All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Leeds United are now showing the strongest interest in signing an “incredible” midfielder, following the recent Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka injury blows.

Leeds pursuing new midfielder with Ampadu and Tanaka sidelined

Leeds got off to the perfect start to the new Premier League campaign, securing a 1-0 victory at home to Everton, but things have since taken a turn for the worse, most recently being knocked out of the EFL Cup by a youthful Sheffield Wednesday side.

To make matters worse, Daniel Farke has now confirmed that two of his midfielders are set for spells on the sidelines in the coming weeks.

When asked about the nature of Tanaka’s issue, Farke said: “MCL injury, he will also be out for a few weeks. It’s difficult at the moment to say exactly when he can return but also definitely not before the international break so it’s quite a similar injury to Ethan Ampadu’s.”

Leeds now leading race to sign "excellent" star with same agent as Justin

The Whites will look to see off rival suitors for his signature.

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 27, 2025

Having two players in the same position ruled out at such an early stage of the season is a blow for Farke, but there is still time to get another central midfielder through the door before the deadline, and that is exactly what the manager plans to do.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Leeds are now showing the strongest interest in signing Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who is open to leaving the Red Devils before the end of the transfer window.

In fact, having fallen down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim, one Caught Offside source has stated Mainoo could “formally request a transfer” in the coming days, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur known to be long-term admirers.

Given that a £70m price tag has previously been touted, the Whites are planning to sign the midfielder on a loan deal, but it remains to be seen whether he would be interested in the move, given that a relegation battle is likely to be on the cards.

Mainoo could be "incredible" coup for Leeds

When the 20-year-old first burst onto the scene, he received extremely high praise from numerous Sky Sports pundits, with Michael Dawson lauding the youngster’s calmness in possession of the ball as “incredible”.

Since then, the Stockport-born youngster hasn’t really managed to kick on, failing to feature in United’s first two Premier League games this season, but he could still be a real coup for Leeds.

Amassing 10 England caps at just 20-years-old is no mean feat, and suggests the central midfielder has a great deal of potential, with Leeds perhaps in need of more depth in central midfield, given that Ampadu and Tanaka have been sidelined.

However, it would be a real surprise if Mainoo were willing to move to Elland Road, given the rivalry with his current club, and the move seems a little far-fetched.

Leeds United are looking to buck a trend in the Premier League this season and avoid relegation in their first season back in the top flight. The last six teams to get promoted have all gone straight back down, but after a strong season in 2024/25 and plenty of new signings, the Whites could rewrite the narrative.

Indeed, Daniel Farke’s side have already signed seven new players. They have added more Premier League experience to their squad in the form of Sean Longstaff, as well as defensive reinforcements by signing three defenders, including Jaka Bijol.

However, Leeds are not done yet, and seem keen to strengthen the squad further ahead of a huge campaign, with another top-flight star linked with a move.

Leeds’ next transfer target

There seems to be a clear emphasis on Farke signing Premier League-proven players to help supplement a squad that got 100 points last season. Signing Longstaff, a man with 171 top tier appearances, certainly ticks that box.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, the Yorkshire side are looking to bring another man with top-flight experience to Elland Road, according to journalist Sebastien Vidal. They are said to be ‘keen’ on signing Manchester City and England under-21 star James McAtee this summer.

The Citizens’ valuation of the attacking midfielder is said to be around £40m, with Sky Sports reporting earlier in the window that Nottingham Forest had a £25m bid rejected.

With Forest also interested in signing the youngster, this will by no means be a straightforward deal for the Whites to do.

Why McAtee would be a good signing

Despite making fleeting appearances for boyhood club City last season, Salford-born McAtee left a real impression when he got his opportunity. Pep Guardiola even called him a “special” player after scoring a hat-trick against Salford City.

Indeed, the 22-year-old made just 27 appearances for the Citizens last season, accumulating just 936 minutes. He still managed to find the back of the net seven times, averaging a goal every 133 minutes.

The 22-year-old captained the England under-21 side to victory in this summer’s European Championships. He played all six games for Lee Carsley’s side, scoring once and grabbing two assists, setting up Omari Hutchinson in the final against Germany.

If the Whites are able to sign McAtee this summer, he could prove to be a huge upgrade on their current number ten, Brenden Aaronson. The USA international played in every single one of Leeds’ games last season in the Championship, but struggled for consistency at times.

On the face of things, his numbers in the second tier last term were strong. He scored nine times and grabbed two assists in 46 games. Yet, spells of six, seven and eight games without a goal involvement were far from ideal for Farke’s side.

On top of that, McAtee has a far better record in the top flight. Aaronson has played one full season in the Premier League, bagging once and assisting three goals, featuring in 36 games and 2383 minutes.

In contrast, the Man City academy graduate has a full season of top-flight football under his belt from Sheffield United. In 30 games, or 1827 minutes, he scored three times and assisted the same number. He also bagged three goals for City in 15 games last term.

The numbers from FBref from their full seasons in the Premier League suggest that McAtee is an upgrade on Aaronson, too.

For example, he averaged 1.23 passes into the penalty area and 2.76 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to the American’s 0.61 passes into the penalty area and 1.63 progressive carries each game.

Goals and assists

0.3

0.15

Goals per shot on target

0.25

0.11

Passes into penalty area

1.23

0.61

Progressive carries

2.67

1,63

Take-ons completed

1.63

1.29

Tackles and interceptions

2.12

1.89

For a fee of around £40m, McAtee would be able to massively upgrade Leeds’ midfield. Whilst Aaronson has put in some good performances under Farke, the consistency with which the City star plays, and the impact he can have in such a short amount of time, stands out.

The 22-year-old could be Farke’s dream option to strengthen Leeds’ midfield and bring more Premier League quality to Elland Road.

Even better than Muniz: Leeds lining up move to sign "dominant" £30m star

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing a striker who is even better than Rodrigo Muniz.

ByDan Emery Jul 31, 2025

Newcastle United’s summer business has so far been defined more by frustration than fulfilment.

Despite a flurry of early talks and promising leads, the club has seen a number of potential deals fall through, including the pursuits of Bryan Mbeumo, João Pedro and Hugo Ekitike.

With pre-season now well underway, and Alexander Isak having withdrawn from the club’s tour of Singapore and South Korea, Newcastle’s recruitment team finds itself under increasing pressure to deliver.

The club’s reluctance to sell Isak remains firm.

While interest from Liverpool is expected, particularly in light of Luis Díaz’s £65.5m move to Bayern, Newcastle have no intention of entertaining offers unless a suitable replacement is found.

Internal sources continue to stress that there is a realistic scenario in which Isak stays, returns to training, and features in the opening weeks of the Premier League season.

Newcastle's Wissa and Sesko alternative

Contingency planning are now in full swing. Benjamin Šeško remains on the radar, and talks are active.

However, club insiders have suggested that another name has quietly moved to the top of the shortlist.

According to The i Paper, Newcastle have made initial contact over a move for the Chelsea and Senegal forward, Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson is seen as a stylistic alternative to Yoane Wissa, who had emerged as the club’s preferred replacement for Callum Wilson before complications arose.

Wissa, who has spent the last four seasons with Brentford, is currently refusing to train in an attempt to push through a move.

Brentford, though, are holding firm on their £50m valuation – justifiable, perhaps, given Wissa’s level of output last season.

Only Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League, and Wissa finished the campaign with 20 goals and four assists across 3,072 minutes of football.

How Jackson compares to Wissa and Isak

However, Brentford’s stance has led Newcastle to explore different options. That search has led to Jackson, a player Chelsea value at £80m.

Newcastle would be prepared to pay closer to £65m, according to the i, roughly the same amount as Hugo Ekitike before Liverpool hijacked the deal.

Jackson’s season at Chelsea has drawn mixed reviews, but those close to the player, like former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel, see enormous potential.

“It’s amazing to see that Nicolas Jackson is taking what I say on board and improving. People were telling me I’ve created a monster of a striker and that’s exactly what I want.”

Well, using data via FBref, Jackson stands out as one of the closest statistical matches in Europe to both Isak and Wissa.

The trio share a remarkably similar output when it comes to progressive attacking actions, shooting efficiency and off-ball contributions.

Alexander Isak

29 (23 goals, 6 assists)

Yoane Wissa

23 (19 goals, 4 assists)

Nicolas Jackson

15 (10 goals, 5 assists)

Last season, Jackson averaged more shots on target per 90 (1.38) than both Wissa (1.27) and Isak (1.34), and his shot-on-target rate (44.7%) placed him between the pair.

He also contributed 2.80 shot-creating actions per 90, slightly below Isak (3.01) but ahead of Wissa (2.13), while posting a solid pass completion rate of 75.9%.

In terms of ball progression, Jackson registered 1.90 progressive carries per 90, again narrowly beating Wissa (1.85) but trailing Isak (2.71).

The one area where he clearly lags is in build-up play: his progressive passing distance was just 35.8 yards per 90, compared to Wissa’s 49.9 and Isak’s 53.7.

Still only 23, he has the tools, and time, to grow into a more complete forward. In contrast to Wissa who turns 29 in September, well outside Newcastle’s preferred recruitment age profile of 24 and under.

Wissa will likely miss a significant stretch of the 2025–26 season due to AFCON. Discipline, however, remains a question mark.

Jackson picked up two high-profile red cards last season, once against Newcastle and once at the Club World Cup against Flamengo, both the result of needless petulance.

It’s a habit that would need to be ironed out under Howe’s structured and emotionally balanced setup.

What makes Jackson such a compelling fit though, is his physical profile. Like Isak, he’s quick across the turf, capable of stretching defensive lines and linking midfield with sharp, short touches. Like Wissa, he thrives on chaos, creating danger through movement and improvisation more than structured playmaking.

There are clear echoes of what Newcastle had hoped to gain from Wissa, and what they currently risk losing in Isak.

Jackson, in many ways, offers a synthesis of both: the explosiveness, unpredictability and penalty-box threat of Wissa, fused with Isak’s finesse and movement.

For a club that is beginning to gear up its squad for both the present and future, without the cushion of Champions League income, the Blues attacker could represent not just a stopgap, but a long-term pillar.

Elanga's new Wood: Big-money CF has agreement in principle to join Newcastle

A striker has reportedly agreed to join Newcastle United.

ByWill Miller Jul 28, 2025

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

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

The international dangerman would be unreal for Arsenal.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 23, 2025

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

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

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

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

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

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

Arsenal informed Alexander Isak is focused on joining Liverpool

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After welcoming a wrath of new signings to Anfield already, Liverpool are not showing any signs of slowing down in the transfer market.

If you thought the arrival of Florian Wirtz for a Premier League record fee of £116m was a big splash, then think again. The Reds could be set to break the British record again before transfer deadline day.

With Darwin Nunez reportedly on his way out of Merseyside, Liverpool’s desire to sign a new striker has been no secret.

Their admiration for a certain Alexander Isak is no secret either, and that move looks as though it’s now gathering momentum.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

What a move this would be, and despite the obstacles surrounding a deal, it does look more likely than it ever has done now.

Indeed, on Tuesday afternoon, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Liverpool have made an approach to sign Isak from Newcastle.

Transfer Focus

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

A formal offer has yet been made and the Toon’s stance remains that they do not want to sell him this summer. Alas, the Reds have signalled their intention to do a deal at £120m.

While the fee certainly complicates things, so does Hugo Ekitike. Newcastle submitted their first bid for the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker on Monday and the word on the street is that he wasn’t going to be an Isak replacement, but someone capable of playing alongside the Swede.

The trouble is, Liverpool are also interested in Ekitike and, according to Fabrizio Romano, Arne Slot’s men will likely look towards signing the Frenchman if they cannot get their hands on Isak.

Liverpool pursuing Isak alternative

With that situation a rather sticky one as far as Liverpool are concerned, perhaps they will look elsewhere in the Premier League.

Reports from French outlet Foot Mercato reported at the start of the week that Liverpool reps have flown to Paris to speak with the agents of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

While the likes of Isak and Ekitike will cost a shedload, any deal for Mateta is likely to be considerably cheaper, with the report stating that he could be sold for something between £43m-£52m if he leaves Selhurst Park this summer.

So, if all else fails, he’d be a great signing right? Well, he certainly stacks up well to Mr Isak.

How Mateta compares to Alexander Isak

Of course, Isak is the dream signing this summer, the Toon’s main man always has been. You don’t score 23 Premier League goals in a single season without catching the eye of other clubs.

Yet, we must not turn our noses up at Mateta either. In the words of the Sportsman he is a “goal-scoring machine” and as Reds writer Ben Bocsak notes, he is one of the “best finishers in the Premier League.”

Indeed, during the 2024/25 campaign, only Isak (25%) and Bryan Mbeumo (24.3%), registered a better season in terms of goal conversions than Mateta’s 23.3%. Mo Salah, for context, delivered a goal conversion rate of 23%. The Eagles centre-forward is already in the conversation of being among the division’s elite attackers.

He ended that term with 14 league goals in 37 outings and has been one of the top-flight’s leading figures in the last two seasons, notably bagging 16 in 35 during 2023/24.

The French sensation is not just a goalscorer either. Like Isak, he’s a proven bagsman in England’s top-flight, but like Isak, he’s also capable of the extraordinary, something we saw when Mateta travelled to the Emirates Stadium and scored an audacious lob against Arsenal.

Isak might be more of a direct runner but they’re both powerful and some statistical similarities can be drawn upon.

Assessing the data, via FBRef, it becomes clear where the key similarities and differences lie.

Shots

2.31

3.10

Shots on target

0.99

1.34

Shot on target %

42.6%

43.2%

Shot distance

15.6 yards

14.5 yards

Key passes

0.99

1.34

Passes into final 3rd

1.16

1.14

Touches

25

33

Successful take on %

43.5%

46.2%

There are obvious differences in the way they beat a player. Isak is more fleet-footed, possessing that dangerous burst of pace to get beyond the defensive line. Mateta, on the other hand, is more likely to outmuscle a centre-back and hold the ball up.

He’s like an “old-fashioned” striker as Thierry Henry once said. Yet, they are actually involved in the play at a similar rate.

They touch the ball a similar number of times per 90 minutes, register a similar number of shots on target and shoot from a similar distance, just beyond the penalty spot. On that evidence, they’re not just out-and-out poachers; they offer goals from distance too.

Isak would be an unbelievable signing for the Reds but in Mateta they could sign a Premier League-proven forward with a similar conversion rate for a fraction of the price. Just imagine what he could do in a team where more chances are created. This move feels like a no-brainer if Ekitike and Newcastle’s number 9 are off the table.

Better than Wirtz: Liverpool preparing £113m bid to sign superstar winger

Liverpool could sign another marquee player this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025

Sunderland fans must still be living in dreamland at the moment.

Putting all of their frantic summer transfer window activity to one side, Black Cats supporters will be firmly on cloud nine regarding their beloved team being back in the Premier League after pulling off a playoff final upset to down Chris Wilder’s heavily fancied Sheffield United.

Since that memorable success at Wembley, Sunderland has been linked with some monumental names and has picked up some terrific additions.

New midfield star Habib Diarra has arrived at the Stadium of Light for a club-record £30m, and the club has also nearly completed a deal for ex-Atletico Madrid defender Reinildo to join the ranks on a free transfer. The Mackems have also agreed a £17m move to sign Noah Sadiki. Talk about making a stamp in the transfer window.

Regis Le Bris’ men won’t be stopping here, however, as a promising Premier League starlet is now tipped to make the switch to Wearside to boost Sunderland’s numbers even more.

Sunderland in race to sign Premier League starlet

As per a report by Football.London, the newly promoted side now find themselves in an intense race to snap up Chelsea youngster Ishe Samuels-Smith this summer.

It’s stated that the Stamford Bridge teenager is very highly rated by those at Enzo Maresca’s outfit, but the Blues want Samuels-Smith to gain more experience of the men’s game, away from solely playing on youth pitches in West London.

It’s clear that he is in Chelsea’s long-term plans when you further consider he penned a new contract recently stretching out until 2031. But, for now, it’s between the Black Cats, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Stoke for his coveted loan signature, with all four teams pushing to sign the youngster after holding club-to-club talks.

Sunderland’s well-known reputation for getting more out of youngsters – as seen in Jobe Bellingham now playing for German behemoth Borussia Dortmund after honing his craft on Wearside – could sway Chelsea’s decision-making here, with Samuels-Smith also potentially going down as a more exciting move to sign off on than Reinildo.

Why Samuels-Smith is a more exciting signing than Reinildo

Whilst the Mozambique international does boast 25 Champions League appearances next to his name across his esteemed career to date, Sunderland have had great success in recent years when taking punts on up-and-coming starlets to come good.

Indeed, just last season saw the Black Cats win promotion with 17-year-old Chris Rigg at the heart of the operation, with the homegrown talent now up to seven strikes in total playing in the senior side, as four of those goals came about during Le Bris and Co’s promotion heroics.

1. Sunderland

22.4

2. Sunderland

22.7

3. Stoke City

22.7

4. Sunderland

22.9

5. Sunderland

22.9

It was seen all across the Frenchman’s various lineups last season, too, as shown looking at the table above, meaning the 19-year-old could go on to be another Rigg-like diamond for the Premier League new boys.

His numbers at youth level for Chelsea seem to push him in that direction too, with the Manchester-born defender helping himself to a promising seven assists from the left-back position across his 47 career appearances for both the Blues at U21 level and also his former side in Everton.

On the other hand, the incoming African has only managed to amass two goal contributions from the left-back spot across his entire senior career.

Of course, those were picked up in some more challenging environments than just youth football, but with Samuels-Smith also showing off an adaptable side to his game in the U21 scene by being capable of playing in the centre-back areas on top of slotting in as a left winger, it does feel as if this is a pick-up more in-keeping with Sunderland long-term, over acquiring the 30-year-old free agent.

While Reinildo will likely get more first-team minutes straight off the bat, Samuels-Smith has “incredible” potential, in the words of David Unsworth, and has been lauded as “one of England’s best [defensive] prospects” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Therefore, do not rule out Sunderland working their magic on yet another teen sensation.

Biggest talent since Le Fee: Sunderland plotting to sign £21m “phenomenon”

Sunderland could soon seal a deal that’s even bigger than Enzo Le Fee’s statement addition.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 2, 2025

By their own usual standards, it’s been a very quiet transfer window at Nottingham Forest so far – albeit while having reportedly completed the £10m capture of Botafogo striker, Igor Jesus.

During their first two seasons back in the Premier League, the Garibaldi signed 24 and then 11 more senior players, before just the ten additions were made last season.

So now, with the confirmation of Jesus’ deal seemingly imminent, are they about to ramp up their transfer business even further?

Nottingham Forest chasing defensive reinforcements

Of course, following last season’s seventh-place finish, Nottingham Forest are preparing to feature in European competition for the first time since 1995/96, dumped out by Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Cup back then.

This time, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are currently scheduled to feature in the Conference League, although they could be catapulted into the Europa League, if Crystal Palace are thrown out of the competition due to multi-club ownership rules.

Either way, they’re going to have exponentially more matches to content with, so will require a bigger squad, hence why a report by Turkish outlet Fanatik claims Forest are lining up a £13m offer for centre-back Arseniy Batagov, albeit with his club Trabzonspor holding out for closer to £17m.

The 23-year-old Ukrainian began his senior career at Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, before joining Zorya Luhansk, making 63 appearances for them and catching the eye of Trabzonspor, who signed him for around £1.5m a year ago.

Transfer Focus

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

Batagov has earned international recognition too, starting all three of Ukraine’s matches at last summer’s Olympic Games, before also doing the same at last month’s U21 Euros, captaining his country against the Netherlands in Prešov.

So now, could he be on his way to the City Ground?

How Arseniy Batahov would improve Nottingham Forest

Despite their run to the FA Cup semi-finals, Nottingham Forest played just 44 matches across all competitions last season, while there is the potential for them to play 17 in Europe alone this time round, should they get all the way to the final, so more options will be required.

Fair to say, Nuno’s starting centre-backs remained settled throughout the campaign, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

36

37

26

6

Starts

36

37

6

1

Minutes

3,330

3,188

907

150

% of total mins

93.2%

97.4%

26.5%

4.4%

Club rank for mins

3rd

2nd

14th

21st

In short, what the table emphasises is the fact that Nikola Milenković and Murillo played almost every minute of every game last season, which is understandable, given that Adrian Clarke of the Premier League argued that they were the best pairing in the division.

Morato, meantime, was primarily used alongside the aforementioned duo when Nuno switched to a back three, often in-game, while fourth-choice option Willy Boly saw 250 minutes fewer than James Ward-Prowse, despite the fact he returned to West Ham in January, underlining his lack of importance.

This time, however, Milenković and Murillo cannot start, potentially in excess of, 60 games, so a capable deputy will be required.

Well, Batahov appears to have the attributes to be that player, described as “quality” by Hayatımız Futbol, who also praise his “positioning” and “play-making ability” from the back. Like Murillo, the promising left-footer typically operates at left centre-back.

Meantime, he has also been labelled as Ukraine’s next ‘promising prodigy’, making 23 appearances for Trabzonspor this season, most notably starting May’s Türkiye Kupası Final against Galatasaray, as his side were beaten 3-0 in Gaziantep.

Batahov scored en route to the final against İskenderunspor, but his campaign was largely hampered by various injuries, although it says something about his quality that there is still Premier League interest in him.

Like Murillo, when he arrived from Corinthians for a reported £15m two summers ago after making just 27 appearances for the Brazilian side, not too much is known about Batahov.

That said, this wildcard move, in the mould of Murillo’s capture, could lead to a repeat success, as the Ukrainian certainly has the potential to improve and become a star, just as his potential future teammate has done at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest now ready to make £21m offer for "superb" midfielder

The Tricky Trees are now prepared to make an opening bid for a midfielder, having recently made contact over a potential deal.

ByDominic Lund Jul 1, 2025

Sunderland are now close to reaching an agreement over the signing of an “absolutely sensational” player, according to a key update from journalist Loic Jego.

Perhaps the major piece of Black Cats transfer business that has emerged recently is their pursuit of OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who is considered a top summer target.

Sunderland are believed to be in talks with the 25-year-old over a move to the Stadium of Light, as Regis Le Bris strengthens his options between the sticks ahead of his side’s return to the Premier League in August.

A five-cap Poland international, Bulka has plenty of pedigree as a top-level player, and Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is an admirer, calling him “superb” after coming up against him in Ligue 1.

Sunderland supporters will surely be keen on seeing the Pole complete a move to the club as soon as possible, and now a fresh update has emerged regarding their interest in him.

Sunderland close to agreement with Bulka

Now, according to Jego on X, an agreement between Sunderland and Bulka is now “imminent”, as the Black Cats close in on a new signing.

This is fantastic news for Sunderland, who know the importance of doing significant transfer business, in order to avoid a swift return to the Championship next season.

Bulka now has made 73 appearances in Ligue 1, as well as enjoying six Europa League outings, while scout Jacek Kulig has lauded the Nice stopper as an “absolutely sensational” goalkeeper.

In Anthony Patterson, Sunderland already have one excellent option in goal, with the Englishman such an influential presence last season, starting 45 of his side’s 46 Championship matches, but there have been teams sniffing around for his signature.

Competition for places is vital in the Premier League anyway however, and Le Bris will know that he has to be ruthless in leaving good players in reserve, assuming the latter stays at the club this summer.

He'd be amazing with Bulka: Sunderland in the race to sign £7m sensation

Sunderland could really improve their defensive options by landing this star alongside Marcin Bulka.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 27, 2025

Bulka feels like a signing of intent for Sunderland, and there is still plenty of time for the Black Cats to complete further business between now and the end of the transfer window.

It’s happened. It’s finally happened. Liverpool have agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Florian Wirtz.

Though the saga feels to have dragged on somewhat over the past several weeks, sporting director Richard Hughes has been engineering a British-record deal, juggling other significant transfers besides.

While the minutiae still need to be sorted out, Liverpool have “verbally agreed a deal in principle”, reports transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, with a “move now imminent.”

Rumours pertaining to Luis Diaz’s summer sale are persisting, with Barcelona determined to get the deal over the line, and thus, the agreement has come at the perfect time.

Attacking midfield

163

51

57

Centre-forward

11

4

4

Right winger

11

4

3

Left winger

9

2

3

Central midfield

5

0

3

However, Wirtz isn’t really a wide player, even though his dribbling skills are among the finest in the business. Indeed, if the Colombian does go, FSG may need to dip their toes right back into the transfer market.

Why Liverpool want a winger

Diaz showcased his wonderful skills on international duty for Colombia. He scored a sensational solo goal, all fleet feet and party tricks to outplay the Argentine defenders, and perhaps reminded Liverpool fans that it would take some doing to find an upgrade.

Diaz is 28 and entering the next-to-last year of his Liverpool contract. Barcelona made a recent approach and were rebuffed, but their interest remains and Liverpool, while publicly stressing their desire to keep the winger, would entertain the right offer for sure.

It’s understood the Reds would entertain offers ranging between £60m and £70m this summer. Lowballers would find themselves incurring the wrath of Liverpool’s obstinance, with FSG willing to run down the South American’s contract, making use of the prime years of his career.

However, if Liverpool do lose Diaz, they will need to find a replacement. Anthony Gordon’s name has floated about, but Slot and Richard Hughes seem to have an even better fit in mind.

Liverpool join race for star winger

As per Football Insider, Liverpool are interested in signing AC Milan’s Rafael Leao this summer; after the Serie A side’s wretched campaign, missing out on Europe, they may reluctantly sell.

With Liverpool’s scouts having kept a close eye on the 26-year-old, a deal may be forthcoming in the coming months, although a number of Premier League clubs – Arsenal have been namechecked – are also in the running. Milan would be looking to bank around £64m from the player’s sale.

Gordon has also been named as a potential option, but the Portuguese winger perhaps has a higher ceiling, and who better to help him reach it than Slot?

Why Liverpool want Rafael Leao

Ryan Gravenberch was crowned the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for 2024/25, refashioned as he was into a deep-lying, counter-pressing number six.

Slot made his clock start ticking, a priceless success after FSG failed to convince the now Arsenal-bound Martin Zubimendi to leave his beloved mountains in the Basque Country (no bitterness at all from us Liverpool fans here).

Given the improvements Cody Gakpo underwent last term, Leao would be understood to want to leap at the chance to join Slot’s project.

Praised for his “world-class ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leao has been one of Italian football’s standout players for several years, hitting 12 goals and 13 assists across all competitions last season in spite of his side’s struggles.

In Serie A alone, Sofascore record that he has averaged 1.4 dribbles and key passes per fixture, as well as 4.5 successful duels per game.

Gordon’s no stranger to a combative sequence himself, but is it fair to say that Leao boasts more completeness in his application? Writer Theo Mwangi even went as far as to dub the Iberian native a “superstar” when he’s on his A-game.

Regressing in terms of output, Gordon might not have had the best year on Tyneside, but in 2023/24, he was awarded Newcastle’s Player of the Season award after notching 28 goal contributions across all competitions.

However, football is more than just goals and assists, especially for wingers (Diaz would be among the first to attest to that), and Leao has showcased across the past year a more robust and effective underlying skill set than that of his English counterpart.

Goals

0.32

0.22

Assists

0.26

0.18

Shots taken

2.37

2.11

Shot-creating actions

4.13

3.73

Touches (att pen)

6.15

4.73

Progressive passes

3.58

3.62

Progressive carries

4.74

4.47

Successful take-ons

2.83

1.41

Gordon might declare himself a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, but he needs to be more active and incisive with his natural skills, for Leao has thoroughly outstripped him since the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign.

Given that Newcastle would be looking for payment in the ballpark of £80m, it’s clear that Leao would be the better pick, cheaper and perhaps more suited to Slot’s intense playing style.

Both players need to hit richer veins of consistency to step up and become part of the true elite, but Diaz has been a bona fide success on Merseyside, and he’s not exactly blessed with the potency of Mohamed Salah.

FBref’s data has even drawn AC Milan’s star up as being a statistically similar player to Liverpool’s Colombian maverick, so replacing him with Leao seems like something of a no-brainer.

Liverpool have some thinking to do over the coming weeks. It’s worth reiterating that all this will only come into play if Diaz is sold – and if he is, there’s no better replacement out there than Leao.

He'd be better than Gyokeres: Liverpool hold talks to sign "the new Mbappe"

Liverpool are looking to sign a new striker in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 10, 2025

Leeds United have already been linked with plenty of potential signings in the summer transfer window, which opened for business last Sunday.

The Whites know that they will need to recruit well ahead of a season in the Premier League, and that has been reflected in the transfer links that have cropped up.

Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder Yves Bissouma, Hamburg centre-forward Davie Selke, and Newcastle United number nine Callum Wilson are just three names that have been reported as targets for the club in recent days.

Whether or not the Whites will be able to get any of those deals over the line remains to be seen, though, as it is all speculation at this moment in time.

One player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road this summer is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Why Leeds should sign Manor Solomon permanently

It was reported last month that the Israel international would be interested in speaking to the club about a permanent move to West Yorkshire after his initial loan spell, but there has not been an update on Leeds making an official approach for him since then.

It could, though, make a lot of sense for the West Yorkshire outfit to pursue a deal to bring Solomon back to the club on a permanent basis, because of how well he performed in the Championship.

The 25-year-old wizard, who is heading into the peak years of his career, joined on loan from Spurs last summer and established himself as the first-choice option on the left flank for Daniel Farke on the way to the title.

Solomon showcased an ability to provide goals and assists on a regular basis from a left wing position, albeit he is largely unproven in the Premier League, with just four goals in 24 top-flight matches in his career to date.

Appearances

39

xG

8.15

Goals

10

Big chances created

21

Key passes per game

1.7

Assists

12

Dribbles completed per game

1.8

As you can see in the table above, the Spurs winger delivered 22 goals and assists in 39 appearances, which was a very respectable return for the forward.

This is why he could be an exciting addition for Leeds ahead of the Premier League season, as he has shown that he can provide plenty of quality in the final third in a Farke system.

However, Leeds are now being linked with another left-sided attacker who could come in as an even better signing than Solomon for Farke this summer.

Brazilian forward open to Leeds United transfer

According to LeedsLive, Feyenoord attacker Igor Paixao is open to a transfer to Leeds United in the summer transfer window, if an offer comes in for him.

The report claims that the Brazilian winger would be willing to consider a move to Elland Road if the club came in with personal terms that could convince him to make the switch.

Transfer Focus

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

LeedsLive, however, adds that Leeds have yet to make contact over a deal for the Eredivisie sensation, which means that any transfer is still in the very early stages.

It has been reported earlier this summer that Feyenoord are reportedly looking for a fee of £34m for the 24-year-old winger, who has also been linked with a move to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Whilst the Whites have yet to make contact with the Dutch giants over a deal for the Brazilian wing wizard, it should come as good news that the player is open to making the move to Elland Road if the option is there this summer.

With this in mind, the 49ers could forget about Solomon, despite him still being an attractive target, by bringing Paixao in as an even better signing.

Why Igor Paixao would be better than Manor Solomon

Firstly, it is worth bearing in mind that Leeds are likely to be competing at the bottom end of the table, battling against relegation, in the Premier League.

This means that what their wingers can offer defensively will also be important, as they will need to track back to help their full-back out when the team is under pressure at times.

Solomon averaged 1.1 tackles and interceptions per game in the Championship this season, whilst Paixao averaged 1.7 tackles and interceptions per match in the Eredivisie. This suggests that the Brazilian star could offer more out of possession than the Spurs loanee did, by making more defensive interventions each game.

However, there is also the in-possession element of what they can offer in the Premier League, and the £34m-rated attacker’s performances in the Eredivisie suggest that he could be an exciting addition for Leeds.

Paixao delivered 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Feyenoord this term, after a return of 12 goals and three assists in the 2023/24 campaign, and was particularly impressive in the Dutch top-flight.

Appearances

34

39

xG

10.56

8.15

Goals

16

10

Big chances created

12

21

Key passes per game

2.1

1.7

Assists

10

12

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds target produced more goals and assists combined and made more key passes per game than Solomon did for the Whites in the Championship, whilst playing in a top-flight European league instead of a second tier.

Paixao, dubbed an “electric” player by one scout on X, could arrive at Elland Road to provide a greater threat in front of goal, particularly as a goalscorer, than the Israel international.

Neither of them are entirely proven in the Premier League, though, but the Feyenoord star’s output in a respected European league in the Netherlands suggests that he would be an even better signing than Solomon.

Way better than Aaronson: Leeds eyeing move for "infectious" EFL "standout"

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing a star who would be way better than Brenden Aaronson.

ByDan Emery May 30, 2025

It is now down to Leeds to take advantage of the winger reportedly being open to a move to Elland Road to win the race for his signature before the end of the summer transfer window to bolster Farke’s squad.