This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Sheffield Wednesday are surely about to embark on something they’ve not quite experienced in over half a decade as come the end of the season, several substantial decisions will have had to be made over their playing squad.
Garry Monk was finally appointed as the successor to Steve Bruce in September as his reign barely lasted six months at Hillsborough after he elected to switch south Yorkshire for his hometown Newcastle.
Whether that decision has paid off remains to be seen, but you’d like to think the 40-year-old is going to get a fair crack at getting the Owls to the promised land of the top-flight.
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He’s currently been operating with a squad that has been built by his previous incumbents, so the January transfer window will hand Monk an opportunity to put his stamp down on the blue and white stripes of Sheffield.
This period of time will only kickstart a much wider series of events as the bulk of this side have contracts up at the end of the season.
An entire starting XI’s worth of players see their current deals expire this summer – including Fernando Forestieri, Steven Fletcher, Sam Hutchinson, Morgan Fox, Kieran Lee, and Atdhe Nuhiu.
Monk will no doubt sit down and have a meeting with the club’s owner Dejphon Chansiri at some stage as The Star revealed he would have a big part in any decisions, but ultimately, the final say comes down to the Owls’ chief in command.
The majority of those players out of contract have been at the club for some time, going way back to when Carlos Carvalhal was in charge, meaning the core of this squad could well be split up before next season – which may be a weird feeling for some at Hillsborough.
The south Yorkshire club also have the oldest squad in the Championship, which could well be something that the manager wants to change, meaning a lot of those players could be culled this summer.
Therefore, these players have plenty to prove to the 40-year-old if they want to hang around under his new regime – none are guaranteed a new contract.
Wednesday currently sit three points from the playoffs as they have faltered slightly in recent weeks – over the course of three of their last five matches, the side have seen points snatched from their grasp, which surely would have had them closer to the league leaders West Brom.
It’s soon going to be crunch time under Monk with the next few months likely to shape how he sees his squad lining up on the opening day next August.
Rafa Benitez has spoken recently about his wish to return to England as well as how his successor Steve Bruce is getting on, but many fans are bored of what he has to say on matters relating to Newcastle.
The Spaniard’s departure in the summer caused many to be emotional but it appears that sentiment is slowly fading, with some believing that Bruce is already doing a better job.
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Despite now managing in China, the former Magpies boss hasn’t remained quiet in the media, and recently suggested that Newcastle are doing well at the moment, highlighting the fact that they have started to spend money.
A lack of backing from Mike Ashley was likely one of the reasons behind his departure, but there is little sympathy for him now from supporters, who instead have grown weary of Rafa discussing their fortunes.
Some want him to focus his attention elsewhere, such as on his current job. Here is what some fans have been saying.
There are many things to love in football, but watching your team concede a last-minute goal is certainly not one of them.
Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, that is precisely what they witnessed yesterday afternoon, as after nearly 60 minutes of sensational defending, Manchester City managed to put the ball in the back of the net to snatch a 2-2 draw.
Now, coming so far and still just missing out on the three points is always going to sting, but within the context of a second yellow card for Leandro Trossard, the Premier League title race and Erling Haaland opening the scoring in the first half, a point at the Etihad has to be looked at as a good result.
Moreover, while the North Londoners presented practically no attacking threat in the second half, their defensive work was exemplary, especially from one player whom former defender turned pundit Rio Ferdinand was once quite scathing of.
The beginning of Gabriel's arsenal career
Yes, the player in question is none other than Arsenal’s man mountain, Gabriel Magalhães, who has come on leaps and bounds in the four years he has been at the club.
The North Londoners paid French side LOSC Lille around £23m for his services back in the summer of 2020, and while it wasn’t the sort of transfer that garnered much attention outside the Gunners fanbase, he quickly settled into life at the Emirates.
In his first season in England, the Sao Paulo-born star made 32 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored three goals and provided one assist, meaning that as a centre-back, he maintained an average of a goal involvement once every eight games, which was a sign of things to come.
The following campaign saw the “unstoppable” 6 foot 3 ace, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, rack up another 39 appearances and five goals in all competitions.
However, despite now playing alongside the talented Ben White, there were still some problems at the back, which were on full display in the 4-0 defeat away to Liverpool that season.
Fortunately, 22/23 saw the introduction of William Saliba into the backline and the transformation of White from a centre-back to a right-back, which is the set-up that’s been the bedrock for much of the club’s success over the last few years.
However, despite the defence getting stronger, Gabriel was still not necessarily getting the plaudits he deserved, as mistakes against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates in October 2022 and against West Ham United at the London Stadium in April 2023 created an image of the defender as an unreliable and reckless player.
Unsurprisingly, following the penalty he gave away against the Irons, former centre-back Ferdinand criticised the Brazilian, saying: “As a defender, you’ve got to be calm. There’s no need for him to do what he did.
“It was a rush of blood, he needs to eradicate that, get that out of his game quick. But rash… and I’ve said this about Gabriel a few times. He’s rash, he makes mad, wild decisions.”
He even hinted that the defender could be someone Arteta looked to move on if he continued in that manner. “‘As a manager you don’t want to see that. Because those types of things ruin the head too many times, it starts becoming part of their make-up, and you’re going, ‘hold on, can I rely on this guy?”
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.
This perspective may have held some water then, but over the last year or so, Gabriel has proven that the former Manchester United star was very wrong.
Gabriel's recent form
Surprisingly, Gabriel started last season on the bench and didn’t start a Premier League game until the home game against United in matchweek four, which the Gunners won 3-1 in rather dramatic fashion.
However, following that match, he was once again a regular starter alongside Saliba, and while the team missed out on the title by just two points, they produced the best defence in the league.
By the end of the campaign, the perception of the former Lille ace being a potential issue for the manager had all but disappeared, and as further proof of his sensational form, the 26-year-old was named in the PFA Team of the Year, alongside four of his teammates.
Appearances
174
Goals
17
Assists
1
Goal Involvements per Match
0.10
This season has seen the nine-capped international continue his incredible work at the back, and alongside the defensive solidity he brings to the team, he has kept up his habit of scoring from set-pieces and currently has two in five appearances, meaning that, across all competitions, the Gunners’ number six has scored 17 goals and provided one assist in 174 appearances.
However, it wasn’t just his goal against City that made his display yesterday afternoon so sublime; it was the fact that, alongside his teammates, he was forced to defend against arguably the best team in Europe with ten men for close to 55 minutes, and while Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut eventually scored, it shouldn’t take away from the Herculean effort from Gabriel and his teammates.
Gabriel vs Manchester City (2-2 draw).
For example, in his 99 minutes on the pitch, he made five clearances and two tackles, blocked three shots, lost the ball just four times and scored a goal for good measure, which all helps to explain why the Standard’s Simon Collings was entirely fair to award him a 9/10 on the day.
Ultimately, while some of the early criticism Gabriel faced at Arsenal was likely fair, there can be no denying that as things stand, he is one of the very best defenders in the country and has made himself utterly undroppable.
Not just Trossard: £50m ace will struggle to get back in Arsenal's best XI
Leandro Trossard had a day to forget at the Etihad Stadium.
The Premier League transfer window has now been and gone, with a fast and furious three months going by in a flash as teams rushed to replenish their squads before the deadline in late August.
Football FanCast has all the info on all the movements involving every 2024/25 Premier League club, from champions Manchester City to new boys Ipswich Town.
Chelsea were the big spenders last time around, with close to £400m spent by Todd Boehly, which included the British-record transfer of Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Blues held on to that particular label this summer too, with over £200m spent as Enzo Maresca gets his feet under the table at Stamford Bridge.
And while there was a late flurry of signings on transfer deadline day, there were also a raft of deals beyond the cut-off as windows from around Europe and elsewhere closed in mid-September.
Note: Transfer fees stated here are from news reports where possible, while alternative sources such as Transfermarkt have also been used. All fees include potential add-ons where applicable.
Transfer window 2024/25: All the latest transfers from England and Scotland
With the summer transfer window coming to a close, here are all the latest deals involving clubs from England and Scotland.
ByStephan Georgiou Aug 30, 2024 Arsenal Total spent: £100.6m
The Gunners may well be keen to spend big again after pushing Manchester City all the way last season. They signed Declan Rice for a club-record fee last term, outlining their intentions to become the best club in England once again. As their search for a league title enters a third decade, Mikel Arteta and Edu may yet be one transfer window away from glory.
Their marquee signing looks like being Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, who joins after a superb season helping the Serie A side into the Champions League, before impressing for Italy despite a disappointing defence of the European Championship title in the summer.
Mikel Merino has added more muscle to the midfield, while the Gunners were edging closer to a move for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling as the deadline entered its final hour.
Fee
Fee
Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna)
£42m
Emile Smith Rowe (Fulham)
£34m
Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)
£31.6m
Eddie Nketiah (Crystal Palace)
£30m
David Raya (Brentford)
£27m
Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton)
£25m
Neto (Bournemouth)
Loan
Charlie Patino (Deportivo)
£1m
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)
Loan
Amario Cozier-Duberry (Brighton)
Free
Mohamed Elneny (Al-Jazira)
Free
Taylor Foran (Bromley)
Free
Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham)
Free
Reuell Walters (Luton)
Free
Karl Hein (Real Valladolid)
Loan
Reiss Nelson (Fulham)
Loan
Charles Sagoe Jr (Shrewsbury)
Loan
Albert Sambi Lokonga (Sevilla)
Loan
Nuno Tavares (Lazio)
Loan
Fabio Vieira (FC Porto)
Loan
Cedric (Released)
n/a
Latest Arsenal transfer news: Euro winner closing in; striker nears N5 exit
With a month remaining in the transfer window, Arsenal are busy lining up their transfer targets.
ByHal Fish Jul 31, 2024 Aston Villa Total spent: £149.5m
Douglas-Luiz-Aston-Villa
Aston Villa have had an intriguing summer. While they may yet enjoy the riches of qualifying for the Champions League, they were also thought to be looking over their shoulders when it comes to complying with the Premier League’s profit & sustainability rules.
As such, there were hefty incomings and wealthy exits, with the largest of those being Moussa Diaby’s departure to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad. Douglas Luiz is the other headline mutineer, while the likes of Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana have been brought in to replace them – the latter for a cool £50m.
Villa’s summer spending reached a little under £150m as Unai Emery aims to pick up where they left off last term.
Fee
Fee
Amadou Onana (Everton)
£50m
Moussa Diaby (Al-Ittihad)
£50.6m
Ian Maatsen (Chelsea)
£35m
Douglas Luiz (Juventus)
£42.4m
Jaden Philogene (Hull)
£18m
Omari Kellyman (Chelsea)
£19m
Cameron Archer (Sheff Utd)
£14m
Cameron Archer (Southampton)
£15m
Samuel Iling-Junior (Juventus)
£11.8m
Tim Iroegbunam (Everton)
£9m
Lewis Dobbin (Everton)
£9m
Morgan Sanson (Nice)
£3.4m
Enzo Barrenechea (Juventus)
£6.7m
Viljami Sinisalo (Celtic)
£1m
Ross Barkley (Luton)
£5m
Ben Chrisene (Norwich)
Undisc.
Calum Chambers (Cardiff)
Free
Dylan Mitchell (Swindon)
Free
Enzo Barrenechea (Valencia)
Loan
Louie Barry (Stockport)
Loan
Philippe Coutinho (Vasco da Gama)
Loan
Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht)
Loan
Lewis Dobbin (West Brom)
Loan
Josh Feeney (Shrewsbury)
Loan
Samuel Iling-Junior (Bologna)
Loan
Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston)
Loan
Filip Marschall (Crewe)
Loan
Alex Moreno (Nottingham Forest)
Loan
Tommi O’Reilly (Shrewsbury)
Loan
Rico Richards (Port Vale)
Loan
Lino Sousa (Bristol Rovers)
Loan
Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star
It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2024 Bournemouth Total spent: £96.3m
After a satisfactory first season under Andoni Iraola, it will be interesting to see where Bournemouth could go with a few new additions at the Vitality Stadium.
Having already added goalkeeper Alex Paulsen and the permanent signing of Enes Unal early on, the Cherries made several moves to consolidate their current position in the top flight.
Dean Huijsen and Julian Araujo joined from European heavyweights Juventus and Barcelona respectively, but the headline piece of transfer business is undoubtedly the big-money departure of Dominic Solanke, with Iraola bringing in Evanlison from Porto as his successor.
Fee
Fee
Evanilson (FC Porto)
£40.2m
Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)
£65m
Luis Sinisterra (Leeds)
£20m
Kieffer Moore (Sheff Utd)
£1.5m
Enes Unal (Getafe)
£13m
Gavin Kilkenny (Swindon)
Undisc.
Dean Huijsen (Juventus)
£12.8m
Lloyd Kelly (Newcastle)
Free
Julian Araujo (Barcelona)
£8.4m
Jamal Lowe (Sheff Wed)
Free
Alex Paulsen (Wellington)
£1.9m
Dan Adu-Adjei (Carlisle)
Loan
Daniel Jebbison (Sheff Utd)
Free
Jaiden Anthony (Burnley)
Loan
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)
Loan
Romain Faivre (Brest)
Loan
Daniel Jebbison (Watford)
Loan
Chris Mepham (Sunderland)
Loan
Neto (Arsenal)
Loan
Alex Paulsen (Auckland FC)
Loan
Joe Rothwell (Leeds)
Loan
Dominic Sadi (Carlisle)
Loan
Hamed Junior Traore (Auxerre)
Loan
Ryan Fredericks (Released)
n/a
Emiliano Marcondes (Released)
n/a
Darren Randolph (Released)
n/a
Brentford Total spent: £102.6m
Brentford recorded their lowest Premier League finish since their 2021 promotion last season, meaning Thomas Frank will be after a vast improvement over the next 12 months.
The Bees made an early big move, bringing in Igor Thiago from Club Brugge for £30m, who could end up as a replacement for Ivan Toney, who sealed a £40m move to Al-Ahli.
But in a cruel twist, their new signing is unlikely to make his debut before the year is out due to a meniscus injury. The Bees later added Fabio Carvalho in another pricey deal, with the Liverpool ace joining for £27.5m following a spell at Hull City last term.
Fee
Fee
Igor Thiago (Club Brugge)
£30m
Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)
£40m
Fabio Carvalho (Liverpool)
£27.5m
David Raya (Arsenal)
£27m
Sepp van den Berg (Liverpool)
£25m
Fin Stevens (St Pauli)
£500k
Gustavo Nunes (Gremio)
£10.1m
Shandon Baptiste (Luton)
Free
Jayden Meghoma (Southampton)
£10m
Charlie Goode (Stevenage)
Free
Thomas Strakosha (AEK Athens)
Free
Zanka (Anderlecht)
Free
Ellery Balcombe (St Mirren)
Loan
Tristan Crama (Exeter)
Loan
Frank Onyeka (Augsburg)
Loan
Myles Peart-Harris (Swansea)
Loan
Ben Winterbottom (AFC Fylde)
Loan
Saman Ghoddos (Released)
n/a
Brighton & Hove Albion Total spent: £196.5m
Georginio Rutter
Brighton have had a summer of upheaval following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi. Replacement Fabian Hurzeler – the youngest Premier League manager in history – has overseen several significant incomings, spending close to £200m.
Georginio Rutter is the headline recruit, joining from Leeds for £40m, becoming the club’s priciest buy in their history. Elsewhere, Pascal Gross returned to Germany following a superb spell on the south coast and having made his international tournament bow with Die Mannschaft in the summer. Dutchman Mats Wieffer will be among those looking to fill the midfielder’s void.
A late flurry saw Brighton swoop for Euro 2024 star Ferdi Kadioglu and Celtic’s Matt O’Riley, though the latter was struck by a significant injury just minutes into his Seagulls career.
Fee
Fee
Georginio Rutter (Leeds)
£40m
Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)
£22.5m
Yankuba Minteh (Newcastle)
£30m
Billy Gilmour (Napoli)
£16m
Ferdi Kadioglu (Fenerbahce)
£29.2m
Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund)
£8m
Mats Wieffer (Feyenoord)
£25.4m
Marc Leonard (Birmingham)
£500k
Brajan Gruda (Mainz)
£25m
Kacper Kozlowski (Gaziantep)
Undisc.
Matt O’Riley (Celtic)
£25m
Jensen Weir (Wigan)
Undisc.
Ibrahim Osman (FC Nordsjaelland)
£16m
Steven Alzate (Hull)
Free
Malick Yalcouye (IFK Goteborg)
£5.9m
Mahmoud Dahoud (Frankfurt)
Free
Amario Cozier-Duberry (Arsenal)
Free
Jack Hinchy (Notts County)
Free
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
Free
Benicio Baker-Boaitey (Port Vale)
Loan
Valentin Barco (Sevilla)
Loan
Luca Barrington (Grimsby)
Loan
James Beadle (Sheff Wed)
Loan
Facundo Buonanotte (Leicester)
Loan
Samy Chouchane (Northampton)
Loan
Amario Cozier-Duberry (Blackburn)
Loan
Kamari Doyle (Exeter)
Loan
Tom McGill (MK Dons)
Loan
Andrew Moran (Stoke)
Loan
Mark O’Mahony (Portsmouth)
Loan
Odeluga Offiah (Blackpool)
Loan
Ibrahim Osman (Feyenoord)
Loan
Carl Rushworth (Hull)
Loan
Jeremy Sarmiento (Burnley)
Loan
Abdallah Sima (Brest)
Loan
Malick Yalcouye (Sturm Graz)
Loan
Chelsea Total spent: £226.8m
Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo
Chelsea may be under new management, but that doesn’t appear to have changed the spending habits at Stamford Bridge. The Blues’ battles with PSR concerns at the beginning of the window saw them sign Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa for £19m, with Ian Maatsen going the other way in a separate deal for £35m.
Aside from that, well over £200m has been spent in west London, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall following new boss Enzo Maresca to Chelsea for £30m. Pedro Neto looks like being their biggest buy at £54m, while Conor Gallagher is perhaps their most notable departee, along with £97.5m flop Romelu Lukaku, who has finally left to join Napoli on a permanent deal.
Fee
Fee
Pedro Neto (Wolves)
£54m
Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa)
£35m
Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)
£45m
Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid)
£33m
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester)
£30m
Romelu Lukaku (Napoli)
£30m
Filip Jorgensen (Villarreal)
£20.7m
Lewis Hall (Newcastle)
£28m
Omari Kellyman (Aston Villa)
£19m
Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich)
£20m
Mike Penders (Genk)
£17m
Angelo Gabriel (Al-Nassr)
£19.1m
Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors)
£15.6m
Michael Golding (Leicester)
£4m
Renato Veiga (Basel)
£12m
Diego Moreira (Strasbourg)
£1.7m
Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United)
£8.5m
Mason Burstow (Hull)
Undisc.
Marc Guiu (Barcelona)
£5m
Jamie Cumming (Oxford Utd)
Undisc.
Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham)
Free
Charlie Webster (Burton)
Undisc.
Jadon Sancho (Man Utd)
Loan
Tino Anjorin (Empoli)
Free
Malang Sarr (Lens)
Free
Thiago Silva (Fluminense)
Free
Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray)
Free
Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors)
Loan
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Bournemouth)
Loan
Eddie Beach (Crawley)
Loan
Armando Broja (Everton)
Loan
Leo Castledine (Shrewsbury)
Loan
Trevoh Chalobah (Crystal Palace)
Loan
David Datro Fofana (Goztepe)
Loan
Alfie Gilchrist (Sheff Utd)
Loan
Bashir Humphreys (Burnley)
Loan
Mike Penders (Genk)
Loan
Djordje Petrovic (Strasbourg)
Loan
Andrey Santos (Strasbourg)
Loan
Gabriel Slonina (Barnsley)
Loan
Raheem Sterling (Arsenal)
Loan
Ronnie Stutter (Burton)
Loan
Lesley Ugochukwu (Southampton)
Loan
Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg)
Loan
Dylan Williams (Burton)
Loan
Latest Chelsea transfer news: Blues react to Omorodion chaos; trio banished
Enzo Maresca has already made some big decisions at Chelsea this summer.
ByDominic Lund Aug 12, 2024 Crystal Palace Total spent: £74.5m
Crystal Palace player Michael Olise
Oliver Glasner’s first transfer window at Selhurst Park will surely be one of intrigue given his start to life in south London. The Austrian oversaw a dazzling run of form towards the end of the last campaign to secure what had looked an unlikely top-half finish, so a full season at the helm with the help of a few additions could lead to an exciting season.
However, the summer began with Michael Olise swapping Selhurst for Bavaria as he linked up with former Burnley boss Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich.
The Eagles have managed to retain the services of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi despite impressing at Euro 2024, with the Crystal Palace captain looking Newcastle-bound earlier in the summer.
Maxence Lacroix was a deadline-day signing for Palace as he came in to replace Joachim Andersen, who re-joined Fulham. He was joined later on by striker Eddie Nketiah, who sealed a £30m move from Arsenal.
Fee
Fee
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
£30m
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
£60m
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
£18m
Joachim Andersen (Fulham)
£30m
Chadi Riad (Real Betis)
£14m
Sam Johnstone (Wolves)
£10m
Ismaila Sarr (Marseille)
£12.5m
Jordan Ayew (Leicester)
£8m
Daichi Kamada (Lazio)
Free
Scott Banks (St Pauli)
£340k
Louie Moulden (Wolves)
Free
John Kymani-Gordon (Colchester)
Free
Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)
Loan
Jairo Riedewald (Antwerp)
Free
Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
Loan
Tayo Adaramola (Stockport)
Loan
Naouirou Ahamada (Rennes)
Loan
Malcolm Ebiowei (Oxford Utd)
Loan
Odsonne Edouard (Leicester)
Loan
Owen Goodman (AFC Wimbledon)
Loan
David Ozoh (Derby)
Loan
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheff Utd)
Loan
Joe Whitworth (Exeter)
Loan
Nathan Ferguson (Released)
n/a
James Tomkins (Released)
n/a
Everton Total spent: £40.4m
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton’s financial woes are well documented, and looked for all the world like they would lose Jarrad Branthwaite at some point this summer.
In the end, Amadou Onana was the big-money exit from Goodison Park, with some shrewd transfer activity from Sean Dyche bolstering the Toffees’ without breaking the bank – compared to previous years, anyway.
Jesper Lindstrom is one of the eye-catching additions as he joined on loan from Napoli, while ex-Sheffield United ace Iliman Ndiaye joined after a year in Ligue 1 with Marseille.
Fee
Fee
Jake O’Brien (Lyon)
£16.4m
Amadou Onana (Aston Villa)
£50m
Iliman Ndiaye (Marseille)
£15m
Ben Godfrey (Atalanta)
£10m
Tim Iroegbunam (Aston Villa)
£9m
Lewis Dobbin (Aston Villa)
£9m
Asmir Begovic (QPR)
Free
Jack Barrett (Blackburn)
Free
Armando Broja (Chelsea)
Loan
Mackenzie Hunt (Fleetwood)
Free
Jack Harrison (Leeds)
Loan
Kyle John (Port Vale)
Free
Jesper Lindstrom (Napoli)
Loan
Andy Lonergan (Wigan)
Free
Orel Mangala (Lyon)
Loan
Lewis Warrington (Leyton Orient)
Free
Billy Crellin (Accrington)
Loan
Mason Holgate (West Brom)
Loan
Neal Maupay (Marseille)
Loan
Jenson Metcalfe (Chesterfield)
Loan
Frankie Okoronkwo (Salford)
Loan
Tyler Onyango (Stockport)
Loan
Harry Tyrer (Blackpool)
Loan
Dele Alli (Released)
n/a
Andre Gomes (Released)
n/a
Fulham Total spent: £94.7m
Andreas Pereira for Fulham.
Fulham did exceptionally well to remain clear of any relegation bother in their second season back in the Premier League, particularly after losing star man Aleksandar Mitrovic last summer.
Despite losing Tosin Adarabioyo early on, Marco Silva scoured Europe to improve his side. The arrival of Jorge Cuenca will look to fill the void left by Tosin after a deal struck with Villarreal.
Elsewhere, they agreed a club-record fee for ex-Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe, before splashing the cash again to secure a Craven Cottage return for Joachim Andersen. Ryan Sessegnon has also returned to west London following his release from Spurs.
Fee
Fee
Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
£34m
Joao Palhinha (Bayern Munich)
£42.3m
Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace)
£30m
Jay Stansfield (Birmingham)
£20m
Sander Berge (Burnley)
£25m
Ibane Bowat (Portsmouth)
Undisc.
Jorge Cuenca (Fulham)
£5.7m
Kevin Mbabu (FC Midtjylland)
Undisc.
Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham)
Free
George Wickens (Lincoln)
Undisc.
Reiss Nelson (Arsenal)
Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea)
Free
Bobby Decordova-Reid (Leicester)
Free
Tyrese Francois (Wigan)
Free
Terence Kongolo (NAC Breda)
Free
Tim Ream (Charlotte)
Free
Marek Rodak (Al-Ettifaq)
Free
Willian (Olympiacos)
Free
Harvey Araujo (Chesterfield)
Loan
Luca Ashby-Hammond (Gillingham)
Loan
Matt Dibley-Dias (Northampton)
Loan
Luke Harris (Birmingham)
Loan
Olly Sanderson (Bradford)
Loan
Devan Tanton (Chesterfield)
Loan
Terence Kongolo (Released)
n/a
Willian (Released)
n/a
Ipswich Town Total spent: £120.95m
Ipswich Town arguably have the toughest task of all Premier League clubs this term for obvious reasons, made even harder by the likes of loanees like Kieffer Moore returning to their parent clubs.
They did manage to lure Omari Hutchinson back to Portman Road – albeit for a chunky £20m – while they’ve continued their summer splurge as they returned to the Premier League for the first time in over 20 years by spending over £120m in total.
However, their most important deal of the summer may well turn out to be keeping Kieran McKenna at the club following his links to Chelsea.
After the takeover from the Saudi PIF, increased funds have been available for Newcastle United to try and push the club back towards the top end of the Premier League table.
It’s allowed for an influx of high-quality additions to Eddie Howe’s side, with Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak just two players who have made a huge impact at St James’ Park, helping the club qualify for the Champions League during the 2022/23 campaign.
However, the Magpies found it extremely hard to improve the squad this summer with the PSR situation only allowing for new additions after offloading players beforehand.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
Marc Guehi was a player on the club’s radar all summer, but they were unable to secure a deal for the England international – leaving Howe’s side slightly light in the defensive department.
Numerous attackers were also on their radar, but like Guehi, they were unsuccessful in their attempts. However, the Tynesiders already have another elite-level talent on their books.
Anthony Gordon’s stats at Newcastle
After joining from fellow Premier League side Everton for £45m, winger Anthony Gordon arrived on Tyneside with a lot of potential to be a success at the club.
Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon
His first six months with the Magpies was a bedding-in period, scoring just once in just first 16 appearances – but it was his 2023/24 campaign that catapulted him into the limelight.
The 23-year-old registered 11 goals and ten assists in his 35 appearances for Howe’s side – earning him a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2024 – an indication of his impressive development at St James’.
However, after only featuring for one minute during the entire tournament, he’s already picked up where he left off at club level, scoring in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago.
Despite his stellar form for the club, he’s currently earning less than another first-team member who has failed to make his mark on Howe’s side in recent times.
How much Gordon earns at Newcastle in 2024
After a successful loan spell during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, Newcastle decided to permanently sign left-back Matt Targett in a £15m deal from Aston Villa.
Wage Burners
Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.
However, since his transfer to St James’, the 28-year-old has only made 27 appearances in the past two seasons, proving to be something of a bit-part player under Howe.
Targett also currently earns £100k-per-week as per Capology, which when coupled with his transfer fee has seen him cost the club £940k per appearance he’s made.
Games played
27
Cost per appearance
£940k
Minutes played
977
Cost per minute played
£26k
Yellow cards
2
Cost per yellow card
£12.7m
His subsequent wage is higher than Gordon, who only earns £60k-per-week despite his impressive form over the last couple of months.
With the transfer window closing in recent days, the club will have to stick with Targett until January at the very least, having reportedly been the subject of interest from the likes of Fulham and Leicester City on deadline day.
Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier involved in Newcastle United vs Chelsea in the Premier League.
However, when the time comes around, Howe desperately needs to part ways with the left-back with Targett evidently not worth his extortionate weekly wage.
It’s highly unlikely they will recoup the £15m spent on the 28-year-old, but any fee would certainly help their current PSR standing – potentially allowing for added investment during the winter months.
Newcastle must regret selling £13m star who's now worth more than Tonali
The Magpies sold a player in 2018 who is now at another Premier League club
In what has been a slow start to the summer transfer window at Old Trafford, Manchester United may be about have a breakthrough in their pursuit of Chelsea attacking midfielder Mason Mount.
Mount has just one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge in which he is believed to earn £80,000 a week, per Spotrac.
In a boost to United’s pursuit, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has stated that Chelsea have lowered their demands in terms of the fee they require to let their youth academy graduate go to Old Trafford.
Man Utd transfer news – Mason Mount
United were left frustrated again after a second bid for Chelsea’s number 19 was rejected this week. The bid was believed to be worth up to £50m.
However, according to The Athletic, Chelsea look to hold out for a fee closer to £60m for the England international with £5m in add-ons.
chelsea-mason-mount-man-united-transfers
Mount is one of three main targets for Erik ten Hag this season, which includes fellow England internationals Declan Rice and Harry Kane according to Sky Sports.
Romano believes that a middle ground can be found between the two clubs to allow Mount to move north to Manchester.
What has Fabrizio Romano said about Mount?
Romano believes United will still have to up their current offer if they have a realistic chance of signing Chelsea’s wantaway star.
The transfer expert believes a bid from the Red Devils of around £60m-£65m could get the deal over the line.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano stated: "The situation with Mason Mount is a second bid was submitted for £50million. It was £45million, plus £5million in add-ons.
"Chelsea immediately rejected that bid as they want more than £60million. They started at £70million for Mason Mount, but now, from what I understand, I think the deal could be done for around £60million to £65million."
Should Man United sign Mason Mount?
Mount’s 22/23 season was hampered by injury. The 24-year-old missed a total of 13 league games in the tale end of the season, but his injury record doesn’t seem to have knocked United’s confidence in him as a target or Chelsea’s valuation of the player.
The player has been subject to serious praise from former United defender and legend, Rio Ferdinand.
Rio defined the United target as a ‘mad player’ during his stellar 2021/22 season in which he was able to stay fit.
Ferdinand said: "Young players watching the game, if you watch Mount, he’s efficient with it, and he can bang, but it’s the work ethic and the positions he takes up defensively.
"That’s why he’ll always play for England because I think you can rely on him.”
United will be hoping he’s a player they can rely on the upcoming season.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou will be galvanised after reportedly taking the lead in the race to sign James Maddison from Leicester City this summer.
What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham?
According to The Guardian, Tottenham could be poised to bypass Newcastle United in the race for the England international following the Magpies' near-completion of the €80m (£68.5m) signing of AC Milan's Sandro Tonali.
Writing in his Caught Offside column, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano corroborated such claims and revealed that a bid from the Lilywhites is now imminent.
The journalist said: "The player is speaking to both sides but he knows Ange Postecoglou is pushing a lot to get things done. Tottenham are working hard and plan to submit a bid in the next days.
“On the fee, it will be discussed again in the next days but Leicester are looking for around £50m for the England international.”
Should Tottenham sign James Maddison?
Maddison's dynamic midfield ability has attracted the attention of many a thriving Premier League outfit over recent times, and despite the Foxes suffering the ignominy of relegation this year, the 26-year-old has remained an impressive and reliable playmaking ace.
Indeed, the "world-class" playmaker, as hailed by Dean Saunders, scored ten goals and supplied nine assists from just 28 league starts this past year, and has emerged from a disastrous campaign at the King Power Stadium with his merit intact.
His services would enhance any aspiring outfit on the European stage, and with Tottenham craving some inspiration and exuberance after finishing eighth this season, it is a move that must be concluded.
He would not only provide a fresh and first-rate dimension from the centre, but he would boost the fortunes of his prospective teammates, and one who might flourish is Richarlison, who has been indifferent in London since his £60m transfer from Everton a year ago.
The Brazilian has earned praise as a "warrior" by former Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte, but after scoring just three times in 35 appearances for Spurs, including just a solitary strike in the league, he has been harangued for his "toothless" performances by the likes of reporter Andrew Gaffney.
However, having flourished as a talisman for Everton over the past several seasons in scoring 53 goals from 152 outings and boasting an exemplary scoring record with Brazil – 20 goals from 44 matches, with one of his three strikes at the 2022 World Cup including a scintillating overhead effort that was dubbed "unstoppable" by writer Sacha Pisani – he could yet thrive for Tottenham.
The chances of an impressive campaign would surely be boosted with a superlative force in Maddison behind him, with the "magician" – as he has been called by Statman Dave – averaging 2.3 key passes per game in the top-flight last term, creating 12 big chances.
Indeed, the £110k-per-week Fox ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers over the past year for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions and the top 15% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his value as a creative star.
And while Richarlison has endured an inauspicious spell in front of the net of late, he still ranks among the top 12% of positional peers for touches in the attacking box and the top 18% for non-penalty xG per 90, with the latter metric meaning he has vastly underperformed in his expected goals tally, but from a positive outlook, is moving well and finding space and opportune moments.
Maddison would serve him success on a silver platter, and he is exactly the kind of all-encompassing midfielder the 26-year-old South American needs to finally ignite his career at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and further the club's ambitions as it commences its resurgence.
Arsenal are reportedly leading the race for a Bundesliga ace, as Mikel Arteta aims to strengthen his side this summer.
The Gunners have been linked with a host of talent following the official opening of the transfer window last week, with one player showing signs of a once-loved hero in north London.
As reported by French outlet L’Equipe, relayed by Get French Football News last week, Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby has been linked with a move to Arsenal.
The news suggested that the Londoners are ‘ahead’ of Premier League rivals Newcastle United in the race for the 23-year-old talent, who is valued at £65m by his club as reported by Evening Standard last month.
What could Moussa Diaby offer to Arsenal?
Lauded as “electrifying” by journalist Aaron Stokes, the right-winger could add essence to Arteta’s squad of a player that was once adored at Arsenal.
Indeed, Alexis Sanchez lit up Islington during his four seasons at the club, recording an outstanding 87 goals and assists in 122 Premier League appearances after signing from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 for £35m.
The winger was integral to Arsene Wenger’s plans at the club at the time, acting as the star man in a steadily progressing side.
Hailed as a “fighter” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the Chilean gave the club some of the best moments of the Emirates era before controversially departing for Manchester United with two FA Cups to his name.
alexis-sanchez-arsenal-transfer-manchester-united
While his departure hurt in the capital, the talent and excitement that Sanchez provided won't be forgotten, and could be emulated in the near future by Diaby.
As highlighted by WhoScored, both Sanchez and Diaby share similar attributes. Chiefly, they are both deployed as wide players, with strengths in dribbling and attacking the final third.
In his final season at Arsenal, the Tocopilla-born gem averaged 3.6 shots per game, as well as 2.1 dribbles and 2.7 key passes per match, showcasing his fine abilities as a winger in his prime in the Premier League, via WhoScored.
At just 23-years-old, Diaby has recorded numbers that imply he could live up to the heights of Sanchez one day, as per WhoScored, the Frenchman recorded 2.4 shots, 1.8 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga.
Still quite a raw asset, the Frenchman will need to improve his game to become a more creative player but it's clear that Leverkusen's star man has a lot of talent in his arsenal, as highlighted by his threat in front of goal.
As per FBref, the Paris-born ace averages 0.35 non-penalty xG per 90, placing him in the top 8% of wingers in Europe in this area. Like Sanchez, therefore, he is a potent threat capable of generating magic in the final third.
To make matters even more exciting, he could arrive as one of the quickest players in the team, with his top speed of 36.10 km/h trumping that of Gabriel Martinelli's 35.85 km/h but falling slightly below Bukayo Saka's 36.36 km/h.
Arteta could add to the talent that he already possesses at the club by signing Diaby, who is already demonstrating attributes similar to Sanchez during his time at Arsenal. However, with Newcastle also eyeing the forward, only time will tell if a deal materialises for the lively speedster.
Mauricio Pochettino has to make it his mission to land a clinical striker this summer if his first season as Chelsea head coach is to be a success.
The Blues scored just 38 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, with their top scorer (Kai Havertz) managing only seven goals, making that an obvious area of improvement.
A number of striking options have inevitably been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks, including the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Rasmus Hojlund, but it appears their focus is now on landing Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.
According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have showed a "concrete" interest in Jackson and are now weighing up a move for the in-demand attacker, who is widely expected to be on his way to an English club.
What can Nicolas Jackson bring to Chelsea?
Jackson impressed for Villarreal in LaLiga last season with 12 goals and four assists in 26 appearances, helping his side get over the line to land a Europa League spot.
According to FBref's player comparison model, Jackson's performances over the past year have been similar to those of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann – three players who need no introduction.
Despite the hype surrounding the 21-year-old, the Evening Standard suggests he is available for £30m this summer, which is £58.5m less than they splashed out on Mykhailo Mudryk in January.
Didier Drogba with the Champions League trophy.
If it is a focal point Chelsea want, that is very much what they will be getting in Jackson, a player who measures in at 6 foot 1 and won 68.4% of his aerial duels in the 2021-22 campaign.
Indeed, there are many similarities between Jackson and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, not just in terms of their stature (Drogba is 6 foot 2) but also their all-round stats.
Taking both players' entire careers, which spans 507 games more for Drogba than Jackson, there is little between the pair in terms of assists per 90 (0.22 for Drogba, 0.17 for Jackson) and shots on target percentage (39.7 v 43.4), as per FBref.
They are alike in non-attacking metrics, such as tackles won per 90 (0.62 v 0.59) and yellow cards received (0.21 v 0.29).
Drogba does have a better goalscoring return of 0.56 goals per 90 minutes, compared to Jackson's 0.40, but the Ivorian did not hit double figures for goals in a single season until his fifth full campaign at senior level.
Jackson, by comparison, did so in his second season in LaLiga, with his 2022-23 figures being described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig as the "beginning of something extraordinary".
Chelsea boast plenty of attacking wide players, but there is nobody in the team that shows the clinical edge to stick chances away. In a player who has a 29% goal conversion return, Jackson could be just their man.
Arsenal bringing in Ilkay Gundogan this summer on a free transfer from Manchester City would be an 'exciting' deal for the club, according to journalist Paul Brown.
What's the latest transfer news involving Ilkay Gundogan?
According to The Guardian, Arsenal are said to be 'pursuing a move' for Manchester City captain Gundogan, whose £140k-a-week contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to run out this summer.
The 32-year-old has worked with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in the past and it is believed that he could be tempted by the possibility of linking up with the Spaniard again heading into 2023/24.
90min report that Barcelona are also keen on the Germany international and he may be open to the fresh challenge and opportunity to live in Spain with his family.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hasn't given up hope of keeping Gundogan and gave an update on his future in the aftermath of the Citizens' 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final last weekend where the player bagged a brace, as per BBC Sport, stating: "He knows what I think. (Football director) Txiki (Begiristain) is working on it (a new contract). Hopefully he can be successful."
Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has agreed personal terms with Manchester City ahead of a potential move to the club, which may signal that the Sky Blues are looking to replace Gundogan in the off-season, as per talkSPORT.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks Arsenal would be pulling off a coup if they were able to attract Gundogan to north London this summer.
Brown told FFC: "It may, from City's point of view, not depend on them getting Kovacic if he's allowed to leave. It really depends on where Gundogan sees his future, but I think it'd be quite an exciting one if Arsenal could pull that off."
What have Ilkay Gundogan's stats been like this season?
Gundogan has been in fine form for Manchester City this campaign as they close in on what would be a historic treble comprising the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League if they can defeat Inter Milan on Saturday in Istanbul.
In 2022/23, the 32-year-old has made 50 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, registering 11 goals and seven assists, as per Transfermarkt.
Manchester City'sIlkayGundogan
Leading by example, WhoScored shows that Gundogan maintained a pass success rate of 88.2% in the Premier League this term, demonstrating his constant reliability in the engine room for Manchester City.
As per FBRef, Gundogan has also completed 124 shot-creating actions this campaign, contributing heavily to attacking phases of play for his side.
Arsenal will look to build from a position of strength looking ahead to 2023/24 and Gundogan would be a world-class addition to boost Arteta's midfield options.