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A “natural winner” could be in line to become the next Leeds United manager amid “reservations” over Daniel Farke, it has been claimed.

Farke and Leeds off to a solid start in the Premier League

There were suggestions that Leeds were looking to replace Farke in the summer, despite the German reaching the 100-point mark in the Championship last season, given that he hasn’t exactly been successful in the Premier League previously.

Both times the 48-year-old led Norwich City to promotion, his side ended up finishing 20th in the top flight, which doesn’t bode well for the Whites, but they have made a solid start to the campaign, picking up four points from their opening three games.

As such, the former Norwich boss appears to be safe for the time being, but there are still some doubts over whether he is capable of leading Leeds to safety, according to reporter Alex Crook.

Farke could make move for "relentless" £20m+ CF who's "perfect for Leeds"

The Whites launching a move for a striker is “one to keep an eye on”, with Daniel Farke personally keen.

ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025

Speaking on talkSPORT, Crook suggested that Jose Mourinho could be in line for a sensational return to the Premier League, having recently been sacked by Fenerbahçe, which could open the door for a move to West Ham United or Elland Road. Crook said:

"Natural winner" Mourinho may be past his best

Having been sacked by Fenerbahçe after failing to win a trophy, journalist Henry Winter has now suggested the Portgueuse manager’s best days may now be behind him, with his style-of-play behind the times.

The 62-year-old has been lauded as a “natural winner” by journalist Josh Bunting in the past, which is underlined by the fact he has enjoyed a remarkably successful career, winning three Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.

However, despite once being known as ‘The Special One’, the former Chelsea boss has been on the decline for some time, failing to win a trophy during his time with Tottenham Hotspur, before also being sacked by AS Roma.

As such, it may be wise for Leeds to avoid making a move, particularly considering there is no reason to part ways with Farke at the moment.

That is despite the fact Lee Sharpe believes Mourinho could be a perfect fit at Elland Road, saying: “Jose Mourinho at Leeds United would be absolutely classic because Leeds is a little bit of a rebel team when it comes to how they do things and Mourinho would love that.

“The fans would get onboard with him, and he would have an unbelievable relationship with the fans and would be a great club for him. It would be fantastic.”

Manchester United fans must wish they had an ounce of the midfield talent that was previously on the books during the Sir Alex Ferguson era at Old Trafford.

The likes of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick occupied the roles in the middle of the park, helping the Red Devils cement themselves in Premier League history.

Such a duo played a vital part in the club winning 13 league titles during the Scotsman’s tenure, something which they’ve failed to replicate since his departure back in 2013.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager tasked with the responsibility of ending the drought, but the 40-year-old doesn’t currently have the talent at his disposal to mount a title charge.

However, the hierarchy have already backed the manager in his quest, with £200m already being splashed, but it doesn’t appear to be the end of their summer spending.

Man Utd’s hunt to land a new midfielder for Amorim

Adam Wharton has been mentioned as a potential addition for United over the last couple of days, even preparing an offer for the Crystal Palace youngster.

The 21-year-old, who’s already been capped by England, would be a hefty addition, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with their star man this summer.

However, cheaper alternatives are also being considered by the Red Devils hierarchy, leading to the board pursuing a move for Sevilla talent Lucien Agoume, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that Amorim’s side hold a keen interest in the 23-year-old before the September 1st deadline, even looking to accelerate talks to ensure a deal is completed.

Their report also states that the player himself would be keen on a move to Old Trafford, but any deal would set the side back around £35m – taking the summer spending to just shy of £250m.

Why United’s £35m target has shades of Baleba

Alongside Wharton, United have also made attempts to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba throughout the summer transfer window.

Amorim’s side went to the lengths of entering talks with the Cameroonian’s representatives over a move to Old Trafford – gathering key information over a deal to land the 21-year-old.

Whilst it appeared as though the player himself was keen on a move this window, his current employers demanded a fee in the region of £100m – a figure out of the club’s range given the business elsewhere.

The Seagulls boss Fabian Hürzeler confirmed the player wouldn’t be departing the AMEX before the end of the window, leading to the Red Devils pursuing other options such as Agoume.

He may not be as much of a recognised name to many United supporters, but he would still be an excellent addition to the side, offering the needed ball-winning presence the club have often been lacking.

Agoume’s underlying stats were better than Baleba’s in numerous key areas, potentially being a better addition, not to mention the fact he’d be available for nearly three times less than the Brighton star.

The Sevilla star, who’s been labelled “extraordinary” by former boss Enrique Sanchez Flores, made more tackles and achieved a higher success rate in 2024/25 – arguably being a better option for Amorim at the heart of the side.

His dominance over the Cameroonian is further reflected in his higher tallies of interceptions made per 90, showcasing his impressive work without the ball in LaLiga.

However, in possession, the former Inter Milan star has been just as eye-catching, registering more key passes and passes into the final third per 90 – subsequently able to provide the players ahead of him with opportunities at Old Trafford.

Both assets are pivotal to Amorim’s current system at United, with Agoume able to provide the needed talent in and out of possession – something which the hierarchy have desperately been hunting for this window.

Whilst Baleba will still likely be on the club’s radar this time next year, a deal for the Sevilla star could offer a bargain solution to the issue that continues to plague the Red Devils in their quest for glory once again.

New Pogba: INEOS offered bargain deal to sign "world-class" CM for Man Utd

Manchester United could finally end their midfielder pursuit with a player just like Paul Pogba.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 21, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer strategy this summer has been nothing short of chaotic, and yet strangely ambitious.

For a club that finished 17th in the Premier League last season but secured Champions League football thanks to their Europa League triumph over Manchester United, the need to strengthen has never been more urgent.

Their early business included the £60m acquisition of Mohamed Kudus from West Ham, an exciting attacking player who provides versatility across the forward line.

But departures and missed opportunities have left significant gaps.

Fan favourite Son Heung-min departed for LAFC after a decade of service in North London, while the club’s most creative midfielder, James Maddison, suffered a devastating ACL injury in pre-season against Newcastle.

Their attempts to fill the void have, so far, been met with frustration.

The latest on Spurs' hunt to find a Maddison replacement

A £60m pursuit of Eberechi Eze collapsed when Arsenal hijacked the deal. A move for Morgan Gibbs-White ran into legal complications.

A €70m (£65m) package for Como star Nico Paz was swiftly rebuffed, with the Argentine making clear his intentions to return to Real Madrid in the near future.

Spurs have even looked at Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but his £100m price tag puts him out of reach.

All of this has forced Tottenham to look elsewhere.

Transfer Focus

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

Their search has now led them towards a player long admired in England, one who has already proved himself in the Premier League, but whose reputation has recently been clouded by off-field controversy.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, Spurs are now weighing up a move for Lucas Paquetá, the Brazilian playmaker currently at West Ham United.

Aston Villa are also monitoring his situation, but Tottenham’s need for a creative spark is arguably more urgent. Different reports suggest he could go for around £40m.

Paquetá has endured a turbulent year, but his quality has never been in question.

Former teammate Declan Rice once described him as “mind-boggling”, while he’s also been described as “one of the best 10s in the world” by one data analyst, a reminder of the immense technical ability he brings.

The central midfielder’s form dipped after he became the subject of a betting breach investigation in August 2023.

He continued to play, scoring West Ham’s only goal in their recent 5-1 defeat to Chelsea, but his confidence and consistency were visibly affected by the allegations.

Now that he has been cleared of all charges in 2025, the expectation is that he can finally put the matter behind him and re-establish himself at the top level.

Assessing Paquetá vs Maddison

For Spurs, the appeal is clear. With Maddison sidelined for the season, there is no natural replacement in the squad capable of offering the same vision and incisive passing.

Paquetá, with his flair and ability to turn games in an instant, represents a player in a similar mould.

He may not have matched Maddison’s output in recent seasons, but the tools are there – and in the right environment, he could thrive.

Paquetá’s numbers at West Ham illustrate both his strengths and his limitations.

At 27, he is approaching the prime of his career. He has 55 caps for Brazil and joined West Ham from Lyon in 2022, making 33 Premier League appearances last season with four goals.

The raw statistics do not scream world-class productivity, but they do reveal a midfielder with a valuable mix of creativity and defensive work.

Matches

19

7

Wins

11

0

Goals Scored Per Match

1.8

0.7

Goals Conceded Per Match

1.5

2.4

Points Per Match

1.9

0.4

According to FBref, he ranks in the 74th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 (2.89), the 79th percentile for progressive passes (6.16 per 90), and the 84th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (2.18 per 90).

These metrics underline his ability to link play between midfield and attack, progressing the ball into dangerous areas.

His defensive contributions are also notable, with 2.51 tackles per 90 (75th percentile) and an impressive 1.91 aerial duels won per 90 (89th percentile), making him more than just a luxury player.

When compared directly to Maddison, however, there are contrasts. The England international has been one of Spurs’ key players since arriving from Leicester in 2023, with 16 goals and 21 assists in 75 games.

Regrettably, his injury record is a concern. He missed 13 games in 2023/24 and 11 last season – but his impact when fit is undeniable.

Statistically, Maddison outperforms Paquetá in almost every attacking metric: 4.73 shot-creating actions per 90 (to Paquetá’s 3.10), 8.16 progressive passes per 90 (Paquetá’s 5.87), and 0.85 shots on target per 90 (Paquetá’s 0.11).

Even his pass completion rate (81.3%) edges the Brazilian’s 77.3%.

This raises a key question: would Spurs be settling for a downgrade? On paper, Paquetá does not replicate Maddison’s efficiency in front of goal or his ability to sustain attacks through consistent ball progression.

Yet the Brazilian brings different qualities – a more physical presence, stronger defensive contributions, and the versatility to operate across midfield roles. In that regard, he is a big upgrade.

His 227.8 progressive passing distance per 90 minutes is only slightly behind Maddison’s 250.1, suggesting he can still drive the ball forward effectively.

What truly matters is context. At West Ham, Paquetá has often been tasked with working within a rigid system where creativity can be stifled.

In a more attacking, possession-based setup at Tottenham, his ability to combine with Kudus and Richarlison could unlock a new level of performance.

For Spurs, the decision is not about finding a perfect Maddison clone. It is about ensuring they are not left without a creative heartbeat in midfield for an entire season.

Paquetá may be inconsistent, but he remains capable of brilliance.

If Thomas Frank can provide the structure and confidence that he lacked at West Ham, Tottenham could have a player who, like Maddison, is able to decide games single-handedly.

New Dembele: Spurs make move to sign "one of the best playmakers in Europe"

Spurs are looking to finalise one or two big moves before the deadline closes.

1 ByMatt Dawson Aug 25, 2025

Juventus midfielder Vasilije Adzic’s former coach, Ivan Brnovic, claims he wasn’t surprised when the youngster struck a long range winner against Inter in the derby. The Montenegrin coach believes Adzic has all the qualities to become one of the top three players in the world and even compared him to former Juventus star Paul Pogba.

• Adzic scores glorious winner against Inter

  The 19-year-old’s late strike sealed the Derby d’Italia as Juventus edged Inter 4-3 on Saturday. With the score tied at 3-3 in the 91st minute, the midfielder collected a pass from Jonathan David and unleashed a powerful 25-yard effort that slipped past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, despite his touch. The goal preserved Juventus’ perfect start to the campaign.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Adzic draws Pogba comparison and told he can reach the top

  Adzic’s former coach Brnovic claims he wasn’t surprised to see Adzic scoring from distance as it is his speciality, telling : "I'll say one thing right away: the goal, that kind of goal against Inter, isn't a surprise to me. That's Adzic's value, and now in Italy you'll realize how much he's worth.

  "He has something of Pogba, but Vasilije is devastating in the short term. Many here have compared him to Zvone Boban, but it's difficult to compare two ways of playing football so different and distant in time.

  "He has it all, always has: physicality, shooting, pace, hunger, and determination. He's a hard worker: in his position, for his age, he's already among the top three in the world in my opinion."

• Adzic's move to Juventus

  Adzic joined Juventus in 2024 from Buducnost Podgorica and was initially sent to the club’s B-team, Juventus Next Gen, to continue his development. His talent soon caught the eye of former head coach Thiago Motta, who handed him his senior Juventus debut against Lazio in the 2024-25 season, followed by his Champions League debut against Stuttgart.

  Brnovic believes this is proof of Adzic’s talent, noting that a club like Juventus wouldn’t sign a player unless they were fully convinced of his quality. 

  "Vasilije is definitely the prototype of the modern player: he's unique and he'll prove it, you don't join Juve at 18 by chance," he said. "They followed him for two years, it was a long courtship, and they got there before anyone else."

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• AFP
  

  Adzic's future at Juventus

  Adzic will hope that his match-winning goal against Inter convinces manager Igor Tudor to hand him more playing time, both to aid his development and to help Juventus in their push for trophies this season.

Gambhir also said he was not thinking about the team’s “transition and that kind of stuff”

S Sudarshanan11-Nov-20241:32

Gambhir: Rohit and Kohli ‘are still very hungry’

Gautam Gambhir has backed the senior batting duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the lead up to the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, which has gained a lot more significance for the WTC final qualification after India’s 3-0 loss to New Zealand at home. Questions around their form gained momentum after both batters scored only one half-century each in ten innings combined against New Zealand and Bangladesh in the current home season.While Rohit tallied 133 runs in those ten innings with only one score of over 25 to average a mere 13.30, Kohli fared marginally better with 192 runs in as many outings, for an average of 21.33. The fact that India lost a Test series at home for the first time in 12 years, and were whitewashed 3-0 for the first time at home, added to the chatter.”Not at all,” Gambhir shot back at the press conference when asked if there were any concerns around the form of the duo. “I have got no concerns whatever over Virat and Rohit. I think they are incredibly tough men. They’ve achieved a lot for Indian cricket, and they will continue to achieve a lot in future as well. I think for me at the most important thing is that they still working really hard, they are still passionate, they still want to achieve a lot more and that is something which is very important. The hunger in that dressing room is incredibly important for me and for the entire group as well. I feel there’s a lot of hunger, especially after what has happened in the last series.”Related

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Questions around Kohli have been a lot louder compared to those around Rohit, who started the year with two Test centuries, against England in Rajkot and Dharamsala. Kohli had missed that entire series against England and scored his last Test century 16 months ago, in the West Indies. In the last five years, Kohli’s batting graph has seen a significant dip with only two hundreds to his name from 60 innings, at an average of under 32, which has taken his overall Test average down from nearly 55 in November 2019 to 47.83.Since Kohli is 36 and Rohit 37, there have also been raised questions around the inevitable transition of the India Test team. With R Ashwin 38 and Ravindra Jadeja turning 36 next month, Gambhir was asked how he was looking at this phase as the coach, especially since he was part of the earlier cycle of change as a player when the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and others retired.”Look, honestly I’m not even thinking that the team is in transition and that kind of stuff,” Gambhir said. “The only thing that is there at the moment in my mind is we go to Australia to play five Test matches. And I’ve said it that there are some incredibly tough people in that dressing room who have to achieve a lot of good things in the future as well. So you guys can keep talking about the transition and all that stuff. For me, I think they’re still very hungry and till the time they’re very hungry, I’m sure that they’ve got a lot of fire to achieve a lot of success for the nation.1:48

Gambhir: ‘I knew it was going to be a highly difficult job’

“And you should never doubt their passion for the country. So I feel that transition or no transition, those things can happen, and those things will keep happening in Indian cricket, but at the moment it’s the five Test matches that are important.”Looking back, Gambhir accepted India were “outplayed” by New Zealand but were not looking at the WTC scenarios, and banking on the experience in the squad to tackle the challenges of winning a series in Australia.”I am not going to sit here and defend [the loss against New Zealand]; I think we were outplayed in all the three departments,” Gambhir said. “They were more professional and we accept that. And I think the criticism what we are receiving, we take it with both hands and we keep moving forward, keep getting better every day. Three Test matches before, we had an incredible Test match in Kanpur [against Bangladesh]. So I know that we haven’t played our best cricket, but it doesn’t change that Australia is a new series and we go out there thinking that we’re going to definitely try and win that series.”The first and foremost challenge is obviously the conditions. In these ten days, if we can get good, proper preparation before the start of the series, I think we are going to be in a really good shape. And we’ve got a lot of experienced players who’ve been to Australia a lot many times. Their experience will come in handy for the young players as well. These ten days are going to be very crucial but come 22nd morning, I think we should be absolutely ready to fire from ball one.”

Manchester United have now made contact with the agents of a £34m star, who’s “the best in his role in the world”, journalist Orazio Accomando has revealed.

Man Utd lacking cutting edge in attack

Man United’s 2024-25 campaign was one of their worst in modern history, but they still managed to create 400 chances in the Premier League, the sixth-highest total in the top flight.

Those figures suggest that a lack of cutting edge in attack is the real issue, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just seven goals between them, so it is little wonder the Red Devils are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker.

However, Ruben Amorim may also be keen to relieve the burden of creating chances which currently rests on Bruno Fernandes, with the Portugal international directly involved in just under half of the 44 Premier League goals United scored last season.

As such, an approach has now been made for a new creative midfielder, with Accomando taking to X to reveal Man United have now made contact with the agents of Inter Milan star Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who is looking to leave the Italian club this summer.

The maestro is eager to return to his home country and sign for Galatasaray, but the Turkish champions are unable to offer more than €15m (£13m), with Inter looking to hold out for a figure close to €40m (£34m).

Man Utd now willing to trigger £8m release clause for Casemiro replacement

The Red Devils are prepared to make an offer for a midfielder, who could be brought in to replace Casemiro.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 1, 2025

Fulham have also made contact over a deal for Çalhanoğlu, and if a bidding war breaks out, Galatasaray could find it very difficult to get a deal over the line.

Çalhanoğlu impressing in Serie A for Inter Milan

The 31-year-old has been a regular source of goals and assists for Inter over a number of years, picking up 70 goal contributions in 182 appearances for the Italian club, indicating he could provide support to Fernandes in attack.

However, the Inter and Turkey star has most commonly featured in a deep-lying playmaker role, where he has flourished, according to Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella, who said: “Hakan has been the best in his role in the world in recent years.”

The 2025 Champions League finalist is in doubt over his ability, having also ranked himself alongside some of the world’s best midfielders, saying: “I’m not far from De Bruyne or Modric. Maybe in this period, those who play in the Premier League have more visibility.”

Having never played in the Premier League before, a move to Old Trafford would provide Çalhanoğlu with the opportunity to prove himself as one of the best in the world, although United should be cautious about paying £34m for a 31-year-old.

He said the experience he gained travelling with the squad helped him perform better when he made it to the team

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2024

Kamindu Mendis’ second-innings 113 for Sri Lanka in their defeat to England in Manchester left him with a batting average of 92.16. It is the second-highest in Test history among players with more than 500 runs, and he explained at Lord’s ahead of Thursday’s second Test that it owes to a simple mantra: “Do basic things, and try to keep calm.”Kamindu made his debut against Australia two years ago, deputising for Dhananjaya de Silva on account of a positive Covid test. He made 61 in an innings win but had to bide his time for another opportunity, eventually returning to the side earlier this year and making twin hundreds against Bangladesh in Sylhet.”I knew that the batting was packed, but what I tried to do was to do as best as I could in the chance that I had,” Kamindu said on Tuesday. “I had to exit the team after that, but I don’t see that as a mistake. You have to take various decisions to balance a team, and I came into that side only because Dhananjaya had Covid. When he returned, I had to make way. That’s fair.”Related

Joe Root drops anchor as England go 1-0 up over spirited Sri Lanka

Kamindu Mendis: the T20 disruptor turning heads in Test cricket

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During his two-year absence, he remained part of the set-up as a squad player and said he had benefited hugely from that experience. “Even though I didn’t get to play, I was in the squad and travelling with the team, pretty much every tour,” he said. “Going on so many tours with experienced players on those tours also helped me play well in my first few innings.”Kamindu edged Chris Woakes behind for 12 in the first innings in Manchester, but made 113 in the second and enjoyed partnerships of 78 and 117 with Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal respectively. “In the first innings, I wasn’t able to score runs. The conditions were challenging,” he said. “It was colder than we expected. We did as well as we could as a team.”I had a lot of support from the others when I went to bat, both Angie and Chandi aiya. I have to mention Chandi in particular, because him playing through that finger injury and putting up runs was vital for the team. He was a big support to me too, to get to 100, and their experience really helped me. They shared what they knew with me in the middle.”He revealed that he has a simple philosophy underpinning his batting – “I do basic things, and try to keep calm in the middle” – and brushed off questions about his average. “What I wanted was to do what I could on the day for the team. That’s really my only goal: to give as much to my team as possible, whether on the batting front, bowling front, or via fielding.”Kamindu had never been to England before this tour, and said that he will fulfil a dream this week: “From when I was little, I had a dream to play a Test at Lord’s,” he said. “It’s not just my dream, I think every player has that target. I’ve been able to get there. If we can win this match, it’ll be even more valuable to us.”

Arsenal have many different transfer plates spinning behind-the-scenes right now, according to reports, with sporting director Andrea Berta attempting to make progress on key summer deals.

Arsenal poised to sign Kepa and Zubimendi amid new striker talks

While there were some concerns that Real Madrid would hijack Arsenal’s move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, The Athletic’s David Ornstein moved to reassure supporters this week that the Spain international is firmly on track to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

£67m player prioritising Arsenal move as agent holds meeting, it's not Sesko

He’s pretty keen on a move to north London.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 13, 2025

The delay in announcing Zubimendi’s capture is apparently down to financial reasons, with Sociedad keen to register the 26-year-old’s sale as part of the next financial year, which commences in July (AS).

Arsenal are poised to sign Zubimendi after months of talks, and barring a late unmitigated disaster, Gunners chiefs consider the deal for him as “done” (David Ornstein).

Berta is also closing in on the signing of Chelsea outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga as their second-choice keeper after missing out on widely reported top target Joan Garcia to Barcelona.

The Spaniard, who was deemed surplus to requirements by Enzo Maresca, is set to finalise a £5 million move from Stamford Bridge, following a productive loan spell at Bournemouth last season.

Kepa’s imminent arrival has been praised by critics too, who call him an “absolute steal”.

“Arsenal have acted really quickly after it became clear that Joan Garcia would not be arriving from Espanyol this summer and have all but wrapped up a really smart piece of business,” said journalist Charles Watts to CaughtOffside.

“Landing a keeper like Kepa for just £5 million is an absolute steal. I’m honestly baffled at how there seems to be some who are questioning it.

“You are talking about a keeper approaching his best years who has plenty of experience and is a senior international. He had a very good season on loan at Bournemouth last season and the season before he helped Real Madrid win the Champions League while he was there.”

Amid these two moves, Arsenal continue working on signing a new striker.

Two names have dominated the headlines – RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal have been in negotiations with Leipzig over Sesko, but are yet to find an agreement on price, which has perhaps led them to try their hand at an offer for Gyokeres instead.

Arsenal submit "concrete offer" for Viktor Gyokeres

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Sporting and the Sweden international have received Berta’s opening bid.

The Italian held a summit with Sporting’s general director of football, Bernardo Palmeiro, in Spain earlier this week. During these talks, Arsenal submitted their “first concrete offer” for Gyokeres, which came in at around £55 million including add-ons.

Unfortunately, this is very unlikely to be anywhere near enough, as Sporting president Frederico Varandas confirmed to the media this week that the 27-year-old star striker would not be leaving for nearly £60m.

Gyokeres’ situation in the Primeira Liga is becoming very toxic, with the player uploading a cryptic Instagram post after Varandas’ comments that he would not be blackmailed into selling him.

In his post, Gyokeres addressed the “false” talk regarding his future, potentially aimed at Varandas’ statements to the media.

Having scored 54 goals in all competitions last term, guiding Sporting to their first domestic double in decades, the centre-forward’s future has now turned into a soap opera, and Arsenal could look to take full advantage.

If the north Londoners do make progress in negotiation, it is believed by some media sources that Gyokeres is demanding around £250,000-per-week to join any suitor (The Mirror).

A “superstar” striker, who’s reportedly held talks with Arsenal, has now announced that he’s set to leave his club this summer in an emotional statement.

Andrea Berta set for competitive Arsenal summer transfer window

While the Gunners’ move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi appears done and dusted, with the Spain international looking set to become Andrea Berta’s first major signing as sporting director (Fabrizio Romano), Arsenal face stiff competition to sign other players at the top of their transfer wishlist.

Arsenal hold initial talks over signing £202k-a-week Real Madrid star

The Gunners have reached out and made contact.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 14, 2025

Arsenal were believed to be lead contenders to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, but a plethora of Wednesday evening reports from credible media sources now indicate that Real Madrid are set to pip all Premier League clubs to his signature.

The 20-year-old decided to give priority to Bernabeu switch, with Real moving in and agreeing a deal with Bournemouth to pay his £50 million release clause. Huijsen’s representatives are now in the Spanish capital negotiating with Los Blancos over the defender’s contract, and Xabi Alonso’s side are thought to be on the verge of sealing a full agreement.

This dramatic late swoop from Real, which eventually doomed Arsenal’s chances of signing Huijsen, emphasises why there is a need for Arsenal to show no hesitation in the market and, ideally, strike deals for their most desired targets as soon as possible.

Arsenal are prioritising the signing of a striker, and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres appears to be a serious target for Berta. However, with Enzo Maresca also on the hunt for a prolific marksman, there are reported fears within Arsenal that Chelsea could hijack their deal for Gyokeres.

Jonathan David announces Lille exit after rumoured Arsenal talks

Another centre-forward who is likely to be courted by a host of top sides, and one who will definitely leave his club, is Lille star Jonathan David.

The “superstar” Canada international has been free-scoring in Ligue 1 since joining them from Gent in a £23 million deal five years ago, bagging 25 strikes in 48 appearances this season, adding to his all-time Lille total of 109.

However, his contract is set to expire this summer, and David’s representatives have reportedly held talks with Arsenal, among other clubs.

The 25-year-old is set to be one of the most coveted free agents of 2025, with David now confirming that he’s set to leave Lille in a statement this week.

“I wanted to tell you myself that after so many years at the club, it’s time to say goodbye,” said the striker on social media, as translated by LW.

“I’ve had five wonderful seasons here. I know that it hasn’t always been easy but I hope that with my goals and celebrations, that I’ve managed to bring you some joy. Notably the Ligue 1 title and the Trophee des Champions and I think that with these two trophies together, we have brought a lot of pleasure and joy.

“I would like to thank all of my teammates, all the coaches, staff, technical and medical teams, the managers and everyone that I have met over the months at the club. Thank you very much for everything you have brought me over these years, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

With David readily available, this could be a very intriguing opportunity for Arsenal, but they’ll have to move in quickly. Even though he can join on a Bosman, journalist Sacha Tavolieri recently claimed the overall cost of a deal could still reach £28 million due to his yearly salary, additional commission fees and signing bonus.

After a week of anxious waiting, today is the day Arsenal could book themselves a place in the Champions League final for only the second time in the club’s history.

However, Mikel Arteta’s men will need to put in the best performance of the season and make amends for their incredibly underwhelming display in the first leg.

In particular, club captain Martin Odegaard will have to show the fans just why he was handed the armband in 2022, as to describe his personal campaign this year as disappointing would be quite an understatement.

The Norwegian has looked like a different, far less effective player for much of it, and there is a chance the club are already looking at their options, with recent reports linking them to a Premier League star who’d be a massive but costly upgrade.

Arsenal transfer news

Given Odegaard’s lacklustre form this year, it’s hardly surprising that, in recent weeks, Arsenal have been linked to a plethora of midfield talents, such as Brahim Diaz and Desire Doue.

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 is reportedly available for around £51m and has enjoyed a decent enough campaign with Real Madrid, racking up a haul of six goals and seven assists in just 2058 minutes of first-team action.

On the other hand, Doue could cost as much as £86m, but with a staggering tally of 13 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this season, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it.

However, given the Gunners’ desperation to win the Premier League next season, they may want someone who already knows the league, which is where Morgan Rogers comes into play.

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are ‘firmly in the race’ to secure the Aston Villa star’s signature in the summer, with Sporting Director Andrea Berta said to be ‘a huge admirer.’

However, the report also claims that Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in the Englishman, while another story from March valued him at a whopping £100m.

It would be an incredibly complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rogers’ immense ability and potential, it is one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a massive Odegaard upgrade.

How Rogers compares to Odegaard

The first thing to say is that while Unai Emery has been playing Rogers on the wing at points this season, his most played and undoubtedly preferred position this season has been attacking midfield.

Therefore, were he to join Arsenal for the fees being banded around, then he’d most certainly do so with the intention of starting every game, in turn putting him up against Odegaard – but who comes out on top?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output this season, it’s Villa’s “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, who comes out on top and quite comfortably at that.

Appearances

51

41

Minutes

4233′

3162′

Goals

14

5

Assists

13

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

156.77′

197.62′

For example, in 51 appearances, totalling 4233 minutes, he’s scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 156.77 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ captain has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3162 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, or every 197.62 minutes.

On top of that, the former Manchester City prospect comes out far better when we take a look at some of the other important attacking metrics, such as conversion rate, chances created, and take-ons completed.

Finally, while this isn’t massively important today, the Halesowen-born maestro is four years younger than the former Real Madrid wonderkid, so if Arteta were to bring him in, he might not need to worry about replacing him for the best part of a decade, which could allow the club to focus on other areas of need.

Ultimately, while Odegaard is a talented footballer, Rogers appears to be far superior in most ways, and if Arsenal can sign him this summer, they should do all they can to do it.

Drop him: Arteta must axe £50m Arsenal "warrior" who's as bad as Odegaard

Martin Odegaard isn’t the only underperformer in Arsenal colours.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2025