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Birmingham City is no longer a sleeping giant aiming to take a lower league by storm.

Now, the Blues are back in the ultra-competitive Championship, desperate to prove that they belong at the level, with an ambition in their veins to push on even more after lifting the League One title with ease.

Mega-rich Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner has even been hyping up the prospect of Chris Davies’ men being back in the Premier League by 2026 coming around, meaning the Blues will have to instantly take the EFL’s elite league by storm on their reentry.

It will be intriguing to see if all this pressure on Birmingham’s back hurts their progress, but the step up a league will also be an opportunity for the likes of Paik Seung-Ho to show they can strut their stuff in a more difficult environment, away from breaking the bank to fund their top-flight dreams.

Paik's performances in League One

Whilst Davies and Co. did bring in some proven EFL faces such as Alfie May and Jay Stansfield last summer, the Blues had sanctioned some left-field moves before their relegation took place, particularly when Paik arrived at St. Andrew’s from South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in January of 2024.

Thankfully for Birmingham, it didn’t take long for Paik to get up to speed with his new surroundings, with the midfield maestro even netting a solitary goal in the Championship before they fell to the third tier.

The energetic 28-year-old ended up being a key part of the Birmingham side down a division too, with the Blues number 13 collecting another strike in league action as his confident team were resoundingly crowned champions, on top of also registering three assists.

Yet, now as they venture back up to the Championship, the ambitious Blues could soon land an upgrade on the stylish South Korean by signing this former Manchester United youth product.

Birmingham's search for a midfielder

Birmingham have had lots of success in the past when purchasing former Red Devils prodigies, with the likes of Tahith Chong and Jesse Lingard shining at St. Andrew’s briefly, before spreading their wings elsewhere.

Indeed, Chong registered 13 goals and assists in 61 games for the Midlands side, with Lingard previously racking up nine goal involvements in just 13 outings on loan at the club.

Charlie Savage’s name could soon be thrown into this mix, with a previous report from Football Insider revealing that Birmingham are prepared to battle it out for the £2m-rated star’s services, amidst interest also coming from Wrexham, Blackburn Rovers, and Portsmouth.

Much like Paik, Savage is fresh off a standout season in League One, albeit in a Reading side with many off-field struggles that nearly derailed matters on the pitch.

When looking at the table below, too, it could be argued that the Royals’ number eight is even an upgrade on his South Korean counterpart, with Savage tallying up more goals and assists last season for Noel Hunt’s men when weighed up next to Paik’s lesser output.

Games played

45

41

Goals scored

5

1

Assists

9

3

Touches*

47.8

66.2

Accurate passes*

27.0 (80%)

45.2 (88%)

Key passes*

1.3

1.0

Big chances created

5

8

Big chances missed

3

3

Ball recoveries*

3.7

4.0

Total duels won*

2.3

4.4

Amazingly, despite averaging fewer touches per match last season in League One, Savage would better Paik’s goal-and-assist tally by a whopping ten, with the 22-year-old’s effectiveness in forward areas perhaps a useful weapon for the Blues to call upon as they strive to ruffle feathers back in the Championship.

He does fall flat when weighing up their respective ball recovery and duels won numbers, but that’s where Tomoki Iwata could come to the rescue in any potential duo, with Iwata just about trumping Paik with 4.5 ball recoveries averaged per third-tier clash.

Hailed as “first class” by former Wales manager Rob Page when first thrown into the Red Dragons senior side, Savage should, in theory, be able to immediately slot into Davies’ team and take to the pressures of the Championship well, resulting in Paik having to make do with a spot in the background.

Shades of Jordan James: Birmingham join race to sign £2m EFL star

Birmingham City could soon sign a rising gem reminiscent of Jordan James.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 5, 2025

The summer transfer window officially opened for business on Sunday and Celtic will be looking at ways that they can improve their squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Brendan Rodgers may have a domestic treble in his sights after his side ended this year with two of the three trophies, winning the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup.

The Northern Irish head coach will have at least one signing in the building by the start of next month, though, as Kieran Tierney is set to arrive from Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract at The Emirates expires.

With Greg Taylor out of contract and Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan deal expiring, the Scotland international is the only left-back on the club’s books heading into next season.

As well as wanting new signing to arrive to improve the team, Rodgers will also be hoping that some of the younger players in the squad can kick on and improve.

Hyun-jun Yang has shown plenty of promise during his two years at Parkhead so far, and his progression from year one to year two suggests that a big third season could be coming.

Why Hyun-jun Yang could be a star for Celtic

The South Korean attacker joined the Scottish giants from Gangwon on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023, and did not enjoy the best first year in Glasgow.

Yang ended the 2023/24 campaign with a return of one goal and three assists in 31 appearances in all competitions for the club, which shows that the winger provided little in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch.

This term, however, the 23-year-old star produced six goals and six assists in 34 matches for the Scottish Premiership champions in all competitions, whilst playing on the right and the left flank.

These statistics show that Yang has improved during his time at Parkhead, learning with more experience in Scottish football, and that is further illustrated by the difference in his performances in the top-flight.

Appearances

24

23

Goals

1

5

Conversion rate

5%

25%

Possession lost per game

9.8x

6.8x

Assists

3

2

Pass accuracy

81%

86%

As you can see in the table above, the South Korean star delivered more quality in front of goal and was more reliable in build-up play for Celtic, by being more efficient with the ball.

Gangwon president Kim Byung-ji claimed he “could easily become a world-class player like Son Heung-min” ahead of the winger’s move to Scotland, which illustrates how highly he is rated in his home country.

Yang is not at a world-class level, yet, but he is clearly improving, and Celtic are now reportedly interested in signing a player who could help to take his game to the next level in the future.

Celtic bid to sign English star

According to Football League World, Celtic have made an approach to sign Peterborough United left-back Harley Mills in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Hoops have tabled a bid to sign the 19-year-old defender from the English League One club, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Posh are willing to accept it.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Premier League side Fulham have also made an offer of £1m for the impressive young full-back, which shows that there is set to be plenty of competition for his signature in the coming weeks.

Football League World adds that he would only join the Cottagers as an U23 player to bolster their academy, whilst the Hoops are looking for a player to compete with Tierney.

Meanwhile, Peterborough are also looking to pin the player down to a new contract, and it could be down to the player to decide which path is best for him moving forward.

If Celtic are able to win the race for Mills, though, then they could sign a left-back who could help Yang to fulfill his potential at Parkhead in the years to come.

Why Mills could be a great signing for Yang

At the age of 19, the Peterborough United star would arrive at Parkhead as a long-term signing who could grow into being the first-choice left-back for years to come.

This means that he and Yang could form a long-term partnership down the left flank if Rodgers opts to deploy the South Korean forward on the left wing, providing him with chances to cut inside onto his stronger foot instead of being forced down the line or backwards when on the right.

Mills only emerged as a regular starter for the Posh towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign, but his performances in the EFL Trophy and League One suggest that the potential is there for him to be an excellent option for Celtic.

The teenage star’s “stunning” free-kick at Wembley helped Peterborough to win the EFL Trophy in April, whilst he also averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game across six appearances in the competition.

His form in League One, albeit only across 11 matches, also suggests that he could come in to offer more to the team from a defensive perspective than Taylor, who could leave on a free transfer this summer, did.

Appearances

28

11

Tackles per game

1.3

2.2

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.0

Clearances per game

1.9

2.5

Error led to shot or goal

2

0

Ground duel success rate

58%

65%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

57%

As you can see in the table above, Mills appears to be superior to the Scottish left-back across the board as an out-and-out defender, making more tackles, interceptions, and clearances per game, whilst also being stronger in his duels without making any big errors.

This suggests that the £1m-rated star could come in and lockdown the left-back position as a brilliant defender who could stop opposition wingers from pushing Celtic back in matches.

Not only could that improve the Hoops from a defensive perspective, but it could also free up Yang to play higher up the pitch on the left wing and closer to the opposition goal.

The South Korean star, if deployed on the left, would not have to track back as much if Celtic have a much better defensive full-back behind him instead of Taylor, potentially allowing him to be closer to goal to have more opportunities to score and create in the final third.

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ByDan Emery Jun 3, 2025

This could, therefore, take his game to the next level and allow him to continue his upwards trajectory in a Hoops shirt, on his path to living up to the “world-class” claim.

Chelsea are planning to overhaul a key area of Enzo Maresca’s squad this summer, with BlueCo looking to sell two players and potentially open new talks for an elite-level star.

Chelsea continue transfer planning after botched CWC deals

In high-profile fashion, Chelsea missed out on a couple of anticipated deals before the pre-Club World Cup transfer deadline at 7pm on Tuesday.

Chelsea are in ongoing talks with Neymar-like forward – Sky journalist

The west Londoners are still working beyond the Club World Cup transfer deadline.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 11, 2025

While Chelsea do have the arrival of Liam Delap to celebrate, with the English sensation set to bolster Maresca’s forward options for the CWC, the Blues couldn’t quite get Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens or AC Milan’s Mike Maignan over the line.

The former was a top target for Maresca in the wide area, and Chelsea did their utmost to make it happen – lodging three different offers in the build up to Tuesday’s deadline, only for Dortmund to reject them all and demand more money (Florian Plettenberg).

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea went as high as £47 million in their bid to sign Gittens, but it was no use, with the west Londoners deciding to walk away from talks once it was clear a deal could not be done in time.

Their attempts to sign Maignan were equally frustrating.

Milan wanted around £25 million to sell the France international, who’s about to enter the final year of his contract and won’t sign a new one, but Chelsea were only willing to pay up to £13 million, meaning no agreement could be found (The Athletic).

Given the 29-year-old’s pedigree as, arguably, one of the world’s finest keepers and France’s undisputed number one, there is frustration among Chelsea supporters that they didn’t stump up the cash for a player who would’ve undoubtedly been an upgrade on their current crop.

Maignan was also known to be very keen on a move to Chelsea, and for just £25m, the shot-stopper could’ve been a serious bargain.

However, their transfer plans are continuing into the summer, with reliable journalist Simon Phillips suggesting that a move for Maignan certainly isn’t off the cards.

Chelsea could hold new Mike Maignan talks next week

The Blues want to sell both Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic, with Chelsea reportedly valuing the latter at around £21 million. Sanchez joined the club for around £25 million from Brighton, and you’d Chelsea would want to recuperate a large portion of that fee.

With the £46 million duo up for sale, one source has told Phillips that Chelsea could even reopen talks for Maignan as early as next week.

“They held talks with Milan, Maignan wants the move, and Chelsea actually believed they were about to sign him with a fee agreement close,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“AC Milan moved the goalposts on the fee in the final stages and that was enough for Chelsea to back out, for now.

“However, they are likely to go back for Maignan. I know initially we heard yesterday that they wouldn’t be going back for him at all. But after further digging by our sources last night, we’ve heard that Chelsea are now likely to revisit this deal later in the summer window. One source even suggests they could go back in for talks as soon as next week.

“Chelsea don’t want to be pushed over in negotiations so some of this is about sending messages as well as not appearing desperate to land a new goalkeeper.

“And that is because they want to sell both Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez this summer. Obviously this needs suitors and those suitors to pay the valuations to make this happen, but this is their intentions.”

Called “one of the best” keepers in world football by Alisson, the Liverpool star also heralded Maignan’s “quick” burst of pace off the line, and a truly quality number one could be one of the final missing pieces of Maresca’s jigsaw.

Lionel Messi called an English icon a “once in a generation player” and claimed that there was “nobody like him” in world football.

The Argentine is regarded as the greatest footballer of all time by many, beginning his professional career back in 2004 at the age of 17.

After Ronaldinho set up Messi’s first goal in a Barcelona shirt, he has gone on to break numerous records and is the most decorated player in the history of professional football with 45 team honours.

On a personal note, no player has won more than his eight Ballon d’Or titles, while he has also been named FIFA’s world’s best player on eight occasions. Messi’s first Ballon d’Or crown came in 2009 and his last was in 2023, a year on after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.

2009

Barcelona

2010

Barcelona

2011

Barcelona

2012

Barcelona

2015

Barcelona

2019

Barcelona

2021

Barcelona

2023

Inter Miami

Messi named Brazilian striker Ronaldo as his favourite ever player, and he has also named his 10 favourite teammates, all of which played alongside him at the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi’s 10 favourite teammates in pictures:

The iconic attacker has also come up against several English stars in his career, and one in particular stood out.

Messi: Wayne Rooney was “special" and a “once in a generation player”

One player who Messi came up against on several occasions was Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. The England striker is the Red Devils’ record scorer with 253 goals, but Messi broke Rooney’s heart twice in the Champions League.

Messi scored in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals at the Stadio Olimpico and Wembley Stadium, with Barca lifting the European crown on both occasions. Rooney scored Man Utd’s goal in the 3-1 defeat at Wembley, and he was a player who caught the eye of Messi during his career.

Talking back in 2015, Messi hailed Rooney after the striker became England’s all-time leading goal-scorer with his 50th international goal.

That tally has since been surpassed by Harry Kane, however, Messi called Rooney “a once in a generation player” and that there was “nobody like him”.

Arsenal could now “close the deal” to sign a “world-class” player in less than two days, should they be willing to submit a £51m offer, according to reporter Buchi Laba.

Gunners' striker search rumbles on

The Gunners have certainly been busy in the early stages of the summer transfer window, having agreed deals for Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga, but they are still yet to get a new striker through the door.

Troy Deeney has been left particularly bemused by the length of time it has taken to bring in a new centre-forward, with the former Watford man saying: “It just seems that Arsenal are dragging their feet a little bit in terms of getting the striker,”

“It’s been a talking point since they basically bottled it in January with going to get that last little bit, get it over the line.”

Deeney also outlines the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Oliver Watkins, Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres as potential options for the north Londoners, and there has now been an intriguing update regarding their interest in the latter player.

Arteta's very keen: Arsenal set to make bid for £21m Real Madrid target

Mikel Arteta has now identified a “dominant” player as one of his main targets.

ByDominic Lund Jun 29, 2025

Taking to X, Laba said: “Sporting Lisbon will easily do a deal for any club offering €60m in total for Gyokeres. Right now none of the clubs interested are willing to pay that. Right now there’s nothing even concrete. – Gyokeres going on strike because that’s not the verbal understanding he had with the president last season.

“As of today, Arsenal have not made any bid for him but Berta has all the information about him. If Arsenal wants Gyokeres. They will close the deal in less than 2 days.”

With a bid of €60m (£51m) reportedly enough to get a deal over the line, the Sweden international could be a relatively affordable option for the Gunners, when compared to some of their other targets, although he is not the cheapest option on the shortlist.

Target

Current club

Price tag

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£63m

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

£40m

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

£70m

"World-class" Gyokeres could be ideal signing for Arsenal

It is no secret that Gyokeres has a remarkable eye for goal, placing second in the European Golden Shoe rankings, behind only Kylian Mbappe, courtesy of a phenomenal campaign in front of goal for Sporting CP.

The 27-year-old, who has been lauded as “world-class” by members of the media, bagged 39 goals and eight assists for Sporting in the league alone last season, showcasing that he could now be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League.

While it will be difficult to replicate those numbers in England, Gyokeres could be Arsenal’s best bet, given that Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is seemingly unavailable, with Mikel Arteta in dire need of a new striker.

Kai Havertz, who missed large parts of the season through injury, finished as Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League last season, courtesy of netting just nine goals, indicating some extra attacking firepower is needed if they are to compete for the title.

Leeds United are currently attempting to put together a team that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The Whites know that they are facing an incredibly difficult task ahead of them, as the last six teams that have been promoted to the top-flight have all come straight back down.

Daniel Farke and his recruitment team have already been hard at work to improve the defensive side of the squad, as three of the four signings so far have been defenders.

Sebastiaan Bornauw and Jaka Bijol arrived to bolster the manager’s options at the heart of the defence, whilst Gabriel Gudmundsson has signed to be the new first-choice left-back.

However, the Whites have yet to really make a statement with a big signing to improve their attack, which they may need to propel them to safety, as they did when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge.

Victor Orta made sure that the head coach had enough quality to work with in the Premier League by splashing the cash to sign Raphinha from Rennes.

Why Raphinha was a statement signing for Leeds

The West Yorkshire outfit reportedly spent a fee of £17m to sign the Brazilian forward from the Ligue 1 side, which was not an outrageous sum of money to pay, but it was still a statement of intent.

Leeds were willing to put big money on the table to improve their forward line ahead of a return to the Premier League, and they were richly rewarded with Raphinha’s performances on the pitch in his two seasons in England.

The Brazil international turned out to be a statement signing for the Whites because it was his output in the final third that really helped the team to kick on and stay up in both seasons.

Raphinha hit the ground running with six goals and nine assists in the Premier League in his first year in England, before he racked up 11 goals and ten ‘big chances’ created in the division in the 2021/22 campaign.

Non-penalty goals

0.22

Top 16%

Non-penalty xG

0.22

Top 10%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.23

Top 6%

Assists

0.09

Top 42%

Shot-creating actions

4.20

Top 7%

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds star ranked very highly among his positional peers in pretty much all of the noteworthy attacking metrics, which speaks to the kind of quality he produced in front of goal.

This shows that he was a statement signing for the Whites because they splashed the cash to bring him to Elland Road and paid them back with survival-clinching performances in front of goal.

Raphinha’s importance to the team is illustrated by the fact that Leeds were relegated from the Premier League the season after he was sold to Barcelona for a fee of £55m in the summer of 2022.

It is now down to the recruitment chiefs to find Farke’s own Raphinha-level signing; a player who can come in and make a huge impact in the final third to lead the team to survival.

Earlier this month, journalist Ian Darke was asked about where Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth could end up, and the reporter said: “Maybe Newcastle or Leeds, say Newcastle lost Isak, it is not the worst idea.”

Transfer Focus

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

Whilst there are no concrete links suggesting that the Whites are plotting a swoop for the Norway international, a move for the forward could be this summer’s version of Orta’s Raphinha signing.

Why Leeds should sign Alexander Sorloth

Whilst it is, obviously, important to have a reliable defensive shape and structure, the bottom line is that goals win games and Leeds need players who can produce enough quality in front of goals to win them enough points to stay in the Premier League.

Raphinha provided goals and assists in abundance to keep Leeds in the top-flight for two seasons, which is why he was such an important player for the club, and Sorloth has the potential to make a similar impact at Elland Road.

Supporters who may not pay attention to leagues outside of England may be skeptical at first, given that the striker scored one goal in 20 games for Crystal Palace between 2018 and 2019.

However, Sorloth has forged an excellent career for himself since moving on from Selhurst Park and currently finds himself at Atletico Madrid, one of the top teams in Europe.

The Norway international, who was signed by Atleti for £27m, has proven his quality as a consistent goalscorer in LaLiga in the last two seasons with Villarreal and his current club.

Leeds need a player who can offer a threat in front of goal on a regular basis to boost their efforts to avoid relegation, and Sorloth’s form in the past two seasons suggests that he is the man for the job.

Appearances

34

35

Starts

30

15

xG

12.35

17.02

Goals

23

20

Big chances created

6

2

Assists

6

2

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed marksman has scored 43 goals in the last two LaLiga campaigns for Villarreal and Atleti combined, scoring goals regularly as both a consistent starter and as an impact substitute.

Sorloth, who was hailed as “legendary” by OptaJose after scoring four goals against Real Sociedad, has shown that he can thrive as a goalscorer at the top level whilst playing different roles in a team, which speaks to his adaptability and his quality.

Therefore, the 29-year-old star may be the perfect candidate to be the next Raphinha signing for Leeds, because the kind of goalscoring output that he can provide could win the team enough points to avoid an instant relegation next season.

However, as aforementioned, Darke’s prediction is all we have to go on at the moment. This means that it remains to be seen whether or not he will be an active target for the Whites this summer.

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Leeds should, though, push the boat out to sign the striker because it would be a statement of intent to sign a forward with proven quality, just like when they brought Raphinha in from Ligue 1 in 2020.

For all the criticism of their transfer policy in recent years, if there’s one thing Chelsea have done well, it’s investing in young, promising talents.

For example, Liam Delap is still just 22 years old, Jamie Gittens is 21, Marc Guiu is 19, and the incredibly exciting Estevao is just 18.

The Blues have a squad bursting with phenoms, but they aren’t the only ones, as London rivals Arsenal have seen their own batch of youngsters burst onto the scene over the last year or so.

Arguably the most exciting has been Myles Lewis-Skelly, who went from winding up Erling Haaland on the sidelines to starting and scoring for England in the space of half a season.

So, the Stamford Bridge faithful should be delighted over reports linking Chelsea to another future superstar who could be Enzo Maresca’s own version of the Gunners star.

Chelsea's window so far

On top of the names already mentioned, Chelsea have continued to sign exciting talents this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Mamdou Sarr, who is just 19, joined the club from partner club Strasbourg for a fee of around £12m early last month after making 28 first-team appearances last season.

Also, last month, the club splashed around £18m on 20-year-old Dario Essugo, who spent last season on loan at Las Palmas from Sporting CP.

However, while both players could end up having a great career in West London, it is still hard to be sure about whether they will succeed at the very top, which doesn’t seem to be the case for the club’s latest target: Jorrel Hato.

Yes, according to a recent report from Ben Jacobs, Chelsea are still very much interested in the Ajax star this summer.

In fact, Jacobs has revealed that the West Londoners have held fresh talks with the player’s camp over a potential transfer.

Interestingly, even though the Amsterdam outfit have been quoting teams a £60m price tag, Jacobs has revealed that an offer of £40m should suffice.

It would still be a lot to spend on a teenager, but Hato has been brilliant for some time and could end up being Chelsea’s answer to Lewis-Skelly.

Why Hato could be Chelsea's Lewis-Skelly

So, when people talk about Lewis-Skelly, what are the themes that usually emerge?

Generally, it’s how he plays well beyond his years, how well he has adapted to senior football, and that he’s been so good at left-back that he might remain in this position for some time.

These are all things that could be said about Hato and then some.

For example, despite still being just 19 years old, the Dutchman has established himself as one of Ajax’s most essential players.

Since making his debut back in February 2023, at just 16 years old, he has played 111 matches for the first team, scoring four goals, providing nine assists, and even wearing the captain’s armband on three occasions.

Appearances

111

Starts

102

Minutes

9121′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

Minutes per Goal Involvement

701.61′

Points per Game

1.86

Additionally, he surpasses the Englishman in terms of national team appearances, having won six caps since making his debut at 17 years old in November 2023.

Finally, on top of showing the same grit and determination as the Arsenal star, the “immense” Rotterdam-born gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also at least somewhat versatile.

He may primarily play at left-back today, but he started as a centre-back and can still fill in there when needed.

Ultimately, it might be a lot of money for someone so young, but just like Lewis-Skelly, Hato already feels like a seasoned professional, and it’s incredibly exciting to think about how good he could be in a few years from now.

PL rivals eyeing £100m Chelsea star; his exit could make room for Ekitike

It would be wise of Chelsea to cash in and upgrade.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 16, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have now joined the race for a winger with “electric pace”, who is open to a move to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.

Wolves set sights on new forward after sealing Arias deal

Wolves have already bolstered their attacking options considerably this summer, having signed Jorgen Strand Larsen and Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo, while Jhon Arias became the latest addition to the squad earlier this week.

Steve Bull believes Arias could be a fantastic heir to Pedro Neto, saying: “Some quality has left the squad and we needed to bring in some replacements and from what I’ve seen of Arias, he’s quick and dangerous.

“We’ve missed that pace in the side since Pedro Neto left, and fingers crossed he can bring something different to the team.”

However, despite already making major improvements to his attack, Vitor Pereiera remains keen on getting another forward through the door, and the Old Gold have now joined the race for a new target.

That is according to a report from ESPN, which reveals Bayer Leverkusen’s Amine Adli is now on Wolves’ radar, with the Premier League side keen on a move, and the player himself is believed to be open to heading to England.

West Ham United are also in the race for Adli, and a deal is unlikely to break the bank, with Leverkusen looking to receive just £23m, despite the Morocco international playing a major role in their 2023-24 Bundesliga title triumph.

Wolves in race to sign £17m+ striker who has been likened to Olivier Giroud

The teenager could be the next big thing…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 24, 2025

During that campaign, the 25-year-old registered ten goals and 12 assists in 42 outings across all competitions, but his form has since dropped off, having struggled with injuries, potentially opening the door for a move to Molineux this summer.

"Electric" Adli could be exciting signing for Wolves

The Moroccan was one of Leverkusen’s most important players in the 2023-24 season, and he was also singled out for praise by Xabi Alonso upon returning from injury last season, with the Spaniard saying: “Having Amine back on the pitch is very important for everyone. His attitude and quality are extremely important for the team.”

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has provided an overview of the Leverkusen ace’s key strengths in the past, describing him as a “versatile & mobile player capable of playing anywhere along the front line”, while also claiming the attacker has “electric pace”.

The France-born forward missed 23 games for club and country due to injury last season, and subsequently his attacking output dropped, picking up just two goals and one assist in the Bundesliga.

However, if Adli is able to put his injury problems in the rear view mirror, he could be an exciting signing for Wolves, and it is promising news that he is now open to a move to the Premier League.

As Liverpool showcased last season, ‘winning the window’ doesn’t always equate to on-field success, with Arne Slot’s side romping to the Premier League title despite only adding Federico Chiesa to their ranks.

Having lain dormant in the transfer market, however, the Reds appear intent on building on their position of strength this time around, having already spent £256m this summer.

Further additions are almost certain to lie in store too, with recent reports even claiming that wantaway Newcastle United man, Alexander Isak, has agreed personal terms with the Merseysiders.

There is undoubted excitement brewing at the prospect of adding yet another marquee name to their forward ranks, although the Anfield must not forget to ensure that the foundations are steady too, with solid and perhaps more unsung signings also in order. James Milner, anyone?

Indeed, with Jarell Quansah joining Bayer Leverkusen, and Joe Gomez struck down with injury, Slot has been left with just two senior centre-backs, a pairing that includes contract rebel – and Barcelona target – Ibrahima Konate.

Having front-loaded the squad so far then, the Reds can’t risk being exposed at the back. Enter, another quietly crucial acquisition.

Liverpool hold advantage in race for £50k-p/w talent

Liverpool have, of course, already moved to bolster the backline this summer, with the signing of full-back pairing Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, while Giorgi Mamardashvili has also finally arrived on Merseyside.

That said, as already stated, the dearth of options in the centre of defence remains a reason for concern – even after Virgil van Dijk’s contract extension – with that an area that still needs to be addressed.

With that in mind, Football Insider’s Mick Brown has suggested that the champions still have the advantage over top-flight rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, in the race to sign Marc Guehi.

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 Brown, despite Spurs showing interest again in the England international, it is Liverpool who are still the “favourites” to sign him, having been heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old throughout the summer.

The insider goes on to add that the former Chelsea defender has his “heart set on a move to Liverpool”, with the Reds seemingly ready to make a bid for him “at some stage”.

With just 12 months left on his current deal, the alternative is that the £50k-per-week centre-back remains at Selhurst Park for next season, before making the switch on a free transfer.

Why Liverpool could be targeting the new Milner

As already stated, there has been a sense of glamour to Liverpool’s signings so far this summer, with Slot and co notably gambling on three exciting young talents from the Bundesliga, in the form of Kerkez, Frimpong and £116m man, Florian Wirtz.

That said, there remains the need for ready-made, proven Premier League talents who can slot in somewhat under the radar, with Guehi perhaps the perfect fit in that regard, considering his recent experience at Palace.

Indeed, there could well be shades of the aforementioned Milner about the move, with Guehi’s compatriot having been a muted arrival from Manchester City on a free transfer back in 2015, before going on to assume cult hero status at Anfield.

A jack of all trades, the versatile machine racked up 332 appearances in all competitions for the Reds across the next eight years, having notably been hailed as a “role model” by then-boss Jurgen Klopp in 2022.

The German even went as far as to state that “nothing we have achieved in the last few years would have happened without [him]”, with the underrated midfielder having been a vital, albeit at-times unsung cog in the Anfield machine.

In Guehi – who is currently the captain at Selhurst Park – the Reds would be able to acquire another leader-like figure to bolster the ranks, providing stability and consistency amid a summer of perhaps more marquee additions.

Such qualities have been noted by ex-interim England boss Lee Carsley, who said back in November that the defender “is a player who shows leadership qualities in his career so far not only off the pitch but on the pitch”.

Non-penalty goals

0.09

0.08

Assists

0.06

0.03

Pass completion

83.5%

91.6%

Progressive passes

3.94

5.35

Progressive carries

0.65

0.59

Successful take-ons

0.35

0.08

Tackles

1.79

1.03

Interceptions

0.82

1.51

Aerial duels won

2.00

3.22

Like Milner – who has turned out for an array of top-flight clubs – Guehi is no stranger to Premier League action, having racked up 132 appearances in the competition to date.

A standard-setter and a guiding presence at Palace, even when perhaps outshone by the likes of Eberechi Eze ahead of him, the in-demand talent would be a relatively risk-free and cost-effective signing. Indeed, if he does ultimately end up arriving next summer, he could replicate Milner’s move as a bargain free transfer.

That’s not to say that Guehi doesn’t also have a high ceiling, however, with Palace reporter Bobby Manzi noting that he is simply a “monster in defence”. In all, the 6 foot sensation helped to keep 11 clean sheets in the league last season, while averaging 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game, alongside boasting five goal involvements.

An asset in both boxes, the Eagles skipper would be a more than worthy addition amid a hectic summer of activity for the Reds. Yes, there might be more exciting deals being done, but much like Milner proved to be under Klopp, Guehi could prove to be the glue holding things together.

Better deal than Rodrygo: Liverpool enter race to sign £38m Diaz replacement

This winger would be an “exceptional” addition to Arne Slot’s Liverpool squad.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 29, 2025

Manchester City are now weighing up whether to hijack their Premier League rivals’ move for a “game-changer”, according to a report.

Man City looking to sign new attackers before deadline

Despite already bringing in Rayan Cherki this summer, Man City may be tempted to bring in more attacking options before the transfer deadline, given that Jack Grealish joined Everton on a season-long loan deal, and there is speculation surrounding Savinho’s future.

Indeed, Tottenham Hotspur have been named as potential suitors for the winger, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed Pep Guardiola would like to bring in another Brazilian forward as a replacement.

However, there is widespread interest in Rodrygo, with Liverpool also considering a move, alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta’s side very serious about signing the forward.

As such, it could be difficult for Man City to win the race for the Real Madrid star, but he is not the only attacker on their shortlist, with a report from talkSPORT revealing they are now considering a stunning hijack of Chelsea’s deal for Xavi Simons.

Simons has struck an agreement on personal terms over a move to Stamford Bridge, but given that a club-to-club deal has not been finalised, there is still time for City to make a late move for the RB Leipzig star, who is valued at £60m.

Man City now "leading" chase to sign £86m star who's keen on Etihad move

There has been a new update on City’s pursuit of a “special striker”.

ByDominic Lund Aug 13, 2025

The west Londoners are hoping to pay just over £50m, meaning the deal has now stalled, potentially opening the door for the Dutchman to move to the Etihad Stadium.

"Game-changer" Simons could be exciting addition for City

Since making the move to Germany, the former Paris Saint-Germain man has been a reliable source of goals and assists for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, showcasing that he could now be ready to test himself in the Premier League.

Season

Goals

Assists

2023-24

8

13

2024-25

10

7

The Amsterdam-born attacker is also a versatile player, capable of playing on both wings and through the middle, indicating that he could be a like-for-like replacement for Jack Grealish.

Once lauded as a “game-changer” by ESPN’s Tom Hamilton, Simons could be an exciting addition for City, but they have a difficult decision on their hands when it comes to deciding whether to pursue the Netherlands international or Rodrygo.

The Brazil international is thought to be Guardiola’s “dream target”, and he is more experienced at the top level, having scored 25 Champions League goals.

However, given that a deal for Rodrygo could amount to £86m, it would be more financially prudent to sign Simons, and there is every indication the RB Leipzig man could be just as successful at the Etihad Stadium.