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Birmingham City have “reached an agreement” with the club of a player once hailed as “world-class”, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Attackers top of Birmingham's summer agenda

The Blues now know the full fixtures for next season, following their promotion from League One to the Championship, opening the campaign with a home clash with Ipswich Town, which will be a big early test.

Excitement is building ahead of Birmingham’s return to the second tier of English football, but Chris Davies will know that new signings are badly needed, in order for his side to compete near the top of the table, rather than at the bottom of it.

Attackers appear to be a priority currently, with former Celtic ace Kyogo Furuhashi linked with a move to St Andrew’s, having departed the Scottish Premiership giants to join Ligue 1 side Rennes back in January.

Holstein Kiel attacker Shuto Machino is also seen as a strong option for Birmingham, as they look to provide healthy competition for star striker Jay Stansfield next season. The 25-year-old scored 11 goals in 23 Bundesliga starts in 2024/25, highlighting what an exciting signing he could be.

Birmingham reach agreement with star winger

Now, according to Jacobs on X, Birmingham have “reached an agreement” with Al-Ettifaq over the signing of Demarai Gray from the Saudi Pro League club on a free transfer.

This feels like such a positive signing for Birmingham, assuming the move goes through, not least because they are Gray’s boyhood club, with the 28-year-old making 78 appearances there at the start of his senior career.

Since then, the winger has gone on to enjoy an excellent career, appearing 200 times in the Premier League and even winning the title with Leicester City in 2015/16, in what remains one of the greatest achievements in English football history.

At 28, this isn’t the Blues signing a player who is past his best either, with the Jamaica international still having lots to offer in his career, and he will surely be desperate to prove his worth at his former club.

Gray has so much natural ability out wide, with Ian Wright once even lauding him as “world-class” during his Everton days, following a memorable goal against Nottingham Forest back in 2022.

Stansfield 2.0: Birmingham close in on "unbelievable" signing after Gray

Birmingham City are close to securing another standout transfer.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 27, 2025

It will be fascinating to see how he fares back in English football, following a two-year stint in Saudi Arabia, and if he hits top gear, he will be a potent weapon for Birmingham next season.

Florian Wirtz’s medical is scheduled for Friday, and Liverpool supporters are surely now confident that they will get their man.

Despite all the noise regarding obscene transfer fees, Bayer Leverkusen’s Wirtz will sign for an initial £100m fee, with a further £16m achievable through add-ons.

No doubt, Arne Slot can’t wait to bring the German playmaker into his team, adding some truly world-class quality to ensure the Premier League champions stand a great chance of defending their belt.

Of course, Liverpool need a new centre-forward to dance to the creative tune Wirtz will play from number ten. Darwin Nunez’s time on Merseyside is at an end, reported interest from Serie A rising.

Multiple names have been bandied about, but Hugo Ekitike’s has held the most weight over the past several weeks.

The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool

Liverpool need a striker, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike has been billed the perfect fit, not just a budding goalscorer of a high class but also a dynamic and rounded player whose strength lies in his elegance and flair.

The 22-year-old completed his first full season in Germany last year, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists across 48 matches in all competitions.

But with a deft touch, selfless link-up play and intelligent off-the-ball movements all front and centre of Ekitike’s skillset, there’s little question that he has a “very complete offensive range”, as noted by one French reporter.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has also dubbed Ekitike “one of the best strikers out there”, but he’s not the best. That particular player lingers elusively out of reach for all who might want him this summer, but Liverpool haven’t given up hope.

Liverpool still in for Ekitike alternative

As per the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle, Liverpool are still huge admirers of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and are attentive to his situation.

Even though The Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed the 25-year-old would not be moving this summer after qualifying for the Champions League, Liverpool chiefs are looking to raise funds through the sales of existing players, and the summer is still young.

For their part, Newcastle categorically don’t want to sell. Isak is the cream of Eddie Howe’s crop and has been valued at more than £150m.

Why Alexander Isak would be perfect

Isak is one of the best players in the Premier League, with analyst Raj Chohan even declaring him “the best striker in the world” after his extraordinary 2024/25 campaign.

Newcastle signed the marksman from Real Sociedad three years ago in what remains a club-record £63m move, but Isak has shaken away the injury issues of seasons past to have enjoyed his finest year yet, bagging 27 goals and six assists over 42 matches in all competitions.

In the Premier League, his 23-goal return was surpassed only by that man Mohamed Salah, and with Isak missing only 18 big chances and creating 11 golden opportunities for his teammates, as per Sofascore, he’d help Liverpool’s Egyptian star and the rest in creating a layered attacking game next year.

Isak’s goalscoring is second-to-none, sure, but that’s not why Liverpool have a vested interest. Instead, it’s the player’s underlying quality, so rounded and technically impressive.

His physicality and robustness (when swerving the injury front) have established the rangy forward to become one of the best in the world, with his goal against Liverpool at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup in March underscoring his value.

Maybe that was the game that convinced FSG of this star’s prowess, for rumours of his potential cross-country summer switch have persisted ever since.

It’s hardly surprising. Liverpool clearly want a certain type of centre-forward, with FBref’s data-driven model revealing Ekitike to be one of Isak’s most statistically comparable players.

Let’s have a look at how they match up.

What’s interesting is that Ekitike is a bit more active in his ball carrying and in his recoveries, but he also unleashes strikes on goal with greater regularity, with xG (expected goals) tally reaching 0.76 per 90.

Isak’s xG tally, conversely, amounted only to 0.66 per 90, which basically means he scored more frequently than he should have from the chances he found himself at the centre of.

Ultimately, we’re not going to see both players under Slot’s wing, but one of them should suffice. Given Ekitike’s stylistic similarities to Isak, though, you could argue that he’s little more than an imitation of the Swede, pastiching his style of play but not to the same effect.

The 6 foot 3 star has a wealth of experience as a top striker in the Premier League, so it’s understandable that Liverpool would have to pay a premium.

Would the £150m mark be too much for the Reds? It’s likely, but then such a figure is potentially overinflated. Wirtz, it must be said, was touted at €150m (£127m), right up into Liverpool announced themselves the finances involved in a deal that leaves the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal with bigger outlays on single-player transfers at this stage.

To fork out what would likely reach the £100m ballpark once again in the same transfer window would be a big ask of FSG, but the American owners have established a self-sustainable model that has bred illustrious success, and with the right player sales, this might just be one to keep an eye on.

Their new Mo Salah: Liverpool favourites to sign "incredible" £84m striker

Liverpool are planning to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer market.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 16, 2025

Arsenal supporters are set to see a plethora of different stories come to light about Andrea Berta’s transfer activity in the coming months, with Mikel Arteta looking to restructure the squad and build a Premier League-winning side.

When asked about planning for next season, after Arsenal were confirmed as runners-up behind Liverpool, the Gunners boss admitted to getting “goosebumps” when thinking of the summer ahead.

"World-class" player set for medical with new club after leaving Arsenal

He’s departing imminently.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 4, 2025

A lot of noise is centered around their search for a new striker, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko both being worked on by Arsenal (BBC), but the north Londoners could reinforce a host of other areas.

Arsenal held talks over a deal for Dean Huijsen, before his switch to Real Madrid, and it is believed that Berta is actively pursuing a new winger as well, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

They appear set to attack the market with gusto after missing out on this year’s title to Liverpool by 10 points, and Arteta has commenced work behind-the-scenes, by his own admission.

“Now, immediately,” said Arteta when he was asked about planning for the new season, after their last game of 24/25 against Southampton (via Sky).

“The moment I start to think about that, I feel goosebumps and excitement. We already have some things that we are discussing and making decisions. Everything that is planned for pre-season and the first few weeks of the season is already done two, three months ago. So we are now really good.

“My day will look already different. There are a lot of things to do, but it won’t be, especially with that feeling in my tummy, that [feeling of] a game is coming up. It will be a different one and that changes everything.”

A lot of planning has also gone into a pre-summer deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

After months of rumoured talks, Fabrizio Romano finally gave his famous ‘here we go’ to the deal recently, and the BBC reported that a medical had been scheduled for the £51 million Spain international.

However, Zubimendi himself threw a spanner in the works with his quotes from this week, telling Radio Nacional that the medical claims were actually untrue.

Arsenal are set to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad

After this message, and a similar denial of Arsenal’s advances from Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, journalist Graeme Bailey has shared a comforting update on the complex sitiuation which is confusing a lot of supporters.

Speaking to The Boot Room, Bailey said that Zubimendi to Arsenal is in fact a “done deal” – and the club are not worried about the 26-year-old’s surprise interview or the potential for Real Madrid to swoop in.

“Arsenal are aware of the quotes from Zubimendi – but from what I am told, the deal is considered done at the Emirates,” said the reporter.

“They are not worried, they knew these things might come up when Xabi Alonso was appointed.

“From what I am told, this is happening – it is a done deal. But obviously, the fans want to see that picture of him holding the shirt up, signed and sealed. Until that point, speculation is open to continue.”

The “world-class” midfield technician, who’s been a star mainstay for Sociedad and helped Spain seize Euro 2024 glory last year, has been a top target since January, with talks advancing as far back as winter (The Mail).

Losing out on Zubimendi at this stage would be a hammer blow for Arteta, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Thomas Partey and Jorginho confirmed to be leaving.

West Ham United are now battling a rival Premier League club for the signature of a goal-scoring midfielder, according to a report.

Hammers set sights on midfield rebuild

West Ham signed off the season with a 3-1 victory over Ipswich Town, but in truth the 2024-25 campaign was very underwhelming, finishing in just 14th place, and Graham Potter may feel that his squad needs major surgery in the summer transfer window.

Potter has now brought in Kyle Macaulay as his head of recruitment, who the manager worked with at Brighton, and the new arrival has wasted no time identifying potential targets, with a deal for a new midfielder now believed to be edging closer to completion.

Indeed, the Hammers have now reached an agreement for the signing of Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika, with the Nigerian now in line to move to the London Stadium in a deal worth around £20m, but he is not the only midfielder they’ve set their sights on.

According to a report from Claret & Hugh, West Ham are now in a straight shoot-out with Everton for the signature of Burnley star Josh Brownhill, with former Irons boss David Moyes known to be a long-term admirer of the 29-year-old.

Brownhill is out of contract with the Clarets, meaning he will be available on a free transfer this summer, should his current employers be unable to tie him down to a new deal, although their pursuit of Rennes midfielder Jordan James suggests they’re not holding out much hope.

Leeds United are also named as potential suitors for the midfielder, who certainly caught the eye with some of his performances for Burnley during their promotion-winning 2024-25 campaign.

Romano: West Ham "deal done" to sign new forward with "medical complete"

The Hammers are close to their first summer signing…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

May 30, 2025

"Out of this world" Brownhill played major role in Burnley promotion

The Manchester-born midfielder was a key player for the Clarets, displaying his versatility by regularly featuring in both defensive and attacking midfield roles, but his performances on the front foot were particularly impressive.

In 42 Championship outings, the Englishman collected 24 goal contributions, picking up 18 goals and six assists, and he certainly stood out to commentator Phil Bird, who singled the Burnley star out for praise after scoring a brace against Millwall last month.

The fact a transfer fee will not be required could make signing the former Bristol City man an attractive proposition for West Ham, but there are doubts over whether he would be able to make a similar impact at the London Stadium.

Brownhill has 111 Premier League appearances to his name, during which time he has picked up just six goals and six assists, so while the maestro could be a good squad player for Potter, given his versatility, he is unlikely to take West Ham’s midfield to the next level.

With their managerial search potentially coming to an end courtesy of Ryan Mason, West Bromwich Albion are now reportedly targeting a move to welcome their first summer arrival of a new era.

West Brom to hold talks with Mason

Having finished as low as ninth in the Championship, West Brom made the tough decision to part ways with Tony Mowbray towards the end of April and have been searching for their next manager ever since. Truth be told, the Baggies haven’t been the same since the departure of Carles Corberan, who has thrived at Valencia, and desperately need to get back on track.

After sacking Mowbray, those at The Hawthorns released a statement, which read: “The club would like to place on record its thanks to Tony and Mark for their efforts – but has made the decision to part company following a series of poor results. Tony and Mark will forever be welcome at The Hawthorns and their contributions to the club winning the 2007-08 Championship title will never be forgotten.”

Since then, the rumours have been coming thick and fast as to who could step into the hot seat and now West Brom fans could have their answer.

According to John Percy of The Telegraph, West Brom are now set to hold talks with Mason over their vacant role. The Tottenham Hotspur coach is yet to step into a managerial role, but has held short spells as interim boss in North London more than once.

Whilst he does lack experience in the dugout, the 33-year-old has had ample opportunity to learn at Tottenham, having been Ange Postecoglou’s assistant since 2023 following a spell in which he worked alongside veteran manager Antonio Conte.

Lukaku 2.0 included: 3 strikers West Brom could sign to replace Armstrong

West Bromwich Albion could look to these strikers to boost their firepower instead of signing Adam Armstrong permanently.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 27, 2025

Meanwhile, with their new manager potentially on the way, West Brom have reportedly turned their attention towards welcoming the first signing of a new era at the club.

West Brom targeting Peterborough defender Dornelly

According to Football League World, West Brom are now looking to sign James Dornelly from Peterborough alongside several other clubs this summer. The 20-year-old right-back was a mainstay during a tough season for the club and could now be on the move out of League One as a result.

For the Baggies, a deal would certainly make sense as they look to sign stars within their budget and those whose best years are yet to come. Whether Mason’s arrival will be enough to convince Dornelly into a move remains to be seen, however.

The young defender earned plenty of praise throughout the campaign, including from EFL analyst Tom Williams, who dubbed Dornelly “one to watch” and praised his “fantastic work rate”.

A player with plenty of potential, signing Dornelly would certainly do West Brom’s squad no harm this summer.

With the disappointment of Wednesday night still lingering, the post-mortem can continue for those of a Manchester United persuasion, with the focus now on what lies ahead for the INEOS regime, and for Ruben Amorim.

For a manager who has lost 14 of his 26 Premier League games since arriving in November, the Portuguese coach has largely managed to retain the goodwill of supporters until now, although even he can not be free of responsibility for the dour display in Bilbao.

This may not be his squad, although the 40-year-old’s decision to remain wedded to his 3-4-3 system has thus far backfired, with the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur marking the 16th time this season that United have failed to score in all competitions.

That has come amid an at-times pragmatic approach from the Sporting CP boss, a fact perhaps outlined best with the decision to select Mason Mount ahead of Alejandro Garnacho against Spurs. A man who boasts just four goals and one assist in 45 games for the club got the nod over a player who has 21 goal involvements this season alone.

Such a decision made the headlines both pre and post-match, not least with Amorim pointing out that it was Garnacho who missed a “big opportunity” in the semi-final second-leg against Athletic Club, while Mount subsequently “changed the game”.

With the ex-Chelsea man proceeding to play on the periphery last night, Amorim’s choice not to make a change until the closing stages requires scrutiny, with the manager’s substitutions – or lack of – perhaps showcasing some worrying signs for sections of his squad.

Amorim's substitutions under the microscope

Whether Erik ten Hag’s successor got his starting lineup right or wrong is up for debate, although a more pressing issue is quite why he took so long to alter proceedings, not least with his side continuing to toil in the second half.

It wasn’t until the 70-minute mark that Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee were finally introduced, with the pair hardly afforded much time to make an impact up against a retreating and stubborn Spurs backline.

Even fewer minutes were granted to Kobbie Mainoo at the death – prior to the introduction of Diogo Dalot minutes earlier – with that lack of involvement marking the playmaker’s slide down the pecking order following last year’s FA Cup final heroics.

Like Garnacho, Mainoo’s future has already been in doubt heading into the summer window, with his inability to force his way into Amorim’s starting lineup only set to further heighten that uncertainty.

Of greater concern may be among those who failed to even make it off the bench at all, however, with it difficult to understand why the struggling Luke Shaw was not replaced, particularly with the exciting Ayden Heaven waiting in the wings.

Equally, the man who had started in all four games in the quarter-final and semi-final, Manuel Ugarte, was also an unused option on the night, with the Uruguayan in danger of drifting into Donny van de Beek territory under Amorim’s watch.

Man Utd's new Donny van de Beek

Failed signings have been the theme of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, none more so than that of Van de Beek, with the Dutchman signed on a £40m deal in the summer of 2020, despite suggestions that then-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen on alternative targets.

The former Ajax man – who had reached the Champions League semi-final under Ten Hag in 2019 – went on to start just four league games in his debut campaign under Solskjaer, prior to not making a single start in the opening of the following season.

Following a loan switch to Everton, the hope was that the arrival of his compatriot in the dugout would alter proceedings, albeit with the playmaker unable to force his way into Ten Hag’s plans. Indeed, just eight league appearances came his way under the Dutch coach, prior to being sold to Girona for just £500k last summer.

In many ways, Ugarte’s tale looks to be following a similar path, with reports indicating that Ten Hag wasn’t wholly in favour of the £42m move last year, particularly with Scott McTominay’s exit sanctioned to fund the move.

The ex-Paris Saint-Germain man made just seven appearances under the 55-year-old before he was sacked, with the appointment of Amorim looking like the perfect fit amid their prior Sporting relationship. Indeed, Ugarte had played 85 games under the Portuguese in Lisbon.

While the midfield “monster” – as described by Statman Dave – has since made 34 appearances following Amorim’s appointment, chipping in with two goals and six assists, it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

Indeed, against Athletic Club, the defensive-minded asset was particularly poor, despite racking up two assists in the first leg, having lost the ball on 27 occasions across the two legs combined.

That erratic nature on the ball perhaps resulted in Amorim’s decision to leave Ugarte out of Wednesday’s showpiece, instead favouring the experienced pairing of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as part of the midfield two.

For the all-action Uruguay international to not be able to get the nod in such an important fixture, particularly considering he has thrived in Amorim’s 3-4-3 before, should have alarm bells ringing.

If he can’t earn the trust of a manager he is familiar with – much like Van de Beek and Ten Hag – then there should certainly be reason for concern.

Fewer touches than Onana: Man Utd dud showed why he'll be axed for Cunha

Man Utd’s key men failed to deliver as Spurs battled to a first trophy in 17 years in Bilbao…

By
Robbie Walls

May 22, 2025

Whilst the drama of the Premier League continues through May, Leeds United are already done and dusted with their triumphant 2024/25 campaign in the Championship.

Indeed, Daniel Farke’s Whites would close out the season as champions, having obtained a remarkable 100-point haul, which is the highest points total ever reached by the West Yorkshire giants.

With no football left to play on the pitch, Leeds’ main focus now rests on the hectic transfer window to follow, with plenty of rumours already coming out of Elland Road.

Leeds' attempts to strengthen up top

Farke won’t want to lose the identity of the squad that managed to leap up to the Premier League, but he will be aware of how punishing the top division can be if improvements are not sought after.

One area that Leeds look to be prioritising is in attack, with rumours already coming to the surface that the newly promoted side are keen on the likes of Richarlison and Troy Parrott as fresh centre-forward personnel.

But, there is another new face in this department that will really intrigue the Elland Road masses, with Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett revealing that the Whites could put a new £100m+ transfer kitty to good use by snapping up Everton star Beto, a player they have a vested interest in ahead of the summer.

Dorsett has further revealed that it’s unclear whether the Toffees would allow for this switch to take place, but if Farke and Co were successful in landing the towering 27-year-old, the German could have his next Teemu Pukki on his hands with the Finnish ace always a solid and robust option up top for Norwich City.

How Beto could be Farke's new Pukki

Obviously, the main standout moments of Pukki’s career at the Canaries under Farke came in the Championship.

The 129-time Finland international would collect 65 of his strikes in Norfolk in the bread and butter of the second tier, but the 5 foot 11 menace did manage to show off some flashes of his immense quality up a level too under his ex-manager.

Whilst Farke’s Canaries did immediately fall back down to the EFL at the end of the 2019/20 season, Pukki could at least exit that dismal campaign with his head raised high, having amassed a respectable 11 strikes from 36 contests.

Beto could well eclipse that total in the here and now for Moyes’ side with three league games left to go, with the German perhaps seeing a similar style player to his former great in the Portuguese forward, who could potentially offer the Whites a stable head in attack when navigating the step-up.

Looking at the table above, Beto hasn’t blown anyone away this season at Goodison Park with seven strikes from 27 league games, but the £17m-rated forward does operate in a similar fashion to his 35-year-old counterpart, with both attackers in question content with limited touches of the ball before firing home an opportunity in the same bullish and dogged fashion.

Moreover, adding in the ex-Udinese man to the Leeds ranks would offer Farke something different to what he currently has at his disposal, with Beto previously praised for his “powerful” nature by former manager Sean Dyche, away from possessing some similar attributes to Pukki.

He could love life in West Yorkshire too lining up next to Dan James and Manor Solomon who twist and turn defences for fun, before then presenting the 27-year-old with some golden chances.

Of course, this could all just be speculative chat churned out of the rumour mill, but if Leeds do have an opportunity to land Beto, they should take it, with Farke ready to work his magic on the Lisbon-born forward like he did with Pukki.

Leeds could seal best striker signing since Wood with move for 20-goal star

Leeds could land their best striker signing since Chris Wood in a swoop for this star.

By
Dan Emery

May 7, 2025

This summer is a huge one for Mikel Arteta if he is to be successful at Arsenal, needing to secure key additions to his first-team squad to help take them to the next level.

The Spaniard has been in the role since December 2020, conducting an overhaul of the squad and helping them rise back up the Premier League table over recent years.

However, in the last two years, the Gunners have only been able to finish in second place, unable to make the leap and go one step further and end their two-decade wait for a title triumph.

During his tenure, the 43-year-old has only won one major trophy, claiming the FA Cup back in 2019/20 – with more success needed if he is to maintain his position at the helm.

If he is to do that, he will need to be backed by the board in the transfer market, needing to land various key targets in multiple areas to provide the strength and depth he greatly desires.

An update on Arsenal’s hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last few weeks, a striker has been top of Andrea Berta’s shopping list as Arsenal’s sporting director, with Viktor Gyokeres being his number one option this summer.

The Swede is of huge interest from multiple clubs across Europe after netting 52 goals in his 48 games across all competitions in 2024/25 for Sporting CP.

However, he’s not the only player on their shortlist, with Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz the latest name to emerge on their summer shortlist, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that the Serie A side could entertain offers in the region of €90m (£76m) for the 20-year-old Turkish international in the coming months.

The Gunners are said to be wanting to improve Arteta’s options within the final third, with Yildiz high in their estimations given his versatility and that they could offer the youngster an exciting opportunity in North London.

Why Arsenal’s £76m target could replace Odegaard at Arsenal

Martin Odegaard has been Arsenal’s go-to star in terms of creativity over the last couple of seasons, handing Arteta the platform to succeed in the Premier League.

The Norwegian has been a regular starter in the attacking midfield role for the Gunners since his £30m move from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021.

However, he’s been unable to produce his best performance levels in recent months, with injuries hampering his progress and undoubtedly having an impact on his showings.

The ankle issue he suffered back in September saw him miss six weeks of action, only registering nine combined goals and assists in the league since, highlighting his lack of form at the Emirates.

The summer will give the 26-year-old more time to regain full fitness, but he may not be able to thrive in his regular role in 2025/26 should the hierarchy pull off a deal for Yildiz.

The youngster, who’s primarily a winger, is also capable of operating in a number 10 role, which could end the Norwegian’s time as a regular starter in Arteta’s plans.

When comparing their respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Turkish star has managed to outperform Odegaard in various key areas – highlighting what a superb addition he would be in North London.

The Juve star, who’s been labelled “spectacular” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has completed more progressive carries per 90, along with more take-ons completed – showcasing the threat he poses with the ball at his feet in attacking areas.

He’s also managed to achieve a higher shot-on-target rate and more tackles won, having the ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch within Arteta’s system.

Whilst it would be a hefty addition given the price tag that has been mooted, Yildiz has showcased his quality consistently at the top-level despite his tender age.

He has the potential to take his career to the next level in the Premier League, arguably being the club’s shining light in their ambitions of returning to the top of the division in the near future.

Arteta must axe £27m Arsenal dud who was worse than Odegaard v Bournemouth

Arsenal dropped yet more points, this time at home as they hosted Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.

By
Matt Dawson

May 4, 2025

Newcastle United are thought to be preparing to open talks over the signing of an “underrated” Nottingham Forest player, with a summer move to St James’ Park mooted.

Newcastle suffer blow to Champions League hopes

The Magpies have been in impressive form in recent months, not least winning the EFL Cup after a memorable final victory over Liverpool, but they were humbled by Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

Newcastle lost 4-1 at Villa Park, despite equalising through Fabian Schar in the first half, with their Champions League qualification hopes dented in the process.

That’s not to say that Eddie Howe’s side don’t still find themselves in a great position, sitting third in the Premier League table, but they are now only one point ahead of Manchester City, following their 2-0 win at Everton, and two clear of Nottingham Forest and Villa, in fifth and sixth place respectively.

With five games to go in the league this season, it is all to play in the Champions League battle, with Newcastle knowing the importance of finishing in the top five, in terms of top-quality signings coming in this summer.

Newcastle to open talks to sign "underrated" Forest star Aina

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are expected to open talks with Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina’s representatives over a summer move to the club.

The rumoured discussions are likely to take place in the “coming weeks”, with Tottenham also in the same position as the Magpies. The likes of Liverpool and Chelsea are mentioned as possible suitors, too.

Right-back is an area that Newcastle should be focusing on at the end of the season, with Tino Livramento still a young player and Kieran Trippier’s best days now behind him at the age of 34.

As bad as Schar & Burn: Newcastle must drop 4/10 star whose "legs gave up"

Newcastle’s winning run in the Premier League came to an end at Villa Park.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 20, 2025

In Aina, the Magpies could have a great option to come in and be an immediate hit, having stood out as one of Forest’s most consistent players this season, being hailed as “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

The 28-year-old has been part of a solid Reds defence that has helped them get into the Champions League reckoning, starting 30 out of 33 Premier League games and averaging 2.9 clearances per match.

The fact that the £40,000-a-week Aina already has plenty of experience in the Premier League can only bode well for Newcastle, allowing him to be an instant hit, and his entertaining social media presence off the pitch could also make him a popular figure among the fanbase.

Sheffield United’s place in the Championship Play-Offs was confirmed on Easter Monday after their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Blades and Sunderland are the two teams confirmed to be in the four-team post-season tournament to compete for a place in the Premier League next season.

Chris Wilder’s side have lost four of their last five matches and have to find a way to rediscover their form ahead of the play-offs, to avoid their season ending in complete disappointment, which could include putting faith in Tom Cannon.

Why Sheffield United should keep starting Tom Cannon

The Ireland international, who joined from Leicester City in the January transfer window, scored his first goal for the club with a thumping finish in the 2-1 defeat to Burnley.

It was his first goal in 13 matches for the club in the Championship, after a return of nine goals during the first half of the campaign on loan at Stoke, and is hopefully a sign of things to come.

Cannon, who scored four goals in one game earlier this season, has scored 20 goals in 68 matches at Championship level, and should be given the nod over Tyrese Campbell.

The English striker has scored ten goals in 32 league games this term, but is currently on a run of zero goals and zero assists in his last five outings, whilst Cannon has hit form with a goal against Burnley.

Chalkboard

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Instead of unleashing Campbell in an attempt to turn the form around to win the Play-Offs, Wilder should bring Jesurun Rak-Sakyi off the bench to be a difference-maker.

Why Jesurun Rak-Sakyi should start for Sheffield United

The Crystal Palace loanee came off the bench in the defeat to Burnley and should, now, be brought into the starting line-up to replace Ben Brereton Diaz.

Sheffield United will need to be ruthless and effective at the top end of the pitch in their Play-Off outings if they want to earn promotion to the Premier League, which is why Rak-Sayki should be given the nod.

The 22-year-old star, once dubbed “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, could come in to provide more quality than Brereton Diaz in the final third, based on their form in the division this term.

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi has been more effective as a finisher and racked up more than three times as much xA, despite only starting nine more games.

Brereton Diaz, who completed 56% of his passes and lost 100% of his duels against Burnley, does not carry as much of a threat from a wide position, which is why he should be dropped from the side in favour of the English winger.

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This change could, then, improve Sheffield United’s chances of winning the Play-Offs in the post-season, because they would have a more effective forward on the pitch by swapping Brereton Diaz for Rak-Sakyi.