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Tottenham Hotspur have Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze high on their list of attacking targets this summer, but Thomas Frank’s side have been told to consider one Chelsea star as a viable alternative to the England international.

Spurs’ serious interest in Eze isn’t exactly unfounded, with the former Arsenal academy man fresh off the back of another impressive campaign at Selhurst Park.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

He spearheaded Oliver Glasner’s men to their first ever major trophy at the back end of 2024/2025, scoring the FA Cup final-winning goal which clinched an historic 1-0 victory over Premier League heavyweights Man City at Wembley, and Palace are poised to enter Europe next season as a result of his heroics.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

In total, Eze racked up an outstanding 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, and the attacker’s form surely cannot be ignored by the footballing elite for much longer.

His £100,000-per-week pay packet at Palace is affordable, and could well be attractive to chairman Daniel Levy, who won’t be too keen on breaking Tottenham’s carefully organised wage structure, which allows them to be among the top-flight’s lowest-spending ‘big six’ clubs in terms of salary.

The ex-QPR star’s contract also includes a £68 million release clause, with reports suggesting that Tottenham are prepared to meet this asking price for Eze as the 26-year-old himself also eyes a move to north London.

However, Tottenham face fresh competition from arch rivals Arsenal for Eze’s signature (talkSPORT), so they might not have it all their own way.

In the event a deal cannot be done for him, Levy will need alternatives, and Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku could be one of them.

The £195,000-per-week Frenchman does command a hefty wage, but his stellar form at RB Leipzig and versatility makes him an attractive possibility. Nkunku can also play almost anywhere across the attacking line, including Eze’s positions as a CAM and on the left.

Commanding a price tag of around £59 million, the 27-year-old still managed 14 goals in all competitions last term despite hardly starting, which shows just how impactful the player can be.

Tottenham told to sign Eberechi Eze alternative in Christopher Nkunku

Former Spurs midfielder Steffen Freund, speaking to Hochgepokart, has certainly endorsed a potential move.

Freund believes that Tottenham’s potential signing of Nkunku could help to unlock Mathys Tel too, with the pundit urging Levy and co to consider a deal.

“Tottenham need another attacking option. I’d look at Christopher Nkunku if I were them – he can make the difference,” said Freund.

“He can play in behind the striker and up front, he’s already at Chelsea. He did an outstanding job at RP Leipzig; he’s currently underperforming but there’s a great player in there. Mathys Tel is a good signing, he can play up front, and, on the wing, he’d link up well with Nkunku.”

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Tottenham made an enquiry for Nkunku recently, so there has been concrete interest from N17 as well.

This could be one to keep an eye on, as competition is likely to heat up for Eze’s signature after his stellar season at Palace.

Liverpool haven’t made any midfield signings this summer after Jurgen Klopp’s successful rebuild of 2023, welcoming Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo to the squad.

One of the hallmarks of FSG’s ownership has been expertly planned transfer activity, with the Reds rarely missing the mark as they make shrewd signings or offload a player who has struggled to perform as they once did.

Last summer, Liverpool were expected to invest heavily after Klopp decided to call time on his historic career as the club’s manager, but Federico Chiesa was the only addition, joining for a cut-price £12.5m fee as he approached the final year of his contract with Juventus.

Liverpool went against the grain of public opinion, content with their fold, but they did try to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, only to fail to convince the Spain international to leave Basque Country.

Why Liverpool wanted Martin Zubimendi

When Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left Liverpool to go to Saudi Arabia in deals which combined for a total of £52m, it was crucial that Liverpool bolstered their ranks with new quality.

They might have missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both joining Chelsea in high-profile moves, but Liverpool won’t regret such misses in hindsight.

Mac Allister and Endo held down the fort remarkably well, but one year on, a recognised starting number six was needed to fit Slot’s system, and Zubimendi fit the bill.

However, the 26-year-old rejected Liverpool’s advances, with his imminent transfer to Arsenal frustrating to witness. However, the failed attempt has been tempered considerably by Ryan Gravenberch’s meteoric rise.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

37 (37)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

66.5

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.7

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (57%)

Gravenberch was incredible in a new role across the 2024/25 campaign, refashioned by Slot.

However, there’s no question that he looked tired toward the end of the term, and thus it’s understandable that Liverpool sign a new midfielder to contest for that starting spot in the deep-lying midfield berth.

Liverpool submit bid for new midfielder

According to reports from Spain, Liverpool have joined Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen in submitting official offers for Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado.

The 21-year-old, who graduated from the famed La Masia academy, has become a household name over the past year at Camp Nou, with his silky performances in the centre in turn drawing suitors who might be looking to take advantage of Hansi Flick’s packed midfield.

Indeed, valued at €40m (£35m), Barcelona are expected to consider the bids as they look to ease their ongoing financial problems.

Transfer Focus

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

Why Liverpool want Marc Casado

Casado is at the start of a promising career, with his intelligence, technical quality on the ball and passion in defensive phases suggesting he could be a fantastic addition to a Liverpool squad already well stocked in midfield.

Praised for his “incredible season” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Casado battled his way into prominent standing within Flick’s first-team squad, clinching the La Liga title in his first term as a regular.

He started 27 matches across La Liga and the Champions League last season, instrumental in establishing this new era at La Blaugrana. Injury cut his season short, however, with the setback playing into the current rumours, for Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Marc Bernal have all played important parts since.

He impressed with his calculated passing and confidence in winning possession back, completing 90% of his passes and winning 58% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

With such a skill set, Liverpool might finally be able to sign their own version of Zubimendi, one whose younger and less developed skills could be wrought into the shape that Slot desires.

His long ball-playing style certainly differs from Gravenberch’s, ranked as he was among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last term for passes attempted, the top 8% for pass completion, the top 10% for assists and the top 9% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

In this manner, his similarities with Arsenal-bound Zubimendi are underscored.

Liverpool have already run checks on a more refined version of the two-cap Spain international, who is his compatriot besides, and thus will be confident that they would get their mitts on the right type of player in Casado, one who could jockey for a starting berth with Gravenberch over the coming years.

He’s scarcely into his professional career, but already Casado has demonstrated that his talents are best utilised from that deep midfield role, though his passing and athleticism lend themselves to a makeshift right-back service, if and when called upon.

Deep-lying midfield

100

1

6

Right-back

11

–

2

Central midfield

5

–

–

Zubimendi would have been a brilliant addition, but it wasn’t to be. Former Spain manager, Luis de la Fuente, described the La Real star as one of the “best central midfielders in the world” after his part in winning his nation the EURO 2024.

However, Casado would be a cheaper addition with immense potential to reach and then eclipse his countryman’s level. Liverpool have plenty of midfield options and thus won’t bear much frustration over missing out on Zubimendi, who will cost the Gunners something in the region of £51m.

Though FSG won’t be focusing on strengthening Liverpool’s midfield in the transfer market this summer, there’s no question that if the right opportunity arises, Hughes will push ahead to secure a shrewd signing.

And Casado could prove an astute addition indeed, with the Reds already placing an official offer as they look to tempt the Spanish champions to cash in.

The next Van Dijk: Liverpool plot talks for "immense" £40m Guehi upgrade

Liverpool are stepping up their search for a new centre-back…

ByRobbie Walls Jul 2, 2025

The 2024/25 season was a huge success for Leeds United, winning the Championship with 100 points and returning to the Premier League. It could have been easy for them to slip up again, especially after a summer in which they lost one of their most important players, Crysencio Summerville.

Following the disappointment of losing the playoff final, the Dutchman made the move to Premier League side West Ham United for £25m plus add-ons. It didn’t have much bearing on Leeds’ fortunes last season, but he was still a big loss.

There is always a desire to have players in the squad as talented as Summerville. And the Whites could be making a move for someone just like him this summer.

Leeds’ new winger target

Whilst Leeds certainly reinvested the money they got for Summerville last season, they never really brought in a direct replacement on a permanent deal. Well, that could all change this summer, if recent reports are to be believed.

Transfer Focus

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

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth, Daniel Farke’s side are said to ‘have spoken to’ the representatives of Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao over a possible move. Smyth reports that Leeds ‘presented the project to his camp this week’ in a bid to try and sign him.

There will be competition for the 25-year-old winger, however, with French outfit Marseille also eyeing up a move.

As for the price to sign Paixao, journalist Santi Aouna reported last month that Feyenoord could demand as much as £34m for his signature.

Why Paixao would be a good signing

Should the Whites agree a deal to sign Paixao this summer, he will join the club off the back of a fantastic season for Feyenoord. As football scout Antonio Mango says, he is a “major threat” going forward, which will certainly increase the potency of Leeds in the final third.

Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has noted that the in-demand talent has “similarities to Rodrygo”, referencing Paixao’s Real Madrid-based compatriot – a player who has scored 68 goals in 270 games for Los Blancos. That likeness also stems from Paixao’s “insane” ball-striking quality.

Unlike Rodrygo, Feyenoord man is yet to make his debut for the national team, but had a superb campaign for the Dutch giants last season. As the numbers on Sofascore highlight, he scored an impressive 18 goals and grabbed 14 assists in 47 games across all competitions.

With 26 of those goal involvements coming in the Eredivisie, Paixao also shone on the European stage, in the Champions League. The forward, who excels on the left-hand side, also bagged six goals and assists in Europe’s most prestigious club competition, including this stunning strike against Sparta Prague.

Should the Whites bring Paixao to Elland Road this summer, he would no doubt love to replicate the impact Summerville had at the end of his career for the club. The Dutchman also joined from Feyenoord as a youngster, and exploded in his final season as a Leeds player in 2023/24, before his big move to the London Stadium.

That season, in which Leeds lost the playoff final to Southampton, he won the Championship player of the year. The 22-year-old notched up a phenomenal 21 goals and ten assists in 49 games in all competitions, as per Sofascore.

Indeed, strikes from the Dutchman like this one against Norwich City were spectacular, and similar in many ways to Paixao’s in the Champions League last term, notably the power on the shot and angle from which it came.

To further see if the Brazilian can become the second coming of Summerville, we can compare their stats on FBref, using Paixao’s from this season and the former Leeds winger’s numbers from his final campaign at Elland Road.

They certainly stack up well against each other, with the 25-year-old Feyenoord star averaging 0.82 goal involvements and 0.53 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes. In comparison, the West Ham attacker averaged 0.72 goal involvements and 0.46 goal-creating actions each game for Leeds back in 2023/24.

Goals and assists

0.82

0.72

Key passes

2.19

2.88

Goal-creating actions

0.53

0.46

Progressive carries

4.33

5.04

Ball recoveries

3.35

3.78

Those stats suggest that, in fact, with the impact he could have in the final third, Paixao could well become the second coming of Summerville. He certainly has the goal and assist numbers behind him from this season.

For £34m, this looks like a good deal for Leeds. Farke’s side would be gaining a dangerous attacker who can have a real impact on their final third output, and finally be the Summerville replacement they were crying out for.

Piroe upgrade: Leeds set to make a bid for star who's "like Sergio Aguero"

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ByDan Emery Jul 16, 2025

Derby County have already shown they mean business this summer and are closing in on another signing to strengthen ahead of the Championship season, according to John Percy.

Derby County back themselves to make Championship statement

With six new arrivals through the door and John Eustace restoring the feel-good factor at Pride Park, there is every reason for Rams’ supporters to feel optimistic heading into the new campaign.

Captain Ebou Adams shares the sentiment that Derby County can make a ‘statement’ in the second-tier, claiming his side will allow themselves to dare to ‘dream’ as he feels the fans, manager and players are united in their vision to thrive.

Owen Beck has arrived from Liverpool on loan and Derby aren’t keen to stop there after lining up Coventry City’s Jake Bidwell as their latest target, with the Sky Blues open to selling the 32-year-old this summer.

Derby County agree £3m deal to sign "real leader" who Eustace knows well

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ByBrett Worthington Jul 23, 2025

The Rams also saw a £1 million bid turned down for Bristol City’s Zak Vyner. It remains to be seen whether his future at Ashton Gate is resolved, but their attempt to land his services illustrates that Derby are targeting reinforcements across all areas of their squad.

Now, a familiar face could be set to link up with Eustace again at Pride Park as their recruitment drive accelerates ahead of the competitive kick-off.

Derby County set to re-sign David Ozoh

Taking to social media platform X, reliable reporter Percy of The Telegraph has confirmed that Derby County are set to re-sign midfielder David Ozoh on loan from Crystal Palace, with confirmation expected later this week.

The 20-year-old made 12 appearances during a loan spell last term, but a hamstring injury alongside muscular problems limited his chances of earning further minutes.

Nevertheless, Eustace has previously labelled Ozoh a “fantastic player” back in February, signalling that he will have every chance to shine under his stewardship despite his stint being cut short last time out due to fitness issues.

All parties now appear to be close to a deal and his parent club seem to be happy with the arrangement, which will enable the Valencia-born man to develop away from the spotlight of Premier League football.

More importantly, Derby will inherit a talented youngster determined to prove a point while also shoring up their midfield at little financial cost.

Celtic have not made a big splash in the summer transfer window as of yet, with over a month left to go before it slams shut, as they have not spent more than £2m on a single player.

The £2m that they shelled out for versatile midfielder Benjamin Nygren is the most money that they have spent on a single signing so far, which means that there could be bigger deals to come in the next few weeks.

Brendan Rodgers recently made it very clear that the Hoops need to “improve the squad” further if they want to be ambitious and progress as a club.

This means that the Scottish Premiership champions may have to look at higher-profile signings before the end of the window, in an attempt to replicate the success they had with Arne Engels last summer.

Celtic hit the jackpot with Arne Engels

Celtic reportedly smashed their club-record transfer fee to sign the Belgium international from Bundesliga side Augsburg for £11m, which was an ambitious move that paid off on the pitch.

Engels ended his first season at Parkhead with a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, which shows that he offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Although you could also put it down to the change in format, the Belgian star also helped Celtic to get past the group/league phase of the Champions League for the first time since the 2012/13 campaign, as they lost to Bayern Munich in the play-off stage.

Engels produced one goal and three assists in ten games in the competition, and Celtic could find a similarly effective midfield star by signing Salvatore Esposito.

Why Celtic should sign Salvatore Esposito

The Hoops have been linked with an interest in the Spezia star, who is valued at around £5m by the Italian side, and he could arrive as their next Engels-esque deal.

Although he would not be as expensive, a fee of £5m would still be more than double what Celtic have paid for any other player this summer, and he would come in as a potentially game-changing signing.

Esposito, who has been hailed as “elegant” and an “orchestrator” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, caught the eye with his brilliant performances in the Serie B for Spezia last term.

His form in the second division in Italy suggests that the potential is there for the 24-year-old star to have a similar impact to Engels at Parkhead.

Appearances

34

34

Goals

9

7

Big chances created

11

18

Assists

6

9

Duels won per game

2.5

7.3

Ground duel success rate

49%

68%

Aerial duel success rate

49%

51%

As you can see in the table above, their respective performances at league level last term even suggest that Esposito could offer more to the team as a creator and in terms of what he can offer out of possession, by creating more high-quality chances and winning more duels with greater efficiency.

Therefore, the Italy international could have a significant impact on the team if he is able to translate these performances over to Scottish football and the Champions League, potentially pushing Celtic on to reach the next level on the European stage, by being a fantastic box-to-box midfield presence.

Celtic have won the Premiership title in each of the last four years, which means that the Champions League is where they should be targeting progress, and Esposito’s form in comparison to Engels suggests that he can help them to push on once more.

Scott Brown repeat: Celtic are long-term admirers of "ridiculous" £5m star

Celtic could repeat their Scott Brown masterclass by signing this reported transfer target.

ByDan Emery Jul 25, 2025

Therefore, the Hoops should consider pushing the boat out to splash £5m on a new midfield signing to play alongside the likes of Engels and Reo Hatate next season.

Will he, won’t he? That is the question dominating those of a Liverpool persuasion, with it likely to prove an anxious few weeks amid the wait to see if Alexander Isak will make the jump to Anfield this summer.

Rival supporters are raising their eyebrows at such interest in the Newcastle United man, not least considering the £256m that has been spent so far, albeit with prior claims indicating that Arne Slot’s side could fork out for him and still be in the clear, considering how well the club has been run.

Having waited patiently amid a muted 2024 summer window, the Reds have sprung into action this time around, lasering in on Isak to solve their centre-forward woes, with the hapless Darwin Nunez seemingly heading for the exit.

The Uruguayan scored just seven times in all competitions last season, having been given the cold shoulder by Slot, while stand-in false nine Luiz Diaz has since secured his own departure, after joining Bayern Munich on a £65.5m deal.

That latter move has also heightened the need for competition for Cody Gakpo on the left flank, with recent reports indicating that the Merseysiders may well be looking toward a Premier League solution to bolster their attacking ranks.

Liverpool enter race for another Premier League addition

Isak remains priority number one right now, with reports suggesting that Liverpool are ready to lodge a bid of around £130m, following the bombshell news last week that the Swede had informed Newcastle of his desire to leave.

Despite rival interest from Saudi Arabia, the 25-year-old appears to have his heart set on making the move to Anfield, with the Magpies said to be lining up RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as his replacement.

Away from solely focusing in on Isak, however, Caught Offside have suggested that the Premier League champions have also entered the race for Crystal Palace playmaker, Eberechi Eze.

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 the report, while it is Arsenal who lead the race for the England international, they are facing ‘stiff competition’ from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and now Liverpool, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur also in the mix.

The 27-year-old is being lined up as a potential replacement for the outgoing Diaz, according to the piece, with the player’s £68m release clause likely to be an attractive prospect for any interested suitor.

Why Eze could be another Isak level signing

The beauty of signing a player like Isak is the fact that he has already proven himself in the Premier League, having scored 54 goals in just 86 appearances in the competition, following his arrival in the summer of 2022.

In that same time frame, Nunez – for example – has played 95 times in England’s top-flight, albeit while netting just 25 times, highlighting the significant upgrade that the Newcastle man would represent.

A terror for Premier League defences, Isak has already been described by Virgil van Dijk as “definitely the most in-form striker at the moment in world football”, with that glowing praise coming prior to the striker’s clincher in the Carabao Cup final triumph in March.

Such Wembley heroics are also familiar to that man Eze, with the former Queens Park Rangers starlet having scored the only goal as Palace saw off Manchester City in the FA Cup final just a few months later.

That crucial strike marked the versatile forward’s 14th goal of the campaign in all competitions, having also chipped in with a further 11 assists amid his role in a left-sided number ten berth.

Arsenal

7

1

0

Chelsea

9

1

1

Liverpool

7

1

1

Manchester City

9

2

1

Manchester United

11

0

0

Spurs

7

3

1

Total

50

8

4

Like Isak, the fleet-footed “magician” – as hailed by The Telegraph’s Sam Dean – has seemingly reached talismanic status at his current side, with now the perfect time for him to take that next step to a club operating at the summit of the European and English game.

Like Isak too, Eze has also showcased what he can do at Premier League level on a consistent basis, having registered 57 goals and assists in 146 games in the competition to date, 16 of which came in 2024/25.

Of course, there is undoubted excitement over deals for the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, although quite how that trio will fare in English football remains to be seen.

In Eze – the man who scored at Anfield in Palace’s 1-0 win back in April 2024 – there would be no such need for concern or questioning. This is a player who can immediately make an impression on Slot’s starting lineup.

With Isak leading the line, and the Englishman operating off the left flank, the Merseysiders could have a new deadly combination to unleash next season.

The new Salah: Liverpool agree personal terms to sign "world-class" star

Liverpool are preparing to sign a new forward as Luis Diaz leaves for Bayern Munich.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 30, 2025

Leeds United’s summer rebuild is gathering pace, and it could soon involve a high-profile departure from one of their Premier League rivals.

It has been reported that Leeds and Daniel Farke are preparing a formal offer for Everton striker Beto, in a deal expected to cost between £20–22m.

The Guinea-Bissau international, who joined the Toffees from Udinese last summer for €25m (£21m), is now set to leave after a behind-the-scenes fallout.

Sources suggest manager David Moyes has been left unimpressed by Beto’s attitude during pre-season.

While Everton will sanction a sale, they will not do so without lining up a replacement.

Beto’s departure would leave a void up front for the Merseyside club, but it could open the door for a fascinating tactical development at Leeds.

Farke already boasts new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who spurned interest from Sunderland to join the 49ers-owned project, but the club wants a second striker who can both complement and compete with the England international.

And it’s here where a certain Greek international could come into play.

Leeds targeting another striker after Calvert-Lewin

According to BBC Sport, Fotis Ioannidis, the 25-year-old Panathinaikos striker, has emerged as another leading target, with the Yorkshire side closely tracking the player amid their bid to bolster the centre-forward ranks.

The Greek forward stands at 1.87m, slightly shorter than Beto but with a more rounded technical skill set.

He has been capped 17 times by his national team, scoring six goals, and has built a reputation in Greece as a “complete” centre-forward, as per analyst Ben Mattinson.

Over his Panathinaikos career, he has netted 51 goals and registered 15 assists in 188 games, including four strikes in last season’s Europa Conference League.

The player is also attracting interest from Norwich City, Sporting Lisbon, and Porto, underlining his growing reputation.

Why Ioannidis could outshine Beto & thrive with Calvert-Lewin

For all of Beto’s physical attributes – 1.94m tall, 5.81 aerials won per 90, and a 46.9% shot accuracy – his spell in England has been marked by inconsistency.

In 60 league appearances for Everton, he has scored just 11 goals.

While his eight strikes in 30 games last season suggest improvement, his game remains limited when it comes to interplay and creating for others.

Games

30

30

Goals

3

8

Big chances missed

8

12

Goal frequency

324min

193min

Assists

0

0

Big chances created

3

2

Key passes*

0.4

0.4

Total duels won*

44%

44%

Possession lost*

5.3

8.1

Ioannidis, by contrast, offers a more complementary skill set to Calvert-Lewin.

The former Everton man is at his best when receiving service into the box or operating as a focal point for crosses, using his strength and leaping ability to dominate in the air.

To maximise his output, he needs a partner who can stretch defences horizontally, combine in tight spaces, and carry the ball into dangerous areas.

Ioannidis fits that mould.

Where Beto offers aerial dominance (ranking in the 97th percentile for aerials won per 90), Ioannidis brings more intelligent link-up play and positional versatility.

His movement allows him to drop deep, combine with midfield runners, and create space for a partner – attributes that could prove invaluable alongside a target man like Calvert-Lewin.

According to FBref, Beto outshoots Ioannidis (2.87 shots per 90 compared to 2.13), but the Greek forward’s higher involvement in build-up phases and his intelligent off-ball runs suggest he would allow Calvert-Lewin to remain central, rather than drifting wide to link play himself.

That could be the key to Leeds getting the most out of their marquee forward signing. And this isn’t just about the numbers, it’s about the fit.

Leeds’ Championship dominance last season was built on fluid attacking movements, rapid transitions, and a willingness to commit players forward.

In the Premier League, they will face more organised, physically imposing defences, making quick combinations and creative runs even more essential.

Ioannidis’ ability to operate between the lines could be the tactical tweak that helps Farke’s men bridge the gap in quality.

The financial element also plays a role. At a market value of €15m £13m), as per Transfermarkt, Ioannidis would cost significantly less than Beto’s original fee, allowing Leeds to invest in other key areas.

That value could rise sharply if he adapts quickly to English football, making him a potential long-term asset rather than a short-term gamble.

If the move happens, it would also carry symbolic weight.

Leeds’ return to the top flight has already been marked by ambition – the arrival of Calvert-Lewin, the free transfer of Lukas Nmecha, and continued pursuit of talents like Noah Okafor and Manor Solomon signal intent.

With Everton set to visit Elland Road on the opening weekend, there is a subplot in the making.

Beto could be lining up in white rather than blue – or perhaps not at all – while his potential replacement is unveiled as the man to lead the line alongside Calvert-Lewin.

Should the Greek forward adapt as well as Leeds’ recruitment team believes, this could be the start of a formidable partnership.

Calvert-Lewin’s aerial power and hold-up play, paired with Ioannidis’ mobility and link-up ability, would give Leeds a blend of physical presence and tactical intelligence few Premier League sides could match.

For Farke, who has shown a willingness to tweak his system to suit his personnel, it could be the difference between another fight for survival and a push towards mid-table respectability.

And for Leeds fans, who have seen enough false dawns in recent years, it might finally be a strike duo worth getting excited about.

He’s Gnonto 2.0: Leeds exploring move to sign "electric" £13m forward

Leeds are not done signing attackers this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 15, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed huge success in the transfer window over recent seasons, with their work massively contributing to their Europa League triumph last campaign.

Brennan Johnson scored the winner in the final against Manchester United back in May, topping off what was a fine individual season for the Welsh international.

He netted 18 goals in his 51 appearances for the Lilywhites throughout 2024/25, with his £47.5m transfer from Nottingham Forest now somewhat of a bargain given his success in the side.

However, whilst boss Thomas Frank has already completed multiple shrewd pieces of business by landing Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Mathys Tel – the new boss undoubtedly wants further additions to bolster his squad.

Numerous players have been touted with moves to North London throughout the ongoing transfer window, but one saga has been a huge talking point in recent days.

Spurs’ failed saga to land Eberechi Eze this summer

Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been a huge target for Spurs over the last couple of months, with constant talks being held between the two sides over a £60m transfer.

At one stage, it appeared as though a deal would be completed without any fuss, even leading to the player himself being keen on a move to join Frank’s side for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

However, after talks which lasted around a fortnight, no deal was completed – subsequently handing North London rivals Arsenal an open-goal opportunity to land the 27-year-old’s signature.

Mikel Arteta’s men gratefully accepted, strolling into negotiations, and reaching a total agreement with the player and the Eagles – leading to a £60m up-front transfer fee being accepted.

It’s been reported by numerous sources that Eze is expected to complete his medical and be announced as an Arsenal player in the coming days – rubbing salt into the wounds of all associated with the Lilywhites.

Other targets will now have to be drawn up to avoid a complete disaster this summer, but the club do already have a hugely talented player on the books – one who’s valued more than Eze at present.

The Spurs player who’s worth more than Eze

As previously mentioned, Spurs have conducted some excellent business over the last few seasons – with not all of the work completed by the hierarchy negative in recent times.

Alongside Johnson, talents such as Pape Sarr have also showcased that they’ve been worthwhile investments, massively exceeding the expectations placed upon him after his move to North London.

The Senegalese star joined the Lilywhites from French side Metz back in the summer of 2022 after spending an additional year on loan at the side he started his professional career with.

However, in the last couple of years, he’s become an influential part of the first-team, racking up over 100 appearances for the Lilywhites – scoring nine times, including in the season opener against Burnley.

He’s not the only first-team member who’s endured somewhat of a rise in recent months, with Archie Gray another player on the books who possesses a whole heap of potential.

Eyebrows were raised last summer when owner Daniel Levy forked out £40m for the 19-year-old’s signature – especially after he had just ended his only previous year as a professional with Leeds United the season prior.

Given his tender age, he found consistent minutes hard to come by, racking up 46 appearances across all competitions – many of which were in unfamiliar roles such as right-back and central defence.

Games played

46

Minutes played

3243

Pass accuracy

89%

Dribbles completed

58%

Tackles won

50%

Aerials won

50%

Interceptions made

1.1

Recoveries made

3.6

However, Gray, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by teammate Kevin Danso, was rewarded with a start in his natural central midfield position against Burnley last week, highlighting the trust new boss Frank has in the youngster.

Whilst he’s been limited as to how much he can showcase his talents in recent months, he’s still seen his market value soar since his arrival, now being valued at £61.5m by FootballTransfers.

Such a figure is higher than that of Eze, with the Palace star expected to cost £60m before his subsequent transfer to join Frank’s side fell apart in recent days.

It’s easy for the fanbase to lose faith in the ownership, understandably so, given the recent failure to land new talent and back the new manager.

However, it’s evident that the deals they have completed in recent years have been a success, with faith needed to put in the owner to find another top talent before the window slams shut.

Better signing than Eze: Spurs advancing talks for "incredible" £60m star

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ByEthan Lamb Aug 22, 2025

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin will know that he needs to start picking up results, and quickly, after the first international break of the season.

The Light Blues failed to win any of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership and were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers with a 9-1 loss on aggregate to Club Brugge.

As you can see in the post above, some supporters have been left more than just frustrated by the poor start to the 2025/26 campaign, leaving a banner asking for the club to sack the manager at Ibrox.

Sporting director Kevin Thelwell described Martin as “one of the best” managers he has ever worked with during an interview with club channels earlier this week, which suggests that the former Southampton boss is not going anywhere any time soon.

It is now down to Martin to reward the board and Thelwell for their faith in him by delivering results, and eventually trophies, on the pitch to back up the work that is going on behind the scenes.

One way that he can help the team to pick up more points in their matches is to get the best out of summer signing Bojan Miovski, who has the potential to be a fantastic signing.

What Martin needs to do to get Miovski firing

The Macedonia international was signed on a permanent deal from Girona last month and made his debut against Celtic in the Premiership on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the left-footed marksman was unable to find the back of the net, partly due to the fact that Rangers did not create a single ‘big chance’ for him to find the back of the net in the game, per Sofascore.

Martin must build the team around Miovski to create enough chances to help him build his confidence back up in front of goal, as he has endured a dismal 2025 so far.

Celtic

0

0

Rayo Vallecano

0

0

Villarreal

0

0

Mallorca

0

0

Valencia

0

0

Espanyol

0

0

Celta Vigo

0

0

Real Madrid

0

0

Getafe

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old star has not scored a single goal at club level this year, in the Premiership or in LaLiga with Girona.

The Rangers star, who did score two goals for his country against Wales and Liechtenstein in March, has previously shown that he has the quality in front of goal to be a huge threat in Scottish football, though.

Miovski scored 32 goals in 78 matches in the Premiership during his two-year spell with Aberdeen before his move to Girona last year, which did not go to plan.

It is, therefore, clear that Martin could improve the team’s fortunes by supplying the striker with enough chances to find the back of the net on a regular basis once again.

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Whilst Rangers need to find a way to get Miovski back to his best, there is a former Light Blues striker who has been on fire in 2025 – ex-academy sensation Robbie Ure.

The Scottish youngster’s contract at Ibrox expired in the summer of 2023 and he opted to leave the club to sign for Anderlecht in Belgium, which meant that Rangers were left with an undisclosed compensation fee for his exit.

Robbie Ure's form in 2025

Ure’s progression through the youth ranks during his time with the Gers was impressive to watch, and he seemed destined to have a future in the first-team.

The centre-forward scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 37 B team matches, per Transfermarkt, and scored five goals in ten outings in the UEFA Youth League.

His prolific performances at academy level earned him three appearances for the first-team, and he scored in a win over Queen of the South in the League Cup. After that first senior goal, teammate Scott Arfield described the then-teenager as “magic” in the post-game interview.

Unfortunately, though, Ure decided to pursue opportunities further afield in Belgium and went on to score 12 goals in 38 games for Anderlecht’s youth side, per Transfermarkt, before completing a permanent move to Swedish team Sirius in March of this year.

Since his move to Sweden, the 21-year-old number nine has established himself as a regular goalscorer at senior level with ten goals in the league in 2025, which means that he has scored five times as many goals as Miovski (two) for club and country this year.

xG

8.87

Top 7%

xG on target

9.51

Top 7%

Goals

10

Top 11%

Shots on target

21

Top 11%

xA

1.95

Top 11%

Assists

3

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, Ure ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in the Swedish top-flight as both a scorer and a creator of goals this year.

The Scottish marksman’s return of ten goals is an impressive one, particularly when you consider that Miovski’s only scored two competitive goals this year, and shows that he is now ready to make a big impact at first-team level.

Rangers supporters would surely have been excited if the club spent a few million pounds on a 21-year-old striker with the statistics that Ure has put up at a decent level in the Swedish top-flight, which is why losing him for a compensation fee in 2023 was such a blow.

The Scottish giants were unable to convince the forward that staying at Ibrox was the best decision for his development, and have potentially missed out on a very promising young goalscorer who could have bolstered Martin’s current squad.

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West Ham United have been here before when losing a star asset in the drama of the summer transfer window.

Indeed, the summer of 2023 saw Declan Rice heartbreakingly leave behind his boyhood Hammers for Arsenal, with the only bonus being that £105m hit the Irons’ bank account to soften the immediate blow.

At least the Premier League side had sufficient time to adjust to their Rice-less reality, with Lucas Paqueta’s exit from the club, perhaps going right down to the wire of deadline day, instead, amid interest in his services from Aston Villa.

Graham Potter’s men will surely have last-minute replacements up their sleeve in case their much-talked-about midfielder does depart, with the low-morale Hammers entering into a last-ditch race for this £34m gem, as per reports.

West Ham enter late race for £34m star

The latest on Paqueta’s short-term Hammers future seems to change by the minute.

He was reportedly in line to make a £47m move to Unai Emery’s Villans, but now, according to journalist Jacob Steinberg, he should be staying put, unless a drastic exit takes place imminently.

That was seemingly rubberstamped by the Brazilian’s goal celebration during the Hammers’ 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Still, after the pretty bleak start to the season experienced by those at the London Stadium, additions to the midfield ranks could be prioritised.

Indeed, as per Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the already relegation-threatened Hammers have entered the late race to secure the services of Arsenal reserve midfielder Fabio Vieira.

Plettenberg states that a departure is planned before deadline day for Vieira to exit the Emirates, with the previous £34m buy for the Gunners also attracting interest from Stuttgart.

How Vieira can be Fornals 2.0

Potter and Co. might well view the Portuguese attacking midfielder as a suitable replacement for Paqueta if the Brazilian does up and leave dramatically, with West Ham also winning their next Pablo Fornals potentially by snapping up the versatile 25-year-old.

Before heading back to his native Spain with Real Betis, Fornals was a firm fan favourite plying his trade in East London.

The six-time Spain international would tally up an impressive haul of 23 goals and 19 assists across a mammoth 203 appearances for the club, with pundit Noel Whelan even going as far as to herald the 29-year-old as an “unsung hero” when he was still pulling on claret and blue.

Vieira will hope he can be seen in a similarly glowing light if he leaves North London behind shortly, having shone in flashes for Mikel Arteta’s men, when not consistently stuck on the periphery.

After all, despite making just 49 appearances for Arsenal since his £34m switch from FC Porto, the attacking midfielder has gone on to collect a respectable three goals and ten assists.

With a sublime 15 goals and 24 assists under his belt in Portugal, too, he really could come into his own as an adaptable, Fornals-like presence if Potter and Co. come calling.

AM

65

9 + 20

CM

42

7 + 7

RW

24

3 + 4

RM

18

2 + 2

SS

9

3 + 3

LW

4

1 + 1

LM

3

0

Across his up-and-down playing days in Portugal and England, Vieira has at least managed to stand out as a flexible presence, with seven different positions on the pitch being filled by the diminutive 5-foot-7 attacker across 165 clashes above. To add context, Fornals would line up in the same number of different positions for West Ham during his celebrated stay.

While he hasn’t always been front and centre of Arteta’s plans, the 25-year-old playmaker will pray he can get back to his “special” best at the London Stadium, as he was once labelled by writer Hayley McGoldrick, having also been dubbed a “smooth operator” previously by journalist Tom Kundert. That smooth presence could certainly also be applied to Fornals.

If he can star in East London away from the stifling environment of North London, he could also fill a Paqueta-shaped hole down the line, with the Brazilian also being showered with high praise, having been branded “mercurial” for the Hammers by ex-London Stadium coach Mark Warburton.

Even if he does stay, West Ham needs some boosts to lift the dire mood, with Vieira arriving just in the nick of time perhaps having that desired effect.

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