All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

While defences are supposed to win you leagues, that hasn’t been the case for Arsenal in recent seasons.

Mikel Arteta’s side produced the best defence in the Premier League for the second successive campaign this year but once again ended up in second place, this time miles off Liverpool in first.

So, to close the gap, the club need to go out and sign an effective forward this summer, someone who could finally get them over the line in the biggest competitions.

Fortunately, that seems to be the plan, as recent reports have linked the club to a striker who’s been compared to Kylian Mbappé and Alexander Isak.

Arsenal's striker search

Given the club’s comparative lack of firepower this season, the last few weeks and months have seen Arsenal linked with plenty of top-quality strikers, with perhaps the most consistent being Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sekso.

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 has been on fire for Sporting Cp, scoring 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 games this season, and while he’s not proven himself in a top-five league, his reported price tag of around £54m doesn’t feel unreasonable.

On the other hand, Sesko could cost up to £75m, but he has that experience of playing in a top-five league, and in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig this term, he scored 21 goals and provided six assists.

Yet, recently, a more prolific striker than the Slovenian and someone younger than the Swede has been touted for a move to the Emirates: Hugo Ekitiké.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are among several sides keen on signing the Eintracht Frankfurt star this summer.

The report reveals that Arsenal and Manchester United have already made contact with the player’s camp, while fellow Premier League rivals Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle United are all ‘monitoring’ the Frenchman closely.

On top of dealing with the competition, the Gunners will have to stump up a hefty fee to get their man, with the report claiming that Frankfurt want up to €90m for the player, which comes out to about £76m.

It would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Ekitike’s ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially considering his comparisons to Mbappé and Isak.

How Ekitike compares to Isak & Mbappé

So, before looking at why Arsenal might want to sign him and the similarities to Mbappé, it’s worth examining this comparison to Isak and where it comes from.

In this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Swedish international is the sixth most similar forward to the Frenchman across the last 365 days.

Expected Goals

0.76

0.66

Goals per Shot

0.12

0.20

Passing Accuracy

75.5%

75.3%

Expected Assists

0.19

0.12

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.09

1.01

Through Balls

0.21

0.20

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.46

Successful Take-Ons %

43.7%

46.2%

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to expected goals, goals per shot, passing accuracy, passes into the penalty area, goal-creating actions, through balls and more, all per 90.

On top of sharing a considerable number of statistical similarities with the Newcastle star, the Reims-born gem has also been described as the “next Mbappé” by many in France, per journalist Graeme Bailey, and while that might sound hyperbolic, it’s not too hard to see where they could be coming from.

For example, like the Real Madrid star, the Frankfurt ace is a brilliant goalscorer, finding the back of the net 22 times in 48 games this season, but is also something of a creator, producing 12 assists.

Moreover, according to FBref, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem sits in the top 4% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and successful take-ons, the top 5% for expected assisted goals, the top 6% for shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it wouldn’t be a cheap transfer, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Ekitike this summer, as he’s proven himself capable of scoring plenty of goals, as well as creating some – just like Mbappé and Isak.

£45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again

The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Chelsea have impressed massively throughout the 2024/25 campaign, with Enzo Maresca having a huge impact during his first season as the club’s manager.

The Italian took the reins last summer after Mauricio Pochettino departed, leading the side to a top five finish in the Premier League – subsequently securing Champions League football for 2025/26.

His side also claimed the Europa Conference League trophy after a thumping 4-1 win over Real Betis in the final, topping off what has been a season to remember in West London.

With the transfer window now open, it presents the 45-year-old to make key additions in various areas of the squad to push themselves one step closer to returning to a title battle.

He’s already landed the signing of striker Liam Delap, but numerous other players are already on their shortlist, with potential moves popping up after the window opened on Sunday.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new attackers

Despite the deal for Delap, Maresca has made adding strength to his Chelsea forward line a priority this summer, with further firepower needed for future success in the near future.

The likes of Samu Omorodion, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have all been touted with a switch to the Blues this summer, but as of yet, no deals have been agreed for any of the aforementioned talents.

However, another name has been mentioned over the last couple of days, with West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus emerging as a key option, according to one Spanish report.

They claim that the Blues are preparing a £59m offer for the 24-year-old Ghanaian winger, who managed to register nine combined goals and assists in all competitions throughout 2024/25.

It also states that the hierarchy are determined to win the race for his signature this summer, with city rivals Arsenal also firmly in the race for the attacker’s services during the off-season.

Why Chelsea’s £59m target has shades of Hazard

Belgian winger Eden Hazard arrived at Chelsea back in the summer of 2012 as an unknown quantity to many, but it’s safe to say he managed to quickly announce himself to the fanbase.

The attacker cost the club around £32m from French outfit Lille, a fee that proved to be a bargain given his time as a player in West London – all before banking them a huge profit, after eventually leaving in a £150m deal to join Real Madrid back in 2019.

The now-retired 34-year-old featured over 350 times, scoring 110 times, with Hazard today still in the conversation as one of the best wingers in Premier League history with his mazy runs and unbelievable dribbling ability.

Many players such as Jadon Sancho, Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto have all tried to fill the void left by the attacker in recent years, but have failed miserably – leading to the club’s interest in new forwards this summer.

Maresca could be able to find his own version of the Belgian this summer, with Kudus having a similar skill set, offering the side the added threat they need going forward.

He registered 13 take-ons against the Blues back in 2023/24, the most of any player in the division that campaign, highlighting his ability with the ball at his feet. That tally of 13 was also what the great Hazard achieved on two occasions during his Stamford Bridge stay.

Kudus, who’s also been labelled “generational” by journalist Gary Smith, has registered 3.4 progressive carries and 3.2 successful take-ons per 90 this campaign – further highlighting his skillset of getting at the opposition.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

8

Pass accuracy

84%

Progressive carries

3.4

Successful take-ons

3.2

Shots taken

2.6

Carries into penalty area

1.5

The Ghanaian has also registered 2.6 shots per 90, cutting inside on his favoured left-foot off the right hand, similar to how Hazard did on the opposite side during his spell in West London.

£59m may appear to be another huge investment from the hierarchy this summer, but given the stats produced by the Hammers star, it’s a no-brainier with the winger having the tools to take his game to the next level as a result.

Should he manage to get anywhere near close to the levels produced by Hazard at the Bridge, it would be an absolute bargain, potentially catapulting the Blues towards title glory once again in the near future.

Caicedo revenge: Liverpool can hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"

Liverpool winger Luis Diaz faces an uncertain future with firm interest in his signature.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 5, 2025

Aston Villa may not be playing Champions League football next season, but that hasn’t deterred Unai Emery from trying to sign high-profile players this summer.

Indeed, Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho has been linked with a stunning move to the Midlands, while a potential move for Jack Grealish would surely satisfy the football romantics at Villa Park.

These two players would bolster the first-team squad, without a shadow of a doubt, and this is the type of player the club should be targeting.

Might Emery also be keen on raiding Liverpool for one of their young gems this summer? A move for a midfielder who didn’t enjoy the best of seasons under Arne Slot could be on the table.

Aston Villa could see bid accepted for Liverpool starlet

Harvey Elliott has been recently linked with a move to Villa this summer, and this could be a shrewd piece of business by the Spaniard.

Transfer Focus

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

Former Villa scout, Bryan King – speaking about that speculation – suggested that the Midlands side could potentially see a bid accepted of around £30m, should they wish to firm up their interest:

“He is a player who has come up through the system, and he’s a London boy; his parents are from London. Therefore, watch this space, a London-based club might also be interested in him. I’d imagine that Liverpool would accept £30m for Elliott, that is how much they’ll want.”

In today’s market, £30m could turn into a bargain, especially as he shares similar qualities to a certain Cole Palmer.

Why Aston Villa must sign Harvey Elliott

Palmer is arguably one of the finest English attacking midfielders in the country right now. During his two full seasons at Chelsea, he has registered 40 goals and 27 assists across just 91 matches.

This works out as a goal involvement every 1.3 matches for the Blues. Therefore, signing someone who exuded these sorts of skills, for a fraction of the price, should be high on Emery’s list of priorities.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

28

5

3

2023/24

53

4

14

2022/23

46

5

2

2021/22

12

1

1

2019/20

8

0

1

Indeed, Palmer is the eighth-most comparable player to Elliott in Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, judging by their respective statistical profiles, with the pair both creative, left-footed playmakers who can operate centrally or on the right flank.

The pair have registered similar statistics across several metrics, including shots per 90 (4.12 vs 3.41), shots on target per 90 (0.97 vs 1.24), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.11 vs 5.7) and successful take-on percentage (44.4% vs 45.1%) in the Premier League last term.

Previously hailed as a “machine” for his tireless work rate by journalist Sam McGuire, it appears as though his spell at Anfield is coming to an end.

The midfielder started just eight of his 28 appearances for Liverpool last term, and with the signing of Florian Wirtz imminent, Elliott will be deemed surplus to requirements.

This should put Emery on high alert, especially if he can secure his signature for the aforementioned £30m fee this summer.

The next few weeks could be interesting indeed for the Villa faithful as they wait and see who will arrive at the club.

Aston Villa now want to sign £25m Chelsea ace as replacement for Martinez

Aston Villa have identified a new goalkeeper who they think could replace Emi Martinez.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 13, 2025

Manchester City’s spending spree is only just getting started.

On Monday, the Sky Blues unveiled Rayan Aït-Nouri as their first summer signing, arriving for a reported £31m from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the Algerian international left-back eligible to debut in the Citizens’ Club World Cup opener against Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia next Wednesday.

Meantime, widespread reports suggest that Tijjani Reijnders will arrive from AC Milan for £46.3m, with more signings on the way too, so could a high-profile Man City stalwart be on his way out, possibly to a Premier League rival, to make way for these new recruits?

What Rayan Cherki will bring to Manchester City

David Ornstein of The Athletic reported last week that Manchester City had ‘reached an agreement’ with Olympique Lyonnais over the signing of Rayan Cherki, agreeing to pay around £34m.

Rob Dawson and Julien Laurens of ESPN claimed that Man City were hoping to finalise the deal in time for Cherki to feature during the Club World Cup group stages, with that move having now been confirmed by the club ahead of the deadline.

In terms of what City’s latest arrival will bring to the Etihad, Stuart James and Tom Williams of the Athletic believe that the 21-year-old possesses a mesmeric ‘capacity to enthral’, labelling him ‘precociously talented’ and citing former Lyon manager Fabio Grosso, who asserted that “god has given him incredible qualities”.

Those traits were notably on show during Lyon’s gripping Europa League quarter-final tie with Manchester United earlier this year, with the youngster scoring a last-gasp equaliser in the first leg, prior to also netting a stunning, driven effort from range in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford.

Described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, the fleet-footed genius looks destined to be a star under Guardiola’s watch over the coming years.

And so, with such a high-quality midfield talent on his way to the Etihad, could a current Man City star be forced out?

The Man City star destined to depart

As noted by Mark Critchley and Ben Burrows of The Athletic, Jack Grealish has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for this summer’s Club World Cup, thereby not set to travel to the United States, suggesting he is highly likely to leave the club this summer.

Back in December, Richard Jolly of the Independent outlined how, during his four years at the club, Grealish had gone from ‘one of the most exciting attacking players in world football’ to now a player ‘who is neither exciting nor attacking’.

The table below highlights the England international’s decrease in importance.

Appearances

39

50

36

32

Starts

31

41

26

16

Matches an unused sub

11

5

12

15

Minutes

2,730

3,487

2,114

1,521

Goals

6

5

3

3

Assists

4

11

3

5

England caps

11

9

4

3

As the table notes, Grealish was an integral player for Man City during his first two seasons, but the last two he has been nothing more than a peripheral figure.

David O’Brien believes he was “exceptional” during his early years at Man City, but Alex Brotherton of BBC Sport notes that now ‘is the right time to move on’ as he seeks to save his career.

The fact he was an unused substitute in the FA Cup Final, a match they lost 1-0 to Manchester City, is widely considered to be the final nail in the coffin – as too is the arrival of another playmaker in Cherki.

For instance, Cherki racked up 32 goals and assists in all competitions in 2024/25 at Lyon, including 19 goals and assists in league action. Grealish – as noted in the table – was only able to record eight goals and assists, only two of which came in the Premier League. A move away now appears an inevitability.

Indeed, reports in Spain suggest that Newcastle United ‘have set their sights’ on signing him, looking to lodge a bid that would comprise an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy of around £67m.

Ben Jacobs of Talk Sport also claims that both Tottenham and Everton ‘hold a genuine’ interest in signing Grealish too, with Gillian Kasirye of Total Football Analysis documenting how his ‘exceptional ball-carrying ability’ would make him perfect for Spurs.

Thus, Grealish’s Man City exit is likely to be one of the stories of the summer but, regardless of where he ends up, he has surely played his last game in sky blue, with Cherki a readymade, exciting replacement.

Man City now lining up surprise move to sign £35,000-p/w Chelsea goalkeeper

Man City have set their sights on signing a goalkeeper who is way down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 9, 2025

The start of this season felt unusually tough for Arsenal, with visits to Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City all within the first month and a half.

Unfortunately, next year looks set to be just as tough, with an opening game away to Manchester United quickly followed by games against Liverpool and City.

So, the best way for Andrea Berta and Co to help Mikel Arteta and his side prepare for a gruelling introduction to the 25/26 Premier League season is by signing some seriously talented players who’ll elevate the squad.

Fortunately, recent reports have linked the Gunners to an incredibly exciting left-winger who’d do just that, although it would be bad news for Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal's winger search

While most fans have been crying out for Arsenal to sign a striker for a couple of windows now, it’s arguably just as important that they add at least one more wide player to the squad this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

It appears that that’s an opinion shared by the club, as in recent weeks and months, countless reports have linked them to incredible talents like Nico Williams and Bradley Barcola.

However, with the former now looking like he’s on his way to Barcelona and the latter now a target for German behemoths Bayern Munich, the North Londoners might need to look elsewhere, which could explain the links to Kenan Yıldız.

According to reports from JuveFC, Arsenal are now interested in Juventus’ young dynamo.

The report claims that the Gunners and London rivals Chelsea have ‘re-engaged in discussions’ to assess the possibility of signing the talented winger this summer.

Interestingly, the report claims that as the Old Lady do not want to sell the Turkish talent, they have placed a price tag of €100m – £85m – on his head, and yet it also states that offers in the region of €70m – £60m – might be considered.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Yıldız’s ability and potential, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, especially as he’d be an upgrade on Martinelli.

How Yıldız compares to Martinelli

Now, one of Yıldız’s biggest strengths is that he can play in several positions, be that in midfield, up top, second striker and off the right, but his natural and most played position is left-wing, which is where he’d sure play at Arsenal.

Therefore, his primary competitor for game time in North London would be Martinelli, so how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to pure output, it is the Juventus star who comes out on top, as in 49 appearances, totalling 3332 minutes, the “magnificent” gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored ten goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 2.88 games, or every 196 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ number 11 scored ten goals and provided six assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3564 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.18 games, or every 222.75 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian international, the comparison only becomes more one-sided when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.43

0.38

Progressive Passes

4.33

1.87

Progressive Carries

4.24

4.69

Shots

2.41

2.12

Shots on Target

0.75

0.94

Passing Accuracy

79.7%

71.4%

Key Passes

1.81

1.56

Passes into the Final Third

2.55

0.47

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.72

1.40

Live Passes

38.4

25.4

Shot-Creating Actions

4.33

2.90

Goal-Creating Actions

0.36

0.25

Tackles

1.99

0.92

Blocks

0.98

0.73

Interceptions

0.38

0.16

Clearances

0.45

0.70

Successful Take-Ons

2.40

1.48

Ball Recoveries

4.87

3.10

For example, while he does better in a couple of metrics like shots on target and progressive carries, the young Turkish star does far better in almost every other relevant statistic, such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, shot and goal-creating actions, shots, passing accuracy, key passes, tackles and many, many more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Martinelli could remain an incredibly useful squad player next season, it’s clear that Yıldız is the far superior winger in practically every metric and four years his junior, so Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

He'd make Saka more unplayable: Arsenal open talks to sign £90m "machine"

Arsenal could make Saka even more unplayable by signing a £90m star.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 19, 2025

Newcastle United are now exploring a move to sign an “extraordinary” £35 million defender ahead of Leeds United, according to a recent report.

Newcastle confident of landing Kudus after missing out on key targets

It has so far been a difficult transfer window for the Magpies, even though they secured a place in next season’s Champions League. Eddie Howe’s side have already missed out on signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, as the Cameroon international closes in on a move to Manchester United, and they have now missed out on Joao Pedro, as he joins Chelsea.

Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga is also another target of Newcastle’s, but they have already seen a bid rejected, and the Reds are determined to keep their winger. That means Newcastle are having to identify alternative targets, and according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Newcastle are now confident they can sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The Hammers are looking to sell the attacker in this transfer window, and therefore, they are likely ready to accept less for him than his £85 million release clause.

Newcastle explore move to sign £35m defender ahead of Leeds

As the Magpies weigh up a move for Kudus, according to reliable reporters Craig Hope and Simon Jones of The Daily Mail, Newcastle are looking into a move to sign defender Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille.

The Magpies are in need of a new centre-back this summer, and their search has now taken them to Balerdi, who is the captain of the French side.

The report states that Juventus have been looking into a move for the player, but given their financial situation, Newcastle sense an opportunity to pounce and beat them to his signature. However, they also face Leeds United in this race for the Argentine international, as back in May, they were given a boost in their pursuit as the player refused to rule out a move in this transfer window.

The 26-year-old played 27 times in Ligue 1 last season under former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, and given he is under contract until the summer of 2028, Marseille are looking to get around £35 million for his services should he leave this summer.

The French side are back in the Champions League next season, but the Magpies will hope the offer to play in the Premier League can help bring the Argentina international to St. James’ Park.

Apps

27

Starts

27

Clean sheets

4

Passing accuracy per game

87.4 (94%)

Key passes

0.3

Interceptions per game

1.4

Tackles per game

2.0

Clearances per game

2.7

Ground duels won

3.5 (59%)

Aerial duels won

1.5 (63%)

De Zerbi has only worked with the defender for a season, but the Marseille boss was left impressed by his performances last season, as he labelled Balerdi “extraordinary”. He said: “Balerdi? I hope that the big European teams don’t realise that he exists. I say every night before going to sleep that I am happy that he is going under the radar of the big teams. He is an extraordinary player.”

Celtic are in need of a new option on the left flank ahead of the 2025/26 campaign to cover for the time that Portuguese winger Jota is going to be out for.

Brendan Rodgers’ side clinched the Scottish Premiership title in style with a 5-0 win away at Dundee United, but the left-sided forward hobbled off with a worrying injury in the first half.

It was then revealed after the game that Jota would be out for between six and nine months, setting a potential return date as late as February of next year.

The 26-year-old speedster returned to Parkhead in the January transfer window, from French side Rennes, and produced four goals and two assists in seven league starts in the Scottish top-flight before his injury.

This means that the Hoops need another option on the left wing because they are unlikely to have Jota available for a large portion of next season, hence why they are keen on Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

Celtic are reportedly in talks with the Belgian Pro League club in an attempt to secure a deal to sign the left winger, who is valued at £5m, this summer.

What Balikwisha could bring to Celtic

The 24-year-old forward is a right-footed left winger, like Jota, which means that he could play a similar role within Rodgers’ tactical set-up next season.

Balikwisha’s form in the Pro League, when available, over the last two seasons also suggests that he has the potential to deliver both goals and assists from the left flank at a respectable rate.

Starts

27

12

xG

6.46

2.65

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian talent has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in his last 39 appearances in the Pro League, which suggests that he could offer a decent threat at the top end of the pitch from a wide position.

This means that the potential is there for him to replace the goals and assists that they have lost through Jota’s injury, which is why he could be a solid signing for Celtic this summer.

However, Balikwisha’s own injury record over the years is a cause for concern because he has suffered a lot of injuries that have kept him out for significant lengths of time each season during his time with Royal Antwerp.

In the last four seasons, the 24-year-old wing wizard has missed a whopping 63 games through injury, and at least ten matches in all four campaigns, suffering eight separate injury issues in that time.

This suggests that Celtic would be gambling on his fitness by bringing him to Parkhead to replace their currently injured player, which is why it could make more sense to look in a different direction if another target becomes available.

Celtic's interest in Premier League winger

Earlier this summer, Football Insider reported that the Premiership champions were interested in a potential deal to sign Aston Villa forward Louie Barry to bolster their squad.

The outlet claimed that the Scottish giants were willing to explore either a loan or a permanent deal for the former Barcelona academy starlet this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

They looked set to miss out on a deal for the 22-year-old talent when Hull City agreed a £3.5m fee to sign him permanently, only for the transfer to fall through after the Tigers were hit with a three-window embargo.

That transfer ban for the Championship side has put Barry back out on the open market and presented teams with an opportunity to snap him up, which means that he could still be an option for Celtic.

It remains to be seen, though, whether or not the Hoops are still interested in the English sensation, or if they would be willing to go in with an offer to sign him permanently at this point in the window.

Why Celtic should sign Louie Barry

Rodgers should seriously consider a swoop to sign Barry from the Premier League outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, though, because he has the potential to be an even better winger signing than Balikwisha.

Whilst his injury history is far from spotless, the English forward has missed fewer games (34) through injury in his career than Balikwisha (63), which suggests that he may be more reliable from an availability perspective.

The 22-year-old star’s form during his time on loan with Stockport County in League Two and in League One in the last two seasons also suggests that the potential is there for him to offer even more than Balikwisha at the top end of the pitch.

Barry produced nine goals and four assists in 20 League Two games in the 2023/24 season, before plundering 15 goals and two assists in 23 League One outings in the first half of last season.

xG

0.47

Top 5%

Goals

0.75

Top 3%

Shots on target

1.80

Top 2%

xA

0.21

Top 11%

Assists

0.11

Top 47%

Successful dribbles

2.70

Top 2%

As you can see in the table above, the Villa youngster was one of the best players in the English third tier last season at scoring and creating goals from a wide position, and was unfortunate not to have more assists to show for the xA that he created.

Barry, who was hailed as “electric” by reporter Sam Byrne, scored 24 goals, assisted six goals, and created 12 ‘big chances’ in his 43 appearances on loan at Stockport, which suggests that he has even more to offer in front of goal, particularly as a scorer, than Balikwisha.

The Belgian forward, as aforementioned, has scored 11 goals in his last 39 Pro League outings, which is not as impressive as Barry’s return in England is, whilst playing in the same position.

Therefore, Celtic and Rodgers could land an even better winger than Balikwisha by signing the Villa gem, who is two years younger, less injury-prone, and has more potential to explode as a goalscorer on the left flank.

Celtic could sign their new Van Dijk in a star who once silenced Gyokeres

Celtic are interested in signing a defender who could be Virgil van Dijk 2.0 at Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Jul 10, 2025

West Ham United are now reportedly closing in on another summer signing after reaching a three-year agreement to welcome an experienced defender.

Latest on West Ham incomings

After losing Mohammed Kudus, West Ham instantly reacted by signing El Hadji Malick Diouf. The former Slavia Prague winger arrives with big shoes to fill and for around £19m, but is well aware of how he could slot straight into Graham Potter’s plans.

The versatile 20-year-old told West Ham’s official website: “I’m really happy to be here and to make a progression for my career. I’m looking forward to working hard and joining my new team-mates.

“There were a lot of teams [who wanted to sign me], but I chose West Ham United first and I spoke with the coach [Graham Potter] and it was a good plan for me.

“Everyone wants to come here to play in the Premier League. I think it is a dream for everyone. When they are here, they want to make everything good. I think they also have the personality to play here and if you are young, you want to continue your progression.

“If you are young, you have to keep your personality. It’s about the team. The most important thing is the team, not the player. I want to say to the West Ham supporters I’m very happy to be here with them. I think we’ll make a very good season this year.”

Payet 2.0: West Ham in talks for £22.5m star who's "made for the big stage"

West Ham United have reportedly made contact to sign a player for just £22.5m, and he could be as good as Dimitri Payet in East London.

ByBen Gray Jul 18, 2025

Amid links to the likes of Jack Grealish and now one other player with plenty of Premier League experience, however, it’s clear that West Ham aren’t done there on the transfer front after Diouf, Daniel Cummings and Jean-Clair Todibo.

West Ham reach agreement with Walker-Peters

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, West Ham have now reached a three-year agreement with Kyle Walker-Peters. The right-back became a free agent when he left Southampton at the end of last season and is now set to join up with Potter at the London Stadium in a bargain deal.

In a quickfire transfer, the Hammers look to be welcoming a replacement for Vladimir Coufal and impressive competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka down their right-hand side.

Even as his tenure ended in failure at Southampton, Russell Martin was often full of praise for Walker-Peters – highlighting his quality for all to see. The former Saints boss told reporters last season as transfer rumours commenced: “He’s still here. So, I hope he’ll still be here in a few weeks’ time.

“But whilst he is here, we had the chat and we need him to help us because he’s a really top player. He was great and he’s a fit, fit boy. He’s trained so well.”

Leeds United have bolstered their defence and midfield with several additions since the summer transfer window officially opened for business last month.

Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, and Gabriel Gudmundsson have arrived to improve the backline, whilst Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach have been signed to beef up the midfield.

The Whites have also reportedly agreed a deal to sign French goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Lyon to be their new number one in the Premier League.

Daniel Farke is also looking to add to his options at the top end of the pitch, on top of Lukas Nmecha, though, with a swoop for Feyenoord attacker Igor Paixao.

Reporter Graham Smyth claims that Leeds have offered a fee in excess of £26m to sign the Brazilian forward, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough to get a deal over the line.

As Smyth states, though, the player is impressed by the club’s plans for him, which could give them an edge over other teams in the race for his signature.

Why Leeds should sign Igor Paixao

The Whites should push to get this deal over the line because he could be a terrific addition to the squad to bolster their options in the forward line.

Manor Solomon, who started on the left flank regularly in the Championship last season, has returned to Tottenham Hotspur, which has left a hole on the left wing in the team’s best XI.

Paixao predominantly plays on the left, as a right-footed player, and could slot in as the perfect replacement for the Israel international ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

If he can translate his form from last season in the Netherlands over to English football, Leeds will have an incredibly exciting winger who could win them vital points in the Premier League next term on their hands.

Paixao delivered 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Feyenoord in the 2024/25 campaign, which included four assists in 11 outings in the Champions League.

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 Brazilian winger could even provide more quality than Solomon in the final third, given that he registered more goal contributions in fewer matches at a higher level last season.

Whilst Paixao, as evidenced by his form for Feyenoord, could be a fantastic signing for Leeds, Farke also needs a new centre-forward option and the club are reportedly still in the race for a Championship forward.

Leeds remain in the race for Championship striker

Speaking on the Pink Un podcast (24/07/2025), journalist Paddy Davitt mentioned that Leeds United are one of the teams interested in Norwich City centre-forward Josh Sargent.

The reporter explained that the USA international has already turned down a potential move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, who had reportedly been close to a £21m deal for the number nine.

Transfer Focus

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

Sargent now remains at Norwich and there is no other deal that is close to being done for the striker, as per Davitt, which has left the door open for other teams to make their move.

Leeds and Burnley are said to still be interested in the former Werder Bremen attacker, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will formalise their interest with an official approach for the Championship marksman.

Farke signed Sargent for Norwich when he was in charge of the Canaries in the summer of 2021, and could reunite with the 25-year-old attacker ahead of next season.

Why Leeds should sign Josh Sargent

The Whites should swoop to sign the striker because he could be amazing alongside Paixao in the Premier League, if the Championship champions are able to get both deals over the line to improve their frontline.

Of course, first and foremost, Sargent has to be an upgrade on what they already have in the building in the number nine position, in Joel Piroe, and his form last season suggests that he is.

xG*

0.48

0.50

Goals*

0.54

0.55

xA*

0.11

0.10

Pass accuracy

80%

77%

Duel success rate

43%

27%

Duels won*

3.20

2.24

Aerial duel success rate

36%

21%

Dribble success rate

47%

32%

As you can see in the table above, Sargent outperformed his xG at a higher rate and created high-quality chances for his teammates per 90, whilst offering significantly more to the team out of possession as a physical presence in the number nine role.

This suggests that the Norwich star, who Tony Pulis described as “relentless”, is more likely to make an impact in the Premier League against stronger defences than Piroe, who was too much of a lightweight at times in the Championship, is.

Sargent’s returns of 15 goals from 13.37 xG last season and 16 goals from 12.68 xG in the 2023/24 campaign in the Championship show that he is an efficient striker who can finish chances effectively.

This is why he could be a fantastic partner for Paixao in the Leeds team in the Premier League next season, as the current Feyenoord star is a winger who likes to consistently create high-quality chances.

The Brazilian forward created 17 ‘big chances’ for his teammates last season, which shows that he likes to get on the ball to split open opposition defences with passes and crosses.

This could make him the perfect teammate for Sargent at Elland Road because the American striker is a clinical forward who knows how to find the back of the net efficiently, albeit he has yet to prove himself at Premier League level on a regular basis.

Both players would arrive with question marks over them, as neither are Premier League proven forward, but their respective statistics for Norwich and Feyenoord last season suggest that the potential is there for them to form an exciting partnership in West Yorkshire.

Farke's new Buendia: Leeds are now pushing to sign "magical" £26m star

Leeds United are interested in signing a midfielder who would be Daniel Farke’s new version of Emiliano Buendia.

ByDan Emery Jul 22, 2025

It is now down to the club to get deals done for both players to come in and improve Farke’s options at the top end of the pitch ahead of the first game against Everton.

Everton’s fourth summer signing of the 2025 window is through the door at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Toffees have brought in young Bayern Munich left-back Adam Aznou, for a fee reported by the Liverpool Echo to be in the region of £7.8m.

Indeed, the same report details that the Toffees’ summer spending is way past the £50m mark already. Charly Alcaraz made his loan move permanent, Mark Travers signed from Bournemouth as their new back-up goalkeeper, and the marquee signing so far has been Thierno Barry. The French striker joined Everton from Spanish side Villarreal.

Yet, David Moyes is not content, and reportedly wants five or six more signings this summer. Already, the Toffees have been linked with a new attacker.

Everton’s pursuit of a new attacker

It seems like Moyes wants to overhaul Everton’s attack this summer. Dominic Calvert-Lewin left the club on a free transfer, and Barry has been signed as his replacement. Now, the focus on the Blue half of Merseyside has seemingly switched to a new winger.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a recent report from Fabrizio Romano, the Toffees have enquired about signing Como and Senegal international winger Assane Diao. He is one option on the list as Everton look to reinvent their forward line under Moyes.

However, this will not be an easy deal to do. Como, managed by Premier League legend Cesc Fabregas, have ‘already turned down a bid this summer’ for the young winger.

That club is unnamed, but perhaps it came from Everton’s Premier League rivals, Chelsea. One Spanish report said earlier in the window they were set to bid £43m for the 19-year-old.

Why Diao would be a good signing

After coming through Real Betis’ academy, Diao made the move to Italian side Como in January. Described as an “electric” winger by football scout Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old has made a huge impression in Serie A so far.

Although he is just 15 games into his Como career, Diao, already a Senegal international, has eight goals and one assist to his name. He was a key player under Fabregas, playing 1259 minutes, the equivalent of 13.9 full 90-minute games.

The former Betis star, who managed six goals and three assists for the club, showed in his short Como career that he can step up in the big games. Last season, he bagged goals against Milan, Juventus and Scudetto winners Napoli.

Moyes would surely be hoping the Senegal international could replicate the impact of his international teammate Iliamn Ndiaye. The Toffees’ attacker was described as a “superstar” by former defender-turned-pundit Jamie Carragher.

His impact last term, his debut campaign for Everton, was astronomical. He played 37 games across all competitions, scoring 11 goals. That included nine strikes in the Premier League, with this stunning effort against Tottenham Hotspur a standout.

Diao’s record at Como stands out in such a short amount of time, and he has a habit of finding the back of the net against big sides. There is reason to believe he has the talent to replicate what Nidaye has done.

He can also play on both wings. With his international teammate favouring the left, there is a chance Everton fans could see them line up on either flank.

The stats on Squawka, using Diao’s numbers from Serie A, are remarkably similar. For example, the Como star completes 1.4 take-ons and averages 0.6 chances created per 90 minutes. In contrast, Everton’s number 10 completes an average of 2.6 take-ons and creates 0.7 chances per game.

Goals and assists

0.7

0.4

Chances created

0.6

0.7

Forward passes

4.4

6.2

Take-ons completed

1.4

2.6

Duels won

7.9

6.7

Ball recoveries

3

6.4

With the Toffees looking to overhaul their attack next term, signing Diao could be the dream option. He is a direct winger with an eye for goal and has the ability to light up the Hill Dickinson Stadium with his flair.

Joining his Senegal teammate Ndiaye on Bramley Moore Dock would be an exciting move, especially if he can become the second coming of the Everton star.

Their new Gordon: Everton set to hold talks over signing big-money PL star

Everton eye sensational transfer for Manchester City’s treble-winning winger

ByWill Miller Jul 30, 2025