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It wasn’t a vintage performance from Arsenal last night, but they did what they needed to do against Port Vale and are through to the Fourth Round of the League Cup.

With that said, while much of the team underwhelmed against the League One side, Myles Lewis-Skelly was one of those who didn’t.

For example, he got the faintest of touches on the ball that led to Eberechi Eze’s goal, and then, across the 94 minutes, completed 76 of 78 passes, was successful in 100% of his dribbles, and won 100% of his duels.

It was the sort of showing that should remind fans and pundits alike just how special a talent the Hale Ender really is.

Moreover, it’s a testament to him that he’s already an established first-teamer, as Arsenal had a young prospect who some could say was the original Lewis-Skelly a few years ago, and he eventually left the club for nothing.

Lewis-Skelly's incredible rise at Arsenal

It’s almost hard to believe, but at this point last year, Lewis-Skelly had played just a minute of senior competitive football for Arsenal when he came off the bench against Manchester City in the league.

Impressively, though, and perhaps as an indication of his willingness to get stuck in, the teenager actually received a yellow card early on in that game before he’d even made his debut for telling his teammates to stay down from the sidelines.

His first start for the club came a year ago tonight, however, as Arteta put him in from the start against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup, and it didn’t take long for him to play a brilliant ball into Raheem Sterling, which led to an Ethan Nwaneri goal.

Over the next few months, the young Englishman would become more and more critical to the team, as persistent injuries to Riccardo Calafiori gave him the time to cement the left-back position as his own.

In fact, the teenager was so impressive in red and white that he was handed his first senior England cap in March of this year, when he made his debut against Albania and scored his first international goal.

The “fearless” academy star, as dubbed by Declan Rice, ended up making 39 first-team appearances last season and already has four under his belt this year, looking like he could really be going to the World Cup in the summer.

In all, Arsenal have an incredible talent on their hands in Lewis-Skelly, and he looks destined to reach the top of the game, unlike another young defensive prospect they had who eventually left for nothing.

Arsenal's original Lewis-Skelly

As with every major club, Arsenal has had numerous promising young academy talents who have struggled to make the transition to the first team.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Unfortunately, that was what happened in the case of the very talented Reuell Walters.

Before joining the Gunners academy set-up in 2020, the 20-year-old ace spent 18 months without a team following a failed move to Manchester United after he left Tottenham Hotspur.

However, that time out of junior football seemingly made no difference to his ability when he did make it to Hale End.

For example, across the almost four years he spent with the Gunners, the Lambeth-born gem made 55 appearances for the U21S, 20 for the U18S and five for the UEFA Youth League squads.

Moreover, he was very highly rated by those in the know, with respected analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “ball-carrying monster” who “loves to drive up the pitch with conviction, brushing off challengers and shielding the ball with his body.”

U21

55

U18

20

UEFA YL

5

Total

80

Mattinson then goes on to claim the youngster’s “passing ability is technically secure” and that he “looks to play long balls over the top of the opponent’s defence to switch play.”

In other words, he was seen as a young full-back who was tough on the ball, could carry it with ease and still had a killer pass in his locker, which sounds a lot like Lewis-Skelly.

However, even though he was an unused substitute on a number of occasions, it was clear that the young Englishman wanted more first-team football. As a result, he turned down a new contract and instead joined Luton Town for free in July 2024.

Since then, he’s made 20 appearances for the Hatters, and while that might not sound like much, he is still young and missed 15 games through injury last season.

Ultimately, it’s now clear that Walters was never going to hit the levels of Arsenal’s recent Hale End stars, but given his age and the skills he has, there is every chance he can still have a great career in the game.

The 2024/25 campaign was a turbulent one for West Ham United. A change of manager halfway through, moving from Julen Lopetegui to Graham Potter, made things tough, and the Hammers never really gained any momentum, struggling to move out of the bottom few teams in the Premier League.

Yet, relegation was never really a concern, with the Irons finishing almost 20 points clear of 18th.

Looking ahead to the new season, Potter must surely want his side to become more consistent in front of goal. They only managed 46 last season, as per Understat, better than just five other teams in the top flight.

That might be why the East Londoners are targeting a new number nine in the transfer window.

West Ham search for a new striker

After a loan move for Evan Ferguson last season did not work out, the Hammers are still looking for a new centre forward to supplement the likes of Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen in attack. Well, perhaps they have found someone who can add to the goals next season.

According to a report from Tasnim News Agency, the Hammers have ‘expressed interest’ in signing Inter and Iran striker Mehdi Taremi. The 33-year-old’s ‘departure from Inter is now certain’ in the aftermath of Simone Inzaghi leaving the club and the arrival of new summer signings.

This could give West Ham an opportunity to pounce. They are set to go head to head with Fulham, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest for his signature, however, with Turkish side Besiktas also interested.

As for the price, it was reported earlier in the window that Inter would accept up to €10m (£9m) for the 33-year-old this summer.

Why Taremi would be a good signing

The 2024/25 season was tough for Taremi, who struggled for opportunity in the Inter side. Of course, last season’s Champions League runners-up have Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram in their squad, so getting a starting berth ahead of those two is far from easy.

The Iranian international played 43 games last season across all competitions. Although he only managed to find the back of the net three times, he did grab nine assists, four of which came in the Champions League. One of those was in the semi-final second-leg win over Barcelona.

The veteran striker arguably played the best football of his career at Portuguese giants FC Porto. He played 182 games for the club, amassing a sensational 91 goals and chipping in with 51 assists, too. He bagged this acrobatic volley against Chelsea back in 2021, a real standout effort in his large goal catalogue.

Comparisons can be drawn between Taremi and his potential new teammate, Fullkrug. The Germany international joined for £27m last summer from Borussia Dortmund, as an experienced striker, aged 31, when he moved to the London Stadium.

It certainly wasn’t the easiest first season in Claret and Blue for the striker, born in Hannover. He played 20 games for the club, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists. Two separate injuries certainly disrupted his progress during his debut campaign for West Ham.

The similarities between each striker do not stop at the fact that they are both experienced players in their early 30s. In fact, they are both stastically similar on FBref, after their respective Champions League campaigns in the 2022/23 season.

The numbers behind their goal-scoring form in that campaign are alike. The Inter star, then playing for Porto, averaged 0.33 goals and 0.22 goals per shot on target each game. In contrast, West Ham’s number 11, then a Dortmund player, averaged 0.26 goals and 0.27 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes.

Goals

0.33

0.26

Shots on target

1.49

0.96

Goals per shot on target

0.22

0.27

Expected goals

0.43xG

0.47xG

Goal-creating actions

0.87

0.69

At upwards of £9m, this move could be a bargain for West Ham this summer. There are certainly shades of the deal to sign Fullkrug last summer, given their age and similar threat in front of goal.

Taremi is a “complete striker” according to Statman Dave and capable of scoring 20 goals a season, as he showed at Porto. This could be one of the bargains of the summer.

Their new Paqueta: West Ham make approach to sign "complete" £30m star

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A “very good” Birmingham City player has now reportedly agreed a deal to leave the Blues imminently, with a medical at his new club booked early this week.

Birmingham boss Davies positive ahead of Championship return

The Blues are edging closer to their return to the Championship, with the new season getting started with a mouthwatering home clash with Ipswich Town on August 8th.

On Saturday, Birmingham were beaten 4-0 by Crewe Alexandra in a surprise pre-season friendly defeat, but despite this, manager Chris Davies was in good spirits about what he saw from his side.

“The No. 1 thing you’re looking for is, can you build your fitness from these type of games as the first 60 minutes we’ve been exposed to this season? I think the boys looked leggy, they’ve had a strong week in training. So, I think that’ll do them the world of good having that 60 minutes under their belt for most of them.

“I thought first half we were very fluid, we conceded a ridiculous goal which we won’t concede any worse than that, so that’s something to learn from. “But then it was obviously all us and we were pretty fluid, we just lacked a bit of killer instinct in the in the final bit. That will come.”

Birmingham will know that new signings are needed before the end of the summer transfer window – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been mentioned as an ambitious target – but now a current player has been linked with a move away from the club.

Alfie May set for Birmingham exit

According to a fresh claim from Football League World, Birmingham striker Alfie May has agreed a move to League One side Huddersfield Town and could undergo a medical on Monday, having almost joined them last year.

A £1.2m transfer is expected to go through imminently, bringing an end to the 32-year-old Scot’s one-year spell with the Blues in the process.

May leaving Birmingham this summer may come as a surprise to some, considering he played such a key role in helping his side win the League One title last season, scoring 16 goals and registering eight assists in the competition, also being praised by Davies.

“He was very good. He dropped in as a false nine in possession and is very good at linking the play. He knows where the opposition players are and where to take his touch. He was brought in just to score goals basically and he took it brilliantly again. That’s why we signed him.”

That said, May isn’t considered a key starter and is now jumping up a division, not to mention being 32 years of age, so cashing in on him now makes sense, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2027.

Glasgow Rangers have agreed a deal to sell a prominent Ibrox player during the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer Gers update from Sky Sports.

Martin's ruthless transfer approach at Rangers

Russell Martin has taken on a huge job at Ibrox, with the Englishman tasked with not only closing the gap on Celtic, but becoming Scottish Premiership champions again.

The 39-year-old is certainly speaking well in his early weeks and months in charge at Rangers, providing a ruthless outlook when it comes to the type of players he wants to sign this summer, and outlining what will put him off bringing in some individuals.

“People need to be desperate to play for this club and not just be an option. When we have spoken to people and they say, ‘Well, I need to hear my options,’ we are onto the next one. People need to be desperate. Spoke to Joe [Rothwell] and there was no other choice on his mind, and he had a lot of options.

“Same with Manny [Emmanuel Fernandez], spoke to my old manager at Peterborough, Darren, and he spoke so highly of him, and he has the potential to be anything he wants to be, I really believe that. Max [Aarons], loads of options in Europe but wanted to be here. Hopefully, because of the strength of the relationship with myself and Gilly [Matt Gill], but also because he wants to come and win and be part of something.”

There are likely to be plenty of ins and outs at Rangers before the transfer window reaches its conclusion, and it looks as though one current player’s time at Ibrox is now coming to an end.

Rangers agree deal to sell £9,000-a-week defender

According to a fresh update from Sky Sports, Rangers have now “agreed a deal” to sell centre-back Robin Propper back to former club FC Twente this summer.

“Rangers have agreed a deal for defender Robin Propper to return to Dutch club FC Twente. He moved to Ibrox last summer and will now be allowed to return to the Eredivisie if he can agree personal terms. Rangers will also allow the likes of Leon King, Ben Davies, Clinton Nsiala and Jose Cifuentes to depart this summer.”

This feels like the right decision by Rangers, despite Martin recently confirming the agreement in place and admitting that he has been “really impressed” with Propper since coming in as manager.

Appearances

25

Starts

21

Minutes played

1851

Clearances per game

4.0

Aerial duel wins per game

3.2

Tackles per game

1.6

Interceptions per game

0.9

Goals

2

Assists

0

The 31-year-old has struggled to wholly convince on a consistent basis since arriving from Twente in the summer of 2024, making only 21 starts in the Scottish Premiership last season.

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The £9,000-a-week defender also isn’t getting any younger, meaning the Rangers can cash in on him now and use the funds to look to bring in a younger centre-back option – one who could be a regular starter for Martin.

Manchester United have been a side who have so often been known for their ability to win trophies, but that’s something that has been hard to come by in recent years.

The Red Devils have only won two trophies since 2020, none of which were the Premier League, now going over a decade without a triumph since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

However, big money has been spent to try and end such a drought, but they’ve so far been unsuccessful in the quest, needing added funding throughout the summer window.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try and cement himself in the club’s history, but has so far shown no signs of winning the division, achieving a win percentage of just 40%.

He appears to have been given the benefit of the doubt after taking the reins mid-season, but he will have to make a quick start next season if he is to be a success at the Theatre of Dreams.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Bryan Mbeumo has been the main player linked with United over recent weeks, with the player himself expressing his desire to move to Old Trafford this summer.

However, after the Red Devils’ second offer of £62.5m was rejected, Brentford’s sporting director, Phil Giles, stated that the Cameroonian would be happy to stay in London if their asking price wasn’t met.

Another name has been mentioned as a potential addition this summer, with Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins remaining a key target, according to The Athletic’s latest update.

They claim that the Red Devils have been in contact with the fellow top-flight outfit over a move to Old Trafford after he bagged 17 goals and 14 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

It also states that Rasmus Hojlund could be offloaded, with the English international just one player they are considering a move for to bolster their attacking department.

Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s answer to Isak

Alexander Isak is a player who has proved to be a constant threat to countless backlines in the Premier League, as seen by his staggering goalscoring tallies.

The Swedish international has registered 62 goals in his 109 appearances for the Magpies, including back-to-back 20-goal campaigns in England’s top-flight.

As a result of his tremendous goalscoring record for Eddie Howe’s side, he’s been constantly touted with big-money moves away from St James’ Park, but a £150m price tag has been mooted.

The Red Devils themselves have been seen as a potential destination in recent days, but a move is extremely unlikely given his price tag and the club’s lack of European football.

However, they could land their own version of Isak this window with a move for Watkins, as the Villa star has been labelled as a similar player to the Swede by FBref.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from last season, the Englishman has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, potentially providing an excellent attacking option for Amorim’s side.

Watkins, who’s been labelled by podcaster Rohan Jivan “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe,” has registered slightly fewer goal contributions, but matched him for goals per shot on target, whilst getting more of his efforts on target – subsequently demonstrating the clinical ability he possesses.

Games played

38

34

Goals & assists

24

29

Shot on target accuracy

44%

43%

Aerials won

43%

32%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.4

Fouls won

1.2

0.4

Carries into oppostion box

1.4

1.4

The 29-year-old has also won more aerial battles and drawn more fouls per 90, having the ability to operate as a focal point – something which Amorim’s side have greatly lacked in recent months.

His ability to carry the ball into forward areas is also reflected by matching Isak for carries into the opposition box per 90, with Watkins evidently a more well-rounded option for the Red Devils.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Villa talisman would cost this summer, it’s clear that he would be a cheaper alternative to Isak, but still offering the club the needed quality they crave.

If he can transfer his skillset to Old Trafford with him this summer, it would be a superb signing that would massively improve the side and make them a force to be reckoned with once again in the near future.

Gyokeres alternative: Man Utd submit bid to sign their own Kane after talks

Man United are still planning to sign a centre-forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 30, 2025

It is no secret that Leeds United will be in the market to sign new players in the summer transfer window ahead of the Premier League next season.

Fabrizio Romano gave the Championship champions a ‘here we go!’ on Saturday when he confirmed that Jaka Bijol has signed his contract to join the club from Udinese.

The Whites are set to pay a fee in the region of £19m to sign the central defender from the Italian side to bolster their options at the heart of the defence.

Bijol started 34 matches in the Serie A for Udinese in the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he is set to arrive at Elland Road with plenty of experience in one of Europe’s major leagues.

The Slovenia international will now be due to compete with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Max Wober, Joe Rodon, and Pascal Struijk for a place in the starting XI next season.

What Jaka Bijol could bring to Leeds

Bijol is a strong defender in the prime years of his career, at the age of 26, and could provide Daniel Farke with an aerially dominant option at the heart of the defence.

The Slovenian colossus was particularly impressive in the air for Udinese in the Serie A, using his height and frame to tussle with opposition strikers to win key defensive duels.

Aerial duels won

3.31

Top 6%

Aerial duel success rate

67.7%

Top 17%

Interceptions

1.15

Top 41%

Clearances

5.53

Top 14%

Passes blocked

0.61

Top 42%

As you can see in the table above, he ranked very highly among central defenders in the Italian top-flight when it came to competing for headers at the back.

His 68% aerial duel success rate was higher than Struijk (62%) and Rodon (60%) managed in the Championship for the Whites, which suggests that he would improve the Leeds defence from an aerial perspective.

Leeds did, however, have the best xGA (29.6) record in the second tier this season, which suggests that their defence was not a major cause for concern, albeit they have still opted to strengthen in that area of the pitch.

Instead, a bigger issue for the Whites to resolve, on paper at least, is finding a new number one goalkeeper, after Illan Meslier was left on the bench for the final seven games of the 2024/25 season.

Farke needs to find a replacement for the French goalkeeper to start between the sticks in the Premier League next term, and the door is seemingly open for them to sign one from a relegated side.

Door open for Leeds to sign Southampton star

Southampton owner Dragan Solak has opened the door to Aaron Ramsdale moving on from Elland Road before the end of the summer transfer window, after the Saints were relegated from the Premier League.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, as relayed by LeedsLive, Solak said: “We unfortunately are not sure that Ramsdale is going to stay, even though he loves the club. He’s a great young man, everybody loves him, but he wants to get his place in the national team and it’s not easy to get there in the Championship.”

Transfer Focus

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

LeedsLive reports that signing a new goalkeeper is one of the priorities on the club’s transfer agenda, as they go in search of a number one for next season.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that the West Yorkshire outfit have eyed up Ramsdale as a potential target to arrive at Elland Road as Farke’s new shot-stopper.

Solak’s comments show that the door is open for the £25m England international to sign for Leeds, and it is now down to the club to pursue a deal that could be even more important than the one to sign Bijol.

Why Leeds should sign Aaron Ramsdale

As aforementioned, Leeds enjoyed a strong defensive record in the Championship this season and were not in desperate need of a player like Bijol, as much as he could improve Farke’s options at centre-back.

Whereas, the Whites are in desperate need of a new number one to replace Meslier next season because the French dud is, simply, not good enough for the top-flight.

The left-footed flop was dropped by Farke after he made three errors that directly led to goals for the opposition and had a goals prevented of -2.73 in 39 appearances in the Championship.

24/25 (Championship)

-0.4

23/24 (Championship)

-3.1

22/23 (Premier League)

-12.4

21/22 (Premier League)

-16.2

20/21 (Premier League)

-3.4

As you can see in the table above, Meslier was also a liability as a shot-stopper in his three seasons in the Premier League with the Whites in the past, as he let in significantly more goals than he should have, based on the post-shot xG of the shots against his goal.

Ramsdale, however, prevented 0.14 goals in 30 outings in the Premier League and did not make a single error that led to a goal, which shows that he outperformed Meslier whilst playing at a higher level.

The 27-year-old stopper, who was once hailed as “magnificent” by reporter Charles Watts, has 183 appearances in the Premier League in his career to date, which suggests that he could hit the ground running at Elland Road as a player who already knows the division well.

His statistics in the top-flight for the Saints also suggest that he would be a huge upgrade on Meslier, given his more impressive showings as a goalkeeper at a higher level.

That means that he would solve a huge problem for Leeds, given the Frenchman’s dismal performances in recent years, and provide Farke with the goalkeeper that he desperately needs.

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Therefore, he would be an even more important signing for Leeds than Bijol because finding a quality goalkeeper is a more pressing matter than replacing Rodon and Struijk, who impressed as a pairing in the Championship.

Arsenal remain in ongoing talks over a potential summer deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with the Slovenian now making an “unusual” demand as he ponders a move to the Premier League.

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Sesko is one of sporting director Andrea Berta’s two prime centre-forward targets, alongside Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, and the Italian has apparently laid groundwork over both deals as he works to discover which one would be most doable (BBC).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

This is the way Berta operates when it comes to recruitment, and more striker targets like Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké or Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins could still come back into play (Graeme Bailey).

Arsenal have held “concrete” talks over a move for Sesko for weeks, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, but the 22-year-old could end up costing as much as £85 million, with the Gunners currently unwilling to meet Leipzig’s financial demands.

Sesko’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, also told GiveMeSport this week that the forward’s potential exit this summer is far from a foregone conclusion.

“It can be next week, or next year, or in 3 years,” Basanovic said.

“Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig. I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.”

New updates are coming to light by the day, with journalist Duncan Castles now lifting the lid on something pretty unique that Sesko and his representatives are asking for to join Arsenal.

Benjamin Sesko makes "unusual" demand in Arsenal transfer talks

Speaking on The Transfers Podcast, Castles reports that Sesko wants a release clause in his possible Arsenal contract, explaining why this is a pretty special demand given the circumstances of this transfer.

“I understand that Sesko is asking for an exit clause on any deal he agrees with Arsenal, and he would like that release clause to be set at just 20% increase on whatever price they end up paying for him,” said Castles.

“It’s quite unusual to ask for something like that when you’re moving from, let’s say a second-tier European club to one that is perceived as a first-tier club and one of the most financially affluent clubs in European football and I think it’s unlikely that Arsenal would agree to a deal on those terms.”

There appears to be some way to go for the north Londoners to make any significant progress in negotiations for the ex-Red Bull Salzburg sensation, and taking into account his fairly modest goal return of 21 in all competitions last season, it is perhaps wise for Berta to consider turning more attention towards Gyokeres.

The Swede is believed to be very keen on a move to Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano), and his sensational goal return of 54 during 2024/2025 helped Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years.

Gyokeres’ rumoured price tag comes in at around £80 million, according to The Times, so Arsenal would still need to stump up serious cash, but the 27-year-old may be worth that investment in the long run.

Liverpool have put paid to any notion of second-season syndrome under Arne Slot’s wing by attacking the transfer market with vicious intent.

The Reds surpassed expectations by winning the Premier League last term, and they did without a proper focal frontman. Sure, Luis Diaz filled in nicely as a false nine, but Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota both flattered to deceive, and the former is at risk of being sold.

If and when that happens, Liverpool will need to sign a new centre-forward, and though Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak appears to be off the market after securing a route back into the Champions League.

A whole host of names have been linked with a move to Anfield, and one of the most recent belongs to Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, having reportedly made contact with the Swedish goalscorer in May.

Manchester United currently lead the race, and maybe that hints the 27-year-old might not be the best option on the market for the Merseysiders.

Still, Liverpool desperately need a new number nine.

Why Liverpool need a striker

Last season, Mohamed Salah led Liverpool to the Premier League title. Football is a team sport, and the sum of a brilliant team is greater than its individual parts, but the Egyptian King proved an exception to that rule.

Across 52 matches in all competitions, Salah scored 34 goals and supplied his teammates with 23 assists. He leapt his way into the upper level of the all-time Premier League scoring charts, now fifth with 186 goals, one strike behind Andy Cole and two ahead of the retired Sergio Aguero.

His talismanic campaign, making good on a promise, has crowned him a two-time English league winner, picking up the sweeping gamut of individual accolades too.

Why does this matter? We were going to discuss Liverpool’s interest in a new striker, after all. Well, Liverpool’s main man turns 33 in just a few days, and though he’s extended his record-breaking contract by two years, he cannot be expected to heave the bulk of his attacking peers in the same way.

Liverpool need someone more reliable than Nunez, who only scored seven goals last term. The likes of Gyokeres have been touted, sure, but Liverpool might have found an even better option.

Liverpool hold talks for new striker

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are still interested in Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward Hugo Ekitike, despite Chelsea making all the noise in recent weeks.

In fact, the reporter claims Liverpool have “held concrete talks with the player’s camp”, perhaps just awaiting clarity on the futures of their expendable forwards.

The major sticking point is that Frankfurt want €100m (£84m) for their rising star, but given that he’s yet to fully grow into his skin, this perhaps skates beyond the line of plausibility.

Why Liverpool should sign Hugo Ekitike

Ekitike only scored four goals across 33 senior outings for Paris Saint-Germain, thus choosing to make his name away from the bloated Parisian superpower.

He hasn’t looked back. After finishing the 2023/24 campaign in good form, Ekitike stepped into his first full term on strong footing, wrapping things up with 22 goals and 12 assists across 48 fixtures.

Once hailed as “the next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, it’s easy to see why he’s held in such high regard, fostering a keen-edged offensive style and marrying it with his rounded underlying qualities.

Sporting’s Gyokeres might be among the hottest commodities on the market, but Liverpool’s data-driven system would be sure to reveal Ekitike as the more desirable pick.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

Goals

15

Assists

7

Shots (on target)*

3.5 (1.5)

Big chances missed

16

Pass completion

76%

Big chances created

12

Key passes*

1.3

Dribbles*

1.6

Duels won*

4.2

The key thing is he’s finding his feet in front of goal and boasts a combative and creative underlying skill set. For sure, Gyokeres has proven to be a more clinical goalscorer in Portugal, but Ekitike’s multi-faceted game suggests his ceiling his higher, having already been hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as “one of the best centre-forwards out there.”

Further to that point, Nunez was as prolific as they come for Benfica before Liverpool paid the big bucks to bring him over to England, scoring 34 goals across 41 games in 2021/22.

Ekitike, however, bespeaks completeness through his data. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons and the top 19% for ball recoveries per 90.

Athletic and dynamic, the archetype for greatness is right there, especially when considering he’s five years Gyokeres’ junior too.

Journalist Bence Bocsak recently discussed Anfield’s interest in the “unique talent”, going on to say, “For the right price, Ekitike would be the perfect forward at Liverpool under Arne Slot.”

Finances will, of course, hold sway in the decision-making, and Liverpool (like Chelsea) aren’t likely to fork out something in the ballpark of £84m for a raw centre-forward, his potential untapped.

Ekitike truly is the perfect profile to unify Liverpool’s frontline over the coming years. Would Gyokeres bring a consistent supply of goals? Yes, he would. But is he the perfect man for the job?

In Ekitike, Slot can fashion a superstar, and that’s the Liverpool way.

Worst sale since Mane: "World-class" Liverpool star now in talks to leave

Liverpool may be set to lose one or two of their first-team regulars this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 9, 2025

Chelsea are showcasing real ambition in the transfer market after qualifying for the Champions League next season, with the Blues looking back to manager Enzo Maresca after a successful debut campaign in the dugout.

Chelsea seal Liam Delap deal with more signings identified

On Wednesday, Chelsea officially announced the arrival of striker Liam Delap, who joins in a £30 million deal from Ipswich Town.

Chelsea hold new talks to sign "fantastic" £40m defender who's keen to join

The west Londoners want to get him in before the Club World Cup.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025

Delap, who scored 12 league goals for the Tractor Boys last season, but couldn’t save them from relegation, will wear the number nine shirt and becomes eligible to take part in the Club World Cup later this month.

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

Chelsea can register players in time for FIFA’s competition due to a unique mini-transfer window, which is open until June 10, with Maresca having four more days to reinforce his squad ahead of the tournament.

BlueCo want one or two more new arrivals through the door before their CWC campaign kicks off, and Stamford Bridge chiefs have a number of plates spinning.

Journalist Simon Phillips claims Chelsea held fresh talks over a deal for Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato recently, with personal terms not seen as an issue considering the defender’s desire to join Maresca’s side.

Meanwhile, links continue to surround Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, who could be their second striker signing after Delap.

As well as in attack and defence, Chelsea haven’t given up on signing AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the San Siro.

The France international, who captained Milan last season, is valued at around £25 million by the Rossoneri, despite his contract situation. Right now, Chelsea appear unwilling to go that far, but there is a major willingness from the 29-year-old himself to make the move happen.

Mike Maignan tells AC Milan he wants to join Chelsea

According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, backing up other reports, Maignan has informed Milan that he wants to join Chelsea.

Convincing him is no issue, with the clubs now having to find common ground when it comes to his asking price. Maresca’s side only want to pay around £10 million for the keeper as things stand (The Mail), so there are plenty of negotiations still to be had if a deal is still possible.

This comes after another report from the reliable Fabrizio Romano, who told GiveMeSport that Maresca has personally approved Maignan’s potential switch to west London.

With Chelsea’s manager and the keeper wanting this deal done, they’re simply waiting for club-to-club talks to reach a positive resolution.

Maignan, described as a “world-class” shot-stopper, has plenty of top-level experience – which is something lacking in Chelsea’s overall squad – and is widely regarded as one of Serie A’s top keepers.

The Aston Villa hierarchy have now identified a “world-class” £40 million shot-stopper to replace Emi Martinez in goal this summer, according to a recent report.

Emi Martinez looks set to leave Aston Villa

The Villans gave their chances of playing Champions League football next season a real boost over the weekend, as they beat Tottenham Hotspur while Newcastle faltered at Arsenal.

They head into the final game of the season knowing they need maximum points to stand a chance of a top five finish. Securing Champions League football will help the Midlands side when it comes to the summer transfer window, as not only will more funds become available, but they will also be able to attract top level stars.

Ready to leave: Barcelona now want to sign "incredible" Aston Villa star

Aston Villa may need to sell players this summer.

ByTom Cunningham May 19, 2025

However, it appears as though it doesn’t matter where Villa finishes this season; goalkeeper Emi Martinez will be leaving the club this summer. It was reported at the beginning of this month that Unai Emery is ready to sell Martinez, as the player is ready to leave the Premier League. The report went on to add that teams from the Saudi Pro League are ready to make the Argentina goalkeeper a huge offer to leave Villa Park.

Over the last 72 hours, Martinez’s departure from Villa has intensified, as he appeared to wave to the Aston Villa fans during their lap of honour following their final game at Villa Park this season. It has since been reported that both Manchester United and Barcelona are looking to sign the 32-year-old this summer.

Aston Villa chiefs identify £40m Liverpool star to replace Martinez

So as Martinez’s future at Villa Park is up in the air, Villa are scouring the market for potential replacements, and according to a report from Spain, Aston Villa are interested in signing Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool.

The report states that Villa are already looking at a future without Martinez in their goal, as they waste no time in trying to find a potential replacement. It is claimed that Kelleher has emerged as a target for Villa because of his impressive performances for Liverpool when given an opportunity, and despite him being second choice at Anfield, Villa see Kelleher as someone with potential and character.

However, they are not alone in showing interest in the Republic of Ireland international, as Premier League teams such as AFC Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Newcastle United are also interested.

The report does go on to add that Villa are also interested in signing Joan Garcia from La Liga side Espanyol, and he would be considered a cheaper option, as Liverpool have set a price tag of £40 million on Kelleher heading into this summer.

Apps

67

Goals conceded

79

Clean sheets

24

The 26-year-old, who has been dubbed “world-class” by teammate Andy Robertson, has been at Liverpool since 2015 but has only played 25 times in the Premier League, as he’s struggled to get ahead of Alisson and become the club’s number one. Kelleher is under contract until 2026, so Liverpool may be tempted to sell this summer before he leaves for nothing in 12 months.