All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United’s 15th-placed finish in the Premier League was their worst since the division’s formation back in 1992, with Ruben Amorim massively struggling in the role.

The 40-year-old was handed the benefit of the doubt after taking the reins early on in the season following the sacking of Erik ten Hag – with the board backing him in the summer window.

INEOS handed the manager £200m worth of funds to improve his first-team squad, subsequently making additions and reinforcements to his attacking department.

However, to date, the signings have been to no avail, with the Red Devils once again being sat in 15th place after losing three of their first six Premier League outings in 2025/26.

It’s been reported that the hierarchy aren’t currently looking to make a change of manager, but given the dismal form, it would be no surprise to see action being taken in the coming weeks.

Alternative options are already being drawn up by the board to replace Amorim, with numerous managers appearing on their shortlist over the last couple of days.

The latest on United’s hunt for an Amorim replacement

Over the last couple of days, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has emerged as one of United’s primary targets for the managerial role at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard has led the Cherries to new heights, finishing ninth in England’s top-flight last year, but he could be on the move given he has less than a year remaining on his contract.

However, he’s not the only Premier League manager in their sights, with Brighton & Hove Albion boss Fabian Hürzeler another under consideration, according to Football Insider.

They claim that the German is emerging as a top option for INEOS, with the hierarchy impressed by his work at the AMEX after his appointment in the summer of 2024.

The report also states that the 32-year-old could be tempted to jump ship should the Red Devils make a move for his signature, with his English top-flight experience another factor for the board.

Why United’s latest target could be Klopp 2.0

Whilst he’s no longer managing in the Premier League, former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp was a man that brought character to the division – but also endless pain to the United fan base.

The German only suffered five defeats in his 21 outings against the Red Devils, even claiming a historic 7-0 victory at Anfield back in the 2022/23 campaign.

Whilst he may have managed their bitter rivals, there’s no denying the former Reds boss is a serial winner – claiming a Premier League title at Anfield, a feat the Red Devils have failed to do in 12 long years.

The prospect of landing the 58-year-old is an unrealistic one, but they could be about to land their own version of the German with a move for Hurzeler.

The 32-year-old may be relatively inexperienced given his one-year spell in England’s top-flight, but he’s already massively impressed, winning 25 of his 53 outings in charge.

Hurzeler, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Eddie Howe, has received huge praise from current Seagulls player James Milner, with the experienced man comparing him to former boss Klopp.

Such praise is a huge compliment to the German, subsequently highlighting the quality he possesses as a manager despite his tender age – whilst still having bags of time to improve further in the years ahead.

Games managed

53

Wins

25

Draws

15

Losses

13

Goals per game

2.02

Goals conceded per game

1.5

Points per game

1.7

Win percentage

47.1%

The underlying numbers further highlight how impressive the young boss has been on the South Coast, undoubtedly being an excellent option to replace Amorim should he be sacked.

His side have averaged over two goals scored per game during his tenure, whilst also conceding just 1.5 goals per game – with the German possessing an exciting brand of attacking football.

They’ve also achieved an average of 1.7 points per game, subsequently helping the Seagulls finish in the top half of England’s top-flight last season – with the Red Devils needing to take a risk in appointing the youngster.

It’s unclear how much it would cost to get him out of his current contract at the AMEX, but United desperately need a young and ambitious manager to inject a needed sense of optimism back into the squad.

If he can reach the levels achieved by Klopp during his own time in England, it would be a magnificent appointment, with the Red Devils needing to make a move quickly to prevent another embarrassing campaign.

Their own Pep: "Incredible" manager favourite to replace Amorim at Man Utd

Manchester United look set to turn to one other manager in their hunt to replace Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

While the last few seasons haven’t exactly gone to plan for West Ham United, there is still plenty of talent in their squad.

However, it would be fair to say that we all know just who the Hammers’ most important player is: Jarrod Bowen.

The England international is undoubtedly one of the most underrated players in the entire Premier League, and has a sensational tally of 125 goal involvements in 238 games to prove it.

So, even though this window hasn’t been the most exciting, fans should be excited about reports linking the Irons to an up-and-coming talent who could be Graham Potter’s new Bowen.

West Ham target their new Bowen

It’s been an interesting summer window for West Ham so far, as while the signing of Callum Wilson is more than a little underwhelming, and the links to Raheem Sterling concerning, the club have made a few smart additions.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, Kyle Walker-Peters on a free will undoubtedly strengthen Potter’s defensive unit, while there is plenty of upside for the combative El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Moreover, the East Londoners don’t appear done just yet, as they’re now honing in on a young attacker who could be the next Bowen.

At least that is according to a recent report from journalist David Lynch, who claims West Ham are one of several sides interested in Ben Doak.

Lynch has revealed that Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keen to sign the Liverpool youngster, and that offers of £20m were rejected from Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town in the winter window.

It appears as if the Reds will also reject such offers this summer, as according to Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph, they value the 19-year-old at around £30m.

It could be a complicated and somewhat costly transfer to get over the line, but Doak could well be worth it, especially as he could become Potter’s new Bowen.

Why Doak could be the new Bowen

So, the first thing to say is that we are not claiming that Doak is as good as Bowen at the moment, or that he is even likely to get close in the next season or two.

That would be absurd and far too much pressure to place on a teenager, as the Irons star is currently one of the best attackers in the league and will likely remain so for some time.

However, some undeniable aspects of this potential deal suggest the Liverpool gem could potentially develop into someone who could take over from the Englishman at some point in the future.

The first is the fact that the Irons would be signing the Dalry-born gem after an impressive spell in the Championship.

For example, the Reds sent the Scottish gem on loan to Middlesbrough last season, and when he wasn’t out with a hamstring injury, he looked every part the future star.

In 24 appearances, totalling 1789 minutes, the “explosive” ace, as dubbed by Danny Murphy, scored three goals and provided seven assists.

In other words, he was able to average a goal involvement every 2.4 games, or every 178.9 minutes, which is made more impressive considering it was his first full season of senior football.

Appearances

24

Minutes

1789′

Goals

3

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

Minutes per Goal Involvement

178.9′

On top of his ability in the second tier, the 5 foot 9 dynamo is also primarily a right-winger, but has shown an ability to occasionally play off the left or up top.

Finally, as well as his output, the promising youngster put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers in the Championship last season.

According to FBref, he was in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the next best 14 competitions for carries into the penalty area, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 5% for non-penalty expected goals per shot.

Those numbers paint the picture of a player capable of getting the ball into dangerous areas and then making the most of the moment – sound like anyone familiar?

Ultimately, fans shouldn’t expect Doak to be a regular starter next season, but just as Bowen developed into a superstar over time, we see no reason why the young Scotsman couldn’t do the same at West Ham.

Finally replace Rice: West Ham make formal move for "exceptional" talent

West Ham require signings if they’re going to enjoy a successful season, now targeting an “exceptional” midfielder to finally replace Declan Rice

Aug 6, 2025

Manchester United have been extremely active within the transfer market during the summer, as the hierarchy look to back the manager in his quest for success.

Ruben Amorim took the reins back in November after Erik ten Hag was dismissed, only having the January transfer window to make the changes he desired to the squad.

However, this window presents fresh opportunities, securing the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from fellow Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford respectively.

Such dealings have seen the Red Devils already splash over £125m on new additions this summer, but their spending looks set to continue in the coming weeks.

A new striker remains a priority for the club this summer, leading to numerous players being linked with a move to join Amorim’s revival during the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest on United’s striker hunt this summer

Randal Kolo Muani has emerged as a potential target for United this summer, with the Frenchman set to leave current side PSG during the off-season.

The Red Devils have reportedly prepared an offer for the 26-year-old in recent days, with the Ligue 1 outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of £39m for his signature.

However, he’s not the only name currently on their shortlist, with Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson firmly on their radar this window, according to TEAMtalk.

They claim that Jason Wilcox has been at the centre of internal talks to land the 24-year-old, after he registered 13 goals for Enzo Maresca’s side last campaign.

It also states that winger Alejandro Garnacho could be used to sweeten any deal after he was left out of the Red Devils’ pre-season tour, reducing the cost of the Senegalese international’s fee, as he’s currently valued at £80m.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect alongside Mbeumo

There’s no denying that Mbeumo is an exciting talent that will hand the United side the needed attacking threat they’ve craved ahead of next season.

The Cameroonian managed to register 20 goals in the Premier League last season, a tally that was just under 50% of what the Red Devils first team managed collectively during the same period.

Despite his goalscoring tallies, he’s also impressed in teeing up his teammates, ending the most recent season with eight assists across all competitions for the Bees.

His underlying stats are just as impressive, registering 1.8 chances created during the 2024/25 campaign under boss Thomas Frank, having the tools to create carnage at Old Trafford.

Such figures could hugely benefit potential new addition Jackson, with the forward potentially getting all the ammunition needed for success from the Cameroonian.

His stats from his spell at Stamford Bridge highlight the talent he possesses in the final third, certainly aiding Amorim in his quest for success during his time in the role.

Jackson, who’s been labelled a “monster” by former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel, registered 1.4 shots on target per 90 last season, playing a huge role in his tally of 13 goals across all competitions – subsequently handing the side the focal point they’ve been craving.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

15

Shots on target per 90

1.4

Pass accuracy

77%

Aerials won

38%

Touches in opposition box

6.2

Chances created

1.2

He also won 38% of the aerial battles he entered, offering Amorim’s side a focal point to play off, which could allow Mbeumo to improve his own tallies as a result.

That ability to aid United’s new man is also seen in Jackson’s statistical likeness to both Ollie Watkins and Yoane Wissa, as per FBref, two players whom Mbeumo thrived alongside at Brentford.

Indeed, the left-footer and Wissa contributed to 39 league goals between them last season, having previously scored 42 goals combined with Watkins during the 2019/20 campaign in the second tier. Could Jackson be next?

The Senegalese international’s impressive form within attacking areas is further reflected in his tally of 6.2 touches in the opposition’s box per 90, potentially being the poacher they’ve lacked since the 40-year-old’s appointment.

It may prove to be an excellent deal for United if they can land Jackson, with the forward able to transform the Red Devils’ fortunes in attacking areas – whilst also moving Garnacho out of the door in the opposite direction.

The prospect of the 24-year-old linking up with Mbeumo in 2025/26 is certainly an exciting one, certainly pushing the side in the right direction throughout the upcoming campaign as a result.

Better deal than Mbeumo: Man Utd preparing bid for "superstar" £39m CF

Manchester United appear to be making another huge move within the transfer market.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 22, 2025

Arsenal are welcoming a host of major signings to N5 this summer, as Mikel Arteta bids to finally transform the club into Premier League title winners once again – 21 years after they were last champions of England.

Chelsea hold talks with £100k-per-week England star this week

Enzo Maresca is prioritising one key area.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard were the first to be confirmed as Andrea Berta’s debut deals since he replaced Edu as sporting director, with the trio swiftly followed by winger Noni Madueke and defender Cristhian Mosquera.

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

Arsenal and Chelsea shook hands on a £52 million deal to make Madueke the club’s seventh arrival from Stamford Bridge in just six years, as their good relationship off the field continues.

Madueke put pen to paper on a five-year Arsenal contract earlier this week, with Mosquera also joining Arteta’s side for an initial £13 million, which could rise to £17 million with add-ons.

Given Arsenal have also reached an agreement for Viktor Gyokeres, who could even have his medical in the next few days, and are actively pursuing Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze (Ben Jacobs), Berta will surely need to balance the squad by letting more players leave soon.

Madueke is able to play on both the left-hand side and on the right as an alternative to Bukayo Saka, casting doubts on the futures of both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli amid their interest in Eze as well.

It is possible either one of Trossard or Martinelli could leave Arsenal before deadline day, but there are names who are completely out of the first-team picture and surely destined to quit the Emirates soon.

Karl Hein approves Sevilla proposal with Arsenal exit talks planned

One of them is Estonia captain Karl Hein, who spent last season playing regularly for Real Valladolid in La Liga.

While Hein was powerless to stop them from being relegated to the Spanish Segunda División at the foot of the table, his performances have seemingly done enough to attract interest from Sevilla.

Reports earlier this week claimed the 23-year-old was ready to accept Sevilla’s advances, and Arsenal could even terminate Hein’s contract to facilitate his move.

Now, CaughtOffside report that Hein has approved a potential exit to Sevilla, having been impressed with their offer of consistent game time, and talks are planned for the “coming days” over what could be a loan.

The goalkeeper has just one year left on his contract extension which he signed last year, and to date, Hein’s made just one senior appearance for the Gunners – starting between the sticks in a 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton three years ago.

Those of a Liverpool persuasion appear to have come down with a nasty case of Alexander Isak fever, and well, who can blame them?

The bombshell news emerged on Tuesday that, after months of whispers and speculation, the Premier League champions are finally ready to firm up their interest in the Newcastle United man, amid the prospect of a potential £120m bid for the Swede.

That mammoth offer – which would eclipse the Reds’ recent club-record capture of Florian Wirtz – could put the icing on the cake for the Anfield side’s summer business, with Isak fresh off the back of a season that saw him score 23 top-flight goals.

Unsurprisingly, the Magpies are hell-bent on keeping hold of their star man for a little while longer, albeit with Richard Hughes playing the trump card after rivalling Eddie Howe and co in the pursuit of Isak’s heir apparent, Hugo Ekitike. Checkmate?

Either way, it would appear that the Merseysiders are in a strong bargaining position, with optimism growing that the division’s “best striker” – as described by Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson – could be lining up alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah next season.

Isak, as stated, might well be the delicious icing, but Hughes could also sprinkle a little cherry on top by sealing yet another high-profile deal in the coming weeks…

Latest on Liverpool's transfer pursuit

Wirtz. Jeremie Frimpong. Milos Kerkez. Isak next?

It may now be a waiting game to see if the Newcastle marksman will agitate for a move, albeit with Liverpool no doubt keen to pounce on the 25-year-old’s contract uncertainty, with the Daily Mail’s Dominic King outlining that talks have ‘stalled’ over a new deal at St James’ Park.

According to King, Hughes and his recruitment team will officially move for the former Real Sociedad striker if they ‘receive encouragement’, with this game of cat and mouse likely to have a few twists and turns to come.

Transfer Focus

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

Elsewhere, meanwhile, Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are expected to soon seal a deal for Crystal Palace skipper, Marc Guehi, with that move looking ‘increasingly likely’ amid developments at Selhurst Park.

Indeed, the report outlines that with the Eagles seemingly closing in on the £45m signing of Sporting CP centre-back, Ousmane Diomande, it would pave the way for Guehi to depart.

The suggestion is that with the England international having just a year left to run on his Palace contract, the south Londoners are keen to cash in this summer, rather than lose him on a free in 12 months’ time.

Why Liverpool could be set to seal another Isak-esque signing

It’s fair to say that after sitting out the recent friendly win over Preston North End, excitement is brewing over finally seeing the aforementioned Wirtz in action in a Liverpool shirt, with the 22-year-old German signing off his time at Bayer Leverkusen with 122 goals and assists in 97 games in all competitions.

That capture is a statement deal, no doubt, but if Isak were to arrive, it would truly take the biscuit, with the 6 foot 4 sensation a Premier League-proven talent, having scored 44 league goals across the last two seasons combined.

The man who helped steer Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory over Arne Slot’s side earlier this year, the £63m goal machine could now be the figurehead of a new era at Anfield, with the rest of the division likely to already be quaking in their boots.

As for Guehi, while such a deal would almost go under the radar amid the current circumstances, there would be shades of Isak about that acquisition, with Liverpool in line to poach another key figure from a fellow Premier League outfit.

Currently captain at Selhurst Park, the 25-year-old has already made 132 appearances in England’s top tier to date, having notably skippered his side to shock FA Cup glory in 2024/25.

Minutes played

61

Touches

17

Pass accuracy

75%

Key passes

1

Possession lost

2

Ground duels won

1/2

Aerial duels won

1/4

Tackles

1

Clearances

4

Like Isak, the in-demand defender – who has also been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer – has more than proven himself against Premier League opposition, with both men also seemingly at the perfect point of their careers. Indeed, with both men still only 25, they have gained notable experience at the top level, but may not yet have entered their peak.

Described as a “monster” of a centre-back by reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi – like Isak – is also “one of the best in the country” in his position, as per scout Mick Brown, with Liverpool able to acquire a player who would slot straight into their starting lineup.

Much like with Isak, there would be no period of transition or adaptation, this is a player who could well hit the ground running on Merseyside.

This is a man who ranks in the top 10% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for key passes per 90, as well as in the top 10% for through balls, as per FBref. In essence, he is a master at playing out from the back.

Having romped to the title at a canter last season, Liverpool are at a point now where they can poach the very best that the Premier League has to offer. In their respective positions, Isak and Guehi would be just that.

Romano: Liverpool plan to submit record-breaking bid to sign Alexander Isak

The Reds could spend big once again…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 15, 2025

The future of an “amazing” Manchester United player now looks set to be resolved, with a new update suggesting he is on the verge of leaving Old Trafford.

Lots of Man Utd departures on the cards

After a dire 2024/25 season at Old Trafford, wholesale changes are expected within Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils squad, with Matheus Cunha already arriving from Wolves.

While United supporters will understandably be focusing on the players who come in, a host of current stars are likely to depart before the new Premier League campaign gets underway, especially in wide attacking areas.

Marcus Rashford’s name immediately springs to mind, with the 27-year-old’s Red Devils career set to reach a sad conclusion after a sustained period of poor form. He continues to be mentioned as an option for Barcelona, with a loan move to the Catalan giants mooted.

He is far from the only United attacker who is expected to move on, though, with the likes of Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho all highly likely to head off to pastures new. Now, an important update has emerged regarding one of those players.

£20m+ agreement reached for Man Utd attacker to leave

According to a fresh update from Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have now reached an agreement over the exit of Sancho to Juventus this summer.

The Englishman looks set to leave in a £20m+ deal, having made it clear that he wants a fresh challenge, and previous claims have said Amorim also doesn’t want him at the club any longer. Sancho has also accepted a contract offer from the Italian giants worth more than £5m a season.

Selling Sancho this summer is a no-brainer for United, even though the 25-year-old is clearly a player with bags of talent, having been hailed as “amazing” by Ian Wright during his loan spell at Chelsea last season, and lauded by Blues manager Enzo Maresca.

“Jadon is doing well. He needs to continue in the same way; work hard, every day. As I’ve said before, for sure he is going to help us. We really believe that he is a special player. But the only way for him to confirm that is by working hard every day and never be happy and always be ambitious. He needs to want more and more and more.”

Sancho’s move to United simply hasn’t worked out, though, with just 12 goals and six assists to his name in 83 appearances, and it makes complete sense for them to cash in at this point, using the money to find a superior option.

A Hojlund & Osimhen hybrid: Man Utd enter talks for "world-class" £44m CF

Manchester United appear to be making moves to land a key target for Ruben Amorim this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 12, 2025

The fact that Amorim sees no future for the England international is the final nail in the coffin for him, and while he may go to Juventus and excel, as he did abroad with Borussia Dortmund in the past, the United boss will feel he is making the right decision.

Arsenal have emerged as the dream destination for one player this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, with sporting director Andrea Berta continuing to carry out his extensive transfer window shopping ahead of 2025/2026.

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

The north Londoners mean business this summer.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2025

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga are both poised to be announced as new Arsenal players shortly.

Kepa completed his Arsenal medical in the last few days as he closes in on a £5 million switch from Stamford Bridge (Sky Sports), while Zubimendi touched down in London last week to finalise his near-£56 million transfer to the Premier League.

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

The Spaniards will be joined by Brentford captain Christian Norgaard, too, with Arsenal widely reported to have agreed a £15 million deal for the Denmark international, including add-ons.

The 31-year-old has been permitted to travel for his Arsenal medical (Fabrizio Romano), and ex-Tottenham director Frank Arnesen says Mikel Arteta may have just snapped up a bargain.

“If he can take a step up and come to Arsenal, it would be fantastic. Every dressing room would be thrilled to have him. He has the right mentality, is a team player and has the attitude,” said Arnsen to Tipsbladet earlier this week.

“Mikel Arteta was fantastic as a player, I think, and as a coach he has done absolutely superbly, both as an assistant at Manchester City and afterwards at Arsenal with the way he plays football.

“He doesn’t just take a player in without knowing exactly what he’s going to use him for. Maybe he won’t play 50 games, you don’t know, maybe it’ll only be 30, but it’s about the whole package. He gets the whole package with Christian.”

Berta has wasted no time in moving on to Arsenal’s next target after Norgaard, either.

The Gunners have opened talks with Valencia over signing versatile young defender Cristhian Mosquera, and there is real optimism that they’ll reach an agreement for their fourth signing of the summer, even if their opening bid of £16 million was rejected (The Guardian).

Cristhian Mosquera wants "perfect" move to Arsenal

While there’s still some way to go in club-to-club talks, Berta will not run into any trouble on the player’s side.

As per Romano, speaking on the ‘Here We Go’ YouTube channel, Mosquera thinks Arsenal are the “perfect” move for him, and the 21-year-old wants to challenge Arteta’s preferred centre-back pairing.

“My understanding is that the player wants to go to Arsenal. He sees Arsenal as the perfect opportunity for his career,” said Romano.

“Of course, you have to compete with Gabriel, with William Saliba, but what I’m hearing is that Mosquera is not scared. Obviously, he knows that these two defenders are probably the best in the world, but he wants to be there. He knows that Arsenal will have many games; with Mikel Arteta, young players develop very well. So Mosquera said yes to Arsenal.”

Able to play at both right-back and centre-back, the “magnificent” Mosquera could plug multiple gaps for Arteta, but his arrival surely spells the end of Jakub Kiwior – who’s been tipped to leave if they do sign the Spain Under-21 international.

Back in the Premier League and on the hunt for reinforcements, Leeds United have reportedly made contact to sign a young Manchester City defender on loan for the season.

Leeds vying to commence summer business

Although it’s still very early days and July is yet to even arrive, Leeds have already reportedly set their sights on a number of potential reinforcements. The Whites will be well aware of the importance of getting the transfer window right. After all, none of the last six promoted sides have survived the following season in the Premier League. With the 49ers’ backing, however, Leeds could be well positioned to put an end to that worrying trend.

Better than Bijol: Leeds targeting "best CB outside the top five leagues"

Leeds United can forget about Jaka Bijol with a move for another star defender.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 14, 2025

49ers chairman Paraag Marathe spoke about Leeds’ summer plans last month, reiterating that they will spend as much as they can in the coming months. He told reporters: “Whatever they will let us spend, we’ll spend. I can comfortably say that we are going to spend the very last penny that we can. I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be easy, there’s a widening gap.”

Just who arrives with that said is the big question. Names such as Japhet Tanganga and even Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz have threatened to grab the headlines in recent weeks and there’s no doubt that signing the latter would make quite the statement.

Since leaving Aston Villa last summer, Luiz has struggled to establish himself at Juventus and has looked destined to depart for some time. A return to the Premier League would certainly be one way to revive his career, with Leeds now reportedly an option ahead of next season.

It’s not just experience that Leeds are after, however. Those at Elland Road have also been linked with some emerging stars who could discover their potential in Yorkshire and keep Daniel Farke’s side afloat in the Premier League in the process.

Leeds express interest in Juma Bah loan move

As reported by Africa Foot, the 49ers have now expressed interest in signing Juma Bah on loan from Manchester City in January. The 19-year-old defender arrived in January before heading straight out on loan to RC Lens. Now, six months on, he’ll reportedly be granted the chance to complete another loan move amid interest from Leeds and relegated Southampton.

Described as a “powerhouse” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Sierra Leone centre-back could find himself wearing the white of Leeds before he even has the chance to represent Manchester City for the first time.

Having impressed on loan at Lens though, the natural next step for Bah should be a Premier League loan move, be it to Elland Road or elsewhere this summer. A player full of potential, the 49ers would be wise to snap up the defender if only for the season.

Hoping to get one over on Chelsea, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive Ligue 1 midfielder in a deal worth £25m this summer.

Nottingham Forest face encouraging Premier League start

It was Nottingham Forest’s stunning start that saw them rise to as high as third in the Premier League last season, before dropping off to finish seventh. And one year on, they could enjoy a similarly fast start with the fixtures officially announced.

The Midlands club will open their campaign against Brentford at the City Ground before travelling to Crystal Palace and playing host to West Ham United to end August. Things don’t get much tougher from there, either. In fact, Arsenal aside, games against Sunderland and Burnley to follow should hand Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at least five very winnable games to get their season off to a flying start.

Those at the City Ground will also have European football to be excited about next season. Just which competition they’ll be in remains an important question, however.

With UEFA still deliberating whether to give Crystal Palace the boot after the Eagles breached multi-club ownership rules, Evangelos Marinakis has reportedly written to the governing body perhaps in the hope of helping to sway a decision which would see Forest move up to the Europa League.

It’s a letter which won’t win the Greek owner many friends in the Premier League, but it could help to ensure that Forest receive an unexpected boost out of the Europa Conference League.

Nottingham Forest receive green light to complete move for 17-goal striker

They’ve already made their first approach.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 18, 2025

Whether it’s the Europa Conference League or Europa League, however, Forest will need some much-needed depth if they are to compete on all fronts. The pending arrival of Brazilian trio Igo Jesus, Cuiabano and Jair Cunha should hand them that in part, but a move to sign one particular Ligue 1 star would provide Nuno with his biggest boost this summer.

Nottingham Forest join Habib Diarra race

According to Caught Offside, Nottingham Forest have now joined the race to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg this summer. They’re far from the only club interested in the midfielder though. Joining the Tricky Trees, Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt, Everton, Aston Villa and Leeds United are all reportedly eyeing the talented 21-year-old.

The amount of interest in Diarra should come as little shock following the season that he and the rest of his Strasbourg teammates enjoyed to take the club into the top-half of Ligue 1. What has likely also helped increase that interest are the reports that the midfielder could be available for as little as €30m (£25m) in the coming months.

Minutes

2,352

2,728

Goals

4

2

Progressive Passes

116

143

Assists

5

6

Described as a “complete midfielder” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Diarra kept up with Elliot Anderson’s excellent debut season last time out and would instantly offer Forest the quality in depth they need to navigate European football.

Before their historic Europa League win, this season was shaping up to be Tottenham Hotspur’s worst in a generation.

The North Londoners finished 17th in the Premier League, and it would be fair to say that, bar a few players, the squad were massively disappointing.

One of the few who stood out for the right reasons was Lucas Bergvall, who only joined up with the squad last summer but ended up winning every end-of-season award, including the club’s Player of the Season Award.

In short, the Swedish gem has been an incredible addition to the team, and now it looks like the club might be looking to repeat the move with another exciting youngster who might be able to replicate his form for whoever comes in to replace the recently sacked Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham transfer news

They might not have signed anyone yet, but that has not stopped a seemingly endless stream of talented players being linked to Spurs in recent weeks, such as Adam Wharton and Quinten Timber.

Transfer Focus

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The former would reportedly cost around £60m and has been nothing short of brilliant for Crystal Palace since joining the South London club.

Interestingly, the latter, who is the captain of Feyenoord and the brother of Arsenal star Jurrien Timber, could be available for just £25m, but there would be some risk in signing him due to him being out injured.

Moreover, it would be hard to draw any comparisons between the two aforementioned stars and Bergvall, which isn’t the case for Victor Froholdt.

According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Spurs have now “entered the race” for the tremendously exciting “top talent.”

Alongside the Lilywhites, Plettenberg claims that Bundesliga sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are also incredibly keen on the promising youngster.

According to other reports from last month, the teenager is now valued at between £15m to £20m, and while that is a lot of money, he looks like he’d be a worthy investment, just like Bergvall.

Why Froholdt could be another Bergvall

Okay, so there are quite a few reasons why Froholdt could be the club’s next Bergvall, so let’s get through some of the more surface-level ones.

Firstly, it would be another example of Spurs not only going out to sign a promising youngster but also a Scandinavian one from a Scandinavian team in FC Copenhagen.

Furthermore, like the Swede before him, the 19-year-old prospect is now highly sought-after, and it could be another example of the club proving themselves to be an attractive destination for the game’s next superstars.

Now, on to the more substantive comparisons, and while he can play in a variety of positions, the “extraordinary” gem, as dubbed by one Danish analyst, is primarily a central midfielder.

Moreover, the 5 foot 9 dynamo never stops running, covering the second-most amount of ground in the competition this season, which could see him become a perfect midfield partner for Bergvall, as they’d be able to run opposition pairings ragged.

Shots on Target %

75.0%

Top 1%

SCA (Take-On)

0.32

Top 2%

Progressive Carries

2.56

Top 4%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.48

Top 4%

Blocks

1.76

Top 7%

Successful Take-Ons

1.28

Top 7%

Dribblers Tackled

1.44

Top 10%

Tackles

3.04

Top 11%

Carries into the Final Third

1.76

Top 11%

Finally, while there is not an abundance of data on him this season, the underlying numbers we can look at are more than encouraging.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of midfielders in the next best 14 competitions for shots on target percentage, the top 2% for shot-creating actions from take-ons, the top 4% for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for blocks and successful take-ons, the top 10% for dribblers tackled and more, all per 90.

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The special player could help take Spurs to the next level.

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Ultimately, while it is early to say definitively if he will be a success or not, the early signs around Froholdt are more than encouraging, and Spurs could have another Bergvall on their hands if they sign him.