All posts by z3u9t.icu

The 2025 summer transfer window could be another busy one for Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou, with attacking reinforcements potentially on the agenda for Spurs.

Timo Werner extended his loan spell from RB Leipzig for the 2024/25 season, but things haven’t gone to plan for the German in north London.

Used primarily as a left-winger by Postecgolou, Werner has failed to impress back in England and even came in for criticism from the Spurs boss following a Europa League clash with Rangers.

“When you’ve got 18-year-olds [in the squad], it [that performance] is not acceptable to me,” said Postecoglou.

“I said that to Timo, he’s a German international. In the moment we’re in right now – it’s not like we’ve got many options – I need everyone to at least be going out there and trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.”

10 strikers who could replace Richarlison at Tottenham

The Brazilian has been linked with an exit.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 4, 2025

Recently, journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Spurs have not changed their minds about turning down the chance to sign Werner permanently, with the forward even set to leave parent club RB Leipzig upon his return.

But who could come in as a replacement for Werner? We’ve looked at 10 wide forwards Spurs could target in the summer.

1 Jamie Gittens Borussia Dortmund

The latest Englishman starring abroad is Jamie Gittens of Borussia Dortmund. A U21 international for the Three Lions, Gittens is a former Chelsea and Man City academy ace and has been linked with Spurs in the past.

Previous reports have even claimed that Daniel Levy is willing to offer €100m for Gittens – equivalent to £83m – so it looks as if he is one of the top wide targets in north London.

2 Bryan Mbeumo Brentford

Bryan Mbeumo has been a Premier League star for Brentford in recent years, and following the departure of Ivan Toney, he has stepped up as the main man for the Bees.

It does look as if he could be on the move, though, and Tottenham are one of the clubs who have been heavily linked with a move for the Cameroon international.

Mbeumo mainly plays off the right, though, so Postecoglou may need to tinker things if he is to be Werner’s replacement.

3 Tyler Dibling Southampton

With Southampton being relegated to the Championship, Tyler Dibling could be a player in demand this summer after impressing for the Saints.

Still just 19 years of age, Dibling, who is left-footed, can play as an attacking midfielder, winger or centre-forward. Spurs were thought to be in pole position to sign Dibling in January, so it wouldn’t be a shock if they were working on a summer deal behind the scenes.

4 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth

Bournemouth have been enjoying an excellent 2024/25 season under Andoni Iraola, with Antoine Semenyo one of the Cherries’ main stars on the south coast.

The Ghana international has impressed playing on both the left and right wings, and was loosely linked with a £50m move to Tottenham towards the end of 2024.

He could be another attacker to keep an eye on should Spurs go down the route of proven Premier League stars.

5 Rayan Cherki Lyon

If Spurs want to shop abroad for a wide forward to replace Werner, Rayan Cherki of Lyon could be an option.

They were apparently offered Cherki for £20m in January due to Lyon’s financial problems, although there are ‘personality’ concerns regarding the 21-year-old.

There is no denying his talent, though, with Cherki a two-footed and versatile winger who appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €35m Transfermarkt valuation.

6 Johan Bakayoko PSV Eindhoven

Tottenham may look to revisit their interest in Johan Bakayoko of PSV Eindhoven if they are in the market for a wide forward this summer.

Linked with a move to Spurs in 2023, Fabrizio Romano called Bakayoko an “elite talent”, with the Belgium international going on to impress in recent months.

He scored 14 goals for PSV during the 2023/24 season while registering the same number of assists, he has been at it again in 2024/25 with 11 goals to his name at the time of writing.

7 Barış Alper Yilmaz Galatasaray

Capable of playing anywhere across the front three is Barış Alper Yilmaz of Galatasaray, who has been mooted to make the move to the Premier League in 2025.

A Turkey international, Spurs showed interest in Yilmaz in 2024 when he was dubbed as the next Gareth Bale. The 24-year-old has enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career in 2024/25, so he may be a wise option to replace the German.

8 Jack Grealish Man City

A left-field shout for Spurs could be to look at somebody like Jack Grealish of Manchester City.

The England international has struggled at various points after his £100m move from Aston Villa, and there were rumours that his representatives are looking for a move away from the Etihad.

Any transfer could come at a fraction of the price City paid, so Spurs may feel they could get the best out of Grealish in north London.

9 Takefusa Kubo Real Sociedad

Japan international Takefusa Kubo has been impressing for Real Sociedad since 2022 and can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder. The 23-year-old was also linked with Spurs towards the end of 2024 in a potential £50m transfer.

Kubo has already played under Postecoglou during a loan spell with Yokohama F. Marinos, so who knows, the Australian could be keen on a reunion.

10 Antonio Cordero Malaga

Antonio Cordero appears to be a star in the making and looks likely to be on the move in 2025, with his deal set to expire in the summer.

Tottenham have been heavily linked with a move for Cordero and have even held talks over a transfer. However, Newcastle United were thought to be leading Spurs for the 18-year-old, so Levy and co may need to act fast if they want the left-winger.

Nottingham Forest are having a brilliant campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo and there is every chance their progress could secure Champions League football, which is bound to appeal to prospective summer targets.

Nottingham Forest could enjoy a transformational summer window

At the beginning of the season, there wouldn’t have been too many Premier League fans who would’ve had Nottingham Forest on their bingo card to finish in the Champions League slots.

Nevertheless, the Tricky Trees have put themselves in a remarkable position with nine matches left to play, potentially paving the way for an exciting market period at the City Ground.

Pushing their level of ambition to the limit, Nottingham Forest have made contact with Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres’s representatives. The Sweden international is viewed as an ideal long-term replacement for prolific marksman Chris Wood.

Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham is also of interest to the East Midlands-based outfit. Securing a mercurial return to Europe’s top table doesn’t seem to be enough for Espirito Santo, so it is no surprise he is aiming to cement their status as one of the most exciting sides in the English pyramid.

While their efforts in the Premier League could reap significant rewards, Nottingham Forest still find themselves in contention for the FA Cup and evidence that silverware is achievable at the City Ground is only likely to further their scope for savvy recruitment.

Nottingham Forest in ongoing talks over signing record £60m+ star for Nuno

He could be a fantastic addition this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 23, 2025

Undoubtedly, the temptation to shell out big fees for premium talent will be on the mind of Evangelos Marinakis. However, value for money appears to be king under Espirito Santo’s reign if their latest target’s contract situation is anything to go by.

Nottingham Forest position themselves for cut-price Yoane Wissa deal

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are set to reignite their attempts to sign Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and could land the in-form frontman for a ‘reduced price’ of between £15-20 million, as per Pete O’Rourke.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international will enter the final year of his deal at the Gtech Community Stadium this summer and is viewed internally as ‘smart business’ should the Tricky Trees manage to push an agreement over the line.

Yoane Wissa’s excellent season for Brentford

Appearances

30

Goals

15

Assists

2

Shot-creating actions (Premier League)

49

Non-penalty Expected Goals (Premier League)

13.6 XG value

Labelled “remarkable” by Bees boss Thomas Frank, he has also managed to create 17 chances and take 117 touches in the opposition’s penalty area this campaign on league duty, illustrating his capacity to bring others into play.

Stepping forward to fill the void left by Ivan Toney’s departure, Wissa has proven himself as a Premier League starter and may be cashed in on by Brentford to avoid the scenario where he departs on a free transfer in 2026.

Seizing their opportunity, Nottingham Forest will now hope to convince the 28-year-old that committing his future at the City Ground is the best course of action in light of the club’s upward trajectory.

West Ham United have now initiated first contacts over a summer deal for a “remarkable” striker, who is attracting a lot of attention from the Premier League, according to a report.

Hammers lacking an out-and-out striker

Back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Leicester City at the end of February have almost certainly staved off any lingering fears about relegation, with Jarrod Bowen bagging the only goal of the game to secure an impressive 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

However, the Hammers have since gone on to score just one goal in their last two games, with Graham Potter having to make do without an out-and-out striker, given that Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio are out injured.

As such, while Bowen is enjoying another impressive season in front of goal, Potter has identified the need to bring in a new striker this summer, and Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha is among the targets, having regularly been amongst the goals in Ligue 1 this term.

West Ham now racing to sign £30m star who's part of best defence in Europe

The Hammers have set their sights on a new centre-back.

ByDominic Lund Mar 17, 2025

Potter has also told the West Ham board he wants them to sign Lille’s Jonathan David, but with Arsenal and Barcelona in the race for the Canadian’s signature, it could be difficult to get a deal done, and the manager may have to move on to other targets.

One option could be Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, with a report from Italy revealing the Hammers have now initiated first contacts over a deal for the Italian, but there may be fierce competition for his signature.

A number of Premier League clubs have expressed an interest in Kean, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, although the transfer is still in the preliminary stages.

Fiorentina are protected by a €52m (£44m) release clause in the striker’s contract, but it is unclear whether they would insist on receiving the full amount.

Kean enjoying "remarkable" Serie A campaign

It is clear to see why some top Premier League clubs are coming forward for the Italy international, given his extremely impressive record in front of goal this season.

Serie A

26

15

Conference League qualifiers

2

2

Conference League

5

2

Italian Cup

1

1

CBS’s Marco Messina has also lauded the Fiorentina marksman for his “remarkable” all-round performances, suggesting he offers a lot more to his team than merely goals.

That said, while the former Everton man was undefeated against West Ham during his time with the Toffees, there will still be concern about his previous stint in the Premier League.

Kean scored just four goals in 39 games for Everton, and while it is clear he has made improvements to his game since then, his goal record in England casts doubt over whether a £44m fee is justifiable.

As we approach the business end of the season, Manchester City still have plenty to play for.

Last weekend, despite leading twice through Erling Braut Håland and then Omar Marmoush, the Citizens were pegged back both times, ultimately held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton at the Etihad.

So, having taken just seven points from their last six Premier League fixtures, Pep Guardiola’s team are fifth, thereby occupying the final Champions League position, but with both Newcastle and Brighton a mere one point behind.

So, as many of the Sky Blues’ superstars continue to underperform, including Jack Grealish, perhaps they could regret letting go of a player who’s now worth £80m.

Why Jack Grealish isn't in Thomas Tuchel's England squad

Less than four years after moving to Manchester City for £100m, a then British transfer record, Grealish is now merely an afterthought at the Etihad.

Across the Citizens’ last seven Premier League fixtures, the 29-year-old’s involvement has been reduced to a one-minute cameo at Tottenham, an unused substitute for the fifth time during this period on Saturday, his most recent league start coming before Christmas.

Well, considering Grealish has scored only two goals this season, going 392 days without a club goal, before converting a penalty against Salford, it’s easy to understand why Guardiola doesn’t pick him regularly.

Last week, there was widespread uproar when Thomas Tuchel announced his first-ever England squad, but not in relation to the fact Grealish wasn’t included, considering he featured in only four of their 17 internationals during 2024, most infamously left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad.

Tuchel said at his press conference, “I love Jack, I love everything about him”, but added “he simply has no rhythm…Jack gets better and better the more minutes he plays”, suggesting he won’t pick him if he continues to be used sporadically at club level.

So, while a current Man City wide-man continues to struggle, a former Man City youngster, and future England superstar, continues to make the Sky Blues look foolish for allowing him to leave for free as a teenager.

Former Man City academy star shining abroad

Jamie Gittens, formerly Jamie Bynoe-Gittens prior a summer re-brand, bounced around various English academies, spending time at Reading, Chelsea and then Manchester City, joining the Citizens as a 14-year-old.

However, he left Manchester just two years later, joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020, saying he wanted to follow the same path as Jadon Sancho, stating “I wanted to be like him”, adding “seeing other players before me doing it [moving abroad] persuaded me that I could try that as well”.

Well, this move has certainly worked out, given that the 20-year-old has now made 98 senior appearances for die Schwarzgelben, scoring 16 goals and providing ten assists, most notably on target against Bayern Munich in der Klassiker in November.

After being presented with the Golden Boy award in December 2023, Jude Bellingham described his former teammate as a “top talent”, while Fabrizio Romano labelled him ‘special’.

Meantime, former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock believes Gittens is every defender’s “worst nightmare”, while Saul Morris of Football Talent Scout describes him as an ‘attacking and direct winger’ who has ‘extremely high’ potential and will one day ‘establish himself in the England team’.

So, let’s assess how Gittens compares to the aforementioned Grealish this season.

Appearances

40

26

Minutes

2,535

1,319

Goals

11

2

Assists

4

5

Shots on target %

40%

25%

Goals – xG

+6.3

-0.5

Take-on success %

46.8%

42.4%

Progressive carries

152

89

Shot-creating actions

100

58

Goal-creating actions

13

3

Touches per 90

43.57

59.44

As the table outlines, despite the fact Grealish has, on average, around 16 more touches per 90, Gittens ranks significantly higher for all attacking metrics: goals, assists, shooting, chances created and dribbling.

In this season’s Champions League, Gittens ranks seventh for goals – xG, with Grealish down in 181st, while the 20-year-old ranks sixth in the Bundesliga for the same metric, with the Man City man is 481st in the Premier League in terms of this statistic.

According to a report by Samuel Meade for the Daily Mirror, Dortmund value Gittens at £80m, with Arsenal and Chelsea supposedly interested, underlining that Man City made a major mistake allowing him to leave.

Their best signing since Haaland: Man City eyeing up "flawless" £100m star

Man City are looking to overhaul their midfield

ByJoe Nuttall Mar 19, 2025

A marquee star apparently has one eye on a potential transfer to Chelsea this summer, following some discussions involving Enzo Maresca’s side and the player’s representatives.

What Enzo Maresca thinks about Chelsea's midfield

Maresca, according to reliable journalist Simon Phillips in January, feels as if the club are missing a certain type of profile in the engine room.

Boehly now personally "lining up a bid" to sign £40m midfielder for Chelsea

The American billionaire has a target in his sights.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 11, 2025

While Chelsea are expected to significantly invest in a new striker and centre-back this summer, Maresca made his request to the Stamford Bridge hierarchy clear in the winter window when it comes to his desire for a potential new senior midfield star.

Arsenal (away)

March 16th

Tottenham (home)

April 2nd

Brentford (away)

April 5th

Ipswich Town (home)

April 12th

Fulham (away)

April 19th

Despite links to some big names, including Man United sensation Kobbie Mainoo, Maresca was forced to settle for teenage prospect Mathis Amougou – who joined Chelsea in the latter stages of January from Saint-Étienne.

The Frenchman has made one appearance for Chelsea since then – a seven-minute cameo against Southampton – and he’s expected to head back to Ligue 1 on a season-long loan to sister club Strasbourg for the 2025/2026 season (Fabrizio Romano), so the west Londoners could well return to the market for a new midfield technician.

Reports suggest that Chelsea are considering numerous options. They could even raid Barcelona for some key players, including Frenkie de Jong, who has apparently been offered to Maresca’s side by intermediaries (Graeme Bailey).

Gavi is also on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist, and it is believed they’ve approached the representatives of fellow Catalan midfielder Marc Casado (Cadena SER).

Closer to home, and away from the Camp Nou, chairman Todd Boehly is personally weighing up the prospect of a summer bid for Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham. The Sun reported this week that Chelsea are lining up an offer for Bellingham, but Mainoo is also said to remain firmly in Chelsea’s thinking.

The 19-year-old is one of United’s key stars, but his contract expires in 2027, and he’s currently earning far beneath other big-name players in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

Talks over fresh terms are dragging on, with Chelsea lurking in the background as they monitor his interesting situation at Old Trafford.

Kobbie Mainoo keen on joining Chelsea after contact

According to TEAMtalk, in what could be a boost for Maresca, it is claimed Mainoo is interested in the prospect of joining Chelsea from Man United – following some contact from the Blues with his camp.

The teenager is thought to be a real one to watch this summer, and Chelsea will be one of the main competitors for his signature, even if he is focused on life at United for now.

Amorim’s side are wary of PSR, and there is a hesitance to approve big-money contracts as a result, but this stance could force some of their most pivotal assets to ponder summer exits – including Mainoo.

Chelsea, meanwhile, would leap at the chance to strike a deal for the Englishman. However, some reports have claimed that United wouldn’t sell for less than £100 million, so BlueCo could even need to spend nine figures on a player for the third time since their takeover.

Ipswich Town’s woes on their own patch continue on as Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur ran out resounding 4-1 victors over the dejected Tractor Boys on Saturday.

Indeed, Kieran McKenna’s men have only won one Premier League clash all season long at Portman Road, with this defeat, in particular, pushing them deeper into the relegation mire off the back of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ big win on their travels to AFC Bournemouth.

Now, the Suffolk underdogs are five points off Wolves who occupy that golden 17th spot in the division, but there were some positives for McKenna to hold onto come full-time, despite the grim reality of another home loss.

Ipswich's biggest positives vs Spurs

Ipswich actually finished the contest with more shots on goal – with 17 to Spurs’ ten – alongside offering up more big chances at a slightly heftier three to the away side’s one, but all of that would ultimately amount to nothing.

Still, the likes of Omari Hutchinson would trudge off the pitch at the end pleased with their efforts, as the ex-Chelsea man got his side back into the contest with a beautifully executed strike deep into the hectic first 45 minutes.

Away from that moment of ecstasy, Hutchinson also amassed three key passes in the game to try and gift his side more of a way into the clash before an unfortunate late collapse handed Spurs all three points.

Jack Clarke stood out down the left flank too, with his assist providing Hutchinson the chance to beat Guglielmo Vicario, whilst Liam Delap was his usual energetic self minus a finish rippling the back of the net.

But, away from those lively performers up top, the Tractor Boys defence did look porous throughout, especially down the left-hand side of the pitch when Heung-min Son was twisting and turning this shaky Ipswich body for fun.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Ipswich's biggest underperformer vs Spurs

Whilst Jacob Greaves didn’t cover himself in much glory throughout, the ex-Hull City man at least lasted the full 90 minutes which can’t be said for another notable underperformer at the back.

Ben Godfrey, again, looked out of his depth pulling on Ipswich blue, with both of Spurs’ goals in the first half originating from Son constantly bamboozling the former Everton defender, before teeing up Brennan Johnson for a somewhat easy finish.

Godfrey’s horror show first half resulted in McKenna hauling him off the pitch at the half-time interval, with the ropey 27-year-old failing to win a single tackle or duel, alongside also only registering six accurate passes when attempting to build attacks away from being routinely under the cosh.

This isn’t the only time this campaign that the ex-Toffees right-back has been hooked off by his new manager after an out-of-sorts defensive showing, with Godfrey surviving just an hour or so on the pitch when Manchester City came to town in late January, as Pep Guardiola’s rampant visitors ran out convincing 6-0 winners.

Minutes played

64

45

Goals conceded

5

2

Touches

50

14

Accurate passes

34/40 (85%)

6/8 (75%)

Clearances

1

0

Blocked shots

0

1

Interceptions

0

2

Total tackles

0

0

Total duels won

2/3

0/1

Looking at the table above, it does feel as if Godfrey can’t cut it against some of the Premier League’s elite attackers, with a worrying seven goals shipped from his 109 minutes of action versus City and Spurs, among other negative statistics.

McKenna will presumably bring Axel Tuanzebe back into the side when his suspension ceases to be, with his replacement not exactly banging the door down for most first-team chances moving forward.

If Ipswich are to stay up, they cannot afford more leaky showings, with the Atalanta loanee needing to be ditched now to give his team a fighting chance at survival.

Ipswich must now sell £35k-p/w flop who McKenna said had a 'high ceiling'

Kieran McKenna could be ruthless this coming summer in ditching this expensive Ipswich Town flop.

1 ByKelan Sarson Feb 20, 2025

Still looking to replace John Eustace, who controversially chose to take the Derby County job, Blackburn Rovers are reportedly set to hold talks with a former Premier League manager this week.

Blackburn seeking Eustace replacement

Whilst Eustace was suffering a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Queens Park Rangers on his Derby debut, Blackburn were rubbing salt in his wounds by simply picking up where they left off – securing a 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle.

The credit for that result deserves to go the way of David Lowe, who has stepped up to take interim charge and continued Blackburn’s push to finish inside the Championship’s top six.

Whilst it’s certainly not a case of no Eustace no party for Blackburn, they’re still in need of a replacement and that search has already seen various names mentioned, including Lowe’s.

The interim boss has undeniably made a solid first impression and may well be considered a candidate should those at Ewood Park fail to land a former Premier League manager.

Blackburn learn compensation fee to appoint 44 y/o as Eustace's replacement

Blackburn could be close to finding a replacement for John Eustace.

ByBrett Worthington Feb 16, 2025

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn are now set to hold talks with Gary O’Neil this week. The manager was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers back in December and has been out of work ever since, perhaps leaving the door ajar for a Championship move.

Going from Eustace to O’Neil would certainly be quite the move. The former Wolves and Bournemouth boss is a manager of Premier League quality and guided those in the Midlands into the top half at his best. Now, by stepping down to the Championship, he could take a historic club back to the top flight at long last.

In a crucial week for their managerial search, Blackburn should go all out to secure O’Neil’s signature.

"Great" O'Neil would be impressive coup

By appointing O’Neil, not only would Blackburn be taking a key step towards promotion but they’d also be preparing for life in the Premier League. The former Portsmouth player kept Bournemouth up when not many, if any expected him to do so then took Wolves back into the top half before ultimately struggling in the current campaign amid a lack of reinforcements and a frustrating list of injury concerns.

Previously praised by Jamie Carragher for the “great” job he did at Bournemouth, O’Neil could arrive at a Blackburn side ready to earn a place in the play-offs. Sat as high as fifth and inside the top six by four points, those in Lancashire have 13 games to keep hold of their place and grab their chance to eventually set a date at Wembley come May.

It won’t be a routine job and following Eustace will take some doing, but a former Premier League manager should be more than capable of creating history. Blackburn belong in the Premier League and many will say the same for O’Neil to create a match made in heaven as talks commence this week.

Tottenham Hotspur will be wanting to right the wrongs of this season’s failure in the Premier League, which saw the club finish just one place above the relegation zone.

Despite winning the Europa League, it was the Lilywhites’ lowly league standing that spelled the end for Ange Postecoglou in North London, subsequently being sacked after two years in the role.

Daniel Levy wasted no time in appointing Thomas Frank from fellow top-flight side Brentford, but it’s crucial that the Dane is handed time to transform the side next campaign.

Alongside the players currently on the books, additions are also needed during the current window to help the 51-year-old in his quest for success during his tenure in charge.

Work appears to be conducted behind the scenes to help the new manager in the market, which could see moves made for various targets this summer.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

In recent days, Spurs have appeared to be stepping up their efforts to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo this summer, after it was confirmed the club are set to make a bid for his services.

He’s not the only attacker on their radar, with OGC Nice striker Evann Guessand another option under consideration ahead of Frank’s debut campaign at the helm.

However, another name has now entered the mix, with one Spanish outlet claiming that the Lilywhites hold serious interest in a move for Boca Juniors striker Miguel Merentiel.

The report claims that the 29-year-old’s agent is aware of interest in the forward after he scored a tremendous solo effort against German champions Bayern Munich at the ongoing Club World Cup.

It also states that no formal offer has yet been made, but the hierarchy are monitoring a move for the Uruguayan, who has netted 43 goals in the last three campaigns.

Why Spurs’ latest target could be Frank’s answer to Gyokeres

Spitting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has been one of the most sought after talents throughout this summer window, looking almost certain to leave the Portuguese outfit ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Various sides across the globe have been touted with a move for the 27-year-old’s signature and, unsurprisingly so given his record of 54 goals in his 52 outings this season.

Manchester United appeared to be the most likely destination given his previous stint under Ruben Amorim, but it now looks as though the Swede is pushing for a move to join North London rivals Arsenal.

Such a move will likely hand Mikel Arteta’s side an added attacking threat next season, with Spurs needing to make a move to land their own talisman this window.

Frank could land his own version of Gyokeres in the form of Merentiel, with the Boca talisman labelled as a similar player to the goalscoring sensation, according to FBref.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats, the Uruguayan has managed to match or better the Swede in various key areas, looking to be a shrewd addition for the Lilywhites this summer.

Merentiel, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Johannes Skiba, has matched the Sporting star for goals per shot on target, but bettered him for shot-on-target accuracy – taking advantage of more opportunities that fall his way.

Games played

22

33

Goals & assists

10

46

Shot-on-target accuracy

62%

52%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.4

Passes into final third

1.7

0.5

Take-on success

60%

45%

Carries into final third

1.6

1.3

Progressive passes made

3.2

2.1

He’s also completed more progressive passes and completed more passes into the final third, having the all-round ability to provide those around him rather than relying on teammates creating chances for him in the final third.

The Boca star’s talents are further demonstrated with his take-on success and carries into the final third, showcasing his desire to take the ball forward at any given opportunity – therefore handing Frank’s side an added threat.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the 29-year-old would cost this summer, but it’s evident that he has all the tools needed to thrive in the Premier League.

If he can add further goals to his game in North London, he would be an excellent option for the Lilywhites in their quest to be competitive in Europe and England’s top flight next campaign.

Big Johnson upgrade: Spurs open initial talks to sign £70m "monster"

Tottenham are hoping to sign a right-sided forward this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 21, 2025

It’s only ten days now until Birmingham City know their exciting full set of Championship fixtures ahead of the eagerly anticipated 2025/26 campaign.

Chris Davies will be praying that his super-confident Blues side can win on the opening day to get their season off to the best possible footing, with a hope in the air that Birmingham can thrive in the second tier after making League One promotion look like clockwork.

To help make their transition up a league as smooth as possible, Birmingham will be prepared to spend in the transfer market to upgrade their team, with a deal potentially back on the cards for a former star to return to St. Andrew’s.

Birmingham still interested in former ace

As per a new report from Birmingham Live’s Alex Dicken, a spectacular reunion deal for Demarai Gray to return to the West Midlands shouldn’t be written off just yet.

Dicken states that Birmingham are believed to still possess an interest in the entertaining 28-year-old winger, but he also reveals that there are many obstacles in the newly promoted side’s way in trying to get a statement deal over the line.

The obstacles include his lavish £76k-per-week wage at Saudi employers Al-Ettifaq – as per Capology – on top of the fact Dicken states that a number of Premier League clubs are also eyeing up the former Everton attacker.

But, Birmingham – who could seal Gray’s signature for £8m – have been successful in the past when going after outlandish deals deemed too unlikely to happen.

That was seen in Jay Stansfield’s £15m deal last summer – with Gray’s potential arrival onto the scene also perhaps culminating in him striking up an enthralling attacking duo with another target on the Blues’ ever-extending shopping list in Joe Gelhardt.

Why Gray could be brilliant alongside Gelhardt

Both Birmingham targets have shown flashes of their excellence at the very top of the English football pyramid, with Gray’s sublime strike against Arsenal just one of 19 goals the Jamaica international notched up in the Premier League.

Still in the infancy of his career, Gelhardt does still have eight-goal contributions next to his name in the elite division when he was deemed the next big thing coming out of Leeds United’s esteemed academy, meaning the pair together at St. Andrew’s could bring about a sense of class to proceedings, having tasted such lofty heights previously.

Leicester City

169

13

14

Birmingham

78

8

4

Everton

75

12

6

Al-Ettifaq

50

4

5

Bayer Leverkusen

12

1

2

Looking at the table above, Gray could also gift Gelhardt chances galore to score from if the pair are to don Birmingham blue together very soon, with the experienced 28-year-old forward up to 31 assists now from his varied playing days.

Even when he hasn’t been firing on all cylinders at current employers Al-Ettifaq, a frustrated Gray has at least been trying to carve out openings, with a healthy four big chances created by the ex-Blues attacker in Saudi Pro League action last season, despite no assists coming his way.

Whilst his teammates in the Middle East might not be finishing off his moves, Gelhardt could soon be the perfect companion to Gray based on his impressive Championship numbers last campaign with Hull City, with a promising five league strikes picked up from only 19 starts, while also spurning just one big chance.

With the aforementioned Stansfield also close by, both the “electric” winger – as he’s been glowingly labelled in the past by journalist Scott Saunders – and Gelhardt could really enhance Birmingham’s attacking numbers ahead of their second-tier adventure officially kicking off.

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ByKelan Sarson Jun 15, 2025

Manchester United aren’t acting like a team who languished their way toward a 15th-placed Premier League finish last season, moving purposefully in the transfer market as they are.

Defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League proved the final nail in the coffin, severing the last hopes of salvaging something from a rotten year, closing the door on a campaign on the continent in 2025/26.

But Ruben Amorim has a plan, and INEOS are showcasing the club’s unbreakable transfer pull, having signed Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth £62.5m.

Amorim has his work cut out, all right, but this new policy of identifying Premier League-proven product might just pay dividends in the long run.

Let’s have a look at how they sealed the Brazilian star’s signature.

Why Matheus Cunha joined Man Utd

It’s remarkable to see that top players are still drawn to the Theatre of Dreams even when Man United are in the deepest throes of their decline, and Cunha is the perfect representation of that fact.

Sure, United activated his release clause, but the 26-year-old was also coveted by Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, all of whom will play in the Champions League next season. Aston Villa had also expressed an interest.

If Amorim can get the Red Devils back to a position of strength, just imagine the kind of success the outfit could have in the transfer market with a strategy far away from the scattergun approach of the past decade.

Signing players who have showcased their quality consistently in the Premier League seems to be a track that United are heading down, for Cunha’s not the only one driving a deal toward Old Trafford from another part of the country this summer.

Man Utd's next transfer expected 'soon'

According to reports in Italy, Manchester United have already agreed personal terms with Bryan Mbeumo, although negotiations continue with Brentford as to the structure of the financial package.

Transfer Focus

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

Saying that, United are willing to pay £63m plus add-ons to sign the goalscoring winger, who has been expected to leave the Gtech Community Stadium for several months now. The final details with Brentford still need to be defined but it’s reported that an agreement is ‘expected soon’.

Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Thomas Frank has renewed Spurs’ hope that they could hijack the deal, but the player’s preference is to sign for the Red Devils in spite of their lack of European football.

How Bryan Mbeumo will improve Man Utd

Last season, Mbeumo bagged 20 goals across 38 Premier League matches, with Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland the only players to outscore him.

A tenacious forward with a fixed winning mentality, he’s exactly what Amorim needs to turn the ship around. Indeed, the Cameroon international has been hailed for his “technique and work ethic” by journalist Henry Winter.

This is further represented through his underlying data; not just a goalscorer, the 25-year-old ranked among the top 9% of positional peers in the Premier League last term for crosses, the top 10% for clearances and the top 20% for touches in the defensive third per 90, as per FBref.

That latter metric, in particular, highlights Mbeumo’s willingness to drop deep and help the Bees in transition.

This vibrant range of qualities actually led the data-driven site to draw Cunha up as one of his most comparable players.

Cunha is a maverick, stylish on the ball and happy to step up and make things happen when no one else seems willing to. Man United need some of that.

When looking at the forwards’ respective top-flight campaigns, you begin to see exactly why United have been so desperate to secure these deals, with the players partnered on the flanks sure to add a whole lot to a frontline that has been lacking.

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

38 (38)

Goals

15

20

Assists

6

7

Shots (on target)*

3.3 (1.3)

2.2 (1.1)

Big chances missed

2

9

Pass completion

79%

74%

Big chances created

13

17

Key passes*

1.8

1.8

Dribbles*

1.8

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.8

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.7

Duels won*

5.5

4.7

As you can see from the table above, they are not all that dissimilar, Cunha and Mbeumo. In fact, with the forwards, favouring the left and right flanks respectively, both proven in the Premier League to be high-level goalscorers with creative flair and defensive application, it looks the perfect way to dynamise Amorim’s frontline.

The centre-forward picked to settle in the middle of the exciting stars will be a lucky man indeed. Though the Red Devils have faced countless disappointments after first finding such excitement in a big-money acquisition, INEOS have focused on two players capable of lifting the club’s attacking quality to a top level.

They will add goals, they will create, and they will improve the overarching fluency of a fallen giant. It’s unlikely to be a surprise that Mbuemo and Cunha are two Premier League forwards with similarly dynamic skill sets, tailor-made for a place in Amorim’s vision, a vision which has not yet been sighted properly on English shores.

While many supporters will understandably reserve judgment until the 2025/26 campaign is well and truly up and running, Mbuemo is a superstar, “unplayable” on his day, as was noted by Frank last season after scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle.

With a like-minded player in Cunha mirroring him on the other side, Amorim’s team are well poised for a much-needed resurgence.

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1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 22, 2025