All posts by z3u9t.icu

Sunderland fans will be hoping their team can be instantly successful moving up to the Premier League after an action-packed summer so far in the transfer window.

Of course, it will take time for the multitude of fresh signings on Wearside to gel and get up to speed with their daunting new environment, but Regis Le Bris will just pray it clicks relatively quickly as his team tries to stave off an immediate drop back down to the Championship.

Granit Xhaka could well be the next statement addition through that door that ruffles a few feathers, with the Black Cats reportedly striking an agreement on personal terms with the ex-Arsenal midfielder to return to the Premier League. Further reports have indicated that a bid has also been lodged for the Bayer Leverkusen man.

Then, with the attack already bolstered and the midfield department brimming with quality, the defence could be next on Le Bris’ agenda to strengthen.

Sunderland prepare bid for £22m titan

The star-studded buys look as if they will continue into the Black Cats’ back line, with Sunderland now being linked to former Europa League winner Loic Bade in the heart of defence.

Recent reports have suggested that the newly promoted side are in pole position to land the imposing Frenchman, even as fellow suitors from the Premier League in Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur circle for the £25m defender’s services, alongside Marseille and Villarreal.

It still could be a tall order for Sunderland to win this race outright, even if they are reported to be in the lead for his signature currently, with a dream alternative to the 25-year-old now up their sleeve as a fresh bid is potentially prepared.

Transfer Focus

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

As per reports from Italian outlet Il Resto del Carlino, as relayed by 1000CuoriRossoblu, Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi is now tempted by a move to Wearside after initially being hesitant.

With the newly-promoted side already lodging a bid of around €20m (£17m), a heftier offer is now being prepared by the Black Cats, with the Serie A side looking for closer to €25m (£22m) to cash in.

With Lucumi’s agents also pushing for the centre-back to relocate to England, this might well be a move that is finalised in a swifter manner than Bade’s, with the Bologna number 26 sticking out as a dream alternative to the one-time France international.

Why Lucumi would be a dream Bade alternative

This chaotic summer period so far has proven that the Black Cats are unafraid to splash the cash, with a club-record £30m forked out on Habib Diarra.

Yet, there won’t be a bottomless pit of money at the Stadium of Light forever, meaning £3m saved on a defender could be a worthwhile, savvy move in the long run, especially when you weigh up Lucumi’s strengths next to his £25m counterpart.

Games played

32

31

Goals scored

0

1

Assists

1

1

Touches*

73.2

68.3

Accurate passes*

57.9 (92%)

48.6 (86%)

Tackles*

1.7

1.5

Ball recoveries*

5.5

4.3

Total duels won*

3.9

4.3

Clean sheets

10

8

Despite once being heralded as an “elite” level defender by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Bade comes up short when assessed next to Lucumi in many different areas of their defensive games across last season.

The South American centre-back trumps the Sevilla number 22 when it comes to accurate passes per 90 minutes in league action, on top of Bade also falling flat in terms of ball recoveries and tackles won.

Lucumi’s well-known composure with the ball at his feet has even seen him labelled as “ice cold” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, with this assured demeanour standing him in good stead for the intense challenges the Premier League would throw his way.

Whilst Bade might be a more notable name to an outsider looking in, the evidence here proves that Lucumi would be a fantastic, cost-effective alternative to the Frenchman.

Adingra will love him: Sunderland in talks to sign "sensational" £22.5m ace

Sunderland is continuing to negotiate a deal to snap up a £22.5m star

ByKelan Sarson Jul 22, 2025

Looking to continue their summer spending, PIF and Newcastle United are now reportedly readying a £61m raid to sign a Real Madrid attacker in a shock move.

Newcastle pushing to sign Hugo Ekitike

For the first time in over a year, PIF are in a position to spend at Newcastle and they’re wasting no time as a result. With Anthony Elanga already signed and delivered, those at St James’ Park have instantly turned their focus towards Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. Fabrizio Romano has even gone as far as to report that Newcastle have launched a bid worth over £60m as they push to sign the forward in another headline deal.

Jumping ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea in the race to sign the Frenchman, Newcastle could be about to make quite the statement this summer. Contrary to some belief too, Ekitike would be arriving to partner Alexander Isak rather than replace the Swede in what could see Eddie Howe form one of the deadliest duos in the Premier League.

After securing their Champions League return last season, Newcastle are now pushing on in pursuit of keeping hold of their European status. They have already found out the hard way what a lack of squad depth can do to a side when competing on all fronts in the past, and it’s not a mistake that they’re about to make twice.

A dream for Bruno: Newcastle likely to see £50m bid accepted to sign new CM

As Newcastle United look to bolster their midfield options, the Mapgies are reportedly set to see a £50 million bid accepted to sig a great “leader”.

Jul 15, 2025

Even if it’s not Ekitike who eventually arrives, the plan seems to be to welcome another attacking addition no matter what, amid reports that the Magpies already have their sights set on a potential alternative.

Newcastle readying shock Endrick move

According to reports in Spain, PIF are now readying a fresh raid to sign Endrick for Newcastle in a move worth as much as €70m (£61m) this summer. The young Brazilian remains one of Europe’s top prospects, but may struggle to break into Xabi Alonso’s side next season to leave the door ajar for the Magpies to make their move.

At 18 years old, Endrick would be less ready for a starting role than Ekitike, but his potential may eventually make up for that. The young winger was showered with praise by former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti last season, who told reporters he is “spectacular”.

“He has these amazing characteristics he has shown whenever he has a chance. His accuracy is off the charts, he’s quick and he still has a lot to improve with the ball.

“But, wow, his dribbling, his runs… the shot he has… he could even score a second goal easily with that great strike off the post… He is just spectacular. Very young, but a very fast learner.”

At £61m, Endrick’s arrival would be another statement by Newcastle and their biggest yet this summer. Although, as things stand, Ekitike remains their top target.

Manchester United have now opened talks with the agent of a “real leader”, who would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Amorim needs to hit the ground running next season

Despite admitting it was always going to be “tough” to join Man United mid-way through the 2024-25 campaign, former Man United man Ashley Young believes Ruben Amorim needs to make a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.

However, Amorim has a very particular style, meaning new personnel will be needed if his side are to kick on next season, and there has been a strong desire to bring in a new forward, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a major target.

The Red Devils are hoping to get a deal for Mbeumo over the line as soon as possible, and having reportedly now struck an agreement, they can perhaps afford to turn their attentions towards strengthening other areas of the squad.

With Casemiro now 33-years-old, Amorim is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, and an approach has been made for Richard Rios, while another midfielder has also emerged as a potential target.

According to a report from L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United have now opened talks with the agent of Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Tolisso is said to be keen on the move, which could make it easier for United to orchestrate a deal, although he is unwilling to force an exit.

"Real leader" Tolisso could be exactly what United need

Roy Keane has been critical of the lack of leaders at Man United for quite some time, with the former midfielder saying: “You need characters, you need leaders, I keep repeating myself every week on here. That’s what you need from a group of players.”

As a result, it would make sense to bring in players with more of a presence in the dressing room this summer, and the Lyon star could fit the bill in that regard, having been described as a “real leader” by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca.

Not only that, but the £90k-a-week maestro is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, having performed very well across some key attacking and defensive statistics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.28 (96th percentile)

Assists

0.17 (84th percentile)

Blocks

1.98 (97th percentile)

Aerials won

2.10 (93rd percentile)

Tolisso could be a solid signing for Man United this summer, but there may be some slight concerns about his age, with the central midfielder set to turn 31 before the new Premier League season gets underway.

Crystal Palace could make an approach for a defender imminently, as they are very interested in securing his signature, according to reporter Gianluca Di Marzio.

Palace looking to bolster defensive options

There is still a great deal of doubt over Marc Guehi’s future at Selhurst Park, with Newcastle United and Liverpool set to battle it out for the centre-back, who has made it clear he is unwilling to sign a new deal, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano said: “Also, I can tell you that Marc Guehi is not going to sign a new contract at Crystal Palace. It’s a big opportunity for Palace to sell the player this summer and not to lose him on a free in 2026; and for Liverpool there’s a chance to attack the situation and get the player for a good transfer fee.”

As such, Oliver Glasner is looking to bring in a replacement for his captain, and there is a great deal of interest in Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande, with a £47m deal for the 21-year-old believed to be in the works.

Not only is a new centre-back of interest, but the Eagles are also looking to bolster their options at left-back, with Borna Sosa now believed to be on the verge of arriving from Ajax, having been given permission to move to Selhurst Park.

According to Di Marzio (via Sport Witness), Crystal Palace are very interested in signing Davide Calabria too, with the right-back now a free agent after his AC Milan contract expired at the end of June.

Palace could make a move for Calabria very soon, with the defender available on a free transfer, as there could be heavy competition for his signature – Celta Vigo, Real Betis and Mallorca are also named as potential suitors.

Crystal Palace now line up £27m swoop for "terrific" defender and "monster"

The Eagles are looking at making a double signing, having scouted two players at the U21 European Championships.

ByDominic Lund Jul 2, 2025 Calabria could be solid signing for Crystal Palace

While the report states the right-back received criticism during the latter stages of his Milan career, he is said to have played a key role in Bologna’s surprise Coppa Italia triumph, which secured the Serie A side qualification for the Europa League.

Not only that, but the Italian has put in some impressive displays for Milan in the past, perhaps most notably receiving praise from Zach Lowy for the job he did nullifying Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the Georgian forward’s time with Napoli.

Having also chalked up a combined 36 appearances in the Champions League and Europa League, Calabria’s experience could be of great use to a Palace side hoping to embark on a European adventure next season.

Liverpool’s expeditious start to the summer transfer window has seen the double signing of Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz wrapped up before the end of June, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is set to follow.

And there’s more yet to come. With a deal agreed for the transfer of Jarell Quansah to the BayArena, Liverpool have upped their interest in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Of course, the Reds still need a striker too.

Liverpool chasing Premier League star

Darwin Nunez’s proposed transfer to Serie A champions Napoli could see efforts on that front doubled over the coming weeks.

Saying that, though, Liverpool love a market opportunity, and are monitoring a right-sided Premier League forward as Federico Chiesa expects to leave Anfield as well this summer.

As per French reporter Sébastien Vidal, in a bid to possibly replace Chiesa, Liverpool are interested in signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, though they face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The Cherries have valued the Ghanaian at £70m, a figure none of his suitors are willing to meet, but if that figure can be whittled down, Mohamed Salah would have the perfect understudy to cover him on the right.

This isn’t a priority for Liverpool, but the versatile Semenyo has the perfect profile for Slot’s system and could become the latest jackpot signing from the south coast.

Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo

Liverpool have raided a rising Premier League winger from the south coast before. Indeed, Sadio Mane is one of the club’s most iconic modern players, starring under Jurgen Klopp’s wing for many years after joining from Southampton for £35m in 2016.

Semenyo carries certain similarities to the prolific Senegalese, who was a deadly goalscorer but also a fierce advocate of his manager’s vision, working like a machine, covering numerous positions. Klopp once called Mane a “complete” and “world-class” player, and who would argue against him?

Hailed as a “workhorse” and a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Semenyo has been instrumental for Andoni Iraola’s system at the Vitality Stadium, scoring 13 goals and assisting seven more across all competitions last season.

Mane, let’s not forget, wrapped up his Saints career with 15 goals and seven assists across 43 matches in 2015/16, so, like Semenyo, he wasn’t the finished product and needed that move to a club on a higher rung of the ladder.

Right winger

46

13

3

Left winger

29

7

5

Centre-forward

6

1

0

As per FBref, the versatile forward also ranked among the top 20% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last season for successful take-ons and the top 5% for shots taken per 90, underlining his prowess as a pressure-applying force in front of goal but also a player who can drive play into the danger area himself.

All told, Semenyo is a talented and proven Premier League star who would not only cover Salah but also use his dynamism to cover on the left flank too.

To reach Mane’s level would be difficult indeed, but he’s certainly underrated, and a move to Merseyside could help put his name on the map.

The next Torres: Liverpool preparing huge bid to sign "frightening" striker

Liverpool aren’t messing around in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 23, 2025

Leeds United will be looking to offload some deadwood ahead of venturing back up to the Premier League.

Indeed, Daniel Farke will know he needs everyone singing off the same hymn sheet to be a success in such a daunting division, meaning personnel such as Illan Meslier and Maximilian Wober could soon be on the chopping block, following Junior Firpo – who headed for Real Betis – out of the exit door.

Patrick Bamford could also be another reserve figure that the German is tempted to part ways with this summer.

But, if the injury-prone 31-year-old was to stay put, he might well be a valuable option for the Whites still, based on his flashes of brilliance in the Premier League previously.

Bamford's previous form in the Premier League

The long-standing Leeds servant did let the entire 24/25 campaign pass him by without scoring a single strike, but he has displayed signs of his class in the big time before.

Bamford has netted all but one of his 24 top-flight strikes donning Leeds white, with the wonderfully taken goal above one of three strikes he managed against Aston Villa to bag a Premier League hat-trick all the way back in 2020.

Of course, it would be extremely bold to expect the 31-year-old to recapture his Premier League best, especially as a goalless season under Farke’s wing is still so fresh.

Yet, he could still be utilised as an impact option off the bench if necessary, with the four goals he bagged the last time he was at the intimidating level, coming about from just 18 starts.

Whilst the veteran still has some credit left in his bank, this other attacker has been stuck on the periphery at Elland Road for some time now without ever looking likely to redeem himself, with a loan exit this summer looking to be nailed on.

The Leeds star who is worse than Bamford

Leeds supporters will always possess a soft spot for Bamford, considering he has two Championship titles under his belt now with the West Yorkshire outfit, away from his favourable output of 60 strikes when at the peak of his powers.

In the curious case of Joe Gelhardt, however, his excellent displays at Elland Road have been even more fleeting than the 31-year-old’s, with the Liverpool-born forward last powering home a strike for the club way back in August of 2023 against Shrewsbury Town. Bamford, on the other hand, last scored in April of 2024 when Farke’s men were hunting down promotion.

24/25

3

0

0

23/24

13

1

0

22/23

19

0

3

21/22

22

2

4

That goal against the Shrews didn’t even come about in league action either, meaning Gelhardt hasn’t actually fired home a meaningful strike in the bread and butter of league football for Leeds since the 21/22 season.

The 23-year-old did amass a promising collection of five goals last season out on loan with Hull City, but Farke will hold zero confidence in Gelhardt being able to transition to Premier League life smoothly. Whereas, with Bamford, he will at least have some crumbs of comfort on his side that he can compete, even if it’s from a bit-part role.

Therefore, instead of killing the 23-year-old’s confidence even more, Leeds will likely loan Gelhardt back out to the Championship, with journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that Wrexham and Birmingham City are interested in the out-of-sorts striker’s services.

The reporter claims that the Premier League side have told the forward that he is free to move on from Elland Road this summer, which has attracted interest from the second tier.

It will be intriguing to see what happens past this next step for Gelhardt, with Jamie Carragher once branding the former England U20 international as a “special” when he was making a name for himself in the senior side while Jamie Redknapp suggested he was “really exciting.”

Now, his future at Elland Road is arguably on even more unstable ground than Bamford’s, even as Farke begins to eye up some fresh stars up top to help Leeds adjust back to their unnerving new level.

Farke's own Phillips: Leeds schedule talks to sign "phenomenal" £30m star

Leeds United could be about to land themselves a top-level Premier League talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

Liverpool won hearts and minds with their Premier League title victory and could now be on the verge of ratifying one of the summer’s most exciting deals.

Liverpool make an instant impact in the summer window

The dust has started to settle on Liverpool claiming a second top-flight title of the modern era. Still, there have already been significant developments at Anfield in the early part of the summer window.

Jeremie Frimpong arrived to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold on Merseyside, and that only appears to be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to potential movement in both directions.

Finance expert Kieran Maguire has confirmed that Liverpool have £250 million to spend if they so wish without any threat of FFP involvement, which has paved the way for some exciting deals to occur over the next few months.

“Liverpool are in an excellent financial position. They didn’t spend very much in the 24-25 season, and they have the benefits of Champions League football next season. If they spent £250m, that would not be a problem.”

Liverpool transfer targets in pictures

Arne Slot made minimal changes last summer, but he has now identified Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon as a top target at Anfield, even if he will cost around £80 million to lure from the North East.

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Premier League clubs have recently voted for the transfer window to open early this summer – here’s how it will work and why it’s happening.

ByStephan Georgiou Mar 27, 2025

Finding themselves in the perfect position to kick on, Liverpool will be aware that their rivals are also tooling up with some intriguing signings, setting the scene for a brilliant Premier League title fight next term.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the Reds are on the verge of completing a landmark deal ahead of the new campaign coming into focus.

Romano: Liverpool agree deal to sign Florian Wirtz

Taking to social media platform X, Romano revealed that Liverpool have now agreed a deal in principle to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and he will now head to England for his medical.

With personal terms and other formalities already agreed, it is understood that the Germany international will join for a fee of around £127 million, inclusive of add-ons.

Compared to Lionel Messi by Gerhard Struber, Wirtz registered 16 goals and 15 assists across 46 appearances in all competitions last term, and Reds journalist Paul Gorst said he will be a “statement signing”.

Notably, he earns around £73,300 at Bayer Leverkusen, a figure that will be expected to increase exponentially once his switch to Anfield is officially confirmed.

Weeks of overwhelming speculation surrounding Wirtz have become the early story of the window. Nevertheless, he now appears set to link up with Slot in a deal that will reverberate around the world.

Will Chelsea make any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup?

Last week, the Blues unveiled Liam Delap as their new signing, paying Ipswich his £30m release clause.

Now, Chelsea have until 7pm (BST) on Tuesday 10th June to register any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup, with their opening fixture against Los Angeles FC taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta the following Monday.

So, before then, will Enzo Maresca have another new centre-forward at his disposal?

Chelsea chasing another striker

The Blues are looking to significantly improve their forward line this summer with mooted interest in Frankurt forward Hugo Ekitike.

Transfer Focus

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

Further reports have suggested that a deal could be on the cards for Jamie Gittens too, with the club having held talks with his club side, Borussia Dortmund, ahead of a possible move. However, there are more targets on the horizon for BlueCo.

Indeed, according to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are targeting a move for Brighton & Hove Albion forward João Pedro, with Newcastle United also interested.

Fabrizio Romano claims that the Brazilian is ‘expected to leave Brighton’ this summer, after not featuring in any of the Seagulls’ final five Premier League fixtures this season, the first three due to suspension, before being left out of two matchday squads by manager Fabian Hürzeler following a training ground ‘altercation’ with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Reports in Spain claim that the Albion value their star striker at around £70m, with Football.London noting that Chelsea are willing to pay around £50m, so some sort of compromise will have to be made if Pedro is going to feature stateside this summer.

How Pedro and Delap could function together at Chelsea

Having only just signed Delap, pointedly presenting him with the number nine shirt too, it may seem peculiar that Chelsea are targeting another attacker.

Nevertheless, with Christopher Nkunku on his way out this summer, Matt Law of the Telegraph believes they are in the market for a versatile forward, but is Pedro actually a bigger talent than his potential future teammate?

Let’s try and answer that question.

Goals

0.46

0.42

Assists

0.28

0.07

Shots

1.94

2.29

Shots on target %

35.7%

43.9%

Shot-creating actions

3.32

2.15

Open-play passes completed

20.8

7.4

Chances created

1.3

0.7

Lay-offs completed

1.6

0.9

Touches

44

24

As the table outlines, Delap is much of a penalty box presence, emphasised by the fact he registered more shots, a higher proportion of which hit the target, while also taking almost half the number of touches on a per 90 basis.

Pedro meantime, is a significantly more well-rounded forward, underlined by his higher number of chances created, passes completed and touches per 90 statistics.

Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has hailed his “really magical” quality on the ball, while Adrian Clarke of the Premier League labelled him ‘hardworking, creative, and calm in front’, praising his ‘deft pieces of link play’ and believing he has started to show ‘a poacher’s instinct’ this season too.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout notes that Pedro ‘is capable of playing anywhere across the attack’, while Liam Tharme of the Athletic outlines how he is adept at ‘dropping deep to link play’.

Thus, this all suggests that Delap and Pedro could function in a team together, with the former holding his position in the penalty area, while the latter drops deep to link play alongside Chelsea’s abundance of other high-quality attackers.

Thus, he would surely be an excellent addition for the Blues, even if getting this deal over the line by Tuesday appears unlikely at this stage.

Shades of Hazard: Chelsea to make £59m bid for "generational" star

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 7, 2025

Since leaving Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side, Marcus Rashford and Antony have played important roles for high-performing sides on the European scene.

Rashford hasn’t been at his rip-roaring best with Aston Villa, but the game-changing winger has still played his part for a side that sit on the cusp of a return to the Champions League, victory at Old Trafford this afternoon standing in his way. He’s scored four goals and provided six assists from 17 games for the Villans.

At Real Betis, Antony looks not like a man reborn but a different player altogether. The right-sided forward became something of a whipping boy for his struggles at the Theatre of Dreams after joining from Ajax in an £86m deal, but has hit nine goals and five assists since moving to Spain in January.

However, these aren’t the only former Red Devils, those having toiled in existing memory at Old Trafford, who have been remade elsewhere, with Scott McTominay forging an incredible campaign for himself over in Italy.

Scott McTominay's Serie A season

Less than a year after leaving Man United and joining Napoli in a £25m deal, McTominay has won the Scudetto and been crowned the Serie A MVP.

It’s been quite the year for the Scotland international, who has long played the bit part at Old Trafford but has been reborn as a bona fide superstar in Naples, the architect of their second league title in three years.

24/25 – Napoli

34 (33)

12

6

23/24 – Man Utd

32 (18)

7

1

22/23 – Man Utd

24 (10)

1

0

21/22 – Man Utd

30 (28)

1

1

20/21 – Man Utd

32 (24)

4

1

19/20 – Man Utd

27 (20)

4

1

The 28-year-old never quite brought it all together in the Premier League, but he’s channelled his innate goalscoring ability and reinforced his underlying metrics, averaging 6.1 successful duels and 4.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

It’s exactly the type of midfield robustness that has been lacking for the Red Devils this term, and McTominay’s success will not have been lost on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

However, he’s not the only former Manchester United star performing under Antonio Conte’s wing right now, and you could stake an argument for Romelu Lukaku having been even better than his Scottish teammate.

Romelu Lukaku has been outrageously good

Lukaku first moved to Italian football in August 2019, signing for Inter Milan in a deal worth £74m, leaving Man United.

He didn’t have a terrible spell at Old Trafford by any stretch, but the 32-year-old, then 25, failed to capture the magic of his time with Everton, who the Glazers paid an initial £75m (rising to £90m), two years earlier.

Scoring 42 goals and adding 15 more assists across 96 matches, Lukaku made inroads in his first year but struggled across the 2018/19 season, only bagging 15 goals from 45 fixtures in all competitions.

He’s been something of a nomad across his storied career, but who can say Lukaku hasn’t left an indelible mark on so many of his clubs?

Now, Napoli have been added to that list, with the number nine’s return of 14 goals and ten assists across the league campaign proving instrumental in the title-winning success. This means that he produced more goals and more assists than the Scottish midfielder, which is why he was even more influential and even better for the Italian outfit.

Football writer Muhammad Butt even took the time to draw praise to Lukaku amid the effusions directed McTominay’s way, hailing the “outrageously good” Belgian for his talismanic role across the campaign, bagging his second Serie A title after winning the 2020/21 edition with Inter Milan.

His goal against Cagliari on Friday night, following McTominay’s acrobatic opener, was certainly ‘outrageous’, and a reminder that he’s not just a poacher.

Here is one of the finest centre-forwards of his generation, and he underscored his legacy with a stunning season under Conte’s wing, a manager who has fallen in love with the nine and sought to make use of his talents across a number of different environments.

McTominay might have won the MVP, but Lukaku will no doubt feel that his prolific season may have warranted the vote angling his way. Ah well, the title will soften that so-called blow.

Not just Garnacho: Amorim must sell Man Utd dud who's a "serious problem"

Manchester United are in need of a serious overhaul this summer, with numerous players needing to be sold.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 24, 2025

There may still be two Premier League games left to play, but silly season is almost here, and Arsenal look set for a busy one.

Mikel Arteta’s side failed to pick up a trophy for the fifth campaign on the bounce this year, so it’s hardly been a surprise to see them linked to a host of tremendously exciting attackers over the last few weeks.

Perhaps the most exciting of the lot has been Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who would be an incredible statement signing for new Sporting Director Andrea Berta to make in his first summer at the club.

However, the Brazilian isn’t the only game-changing attacker touted for a move to the Emirates, with recent reports now claiming that the Gunners are close to completing a deal for an international who’d be an ideal teammate for the Champions League winner.

Arsenal close in on new striker signing

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting goalscorers touted for moves to N5 in recent weeks, such as Nico Williams and Leroy Sane.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has a release clause worth around £48m in his current deal, and while it would have to be paid in full, his output of 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this season suggests he’d be worth it.

Sane, on the other hand, would be free thanks to his current deal expiring at the end of the season, and as he’s racked up 13 goals and six assists in just 44 games this year, signing him feels like a real no-brainer.

However, to really get the most out of Rodrygo next season, Arteta and Co will need to ensure they have a prolific number nine leading the line, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

Fortunately, it looks like they will do so, as according to reports via an outlet from Spain, negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting CP for the player are ‘well advanced’ at this stage.

In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that the deal, which is worth around €71m – £60m – is all but done and that the Swedish international ‘is poised to become a new player’ for the Gunners.

It’s certainly not a cheap transfer, but given Gyokeres’ incredible ability in front of goal, it looks like it’ll be well worth it, especially as he could help get even more out of Rodrygo should the Brazilian join as well.

Why Gyokeres would be a dream for Rodrygo

Now, while there will undoubtedly be a plethora of reasons on and off the pitch as to why Gyokeres would be an ideal teammate for Rodrygo, the most important one, and the one all others will stem from, is his raw output.

For example, it doesn’t really matter how many chances the Brazilian creates from the left if the centre-forward to his right can put them away.

Fortunately, that’s not the case for the Sporting CP star, and it is, in fact, quite the opposite, as it almost feels like the Swedish international couldn’t stop scoring even if he wanted to.

For example, in 50 appearances last season, the goalscoring “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, put the ball in the back of the net 43 times and provided 15 assists for good measure, which comes out to an average of 1.16 goal involvements per game.

Somehow, the former Coventry City star has become even more effective this year, and in 50 appearances, totalling just 4038 minutes, he’s managed to score 52 goals and provide 13 assists.

Appearances

50

50

Minutes

4169′

4038′

Goals

43

52

Assists

15

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.3

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87

62.12′

In other words, the 26-year-old “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, is currently averaging 1.3 goal involvements per game, or one every 62.12 minutes, which is simply outrageous.

Now, just imagine how goof Rodrygo could be with a striker that prolific to his right. Not only would he see his goal and assist tallies explode, but he’d probably have more room to work in as opposition defenders focus their energy on stopping the Swedish goal machine from scoring.

Ultimately, it might be a costly deal to get done, but Gyokeres looks like he’ll be incredible for Arsenal next year, and if Berta and Co can sign the Real Madrid star as well, we struggle to see how anyone will be able to contain the Gunners next year.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 15, 2025