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Arsenal's win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon has blown open the Premier League title race.

Mikel Arteta's men were spectacular on the night and managed to amass an awe-inspiring expected goals figure of 3.76 – the most the Reds have conceded under Jürgen Klopp.

Yet, there were still a couple of notable misses from the home side, such as the header from Bukayo Saka in the first half and the one from Jakub Kiwior in the second 45 that highlighted the team's need for a clinical number nine.

Former Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema was heavily touted for a move to N5 last month, and while some fans would have been understandably disappointed that he wasn't signed, his absence means there is still a chance for one of Hale End's most impressive graduates to make his way into the team.

The Gunners' interest in Benzema

Historically speaking, the north Londoners have been interested in signing the French number nine for well over a decade at this point, with stories from 2013 touting him for a move to the Emirates when it looked as if it wasn't going to work out for him at the Bernabéu – how different things could have been.

However, in this instance, the links to the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner originated last month when a flood of stories claimed the striker was unhappy in Saudi Arabia and was seeking a move back to Europe.

A number of clubs were linked, including Chelsea, Lyon and Arsenal, but in the end, the Frenchman remained with Al-Ittihad – an outcome his accountant surely celebrated.

While the arrival of a veteran who scored 19 goals in 24 La Liga appearances last season would have undoubtedly improved the Gunners in the short-term, his absence could pay dividends in the long-term.

Arsenal's great hope

Hale End has long produced some brilliant talent for the Arsenal first team – look at Saka and Emile Smith Rowe – and it seems like it has created another star in the making, Ethan Nwaneri.

Now, the first thing to note is that, yes, the 16-year-old is currently considered to be an attacking midfielder and not an out-and-out number nine like Benzema is, but there is no apparent reason as to why he couldn't be given a chance to play there; after all, Harry Kane started out as a deep-lying midfielder as a youth player.

Moreover, the London-born gem is no stranger to the centre-forward role as it's his second most played position with Arsenal's youth sides, and his goal record suggests that he should be playing higher up the pitch to boot.

Described as "a true goal-scorer" by data analyst Ben Mattinson, in his 42 appearances for Arsenal across the U18, U21 and UEFA Youth League sides, Nwaneri has scored 20 goals and provided nine assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.44 games – a genuinely impressive return for a 16-year-old.

Ethan Nwaneri's Youth Career

Club

Arsenal

Appearances

42

Goals

20

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.69

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Arteta clearly sees a bright future ahead for the "sensational" youngster, as dubbed by Mattinson, as he made him the youngest Premier League player of all time when he gave him his debut against Brentford last season at just 15 years and 181 days old.

Arsenal can forget about Frimpong by promoting their "own Reece James"

The 20-year-old has been tearing it up in the Championship.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 5, 2024

Ultimately, the chance to sign Benzema is gone, and while the club might finally add an experienced number nine to the team in the summer, the emergence of Nwaneri is something that should excite fans, and if he is given a chance to prove his abilities in the first team he could go on to do great things in north London.

With the 36-year-old Benzema would have been an eye-catching short-term fix for the title hopefuls, Nwaneri could represent a sparkling long-term solution for those at N17…

Tottenham may not be done after opening talks for Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa, as it is believed they're knocking on the door of another starlet.

Spurs eyeing deals for exciting young players

As previously reported by football.london journalist and Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold, the Lilywhites will continue to scour the market for some of Europe's finest talents.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

After signing Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr on buy-to-loan-back deals, two transfers which have proved to be roaring successes, Spurs will look to replicate that again.

As widely rumoured, Tottenham have opened negotiations to seal a deal for the aforementioned Nusa, and the move will be in a similar format to that of Udogie and Sarr.

"Spurs will continue to explore opportunities for young stars on the rise, with potential loan-back deals, as they did with players such as Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr," wrote Gold last week, expanding on interest in another talent they have their eyes on.

"Tottenham are among the Premier League clubs to have shown an interest in Norwich's talented winger Jonathan Rowe, but at this moment have not made a move for the versatile 20-year-old who has scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 28 matches this season.

Timo Werner

Arrival (loan, RB Leipzig)

Radu Dragusin

Arrival (permanent, Genoa)

Eric Dier

Exit (loan, Bayern)

Djed Spence

Exit (loan, Genoa)

Ashley Phillips

Exit (loan, Plymouth)

Sergio Reguilon

Exit (loan, Man United)

Japhet Tanganga

Exit (loan, Millwall)

Ivan Perisic

Exit (loan, Hajduk Split)

"Getting new faces in through the door at Tottenham in the coming weeks and this summer is going to be made easier by the football on offer and the promise of working with Postecoglou when targets see what he is doing with Spurs players across the age scale."

It appears Gold was correct in his information that technical director Johan Lange, chairman Daniel Levy and Chief Football Officer Scott Munn are planning for the future when it comes to new arrivals.

As well as Rowe and Nusa, a report from Turkey has now shared serious interest from Spurs in "rising star" Besiktas forward Semih Kilicsoy.

Tottenham "knocking on the door" for Kilicsoy

According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, Tottenham are "knocking on the door" for Kilicsoy alongside a trio of other top European sides – namely Aston Villa, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund.

Besiktas, though, will demand a club-record exit fee of around £22 million to part company with their talent.

While that fee is affordable from a Spurs perspective, the competition for his signature could potentially raise his price tag.

West Ham have also been credited with an approach for Kilicsoy by other media sources, coming as the 18-year-old bursts onto the scene in Turkey.

Indeed, the exciting Kilicsoy boasts five goals and two assists in just eight appearances so far this season, with all five of his strikes coming in his last four Turkish Super Lig outings.

Liverpool are in the privileged position of avoiding a January panic to land reinforcements, given their spot at the top of the Premier League and place at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final, but Reds fans were hit with the shock news of Jurgen Klopp's impending exit on Friday morning.

The club have so far been back to their ruthless best in the current campaign, but now have to begin planning for a life without their most iconic manager in recent history, and could perhaps even grant him a leaving gift to help him chase down trophies in his final few months.

Liverpool transfer news

With just under a week to go before the end of the winter window, the rumours have continued to circle over just who Liverpool could still welcome this month. Reports have mentioned names such as Piero Hinacapie, having apparently had their first approach rejected by Bayer Leverkusen, and Federico Redondo, who the Reds have also reportedly made contact for. Neither of those deals have taken place as of yet, however, and instead, Liverpool's focus has been on a player who could be the perfect back-up for Mohamed Salah.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The Egyptian suffered an untimely injury whilst at the African Cup of Nations with Egypt and is now back at Liverpool hoping to recover in time to meet back up with his country, should they reach the latter stages of the competition. Liverpool, meanwhile, have been forced to cope without their star man, turning to the transfer market as a result.

According to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Liverpool have made an approach to sign Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad, but the player did not want to listen to the offer. The Japan international, who is therefore teammates with Liverpool's Wataru Endo, has a €60m (£51m) release clause, so FSG will have to plan their next steps carefully if they want to land Klopp a parting gift to boost his squad for these final few months.

"Intelligent" Kubo can eventually replace Salah

With Salah now 31-years-old and into the last year of his current contract when the summer arrives, it may not be too long before Liverpool begin awkward discussions over seeking a replacement for Klopp's star man, as well as the boss himself.

The 22-year-old is yet to even reach his prime and is already impressing many in the world of football, including former Manchester United man Shinji Kagawa, who said via Marca in 2019: "He’s a very good player. He already speaks Spanish because he was at the Barcelona academy for a bit and this is helping him a lot now. I think he can play well for Real Madrid. He has a very good chance [of succeeding in Spain]. He’s left-footed and very intelligent on the pitch. He always makes the right decision at the right time."

Kubo's stats so far this season speak for themselves. The winger has been involved in 10 goals in 25 appearances, with six goals and four assists to his name. It is an output that Liverpool may hope to build on even further, as they did when Salah arrived in 2017, and perhaps even welcome a replacement for the Egyptian in the process.

Leeds United should sign Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson this summer, according to former Scotland and Premier League manager Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Long-time Orta target

Forest are mounting a serious promotion push in the Championship currently, with an automatic return to the Premier League still not out of the question.

Johnson has undoubtedly been one of his side’s star players this season, scoring 15 goals and registering ten assists in the league, being hailed as a ‘wonderful’ player by Wales manager Rob Page.

Leeds have been linked with a move for the Welshman in the recent past, as Jesse Marsch looks forward to his first transfer window in charge at Elland Road, and Victor Orta has even revealed he tried to sign the winger when he was just 16.

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The Latest: Leeds urged to complete signing

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish claimed that Johnson is someone the Whites should be looking to sign this summer:

“He had a few brilliant little flurries against Fulham but couldn’t quite get the finishing touch. He looks a very competent player, and you can see the confidence just steaming out of him.

“In all his play, every time he gets the ball – you can see opposition defenders just starting to panic. They’re scrambling to close him down. He’s definitely one who is correct to be on the radar of a club like Leeds. He can go to a high level.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Verdict: Hugely exciting addition

While Johnson is unproven in the Premier League, he is a young player with enormous potential, so he would be a hugely exciting signing for Leeds.

At just 20, he already has nine caps to his name for Wales, highlighting how highly he is thought of in a squad that also includes the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and current Whites man Dan James.

Johnson wouldn’t necessarily come in as an immediate starter for Leeds, but he would add the attacking squad depth that Marsch craves, also having the potential to grow into a star figure down the years.

In other news, Leeds have been given the green light to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

Celtic have the chance to put last weekend’s defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final behind them tomorrow as the Hoops are back in SPFL action.

This time, Ange Postecoglou’s side will be taking on Ross County away from home on Sunday afternoon.

Heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures, the Hoops currently sit at the top of the league table with a six-point gap over Rangers in second place.

Looking ahead to their upcoming showdown, it seems as though the Bhoys have been handed an injury boost that will surely improve their chances of securing yet another league victory.

What’s the news?

According to Postecoglou (via the Daily Record), Hoops striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is back in contention to play on Sunday after picking up a hamstring injury during the 7-0 win over St. Johnstone earlier this month.

Having arrived at the Parkhead club during the previous summer transfer window from VVV-Venlo in a deal worth a reported fee of up to £2.5m, the striker has made 16 league appearances.

In those appearances, the 27-year-old has scored nine goals, leaving only Liel Abada having found the net on more occasions (10).

To highlight how much of an attacking threat the centre-forward has been for the Bhoys, he currently has the highest average of shots on target per 90 minutes in the league out of everyone in Postecoglou’s squad.

This shows how much a nuisance he can be for opposition goalkeepers and why County and their players will be sweating over the prospect of facing him this weekend.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s showdown, it will surely be great news for the Hoops boss to be able to have the Greek international back in the squad and available for selection.

Beyond that, if the striker can keep his fitness up for the remainder of the campaign and add some more goals to his tally, he would give his side a great chance of securing the league title.

For the time being, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the 56-year-old picks Giakoumakis to be in his starting XI or keeps him on the bench to start with and bring him on at some point.

AND in other news: Cost 7 figures, now worth £810k: Celtic had a nightmare on “struggling” Lennon flop

A big Leeds United transfer claim has emerged on USA international Sergino Dest…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the club are going to be in the market to bolster their defence in the summer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The reporter has named the Barcelona full-back as a player who could come through the door, as Victor Orta looks to improve their options across the back four.

He told This is Futbol:

“They’ll be looking at a right-back, I think, as well.

“Sergino Dest has been mentioned possibly as that one which will be a big deal for Leeds.”

Jesse Marsch will be excited

This claim will surely leave the Lillywhites head coach excited as Dest would be an excellent addition to his squad heading into next season.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-marsch-raphinha-dest-philhay” title=”Read the latest Leeds news!”]

In La Liga this season, he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.88 across 18 appearances. He has been able to showcase his quality at both ends of the pitch, with five ‘big chances’ created overall and 0.9 key passes per game along with 1.7 tackles and interceptions and 4.9 duels won per match.

Meanwhile, Luke Ayling – who has played at centre-back and right-back, has averaged a score of 6.74 in the Premier League. He has produced 0.5 key passes per game and this suggests that the overall standard of his performance and his ability on the ball is not at the same level as Dest’s.

At the age of 21, the Barcelona gem also has the potential to improve further and develop over time.

This means that he can be a player Marsch is able to work with on the training pitch to help him hone his skills, which could be an enjoyable experience for the head coach as he potentially gets to profit from improving the full-back.

Therefore, he is a player who can make an impact on the pitch in the short and long term. His statistics this season suggest that he would be an upgrade on Ayling at right-back, whilst his age means that he has plenty of time on his side to get better and better.

This is why Marsch will be excited by the prospect of bringing Dest to the club this summer. He will want to work with talented young players and the American international certainly falls into that category.

Victor Orta… get it done!

AND in other news, Orta can form “incredible” duo as Leeds eye £10m sensation who “does everything right”…

Chelsea are in advancing talks to sign RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, but according to a new report, they’re also speaking with another winger as BlueCo keep their options open.

Burnley make approach to sign £200k-a-week Chelsea player, he "will leave"

The Clarets are determined to retain their Premier League status.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2025

Enzo Maresca and his squad are due back at Cobham for the week commencing August 4, and they have precious little time to prepare for the new season, given they take on Crystal Palace in their first Premier League game just 13 days later.

In the meantime, Chelsea are working to back Maresca with much-needed reinforcements to his squad, especially in the attacking third.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The west Londoners struggled against sides in the low-block last season, which is a key reason why Maresca has identified Chelsea’s forward line as the main area of improvement before transfer deadline day on September 1 (Simon Phillips).

They’ve already sealed Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro this summer for a combined fee of around £145 million, but Maresca is rumoured to want another major attacking signing to give his side the best possible chance of challenging for the title next season.

Amid their advanced talks for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who has already agreed personal terms, Chelsea are actively working towards signing Simons.

There are even some reports that a deal for the Netherlands international is actually even further along than the likes of Fabrizio Romano are reporting (Simon Phillips), but until he’s signed on the dotted line, anything can happen.

“The last our sources heard on Simons to Chelsea was that it was very close but had some final details to sort out,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack.

“As I said yesterday, I’ll be shocked if this doesn’t get done now, but it doesn’t mean it 100% does get done. I’ve been in this industry now long enough to know that a deal is never done until you see the player holding the shirt or a club announces it! So don’t get excited yet.”

Chelsea still speaking to Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho

Taking this into account, journalist Graeme Bailey has told TBR Football that Chelsea are still talking to Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and his representatives.

The Argentine, who can play both on the left and in central attacking midfield like Simons, bagged 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season. United want to sell, as is common knowledge at this point, so much so that they’ve now slashed his price tag from £70 million to around £40 million.

Following consistent links to the 21-year-old, Bailey reports that Chelsea remain in dialogue with Garnacho despite their fast-progressing negotiations with Leipzig. They also remain big fans of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who would actually be their first-choice, so it appears Chelsea are still open to different scenarios if they cannot strike a deal for Simons.

Garnacho, in terms of being an excellent alternative to the 22-year-old, could really fit the bill, with Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand branding him the “real deal”. As well as his excelling reputation, the South American also boasts proven Premier League experience.

Ipswich Town have now opened talks to sign an “outstanding” defender and a “super” midfielder, as they gear up for a Premier League promotion charge, according to a report.

Ipswich looking to strengthen in all areas

Ipswich ultimately finished 16 points adrift of safety last season, highlighting the gap between the Premier League and the Championship, but Kieran McKenna has made it clear that he has aspirations of returning to the top flight at the first attempt.

McKenna said: “I’m confident. That’s the truth. But we know how relentless that division is as well. Every year there are upsets – teams who do better than expected, teams who do worse than expected. It’s a 46-game season where everyone competes hard every week. It’s one of the most competitive divisions in Europe.”

The additions McKenna has already made to his squad should give fans cause for optimism, having strengthened both the midfield and the defence, although a replacement for Liam Delap may also be needed before the transfer window slams shut.

New signing

Position

Azor Matusiwa

DM

Ashley Young

Full-back

David Button

GK

Cedric Kipre

CB

Despite already making improvements to the engine room and the backline, the Tractor Boys have now opened talks over potential deals for two new signings in those areas of the pitch.

That is according to a report from EFL Analysis, which states Ipswich have now made enquiries about Hayden Hackney and Dael Fry, both of whom currently play for fellow Championship side Middlesbrough.

Currently, the Championship promotion-hopefuls are yet to submit formal bids for either player, however, and it may be difficult to win the race for Hackney, who is valued at £20m, amid interest from the Premier League.

Ipswich Town make contact to sign in-demand Sadio Mane-esque £17m forward

The Tractor Boys have made an approach for a centre-forward, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 27, 2025

Boro are also hesitant to sanction Fry’s departure this summer, although they could be tempted to cash-in, should the Tractor Boys be willing to submit a suitable offer.

Fry and Hackney could be exciting signings for Ipswich

Both Middlesbrough players are experienced at Championship level, with Dean Ashton lauding Fry as “outstanding” in the past, while there are plenty of signs that Hackney could be capable of making the step-up to the Premier League.

Chris Wilder singled the 23-year-old out for high praise last season, saying: “We were playing against two very good central midfielders. I’ve watched Hayden Hackney from afar, seeing his career flourish.

“There’s no better teacher for him than Michael, and he’ll enjoy the way Middlesbrough play. He’s a super player, and Morris is a good player in there too.”

The Middlesbrough star is a forward-thinking midfielder, despite often featuring in a defensive role, placing in the 99th percentile for progressive passes per 90 over the past year, and the 97th percentile for progressive carries.

Fry and Hackney could be fantastic additions to McKenna’s squad, but signing a new striker should be the manager’s priority following Delap’s departure.

While the mood around the club is still rather jubilant following their incredible win over Real Madrid in the Champions League this time last week, one thing remains true about Arsenal: they don’t score enough goals.

To give them credit, Mikel Arteta’s side have scored more goals than most teams in the Premier League, but that’s still not enough when the club are desperate to lift the title following what now looks like it’ll be three seasons of finishing in second place.

For example, the Gunners have put the ball in the back of the net 57 times in the league this year, which is only the fourth most, behind Tottenham Hotspur with 60, Manchester City with 62 and Liverpool, who have already scored a brilliant 74 goals so far.

Now, one of the most obvious ways to address this problem in the summer is to sign a new striker to lead the line, and while that’ll likely help, it could be just as important to add more quality wingers to the squad, although whoever they sign is unlikely to be worth anywhere near as much as one of Arteta’s key men.

The wingers Arsenal could sign

So, when it comes to wide reinforcements, there is one name that has followed Arsenal from last summer’s transfer window to this one: Nico Williams.

The Spanish international winger is one of the most exciting wingers in Europe at present, and while there will undoubtedly be plenty of competition for his signature, he does seem to be gettable thanks to a £52m release clause in his current contract.

It’s certainly a lot of money to spend on a 22-year-old, but it’d be worth it, as just this season alone, the Pamplona-born “level-raiser,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored ten goals and provided seven assists in 41 appearances.

However, it’s not just youngsters that the North Londoners could sign this summer, as recent reports have also touted Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman for a £39m move to the Emirates.

Now, the Frenchman hasn’t had as good of a season this year, only racking up ten goal involvements in 35 appearances, but he would bring with him an abundance of top-level experience.

For example, since making his debut for Paris Saint Germain over a decade ago, the Paris-born winger has won two league titles in France, two in Italy with Juventus and eight in Germany with Bayern Munich, where he has also scored the winning goal in a Champions League final.

In short, both players would be good additions to Arsenal’s squad this summer, but neither one would be even nearly as much as one of the team’s star players.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Williams & Coman

While they haven’t been as productive as in seasons past, Arsenal do have a few talented wingers in their squad, such as Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, but when it comes to being a true leader within the team, only one attacker comes to mind: Bukayo Saka.

The Hale Ender is unquestionably the best player in Arteta’s squad, as not only has he worn the captain’s armband on occasion, but he’s also the most productive player in the entire team this year, with 24 goal improvements even though he missed over three months of action following hamstring surgery.

So, with all that said, it should come as no surprise that Transfermarkt currently values the 23-year-old at a whopping €150m, which is about £128m, or £76m more than Williams would cost and £89m more than Coman may cost.

That is an enormous difference in the three wingers’ valuations, but when you compare their output from this season, it’s hard to argue that it’s not fair.

For example, the Bilbao star has produced his 17 goal involvements in 41 appearances, totalling 2859 minutes, which comes out to an average of one every 2.41 games or every 168.17 minutes.

Appearances

28

41

35

Minutes

1998′

2859′

1597′

Goals

10

10

6

Assists

14

7

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.85

0.41

0.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

83.25′

168.17′

159.7′

The Bayern dynamo has produced his ten goal involvements in 35 appearances, totalling 1597 minutes, which comes out to an average of one every 3.5 games or every 159.7.

Last but most certainly not least, the Gunners’ “future legend,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored his ten goals and provided his 14 assists in just 28 appearances, totalling 1998 minutes.

That means the 43-capped Englishman is averaging a goal involvement every 1.16 games or every 83.25, which simply has to be considered world-class.

Ultimately, signing Coman or Williams would help improve Arsenal’s squad, but it seems far-fetched to imagine either one ever reaching a valuation on par with Saka’s.

Huge upgrade on Merino: Berta wants Arsenal to sign £55m "goal machine"

Given that Mikel Merino is playing the makeshift centre-forward, Arsenal are in the market for a striker, so do they lead the race for a goal machine?

1 ByBen Gray Apr 13, 2025

As interest continues to arrive over Eberechi Eze’s signature, Crystal Palace have reportedly turned their attention towards a talented attacking midfielder who could replace their star man.

Man Utd interested in Eze

Among the clubs interested in Eze are Manchester United. The Red Devils are desperate for reinforcements this summer, and as Ruben Amorim searches for the perfect attacking midfielder to slot straight into his 3-4-2-1 system, Eze could be an ideal choice.

The Crystal Palace star has once again been vital for Oliver Glasner’s side, who find themselves in an FA Cup semi-final and pushing for a top-half finish.

Glasner is certainly well aware of Eze’s importance too, albeit in a “strange season”, having told reporters after Crystal Palace thrashed Fulham 3-0 in their FA Cup quarter-final tie: “I think Ebere has had a strange season, he hasn’t had many goals in the Premier League and he has been unlucky, but he keeps going, he’s also struggled with strange injuries.

“The goal against Latvia and his first for England means a lot for him. He always has the confidence, we know he’s an amazing finisher to cut inside on his right foot with an amazing finish. We need this quality, he helped us today massively.”

Mateta swap deal: Crystal Palace could now get chance to sign £70m+ striker

He desperately needs a move.

2 ByTom Cunningham Apr 4, 2025

It’s the type of quality that has attracted those at Old Trafford, who will reportedly have to splash out as much as £60m if they are to lure the England international away from Selhurst Park this summer.

Palace, of course, have eventually managed to cope without Michael Olise following his departure to Bayern Munich last summer. Now, they’ve reportedly set their sights on a player who could replace Eze in the event of his exit this time around.

Crystal Palace racing to sign Sem Steijn

Already preparing for the worst, the Eagles have reportedly set their sights on replacing their star man. According to The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now battling to sign Sem Steijn from FC Twente this summer, having already sent their scouts to watch the talented attacking midfielder in action in recent months.

The 23-year-old has got better and better in recent seasons, culminating in an incredibly impressive campaign and his best yet in the Netherlands. Scoring 26 goals and assisting a further six goals in all competitions prior to this weekend, it should come as no surprise to see the likes of Jacek Kulig sending praise the Dutchman’s way.

The football talent scout rightfully described Steijn’s season as “amazing” following a campaign which has attracted the interest of Palace, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, among others.

If Eze does depart this summer, the impressive Dutchman should sit top of Crystal Palace’s list of potential replacements.