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It’s nearly the season to be jolly for Newcastle United, but only if Eddie Howe finds a winning formula once again and transforms his side’s fortunes, currently slumped in 14th place in the Premier League.

The savvy coach will have sat on his thoughts over the past two weeks, well aware that this Magpies side need more than just a few tweaks to fire on all cylinders once again.

Perhaps a return to full fluency will be struck upon over the coming month, but Howe and technical director Ross Wilson may be in concert regarding the need for an external solution this winter, a late Christmas present welcomed after the new year, when the transfer window swings open.

Newcastle preparing for winter signing

Antoine Semenyo is a hot topic at the moment, with news filtering through this week that the Bournemouth talisman has a £65m release clause in his contract, which becomes active in January.

Newcastle had a vested interest in the Ghana international before signing Anthony Elanga for £55m this summer, and though the Toon are considering a new right-sided forward, there are other options that might come into play.

According to Caught Offside, West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen is believed to be looking to complete a move away from the east Londoners next summer, in the search for Champions League football.

Bowen, 28, has led the Hammers to meteoric heights over the past several years, but things have unravelled at the London Stadium since David Moyes’ departure.

Thus, Newcastle – who aren’t actively linked with the Englishman, as per the report – could strike for a player they have targeted in the past. Tottenham Hotspur are also interested, though, and are willing to spend £60m on the England star.

Why Newcastle should sign Bowen

Bowen was at the heart of West Ham’s Premier League win over Newcastle this month, and he has recorded three goals and an assist across four matches for the out-of-form side.

Hailed in the past by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino for being in the “Salah club” on the right flank, Bowen certainly falls into the category of ‘goalscoring winger’, but his underlying creative qualities could make him the perfect dynamic force to complement Howe’s Tyneside attack.

Crucially, Bowen’s durability across so many years as an Iron leader has made him perfect for a move to a club like Newcastle. Moreover, he scored the winning goal in the 2022/23 Conference League final, the hero in a trophy-winning campaign for West Ham.

25/26

11

3 + 1

24/25

34

13 + 10

23/24

34

16 + 6

22/23

38

6 + 6

21/22

36

12 + 12

20/21

38

8 + 5

19/20

13

1 + 4

Bowen also ranks among the top 7% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, further emphasising the dynamism and breadth of his game. Salah-esque, alright, and evidence that

Bowen may not be quite so much of a protean threat as, say, Semenyo, but he has streamlined his output and this has seen him establish himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League, sustaining that level across many years.

Nick Woltemade’s unique link-up ability and willingness to drop deep emphasises the gains that could be found in landing Bowen’s signature. If a chance to make this move does present itself, Newcastle must pounce.

With the 23-year-old Elanga yet to register a single goal contribution for Newcastle this season, and Semenyo yet to prove himself at the highest level, it might be that Bowen would be a fantastic addition to complement a young attacking workforce at St. James’ Park and steer Newcastle back on course across the second half of the season and beyond.

Bigger talent than Anderson: Newcastle have 'one of the world's best teens'

Newcastle’s academy has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 21, 2025

Nottingham Forest are now in advanced talks to appoint a “sensational” new manager following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou on Saturday.

Ange sacked by Marinakis after 3-0 defeat against Chelsea

Nuno Espirito Santo left big shoes to fill, after leading Forest to Europe last season, but Ange’s reign as Forest boss was nothing short of disastrous, with the Australian becoming the second-shortest reigning manager in Premier League history.

The 60-year-old lasted just 39 days as manager of the Tricky Trees, picking up just one point in five Premier League matches, while also struggling in the Europa League, with his side falling to a 3-2 home defeat against FC Midtjylland earlier this month.

The final straw was Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea, although the scoreline arguably didn’t reflect the performance, with Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Neco Williams and Nikola Milenkovic all missing big chances across the 90 minutes.

Evangelos Marinakis didn’t wait around, sacking the former Tottenham Hotspur boss before he could even do his post-match interview, and the owner has now set his sights on a replacement.

According to an update from Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett on X, Sean Dyche is now in advanced talks to become the new Nottingham Forest manager, and the move could materialise quickly if Marinakis decides the 54-year-old is the right man for the job.

There is a belief Dyche would offer stability and motivational skills, which could bring the Tricky Trees’ poor run of form to an end, with the Europa League side currently in the relegation zone after a very poor start to the season.

Nottingham Forest chiefs want Marinakis to replace Postecoglou with "master" tactician

The Greek billionaire has finally called time on Ange’s nightmare stint.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 18, 2025

The former Everton boss is not the only manager on the shortlist, however, as Dorsett reveals that Roberto Mancini hasn’t been ruled out, with the 60-year-old available after leaving his role as Saudi Arabia manager last year.

"Sensational" Dyche could steady the ship at the City Ground

The Englishman has developed a reputation for being able to steady the ship at clubs staring down the barrel of relegation, leading Everton to safety on the final day of the 2022-23 campaign, after replacing Frank Lampard in January.

With Forest massively underperforming and perhaps set for a relegation battle of their own this season, having collected just five points from their opening eight games, it would make sense to appoint the ex-Burnley boss, who has received high praise from journalist Mark Douglas.

There are question marks over appointing Dyche on a long-term contract, having been unable to kick on with Everton after avoiding the drop, being sacked after less than two years in charge, but giving him a contract until the end of the season could be a savvy move,

A “perfect choice” to be the next Rangers manager is now one of the contenders to take charge at Ibrox alongside the heavily linked Sean Dyche, Danny Rohl and Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard, Rohl and Dyche linked with Ibrox hotseat

Russell Martin was sacked by the Gers on Sunday evening, with the 1-1 draw away to Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership proving to be one underwhelming result too many for the board, leaving them languishing in eighth place in the table.

It was a decision that has been coming for months, with Martin making a poor start to life at Ibrox and never recovering, and it’s now time for the 49ers to nail their successor to the Englishman, with several names already being mentioned.

Former Everton and Burnley boss Sean Dyche is an early contender to come in at Ibrox, as he looks for a fresh challenge after departing the Blues last year, possessing a huge amount of experience.

Meanwhile, a Steven Gerrard reunion also feels possible, having guided them to league title glory in 2020/21, and young German Danny Rohl is appreciated within Ibrox, as he looks for a new club after Sheffield Wednesday.

Matches

17

Wins

5

Draws

6

Defeats

6

Goals scored

21

Goals conceded

24

Points per game

1.24

Rangers eyeing 52 y/o manager who's the "perfect choice"

According to a new claim from Give Me Sport, Kevin Muscat is very much on Rangers’ radar to be their next manager, being seen as a fourth option alongside Dyche, Gerrard and Rohl.

The 52-year-old is currently in charge of Shanghai Port FC, but the Gers may be hoping to lure him back to Ibrox, having played there during his playing career. The obstacle faced by the 49ers is Muscat’s contract in China is believed to be extremely lucrative and tax free, meaning he will have to be seriously tempted by the project on offer at Ibrox to make a move.

Muscat has constantly been named as a potential Rangers manager in recent years, so often being linked with the job when it has become available. In fact, The Rangers Journal believe he has always been the “perfect choice” for the Gers, with the club deciding to hire the likes of Philippe Clement and Martin instead.

Admittedly, Muscat has no European experience in management, which does work against him in terms of knowing the British game well, but if the fans see him as a popular choice, that goes a long way for starters.

He's like Mourinho: 54-year-old manager wants to replace Martin at Rangers

Russell Martin’s job as Rangers manager is no more, so who could be his replacement?

ByMatt Dawson Oct 6, 2025

Rangers’ board have to be so careful in their decision-making, not wanting to make a third incorrect appointment in a row, but Muscat stands out as a front-runner, and the fact that he knows the club well from his playing days can only be a good thing.

Everton’s 2024/25 campaign has begun with more firepower than fans have been used to in recent years.

After seasons of scraping survival, the Toffees finally look to have rediscovered some swagger in the final third.

Their summer recruitment was targeted and bold, bringing in attacking reinforcements that have re-energised David Moyes’ side.

However, the season opener ended in disappointment with a narrow 1-0 defeat away at a hostile Elland Road against Leeds United.

But rather than spiral, Everton bounced back in style. They started life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 2-0 victory over Brighton, showcasing a fluid front line.

A 3-2 away win at Molineux underlined their growing confidence, even if defensive gaps remain.

Draws against Aston Villa and a spirited Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool followed, leaving the Toffees in 10th place and comfortably clear of early relegation chatter.

The underlying metrics point to a promising attacking direction.

Everton have generated 7.1 expected goals (xG) so far, the seventh-most in the league – ahead of Liverpool, who sit on 7.0.

For a club that in recent years ranked near the bottom in attacking output, this marks a dramatic shift.

Much of that change has been inspired by a rejuvenated front four, headlined by Jack Grealish alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Beto.

Grealish at the heart of it all for Everton

Grealish’s arrival at Everton raised eyebrows in the summer.

Once a £100m man at Manchester City, his stock had fallen dramatically after two injury-hit seasons that restricted him to just 721 minutes of league action last term.

Now 30, with a market value hovering around €28m (£25m), as per Transfermarkt, Grealish was seen as a gamble – albeit one with huge upside potential. So far, he has delivered.

Across the opening five games, Grealish has registered four assists in 377 minutes of football, immediately placing himself at the core of Moyes’ side.

His ability to glide past defenders and draw fouls has given Everton a new dimension, one that unsettles even the most organised back lines.

For Grealish personally, this spell at Everton represents a crossroads.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has already made it clear that consistent minutes are essential if Grealish is to earn his way back into the international fold.

Left out of the most recent Three Lions squad, he must prove himself week in, week out.

If his body holds up, Everton may have found themselves a creative force capable of driving them towards a top-half finish, far removed from the relegation battles of recent memory.

As promising as Grealish’s revival is, however, Evertonians may be forgiven for wondering what might have been with Ademola Lookman.

How Lookman compares to Grealish

Signed from Charlton in 2017 as one of the most exciting English prospects, Lookman struggled for opportunities at Goodison Park.

He made just 48 appearances, scoring two goals, before being sold to RB Leipzig in 2019.

Since then, his trajectory has skyrocketed. Now 27 and valued at around €60m (£55m), Lookman has flourished at Atalanta in Serie A.

His defining moment came when he scored a sensational hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, ending Xabi Alonso’s hopes of an unbeaten treble.

That performance propelled him into global recognition, having even attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2024 as a nominee, a remarkable achievement for a player once deemed surplus to requirements on Merseyside.

Stylistically, Lookman has blossomed into a dynamic forward in the mould of Mohamed Salah or Alexander Isak.

His 2024/25 numbers highlight his evolution into an elite attacker: 20 goal involvements, 5.68 progressive carries per 90 and 5.41 shot-creating actions per 90 underline his ability to influence games at the very highest level.

Matches Played

31

Goals

15

Assists

5

Progressive Carries

142

Progressive Passes

73

The BBC’s John Bennett has gone as far as to describe him as “world-class” – praise unthinkable during his Everton days.

For Everton, Lookman is a painful reminder of their past failings in player development.

They once had a potential Ballon d’Or nominee in their ranks, but failed to provide the pathway or patience he required.

While Grealish offers present inspiration, Lookman embodies the “what if?” that continues to haunt supporters who dream of what could have been had the club harnessed his talent.

Silva sold "world-class" Everton star, now he's worth more than Grealish

Everton must rue letting this top star go, who is now worth more than new Toffees ace Jack Grealish.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 2, 2025

Celtic did not have a perfect summer transfer window, as they failed to land any strikers on deadline day, but they did do some good business on the whole.

Bringing Kieran Tierney back to the club on a free transfer from Arsenal was arguably the highlight of the window on paper, six years on from his £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The Scotland international was the first signing of the window and the highest-profile addition to the squad to replace Greg Taylor for Brendan Rodgers.

How Kieran Tierney has performed for Celtic

Expectations were, understandably, high for the left-footed star after what he achieved during his first spell at the club, and the fact that he has played in the Premier League and LaLiga over the past six years.

The 28-year-old full-back has not had a perfect start, losing 100% of his ground duels in the second leg against Kairat for example, but that should have been expected given his injury issues in recent years.

Tierney missed 45 matches through injuries in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Transfermarkt, but he has still shown glimpses of the quality that he can provide, with an excellent assist against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Whilst it has been exciting to see such a high-profile player return to Celtic this season, Tierney is not the most valuable full-back in the squad – Alistair Johnston is.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Alistair Johnston

Ange Postecoglou signed the Canada international from Montreal for a reported fee of £3.5m in January 2023, and the Australian head coach hit the jackpot for the club with that move.

The impressive right-back, whose work rate was hailed as “phenomenal” by Rodgers, has gone on to play 115 times for the Scottish giants in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, and registered 22 assists.

Johnston did not have a Transfermarkt market value at the time of Tierney’s £25m move to Arsenal in 2019. Now, six years later, the Canadian star is worth even more than the Scotland international.

August 2019

£25m move to Arsenal

N/A

July 2020

£24m

£43k

May 2021

£28m

£2m

May 2022

£28m

£2.5m

June 2023

£21m

£6m

March 2024

£10m

£7m

October 2024

£9m

£8m

June 2025

£8m

£9m

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old star is worth more than the Scottish defender for the first time in their respective careers, which speaks to his rise and the fall of the left-back.

This also shows that the Hoops hit the jackpot with the right-back because his value has soared from £3.5m to £9m in less than three years, making him a far more valuable asset than he was when they signed him from the MLS.

Johnston, who is currently out injured, has proven himself to be a huge attacking threat from right-back for Celtic, creating 15 ‘big chances’ in 30 league starts last term, per Sofascore.

His superb performances on the pitch for the Scottish giants have led to his market value soaring to the point that he is now worth even more than Tierney, who was once a £25m-rated player.

Sold by Rodgers, now worth £22m more: Celtic messed up with prolific star

Celtic must regret selling this star who is now worth over £20m more than the fee they received for him.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 4, 2025

Overall, Postecoglou hit the jackpot for Celtic by signing him from Montreal and the club will be hoping that he can continue to deliver on the pitch to increase his value by even more.

Tottenham Hotspur could undergo a serious squad revamp ahead of Thomas Frank’s first full campaign in charge of the Lilywhites, with a few intriguing names facing uncertain futures in north London.

Tottenham preparing bid for £30m colossus wanted by Napoli, Milan and Inter

Spurs could scupper Antonio Conte in the race for his signature.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

Their most high-profile departure of the summer window could well be club legend Son Heung-min, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, and he was initially set to leave on a free this year, before chairman Daniel Levy triggered the season-long extension clause in his contract.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Son is attracting serious interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, and credible news outlets like The Telegraph suggest there is every likelihood that the season just gone may have been the South Korean’s last at Spurs.

Asian media sources claim Levy will demand around £50 million for the 32-year-old, as Tottenham’s chief looks to make as much money back off his sale as possible, but he may not be the only star player to depart before the beginning of 2025/2026.

Defender Cristian Romero, who played a key role for Spurs in their Europa League campaign, winning the tournament’s Player of the Season award, is a wanted man in Madrid.

Atlético boss Diego Simeone recently confirmed his interest in signing Romero, and if the La Liga side make a significant-enough offer, Spurs may well be forced to consider it given the Argentine has just two years left on his contract.

The likes of Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil appear nailed on to leave at this point, given both men spent 2024/2025 on loan elsewhere, and the former’s sale would count as pure profit in the eyes of PSR due to the fact he signed as a free agent.

Another player who joined Spurs two years ago, but hasn’t quite found a route into the first-team, is 21-year-old striker Alejo Veliz.

Tottenham in talks to sell Alejo Veliz after bid made

The Argentine has spent the last one and a half seasons on loan spells at Sevilla and Espanyol, but he hasn’t exactly set the world alight in that time – scoring just one La Liga goal.

For Tottenham, Veliz has made just eight Premier League appearances, scoring once in a 4-2 defeat against Brighton in 2023, and Levy could well decide to cut his losses.

According to South American news outlet Ole, via Sport Witness, Racing de Alma have made a bid to sign Veliz from Tottenham, reporting on Thursday night that it came in the last few hours.

Frank’s side are clear; they’ll only consider a permanent deal, not a loan, and Racing are attempting to oblige. They also want a significant sell-on clause inserted into the deal, with Racing currently “in full negotiations” to find an agreement, though there is no mention of whether their opening bid will be accepted.

Racing have apparently offered around £3.6 million for the forward, who’s been called a “phenomenon” by 1978 Argentine World Cup winner Daniel Bertoni, so Levy may have to take a loss on the £12 million they paid to sign Veliz from Rosario Central.

Rangers are believed to have reached a verbal agreement over the signing of an “outstanding” two-time league champion this summer.

Who is Russell Martin looking to sign for Rangers?

Russell Martin knows the importance of hitting the ground running as the Gers’ next manager, as he looks to do a far more convincing job than Philippe Clement before him. New signings will only help in that respect, and the 39-year-old is already eyeing plenty of fresh faces.

Peterborough United attacker Kwame Poku looks likely to join Rangers in the near future, with the winger available on a free transfer, and his club’s current director of football Barry Fry has called him the “best player in League One” currently.

An audacious move for England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has also been mooted in recent days, with the former Arsenal man relegated with Southampton last season. The Saints stopper is unlikely to want to be plying his trade in the Championship, so moving to a club of Rangers’ size could appeal greatly to him, allowing him to be playing European football.

Similarly, Conor Coady is now back in the second tier of English football after suffering relegation from the Premier League with Leicester City, and he is another who Rangers are said to be interested in.

Rangers reach verbal agreement to sign Max Aarons

According to a report relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers have reached a verbal agreement over the loan signing of Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons this summer.

The Englishman was loaned out to Valencia last season, with the Cherries finding it hard to offer him regular football, and it looks like the same will happen again in 2025/26.

Aarons looks like an astute signing by Rangers, and the loan aspect of it also takes away plenty of risk, should the right-back struggle to impress at Ibrox.

There is no reason why that should be the case, however, with the 25-year-old an impressive player who has now racked up a total of 224 appearances in the Premier League and Championship combined.

Aarons is also a two-time league champion in the latter, twice finishing top with Norwich City in 2018/19 and 2020/21, and former manager Daniel Farke has lauded his qualities.

“Max is outstanding in many topics. I can’t praise him enough for what he has done since his first appearance. When you have the clubs interested in him who were interested it is easy to lose the ground under the feet. Maybe you think you know everything about football. He is always looking to work harder. Never ill, never injured. If the best clubs in the world are interested then maybe there is not that much more space to improve.”

He's Vaclav Cerny 2.0: Rangers are now set to sign "unplayable" star

Rangers are reportedly set to complete a deal for a star who could be Vaclav Cerny 2.0.

ByDan Emery Jun 16, 2025

At 25, Aarons is still a relatively young player, so if he impresses for Rangers in 2025/26, there is no reason why a permanent move couldn’t come to fruition further down the line.

With the season officially over, Arsenal have what might just be their most important summer in years to contend with.

Mikel Arteta might have helped to utterly transform the team since taking the job in 2019, but with a third Premier League runners-up medal on the bounce this year, there is an undeniable feeling that next season has to see the North Londoners lift a significant honour.

While keeping his key players fit will undoubtedly help the Spaniard with this objective, it’s arguably just as, if not more important, for new Sporting Director Andrea Berta and the board to bring in the right, needle-moving signings over the next few weeks and months.

Fortunately, they may be in the process of doing that, as recent reports have linked the club with one of the most exciting wingers on the continent, someone who’d be a massive Gabriel Martinelli upgrade.

Arsenal's winger search

Before we get to the superstar in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other wide talents who have been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Nico Williams and Rayan Cherki.

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 a release clause that stands at around £50m in his Athletic Bilbao contract, and while that’s a lot of money, it would be more than worth it, as, at just 22 years old, he scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 45 games this season.

Cherki, on the other hand, did even better, racking up a staggering 12 goals and 20 assists in just 44 games, which makes his reported price tag of just £30m feel like a bargain.

However, it would appear that the North Londoners are now keen on another incredible talent from Ligue 1, Bradley Barcola.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several Premier League teams incredibly interested in the Paris Saint-Germain star.

The report has revealed that alongside the Gunners, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have sent scouts to watch the Frenchman.

Moreover, while the story claims that the Parisians have no intention of selling the 22-year-old, sources close to the club say he’s valued at up to €120m, around £101m.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Barcola’s outrageous ability and potential, Arsenal should go all out to get him, especially as he’d be a mega Martinelli upgrade.

How Barcola compares to Martinelli

The first thing to say is that while Barcola has played off the right before and made a not-insignificant number of appearances up top as well, his most played position, and by quite some way at that, is left-wing.

Therefore, he’d undoubtedly play there for Arsenal, and therefore, his most significant competition for game time would be Martinelli, but how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, it’s hardly a competition at all.

For example, the incredible Frenchman, who’s blessed with “devastating pace,” per U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3643 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 91.07 minutes.

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

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Well, considering Barcola has been described as “one of the best left wingers in Europe” by analyst Ben Mattinson, it’s just as one-sided a comparison with the PSG phenom doing better in practically every metric.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.97

0.49

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.99

0.47

Progressive Passes

3.97

2.05

Progressive Carries

5.66

4.88

Shots

3.05

2.16

Shots on Target

1.57

0.94

Passing Accuracy

81.7%

71.4%

Key Passes

2.07

1.57

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.11

1.46

Shot-Creating Actions

4.17

2.91

Goal-Creating Actions

0.83

0.27

Successful Take-Ons

1.40

1.30

Ultimately, while Martinelli remains a useful player and could be an important part of the squad next season, Barcola is evidently the far superior winger in every conceivable way.

Therefore, even if it costs a king’s ransom, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the incredible Frenchman this summer.

He's like Van Persie: Arsenal hold secret talks to sign "the new Haaland"

Arsenal could sign a similar striker to Robin van Persie this summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 2, 2025

Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is personally keen on a high-earning centre-forward, who’d now reportedly jump at the chance to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal two-man striker target list with Andrea Berta holding talks

According to recent reports, two players currently stand out as Arsenal’s most desired striker targets – Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Arsenal seal first summer sale as "high level" player completes European move

A few more expected to follow this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025

Going by the on-field and off-field numbers, it is clear to see why this is the case.

Gyokeres, who’s racked up a phenomenal 53 goals in all competitions for Sporting this season, could also depart the Primeira Liga side for a fee of up to £60 million, according to Fabrizio Romano, so he’d be an arguable bargain when factoring in the 26-year-old’s record.

Sporting CP

101

96

28

Coventry City

116

43

17

Brommapojkarna

67

25

9

FC St. Pauli

28

7

4

Swansea City

12

1

0

Brighton

8

1

1

Meanwhile, Sesko’s current release clause stands at £67 million, and the Slovenia international actually bettered his goalscoring tally from last season (18) with 21 goals across all competitions.

While some reports in Portugal earlier this week stated that Arsenal have agreed a £59m fee to sign Gyokeres from Sporting (O Jogo), this claim appears to have jumped the gun, as Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg stated on Friday that Berta is holding serious talks over a move for Sesko.

Arsenal’s pursuit of a top goalscorer remains very much open, as Berta identifies targets who he believes would be best-suited to Arteta.

Interestingly, as per journalist Simon Phillips last week, Arteta would personally prefer Sesko, while Berta is believed to be more of a fan of Gyokeres.

What’s clear, though, is Arsenal’s glaring need for another striker. Arteta has been forced to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striker for most of this calendar year, following injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

While the latter has since returned to action, it is imperative that Arsenal don’t wait any longer to sign a 25-plus-goals-per-season forward, as they look to mount a successful Premier League title challenge.

Dušan Vlahović would "immediately" join Arsenal this summer

According to some reports, there are other centre-forwards on Berta’s shopping list, albeit further down the pecking order when compared to Sesko and Gyokeres.

Journalist Daniele Longo, writing a piece for Calciomercato, shares that Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović is one of them.

The Serbia international is entering the final 12 months of his £359,000-per-week contract at Juve, and with no sign of a renewal, it would appear that the Old Lady must be more inclined to sell him this summer, rather than lose Vlahovic for nothing in 2026.

Longo states that Vlahovic “would immediately pack his bags” and join Arsenal if given the opportunity, and Berta personally wants the ex-Fiorentina star, even if he’s less of a transfer priority.

The “starting” price of any negotiations for Vlahovic comes at around £42 million, which could be seen by some as good value, considering the “machine” has scored at least 14 total goals per season since 2020/21.

If Berta were to seriously pursue him, Arsenal’s major obstacle would undoubtedly be Vlahovic’s extortionate wages.

One of the biggest clubs in the Premier League wants to sign an Everton star this summer, according to an update from former scout Mick Brown.

Everton battling to keep hold of key men

While much focus is on the players the Blues could sign in the summer transfer window, there are certain key figures whose services must be retained ahead of next season.

Jarrad Branthwaite is one such example, with the England international likely to be the subject of plenty of interest from some big clubs, as he continues to impress in an Everton shirt. Manchester United are thought to be in the mix to sign him, for example.

There are also others who may simply move on with their deals up at the end of the season. Abdoulaye Doucoure has been linked with a summer exit after an impressive spell with the Blues, not least scoring that all-important goal against Bournemouth back in 2023.

The same applies to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who hasn’t always found playing time easy to come by this season, starting only 19 times in the Premier League. He is also out of contract at the end of the season.

Everton star Branthwaite wanted by Chelsea

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown claimed that Chelsea are interested in completing the signing of Everton centre-back Branthwaite this summer:

“There’s no doubt the manager wants to improve his defensive options. I’m told they’ve been looking at Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. He would be a solid option for them, but I don’t think they’re completely convinced. If you’re looking at Branthwaite, how much better is he than what they’ve already got at Chelsea? Then, you have to consider that it would take big money to bring him in because Everton aren’t going to let him go easily.

“So if they’re spending that type of money, they want a player who would be a really significant upgrade on the likes of Colwill, and they’re not convinced he is. It’s something they’ll consider and then they’ll be the ones to make that decision. But as things stand I think they’re more likely to look elsewhere.”

The £35,000-a-week Branthwaite is arguably Everton’s most prized asset currently, so they must do all they can to retain his services.

The 22-year-old has once again been a rock at the heart of his side’s defence in 2024/25, making 30 appearances in the Premier League, averaging a whopping 6.3 clearances per game.

Appearances

30

Starts

28

Minutes played

2510

Clearances per game

6.3

Aerial duel wins per game

2.1

Tackles per game

1.2

Interceptions per game

0.9

Goals

0

Assists

1

Branthwaite has received so much adoration in recent years after his rapid rise at Everton, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher heaping praise on him, saying:

“Branthwaite has been outstanding. I think this lad is pretty special. He’s a big part of why Everton in my eyes have a good chance of staying up, him and his partnership with [James] Tarkowski.”

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Everton should only entertain the idea of allowing Branthwaite to leave if a monstrous offer arrives from Chelsea or elsewhere – ideally, though, he will be with the Blues for many years to come, becoming a legend over time.