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After agreeing a deal to sign Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United have reportedly turned their attention towards landing an upgrade on Andre Onana this month.

Man Utd agree deal to sign Sesko

Dealing Newcastle United another transfer blow, Manchester United have now agreed a deal to sign RB Leipzig’s Sesko worth an initial £66m before add-ons. Spending big once again, the Red Devils have now completed their attacking overhaul by welcoming three instant upgrades for Ruben Amorim this summer.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Sesko	Cunha	Mbeumo
Minutes	2,380	2,597	3,414
Goals	13	15	20
Assists	5	6	7
Expected Goals	10	8.6	12.3

Not only have Manchester United added a combined 48 goals to their frontline, they’ve also added three clinical goalscorers. Last season, Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all outperformed their expected goals by at least three as they remained lethal in front of goal throughout their respective campaigns.

Amorim has already spoken about the quality that Cunha, in particular, will add to his side – telling reporters: “He’s a loud guy that’s really important in this moment. When he’s upset, you can feel it in the environment and that’s good.

“When you play some games and he loses, he’s a different guy, and that’s good. He has some characteristics that we miss last season, so I’m really happy with him and the other guys.”

Perfect for Cunha: PL "monster" is now keen to join Man Utd after Sesko

Manchester United have wasted no time in making moves in the market after landing Benjamin Sesko.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 8, 2025

Now, he’s likely to hand Sesko a similar welcome as Manchester United gear up for a blockbuster opening game against Arsenal next weekend. If Amorim is looking to find out exactly where his side are at then their face off against Mikel Arteta’s side should certainly help.

That said, there is still work to be done on the transfer front even after Sesko and it now looks as though the focus has turned towards upgrading on Onana.

Man Utd targeting Senne Lammens

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are still targeting a move to sign Senne Lammens and the Royal Antwerp shot-stopper “is on the list” of targets at Old Trafford.

The transfer expert said in his GiveMeSport transfer newsletter: “Now focus is on midfielder. Goalkeeper can be a possibility, Lammens from Antwerp remains a name on the list.”

As Romano claims, a midfielder is also the focus for the Red Devils and then they may go full steam ahead to replace Onana. The former Inter Milan goalkeeper struggled again last season and, whilst they’re in the mood to spend big, United may land an instant upgrade this month.

Just who arrives is the big question. The biggest name mentioned so far has been Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Paris Saint-Germain star is reportedly in a contract standoff with the French giants and now looks destined to leave either this summer or when his contract expires next year.

With Manchester City also interested in the Italian, however, United could yet be forced to turn towards Lammens. At 23 years old, the Belgian – who analyst Ben Mattinson believes has an “elite potential” – wouldn’t exactly be a bad alternative.

It’s safe to say that Arsenal’s pre-season of 2025 hasn’t been the best. Attacking fluency has been lacking and the same old patterns in the final third have been evident.

As Myles Lewis-Skelly acknowledged on Saturday, the Gunners needed to make a “statement” ahead of the Premier League’s return next weekend and did just that in their final pre-season game.

At last, Mikel Arteta’s men looked fluent, they looked in the groove and they looked like title challengers again.

During a 3-0 win over Athletic Club, Bukayo Saka bagged his second of pre-season but the biggest noise was reserved for new star striker, Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede didn’t score a single league goal with his head last term but his first goal in Arsenal colours came as a header. Martin Zubimendi’s teasing cross from the right found Gyokeres who darted across his marker and found the back of the net.

The Swede is up and running but Arteta needs more attacking reinforcements before the window slams shut.

Arsenal's remaining transfer activity

There is a sense that Arsenal need to sell before they can dive back into the market again but time is running out and the north Londoners need some more spice in their forward line.

Gyokeres is done and sealed, as too is Noni Madueke, but another winger would certainly go down a treat.

Eberechi Eze remains the number one target for the remaining weeks of the window but Arsenal have not been forthcoming with a bid yet despite talks with the player’s representatives behind the scenes.

It’s been widely reported that Andrea Berta and Co will need to meet his £68m release clause in order to prise him away from Selhurst Park but a cheaper alternative may well be emerging.

Transfer Focus

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

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Indeed, according to reports in Spain, Arsenal are very much interested in Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman with it suggested that they are preparing a bid of £39m.

Lookman has attracted the interest of Inter Milan this summer and the Italian giants are in the driving seat to secure the Nigerian’s signature.

Inter have already seen a bid rejected and Arsenal could now pounce on the situation, with the report noting that Lookman’s name is ‘being mentioned strongly’ in north London as a possible option.

No formal negotiations have taken place yet but the player wants out of Atalanta so things could accelerate swiftly if Berta coughed up the necessary funds.

Why Lookman could be Arsenal's new Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal may have Saka in their ranks but it’s been a long old while since the Gunners had a truly prolific wide forward in their ranks.

Indeed, after the arrival of Gyokeres, signing another winger has been the biggest demand from supporters.

The likes of Eze and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have both been linked but Lookman, a player possessing experience of English football already, is more of a goalscorer than both of those players.

Possessing the ability to play off the left or as a central striker, he certainly boasts positional similarities to Alexis who began his Arsenal career off the left but became a devastating centre forward at the Emirates.

During his debut campaign in England, the Chilean superstar scored 25 goals in all competitions, 18 of which came in 30 appearances from the left wing.

Alexis Sanchez in English football

Season (club)

Games

Goals

Assists

2014/15 (Arsenal)

52

25

12

2015/16 (AFC)

41

17

10

2016/17 (AFC)

51

30

18

2017/18 (AFC & MUFC)

40

11

9

2018/19 (Man Utd)

27

2

4

Stats via Transfermarkt.

A 17-goal campaign followed in 2015/16 and then in 2016/17, his best in London, Sanchez scored 30 times, 17 of which came in 24 outings as a centre-forward.

Not just a goalscorer, Alexis was dazzling with the ball at his feet. During that 2016/17 campaign, only four players – Eden Hazard (143), Wilfried Zaha (142) and Adama Traore (136) – completed more dribbles in the Premier League than the Chile international (109).

Well, Lookman is certainly cut from a similar cloth. Hailed as “one of the best forwards in Europe” by journalist Oma Akatugba, he has certainly shown that since moving to Italy.

Last season, the former Everton man found the net on 20 occasions in 40 games. During the 2023/24 term, he scored 17, seven of which came on the left wing and a further seven came as a centre-forward.

Like Sanchez, he’s versatile. Like Sanchez, he’s also an incredible dribbler. Indeed, no Serie A player attempted more dribbles (186), or had more touches in box (170) last season.

It’s safe to say that the 27-year-old has come a long way since his days at Charlton, Everton and Fulham. He’s now an elite forward who could transform Arsenal’s threat from the left-hand side of the pitch.

Related Arteta's next Rice: Arsenal hoping to sign "phenomenal" £104m talent

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 9, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A derrota por 1 a 0 do Corinthians diante do Argentinos Juniors, pela Libertadores, deixou a torcida corintiana ainda mais revoltada com Fernando Lázaro. Tanto na arquibancada quanto nas redes sociais, torcedores protestaram e pediram a saída do treinador. Com ampla história no clube, ele disse entender o lado do torcedor, mas não se mostrou afetado pelas cobranças.

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+Fernando Lázaro tem noite desastrosa e leva a pior nota em derrota do Corinthians

– Não misturo (torcida com trabalho). Não me impacta nesse sentido. O torcedor está assim por uma derrota em casa, que não acontecia faz tempo. Sei o sentimento e o que gera esse resultado, aliado ao resultado da Copa do Brasil. Gera cobrança do torcedor. Entendo o sentimento do torcedor. Vamos buscar melhorar. Saímos triste pelo resultado. Entendo a cobrança – falou o técnico corintiano na coletiva de imprensa.

+ Assine o Star+ por apenas R$32,90 por mês e acompanhe o Timão na Libertadores quando e onde quiser!

O treinador também foi questionado se estaria disposto a entregar o cargo em meio a sequência negativa do Timão, mas disse que está focado em acabar com a oscilação da equipe. Mesmo com a derrota, Lázaro acredita que o grupo do Timão na Libertadores está aberto.

– Temos oscilado, a sequência tem sido de alternância de resultados e desempenhos. Não é ruim, mas tem alternado, e isso nos incomoda. Os resultados negativos, como hoje, não são o objetivo, queremos constância. Conseguimos resultado fora na competição, e depois esse resultado em casa seria importante para consolidação e valorização dos pontos fora. Sabemos que está em aberto, grupo difícil. Temos o Del Valle. Penso em trabalhar, ir buscando corrigir, melhorar e estamos batalhando nesse sentido, de menos oscilação de um jogo para outro – ponderou o técnico.

BALBUENA

Uma das surpresas na escalação inicial do Corinthians foi Balbuena, já que Bruno Méndez vinha formando parceria com Gil. O paraguaio novamente não foi bem e foi um dos culpados pelo gol do Argentinos Juniors na partida.

Além da análise da derrota, Lázaro justificou a opção por Balbuena afirmando que ele neutralizaria a força no jogo aéreo da equipe argentina.

+ Veja tabela e a situação do grupo do Timão na Libertadores

– Partida que não iniciamos bem, tomamos gol cedo, isso acelerou um pouco, enervou. Era um jogo de paciência, contra um adversário forte, que buscava atrair uma primeira marcação para uma bola que fosse colocada em disputa, ou buscando o espaço na defesa para criar situações. Isso é um pouco a opção pelo Balbuena, é uma bola que eles utilizam bastante, o pivô, e tendo consciência disso, entendemos que era um jogo para muita disputa aérea. Ele teve bem nessas disputas, muitas situações, o adversário exigia isso, por isso a opção – explicou Lázaro.

O Timão volta a campo pela Libertadores no dia 2 de maio, contra o Independiente del Valle, na Neo Química Arena. Antes, o clube alvinegro enfrenta Goiás e Palmeiras, pelo Brasileirão, e tentará reverter a desvantagem contra o Remo, pela Copa do Brasil.

continua após a publicidade

Tottenham Hotspur’s rooted strategy in signing exciting young talents and developing them into high-class players capable of thriving in the Premier League preceded the glittery early days of Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.

But perhaps the Londoners lacked a bit of experience to help guide them through the stormy spells any season will bring. The lowly top-flight finish ended Postecoglou’s frenzied spell at the helm, a two-year stint that elicited every range of emotion from the Spurs faithful and culminated with triumph in the Europa League, thus restoring Tottenham’s place in the Champions League.

While the Lilywhites have created a foundation with their historic victory over Manchester United, it’s crucial that the secured silverware is used as a springboard for sustained success over the coming years.

In order to do this, Tottenham are going to need to hit the mark with their transfer priorities, piecing a team together that is fit for purpose at the highest level of the Premier League.

Spurs' transfer priorities this summer

Uncertainty continues to reign over Cristian Romero’s future in the English capital. The Argentina centre-back is being chased by Atletico Madrid, who are willing to spend around £60m to bring him over to La Liga.

Frank is desperate to keep hold of his defensive anchor. However, the Danish tactician does seem keen on bolstering his ranks with a slick attacking full-back – the £45m-rated Antonee Robinson is on the radar – and a winger to replace Heung-min Son, should the iconic captain leave.

While he wouldn’t have strictly been a direct replacement, the powers that be down at N17 were desperate to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo as Tottenham’s new goalscoring winger supreme, but he’s rejected advances from all but United and is edging closer to a transfer to Old Trafford.

Midfield is in less need of reinforcements, but the pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze denotes an interest in signing a creative midfielder to contest for a starting berth with the likes of James Maddison.

However, with Eze fixed in Arsenal’s sights, Daniel Levy seems to have shifted his attention elsewhere.

Spurs join race for sought-after midfielder

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham have joined the race for SL Benfica midfielder Orkun Kokcu, who is anticipated to be available this summer for the right price.

Kokcu would fetch a €40m (£34m) fee, having impressed across his two terms with Benfica. Spurs are alongside Manchester United, Tottenham and Inter Milan in their interest; however, the player is thought to favour a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

The 24-year-old worked under Arne Slot at Feyenoord, but Frank’s new project, offering the promise of Champions League football, could see the Londoners sign an exciting new creative presence.

Why Spurs wants Orkun Kokcu

Kokcu is still young in his professional career, but he has already accomplished so much. Joining Benfica from Feyenoord for around €30m (£25m) in June 2023, he’s chalked up 19 goals and 22 assists over 98 appearances in all competitions.

Once heralded as “one of the best midfielders in the country” by football legend Jaap Stam, while plying his trade in Holland, Kokcu opted against taking a move to one of Europe’s elite and instead focused on fostering his talents with Benfica, now more complete for it.

And given that he’s been praised as a “leader” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, this rising star might turn out to be the galvanising midfield force to spearhead the Frank era.

Who knows, maybe he’ll even come to be an upgrade on Maddison.

Matches (starts)

33 (30)

31 (21)

Goals

7

9

Assists

7

7

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.7)

1.3 (0.5)

Big chances missed

2

5

Pass completion

86%

87%

Big chances created

12

6

Key passes*

2.3

1.3

Dribbles*

0.3

1.1

Ball recoveries*

5.6

2.5

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Duels won*

3.0 (47%)

4.3 (53%)

As you can see, Kokcu is more than capable of matching Maddison’s immense creative qualities – an aptitude which has indeed seen the England international hailed as a “magician” by the likes of statistician Statman Dave in the past.

Moreover, the 28-year-old playmaker’s two terms with Tottenham have been frustratingly defined by regular injury setbacks. Given that Kokcu is four years his junior, there’s plenty of scope for growth with Frank might want to take advantage of.

While Spurs’ man is somewhat more combative than Kokcu, the Turkey talent is even more creative and clinical besides. Indeed, having missed just two big chances in the Primeira Liga last season, scoring seven goals, he’s got the goalscoring edge that could be channelled in a similar fashion as his counterpart here.

And the proof is in the pudding, for Kokcu, indeed, has demonstrated his ability to stand out against high-level Premier League opposition.

While Maddison is an incredible, dynamic midfielder, he’s got his flaws, and in Kokcu, Tottenham could get their hands on a pass master with the ever-widening scope that is required for success at the highest level.

After all, he managed to throw down with the heavy hitters in last season’s Champions League, finishing the campaign ranked among the top 15% of midfielders for goals scored and shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive passes and the top 13% for completed through balls per 90, as per FBref.

Tottenham might not be able to sign one of their top targets in Eze, but by moving for Kokcu, Frank could get his hands on an astute signing who has so much room for growth – potentially even turning out better, more consistent, than Maddison.

Dele 2.0: Spurs open talks to re-sign the Championship's "best full-back"

Tottenham are looking to make some shrewd signings ahead of the 2025/26 season.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 4, 2025

Leeds United have already made several moves in an attempt to bolster their playing squad ahead of their return to the Premier League next season.

The summer transfer window has been open for many weeks now, and the Championship champions have added Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Sebastiaan Bornauw to the group.

The Whites reportedly agreed a fee of around £5m with Wolfsburg to bring Bornauw to Elland Road as their most recent addition to the squad, to bolster their centre-back ranks.

Daniel Farke now has a plethora of central defensive options to choose from, including Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu, Bijol, and Bornauw, although he recently lost one when Max Wober completed a loan move to Werder Bremen.

The German head coach will be hoping that he now has enough quality in that position to form the core of a strong defensive unit that will lead the team to Premier League survival.

It does remain to be seen, though, exactly what sort of role Bornauw will play for Leeds next term, having been signed after Bijol, with Rodon and Struijk also already at the club.

Why Sebastiaan Bornauw may not be a starter for Leeds

The competition that he has ahead of him in the centre-back position suggests that the Belgian central defender has been brought in to provide depth at the back.

That is not to say that it is impossible for him to emerge as a starting calibre-option for Farke if his performances are good enough, but it currently looks like Rodon and Struijk, who were regular starters in the Championship, and Bijol, who has been signed for £15m, are ahead of him in the pecking order.

Another reason why Bornauw may be viewed as a back-up option by Farke initially is because of his lengthy career injury history in Germany.

During his time with Koln and Wolfsburg, the Belgium international has missed a lot of matches through injury in his career, which is a slight concern.

Sebastiaan Bornauw’s injury history

Season

Injuries

Games missed

24/25

4

18

23/24

1

2

21/22

1

2

20/21

1

13

19/20

1

2

18/19

3

19

16/17

1

12

Stats via Transfermarkt

However, as you can see in the table above, Bornauw missed 18 games through injury, with four separate issues, in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he has a recent track record of being consistently unavailable.

This does not suggest that Bornauw is the sort of player who Farke can reasonably rely on to be available to start week-in-week-out in the Premier League, which is why he may not be viewed as a starter, at least at this moment in time.

Leeds, however, are now reportedly interested in signing another defender who would come in as an even better signing than the former Wolfsburg man, as he could be a starter for the Premier League new boys.

Leeds closing in on new defender

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are close to securing a deal to sign Lille left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson to bolster their squad.

The report claims that the Whites are closing in on a swoop for the Sweden international, as they look to make him their fourth signing of the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

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It adds that talks are continuing over a potential move for the 26-year-old full-back, but it remains to be seen how much money it will take to strike an agreement with Lille, as he is valued at around £6m by Transfermarkt.

The Yorkshire Evening Post also reveals that Gudmundsson could fly to England on Sunday to finalise a switch to West Yorkshire if all goes well in negotiations, possibly to complete a medical and agree personal terms.

This latest update suggests that the Whites could have their fourth signing in the building in short order, and he could be an even better signing than their third one.

Why Gudmundsson could be a better signing than Bornauw

Leeds could secure an even better signing than Bornauw by getting a deal over the line to bring Gudmundsson to Elland Road in the coming days, because he has the potential to be a regular starter in the defence.

Whilst the Belgian colossus may be a back-up option initially, for the aforementioned reasons, the Swedish star would arrive as the only senior left-back at the club.

Junior Firpo has already moved on from West Yorkshire and Sam Byram’s future remains a mystery, as his deal expired at the end of last month, which means that Farke does not have any senior options in that position.

Gudmundsson, who started 20 matches in Ligue 1 for Lille last season, would be in pole position to be the starting left-back for Leeds next term, because there are currently no players in the building who could challenge him for that role.

This means that the left-footed whiz could join the club as an immediate starting-calibre option for Farke, whilst Bornauw may begin the season as a back-up centre-back initially.

Stats *per 90

Gudmundsson (24/25 Ligue 1)

Percentile rank vs full-backs

Pass accuracy

82%

Top 31%

Progressive passes*

4.59

Top 34%

Progressive carries*

3.58

Top 5%

Successful take-ons*

1.01

Top 30%

Non-penalty goals*

0.10

Top 20%

Crosses into penalty area

0.50

Top 36%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Gudmundsson showcased a lot of quality in possession for Lille in his appearances in the French top-flight last season, ranking highly as a progressive left-back, who can get his team up the pitch with both passes and carries.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star, who was described as a “fun” player and a “risk-taker” by reporter Joe Donnohue, could suit Farke’s ball-dominant style of play, as he is comfortable in possession and has shown he can consistently progress play down the left whilst playing in a major European league.

Overall, Gudmundsson appears to have the quality to step in as an immediate starter for Leeds, as a direct replacement for Firpo, which suggests that he will come in as a key operator in the Premier League next season.

Related Farke's new Rutter: Leeds now showing strong interest in £11m star

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Posts 1 ByRobbie Walls Jul 6, 2025

Bornauw, however, may have to settle for a back-up role, at least at first, and that is why the Lille star would come in as an even better signing for the club in the here and now.

Is this really Liverpool? Remarkably, FSG are firing on all cylinders in the summer transfer market, acting with the viciousness of the champions that they are.

Indeed, Arne Slot led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season, shouldering the unenviable weight of Jurgen Klopp’s still-warm seat in the dugout. And he did it with minimal investment, only welcoming Federico Chiesa to the fold for £12.5m in August 2024.

FSG have long towed the line between shrewdness and frugality in transfer windows, but with Michael Edwards back in the boardroom, there’s a newfound sense of awareness that Anfield stands atop a mountainous pile of European clubs vying for the ascendancy.

But for all the Florian Wirtz’s, the Jeremie Frimpong’s and Milos Kerkez’s, there are some outgoings in the pipeline too.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s already gone, and the 31-year-old Andy Robertson is being chased by Atletico Madrid. And the backline is set for more shake-up, with Jarell Quansah on the brink of a move abroad.

Why Liverpool are selling Jarell Quansah

Quansah, 22, is a fantastic talent. Across the past two campaigns, he has proven himself worthy of a place in Liverpool’s first team, winning the Carabao Cup and the English top flight and appearing 58 times in total.

However, he suffered a setback right at the start of Slot’s tenure, withdrawn at half-time during the season opener against Ipswich Town, Slot later citing his team’s lack of success in the duel as the reason behind the tweak.

Features proved few and far between over the next several months, and though the English ace played a larger role over the later months of the term, he will no doubt be frustrated by his lack of opportunities.

It’s for this reason that negotiations have moved apace with Bayer Leverkusen, who are closing on an agreement for the transfer of Quansah, worth €40m (£34m).

A formal bid has not yet been made, but all parties expect an agreeable resolution, with personal terms not thought to be an issue.

As such, Liverpool will need to sign themselves a replacement – and they’ve got one in mind all right.

Liverpool set to bid for new centre-back

According to The Telegraph, Liverpool are expected to make a ‘significant offer’ for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who helped his side win the FA Cup in May.

Though a formal approach has not yet been made, Scott Wilson of the Northern Echo has reported that the Reds are ‘firm favourites’ to sign the central defender, with Football Insider even stating that he’s told friends he “wants to join Liverpool”.

Guehi is entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, so although Tottenham Hotspur tabled a £70m bid in January, Eagles chairman Steve Parish will know that his bargaining chips are diminishing, for the Reds could snap him up on a free next year.

Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Guehi’s contract situation means FSG hold the cards (or, at least, more than they would have a year or two ago). And it’s a good thing, for the central defender is one of the most talented and complete defenders in the Premier League.

A strong and secure presence, Oliver Glasner has unlocked a new level of ball-playing quality at Palace that Guehi has latched onto and used to foster his technical skill.

Last season, he was an iron-solid star for his side, instrumental in beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup.

The 24-year-old is entering his prime years and has now acquired a certain taste for silver, but it’s not the Magpies he will be joining; instead, Liverpool could provide this titan with a home to grow into one of the best defenders across Europe, surpassing Quansah in Slot’s ranks.

Quansah’s 2024/25 campaign was perhaps not the best representation of his potential, so instead, see below the Englishmen’s statistics contrasted against each other in the Premier League, Guehi’s from last year, and the Merseyside talent’s from 2023/24, under Klopp’s leadership.

Matches (starts)

17 (13)

34 (34)

Goals

2

3

Assists

0

2

Touches*

76.5

64.9

Pass completion

89%

84%

Key passes*

0.2

0.5

Ball recoveries*

4.2

4.3

Dribbles*

0.2

0.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

2.6

Clearances*

2.3

4.6

Duels (won)*

4.5 (64%)

4.9 (59%)

Now, it might feel like at a glance the younger Three Lions star (who has been called up but not yet made his official debut) has outperformed Guehi, but the Palace man’s inferior pass completion rate and success in the duel, which is largely down to the 6 foot 3 Liverpool talent’s dominance, is circumstantial.

Last season, Guehi won 63% of his ground duels (Quansah won 60% in 2023/24) in a Palace side which battled adversity near the bottom of the table in the earlier phases of the campaign and still throughout fought on a lower rung of the ladder than Slot’s title-challenging Reds.

It goes without saying that Guehi was in the thick of more defensive action, and a move to Merseyside would see his crispness on the ball developed while adding a progressive, mobile quality which has led one analyst to hail him as “England’s best centre-back.”

The south London centre-half, moreover, ranked among the top 9% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal involvements, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, and the top 18% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

The Premier League perhaps hasn’t yet woken up to this player’s underrated passing game, but they will.

Slot is happy to sell Quansah for a reason. Though the prospect is highly talented and may yet become a player of distinction under Erik ten Hag’s mentorship at Leverkusen, Guehi is simply a cut above, a “monster in defence”, as has been noted by reporter Bobby Manzi.

We’ll hark back to that earlier point: Slot was frustrated by Quansah’s lack of success in the duel last August, later suggesting that he’s “outgrown being a talent” and perhaps needs to play with regularity, something the Dutch boss is not willing to offer him at Anfield.

Liverpool are aiming for the stars this summer, and by bringing in Guehi to rival Van Dijk and Konate in central defence, the club’s lofty ambitions might just be realised.

Perfect Gordon alternative: Liverpool hold talks for "explosive" £43m star

Liverpool are looking to sign a new winger this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 20, 2025

There might be another 90 minutes to play, but for most Arsenal fans, the season is now done.

Instead of looking forward to what is now a pretty meaningless Premier League game on Sunday afternoon, supporters are beginning to dream about what the club might do in the summer transfer window.

After all, after last year, new Sporting Director Andrea Berta has a big job on his hands convincing them that the board are prepared to go all in to finally get the club over the line next season.

Fortunately, recent reports have now touted an international superstar for a move to the Gunners, someone who is just the sort of signing fans have been crying out for and someone who’d be a dream addition for Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal transfer news

The last few weeks have seen Arsenal linked to a plethora of incredibly talented footballers, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could end up costing the club as little as £55m if reports are to be believed, which may well be one of the deals of the summer, as in just 51 games this term, he has scored 53 goals and provided 13 assists.

Eze, on the other hand, will cost around £68m due to a release clause in his current deal, although again, thanks to his ability to play in multiple positions and the fact he’s racked up 25 goal involvements in 42 games this season, makes that fee seem more than reasonable.

However, to really help take the team to another level and across the finishing line next season, Arteta and Co may want to sign a bonafide superstar, someone like Rodrygo.

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are “now seriously considering” moving for the Real Madrid star.

The journalist has revealed that talks have already “begun behind the scenes” and that the deal is “on.”

The report does not mention a price, but according to other stories from earlier this month, the Brazilian winger could be available for around £85m.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but given Rodrygo’s stature and ability, it’s one worth pushing the boat out for, especially as it would seriously help Saka as well.

Why Rodrygo would be a dream signing for Saka

So, if Arsenal are able to get the deal done and bring Rodryo to the Emirates this summer, just why would his signing be such a good thing for Saka?

Well, the first thing is that he’d finally be able to take some of the burden off his shoulders, as not only is he a natural left-winger, but he’s one who knows just where the goal is.

Said to be among the “best players in the world” by Carlo Ancelotti, in 52 appearances last season, he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 52 games, which worked out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games.

Then this season, even though Los Blancos have struggled more, he’s still managed to put up impressive numbers of 13 goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games.

For context, Gabriel Martinelli has scored ten goals and provided six assists in as many games, and Leandro Trossard has scored ten goals and provided nine assists in 55 games.

Appearances

50

50

55

Minutes

3290′

3493′

3428′

Goals

13

10

10

Assists

10

6

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

0.32

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

143.04′

218.31′

180.42′

So, with someone as effective as the Brazilian off the left, the Gunners mercurial number seven wouldn’t have to do quite as much himself, which could help him perform better.

The next significant benefit to signing the Real ace is that he’s more than comfortable playing off the right as well, so Arteta could more easily rest the Hale End superstar and help prevent him from suffering any more serious injuries.

Finally, during his time in Madrid, the Osasco-born dynamo has won everything there is to win in the club game, from league titles to the Champions League, so his know-how in those tense must-win games could finally help the North Londoners get over the line next season, and in turn, help Saka achieve his dreams of leading the team to glory.

Ultimately, while he’ll cost them a pretty penny, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer, as not only would he help elevate the whole team, but he could also be the perfect teammate for Saka.

Arteta has struck gold on Arsenal star worth millions more than Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo has been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 21, 2025

With promotion to the Premier League sealed, Burnley have reportedly already turned their attention towards the summer transfer window and the signature of a struggling Chelsea ace.

Burnley still fighting for Championship title

Promotion may be sealed for both Burnley and Leeds United but the Championship title is set to go down to the final day with the former desperately hoping for Daniel Farke’s side to slip up. As things stand, the Whites will win the title with 100 points on goal difference if both sides win on the final day of the season – representing the quality that both have shown throughout the majority of the campaign.

After being named the Manager of the Season, Burnley boss Scott Parker told reporters: “I’m really excited and proud of the achievement on an individual level, but of course, I couldn’t do this without a group of people and a group of staff that have supported and been the main driver all season.

“This is a group that has been on a journey this year, which has probably epitomised everything that a team may go through at times. I’ve witnessed the progression of this group as players and human beings to the point where they achieve success.

“We’ve worked hard as coaches, but you need a group of players that can engage. With the defensive record and everything else we have gone through this year, we’re well worthy of being promoted out of this division.”

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Away from their promotion party, meanwhile, the Clarets are already reportedly thinking about Premier League reinforcements, which could yet include a struggling midfielder who’s desperate for a move this summer.

Burnley keen to sign "fantastic" Dewsbury-Hall

According to TeamTalk, Burnley are eager to win the race to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall this summer, who is free to leave Chelsea after just one season at the club. The former Leicester City star has struggled for game time since arriving at Stamford Bridge and now needs to summer switch if he is to get back to his best.

Whilst his preference is to play European football, Dewsbury-Hall may have little choice but to revive his career outside of the spotlight and under Parker at Burnley next season. It’s there that all parties would benefit if the £80,000-a-week ace returned to his talented best in the middle of the park.

Despite his struggle for game time, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has never had to question his midfielder’s work rate, telling reporters in March: “I am very happy for Kiernan. He is now much better compared to the start of the season, probably because he is understanding his role. He is working very well every day in training, even if he doesn’t get many minutes in the Premier League.

“It’s not easy to work every day with the same intention, but he is working fantastic. He showed how important he can be for us, and hopefully he can be even more important from now on.”

From batters acing the 50-over template to a Jadeja clone and an astute captain, a look at what makes India the tournament favourites

Raunak Kapoor05-Feb-20242:33

Can SA strike early and put India under pressure?

They bat first, bat long, and get hundredsIndia have batted first in every game of the World Cup so far, and only once after winning the toss. They would have bowled had they won the toss in their opening game against Bangladesh when conditions were at their most challenging for batting in Bloemfontein, but after what was their stiffest test, they mastered a template to 50-over batting, which no other team has with such consistency.Four of India’s batters account for five of the tournament’s 11 individual hundreds, and they are the only team to score 250 or more in each game. They start steadily with an average first powerplay score of 47, build through the middle, and launch with wickets in hand in the last ten over. Only once have they lost more than three wickets going into the final ten overs. They have also never been bowled out.Musheer Khan and captain Uday Saharan are the two highest run-getters of the tournament and have scored 642 runs between them at a strike rate of 92.9 with three hundreds and as many fifties.Junior Jadeja – India’s biggest threat with the ballSaumy Pandey, India’s vice-captain, has been the standout bowler for India with 16 wickets in five matches at a stunning average of 6.62 and economy rate of 2.17 – on both counts, the best in the tournament for all bowlers with a minimum of five wickets.Like Ravindra Jadeja, Pandey relies on the strength of his shoulder to generate more speed through the air and is deadly accurate, with 11 of his 16 dismissals either bowled or lbw.Pandey’s presence as a leader on the field has been noticeable. He has often insisted on bowling without a long-on, inviting batters to take him on and getting the better of them. Four of his remaining five wickets have been batters either stumped or caught at mid-on trying to do just that.Raj Limbani’s inswinger can evoke memories of a young Bhuvneshwar Kumar•ICC/Getty ImagesIndia’s limited but promising pace attackIndia’s new-ball pair of right-arm seamer Raj Limbani and left-arm quick Naman Tiwari might have gone somewhat unnoticed with the batters grabbing Player-of-the-Match awards and Pandey bagging most of the wickets, but they could be pivotal in the semi-final (and the final, possibly) all in Benoni. Limbani, with an inswinger that might remind one of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in his early years, got the new ball to do more in ten games at Bloemfontein than any other quick bowler, despite always bowling in the afternoon. Tiwari is sharp, skiddy, and surprises batters with the short ball.Willowmoore Park in Benoni, the venue for the knockouts, saw pace dominate in the virtual quarter-final between Pakistan and Bangladesh, where 13 out of the 18 wickets that fell to bowlers went to quick bowlers. Ian Bishop, who commentated on that game, called it “one of the fastest surfaces he has ever seen for an Under-19 World Cup, with significant lateral movement, bounce and carry”.If the surface plays similarly for the semi-finals, India will need Limbani and Tiwary to do more than they have previously in the tournament, given that the only other pace-bowling option is batting allrounder Arshin Kulkarni, who has only bowled 15 overs in five games so far.The captain – Uday SaharanSolid batter at two down, has got runs in every game, runs hard between the wickets, finds gaps, plays risk-free cricket, and milks the middle overs – Saharan is your quintessential 50-overs No. 4. He hasn’t won a Player-of-the-Match award yet, often playing the supporting act to those who have, but Saharan has been the backbone of this impressive batting line up. Musheer and Sachin Dhas, after their hundreds that earned them Player-of-the-Match awards, credited Saharan for guiding them through the middle overs, constantly passing information on what bowlers are likely to bowl or what is needed from the next passage of play.Uday Saharan has scored a century and two fifties so far in the Under-19 World Cup•ICC/Getty ImagesOn the field, Saharan has barely put a foot wrong, attacking with his field placements and being decisive with his bowling changes, with the input of his deputy Pandey, whose contribution can’t be ignored. In an Under-19 tournament, steady leadership and skilful captaincy stands out even more.Related

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How are they in the field?India have been outstanding as an all-round fielding side. Offspin-bowling allrounder Abhishek Murugan has taken two blinders inside the circle, and opening batter Adarsh Singh has been solid and assured with bat and at slip. Their fast bowlers are athletic and dive around to save runs at the boundary, and wicketkeeper Aravelly Avanish, one of two players in the squad to secure IPL gigs – he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings at the latest auction – is among the best glovemen in the tournament.Kulkarni, the other IPL player – he was picked by Lucknow Super Giants – is perhaps India’s only weak link in the field, an area that he will have to improve upon as he grows.All boxes ticked, but have they truly been tested?India couldn’t have asked for a better set of results, but they also had a number of factors playing into their hands.They hammered Ireland and USA, winning both games by 201 runs. Their toughest game was the opening fixture against Bangladesh, who beat them in December last year in the Under-19 Asia Cup semi-finals. They played the better game at the World Cup, winning by 84 runs, which remains their closet margin of victory so far.It proved to be a decisive result, as India topped Group A to remain in Bloemfontein for the Super Sixes, where conditions got better to bat on as the tournament progressed. In the Super Sixes, they faced a New Zealand side that would lose comfortably to Ireland, and Nepal, the only associate side to make it through to the second round.South Africa, on the other hand, had to overcome a dangerous West Indies side in a thrilling opening game, and then went down to England. Their heist against Scotland saw them snatch top spot in the group and they then blew Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka away in the Super Sixes. They are more battle-hardened than India and are playing at home.While India still start as favourites against a side they beat comfortably, twice, in the tri-series leading up to the World Cup, this could well be their toughest test.

Batters always know what’s coming when Boult takes the new ball. The problem is doing something about it

Matt Roller24-Jun-2022Zak Crawley knows what’s coming. Joe Root, at the non-striker’s end, knows what’s coming. Everyone in Headingley’s sell-out crowd knows what’s coming: the guy queuing at the bar, the steward facing the stands and the Yorkshire member who has drifted off in the afternoon sun. And none of them can do anything about it.Trent Boult is standing at the top of his mark and is about to bowl an inswinger. Crawley knows this, because he’s seen him shape balls away from the left-handed Alex Lees and into the right-handed Ollie Pope: the first kissed the top of off stump, the second ripped it out of the ground.He knows it because Kane Williamson has left cover wide open, with a vast gap between point and mid-off. He knows it because Boult has openly, brazenly gestured to Williamson, telling him that he is dragging Crawley across the crease. He knows it because he has offered no shot to three of the first four balls of the over, each of them outswingers, and defended the one that held its line. He knows it because, quite frankly, how couldn’t he?But Crawley has a problem. Twice already in this series, he has edged behind when Boult has bowled him a wobble-seam ball, or as he would call it, a “three-quarter” ball. He has scored 56 runs in the series and is averaging 27.21 after 23 Tests. As Chris Eigeman’s character says in Noah Baumbach’s film : “What I used to able to pass off as a bad summer could now potentially turn into a bad life.”Boult runs in and bowls an inswinger, perhaps the most inevitable inswinger he has ever bowled. It’s full, it’s straight, and it crashes into middle-and-leg stump, three-quarters of the way up. Crawley’s bat comes down at an angle as he shapes to drive him back down the ground, towards mid-on, and marches straight off towards the dressing room, bowled through the gate.It is the finishing touch on a stunning spell of new-ball bowling, the sort of unplayable, unmissable spell that only left-armers can produce: for Shaheen Shah Afridi in T20s and Mitchell Starc in ODIs, read Trent Boult in Tests. Since Boult’s Test debut, over a decade ago, he has bowled 72 batters, more than any other seamer.The scorecard is extraordinary: AZ Lees b Boult 4, Z Crawley b Boult 6, OJD Pope b Boult 5. Top-order batters are meant to be caught behind or lbw in Test cricket; England’s top three have all been bowled. They are 17 for 3 after 6.5 overs and Boult has 3 for 9, without needing anyone else – a wicketkeeper, a fielder, an umpire – to help him out. Of those nine runs, the first four came from an outside edge which burst through Daryl Mitchell’s hands at slip.That outside edge came from Lees, who lost his off stump three balls later. Boult had started just short of a good length, looking to test Lees’ judgment as to whether to play or leave, whether to attack or defend. He flashed hard at the second ball which flew high and fast to Mitchell, and through his fingers for four.Boult’s fifth ball was fuller, but still only a fraction full of a traditional good length. It angled in, jagged away past Lees’ outside edge as he presented a full face, and knocked back the top of his off stump. His celebrations – gently high-fiving his team-mates with a furrowed brow as if to suggest that this near-perfect outswinger at 86mph/138kph was nothing out of the ordinary – portrayed a man who knew there was more to come.Pope faced a diet of inswingers, clipping one off his pads for four but otherwise struggling with Boult’s high-strength cocktail of movement and accuracy at brisk pace. The ball immediately before his dismissal, Pope had jammed down late to cover the swing, pulling out of a punch into the off side; to the next, he came forward to drive, then looked around to see his off stump lying halfway to Tom Blundell after the ball had zipped back through the gate.Ollie Pope loses his off stump•Getty ImagesEngland’s response to Boult’s swing – in keeping with their new style – was to swing themselves. They hit six boundaries in the second half of his spell, taking 34 runs from his next four overs to leave him with surreal, unflattering figures of 8-2-43-3 when replaced by Tim Southee: it was neither subtle nor convincing, and by the time his spell was over, England were in a wreckage at 69 for 6.When he returned for a second spell, Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Overton had changed the game entirely. How different might the day have been if Bairstow’s French cut down to fine leg had hit the base of his leg stump, rather than skewing past it off the inside edge?In a series featuring four of the best seam bowlers of the last 20 years, Boult has been the standout. He is the leading wicket-taker on either side – that, after landing in London two-and-a-half days before the first Test, immediately after spearheading Rajasthan Royals’ attack as they reached the IPL final.”He’s world-class, isn’t he?” Daryl Mitchell said. “That spell up top showed how good he really is. It’s awesome to see him have some success. He’s obviously done seriously well with Rajasthan in the IPL and to see him come out here a few days later and dominate Test cricket is really cool.”Boult told last year that his gameplan has always been as simple as “trying to bring batsmen across the stumps, and then swing it in and try to hit them on the pads”. Batters always know what is coming when Boult takes the new ball. The problem is doing something about it.