All posts by h79snht.top

Wolves are perhaps the most in-form team in the Premier League currently, winning all of their last five games, scoring ten goals and only conceding four times.

It’s safe to say that Vitor Pereira has done a brilliant job since arriving back in December, guiding Wolves from 19th place to 15th.

With five games to go, Pereria’s side could even finish 13th ahead of both Manchester United and Everton, who currently sit level on points with Wolves (38).

What makes Wolves’ strong run of form even more impressive is the fact their star man, Matheus Cunha, was missing for three of their last five victories, only returning from the bench against Tottenham before starting against Manchester United.

Wolves target Matheus Cunha replacement

Cunha is being linked with a move away this summer, with Man United reportedly closing in on signing the player.

This would leave Wolves looking for a replacement for their star, and some names are already starting to pop up ahead of the transfer season.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

According to reports from TBR Football, Wolves are interested in Chelsea forward João Félix on loan. He is also attracting interest from West Ham, with the 25-year-old having spent the last few months enduring a temporary stint at AC Milan after only playing a bit-part role under Enzo Maresca for the Blues.

Chelsea only signed Felix in the 2024/25 summer transfer window, with the Portugal international joining the club for around £45m. AC Milan then paid a £5m loan fee for Felix, allowing the Blues to recoup a small sum of their money.

The playmaker has made a total of 35 appearances this season for Chelsea and AC Milan combined, scoring eight goals and providing three assists.

Next season, Felix could be tasked with filling the boots of Cunha at Wolves, so how would that work?

Felix vs Cunha comparison

Cunha has made 31 appearances so far this season, scoring 16 goals, providing four assists and totalling 2,486 minutes played. The Brazilian often plays off the left, but has plenty of license to roam, picking up the ball in deeper areas to dictate play and direct Wolves’ attacks.

Coincidentally, via FBref, Cunha and Felix are considered “similar” players via the comparison tool, which makes their underlying metrics even more interesting.

João Félix vs Matheus Cunha in 24/25

Stats (per 90 mins)

Felix

Cunha

Goals

0.45

0.58

Assists

0.10

0.14

xG

0.39

0.29

xAG

0.16

0.27

Progressive Carries

3.33

3.80

Progressive Passes

5.56

4.76

Shots Total

4.33

3.59

Key Passes

1.28

1.84

Shot-Creating Actions

3.85

4.28

Successful Take-Ons

2.05

2.20

Stats taken from FBref

Felix takes a higher volume of shots, resulting in a higher xG generated per game, whilst also making more progressive passes. That being said, he’s struggled for regular goals and assists since lighting things up at Benfica as a youngster.

Scout Jacek Kulig even described the Portuguese talent as “pure gold” after Atlético Madrid spent a large fee to bring him to the club. So, if he can find that level of form again, he’d be a tremendous asset at Molineux.

Cunha, on the other hand, has taken his game to new levels this term, notably ranking better in carrying metrics, has a higher output and averages more shot-creating actions per game.

Despite the difference in quality at the moment, they evidently boast similar traits and Felix could actually thrive from taking Cunha’s role at Wolves.

He’d be becoming the main man for the team, having the license to roam and possessing the keys in Pereira’s attack, which could then finally see the Portugal forward show his talent on the pitch, resulting in much better output and numbers.

Related Wolves must rue selling sensational star who is worth £40m more than Cunha

Wolves sold a player in 2022 who is now worth around £100m

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Apr 21, 2025

In what could see one player make his return to the Premier League, Everton have now reportedly made their first contact to sign a former Arsenal defender this summer.

Everton looking to bounce back from defeat

Like every side sandwiched inside the Premier League’s bottom half, Everton have the luxury of playing without the pressure of relegation in the coming weeks, with the drop now confirmed for all three of Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton. What that should hand them the chance to focus on is handing Goodison Park the farewell it deserves and that should start with bouncing back from defeat.

Related Friedkin now serious about dream Everton move to sign "fantastic" forward

A signing that would certainly make a statement…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Apr 29, 2025

With nothing left to play for, the Toffees have suffered back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea in two narrow games, much to the frustration of those on Merseyside who’ll be hoping to end the season strongly.

Manager David Moyes reacted to defeat against Chelsea last time out, telling reporters: “We were perhaps fortunate to only be 1-0 down at half-time, but we stuck at it and grew into the game and played very well in the second half.

“We were just lacking quality to get a finish on the end of some of our play. The substitutes made a big difference. It looked like we had more energy and were more creative.”

It’s the type of quality that the Everton boss will hope to see his side find in their penultimate game at Goodison Park this Saturday, which will see them square off against Ipswich Town.

It’s a game that the Toffees will be expected to win, especially at Goodison Park, and one that they should use to make a statement of intent as they prepare to enter a new era at the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.

Meanwhile, away from the pitch, ahead of that new era, Friedkin have already reportedly set their sights on their first summer signing.

Everton express interest in signing Tavares

According to Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio, Everton have now expressed interest in signing Nuno Tavares from Lazio this summer. The left-back has spent the season on loan at the Serie A club this season in a move that will become permanent at the end of the current campaign. Any move away from English football may be short-lived, however, amid interest from Everton.

Praised for an “incredible season” and described as “talented” by U23 scout Antonio Mango during his loan spell at Marseille last season, Tavares has only reached more impressive levels at Lazio – assisting nine goals in all competitions.

As Ashley Young edges closer to retirement too, welcoming fresh competition for Vitalii Mykolenko would be no bad idea for Everton this summer, and Tavares would offer exactly that.

In one swift move, the left-back could find himself on his way back to the Premier League not long after turning his loan move permanent at Lazio this summer.

Goals, goals and more goals. If there is one thing Arsenal have lacked this season, it’s goals.

It’s been clear for some time now that Mikel Arteta’s side lack a genuinely clinical striker to lead the line, and so the last few months have seen them linked with a whole host of exciting names.

One of the most prominent was Newcastle United’s incredible Alexander Isak, but with a price tag that could reportedly be as high as £150m, it’s a move that now seems increasingly unlikely.

However, that doesn’t mean that the North Londoners aren’t still looking to bring in a new striker, as recent reports have linked them with someone who could be the perfect alternative.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the forward in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attackers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Daizen Maeda.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The former looks like he’d cost around £70m, and while that’s still a hefty sum of money, it’s hard to argue against considering the Swede has scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists in 29 appearances for Sporting CP this year.

Maeda, on the other hand, would cost around £25m and has also enjoyed a brilliant campaign north of the border, scoring 33 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 games for Celtic.

However, the Gunners might be looking for a genuine bargain alternative to the Newcastle ace, which would explain the situation around Jonathan David.

According to a recent report from Italy, Arsenal are now one of several sides interested in signing the LOSC Lille star this summer, when his contract has expired.

Alongside the North Londoners, the report has claimed that Liverpool, Inter Milan, Juventus and a handful of other Premier League sides are also keen to land the soon-to-be free agent.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line in light of the competition, but given David’s immense ability, it’s one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be an incredible Isak alternative.

Why David would be a great Isak alternative

So, there is ultimately one reason, and it’s a massive one, why David would be a brilliant alternative to Isak: the finances involved.

While he would likely demand a slightly inflated wage to make up for the lack of a transfer fee, the money involved in any deal would still pale in comparison to what would be needed to sign the Newcastle star.

In turn, this would then allow the Gunners to invest heavily elsewhere in the squad, be it in another striker, a new left-winger, competition for Martin Odegaard, or even more defenders.

Moreover, just because he’d save the club an enormous sum of money does not mean he’d be a lacklustre signing.

For example, since the start of 1/22, the New York-born monster, whom journalist Tony Marinaro dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world,” has scored 96 goals and provided 25 assists in just 182 club appearances.

David’s recent club career

Season

21/22

22/23

23/24

24/25

Appearances

48

40

47

47

Goals

19

26

26

25

Assists

0

4

9

12

Goal Involvements*

0.39

0.75

0.74

0.78

All Stats via Transfermarkt (*per Match)

In other words, the incredible goal machine has averaged a goal involvement every 1.50 games across the last four seasons of top-flight football, which is evidence enough to suggest he’d be a good fit for the North Londoners.

Finally, it’s not just at the club level where the Canadian international has proven himself. In 61 appearances for Les Rogues, he scored 32 goals and provided 19 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal every 1.19 games.

Ultimately, with Isak almost certainly being too expensive to sign this summer, Arsenal would be wise to sign David in his place and spend the rest of their transfer budget improving the entire team.

Related He'd revive Odegaard: Arsenal aiming to sign "the new Mbappe" in £85m deal

Arsenal need to sign a player who could revive the fortunes of Martin Odegaard.

Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 5, 2025

Rangers have held talks with a “great” manager about taking the job this summer, according to a new update from Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

Rangers manager latest

A host of names have been thrown into the hat to become the Gers’ next boss, with the club confirming in a statement that Barry Ferguson won’t continue in interim charge beyond this season:

“EVERYONE at Rangers Football Club would like to pass on their heartfelt thanks to Barry Ferguson and his staff, with yesterday’s game at Hibernian being their final match in charge. Club legend Ferguson answered the call in the club’s hour of need back in February and has overseen several memorable moments during his time in charge, not least progression to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League and a terrific victory at Parkhead.”

Former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli has been mentioned as a potential target for Rangers this summer, although his side did capitulate in the Eredivisie title race, allowing a nine-point lead to slip away late in the campaign.

Steven Gerrard and David Ancelotti have been the front-runners to come in at Ibrox, however, with the former enjoying a successful Scottish Premiership-winning stint there in the past, and the latter possibly looking to get into management after being assistant to his father, Carlo Ancelotti, at both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Rangers hold talks with Gerrard over job

According to the latest from Joseph on X, Rangers have held talks with Gerrard over the job, also speaking to fellow target Ancelotti:

“Rangers have spoken to various candidates, including Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti as they look to finalise a shortlist ahead of appointing a new manager.”

Meanwhile, The Daily Mail have recently added that Gerrard is once again the preferred top option ahead of Ancelotti, with the 49ers wanting ‘the new manager to have frontline managerial experience’.

Rangers fans may ultimately be split over who they would rather come in out of Gerrard and Ancelotti, with the Liverpool legend arguably a safer pair of hands who has more experience in management.

The 44-year-old may feel that he has unfinished business at the club, having left to take charge of Aston Villa, and ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has talked up the idea of him returning, saying:

“They always say never go back, don’t they? And with Steven, think the legacy that he left, I think he did a great job there, I really do. I think there would be an opportunity there for him to go back, it would be a brilliant hire and the fans would love it, but I think it would be a very different Rangers to the one he took over.”

On the flip side, Ancelotti would arguably represent the more intriguing option, given the success he has achieved as an assistant manager.

Related Rangers can forget Gerrard by hiring "unique" manager who's shades of GVB

Rangers are still searching for a new manager

Posts ByRoss Kilvington May 20, 2025

At this point, it would be a surprise if it wasn’t one of the two, and if it does prove to be the attacking 4-3-3-playing Gerrard who comes in, the hope is that he has improved further from his spells at Villa and Al-Ettifaq and is ready to close the gap on Celtic.

Aston Villa missed out on Champions League football for next season with a controversial 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday.

Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen’s goals in the second half secured the win for Ruben Amorim’s side, confining Unai Emery’s men to Europa League football.

The Villans were handed an uphill task after goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was given a straight red card after taking out Rasmus Hojlund after Matty Cash’s under-hit back pass.

However, the result could’ve been different for Emery’s men, after Morgan Rogers was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, leading to the club making a complaint to the Premier League over the officiating decisions.

Despite the defeat and the questionable decisions made by the officials, numerous players failed to deliver, leaving the club with some big decisions to make during the off-season.

Aston Villa’s poor performers against Man Utd

As previously mentioned, goalkeeper Martinez made a huge mistake that handed Villa a tricky task to try and claim all three points against the Red Devils.

The Argentine has been linked with a move away from the West Midlands in recent weeks, meaning that his disappointing display at Old Trafford may be his last for the club.

However, he wasn’t alone in producing a disappointing display, with left-back Ian Maatsen struggling to impress, even giving away the penalty for Eriksen’s goal.

His poor showing didn’t stop there, losing possession a staggering 13 times, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he entered, looking way off the pace and contributing to the defeat.

Both will likely be frustrated with their lack of impact, but despite their respective outings, one other player massively struggled, with Emery needing to make a bold decision on his future.

The 5/10 Villa star who needs to be sold this summer

After missing out on the Champions League, Villa now have a huge summer ahead of themselves to prevent breaking the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.

The club have had to make sales over the last couple of summers, with this one likely to follow in the same vein given the failure to secure a place in Europe’s biggest competition.

Martinez is just one player touted with a move away from Villa Park, with midfielder Rogers another star who could see his future lie away from the club.

However, Emery must boldly sell fellow first-team member Ollie Watkins this summer, needing to cash in on the 29-year-old whilst his stock is at its highest.

He was subject to interest from Arsenal during the January transfer window, but the hierarchy rejected offers for their talisman, enabling him to play a key role in their Champions League aspirations.

However, his showing at Old Trafford was nothing short of a disappointment, failing to deliver the goods and once again going missing in a key encounter.

The England international featured for the entirety of the contest, registering just 21 touches – the fewest of any player who started the game – highlighting his lack of impact.

Ollie Watkins’ stats for Villa against Man Utd

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

21

Shots taken

0

Dribbles completed

1/2 (50%)

Duels won

5/15

Passes completed

6/15 (40%)

Possession lost

12x

Stats via SofaScore

He also failed to register a single effort on goal and only completed 50% of his dribbles, further highlighting how poor he was when the ball fell his way.

Watkins’ disappointing showing didn’t end there, only winning five of the 15 duels he entered, often being dominated by the Red Devils’ backline in the defeat.

As a result, the striker was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Birmingham World’s Charlie Haffenden – further demonstrating how poor he was yesterday.

After such a showing, the manager should look to offload him during the off-season, handing the opportunity for another player to thrive at the top end of the pitch.

Given the current financial situation, the hierarchy will face over the coming months, Watkins should be the first player sacrificed, offering Emery the chance to mount another Champions League push next season.

Related Their next McGinn: Aston Villa enter the race to sign £30m "top talent"

Aston Villa could strengthen their midfield this summer by signing this star.

Posts ByRoss Kilvington May 25, 2025

Celtic have designs on breaking the glass ceiling in the Champions League next term and could now launch a move for a powerful enforcer to help their bid, according to a report.

Celtic's summer window and where they need to strengthen

The Bhoys are currently taking stock before deciding where to prioritise in the market safe in the knowledge that Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan will arrive on free transfers from Arsenal and Aberdeen, respectively.

While the homecoming of the former will be widely celebrated by supporters, Chris Sutton believes time is ticking for Celtic and indicated three bodies are needed to supplement the reigning Scottish champions’ squad between now and the Champions League qualifiers.

He explained: “In an ideal world you’d have two or three new faces reporting for the first day of pre-season, giving them time to bed in ahead of the new campaign and the crucial Champions League qualifiers.

“The transfer market doesn’t always work that way but they will need to move quickly to bring in at the very least three new players.”

Adding another attacking option appears to be their main priority at the moment, and the notion of a sensational Celtic reunion with Kyogo Furuhashi is alive as he is set to be left out of Rennes’ pre-season plans by Habib Beye.

Related Celtic braced for lowball £8.5m bid as Spurs could hijack forward deal

The Bhoys are fielding interest for star players…

Posts 1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 7, 2025

Peterborough United’s Harley Mills has been approached by the Bhoys and could add some support behind Tierney at left-back, though the two positions mentioned aren’t the only areas Rodgers may look to bolster during the window.

Taking things up a notch, Celtic have now made contact to sign a midfielder who could add some bite in the engine room if recent developments were to escalate.

Celtic make contact to sign Demir Tiknaz

Per A Bola, Celtic have initiated contact over a potential deal for Turkish defensive midfielder Demir Tiknaz, who spent the campaign gone on loan at Rio Ave from parent club Besiktas.

Intriguingly, the Primeira Liga side are expected to trigger a release clause option to sign the Istanbul-born man for £4.2 million. Then, they will aim to double their money with a quickfire sale at around the £8.4 million mark.

Demir Tiknaz at Rio Ave in 2024/25 – why do Celtic want to sign him? (Fotmob)

Tackles won

37

Pass completion

85.9%

Duels won

121

Chances created

16

Aerial duels won

25

Standing at 6 foot 4 he is currently on duty with the Turkish national team and would add some much-needed steel into an engine room made up primarily of technicians.

Callum McGregor isn’t getting any younger and the lack of a deeper like-for-like alternative to the Bhoys’ club captain could now be resolved if negotiations were to accelerate.

Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille are also keen on Tiknaz and will provide stiff competition for his signature, though the carrot of Champions League football at Celtic is something worth dangling for intended targets.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, they missed the boat on signing Jamie Gittens before the Club World Cup. The mini transfer window, which took place before the new look competition begins late this week, shut last Tuesday. The West Londoners only brought in Liam Delap and Mamadou Sarr in that initial window.

Gittens was a huge target for the Blues, with Enzo Maresca’s side set to ‘insist again’ according to Fabrizio Romano, who explains ‘the player wants the move’ at some stage this summer. The two parties have already agreed on personal terms ahead of the proposed move.

That deal will not be the only one Chelsea are working on whilst the Club World Cup goes on. There are other targets the club are trying to sign.

Chelsea’s defensive transfer target

Such is the way of modern football, it is a busy period for Chelsea. Just weeks on from their UEFA Conference League success, they will look to win the Club World Cup and also make signings to strengthen their squad.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

One of those players they are trying to bring in is Jorrel Hato. Romano explained over on YouTube, via GiveMeSport, that Chelsea ‘remain interested’ in signing the Dutchman. They have seemingly had contact with Ajax over a potential deal.

However, they are not the only London-based Premier League side who have made contact. North Londoners Arsenal have been ‘calling to be informed’ about Hato’s situation.

Whichever club it is who wins the race will have to spend a reported £43m on the defender, according to Caught Offside.

Why Hato would be a good signing

Should the Blues bring Hato to Stamford Bridge over the summer, he would be joining the club with a high reputation. Described as a “special talent” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, he is a hugely exciting young player.

A versatile defender, the 19-year-old can play as a centre-back, but did primarily feature as a left-back last season for Ajax. He played 50 games across all competitions, showing attacking nous by grabbing six assists and scoring three times along the way.

In a separate post over on X, Mattinson described Hato, who was born in Rotterdam, as an “exceptional athlete”. That is something that certainly stands out when watching him play, as the video below shows. He is incredibly physical, which has helped him at such an early stage of his career, often allowing him to get the better of attackers.

His numbers going forward are impressive, too. Not only did he register six assists last season, but some of the underlying stats on FBref show just how good he can be in advanced areas.

He is certainly progressive, averaging 3.89 passes into the final third per game, which places him in the top 21% of full-backs from the Eredivisie.

Hato passing stats vs. Eredivisie full-backs

Stat (per 90)

Hato number

Rank

Passes completed

54.11

94th

Pass competition rate

89.4%

99th

Assists

0.21

94th

Passes into final third

3.89

79th

Progressive passes

4.17

64th

Stats from FBref

Well, perhaps Chelsea fans can get excited about a partnership forming with Hato and Gittens. The Dortmund winger, who is going to the Club World Cup with the Bundesliga side, made some major contributions for his side last term.

In 48 appearances for the German side last season, Gittens managed 12 goals and five assists, featuring as a left-winger in 37 of those games.

One of those goals was a strike away to Real Madrid, in which he became ‘the youngest English player to score’ against Los Blancos, as per TNT Sport.

Just imagine the progression in the final third of Hato combined with the goal threat of Gittens; it could be a match made in heaven for Chelsea. The pair could make each other unplayable, and combine to form a deadly partnership.

On top of his attacking construction, the Blues would be signing a superb young defender. Just as Mattinson pointed out, he is athletic and physical enough to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

For £43m, this could be a bargain for the team on the Blue side of West London. Chelsea would be adding a dynamic young defender who offers lots going forward, and can build an unstoppable partnership with Gittens on that left-hand side.

Related Better than Garnacho: Chelsea targeting "electric" £49m Gittens alternative

Chelsea are looking to sign a new winger this summer

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jun 12, 2025

Pep Guardiola is pushing Manchester City to offer one of his current players in exchange for a Real Madrid star, according to a recent report.

Cherki looking to create his own Man City legacy

The Blues have been very busy in the early part of this transfer window, bringing in four new players. They have added Marcus Bettinelli to their squad as another goalkeeper option, along with Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon.

City have seen Kevin de Bruyne leave the club and join Napoli this summer, and therefore, signing someone with Cherki’s creativity was crucial. However, the French attacking midfielder has stressed he is “not De Bruyne”, and he is keen to “write my own story” at the Etihad.

“I’m not Kevin De Bruyne; he is the legend. I’m here to help the team and to write my own story. I hope to win all the time with the team.

“When you see Rodri, he won the Ballon d’Or here – it’s clear that with Manchester City it’s possible, and I am here for this.

Related Man City now "close" to completing signing of "crazy" 15 y/o attacking gem

He is a player with a massive future.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Jun 13, 2025

“When I spoke with Pep, he wanted me – he was very, very clear. Pep told me, ‘when you have the ball, you are free’, which is very good for me because it’s my first quality to help the team.

“The system, the club, the city is very good. I want to win, and I think Manchester City wants to win it all.”

Pep wants Rodrygo to join Man City overhaul

Cherki may not be the last of the new attackers arriving at the Etihad in this transfer window, as according to a report from Spain, Pep wants Man City to offer Jack Grealish to Real Madrid in exchange for Rodrygo.

Grealish has been left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, as his time at the club appears to be coming to an end. Guardiola is keen for the Englishman to get another big move and sees him as someone who can help bring Rodrygo’s price down, which currently stands at £84 million.

However, this report does state that Real Madrid are not interested in signing Grealish, and Xabi Alonso has already made it clear to the Brazilian forward that he is a key part of his plans going forward.

Rodrygo’s 24/25 league stats compared to Jack Grealish

Rodrygo

Grealish

Apps

30

20

Starts

22

7

Goals

6

1

xG

4.0

1.1

Goals per 90

0.28

0.12

Assists

6

1

xAG

3.0

1.8

Assists per 90

0.23

0.12

Progressive carries

113

69

Grealish, who earns £300,000 a week at City, is already wanted by teams such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa, with the Magpies said to be the ones leading the race to secure his transfer.

Last season, Grealish played just 20 times in the Premier League, scoring one goal and registering one assist in the process. Meanwhile, Rodrygo, who has been dubbed a “magician” by Statman Dave, scored six goals as well as assisting a further six in 30 La Liga games.

It’s safe to say the summer window started slowly for Arsenal, but over the last few days, things have roared into life for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta may not have his elusive centre forward quite yet – Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres will have to wait – but Andrea Berta has been busy nonetheless.

The club’s new sporting director has already wrapped up three deals – pending confirmation – that will see backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga arrive in a £5m move from Chelsea, Martin Zubimendi sign for over £50m from Real Sociedad and Brentford captain, Christian Norgaard, join.

Still, there could be a fourth deal wrapped up very shortly, with talks reportedly underway to sign 20-year-old centre-back Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia.

As we said, Berta has been a busy beaver but he’s not done yet.

Arsenal in talks to sign Premier League star

Arteta has enjoyed shopping for proven Premier League talent since becoming Arsenal manager.

Some of his most successful deals have seen the Spaniard prise away stars of the English top-flight, most notably Declan Rice.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Rice could have fallen flat under the weight of his £105m price tag but the midfielder has made that price look like a bargain, specifically after those two free-kicks against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

David Raya – the division’s Golden Glove winner – was also picked up from Brentford, while Leandro Trossard, Arsenal’s second top scorer in 2023/24 with 17 strikes, came in from Brighton.

That’s not forgetting Gabriel Jesus too. While the Brazilian has fallen by the wayside in the last two seasons, primarily due to injury, the forward was electric in the opening months of his Gunners career.

Signed from Manchester City, the club’s number 9 bagged five goals in his first eight league matches.

Now, in the summer of 2025, Arsenal are turning their attention to the Premier League again with Eberechi Eze in their crosshairs.

That’s according to the Sun, who reported this week that Berta has already held talks with one of the representatives of Eze.

It’s alleged that the north Londoners are set to go head to head with fierce rivals, Spurs, in order to get a deal across the line.

The Crystal Palace star has a £68m release clause in his contract, which according to a different source, can be paid in three instalments of £20m, plus £8m in add-ons.

That same source reports that Arsenal have actually already agreed personal terms with Eze and his camp.

Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Saka

Bukayo Saka has been the poster boy for the Arteta project at the Emirates Stadium, and in the words of journalist Charles Watts, he is already the “best right winger in the world.”

Despite missing a large part of last season with a hamstring problem, Saka still finished the campaign on 12 goals and 15 assists, topping the tree at the club for that second metric.

Blessed with magical flair, creativity and the ability to produce something out of nothing, Eze is cut from a very similar cloth, not least because he also came through the Hale End academy.

The Arsenal youth system is highly regarded and we’ve seen, particularly in the last five to six years, a whole wealth of talent come through the ranks.

From Saka to Emile Smith Rowe and Ethan Nwaneri to Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arteta certainly has a lot to thank the academy for.

Eze was also part of that same system once upon a time but was released in 2011 when he was just 13 years of age.

After that setback, the Palace superstar headed to Fulham, Reading, Millwall and then QPR, where he finally found a home for himself. His rise since then has been meteoric. He’s now one of the most exciting players in the Premier League, and he’s a full England international too.

That wouldn’t have been possible without an incredible mentality, one that saw him overcome the adversity of being canned by Arsenal at such a young age.

Speaking in an interview back in 2020, Eze commented on the situation, revealing that it left him highly emotional.

In a further interview, the 26-year-old revealed how his mindset helped him to get over the whole ordeal.

“My dream was to play for them [Arsenal] so hearing them say no at 13 was tough and I remember training after I got released and I couldn’t focus. I was crying but I think that helped me so much in the other rejections because if I can get through Arsenal releasing me I can get through any other club releasing me. My mindset was if it was not going to be Arsenal I have to find somewhere else.”

Having got over that, Eze has taken the long way around to get to where he is now. It may have been a less glamorous route than Saka’s path to stardom but they certainly share the same mental fortitude and, vitally, similar attributes.

Far too often Arsenal’s talismanic number 7 has been left with everything to do in the final third. Players around him don’t chip in as regularly but in Eze, someone capable of rivalling Martin Odegaard, he’d find his match.

According FBref’s similar players tool, Saka is adjudged to be one of the most like-minded players in the Premier League to Saka, alongside the likes of Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers.

Eze might not have the left foot that Arsenal’s number 7 has but his positional versatility could be key. He primarily features through the middle as more of a no.10, however, he can also shine on the left-hand side.

Saka hasn’t played much behind the striker in his career, but like Eze, he loves to find space in central pockets as he attempts to dance his way through the defence.

So, what does the data say?

Eze vs Saka: 2024/25 Premier League

Stat (per 90 mins)

Eze

Saka

Goals

0.28

0.31

Assists

0.28

0.52

Shots

3.47

3.44

Expected goals (xG)

0.36

0.35

Key passes

2.01

3.02

Progressive passes

3.37

3.65

Successful take-ons

2.33

2.14

Carries

29.2

32.7

Progressive carries

2.40

5.00

Carries into final 3rd

1.67

1.67

Stats via FBref.

Well, Saka is certainly the more progressive and more aggressive when it comes to carries and overall assists, but let us remember that Palace are hardly a team that has the ball regularly enough for Eze to create at a similar rate as his international colleague.

Last season, Oliver Glasner’s men sat 17th in the league for average possession, enjoying just 42.4% of the ball. In contrast, Arsenal sat third with 57.1% of possession.

On that evidence, Saka is always going to produce higher numbers in the final third but the fact the two England stars are as close as they are for metrics like successful take-ons, key passes and progressive passes suggests that Eze’s numbers could soar to new heights at a team like Arsenal, a ball dominant side.

The Eagles star may not play in the same position as Saka but he could just be the right-footed version.

£68m is a lot to pay when you also need to get a striker over the line this summer but given it could be paid in instalments, this really does feel like a no-brainer for the Gunners.

He’s like Saka, he’s Premier League proven, and he’s always dreamt of playing for the club. What’s not to like?

Related Better than Williams: Arsenal open talks to sign ex-Spurs player for £50m

The dynamic winger could provide Arsenal with another avenue of attack next season.

Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2025

Leicestershire No. 8 rewrites the record-books in once-in-a-lifetime onslaught in Hove

ECB Reporters Network26-Jun-2024

Louis Kimber smashed 191 runs in the first session alone•Leicestershire CCC

Louis Kimber said he would try to savour the glory of his extraordinary 243 from 127 balls for Leicestershire in Hove, despite falling agonisingly short of what would have been a victory for the ages against Sussex.Set an unlikely 464 to win, Leicestershire were floundering at 144 for 6 when Kimber began his innings in the third over of the final day, and it soon became 175 for 7 when Wiaan Mulder became James Coles’ second victim of the morning.But, with Ben Cox proving an excellent sidekick, Kimber set about transforming Leicestershire’s outlook with a sensational counterattack that featured a Championship-record 21 sixes, and a remarkable 191 runs in the morning session alone.Despite boasting an average of less than 25, Kimber brought up his second first-class hundred from 62 balls in the midst of another record-breaking display – a 43-run over off the England seamer Ollie Robinson, featuring two sixes and six fours, as well as three no-balls, as Robinson frequently overstepped amid the onslaught.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Extraordinarily, he needed just 28 more balls to reach his double-hundred, the second-fastest in first-class history, but with partners running out, he was unable to pick off the final 18 runs needed to seal an unforgettable run-chase.”You don’t get many days like that in your career, it was unbelievable really,” Kimber told the ECB Reporters’ Network. “It’s just a shame we couldn’t get over the line but personally, you have to enjoy days like that. It was good fun.”I just tried to be positive and see what happened. I got a bit of luck here and there but you need that. Most of the lads have told me to remember it because days like this don’t come around too often.”My phone has been buzzing and the records I have broken are pretty cool. All the Sussex players congratulated me and told me I didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. They were very gracious and over four days probably deserved to win.”I can’t remember hitting the ball as cleanly as I did today before. I got into a kind of weird zone when I wasn’t thinking too much except trying to hit the ball where I wanted to. It was an amazing feeling. There wasn’t too much running going on, I was just trying to hit the ball as far as I could.”We lost two wickets after lunch but Josh Hull is pretty under-rated as a batter at No. 11. I was trying to hit the ball I was out to for a single and then try and win it with the smaller boundary on the leg side. It didn’t quite come off.”There is a sense of frustration personally, because I have felt good all season and been in pretty decent touch without posting a decent score, so this was probably due. You still have to apply yourself and take the positive option and I did that today. I guess expectations will increase when you do something as noticeable as this but we’ll see what happens.”Kimber’s 243 was also the highest score by a batter at No. 8 (or lower) in County Championship history, and only the third double-century from that position, following Dominic Cork’s 200 not out against Durham in 2000, and 200 from Graham Wagg against Surrey in 2015.”I have batted at No. 3 for most of this season and really enjoyed the challenge but for this game I went down to seven to help the balance of the team and then came in at eight because we’d had a nightwatchman. I want to bat as high as I can but whatever I’m needed to do I will do to try and win us games of cricket.”Louis Kimber’s 243 was also the highest score by a batter at No. 8 (or lower) in County Championship history•Leicestershire CCC

Sussex’s head coach Paul Farbrace might have had a sense of déjà vu after watching Leicestershire rack up 483 in pursuit of 499 in the corresponding fixture at Hove last season. Though he praised his team for holding their nerve amid Kimber’s onslaught, he admitted that “between 12 and 1 we completely lost our heads”.”We had some pretty ordinary plans and executed them even worse,” Farbrace said. “But at lunch they still needed 89 and we won from a worse situation against them last year. The plan was to go short and try and bounce Louis. Ollie Robinson struck him on the gloves a couple of times then he nicked off and it went between keeper and slip. He just kept going so fair play to him.”From their point of view, they had gone from a situation where you’re not expected to win to being favourites. Fair play to Louis Kimber, he just kept striking the ball and about ten minutes before we took the last wicket, I thought we could be angry about our game but sometimes you have to say well played to someone who played brilliantly and had a day out he will never forget.”He hit 21 sixes but it felt like 41 and I’m not surprised at the records he has broken, it was an exceptional innings, but our session after lunch when we took the last three wickets was top class.”