Already thinking about the January transfer window, Manchester United are now reportedly eyeing a fresh move to sign an alternative midfielder to Carlos Baleba.
Man Utd complete late Lammens deal
After much deliberation over whether to sign the Belgian or Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, Manchester United finally settled on Senne Lammens in a deadline-day deal for Ruben Amorim. Finally putting their goalkeeper struggles behind them, the Red Devils will be desperate for the 23-year-old to hit the ground running at Old Trafford.
After putting pen to paper, the new shot-stopper told United’s official website: “I am extremely proud to be joining Manchester United; it is a real dream come true. The past few years have been an amazing journey; it’s now ended in an incredible destination and hopefully the beginning of something special.
“You can feel the positive atmosphere that is being created here, and I know that I can make a real impact at the club in the coming years. I cannot wait to get to know my team-mates and begin working with Ruben and the coaching staff. This is the perfect place to keep developing, grow together with this exciting team and achieve my career objectives.”
To say that United needed Lammens’ arrival would also be quite an understatement. Andre Onana’s performance against Grimsby Town as United suffered a shock exit in the Carabao Cup was enough for INEOS to step up their search, whilst Altay Bayindir also failed to impress when offered starting opportunities.
Starts
30
34
Save Percentage
81.4%
69%
Clean Sheets
7
9
Saves P90
4.23
2.59
Even after welcoming Lammens, however, Manchester United are still not satisfied on the transfer front and have already reportedly turned their focus towards another Belgian talent for January.
Man Utd eyeing Romeo Lavia move
According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, Manchester United are now eyeing a move to sign Romeo Lavia from Chelsea in the January transfer window. The Red Devils’ search for a midfielder was a fairly open secret during the summer window, but they were ultimately priced out of a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.
There’s no guarantee that the African’s price tag changes anytime soon, either, and that could force those at Old Trafford to assess their options. If that does prove to be the case, then Lavia would be an ideal option to turn to in January.
The Chelsea midfielder has been riddled with injuries since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but his quality has been clear every time that he has been fit and firing. Now that Enzo Maresca’s midfield is settled, though, he may struggle for starts and could need Manchester United just as much as they need him.
Dubbed an “elite” prospect by scout Jacek Kulig, Manchester United should take full advantage of Lavia’s Chelsea woes and swoop in when January arrives.
Manchester United will enter the 2025/26 campaign with new wide forwards. In Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, there’s fresh cause for optimism.
So many things went wrong for Erik ten Hag and then Ruben Amorim last term, and perhaps we’ve dissected the woes of last year enough. United need to look forward, and Amorim knows that with such Premier League-proven stars strengthening his frontline, he might genuinely have the tools to push for a place at the top end of the table.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimtalks to the fans after the match
Last season was not good enough, and so the summer clearout is underway, and the new signings so far look to be on the money.
Cunha has been a menace for Wolverhampton Wanderers over the past several years, with a genuine wow factor to complement his hunger for goals and assists.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhacelebrates after Rodrigo Gomes scores
Brentford’s Mbeumo might not be so skilful, but who can argue against the 25-year-old’s goalscoring ability? Pen has not yet been put to paper, but it looks like the Red Devils have hit the jackpot with this one.
Why Man United are signing Bryan Mbeumo
First and foremost, Mbeumo fits the bill from a tactical standpoint. He’s powerful, precise and prolific. The right-sided forward is better than both Antony and Jadon Sancho, more accomplished in the English game.
And it’s that last point which tells all. Gone are the days of scattergun spending on those showing promise overseas. Hello, new regime, with tried and tested players like those discussed at the forefront.
Last season, Mbeumo forged an elite partnership with Yoane Wissa, one that forged 40 goals and 14 assists. They played with such gusto and coherence that they will feature heavily in wistful conversations in years to come. But it was truly a thing to behold, with former Bees boss Thomas Frank even calling his Cameroonian forward “unplayable” at times.
Mbeumo and Wissa
Mbeumo will be tasked with establishing new relationships at Old Trafford, and he might just at that, with INEOS now turning their attention to a centre-forward.
Man United in talks for new striker
Manchester United need to sign an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund. The 22-year-old lost his way last year, scoring only four goals in the Premier League and routinely failing to deliver.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Therefore, United have set their sights on RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, with none other than Fabrizio Romano confirming a deal for the Slovenian striker has been discussed internally.
Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres are among the names targeted already this summer, but the former has signed for Chelsea, while Amorim’s former protege is in the process of joining Arsenal.
Reporter Ben Jacobs has corroborated Romano’s report, iterating United’s priority of signing a striker and noting that Sesko, who is 22, is back on the radar, having been earmarked one year ago. Leipzig are thought to be seeking something in the region of £78m.
Why Man United want Benjamin Sesko
While there’s a new emphasis on signing domestically, United aren’t going to turn a blind eye to those out on the continent who have enough talent to warrant a move.
And Sesko has the potential to be a superstar. Talent scout Jacek Kulig has even gone as far as to declare him as “the new Haaland”, for his strength, clinical power and tall, rangy figure are reminiscent of the Manchester City goal machine.
Benjamin Sesko 2024-25 stats (timeless)
While 13 goals from 33 Bundesliga games last season isn’t a haul to set the world on fire, the £94k-per-week talent only missed ten big chances, notching five assists too.
And Kulig also noted that Sesko’s blistering running power makes him “one of the fastest players on the planet”.
Ranked among the top 11% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, Sesko is also established as a ball-carrying talent. He has pace, to be sure, but manages that high-speed running well when on the ball, which is a noteworthy attribute indeed for someone leading the line.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates
The 6 foot 4 striker is truly shaping into one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. He’s not the finished product but instead the raw and untapped potential of someone who could lead the line for an ambitious Man United team over the coming years, combining with the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha to create an iconic strike-force built for illustrious success.
Take, for example, Mbeumo in his current form, and contrast that with the winger’s first tentative steps into the Premier League theatre. His growth, as you might imagine, has been impressive.
Matches (starts)
35 (34)
38 (38)
Goals
4
20
Assists
7
7
Shots (on target)*
2.2 (0.6)
2.2 (1.1)
Big chances missed
9
9
Pass completion
69%
74%
Big chances created
4
17
Key passes*
1.0
1.8
Dribbles*
1.1
1.4
Tackles + interceptions*
1.1
1.7
Duels won*
3.8
4.7
As you can see, Mbeumo has grown into his skin, these past years working hard to become more accurate and more engaged, more creative too. So it is clear. So it could be for Sesko, who already has the ingredients to become a high-level goalscorer for Man United.
The point of this is that Sesko isn’t in his final form. This tall and intelligent and instinctive striker, who moves with confidence and strikes true, would only develop in a United team on the up, flanked by Cunha and Mbeumo.
And if those forwards, already settled into the English game, as we have discussed, help him find his feet in those early stages, Sesko could truly rise above and become a world-class marksman for Amorim’s project.
The Portuguese tactician, after all, demonstrated his aptitude with a talented forward in Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon, turning the Sweden star into a world-beater.
Without question, signing Sesko could be a deal that is looked back on as a game-changer in the years to come.
A Rashford upgrade: Man Utd open first talks to sign "complete" £50m star
Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be an upgrade on Marcus Rashford.
Nottingham Forest fans must be having sleepless nights over the long-term future of Morgan Gibbs-White.
It looked nailed on that the 25-year-old was going to be the next through the exit door at the City Ground after Anthony Elanga, as Tottenham Hotspur smugly activated his release clause, yet this move looks to be fraught with controversy now, with the Tricky Trees even threatening legal action over Spurs’ cloak-and-dagger approach.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitereacts
Whatever does occur between now and the entertaining transfer window closing involving Gibbs-White, Forest know they will need to press on with more incoming signings joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s group, with an ambitious midfield move now reportedly in the pipeline.
Nottingham Forest prepare move for £50m battler
Talk about fresh, new signings entering the fray has taken a backseat somewhat due to the drama of Elanga leaving and Gibbs-White nearly following suit.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, there have been some notable links here and there, with Ben Doak allegedly on the Forest radar for around the £25m mark as the Scotsman contemplates a move away from Liverpool.
Another standout rumour comes in the form of ex-Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz who could make a return to the Premier League with Forest.
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
talkSPORT are reporting that Nuno’s men are ‘exploring’ a move for the former £50m Juventus buy, as Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis fancies the idea of bringing the top-flight-experienced Brazilian back to the Midlands.
It is stated that his £100k-per-week wage could be a potential stumbling block, but this might well be a standout signing Forest need to pursue in order to potentially convince Gibbs-White to remain put over favouring Champions League opportunities elsewhere, with the pair perhaps striking up an exciting midfield partnership very soon.
Why Gibbs-White could love playing with Luiz
Before flopping in Turin, starting just three Serie A games last term, Luiz was a dependable performer week in week out for Unai Emery’s Villans, with a sumptuous effort such as this one against AFC Bournemouth in his back pocket.
Not just an energetic battler in the middle of the park, Luiz has proven himself to be more than capable of chipping in with a goal and an assist in the final third.
Indeed, he collected a sizeable haul of 22 goals and 24 assists for Villa, with Gibbs-White coincidentally on the exact same tally at this point in time for Forest as another livewire in the centre of the pitch.
Games played
175
154
Goals scored
20
18
Assists
18
27
Passes completed
7,744 (87%)
4,106 (78%)
Dribbles completed
202 (66%)
298 (48%)
Duels won
775
591
Tackles won
285
123
Looking at the table above, it’s clear there are differences between the duo, however, that would help them form a healthy working relationship, with Luiz more than content sitting deeper in the pitch when viewing his high number of 775 duels being won across his Premier League career to date, alongside his 285 tackles.
On the contrary, Gibbs-White excels when bombing forward, with Luiz’s addition to the group gifting Forest more stability in the middle, alongside an equally combative Elliot Anderson, to allow for the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker to express himself even more.
During his final season at Villa Park, Luiz averaged a mightily impressive 5.3 ball recoveries in league action to be that tireless presence for his side, with football analyst Statman Dave even going out of his way to label the Brazilian as an “engine” for his relentless drive.
Away from competently completing his dirty work, Luiz would also be an addition that would stand out to the wantaway Englishman. Forest clearly need to showcase their ambition to Gibbs-White and the Brazilian’s pedigree in European competitions, as seen in the six Champions League appearances, would potentially be the type of signing to prove that.
Rather than deserting Forest, therefore, Gibbs-White might well believe Europe’s grandest stage can come to the City Ground shortly if Luiz’s expertise is added to the mix.
With new pictures coming out of Forest also showing Gibbs-White returning to training, it might not be a foregone conclusion anymore that the 25-year-old is on the move, especially if the “world-class” Luiz, as he was once labelled by ex-Villa teammate John McGinn, heads to Nottingham.
Dream Elanga replacement: Nottingham Forest in contact to sign £25m "menace"
Nottingham Forest now need to replace Elanga after his move to Newcastle
Over recent weeks, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has been the most likely star to make the move to join Manchester United and further aid Ruben Amorim’s attempts in the final third.
The Cameroonian has starred in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, scoring 20 times in his 38 appearances, undoubtedly being the shining light in the Bees’ side.
Such a record has led to the Red Devils’ keen interest, even making a £60m bid for the attacker, but it was rejected, with the two clubs yet to agree on a fee this window.
They have faced huge competition from Tottenham Hotspur for his signature this summer, but the Bees star has given the Red Devils his word and confirmed that he wants to join Amorim’s side.
However, it appears as though other options are being considered in the forward department, potentially forming an excellent partnership with the Cameroonian at Old Trafford.
The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this summer
Dušan Vlahović is a player who has emerged on their radar over the last couple of weeks, potentially striking an agreement with Juventus that would see Jadon Sancho move in the opposite direction.
Felix Nmecha is another player on their radar, potentially making a bid for his services in the coming weeks in an attempt to land his signature ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Felix Nmecha for Borussia Dortmund.
However, the hierarchy are also active elsewhere, subsequently preparing a move for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, that’s according to the latest update from CaughtOffside.
The report claims that the Red Devils are preparing a £60m offer for the 26-year-old, who’s registered 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions this campaign.
It also states that the offer is below the Italian side’s asking price for the Portuguese international, but they would be open to offloading him should they receive an acceptable bid during this window.
Why United’s £60m target could be Amorim’s own version of prime Rashford
Marcus Rashford is a player who has been a superb option for United over the years after making his debut way back in 2016 as a baby-faced teenager.
He’s racked up over 400 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 138 times for his boyhood club, with his best season coming in 2022/23 – notching 30 goals in his 56 outings.
However, he appears to be out of favour under current boss Amorim, subsequently being loaned out to Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 season.
The 27-year-old looks almost certain to depart Old Trafford on a permanent basis this summer, potentially handing the manager the funds to make the changes he requires.
A move could allow Leao to take his place within the first-team setup, being the manager’s next version of the England international, outperforming him in numerous key areas this season compared to his prime a couple of years ago.
AC Milan's RafaelLeaobefore the match
The Milan star has previously stated he’s modelled his game on Rashford’s, often liking to cut inside onto his stronger right foot off the left-hand side, developing into a bigger talent in the process.
Leao, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, has registered a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – demonstrating his clinical edge within the final third.
Games played
34
35
Goals & assists
16
22
Progressive carries
4.8
2.6
Progressive passes
3.6
2.7
Shot-on-target accuracy
46%
45%
Key passes made
2.3
0.9
Shot-creating actions
4.4
3
Take-on success
46%
39%
Carries into opposition box
2.6
1.7
Aerials won
57%
33%
He’s also produced countless chances, completing more progressive carries and passes per 90, subsequently able to provide the players around him with added opportunities.
The Portuguese star has further dominated, registering more take-ons and winning more aerial battles, handing Amorim an all-round threat within the final third.
£60m for a player of his quality would be a superb piece of business, giving the side the fear factor they’ve often lacked within the final third in recent seasons.
Should he match or better the levels produced by Rashford back in 2022/23, it would be a sensational signing and one that could transform the Amorim era for the better.
Bruno will make him world-class: Man Utd hold talks for "phenomenal" star
Manchester United appear to be making a move in a deal to sign a new talisman.
Tottenham Hotspur have a new manager at the helm in Thomas Frank, though he could now have a decision to make on one of his key stars, according to a report.
Tottenham make Tel second signing under Frank
There were plenty of mixed opinions when Ange Postecoglou was relieved of his duties at Tottenham. He delivered on his promise to bring a trophy to North London, but Daniel Levy couldn’t look past the Lilywhites’ dismal form in the top flight.
Frank has since been appointed and arrives as a revered figure among many of his Premier League peers. The former Brentford boss released an emotional statement after swapping Hounslow for N17 as he gets to work ahead of pre-season.
He stated: “I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.
“For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community – it’s an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you.”
Mathys Tel has been announced as a permanent Tottenham star and has signed until 2031, becoming an early signal of the former Brentford man’s transfer intent. Kevin Danso has also joined after his loan spell from RC Lens.
Looking to tempt one of his old flames to work together again, Spurs boss Frank is targeting a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has reportedly changed his stance on potentially swapping the Gtech Community Stadium for Manchester United amid recent talks.
Tottenham meet asking price for "key" Thomas Frank target after lodging bid
The Dane personally wants him in north London.
6 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 14, 2025
Jadon Sancho has also been linked with a surprise switch to Spurs. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the Red Devils would be willing to deal with a direct Premier League rival after his spell at Chelsea.
Making inroads, Frank has now been left with a crucial decision to make after a big-money proposal came to light for one of his established stars.
Tottenham star Son Heung-min has offer to join Fenerbahce
According to reports in Spain, Fenerbahce have tabled a big-money proposal to Tottenham icon Son Heung-min that could see the South Korea international earn around £195,000 per week in Istanbul.
The outlet suggests that a deal between all parties is ‘very close’ despite nothing being fully set in stone, which could mark the end of an era for the 32-year-old after lifting the Europa League trophy last month following a decade-long wait for silverware.
Son Hueng-min – the end of an era at Tottenham Hotspur?
Appearances
454
Goals
173
Assists
101
Trophies won
UEFA Europa League
Admittedly, he did wane during a difficult campaign on a week-to-week basis for the Lilywhites, though he still managed to register 11 goals in 12 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions.
From a personal perspective, Son bowing out with a winners’ medal in-hand would be the perfect way to depart, even if his exit would be an emotional one following his excellent ten years in North London.
While this season ended up being an undeniable failure, Arsenal fans shouldn’t forget how brilliant some of their players are.
For example, David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães helped to create the best defence in the Premier League.
Moreover, Declan Rice has gone from strength to strength, and now looks more than at home as the left eight.
And then, despite missing over three months of action, the club’s best player, Bukayo Saka, was able to rack up an incredible haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in just 37 games.
The Hale Ender is undoubtedly the team’s talisman and most dangerous attacker, so fans should be delighted about reports linking Arsenal to another international star who has won comparisons to the Englishman.
Arsenal's winger search
Given Arsenal’s significant reliance on Saka to produce from the right this season, it’s not been much of a surprise to seem linked with several talented left-wingers in recent weeks, such as Nico Williams and Leroy Sané.
Transfer Focus
The former has a well-known release clause worth around £50m in his current contract with Athletic Bilbao, and while that is a lot of money, he did perform reasonably well this season, chalking up a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 45 games.
Sané, on the other hand, would be a free signing thanks to his contract with Bayern Munich running out this month, although even with his impressive haul of 19 goal involvements this term, the fact he’ll be 30 midway next season makes signing him a less appealing prospect.
Moreover, it’s difficult to imagine him matching Saka’s output from the left next year, which isn’t the case for Rodrygo.
Yes, according to a recent report from The Athletic’s Real Madrid correspondent, Mario Cortegana, Arsenal are one of a few clubs intensely interested in the Brazilian international.
In fact, he claims that Arteta is “convinced he would have a big role” in the team, although on top of convincing the player, reports from earlier this month claim that the Gunners would have to stump up around £84m to get their man.
It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s immense ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Saka.
How Rodrygo compares to Saka
So then, before we take a look at some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer, it’s important to examine this comparison to Saka and where it has come from.
Well, in this case, it stems 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.
By doing this, it concluded that the Real Madrid star was the tenth most similar attacking midfielder or winger and the third most similar midfielder to the Arsenal star in the competition this season.
Assists
0.21
0.24
Progressive Passes Received
10.3
10.2
Shots
2.57
2.61
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.10
0.12
Shot-Creating Actions
3.70
3.67
Successful Take-Ons
1.86
1.67
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 assists, progressive passes received, shots, crosses into the penalty area, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.
However, while a comparison to someone incredibly talented as Saka is undoubtedly encouraging, there are other reasons Arteta and Co should sign Real’s “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by former teammate Luka Modrić.
The most important is that he’d be a reliable source of goals, as, since the start of the 23/24 campaign, the former Santos gem has managed to score 32 goals and provide 19 assists in 103 appearances, totalling 7,137 minutes – even though he has spent much of that time out on the right when he’d rather be off the left.
In other words, he’s maintained an average of a goal involvement every 2.01 games, or every 139.94, for two years.
Ultimately, he will cost a lot of money, and it might be a difficult transfer to pull off, but due to his brilliant record and the fact he shares some key statistical similarities with Saka, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer.
Arsenal targeting £80m "nightmare" who'd be more exciting than Zubimendi
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Martin Zubimendi.
It is set to be a very busy summer at Chelsea, even by their own standards.
On Wednesday, the Blues confirmed the signing of Liam Delap, arriving from Ipswich Town for a reported £30m fee.
The forward is poised to make his Chelsea debut in little over a week’s time, with the Blues kicking off their Club World Cup campaign against Los Angeles FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on 16 June, before also taking on Flamengo and Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Philadelphia in Group D.
Before the designated Club World Cup transfer window closes on Tuesday 10 June, could Enzo Maresca have another highly-rated young centre-forward at his disposal?
Chelsea chasing attacking reinforcements
Not just content with the addition of Delap in their forward ranks, it would appear Todd Boehly and Co are lining up another exciting move.
According to a report by Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland, Chelsea are currently “working on” a deal to sign Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitiké.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
He adds that die Adler will only sell if his €100m (around £84m) release clause is met, not wanting to allow another star striker to depart, after Omar Marmoush was sold to Manchester City for a reported £65m as recently as January.
Ekitiké, who is only 22 years old, joined Frankfurt from Paris Saint-Germain for around £30m in January 2024, scoring 22 times for the German outfit this season, bagging 15 Bundesliga goals, as well as four in the Europa League.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
This makes the young Frenchman one of the most in-demand strikers in world football, notably described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, so could he be on his way to Stamford Bridge?
Why Ekitiké could be the next Anelka
Few elite-level players quite enjoyed a transfer as much as Nicolas Anelka.
Nicolas Anelka Chelsea
During his 19-year senior career, the France international played for 12 different clubs in six different countries, ranging from European heavyweights Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, six different Premier League teams, as well as both Shanghai Shenhua and then Mumbai City in Asia.
Almost inarguably, however, Anelka’s best years were spent at Chelsea, making more appearances, 184, and scoring more goals, 59, for the Blues than anyone else.
He was an integral part of their double-winning side under Carlo Ancelotti in 2009/10, scoring 15 times across all competitions, having won the Premier League golden boot the previous season, doing so in his debut campaign in West London, bagging 19 goals, one more than a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Thus, he will always be remembered fondly by the Stamford Bridge faithful, but could another French forward make a similar impact?
Well, Ekitiké and Anelka, in his prime, share many of the same characteristics, far beyond merely their nationality.
Alex Barker of the Athletic praises the Frankfurt forward’s “explosiveness and agility”, adding that he is able to “exploit space” in-behind a defence, allowing him to get into “dangerous positions” and score goals.
Well, as outlined by Nick Wright of Sky Sports, Anelka at his best was the “complete striker” who was “electrifyingly fast and devastatingly direct”. There are certainly comparisons to be had here.
Back to Ekitiké and Fintan O’Reilly of Total Football Analysis believes he is a ‘very efficient’ finisher, boasting ‘stellar off-the-ball movement’ which allows him to ‘consistently get high-quality shots off’, so let’s assess the data to see if they support these assertions.
Minutes
2,563
52nd
Goals
15
6th
Assists
8
10th
Expected goals
21.6
2nd
Non-penalty xG per 90
0.68
1st
Shots
114
1st
Shots on target
44
2nd
As the table outlines, despite only playing around 84% of the available minutes in the Bundesliga this season, Ekitiké ranked very highly for all the statistics included, ending up first for shots and second for shots on target, just one below Torjägerkanone winner Harry Kane.
Hugo Ekitike takes a penalty for Frankfurt.
The Frenchman actually massively underperformed his xG, but the fact he still managed to score 15 goals suggests he gets in the right positions, and has the potential to score many more.
Thus, if Chelsea are able to secure his signature, they absolutely should, because Ekitiké could come in and make an immediate impact, just as Anelka did all those years ago.
The dream XI Chelsea could build: Delap arrives alongside £175m duo
Chelsea could spend a bucket load again this summer.
Manchester United have now thundered into the race for a “world-class” £84m forward, having expressed a concrete interest in securing his signature in the summer, according to a report.
Man Utd set sights on winger to replace Garnacho
While Man United managed to sign off the 2024-25 campaign on a high note, securing a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao will remain fresh in the memory for supporters.
As such, it is difficult to be too positive ahead of the summer, with the Red Devils’ summer transfer plans likely to be affected by the lack of Champions League football, and Gary Neville has expressed concerns they may choose to cash-in on some of their young players to raise funds.
Neville said: “I know it’s become a thing now whereby people sell players from their academy to facilitate PSR and financial fair play, but if Manchester United start to sell academy players to raise funds to bring in other players, I think that’s the thin end of the wedge.
Man Utd also ready to pay £44m release clause for "king of kings" after Cunha
The Red Devils are now willing to trigger the release clause for another striker to partner up with Cunha at Old Trafford.
ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025
Alejandro Garnacho is one of the youth products that could be on his way out, with Arsenal now being contacted over the possibility of signing the Argentine, and if the 20-year-old does end up being sold, it is likely a replacement will be necessary.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United may now have just the player in mind, having thundered into the race for AC Milan star Rafael Leao, who is looking increasingly likely to exit the San Siro this summer, with a £84m fee being touted.
AC Milan's RafaelLeaobefore the match
United have now registered a concrete interest in signing Leao, who could be on his way out due to the lack of European football on offer at Milan, with Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona also keen.
"World-class" Leao could be Garnacho upgrade
It is unclear whether the 25-year-old would be interested in a move to Old Trafford, given that Ruben Amorim’s side will not be playing in Europe next season either, but the allure of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs could be tempting for the winger.
Should the Red Devils manage to get a deal over the line, there are plenty of signs he could be an upgrade on Garnacho at left-wing, having outperformed the starlet across a number of key statistics for wingers over the past year. Leao also loves current Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes, having called him a “maestro” in the past while on international duty together.
Statistic per 90
Rafael Leao
Alejandro Garnacho
Non-penalty goals
0.32
0.20
Assists
0.26
0.17
Successful take-ons
2.83
1.31
Having also been lauded as “world-class” by football writer Carlo Garganese in the past, Leao could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, but a move to Old Trafford could be a tough sell after the Europa League final defeat.
Arsenal are now leading the race for an “incredible” forward, who could be an ideal fit for Mikel Arteta’s style of play, according to a report.
Gunners set to strengthen attacking options
There have been widespread calls for the Gunners to sign a striker for quite some time, and their reluctance to do so has arguably been costly to their pursuit of the Premier League title and a first-ever Champions League this season.
Arteta was forced to use Mikel Merino in a makeshift striker role in both legs of the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, given that Kai Havertz has been sidelined since February, with the French side ultimately emerging 3-1 winners on aggregate.
The striker shortlist consists of a number of options, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins of interest, while an opening offer has been submitted for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
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Arteta is clearly determined to bring in a new striker this summer, and the manager is also keen to strengthen out wide, given that Gabriel Martinelli has arguably fallen short of expectations this season.
According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now leading the race for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, but he will not come cheap, with the German club setting an asking price of around €65m (£55m).
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite
Gittens is viewed as an ideal fit for Arteta’s style of play, with the winger now being identified as the perfect candidate to bolster the manager’s wide options, and talks could be stepped up in the coming weeks.
Dortmund could be willing to sanction a departure, should they receive an attractive offer, but there are some doubts over whether he would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League…
"Incredible" Gittens catching the eye in Germany
The report states the Englishman’s lack of consistency could be viewed as an issue, having scored just one Bundesliga goal in 2025, but there are some signs he could be an excellent addition for Arsenal this summer.
While the 20-year-old has not been at his best as of late, a record of 12 goals and five assists in 46 games is impressive, given his age, while he has also caught the eye with his dribbling ability over the past year, ranking in the top 1% for successful take-ons.
Average per 90
vs other wingers in big 5 leagues
Non-penalty goals
0.40 (83rd percentile)
Progressive carries
5.55 (92nd percentile)
Successful take-ons
3.62 (99th percentile)
The London-born winger shouldn’t be expected to be the finished article just yet, given his age, and the level of some of his performances for Dortmund this season indicate a £55m outlay could be justified.
Lauded as “incredible” by reporter Alex Howell, Gittens clearly has a lot of potential, so it is exciting news that Arsenal are in pole position for his signature.
In search of boosting their frontline once again, Chelsea chiefs are now reportedly ready to match the £60m asking price of one impressive forward having already made their first approach for his signature.
Chelsea's UCL push going down to the wire
Whilst there would have been plenty of relief around Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford in midweek, Chelsea still have it all to do in the race to secure Champions League qualification. Sat fifth on goal difference and in the last remaining Champions League spot, the Blues may need to win all four of their remaining games to finish above the chasing pack of Forest and Aston Villa.
With Premier League champions Liverpool to face this weekend too, it doesn’t get any easier for Chelsea who may be hoping to come up against a side in celebration rather than the ruthless Reds that English football has become accustomed to this season.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca recently had his say on the Champions League race, telling reporters: “How many times in the last two years has Chelsea been in the Champions League [places]? Zero.
“How many times this season? Almost all season. It is an improvement or not? It is already an improvement because we spend all season there. Now, we are going to try our best to finish there no doubt.
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“We want to finish there, no doubt. We are happy to finish there, yes. Is it enough? No, because we want to compete for titles. But compared to the past two years, I think it is quite clear that there is an improvement. Now, if you want to see it, you see it. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t see it. It depends which way. I see it.”
Meanwhile, should the London club go on and confirm their place among Europe’s elite this month, they could be well placed to welcome an impressive Premier League rival.
Chelsea ready to meet Watkins price tag
According to Football Transfers, Chelsea are now ready to match Ollie Watkins’ £60m valuation to welcome the Aston Villa striker this summer, having already made their first approach for his signature.
Watkins was, of course, at the centre of attention in January when Arsenal came calling. Unlike Chelsea, however, the Gunners were reluctant to meet Villa’s asking price and the England international therefore stayed put in the Midlands.
At 29 years old, the Villa star goes against BlueCo’s usual transfer route of young stars, but an established Premier League goalscorer could be exactly what Maresca’s side need if they are to improve this summer.
Starts
27
26
Goals
15
10
Assists
7
5
Expected Goals
14.5
12.2
Dubbed “amazing” by Villa boss Unai Emery earlier this season, Watkins’ numbers compared to Nicolas Jackson highlight the upgrade that he would instantly offer Chelsea and Maresca.