All posts by z3u9t.icu

For the second Premier League season in a row, Arsenal look set to have the best defence in the competition.

However, as they did last year and the year before that, Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to get over the line, with Liverpool being the ones to deny them this time.

The Reds have conceded four goals more than the Gunners but, as things stand, have scored a whopping 17 goals more than them.

1

Liverpool

81

35

82

2

Arsenal

64

31

67

3

Man City

67

43

64

4

Newcastle

66

45

63

5

Chelsea

62

41

63

It’s no secret, then, that the North Londoners desperately need some attacking reinforcements this summer, and it’s not hard to see who they are taking inspiration from, as reports have linked them to a player compared to Mohamed Salah.

Arsenal transfer news

With the gap in attacking output as vast as it is, Arsenal are understandably on the lookout for some serious game-changers, like Florian Wirtz and Viktor Gyokeres.

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 would reportedly cost the club a whopping £111m, but given his tally of 29 goal involvements this season and the fact he’s only 22 years old, it’d be hard to claim he’s not worth it.

Likewise, while the £70m price tag for Gyokeres is undeniably steep, it’s also undeniably fair enough, as in just 49 appearances this season, he’s scored a staggering 52 goals and provided 12 assists.

However, if the Gunners are after a Salah-esque player, he’s got to be a winger, which would explain the interest in Bryan Mbeumo.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are determined to bring in another winger this summer, and one of Andrea Berta’s most significant targets is the Brentford man.

The Cameroon international has been on the club’s shortlist for months now, and while the Bees are after around £51m, there is hope in North London that they’ll be open to negotiating.

It might end up being a rather costly transfer to get done, but given Mbeumo’s superb output, it would most certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Salah.

Why Mbeumo is like Salah

So, when it comes to winning comparisons to first-class players, there aren’t much more flattering than Salah, so where does Mbeumo’s come from?

Well, in this instance, it was TalkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, who was full of praise for the Brentford star and called him “a mini-Salah” following his brilliant performance and goal in the Bees’ 4-2 win against Newcastle United in December.

Now, it’s important to note the “mini” part of that compliment, as, at the end of the day, nobody is suggesting that the former Troyes star is on the same level as the league-winning Egyptian, but there is no reason he couldn’t fulfil a similar enough role in N5.

After all, despite playing for a team who are generally mid-table at best these days, the often “unplayable” winger, as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, is nothing short of prolific.

For example, in just 27 appearances last season, the 25-year-old managed to score nine goals and provide seven assists, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

Appearances

27

39

Minutes

2079′

3307′

Goals

9

18

Assists

7

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

0.66

Minutes per Goals Involvement

129.93

127.19

Then this season, he’s found the back of the net 18 times and provided eight assists in 39 appearances, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

Finally, another valuable trait the Avallon-born monster possesses is the ability to play up top and as a second striker as well as off the right, meaning he’d provide Arteta with even more attacking options – something he desperately needs.

Ultimately, Mbeumo is a Premier League-proven goalscorer, and while he might not be as prolific as Salah, he’s still an incredible attacking talent and someone Arsenal should sign.

Arsenal line up move for PSG star who'd be a big upgrade on Martinelli

The incredibly entertaining international is just what Arsenal need this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 8, 2025

Florian Wirtz is the name on everyone’s lips at Liverpool right now, with FSG having taken the lead in the race to sign the Germany international, who is also being courted by Bayern Munich.

That’s according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who broke the news this evening that the Bundesliga champions are fearful of Anfield, in fact growing resigned to the fact that the 22-year-old will join Liverpool if he switches club this summer.

Manchester City had a strong interest in bringing him in, but have taken a step back given that Wirtz’s employers are believed to value him in the ballpark of €150m (£126m).

However, Spanish sources believe the Reds would need to cash in on some existing quality in order to facilitate a move, and with Barcelona hoping to sign Luis Diaz, some differing cogs might fall into place.

While Darwin Nunez is also expected to depart Anfield, Diaz, 28, has been one of Arne Slot’s most important players, but should be sold this summer nonetheless.

Why Liverpool should sell Luis Diaz

Diaz joined Liverpool from FC Porto in January 2022 for a fee rising to £49m, ostensibly as Sadio Mane’s successor, for the Senegalese superstar left for Bayern Munich the following summer.

He’s ebbed and flowed, partly due to a crushing injury suffered during his first full season, but who can say Diaz hasn’t enjoyed a special season under Slot’s wing, prolific and dynamic in a Premier League-winning team?

24/25

49

17

8

23/24

51

13

7

22/23

21

5

3

21/22

26

6

5

However, he’s hardly irreplaceable, and entering the penultimate year of his contract besides. The Colombian has played as a left winger and a makeshift centre-forward this year, and Cody Gakpo holds down the fort on the flank and FSG are searching for a new number nine.

If Barcelona are serious about their interest and willing to pay a €80m (£68m) fee, as has been suggested in Spain, to pull Diaz from Merseyside, this would be something the club should consider, especially as they are searching for new attacking cogs.

Though Wirtz is the dream, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes will be hedging his bets until the moment of truth, and indeed appears to have identified an alternative who could still prove an upgrade on Diaz, one of the Premier League’s standout wingers.

Liverpool reignite interest in PL star

As per Football Insider, Liverpool are still interested in signing Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon, nearly one year on from exploring a deal for the England international as the Magpies sweated over PSR limitations.

Gordon, a boyhood Liverpool fan who was released from the academy before joining Everton aged 11, had informed his inner circle that he wanted to make the move make to Merseyside, and though he’s now signed a new long-term deal at St. James’ Park, would still be open to the transfer.

Of course, the reality would be far more strenuous for the Reds given the 24-year-old is valued at £100m by his side, who are in a good position to qualify for the Champions League ahead of the weekend’s culminating round of Premier League fixtures.

Why Anthony Gordon would be an upgrade on Diaz

Whether Liverpool would have the means to sign both Wirtz and Gordon after adding full-backs on both sides of the backline and with the ongoing need for a new striker remains to be seen. However, it’s unlikely all of this would happen.

Instead, Gordon could be signed as a contingency if things don’t fall into place regarding Wirtz, and the Newcastle man has enough quality to still prove an upgrade on the high-flying Diaz.

Gordon might not have had quite the same year as the 2023/24 campaign, in which his talismanic performances helped Newcastle through injury woes, sealing an individual accolade as United’s Player of the Year.

He hit 28 direct goal involvements, which is more than Diaz has ever achieved in a single campaign for Liverpool. Moreover, Gordon is four years younger than Anfield’s man, thus with plenty of scope for growth.

Of course, this isn’t to say he hasn’t enjoyed a good year on Tyneside, scoring nine goals and adding seven assists from 32 starts across all competitions.

He also ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this season for successful crosses made into the penalty area per 90, as per FBref, which is a weapon Liverpool could certainly do with if they are to sign a recognised focal frontman this summer.

But his most interesting tool, aside from some immense physicality and athleticism, the cornerstones of his skill set, is his fluidity, used across different attacking areas since leaving Everton for Newcastle in a £45m deal back in January 2023.

Left winger

71

18

17

Right winger

13

1

6

Centre-forward

8

2

0

Attacking midfield

4

1

0

As you can see, Gordon’s been ferried about the frontline during his time in Eddie Howe’s system, though it’s clear he’s at his rip-roaring best when in his natural left-sided berth, with blistering speed and tricky feet allowing him to get the better of even the meanest defenders on the continent.

This is a further illustration of how he could replace Diaz, whose excellent season at Liverpool boils down to his ability to provide relief as a striker, thus allowing Gakpo to play off the wing.

Gordon’s price tag is further evidence that he has what it takes to become a superstar in red. Not just a potent threat, the English winger averages one tackle and 4.4 successful duels per game this season, bringing a tenacious attitude that emphasises his dynamic underlying qualities.

He’s also younger now than Diaz was when he first signed for Liverpool (25 years old). While Liverpool’s chiefs would be wary of spending £100m on an attacking player who failed to hit double figures in goals or assists this season, Gordon’s talent is unquestionable, having described himself as a “nightmare to play against.”

Transfer Focus

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

If a deal for Wirtz falls through, this is the one to go for.

Bigger talent than Salah: Liverpool make offer to sign "world-class" star

Liverpool are ready to defend their Premier League title by attacking the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair May 23, 2025

Part and parcel of being a club in the lower leagues in England, as Sunderland had been for far too long, is that you are constantly at risk of clubs higher up the food chain snatching your best talent.

The Black Cats finished 16th in the Championship at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, falling well short of the play-offs, and it was time for Jack Clarke to make his way up the pyramid without the club.

Ipswich Town swooped to sign the winger in a deal that could rise to £20m, following their promotion to the Premier League, and that meant that Sunderland hit the jackpot with the forward.

How Sunderland struck gold with Jack Clarke

The Black Cats signed the English wizard from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal in 2022, after an initial loan spell on Wearside, and Transfermarkt valued him at £2.9m at the time of the move.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Clarke went on to rack up 24 goals and 16 assists in two seasons in the Championship with Sunderland as an exciting wing wizard, which convinced Ipswich to splash a fee of up to £20m on his services.

This shows that his value soared by just over £17m during his spell at the club, thanks to his performances in the second tier, which shows that the Black Cats struck gold with the winger by providing him with a platform to showcase his talent on a regular basis.

There is now a player in the current squad who is on his way to becoming Jack Clarke 2.0, as Sunderland have already hit the jackpot with Eliezer Mayenda.

How high Eliezer Mayenda's value has soared

The man who got Sunderland back into the game at Wembley with a terrific strike in the play-off final has been a terrific signing for the club.

Mayenda arrived from Sochaux in the summer of 2023, valued at just £252k by Transfermarkt at the time, and he failed to score in eight Championship appearances during the 2023/24 campaign.

Regis Le Bris came through the door last summer, though, and transformed the young starlet, who went on to provide ten goals and five assists in 40 outings in the second tier.

July 2023

£252k

October 2023

£419k

December 2023

£587k

September 2024

£838k

March 2025

£3.5m

May 2025

£10m

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old star’s market value has soared by a staggering 3,868% since his initial move to the Stadium of Light, to the point that he is now valued at a whopping £10m.

Mayenda, who was described as a “threat” by Kevin Phillips, has followed in Clarke’s footsteps as a young player who has soared in value as a result of performing brilliantly in the Championship, thanks to the opportunities given to him by Le Bris.

Sunderland could sign "incredible" star who's as exciting as Enzo Le Fee

Sunderland could now go full steam ahead to try and sign this exciting star after sealing promotion.

ByKelan Sarson May 26, 2025

This shows that Sunderland have hit the jackpot with the Spain U21 international, because they snapped him up when his value was low and have turned him into an incredibly valuable player and asset ahead of their return to the Premier League.

As you might expect, it has been a busy summer transfer window already for Chelsea. Liam Delap’s move to Stamford Bridge is all but confirmed.

The West London outfit have agreed a deal with now-relegated Ipswich Town for the transfer of Delap, and ‘he can be considered’ a Chelsea player, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The England U21 international is not the only player Chelsea are hoping to sign in the coming days, before the Club World Cup. AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is also a target, although Romano reported in a separate post that the two clubs are not close in valuation for the shotstopper.

Chelsea are also closing in on another transfer target before their Club World Cup campaign begins.

Chelsea's new transfer target

Over the past few summers under Todd Boehly, Chelsea have become a club notorious for spending big money on some of the most exciting young talents in Europe; Delap would be a prime example of that transfer policy.

Another player who fits that trend is Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. According to a report from Caught Offside, the 20-year-old is reportedly subject to a £55m bid from the West London side, who are ‘in talks to try to get a deal done’ sooner rather than later.

The reason they are in such a hurry to get this one over the line is that they face competition from other English clubs.

Newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool, London rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, who Gittens represented as an academy player, as well as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, are also interested. Hence, Chelsea have placed a bid.

Why Gittens would be more exciting than Delap

It was a shockingly poor season for Borussia Dortmund, who just snuck into a Champions League qualification spot on the final day of the league season. For Gittens, however, it was a campaign of success from an individual point of view.

The England youth international was a key aspect of Dortmund’s side in the 2024/25 campaign. He featured in 48 games across all competitions, finding the back of the net 12 times and registering five assists.

The winger, who was born in London, has a knack for scoring goals in big games. Last term, one of his eight Bundesliga goals came against 2023/24 champions Bayer Leverkusen and the side who snatched their title off them, Bayern.

However, they were not the biggest goals that Gittens scored last term. The former Man City academy star bagged away against Real Madrid in the Champions League, giving Dortmund a 2-0 lead and becoming the youngest English player ever to score against Los Blancos in the process.

In fact, it is something like that means you can argue that the “world-class” Gittens, as Dougie Critchley called him, is a more exciting signing than Delap. Of course, the Tractor Boys attacker is a brilliant piece of business from Chelsea, for just £30m, but Gittens is perhaps a better deal.

It has been a strong season overall from Delap. The Ipswich forward star scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances.

However, he was not incredibly consistent, and actually failed to score in the last seven top-flight games last season.

Not only has Gittens shown how dangerous he can be at such a high level, against one of Europe’s biggest teams, but his underlying numbers are exciting.

In particular, the Dortmund winger’s dribbling stats on FBref show just how deadly he can be. For example, he averaged 3.57 successful take-ons per game last season, ranking him in the top 1% of wingers in Europe.

Take-ons attempted

7.97

98th

Take-ons completed

3.57

99th

Progressive carries

5.53

91st

Carries into final third

2.95

88th

Carries into penalty box

3.06

93rd

Signing the Dortmund attacker would certainly be a captivating addition for Chelsea. There is no doubt about that. There is certainly a strong case to be made for the fact that he is an even more exciting signing than Delap, given the European pedigree he brings and his ability in one-vs-one scenarios.

For £55m, this seems like an excellent deal for the Blues, and one that can elevate them to new heights this term.

Better than Gittens & Sancho: Chelsea targeting "electric" £49m star

Chelsea are looking for a new winger this summer, amid Jadon Sancho’s expected exit

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 4, 2025

West Bromwich Albion are now very keen on signing an “incredible” defender who has experience at the very highest level, according to a report.

Mason's arrival marks start of new era at the Hawthorns

West Brom’s 2024-25 campaign ultimately petered out, with Tony Mowbray being dismissed just three months after his arrival, having failed to build on the foundations laid by Carlos Corberan.

However, the appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason marks the start of a new era for the Baggies, with reporter Steve Hermon claiming the board have made a “brave” decision by replacing Mowbray with a manager who has no Championship experience.

At just 33-years-old, Mason is certainly young for a manager, but the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler and Germany boss Julian Naglelsmann have proven that experience isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to being successful.

Contact made: West Brom considering move to sign "ruthless" new striker

Ryan Mason is wasting no time in looking to strengthen his new West Brom team.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 5, 2025

Despite a poor end to the 2024-25 campaign, Albion finished just four points adrift of the Championship play-off places, which suggests Mason may not need to ring the changes this summer, but he will certainly be looking to put his own stamp on the squad.

According to a report from The Athletic, West Brom are now showing strong interest in signing Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, who is attracting the attention of a number of second-tier sides after impressing on loan at Derby County.

Derby boss John Eustace has confirmed he would like to sign Phillips on a permanent basis, with the defender’s time at Anfield surely coming to an end, having not featured for the Reds in the Premier League since the 2022-23 campaign.

"Incredible" Phillips impressed Klopp during Liverpool spell

Perhaps most memorably, the Bolton-born defender featured regularly for Liverpool during the 2020-21 season, at which point Jürgen Klopp was having to deal with an injury crisis.

Ultimately, the Reds managed to seal qualification for the Champions League despite the injury issues, and Klopp was left impressed by some of the £45k-a-week centre-back’s performances, particularly catching the eye during a 2-1 win against West Ham United.

Speaking after the match, Klopp said: “He’s a brilliant guy, smart guy, intelligent, everything. He’s not easy on the eye, he’s not Messi but who cares? In the air, he’s a monster! He was incredible.”

Since then, the 28-year-old has arguably gone on to find his level in the Championship, but he has continued to impress in the air, placing in the top 1% for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other defenders in similar leagues.

Phillips, who has seven Champions League appearances to his name, could be an excellent signing for West Brom this summer, and the hope will be that he is available on a permanent basis, having not been a part of Liverpool’s plans for a number of years.

While it failed to culminate in any silverware, this season wasn’t all doom and gloom for Arsenal.

For example, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly broke into the first team, with the latter establishing himself as a regular starter and now a full-fledged England star.

Moreover, despite missing almost four months of action, Bukayo Saka once again proved he’s a world-class attacker by racking up a haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 games.

Appearances (Starts)

37 (30)

Minutes

2619′

Goals

12

Assists

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvement

100.73′

Yet, it’s impossible to overlook that, in the end, a lack of invention in the final third prevented the team from winning anything, so it’s a good thing that reports have now linked Arsenal to someone compared to Saka and Rodrygo.

Arsenal transfer news

With Arsenal creating just the seventh-highest expected goals figure in the Premier League this season, per FBref, it’s easy to understand why there has been such an emphasis on the club signing players capable of both scoring and creating more goals in recent weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been one name linked with the club, as has Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers, although a player touted more heavily for a move to the Emirates than both this summer has been Rodrygo.

The Real Madrid star scored 14 goals and provided ten assists in 51 games for Los Blancos this term.

However, with a price tag of at least £84m and murmurs that he does not want to leave the Spanish capital, the North Londoners may be forced to sign another attacking talent from the Santiago Bernabéu, a talent who’s won comparisons to the Brazilian.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arteta has asked Arsenal to inquire about Brahim Diaz, who he believes could thrive at the Emirates.

Moreover, the story has revealed that the North Londoners are now willing to make an offer of €50m for the Moroccan international, about £42m, despite Xabi Alonso wanting to keep him in Spain.

It might not be a straightforward transfer to get over the line, but Diaz is undeniably talented, and as he’s already won comparisons to Saka and Rodrygo, he could be just what Arsenal need.

How Diaz compares to Saka & Rodrygo

Now, there are a number of reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Diaz this summer, but before getting to them, it’s important to address these comparisons to Saka and Rodrygo and where they come from, for that matter.

Well, in both cases, the comparisons stem from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the Champions League this season and then created a list of the ten most comparable players for each.

In this instance, it concluded that the Brazilian international was the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Morccan star, while the Englishman came in as the seventh most similar.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.48

0.48

Goals per Shot

0.20

0.20

Passing Accuracy

84.8%

85.1%

Live Passes

45.7

44.3

Tackles Won

1.11

1.13

Successful Take-On %

56.5%

58.1%

Carries

42.0

41.3

The best way to see how these conclusions were reached is by looking at the underlying numbers in which the players ranked closely, which, for the case of his Real Madrid teammate, included things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot, passing accuracy, carries, tackles won and more, all per 90.

For the Gunners’ own number seven, the metrics that overlapped with the former Manchester City gem included things like shots on target, goal-creating actions, key passes, passes into the penalty area, non-penalty expected goals and more, also per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.28

0.34

Shots on Target

1.31

1.42

Key Passes

1.11

1.19

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.30

1.19

Goal-Creating Actions

0.80

0.83

Miscontrols

2.04

2.02

Usually, being so statistically similar to two of the most exciting wingers in the modern game would be reason enough to sign someone, but away from these comparisons, there are other reasons the North Londoners should be looking to recruit the Málaga-born maestro this summer, such as his versatility.

For example, while the 25-year-old does tend to play out on the right at the moment, his most played position across his entire career is attacking midfield, but even then, he’s also capable of playing off the left and has spent time as a second striker and up top to boot.

Moreover, while he has mainly been kept to substitute appearances in Spain, he’s got the ability to do something seriously special, with former professional turned pundit Owen Hargreaves describing a goal he scored in the Champions League last season as “Messi-esque.”

However, Hargreaves doesn’t limit the comparison to strictly that goal, pointing out that it’s his “low centre of gravity” and “way he can dribble”, which also makes the 5 foot 7 magician similar to the Argentine legend.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more quality to their attacking and midfield options this summer, and while he might not be the biggest of names, Diaz is undeniably talented and could add that extra spark the team need.

Dream Gyokeres alternative: £40m striker now wants to sign for Arsenal

The free-scoring forward could be the missing piece for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 16, 2025

Celtic are a club that are used to cashing in on their top talent when the summer transfer window rolls around, as teams across Europe eye up their star performers.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Odsonne Edouard, Moussa Dembele, Matt O’Riley, and Victor Wanyama are just a few of the players who have moved on from Parkhead in the modern era to go elsewhere in Europe.

As you can see in the graphic above, Jota is also among the list of players who have tried their luck away from Glasgow, albeit he went to Saudi Arabia instead of to another European side.

18 months on from that £25m move, the Portuguese forward returned to the club on a permanent deal from Rennes in the January transfer window, and caught the eye with four goals and two assists in seven Scottish Premiership starts before suffering a knee injury.

That was not the only business that they did with the French outfit in that window, though, as they also sold Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes on a permanent deal.

The Ligue 1 side reportedly paid a fee of £10m to sign the Japan international from the Scottish giants, and it has turned out to be a fantastic deal for the Hoops and Brendan Rodgers.

Why losing Kyogo Furuhashi was not a blow for Celtic

The 30-year-old centre-forward scored 85 goals and provided 19 assists in 185 appearances in all competitions for Celtic during his time in Glasgow, which shows that he did offer a big threat in front of goal.

However, he only had a return of 12 goals in 32 matches for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign before his move to Rennes, which was not quite as prolific as his overall record makes him out to be.

Kyogo’s form had tailed off a bit towards the end of his time at Parkhead, and January felt like the right time to move on from him with a £10m offer on the table from Rennes.

The Japanese striker scored a staggering 27 goals in 36 league games in the 2022/23 season, but failed to replicate that success in the following two campaigns.

Appearances

36

38

22

Goals

27

14

10

Big chances missed

16

24

17

Big chances created

1

7

1

Assists

2

5

3

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo missed a whopping 41 ‘big chances’ and scored 24 goals in his final 18 months at the club, which suggests that his finishing took a turn for the worse.

Therefore, losing him when they did was not a big blow for the Scottish giants, particularly when you consider that he has failed to score in six games for Rennes so far.

European club in talks to sign Celtic star

However, Celtic are now in danger of losing a star whose exit would be a bigger blow than when they decided to cash in on Kyogo at the start of the year.

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 German outlet Kicker, as relayed by Transfermarkt, RB Leipzig are interested in a swoop to snap up Nicolas Kuhn from Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Bundesliga outfit are in ‘advanced’ talks to agree a deal to sign the left-footed star, who spent time in their academy system earlier in his career.

Kuhn is named as one of three signings ‘on the horizon’ for Leipzig as they look to react to finishing seventh in the German top-flight in the 2024/25 season, but the report does not mention how much the potential move could be worth.

Why losing Nicolas Kuhn is a big blow

If the German side are able to complete a deal to sign the Celtic sensation in the weeks to come, the 25-year-old gem’s exit would be a bigger blow than when they sold Kyogo in January.

As aforementioned, the Japan international had declined during his Hoops career and was at a point where a move away from the club appeared to be a sensible decision for all parties involved.

Whereas, Kuhn is currently on top of his game and has just enjoyed an incredible first full season in Glasgow, thriving on the right flank as a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants.

The left-footed magician, who has been dubbed “breathtaking” by Marvin Bartley, ended the year with 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, which shows that he made a huge impact at the top end of the pitch.

His form in the Premiership, in relation to the rest of the Celtic squad, also illustrates how important he is to the team and why losing him would be such a blow.

Sofascore rating

7.47

3rd

Goals

13

2nd

Assists

9

3rd

Goals + assists

22

2nd

Big chances created

11

3rd

Key passes per game

1.6

2nd

Dribbles completed per game

1.8

1st

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn ranked very highly as a scorer, a creator, and a dribbler, for the Hoops in the Premiership, which is why a move to Leipzig would be a blow for the club, as they would be losing a hugely influential figure.

Incoming signing Benjamin Nygren plays on the right wing and scored 15 goals in 30 league games in Denmark this season, but he only provided two assists and may not cover for all of what Celtic would lose through Kuhn’s exit.

He'd be amazing with Hatate: Celtic now eyeing "Premier League-level" star

Celtic could find an amazing midfield partner for Reo Hatate by signing this star.

ByDan Emery Jun 23, 2025

Of course, nothing is signed and sealed yet, with these reports purely about talks at this moment in time, but there is the possibility that the Hoops will be deal a big blow by the winger’s departure this summer.

Celtic are set to be in the market to bring a new number nine option to the club to compete for a starting berth at the top end of the pitch next season.

The Hoops have added 19-year-old striker Callum Osmand to the group, on a free transfer from Premier League side Fulham, but the young whiz has yet to play a single senior match in his career.

Brendan Rodgers is still looking for a bona fide first-team striker option, though, to finally replace Kyogo Furuhashi, who left the club to sign for Rennes in the January transfer window.

The Hoops opted against any moves to directly replace the Japan international that month, but they could change that by signing a striker to compete with Adam Idah, Osmand, and Daizen Maeda.

Celtic may not need to splash the cash, immediately, to sign a quality centre-forward, though, as their previous deal for Odsonne Edouard shows that the loan route can be a profitable one.

Celtic hit the jackpot with Odsonne Edouard

In the summer of 2017, the Scottish giants swooped to sign the French teenager from Paris Saint-Germain on loan with an option to make it permanent the following year.

Edouard hit the ground running at Parkhead as a loanee with a return of 11 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions for the club in the 2017/18 campaign, which shows that he made an immediate impact on the pitch during his time on loan.

His impressive form throughout that season convinced the Hoops to activate their option to sign him permanently in the summer of 2018, for a club-record fee of £9m.

That club-record transfer fee turned out to be a snip for Celtic because Edouard went on to provide goals at an exceptional rate over the next three seasons, before being sold for a healthy profit.

24/25

Daizen Maeda

33

23/24

Kyogo Furuhashi

19

22/23

Kyogo Furuhashi

34

21/22

Kyogo Furuhashi

20

20/21

Odsonne Edouard

22

19/20

Odsonne Edouard

29

18/19

Odsonne Edouard

22

The French striker, who scored at least 22 goals in each of those three campaigns, showed incredible consistency in the final third with his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

This led to Crystal Palace swooping in to sign him for a fee of up to £18.5m in the summer of 2021, which shows that Celtic hit the jackpot with the forward, who delivered consistent quality on the pitch and made the club a huge profit.

Celtic exploring loan deal for new striker

In the present day, the Scottish Premiership champions are reportedly interested in signing a number nine on loan in a potential repeat of their Edouard success.

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 Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic have made contact with Italian giants Napoli to discuss a deal for Giuseppe Ambrosino.

The reporter claims that the Hoops have made an enquiry about the young centre-forward, and that they have now entered talks to explore a move for the striker.

Joseph adds that they are ‘exploring’ the possibility of an initial loan deal with the option to make it permanent next summer, in what would be a very similar move to the one that they agreed with PSG for Edouard.

He also states that Ambrosino is ‘keen’ on a transfer to Glasgow, which suggests that personal terms will not be an issue if a switch can be agreed between the two clubs.

Why Ambrosino could be Edouard 2.0 for Celtic

There are obvious similarities between this potential transfer and the one that brought Edouard to Parkhead in 2017, as he would be another young striker arriving from a major European club on an initial loan deal with the possibility of a permanent switch the following year.

Celtic would have the chance to assess Ambrosino and his long-term potential as a Premiership striker in the 2025/26 campaign before making a definitive decision at the end of the season.

The Italian youngster would also arrive at Parkhead in a similar place in his career to the one that Edouard arrived in when he joined in 2017, as the French gem had scored eight goals in 25 academy games for PSG, but only one goal in 17 games on loan at Toulouse at first-team level.

Ambrosino spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan with Frosinone in the Serie B and only managed a return of five goals and three assists in 36 games, but did put up some promising underlying numbers.

Goals

5

Top 38%

Shots

58

Top 12%

Shots on target

16

Top 30%

Chances created

39

Top 4%

Successful crosses

19

Top 5%

Assists

3

Top 16%

Successful dribbles

15

Top 28%

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old striker put up plenty of shots and shots on target and created loads of chances for his teammates, which suggests that he has the potential to improve his output if his end product becomes more consistent.

Ambrosino scored 20 goals and provided five assists in 32 games for Napoli’s U19 team in the 2021/22 campaign, which shows that he provided a consistent goal threat as a striker at youth level, just as Edouard did before he exploded onto the scene at Parkhead.

The Italy U21 international, who recently scored a fantastic free-kick against Germany’s U21s, has the potential to develop into a lethal goalscorer for Celtic, if they can help him to take the next step in his career.

Edouard used the Premiership as a platform to thrive as a first-team star, having only shone at academy level previously, and Ambrosino could follow in his footsteps by starring on loan for the Hoops, before joining permanently next summer.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers are now ready to make an official bid for a “complete” player, who could be in line to join alongside Fluminense’s Jhon Arias, according to reports.

Wolves agree deal to sign Arias

Wolves are now closing in on the signature of Arias, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano corroborating reports that a fee has been agreed with the Brazilian club.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the forward’s seemingly imminent arrival, having performed remarkably well for Fluminense in the 2025 season, regularly contributing goals and assists in all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Campeonato Carioca

10

1

4

Copa do Brasil

4

1

2

Copa Sudamericana

3

0

2

Serie A

11

1

4

With the Old Gold closing in on a new attacker, it may be wise to now turn their attentions towards strengthening at the opposite end of the pitch, and they are ready to make an offer for a defender.

That is according to a report from Prasinoforos, which reveals that Wolves are preparing to make a formal bid for Panathinaikos right-back Georgios Vagiannidis, given that he has impressed scouts over the past few months.

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Vitor Pereira’s side have been closely monitoring Vagiannidis for quite some time, and they are now ready to launch an official offer, although the Greek club should be in a strong negotiating position, as the defender remains contracted until 2028.

With an important Champions League qualifier against Rangers on the horizon, Panathinaikos are unwilling to sanction a departure, but reports from elsewhere have revealed that a bid of £13m could be enough to tempt them into a sale.

"Complete" Vagiannidis could be smart acquisition for Wolves

Pereira may be forced into bringing in a new right-back this summer, with Nelson Semedo looking increasingly likely to join a club overseas, and there are signs the Panithinaikos ace could be a solid signing.

At 23-years-old, the full-back is at a good age to be a long-term heir to Semedo, and he has received praise from scout/writer Jacek Kulig in the past, who described him as “complete”, while also likening the Panathinaikos ace to Kyle Walker.

The Athens-born defender has now amassed 104 appearances for Panathinaikos in all competitions, including five in the Europa League, but there may be some concerns over the fact he is yet to prove himself in a major domestic league.

As such, while Vagiannidis could be a smart acquisition for Wolves, they will still be holding out hope that the more-experienced Semedo decides to sign a new contract.

What a whirlwind 24 hours or so it has been for Newcastle United. On Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that they received a huge approach from Liverpool for star striker Alexander Isak, which is said to be a ‘record bid’ from Fabrizio Romano.

That is something that could scupper their move for French striker Hugo Ekitike. The Magpies are believed to have bid £69m for the Eintracht Frankfurt star, also confirmed by Romano, but the German side rejected that offer. If Liverpool are priced out of a move for Isak, they could instead move for Ekitike.

The two clubs are certainly embroiled in one of the sagas of the summer so far, although perhaps Newcastle will turn their attention elsewhere completely.

The latest on Newcastle's transfer business

It will be fascinating to see who ends up where at the end of the Isak and Ekitike saga, with it looking increasingly likely that one will play for Liverpool next season. Thus, the Magpies may well switch their focus and look for an alternative centre-forward, regardless of what happens.

Transfer Focus

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

A recent report from Chronicle Live says that Eddie Howe’s side are ‘long-term admirers’ of RB Leipzig and Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko. Reading between the lines, perhaps a move for the 22-year-old will materialise.

However, there is a stumbling block, and that is the fact that he is ‘one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe’, as described in the report. Arsenal are one club linked with the striker, having reportedly been in talks over a £70m move for him back in June.

With the Gunners now set to sign Viktor Gyokeres instead, it remains to be seen if Sesko is still on their list.

How Sesko compares to Ekitike

There is no doubt that Sesko would move to St James’ Park with a fantastic reputation. Described as a “menace of a striker” by football scout Antonio Mango, the Slovenia international is well-regarded across European football.

The 2024/25 campaign was an impressive one for the Leipzig striker. In 45 appearances for the German side, he scored 21 goals and grabbed six assists along the way. His Bundesliga record of 13 goals and five assists is impressive for someone just 22 years of age.

When you think of a “menace” in front of goal, as Mango described the Leipzig number nine, a deadly centre-forward who can score plenty of types of goals may spring to mind.

Look at this strike in the Champions League last season, which really highlights what the scout means. That is a deadly finish.

There is certainly a case to be made that the striker is a bigger talent than Ekitike. The Frenchman impressed for Eintracht last term, with 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 games for the Bundesliga outfit.

There is no doubt that the former PSG player is a superb striker and someone whose game is well-rounded, given the number of assists he gets. He also knows where the back of the net is, too, as the video showcases.

However, looking at some of the numbers on FBref, you can certainly make a case for the fact that the Leipzig striker is a bigger talent. Some of the key numbers for a striker certainly weigh in Sesko’s favour. It is also worth bearing in mind that, whilst Ekitike scored more goals last season, he did feature in more games.

For example, the 22-year-old Slovenia international averages 0.38 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes, compared to 0.32 goals per shot on target each game for the Frenchman. In terms of off-the-ball work, Sesko wins 2.65 aerial duels per game compared to Ekitike’s 1.82.

Goals

0.49

0.53

Goals per shot on target

0.38

0.32

Shots on target

43.9%

38.6%

Goals per shot

0.17

0.12

Aerial duels won

2.65

1.82

You can certainly form a strong argument which says Sesko is a way bigger talent than Ekitike, not least having already scored 93 club goals to date at senior level, from 214 games. The latter man, by contrast, has scored just 44 club goals from 136 games, despite being just over a year older than the Leipzig sensation.

Whilst the Magpies are in many ways stuck in limbo with their striker signing, perhaps the opportunity to sign Sesko could present itself this summer.

A £70m fee is expensive, but it is only the same fee that they bid for the Eintracht star, and would surely be enough to tempt Leipzig into a sale. The Newcastle striker saga, from here, will be fascinating, but Sesko is surely a strong option.

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