Liverpool correspondent David Lynch, Liverpool have landed themselves a far more complete and primed verison.

Four goals were all he scored in the French capital, having played 33 matches. This is somewhat similar to Salah’s return at Chelsea, posting two goals and three assists for the Blues before being sold to Roma.

Liverpool’s scouting team have long known their stuff, though, and Ekitike’s underlying data is a thing to behold. In fact, looking at his performance across the past year, it’s hard to distinguish the up-and-comer from the mighty Isak, which is a towering testament to his quality.

Goals scored

0.76

0.50

Assists

0.21

0.24

Shots taken

3.13

3.65

Shot-creating actions

2.96

3.15

Touches (att pen)

6.16

6.46

Pass completion (%)

75.4

75.0

Progressive passes

3.23

1.96

Progressive carries

2.65

2.78

Successful take-ons

1.38

1.61

Ball recoveries

1.93

2.38

Aerials won

0.89

1.83

There’s not a lot to separate the two. Isak is the more refined and effective goalscorer, but Ekitike is more complete and aggressive when on the ball, and better with his head besides.

These are rare breeds of centre-forward, and Liverpool now have frontmen with the quality to take the reins from Salah over the next couple of years and lead Slot’s side to more glory. Isak is a product of several years of successful development in the Premier League, but Ekitike knows what it’s like to fall by the wayside at one of the continent’s biggest hitters, and he shares that with Salah.

With five goals and an assist across his first ten matches as a Liverpool striker, Ekitike has started life as a Red on strong footing. Salah did too, breaking the record for goals in a 38-game Premier League campaign when he first returned to English shores.

Whether Ekitike will quite achieve the same degree of success is debatable, to be sure, but the fact remains that Liverpool have pulled off some exceptional business this summer, and while FSG must turn toward identifying a successor on the right wing in the coming windows, Salah’s proverbial heir has been located and welcomed in the form of Ekitike.

He is set for the top.

Liverpool determined to sign Salah upgrade who's 'one of the world's best'

Liverpool’s up-and-down start to the season has caused FSG to glance at the transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 10, 2025

Both teams are pushing for a place in the IPL playoffs

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2025

Devdutt Padikkal found success at No. 3 for RCB•Getty Images

Devdutt Padikkal has been sidelined from the rest of IPL 2025 with a hamstring injury. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have brought in his Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal as his replacement.Agarwal, 34, will join RCB for INR 1 crore. He returns to his home franchise, having played 35 matches for them between 2011 and 2013, scoring 492 runs at a strike rate of 128.79.Padikkal’s injury absence is a significant setback for RCB: his left-handedness around a cluster of right-handed batters worked well for the team in this IPL. He made 247 runs in ten innings at an average of 27.44 and strike rate of 150.60. It was a significant improvement from his previous season, when he averaged 5.42 and struck at 71.69.”Technically, there were a few things I needed to change in order to be at my best,” Padikkal said. “So DK [Dinesh Karthik, batting coach] and Andy [Flower, head coach] have worked on me relentlessly over the last couple of months, and that’s really working now.”RCB are one win away from securing a spot in the playoffs this year. They play their next game against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday.Sediqullah Atal made a half-century against Australia in the Champions Trophy•ICC/Getty Images

Atal replaces Brook at DCDelhi Capitals (DC) have signed Afghanistan batter Sediqullah Atal as a replacement for Harry Brook, who had opted out of IPL 2025 before the start of the season. Brook had pulled out of his contract with DC for a second season running, and as a result he could face a two-year ban from the tournament.Atal, 23, will join DC for his base price of INR 1.25 crore. A left-handed top-order batter, Atal has played 49 T20s so far, scoring 1507 runs at an average of 34.25 and strike rate of 131.27. This will be his first stint in the IPL.”We are excited to welcome Atal to the Delhi Capitals,” head coach Hemang Badani said. “He is an exciting, young talent who has impressed everyone with his performances for both the Afghanistan youth and senior teams. Going into this important phase of the tournament, his presence will certainly add depth to our batting line-up.”In his most recent international game, in the Champions Trophy in Lahore in February, Atal scored 85 off 95 balls against Australia. Before the Champions Trophy, Atal had a stint with MI Cape Town as a replacement for Ben Stokes, scoring 82 runs in three innings at an average of 27.33 and strike rate of 146.42.

Manchester United now have only the weapons at their disposal until January after Monday’s transfer deadline, but that doesn’t mean clubs elsewhere aren’t looking to snap up their own assets, with some windows around the world not yet closed.

Manchester United look ahead after promising transfer window

Results haven’t been too kind to Ruben Amorim this season, but there have been flickering signs that performances at Old Trafford are beginning to come together after some high-profile signings during the transfer window.

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Senne Lammens, and Benjamin Sesko took Manchester United’s summer spending spree to around £225 million, illustrating a level of ambition from INEOS to help the Red Devils challenge at the top end of the Premier League.

Ultimately, four points from nine available in the top-flight and a shock cup exit to Grimsby Town is unlikely to win any favour among supporters. Still, there is no doubt that this is a transitional season for Amorim’s men as they recover from an unfateful 2024/25 campaign.

Now, the focus is on integrating new faces for an important run of upcoming fixtures, starting with an away trip to rivals Manchester City after the international break, before a home clash with Chelsea.

After sustaining an injury against Burnley, former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Cunha confirmed via social media that he will be back sooner rather than later, stating: “What an incredible environment, it’s great to be here. I’ll be back soon, always with joy and gratitude. Thanks for all the messages.”

Sold for £5m: Man Utd must rue selling £43m star who'd get Sesko firing

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford in recent times.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 5, 2025

With the window now over in Europe, fans could be forgiven for thinking the Red Devils’ squad is now settled for time to come, but clubs are already scouring the market for players who may become of interest, and in some cases the window is still open…

Harry Maguire attracting interest from Saudi Pro League

According to The Sun, two Saudi Pro League clubs want to sign Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, with their window open until September 23. The player himself is considering the move, but only at the end of this season, which is perhaps a hit to INEOS and a boost for Amorim, as the Red Devils will lose out on a transfer fee but the manager keeps a consistent starter this season.

Indeed, the £190,000 per week earner is committed to remaining at Old Trafford until his contract expires in the summer of 2026, but this looks like one to watch once his deal ends when he could receive a massive pay hike.

Becoming a pillar of the Red Devils’ backline in recent years, Maguire has registered 16 goals and nine assists in 249 appearances for the club. He will be 33 by the time his Manchester United contract comes to an end, and it is clear that he has plenty of options open if he wants to seek a new career challenge elsewhere – or generational wealth.

TEAMtalk report that Manchester United could look to extend his contract, citing Amorim’s belief that he is a ‘crucial’ part of the dressing room, but it appears he could now be set to follow Andre Onana amid interest from Saudi clubs in the Cameroon international.

There is no change in the top three, but don’t bet against KL Rahul, going by his form, doing something about it soon

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-20252:09

How can Nicholas Pooran be stopped?

.Orange Cap leaderboardYou’d think back-to-back innings of 77 and 93* would put KL Rahul near the top, but he’s quite some distance away, 185 runs so far only good enough to place him at No. 8.The top three remained unchanged after Match No. 24 at the IPL.Four batters have scored runs in excess of 200 at this stage, but Nicholas Pooran of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is still going strong at the top.B Sai Sudharsan’s Player-of-the-Match knock of 82 off 53 balls for Gujarat Titans (GT) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) has lifted him to second place.In third place is Pooran’s LSG mate, Mitchell Marsh, who has four fifties in five innings for a tally of 265 runs.GT’s Jos Buttler, who hit 36 on Wednesday to take his tally to 203, is the other 200-plus batter at the moment.Mitchell Starc’s second over against RCB went for 30 runs•Associated Press

Purple Cap leaderboardThe top of the wicket-takers’ list is unchanged too, with Mitchell Starc, on nine wickets before the RCB vs DC game, still at the same number after being given a walloping by Phil Salt on his way to returns of none for 35 off three overs.The leaderboard, therefore, is still led by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who has 11 wickets from five games.He is followed by four bowlers who all have ten wickets – MI captain Hardik Pandya, CSK’s Khaleel Ahmed, and the GT duo of R Sai Kishore and Mohammed Siraj.Shardul Thakur, like Starc, has nine wickets.

Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old making his Test debut, lit up the MCG with an audacious display of strokeplay against Jasprit Bumrah which in the process riled Virat Kohli on a compelling Boxing Day at the MCG. The world’s best fast bowler still had a significant say with three wickets although it was Australia who edged the honours with their top four all passing fifty.By stumps, Steven Smith was the key figure in how much further Australia’s first innings would be able to extend as he eyed his second hundred in three innings after Bumrah had sparked a middle-order wobble. Yet it was the opening passage of the Test that could well go down as defining.Within an hour of his first Test innings Konstas, who became his country’s fourth-youngest men’s player, was the most talked-about figure in the game having brazenly taken 32 off two overs from Bumrah. While he was stopped on 60 off 65 balls, he had already written himself a chapter among the most remarkable debuts and more than repaid the selectors’ desire to provide something different at the top of the order after Nathan McSweeney’s struggles.Related

• Konstas on taking on Bumrah: 'That's the beauty of being young and a bit naive'

• Kohli fined 20% of match fees after heated altercation with Konstas at MCG

• Konstas arrives at the Test arena like a supernova

Bumrah still pocketed key top-order scalps of Usman Khawaja, the prolific Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh although it did little to downplay talk India are over-reliant on him. The latter two came as Australia lost 3 for 9 in the final session with Akash Deep then claiming a much-deserved wicket with the second new ball when he removed Alex Carey to end the fourth significant partnership of the innings.Khawaja, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne all brought up half-centuries at more sedate tempos than Konstas. It was the first time since Rawalpindi in 2022 that Australia’s top four had all reached fifty in the same innings. Khawaja and Labuschagne will have been left wondering what could have been but Smith played a vital role in keeping Australia ahead.Sam Konstas celebrates his fifty•Getty Images

But it was all about how the day started. Konstas’ first over in Test cricket was against Bumrah and consisted of four plays and misses. Off his eighth delivery he worked a brace into the leg side to a loud ovation and two deliveries later signaled his intent with an attempt to reverse scoop Bumrah which brought a combination of cheers and gasps.He missed another an over later and with Mohammed Siraj also troubling Khawaja, Australia were 12 without loss after six overs when Konstas unleashed a passage of play that will never be forgotten. Off Bumrah’s fourth over he scooped to fine leg, reverse scooped for six over deep third and was an inch away from repeating it three balls later.He had dispatched the world’s leading bowler for 14 but wasn’t done there. In Bumrah’s sixth over he took him for 18, this time by peppering the boundary with drives including lofting a slower ball over wide long-on. By this point, he had been shoulder-checked by Kohli between overs with Khawaja trying to act as peacemaker with all eyes on how the match referee would adjudicate the confrontation.Not long after, a quickly run two brought up his fifty from 52 balls and he grabbed the Australian emblem on his shirt while pointing to the name on the back. What were you doing as a 19-year-old on Boxing Day? The mind started to wander towards something even more spectacular, but Ravindra Jadeja trapped Konstas lbw in a manner many a more experienced batter has been removed.The tempo then reverted to something more traditional: the stand of 89 between Konstas and Khawaja took 116 balls, the next of 65 between Khawaja and Labuschagne required 150. The afternoon session started with four consecutive maidens from Bumrah and Akash, the latter again bowling without luck. Both batters had edges fall short of slip and another from Khawaja which bisected the cordon took him to just his second fifty of the year.Jasprit Bumrah removed Travis Head for a duck•Getty Images

India were largely keeping the scoreboard under control but were not overly threatening, only for Khawaja to toe-end a pull against the first ball of Bumrah’s third spell to midwicket which left the bowler a little embarrassed to celebrate.Labuschagne was still not quite at his fluent best, but was looking as good as he had all series with some delicate glides to third off Jadeja and the types of drives to suggest better days lie ahead for Australia’s No. 3. There was a shift in gears after tea with Labuschagne and Smith adding 41 in the first six overs of the final session against the older ball, although there remained enough assistance from the surface to challenge the batters as another luckless spell from Akash showed.However, the door was opened for India by offspinner Washington Sundar, who had been brought into the side in place of Shubman Gill, when Labuschagne picked out mid-off with a skimming drive the ball after a drinks break. Labuschagne threw his head back as Kohli took the catch, knowing the chance of a first Test century since last July had gone begging.Rohit Sharma sensed a moment and immediately brought back Bumrah and against his third delivery Travis Head shouldered arms to one that clipped his off stump. A batter who has caused India nightmares with his attacking strokeplay departed not offering a shot. In Bumrah’s next over Mitchell Marsh, having slotted away one thumping cover drive, edged an expansive pull to continue what has been a lean series after the summer of his life in 2023-24.As the ground rose for the hats-off commemoration of Shane Warne at 3.50pm (to match Warne’s Test cap number), Smith had slotted consecutive boundaries off Jadeja when Australia looked to be taking control but now his presence was vital in ensuring the innings didn’t lose its way. He and Carey added 53 before Akash produced a terrific delivery from round the wicket. Smith remained firm and walked off to warm applause from those who remained of an 87,242 crowd but it was nothing compared to the ovations earlier in the day.

The last two Premier League seasons have seen all three of the newly promoted sides get instantly relegated, but Sunderland are making some big moves in the transfer market in an attempt to break the pattern.

Of the Black Cats’ ten biggest signings, six of them have come in this transfer window. The most expensive of the bunch has been 21-year-old midfielder, Habib Diarra, who joined from Strasbourg for £30 million.

Regis Le Bris has brought in a good mix of players who are varied in their positions and their age profiles. Unproven youngsters like Noah Sadiki and Chemsdine Talbi have been balanced with seasoned pros like Granit Xhaka and Reinildo Mandava.

These new signings integrated with Le Bris’ playoff-winning squad already make a team that are well-situated to fight for survival, but Sunderland aren’t finished there, as it has been revealed that they have been pushing to bring in a Premier League-proven striker.

Sunderland made shock move for Calvert-Lewin

TalkSport’s Alex Crook has reported that Sunderland approached Calvert-Lewin earlier in the window. Calvert-Lewin is currently a free agent after his contract with Everton expired. While Sunderland have already displayed a willingness to be bold this transfer window, a move for an England-capped player would be a big statement.

Crook’s report indicates that at this moment in time, the negotiations between the two parties have stalled due to Calvert-Lewin’s desire to play for a club higher up the table. The Englishman has also been linked with moves to Manchester United and Leeds; however, Ruben Amorim’s side appears on the verge of signing Benjamin Sesko, and Leeds were put off by his wage demands that were reportedly around the £100,000 a week mark.

At £5.2 million a year in wages plus a potential signing-on fee, a move for the striker looks feasible for Sunderland, given how much they’ve already been willing to spend this window. Interestingly, When Calvert-Lewin was being linked to a move to Old Trafford, Alan Pardew controversially said that “on their day there’s not much between” him and Arsenal’s new striker, Viktor Gyokeres.

Since these negotiations took place, Sunderland have signed Chelsea’s Marc Guiu on loan, but as Calvert-Lewin is a free agent, they could easily go back in for him if he doesn’t find a preferable club.

Calvert-Lewin's defensive value

Many Sunderland fans may question why they are looking to sign a striker who hasn’t registered more than 11 goal involvements in any of the last four seasons. However, as Calvert-Lewin’s danger in front of goal has decreased, his abilities as “the first defender” have improved.

In comparison to some of the best strikers in the league, Calvert-Lewin has outperformed them drastically in numerous defensive actions.

Defensive Action (per 90)	Calvert-Lewin	Haaland	Isak	Gyokeres
Average Tackle Success	77.8%	48.4%	41.7%	55.6%
Duels Won	7.09	3.88	2.16	5.84
Ariel Duels Won	4.8	3.1	0.88	1.16
Times Dribbled Past	0.22	0.26	0.33	0.13

Le Bris may not see Calvert-Lewin as a striker who will score bags of goals and keep Sunderland up, but as a rotation player who can see out games and defend from the front, helping ensure that Sunderland don’t concede too many late goals.

In this sense, the signings of Guiu and Calvert-Lewin could work well together as they provide Le Bris with multiple options depending on the situation.

Leeds United are still in the market to add more quality to their squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.

The Whites have set about bolstering their defence and midfield so far, with the additions of Jaka Bijol, Lucas Perri, and Sean Longstaff, among others, and now it is time to focus on the attack.

It will be interesting to see what areas of the attack the Championship champions look to strengthen in, as it may be telling as to who Daniel Farke believes has the quality to make the step up as a regular starter in the Premier League within the current squad.

Anton Stach’s brilliant strike against AC Milan on Saturday, as shown in the clip above, suggests that he could offer a goal threat from midfield, but Leeds also need goals from their forward line.

Leeds eyeing deal for Bundesliga winger

The Whites are reportedly looking at a move for a new attacking option who could come in to trouble Dan James for his spot in the team on the right.

Transfer Focus

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

According to The Boot Room, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs that are lining up a potential deal to sign Nathan Tella from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit sent scouts to watch the Nigeria international in action against Chelsea in a friendly on Friday, with a view to a possible move for him.

It adds that Forest, Brighton, Brentford, and Burnley also had scouts in attendance, although Forest are the only side specifically said to be keen on Tella, along with Leeds.

Why Leeds should sign Nathan Tella

The Whites should swoop to bring the forward, who was signed for £20m from Burnley in 2023, to Elland Road because he could come in as an upgrade on Dan James.

As aforementioned, Leeds need to find players who can score goals in the Premier League next season, and Tella’s form for Leverkusen and Burnley suggests that he has the potential to provide more than the Welshman in front of goal at the top level.

The Nigerian forward has scored 11 goals and provided nine assists in the last two seasons in all competitions, including seven goals in the Bundesliga in that time.

James, meanwhile, scored two goals and provided one assist in 24 matches in the Premier League in his last season at the top level with Fulham in the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

39

36

Goals

17

12

Big chances missed

7

7

Conversion rate

24%

12%

Minutes per goal

148

218

Goals from inside the box

15

10

Goals from outside the box

2

2

As you can see in the table above, the Leverkusen forward’s season in the Championship with Burnley was far more prolific than the Leeds winger’s last term.

Tella, who was described as “sensational” by U23 scout Antonio Mango during his time with the Clarets, has shown in a top five league – in the Bundesliga – and in the Championship that he has the potential to offer a greater threat in front of goal than James.

Celtic can finally replace Jota with swoop for "flamboyant" £6m "dribbler"

Celtic could finally replace the injured Jota with a swoop for this reported transfer target.

ByDan Emery Aug 10, 2025

Although he is unproven in the Premier League, the 26-year-old wing wizard appears to have the potential and pedigree to come in as an upgrade on James on the right flank as a goalscoring threat.

Tottenham Hotspur continued their pre-season preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with an interesting split of two games on the same day against Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers.

The Lilywhites failed to win either match, with a mix of first-team and youth players, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the Hatters and a 2-2 draw by the Choir Boys.

New signing Mohammed Kudus, who arrived from Premier League rivals West Ham United earlier this summer, played in the goalless draw with Luton, failing to help his team break the deadlock.

One player who was not in action in either of the matches, though, was centre-forward Dominic Solanke, as the club confirmed that he has suffered a minor ankle injury.

The England international is the club’s only senior, natural, number nine option, and he missed 14 games through injury in the 2024/25 campaign, which may leave Spurs wary of going into next season with him as their only natural striker to call upon.

Why Spurs need to sign a new centre-forward

The Lilywhites should be in the market to sign another goalscorer because the team seriously lacked a consistent scorer in the Premier League last term, as evidenced by Brennan Johnson ending the year as the top scorer with 11 goals.

Solanke’s fitness issues are a concern, because of the 14 games he missed last term and the ankle injury he has already sustained in pre-season, but his performances when fit have also been concerning.

The 27-year-old centre-forward did not enjoy a particularly impressive debut season with Spurs in front of goal, as the former Bournemouth attacker failed to hit double digits for goals in the Premier League.

Solanke ended the season with a return of 16 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for the Lilywhites, but he underperformed against his xG of 16.55 and only nine of those goals came in the top-flight.

The English marksman scored nine goals from 10.97 xG in the Premier League and five goals from 5.58 xG in the Europa League for Spurs, which shows that he was wasteful in front of goal.

24/25 Premier League

Dominic Solanke

Appearances

27

xG

10.97

Goals

9

Minutes per goal

245

Big chances missed

12

xA

1.15

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the ex-Cherries attacker missed too many ‘big chances’ in the top-flight and was not a reliable goalscoring presence for Ange Postecoglou.

It now remains to be seen whether or not he can step up his game to be the consistent goalscorer that Thomas Frank needs to push the team up the table next season.

That is why the club must sign a new number nine option to bolster their squad, and they are reportedly looking at a forward who would be a big upgrade on Solanke.

Spurs exploring deal for prolific striker

According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs exploring the possibility of a deal for Al Hilal centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The report claims that Premier League sides Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Spurs are all keen on a possible swoop for the Serbia international during the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

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It states that Tottenham want to add new players to their forward line this summer because of Richarlison and Heung-min Son’s declining form, and that they view Mitrovic as a player who can be a viable alternative to Solanke next season.

CaughtOffside adds that Al Hilal are looking for a fee in the region of around €30m (£26m) in order to sanction a summer transfer for the prolific centre-forward.

However, it remains to be seen whether Spurs, Newcastle, or Manchester United are prepared to pay the £26m that is needed to secure his services in the coming weeks.

Why Spurs should sign Mitrovic

The Lilywhites should push to win the race for the experienced number nine before the end of the summer transfer window, because he would come in as a big upgrade on Solanke for Frank.

As aforementioned, the current Spurs number nine has struggled to score goals on a regular basis and has been a wasteful finisher in the Premier League, but that is unlikely to be the case for Mitrovic in North London.

The 30-year-old star, formerly of Fulham, has racked up a staggering 68 goals and 15 assists in 79 appearances for Al Hilal since his move from the Cottagers in 2023.

He also produced a phenomenal return of 111 goals in 206 games for Fulham during his time in England, which shows that he is also a proven and consistent goalscorer in English football.

Mitrovic, who was described as an “absolute monster” by Saudi Arabian news journalist Matt Monaghan, is an experienced and proven goalscorer who could come in to offer far more than Solanke in front of goal in the Premier League next season.

Mitrovic (Saudi Pro League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

28

23

xG

26.60

17.41

Goals

28

19

xG on target

26.26

22.12

xA

2.48

1.33

Assists

5

2

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the Serbian marksman has scored 47 goals in two seasons in the Saudi Pro League, outperforming his xG in both of those campaigns.

These statistics show that he is an incredibly efficient forward who can consistently put away the high-quality chances that are created for him, or created by his own movement and play in possession.

Mitrovic also scored 14 goals in 23 starts in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign with Fulham before his move to Saudi Arabia, which shows that he can also be an effective number nine in the English top-flight.

With question marks over Solanke’s ability to be the starting number nine that Spurs need to kick on next season, due to his lacklustre finishing and underwhelming goal return, signing the Al Hilal star for £26m is a move that could make a lot of sense this summer.

Related Worth more than Gibbs-White: Spurs have struck gold on "unbelievable" star

Tottenham Hotspur have already shown their excellent business with the signing of one star.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Jul 27, 2025

Mitrovic could come in as a huge upgrade on the England international, if he can translate his form in Saudi Arabia over to the Premier League, as he has the potential to offer significantly more to the team in front of goal.

Tottenham Hotspur made a big splash in the market on Thursday night when they officially confirmed the signing of Mohammed Kudus from Premier League rivals West Ham United.

The Ghana international has put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Lilywhites and will be hoping to shine on the Champions League stage next season.

Thomas Frank and Daniel Levy are not done there, though, as they are also looking to bring Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White to North London.

The Guardian reports that his expected £60m transfer to the club has been delayed by Forest’s complaint that Spurs did not have permission to speak with the player, and their complaint around the confidentiality of the £60m release clause in his contract.

It states that the Tricky Trees consider the deal to be off, but the feeling is that their protestations are likely to delay a transfer, rather than derail it.

However, it now remains to be seen exactly how this transfer saga is going to play out, as Spurs hope that they will be able to add him to their squad before long.

What Morgan Gibbs-White could bring to Spurs

The 25-year-old ace could add to Frank’s depth in the attacking midfield department as a player who has already proven his quality in the Premier League with Forest.

However, although it should not be completely ruled out, Spurs supporters should not be expecting a generational talent to arrive at the club in the form of Gibbs-White.

In fact, there is no guarantee that he will come in as a significant upgrade on Tottenham’s current number ten James Maddison, if they are even competing for the same place in Frank’s system.

Their respective performances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign, despite Forest finishing higher in the Premier League, suggest that he may not be an upgrade on Maddison at all.

Appearances

34

31

xG

6.34

5.83

Goals

7

9

Big chances created

10

6

xA

4.69

5.91

Assists

8

7

Possession lost per game

12.7

10.3

As you can see in the table above, the former Norwich man’s output – goals and xA – was more impressive than Gibbs-White’s, despite playing fewer games and giving the ball away fewer times per game.

These statistics suggest that they are, in fact, fairly similar in what they offer at the top end of the pitch and could provide healthy competition for each other, rather than Gibbs-White, who has only been capped four times by England, coming in as an immediate upgrade.

Meanwhile, Spurs are reportedly interested in signing another English midfielder who is an even bigger talent than the Nottingham Forest attacker.

Spurs eyeing move for English midfielder

According to GIVEMESPORT, Frank has pinpointed Crystal Palace central midfielder Adam Wharton as a ‘leading target’ for the summer transfer window.

The report claims that it will be a difficult deal for the Europa League champions to pull off, but Daniel Levy has been given the ‘green light’ to make more big-money signings to bolster the squad.

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It adds that Wharton is now ‘firmly’ in Frank’s sights as the Danish head coach wants to beef up his options in the middle of the park ahead of next season.

The outlet states that the English maestro is an ‘ambitious’ target for the Lilywhites, who are now weighing up whether or not to make a formal approach for the former Blackburn star.

GIVEMESPORT reveals that Palace are set to demand a fee of at least £80m for the left-footed defensive midfielder, and it remains to be seen whether or not Tottenham are willing to spend that much on him this summer.

Why Spurs should sign Adam Wharton

Tottenham should, if they have the funds, splash the cash to bring the Eagles sensation to North London in the weeks to come because he is an even bigger talent than Gibbs-White who is worth paying the extra £20m for.

The 21-year-old is four years younger than the Forest star, yet has already been capped by England and is currently valued at £20m more than him, at £80m.

Wharton, despite his young age, has emerged as one of the hottest midfield properties in the division because of the immense quality that he provides on the pitch at both ends of the pitch.

The left-footed star is a rare talent who combines physicality, athleticism, intelligence, technical ability, and determination. In short, he has everything that you could wish to ask for from a deep-lying midfielder.

Wharton, who was highly praised by Declan Rice last year, averaged 2.7 tackles and interceptions and 5.1 ball recoveries per game in the Premier League last term, without making a single mistake that led to a shot or a goal for the opposition.

To go along with the defensive qualities that the English youngster offers in the middle of the park, the Palace star would be an upgrade on what Frank currently has in midfield from an in-possession perspective.

Adam Wharton

7.31

4.03

Rodrigo Bentancur

5.47

2.46

Yves Bissouma

4.79

1.02

Archie Gray

2.06

0.31

Pape Matar Sarr

4.14

2.12

As you can see in the table above, Wharton is significantly better at progressing play with his passes and knitting together moves that result in shots for his side than the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are, based on his form last term.

This proves that the £80m-rated metronome, who has been called “world-class” by journalist Luke Weaser-Seychell, is a midfielder who combines defensive work with exceptional play on the ball.

Therefore, Wharton could arrive at Spurs this summer as an upgrade on what they currently have at their disposal, which is why they should be pushing to bring him in.

It is also further evidence that he would be an even bigger talent for the club than Gibbs-White, as a more expensive signing who could walk straight into the XI, whilst the attacking midfielder may not find it easy to take Maddison’s place.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”