All posts by z3u9t.icu

Mikel Arteta was handed a major boost earlier this week with the Gunners finally sealing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, but Arsenal haven’t had it all their own way.

Gyokeres would love him: Arsenal eyeing up move for £100m "nightmare"

The international dangerman would be unreal for Arsenal.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 23, 2025

The Sporting CP striker and his camp are now putting the finishing touches on his blockbuster Premier League move after weeks of talks. Arsenal reached an agreement in principle to sign Gyokeres for around £64 million nearly a fortnight ago (The Athletic), with the hold-up centered around final bonus payments.

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

25/26 – summer

£140m

However, it appears that any and all issues have now been rectified, and Gyokeres is about to become their sixth signing of the summer after Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.

It is worth noting that Gyokeres, despite his incredible 54 goals in all competitions last season, wasn’t always sporting director Andrea Berta’s main target, nor was he Edu Gaspar’s constant priority either.

Arsenal also worked on a deal for Benjamin Sesko at around the same time they started moving for Gyokeres (BBC), and they tried to sign the Slovenian last summer as well as in January (Ben Jacobs).

According to reliable media sources, Newcastle United star Alexander Isak was also a “dream” signing for Arteta at one stage (Fabrizio Romano).

Arsenal informed Alexander Isak is focused on joining Liverpool

The north Londoners, as per journalist Graeme Bailey, gave up hope of signing the Swede after being informed that Isak is focused on joining Liverpool if he is to depart St. James’ Park.

Chelsea were apparently told exactly the same thing, with Arsenal swiftly moving on to Gyokeres as they prepare to welcome Isak’s international teammate.

Isak’s rumoured price tag of around £150 million was always too steep for Berta and co, even if Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie suggests a deal would more likely be done around the £130 million mark, which would still smash the Premier League’s all-time transfer record.

Eddie Howe’s side are set to dig their heels in over any potential exit for their star striker, especially after his exceptional 2024/2025.

“Alex is a world-class talent,” said Howe in a December press conference.

“The way he took his goals, he has that coolness and composure very few have. When you add into the mix his technical skills, I think he’s got it all.

“He has unique skills, and the challenge is to get him into the game as much as we can. Earlier in the season we weren’t doing that, but now the team are performing much better.

“He’s a player with a real confidence and we’re seeing a return to his really best levels – that’s highlighted by the goals he has scored.”

Celtic are starting to accelerate their summer business and now find themselves in the hunt for a proven operator with plenty of Premier League experience, according to a report.

Celtic see off Sporting in statement pre-season victory

Rounding off their pre-season camp in Portugal, Celtic saw off Primeira Liga champions Sporting Clube de Portugal 2-0 courtesy of goals from Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan.

After a promising performance that will quell some anxieties experienced by supporters in relation to transfer business, Brendan Rodgers confirmed Celtic are close to making their sixth summer signing — Kawasaki Frontale forward Shin Yamada.

He stated: “He’ll have a medical over the next couple of days and we’ll have a look at him. We’ve lost a lot of goals, so we need to replace that. Hopefully, this can be one of a number of players we can bring in that aspect.

“He’s got intensity and workrate. It’s something the scouts have seen. In terms of the club, we will bring in players to develop and players for now. Even though he’s a bit older, he’s probably one that can give us that intensity and pressure.”

Contact has reportedly been made by Celtic in relation to Odsonne Edouard. However, Rodgers also appeared to distance himself from a move for the Crystal Palace forward during his post-match duties.

Balikwisha will love him: Celtic exploring deal to sign "exciting" star

Celtic could land a dream signing alongside Michel-Ange Balikwisha by landing this star.

ByDan Emery Jul 17, 2025

Clearly, adding one or two alternatives through the middle has become a key priority for the Irishman, though he will also be keen to offer competition for Kieran Tierney on the left-hand side of defence.

With the Bhoys veering towards the start of their Scottish Premiership title defence, Celtic may have identified the man to fill their vacant slot.

Celtic plot surprise return for Jeffrey Schlupp

According to Africa Foot, Celtic could move to re-sign free agent Jeffrey Schlupp after he left Crystal Palace upon the expiration of his contract at Selhurst Park.

The Ghana international spent the second half of last campaign on loan in Glasgow, acting as a rotational figure alongside Greg Taylor as the Bhoys claimed the Scottish Premiership title.

Jeffrey Schlupp at Celtic – is he worthy of a permanent deal?

Schlupp’s record at Celtic

18 appearances, one goal, one assist.

Pros

Experience at a high level (280 appearances in the Premier League, FA Cup winner). Capable of featuring at left-back, in central midfield or as a left winger. Familiarity within Brendan Rodgers’ system.

Cons

Likely a stop-gap signing at 32 years old. Little sell-on value and doesn’t fit stereotypical transfer model. Any deal would be a sign Celtic have failed to land other targets, i.e. Flavio Nazinho.

Labelled “wonderful” by Rodgers, an added caveat to a potential transfer comes in the form of Schlupp having the same agent as Celtic forward Adam Idah.

However, some would argue bringing in a younger player would cover more bases in the long-term rather than someone approaching the twilight of their career.

Either way, Celtic will face competition for Schlupp, given that Hull City, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion are also circling for the veteran defender.

Leeds United confirmed their latest signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday when they welcomed 6 foot 4 defensive midfielder Anton Stach to the club.

The German star has put pen to paper on a four-year contract to join Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Sean Longstaff, and Lukas Nmecha in arriving at Elland Road this summer.

Whilst there is, clearly, plenty of work going on behind the scenes to bolster the club with new signings, there is also the possibility that Leeds could move on from some players.

It was recently reported that Spanish sides Real Betis and Celta Vigo are both interested in signing Mateo Joseph, who has asked to move on from Elland Road this summer.

The Whites are said to value the Spain U21 international, who came through the academy set-up at Thorp Arch, at a fee of around £10m, and it remains to be seen if either team are willing to pay that price for him.

Why Leeds may sell Mateo Joseph

On the face of it, selling a 21-year-old, academy graduate, Spanish youth international who has shown promise as a striker may not seem to be an attractive prospect for Leeds.

However, selling Joseph for £10m, should a team meet that valuation, would strengthen the club’s situation with PSR and potentially allow them to reinvest more money into their starting XI for the upcoming Premier League season.

Whilst the Spanish striker is an exciting prospect, it is fair to say that he is not expected to be a regular starter for the Whites in the top-flight, after the forward scored three goals in 39 appearances, including 11 starts, in the Championship last season.

Appearances

39

Starts

11

xG

5.10

Goals

3

Big chances missed

6

Big chances created

4

xA

1.47

Assists

3

Joseph failed to establish himself as a regular starter in the second tier, as Joel Piroe took the number nine mantle, and there is little to suggest that he is suddenly going to emerge as a Premier League-grade centre-forward in the next few months.

This is why it may make sense for Leeds to decide to cash in on him now to improve their team in the short-term as they look to avoid an instant relegation from the top-flight.

Whilst some may read that and think that the Whites would be ruining their long-term prospects, given Joseph’s age, in pursuit of a short-term objective, that may not be the case.

That is because the Premier League newboys are reportedly interested in a deal to sign another centre-forward who is even younger than Joseph, but could provide more quality on the pitch in the short term.

49ers in talks to seal new Leeds signing

According to Turkish-Football, the 49ers are interested in a deal to sign 19-year-old Besiktas centre-forward Semih Kilicsoy to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad.

The report claims that they have identified the Turkey international as a ‘prime target’, as they look to add to their attacking options ahead of the Premier League campaign.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the Whites are impressed by the teenage forward’s potential and that they believe that he could be an excellent long-term signing for the club this summer.

The outlet states that the Turkish giants would be willing to part ways with the young attacker for a fee of up to £18m, because they recently signed Tammy Abraham to lead the line for the team next season.

Leeds could take advantage of that situation by offering Kilicsoy a chance to come to Elland Road to play regular football in the Premier League, and he could play alongside another exciting new addition.

The Whites are reportedly chasing a deal to sign £30m-rated Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao, who would love to play alongside the Turkish forward because of his potential as a finisher.

Why Leeds should sign Semih Kilicsoy

The 49ers could seriously bolster Farke’s options at the top end of the pitch by securing deals for both Paixao and Kilicsoy, who could form an exciting partnership in the final third.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the Feyenoord attacker created 12 ‘big chances’ and registered ten assists in the Eredivisie from the left flank, whilst he also assisted four goals in 11 games in the Champions League for the Dutch side, to go along with his 16 goals in the division.

This shows that the Brazilian star is a fantastic creative threat down the left wing, having assisted 15 goals in those two competitions last season, which is why he would love Kilicsoy, who could be an upgrade on Joseph in front of goal.

As aforementioned, the £10m-rated Leeds striker underperformed his xG by scoring three goals from 5.10 xG. Meanwhile, the Besiktas forward has shown promise as a finisher over the last two seasons in the Super Lig.

Appearances

55

Starts

31

xG

9.90

Goals

14

Big chances created

11

Assists

6

As you can see in the table above, Kilicsoy has overperformed his xG by roughly four goals in the last two seasons, whilst he has also created 11 ‘big chances’ in 31 starts.

The Turkish star, who was described as a “powerful” forward by analyst Ben Mattinson, has showcased his ability to ruthlessly finish the high-quality chances that are created for him, which is why Paixao could love him as a winger who has the quality to consistently create those kinds of openings.

This means that Kilicsoy could come in as an upgrade on Joseph, due to his goal return and his overperformance as a finisher, whilst also being a dream partner for Paixao.

However, it is now down to the 49ers to ensure that they win the races for both of these players so that Farke has them as options to pick from when he comes to selecting his team in the Premier League next season.

He'll send Harrison packing: Leeds chase deal to sign "explosive" £30m star

Leeds United remain interested in a deal to sign a star who could send Jack Harrison packing this summer.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 22, 2025

Things have really kicked into gear for Arsenal over the last couple of weeks.

After watching their rivals bring in star player after star player, the Gunners have finally bolstered Mike Arteta’s squad with the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard.

Moreover, the Premier League runners-up appear incredibly close to securing the services of goalscoring extraordinaire Viktor Gyokeres.

Andrea Berta and Co aren’t done there either, as reports are now linking the club to a midfield machine who’d be incredible at the Emirates, even if his arrival could be bad news for Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal target midfield maestro

The main thing Arsenal need to add to the team this summer is attacking flair, goals and dynamism, so it’s hardly been a surprise that some of the most exciting links in recent weeks have been to players who possess all of those traits, such as Morgan Rogers.

Transfer Focus

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

The Aston Villa star could be available for around £70m this window, and while that is undoubtedly a lot of money, it’s easy to see why teams, such as the North Londoners, might be willing to pay it.

After all, the 22-year-old was able to amass an imposing tally of 29 goal involvements in 54 appearances.

However, with that being his first full season in the Premier League, there are still a few questions over how he might fare in the long run, questions which are not present for another of the Gunners’ targets: Eberechi Eze.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal remain intensely interested in signing the Crystal Palace star.

Moreover, the report has revealed that the North Londoners are now closing in on an agreement to sign the Englishman, which would see them pay an initial £45m of his £67.5m release clause, with the rest coming in playing-related add-ons.

In all, it looks like it could be a fantastic deal for Arsenal and Arteta, but one that might spell trouble for Odegaard.

Why Eze could be bad news for Odegaard

The first reason Eze could be bad news for Odegaard next season is a simple one, but arguably the most important: his output.

In his 43 appearances for Palace last season, totalling 3303 minutes, the 27-year-old “duel monster,” as dubbed by reporter Simon Collings, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists, and did so almost exclusively from attacking midfield.

This means the former QPR gem was able to average a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes for a team that, at their best, is a mid-table side.

Appearances

43

45

Minutes

3303′

3447′

Goals

14

6

Assists

11

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.40

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.12′

191.5

In contrast, the Gunners’ captain was only able to score six goals and provide 12 assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3447 minutes.

In other words, the Norwegian international averaged a goal involvement every 2.5 games, or every 191.5 minutes, in a team that finished second and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

However, it goes deeper than the statistics, as one of the most concerning elements to the former Real Madrid gem’s campaign last season was how he disappeared in some of the biggest games.

For example, The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid claimed he put in a “completely anonymous display in the second half” of the game away to Paris Saint-Germain, while content creator Connor Humm argued that he may as well have “sat in the stands he was that non-existent” in the first leg.

In stark contrast, the Greenwich-born monster scored in the quarter-final and semi-final of the FA Cup, before scoring the only goal in the final, and leading his side to historic glory.

Ultimately, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Eze this summer, as he’d undoubtedly bring goals and excitement to the team, even if that’s at the expense of Odegaard.

Their new Alexis: Arsenal reach agreement in principle to sign £69m star

Arsenal could be closing in on signing their new Alexis Sanchez.

6 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 9, 2025

A very exciting season awaits for Newcastle United.

Last time round, the Magpies won the EFL Cup, ending their 70-year wait for domestic silverware, and finished fifth in the Premier League, with the Champions League patch featuring rather prominently in Monday’s third kit launch video.

More importantly, ahead of their Champions League return, Eddie Howe – backed by the Saudi PIF – will be determined to bolster his squad, so could some new signings be imminent?

Newcastle looking to bolster their backline

As has been widely reported, Newcastle United are close to signing Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford for £40m, thereby surely set to become the Magpies’ new number one.

This is interesting, because it is pretty debatable if Trafford is a clear upgrade on existing first-choice shot-stopper Nick Pope, more on that later.

Meantime, according to the Mirror, via Fußball Transfers, Newcastle are ‘stepping up their efforts’ to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, claiming that they’ve made a £50m offer.

Transfer Focus

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

They add that Tottenham are also ‘interested’ in signing the Burkina Faso international, while die Werkself ‘are willing to negotiate a sale’.

However, having already sold Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Odilon Kossounou for a combined £164m this summer, die Schwarzroten are not under pressure to accept a low-ball offer, so could hold out for Tapsoba’s £81m release clause.

Nevertheless, having just brought in Jarell Quansah from Liverpool for a reported fee of £30m, Bayer may well be preparing for life after Tapsoba, so could he be on his way to Tyneside?

Why Edmond Tapsoba would be a better signing than James Trafford

Still only 26 years old, Tapsoba joined Bayer Leverkusen from Vitória de Guimarães in 2020, making 226 appearances for the German club to date, starting 28 of 34 Bundesliga matches as die Werkself picked up the Meisterschale for the first time ever in 2023/24.

His performances have earnt rave reviews, with journalist António Mango labelling him a “monster”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout asserted that he is “solid as a rock”.

So, let’s assess how he compares to Newcastle’s current centre-backs.

Appearances

43

42

10

46

Minutes

3,613

3,629

581

3,974

Pass completion %

87%

83.7%

89.4%

88.4%

Tackles

1.4

1.2

2.7

1.1

Interceptions

0.9

1.4

1.1

0.8

Clearances

3.1

4.1

5.5

5.3

Blocked shots

0.6

0.8

0.9

0.7

Ball recoveries

4.5

4.2

3.1

2.8

Aerial duel success %

61%

44%

61%

66%

Ground duel success %

48%

48%

71%

50%

Touches

80.7

72.4

68.5

65.5

As the table documents, Tapsoba compares favourably to Newcastle’s existing centre-backs, leading the way when it comes to ball recoveries and touches per 90, while, across the board, he was only behind Sven Botman on a per 90 basis.

This, however, is due to the fact the Dutchman played fewer than 650 minutes across all competitions last season due to various knee injuries, underlining that centre-back is a position that Howe will be looking to bolster, especially left centre-back.

Goalkeeper, on the other hand, did not appear to be such a problem position, so let’s compare the two ex-Burnley goalkeepers, Pope and Trafford.

Appearances

28

28

Goals conceded

35

62

Saves

86

106

Save %

71.7%

65.7%

Post-shot xG – goals conceded

+1.8

-5.9

% of crosses stopped

10.9%

7.2%

Pass completion %

73.5%

65.5%

As the table highlights, when comparing the pair’s most recent Premier League campaigns, Pope’s numbers are actually more impressive than those of Trafford, with the caveat that the latter was playing for a hopeless Burnley side, and has certainly improved following a season back in the EFL Championship.

Nevertheless, Trafford does not appear to be coming in to fill a position of need, unlike Tapsoba.

Ben McAleer of the Guardian described the defender as calm and composed in possession, while Dylan Buesnel of Total Football Analysis agrees, praising his excellent ball retention and ‘ability to keep the ball under pressure’, adding that his ‘defensive attributes are helping him shine’.

Meantime, Vishnu Anandraj of Breaking the Lines labels him a ‘consistent performer’, impressed by his ‘athleticism and composure’, all of which suggests Tapsoba would be a transformative signing for Newcastle and for PIF, whereas it’s difficult to argue that the same could be said of Trafford.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces a huge task ahead of him in the 2025/26 campaign, potentially coming under serious pressure should he fail to win a trophy.

The Spaniard has now been in the role at the Emirates for five and a half years, with his only trophy coming in the FA Cup back in his first season at the helm.

In the Premier League, the Gunners have finished as runners-up in each of the last three seasons, being unable to make that final step and end the two-decade wait for a league triumph.

Investment is needed from the hierarchy during the off-season if they are to finish at the top of the table next time around, handing the manager the tools he needs for success.

With the transfer window now in full swing, countless names have been mentioned as options for Arteta, leading to moves being made on various deals.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new additions this summer

A striker has been firmly on their radar over recent weeks, leading to talks being held with the representatives of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, but no agreement has yet been reached.

Moves have also been made to sign PSG wonderkid Warren Zaire-Emery, looking to take advantage of his situation in France which has seen him losing his starting place in Luis Enrique’s side.

However, they may look past a deal for the teenager, given the progress that has been made to sign Sevilla star Lucien Agoume, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that the Gunners are leading the race for his signature, with fellow English sides Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also firmly in the race for his signature.

It also states that the 23-year-old is available for a fee in the region of £20m this summer, potentially forming an excellent partnership with one other talent in North London.

Why Arsenal’s £20m target would be perfect alongside Zubimendi

Over recent months, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been the name on all supporters’ lips after he’s been consistently linked with a move to Arsenal.

It was confirmed back in January that a deal had been agreed to land the 26-year-old this summer, but such a move has been quiet over the last couple of weeks.

That was until Fabrizio Romano confirmed that a deal is imminent with the midfielder still set to make the move to the Emirates despite interest from Real Madrid.

It’s been reported that the hierarchy are set to pay just over his €60m release clause in his contract, securing the deep-lying option Arteta has been crying out for.

However, he could thrive alongside Agoume in North London next season, with the Frenchman having all the tools to star in the middle of the park and giving the Gunners a new dimension.

Agoume, who’s been labelled “one of the most talented defensive midfielders” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has completed 83% of passes and achieved a dribble success rate of 76% – subsequently able to drive forward after Zubimendi regains possession for the side.

He’s also created 1.2 chances per 90, showcasing his ability his progress the play and aiding the attackers in front of him to thrive and bolster their title credentials.

Games played

35

Goals & assists

4

Passes completed

83%

Dribbles success

76%

Chances created

1.2

Tackles won

1.4

Interceptions made

1.7

The 23-year-old’s talents continue without the ball, winning 1.4 tackles per 90 and making 1.7 interceptions per 90, handing Arteta an added ball-winning option alongside Zubimendi and taking some of the pressure off his shoulders as a result.

£20m in today’s market would be a superb piece of business by the hierarchy, landing a young player who could improve massively in the years ahead given his tender age.

The prospect of a partnership between Agoume and the Spaniard at the heart of the side is certainly an exciting one, handing Arteta the strength and depth he needs to push for the title in 2025/26.

He's the next Timber: Arsenal submit offer to sign "insane" £43m star

After Jurriën Timber proved to be such a revelation this season, could Arsenal return to the Eredivisie to sign an “insane” defender worth £43m?

Jun 21, 2025

Chelsea’s second signing of the summer is through the door. Last week, the Blues completed a deal for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, activating his relegation release clause and bringing him to Stamford Bridge, beating the likes of Manchester United in the race for his signature.

Now, signing number two is also in the building for Enzo Maresca and his squad. Centre-back Mamadou Sarr has made the move to West London from their sister club, Strasbourg, who were one of the standout clubs in Ligue 1 last summer. The defender has signed with the club for eight years and could be in line to play in the Club World Cup.

Sarr might not be the only defender Chelsea sign this summer. They are already linked with another centre-back.

Chelsea’s next centre-back target

So, it seems clear that Maresca is intent on strengthening at the back this summer. After the addition of Sarr, the Blues seem likely to pursue another defender, although they might not be in before the pre-Club World Cup deadline on Tuesday.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are set to make a move for Ajax and Netherlands international Jorrel Hato. They have reportedly ‘had contacts with Ajax in the last few days’ regarding a potential move for the Dutch talent.

Despite the contact and willingness to get a deal done, they will face stiff competition from Premier League rivals. Hato has ‘long been on the radars of both Arsenal and Liverpool’, with Newcastle United also showing interest.

They have all ‘asked for information on the player’ ahead of a potential summer move, which could cost as much as £42.3m.

Why Hato would be a good signing

Football scout Antonio Mango summed up just how good Hato is by describing him as “one of the best young talents in football”. Indeed, that is the kind of impression the 19-year-old has made during his short career so far.

Last season was a strong campaign by the talented young defender. He amassed 50 appearances for Ajax in all competitions, mainly playing as a left-back, but also slotting in at centre-back, a position in which he equally excels. He managed three goals and six assists in total.

To put into perspective the kind of player Chelsea are looking to sign, Hato was Ajax’s youngest ever captain back in November 2023, at the age of just 17. He has now skippered his boyhood club three times, showing incredible leadership at such a young age.

Hato might even be a better signing for Chelsea than their new defender Sarr. The 19-year-old France under-20 international is certainly an exciting addition, and impressed for Strasbourg under Liam Rosenior last season.

The youngster played 28 games in all competitions, with all but one of those appearances coming in Ligue 1. It was certainly a successful season for the new Blues defender, who helped keep ten clean sheets in the top flight of France as his side qualified for the Conference League.

However, Hato managed to keep more clean sheets in an Ajax shirt than Sarr managed for Strasbourg under Rosenior. The Dutchman played his part in 14 clean sheets in the Eredivisie last term.

When looking at the underlying data on FBref from Hato and Sarr’s campaigns in 2024/25, there are further numbers which suggest the Ajax star is a better player than the new Chelsea man. For example, Hato averaged 2.78 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 2.39 each game for Sarr.

Progressive passes

4.17

1.98

Tackles and interceptions

2.78

2.36

Blocks

1.22

0.99

Ball recoveries

4.51

3.73

Aerial duels won

1.77

1.14

It seems as though, for a talent perhaps better than Sarr, £42.3m is a steal for Hato. He has all the tools needed to make it to the very top, and the fact that he has already captained Ajax at such a young age is even more of a reason to sign him.

With the Blues looking to bolster at the back, this is a fantastic option for Maresca’s side, which can definitely add quality and potential to their defensive options.

Chelsea contact £80m ex-Man City starlet who'd join with Jamie Gittens

The west Londoners are looking to sign multiple attackers.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 10, 2025

The season may have only come to an end a few weeks ago, but silly season is in full effect, and it looks set to be a big one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side ended up finishing second in the Premier League for the third campaign on the bounce this year, and that failure to become champions appears to have motivated the club to get busy in the market.

For example, after much confusion over a supposed hijack from Real Madrid, David Ornstein reaffirmed Martin Zubimendi’s imminent move to North London, and after missing out on Joan Garcia, Andrea Berta and Co appear to have secured the services of Kepa Arrizabalaga for just £5m – which is undeniably great business for a second choice goalkeeper.

However, what most Arsenal fans want more than anything else this summer is a new striker, and the most likely candidate at the moment is Benjamin Sesko, although if he does join the club, he’ll have a valuation substantially lower than one of his competitors for game time.

Why Arsenal want Sesko

So, based on reports from the last few weeks, it appears that the price Arsenal will have to pay for Sesko will be around £67m.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The question is, then, is he worth such an outlay? Yes, yes, he is.

The first reason why is that, as he’s only just turned 22 years old, there is still so much room for him to further develop, and under Arteta’s tutelage, there is no reason he couldn’t get better and better.

Secondly, the former Salzburg gem is the perfect combination of physical and technical attributes for a modern striker.

For example, he’s 6 foot 5 and able to hit speeds of 35.69 km/h while also being great with the ball at his feet, with FBref placing him in the top 8% of forwards in the Bundesliga for percentage of successful take-ons and the top 11% for outright successful take-ons, all per 90.

Finally, on top of that, the Radeče-born poacher is already producing a decent number of goal involvements, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists in 45 games across all competitions this season.

In all, Sesko looks like he’ll be more than worth the fee being reported, and yet even then, his valuation is far lower than that of one of his potential new teammates at Arsenal.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Sesko

While they are yet to get over the line in any competition, this Arsenal team is stacked with brilliant players, from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka to William Saliba and Martin Odegaard.

However, in this case, the player worth millions more than Sesko is someone who can sometimes divide opinion among fans and pundits alike: Kai Havertz.

Yes, whatever you may think of the German international, he was valued at an astounding €130m by the CIES Football Observatory earlier this year, which converts to around £110m, or about £43m more than the reported price of Sesko.

Appearances

36

45

Goals

15

21

Assists

5

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.55

0.60

Now, that might seem a little unfair on the Slovenian ace, especially as he has a marginally better average of 0.60 goal involvements per game to Havertz’s 0.55, but in defence of the Gunners’ ace, he is playing in statistically the toughest league in world football and did miss most of the second half of the season through injury.

Moreover, when we take a look under the hood and at their respective underlying numbers from this season, we see that the former Chelsea ace comes out on top.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.57

0.40

Progressive Passes

2.93

1.74

Progressive Passes Received

5.43

5.34

Progressive Carries

1.68

1.78

Shots

2.54

2.50

Shots on Target

1.01

1.10

Passing Accuracy

78.4%

67.6%

Key Passes

0.82

0.72

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.43

0.34

Passes into the Final Third

1.30

0.95

Shot-Creating Actions

2.02

1.93

Goal-Creating Actions

0.14

0.34

For example, the “magnificent” dynamo, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, does far better in most relevant metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, shot-creating actions, passing accuracy, key passes and more, all per 90.

Finally, it’s also worth noting that the Aachen-born international has spent some time in midfield and will likely play many more games there next season should the Leipzig star arrive.

Ultimately, Sesko would be a fantastic signing, and it looks like he has the raw materials to be truly special, but Arsenal fans shouldn’t forget that they’ve already got a brilliant attacker in Havertz.

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Crystal Palace are now eager to sign a £20m midfielder, who could join as part of a swap deal for Marc Guehi in the summer, according to reliable reporter Alan Nixon.

Guehi could be heading for the exit door

It was widely reported that Palace chose to reject a £70m bid for Guehi from Tottenham Hotspur back in January, and their decision to hold on to their captain was vindicated by their surprise triumph over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

However, the England international is yet to commit to a new contract, with just over a month remaining on his current deal, and it now looks as though he could be heading for the exit door, considering this summer will be the Eagles’ last chance to cash-in.

The 24-year-old defender would be keen on talks to join Tottenham Hotspur, who have now sealed a spot in next season’s Champions League, while there may also be a temptation to join former club Chelsea, with a £60m move possible.

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However, according to Alan Nixon, the two clubs may also be able to strike a deal of a different nature, as Crystal Palace are now keen on signing Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, who could join as part of a swap deal for Guehi.

Palace would prefer to pay straight cash for Santos, who impressed on loan at Strasbourg this season, and the Blues are now prepared to cash-in on the midfielder for a fee of around £20m, but a swap deal is not completely off the table either.

Santos is "one-man war machine" in midfield

The Brazilian is yet to make an appearance for Chelsea, but there are signs he could now be ready to start for a Premier League side, having made significant improvements to his game during the 2024-25 campaign.

On loan at French side Strasbourg, the Rio de Janeiro-born ace picked up ten goals and four assists in Ligue 1, while he is very impressive at winning back possession, as demonstrated by the number of tackles he has completed per 90 over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

3.47 (97th percentile)

Non-penalty goals

0.32 (97th percentile)

Blocks

1.45 (77th percentile)

Clearances

2.11 (79th percentile)

Having performed well across several key attacking and defensive metrics, the Chelsea gem is clearly a well-rounded player, and the 21-year-old has also received plaudits from football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described him as a “one-man war machine in midfield.”

Santos could be a fantastic signing for Palace this summer, as Oliver Glasner looks to build a squad capable of competing in the Europa League next season, but they should be hesitant about sending Guehi in the opposite direction unless they receive a huge fee for their captain.

With Jose Mourinho looking to take advantage of Manchester United’s ruthlessness, Fenerbahce are now reportedly preparing a summer move to sign one of Ruben Amorim’s unwanted attacking options.

Man Utd need another summer overhaul

Manchester United have been attempting to return to the top of English football for over a decade now. As each year has passed, however, the Red Devils have become further away from where they once belonged under Sir Alex Ferguson, and the current campaign has seen them fall deeper than ever. Closer to the relegation zone than the European places in the Premier League, United desperately need yet another squad overhaul.

In the past, it’s been Jose Mourinho demanding reinforcements or Ole Gunner Solskjaer receiving a Cristiano Ronaldo-shaped gift that some may argue he never truly desired. These days, it’s Ruben Amorim who needs change at Old Trafford if he is to stand a chance at success with his 3-4-2-1 system. Unlike under Mourinho and Solskjaer, though, there remain question marks over whether United can afford such a big summer.

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INEOS have been cutting costs in every way they can this season, including when it comes to the travel expenses and tickets for staff to attend the Europa League final, but next week’s game against Tottenham Hotspur may yet hand them a much-needed boost.

Europa League victory would see the Red Devils clutch Champions League football from the claws of disappointment and from the bottom half of the Premier League. Suddenly, from their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League, Manchester United could be back among Europe’s elite.

That said, with or without Champions League football, some big calls look set to be made this summer, which could spell the end for Joshua Zirkzee amid recent reports and others. The struggling forward may well be one of few to be shown the door at Old Trafford.

Fenerbahce preparing Hojlund move

According to Sozcu, as relayed by TeamTalk, Fenerbahce are now preparing a loan-to-buy move to sign Rasmus Hojlund, who will be allowed to leave Manchester United this summer. A move courtesy of former United boss Mourinho, the Dane desperately needs to rediscover his best form following a disastrous spell in the Premier League.

Appearances

60

Goals

14

Assists

2

With just 16 goal involvements in 60 Premier League appearances, Hojlund has far from lived up to expectations since completing a move worth as much as £72m from Atalanta in 2023.

Whether some around the club still have faith in the Dane despite his record will certainly be interesting to see this summer. Amorim recently praised his goal-shy forward, albeit whilst admitting that he needs fortune to fall his way in front of goal, telling reporters: “Today, he did some three or four connections that can allow us to change the side of the game. I think he deserved this kind of moment [the assist for Dalot] to feel that.

“Every striker wants to score goals and we are going to help him score. He’s so anxious, you can see it. But Josh, everybody, Nous did it. All the team played really well today.”