All posts by z3u9t.icu

The Athletic's leading transfer correspondent David Ornstein has recently confirmed the news that Liverpool fans all know: FSG are eager to strengthen Arne Slot's squad with a new centre-back this summer.

Wataru Endo impressed during the 2023/24 season after surprisingly signing from Stuttgart for £16m, working like an industrious ant for Jurgen Klopp, but the 31-year-old is flawed and not the long-term solution for a high-aspiration Anfield side.

That leaves the other priority position: out wide. There has been plenty of noise around the flanks and how Liverpool are keen to strengthen, but it's uncertain which side will receive the most attention, with Mohamed Salah, on the right, out of contract in 12 months and Luis Diaz, left, continuing to catch Barcelona's eye.

Diaz is one of the most likely high-profile Redmen to potentially depart Liverpool this summer, with Barcelona clearly having a vested interest in the Colombian but unable to secure his services and meet Liverpool's €75m (£63m) valuation.

Liverpool lining up Diaz replacement

Last weekend, transfer insider Graeme Bailey revealed that the Reds were set to rival Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Crystal Palace sensation Eberechi Eze, who has a £60m release clause in his contract.

Called up to the Three Lions' EURO 2024 squad following his exemplary campaign, Eze would offer genuine quality to Slot's Liverpool frontline, with the perfect skill set to effectively succeed Diaz.

With Manchester United also considering joining the race for the 25-year-old, Liverpool must act swiftly if they are to prevail and land one of the Premier League's most exciting players.

Eberechi Eze's season in numbers

Eze was in emphatic form for Crystal Palace last season as he alternated between the left wing and in a more central attacking midfield role, praised for his "individual brilliance", "unique" style of play and ability to "go on and play for one of the top teams" by pundit Rio Ferdinand.

Across all competitions this season, Eze scored 11 goals and supplied six assists for his teammates, with all of said strikes arriving across his 24 starting displays in the English top flight, a testament to his clinical edge.

That return included a composed finish to round off a stunning, sweeping Palace move at Anfield back in April, with that crowning a 1-0 win for the visitors to help dampen the spirits surrounding Klopp's farewell, as Liverpool's title hopes effectively went up in smoke following that shock result.

Complementing his goalscoring return, as per Sofascore, the £100k-per-week star completed 84% of his passes, created seven big chances and averaged two key passes, 2.6 dribbles, six duels and five ball recoveries per game, truly emphasising just how dangerous he is.

Matches played

27

37

Matches started

24

32

Goals

11

8

Assists

4

5

Pass completion

84%

85%

Big chances created

7

5

Shots per game

3.1

2.5

Key passes per game

2.0

1.8

Dribbles per game

2.6

1.8

Recoveries per game

5.0

3.4

Duels won per game

6.1

4.6

Have a look at how that compares to Diaz – his prospective predecessor on Merseyside – when comparing the fleet-footed forwards' respective Premier League campaigns.

It doesn't take Pep Guardiola to deduce which play performed to the superior standard during the 2023/24 season, with Eze enjoying greater athleticism, commitment, drive and reward.

He might have a broad-ranging skill set but Eze is undoubtedly built upon his prolific ability, ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 5% for shots taken and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

That final metric illustrates his breezy, weaving movements, indeed thriving as one of English football's finest ball-carriers over the past few years. See the clip below to observe Eze taking Arsenal's elite-class midfield for a walk in the park.

Eze is a talented player, and if Liverpool were to replace Diaz with him, they might even sign their own version of Anthony Gordon. A better version, perhaps.

Why Eberechi Eze could be Liverpool's own Anthony Gordon

Eze has been praised for his remarkable ability with a football by many, but his skills and efficiency are perhaps best encapsulated by Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil, who lauded both him and his Eagles strike partner Michael Olise.

Moreover, analyst Ben Mattinson has dubbed him a "superstar" and it's quite clear that, going off his current trajectory, the Greenwich-born gem is headed for greatness. Why wouldn't Liverpool want that to be at Anfield?

There were tentative reports several weeks ago concerning Liverpool interest in Newcastle United's Gordon, who joined the Magpies from Everton for £45m back in January 2023, but it's always been unlikely that Eddie Howe's side would sell the fast-rising winger despite concerns relating to PSR.

1.

Leandro Trossard

Arsenal

2.

Anthony Gordon

Newcastle United

3.

Phil Foden

Manchester City

4.

Luis Diaz

Liverpool

5.

Michael Olise

Crystal Palace

Well, considering that Gordon plays to the tune of Eze and Diaz's style, Liverpool might be in luck if Barcelona do decide to swoop and sign Slot's current left-wing option for around £63m.

In the Premier League last term, Gordon, who is 23, scored 11 goals and supplied ten assists across 35 matches, with his exploits earning him Newcastle's Player of the Season honour.

He created 16 big chances, completed 82% of his passes and notably made 1.6 key passes and tackles, 1.5 dribbles and 5.3 won duels on average per match. Bruno Guimaraes gushed over his "unbelievable" campaign and indeed the Premier League – and Gareth Southgate – has taken note.

This is an impressive collection of qualities and no doubt showcases his tenacious and unflappable mentality, closing opponents down with constancy and charging up and down the left flank like a raging bull, but Eze, simply, is performing to a higher standard.

Slot could repeat Coutinho move by selling £63m Liverpool sensation

This sale could kickstart a revolution at Anfield.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2024

The talent, class and mentality that Kobbie Mainoo possesses at just 19 years of age is simply incredible, and there’s no debate that he’s the future of Manchester United.

Erik ten Hag’s superstar made 24 Premier League starts during his debut campaign, and he’s set to play a role for England at the European Championship this summer.

The academy graduate is set to be handed a new contract before next season, which would see his pay rise.

Yet as of right now, there’s a far less impactful player who’s remarkably earning ten times more than Mainoo. To put it simply, he's rinsing Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Antony’s debut season at Man United

At the start of Ten Hag’s reign as Man United manager in 2022, Antony followed his boss from Ajax to Old Trafford.

The Brazilian winger was regarded as a promising winger who had “amazing potential,” as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, and he joined the Red Devils for £82m.

His life in Manchester couldn’t have started any better, scoring in all of his first three Premier League starts, including goals against Arsenal and Manchester City.

Throughout the campaign, the number 21 made 47 appearances, scoring ten goals and providing five assists, but his campaign last term wasn’t quite as successful.

Antony’s salary at Man Utd

This season, Antony has failed to push on from his first season in the Premier League, with United legend Rio Ferdinand even labelling him “embarrassing.”

The 24-year-old started the campaign as the first-choice right winger, but as each week went by, he slowly began to be replaced by Alejandro Garnacho.

This meant that the Brazilian only started 15 Premier League games, with an output of one goal and one assist, with that one goal coming at the end of April.

The left-footed ace didn’t get a single minute of action during the last three games of the season, including United’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City.

Casemiro

£350k

Marcus Rashford

£300k

Mason Mount

£250k

Bruno Fernandes

£240k

Antony

£200k

Because of the severe drop in performance, it’s no surprise to see that the Red Devils will look to bolster the right-wing spot this summer, with Michael Olise being looked at as a potential replacement.

On top of that, Antony’s wage has become a problem. He earns a whopping £200k per week, which is ten times more than what Mainoo earns, £20k per week.

This means that Antony is one of the highest-paid players at the club, and when Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane officially leave, he’ll become the fifth-highest-earning United ace.

The Brazil international also has one of the highest salaries in the entire league when compared to right-wingers, even earning more than Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer, who registered 25 and 33 goal contributions, respectively.

It’s quite clear that Antony hasn’t justified his extreme wage, particularly considering what he’s on compared to players who are much more influential.

Therefore, it may be a wise decision to look at potential destinations for the winger this summer, as a repeat of last season cannot occur.

Man Utd struck gold on free signing who's now worth more than Fernandes

The Man Utd star has now become well and truly irreplaceable.

ByTom Lever Jun 5, 2024

Chelsea are actively trying to convince one Arsenal star to join them next year following discussions with his representatives, according to a report this week.

Chelsea enjoy triumphant 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League

While the January window is fast approaching, Enzo Maresca’s side are currently riding high off a statement 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Chelsea dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, pressing Barcelona aggressively and preventing the Spanish champions from establishing any rhythm in possession.

The Blues’ high-octane approach paid dividends when Jules Kounde’s unfortunate own goal broke the deadlock after 27 minutes, deflecting Pedro Neto’s effort beyond his own goalkeeper.

Barcelona’s evening unraveled further when captain Ronald Araujo received his marching orders just before halftime, collecting a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Marc Cucurella. The dismissal effectively ended any realistic hopes of a Catalan comeback and allowed Chelsea to dictate throughout thcond period.

Chelsea open talks with star who's "very keen" to join amid Barcelona triumph

Enzo Maresca’s side are in dreamland right now.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 26, 2025

The standout moment arrived ten minutes after the restart when teenage sensation Estevao produced a moment of individual magic. The 18-year-old Brazilian embarked on a mazy dribble from out wide, leaving Pau Cubarsi trailing before cutting inside and firing a thunderous strike into the top corner.

The goal showcased his immense potential on the biggest stage and marked his third consecutive Champions League scoring performance, with Estevao making all the headlines for outshining Barca’s own sensation Lamine Yamal.

Substitute Liam Delap wrapped up the victory with 17 minutes remaining, capitalizing on Enzo Fernández’s clever pass to slot home calmly. The goal initially appeared offside, but VAR intervened to overturn the decision.

Cucurella earned widespread praise for his defensive masterclass against Yamal, with the left-back’s discipline and tactical awareness proving instrumental in keeping the visitors’ attack quiet.

Minutes

93′

Expected Assists

0.59

Tackles (Won)

5 (4)

Interceptions

1

Clearances

2

Blocked Shots

1

Recoveries

4

Aerial Duels (Won)

1 (1)

Key Passes

1

Passes

55/63

Touches

97

Chelsea’s stupendous display comes as the perfect warm-up for their pivotal Premier League clash this weekend against league leaders Arsenal, a match which will define their credentials as genuine title contenders.

Off the field, BlueCo are apparently eyeing one of Mikel Arteta’s young stars.

Chelsea actively tempting Myles Lewis-Skelly into joining them

That is according to journalist Simon Phillips, who reports that Chelsea have held talks with the representatives of Hale End academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The England rising star was recently told by Thomas Tuchel that he’d have to play more to stand any chance of getting into the Three Lions squad for next year’s World Cup, with Riccardo Calafiori’s form severely limiting his minutes this season.

That being said, neither the teenager nor Arsenal want to part ways any time soon.

However, this hasn’t stopped Maresca’s side from testing the water, and it is believed that Chelsea are making a ‘bold’ attempt to convince Lewis-Skelly that Stamford Bridge is the place for him.

This comes as Chelsea make future contingency plans for when Cucurella leaves, even if that doesn’t appear to be in the immediate future.

The Spain international eventually wants to return to play in La Liga before he reaches his twilight years, with Lewis-Skelly viewed as an ideal long-term successor.

There have been some iconic left-backs in previous generations – from AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini and free-kick specialist Roberto Carlos to Premier League greats like Ashley Cole.

Previously, a top left-back was a world-class defender who could also chip in with the odd goal going forward. Now, we have a new up-and-coming class of attacking left-backs who are crucial to their team’s build-up play, but who is the best in the world right now?

Ranking factors

To help rank the left-backs in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has been performing Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others are saying about them 15 Marc Cucurella Chelsea and Spain

The Premier League has plenty of impressive left-backs, and Marc Cucurella has been making his mark at Stamford Bridge over the last 12 months.

Now one of the first names on the teamsheet under Enzo Maresca, Cucurella has shown why Chelsea splashed the cash on him from Brighton back in 2022.

Maresca called Cucurella “very important” and even wants seven players like him in his Blues side.

European Championship

2024

Club World Cup

2025

Europa Conference League

2025

Copa del Rey

2018

14 Rayan Ait-Nouri Man City and Algeria

New Man City signing Rayan Ait-Nouri is another who has been catching the eye at former employers Wolves in recent seasons.

The 24-year-old now holds a career-high €35m Transfermarkt valuation and hit double figures for Premier League goal contributions in what has been a struggling Wolves side.

13 Destiny Udogie Tottenham and Italy

Spurs have seemingly struck gold after signing Destiny Udogie from Udinese, with the Italian’s market value more than doubling since moving to north London.

Once called “the most underrated player in the Premier League” by Paul Merson and a full-back who “has everything” by Luciano Spalletti, Udogie, who is still just 22, may only get better in the coming years.

12 Ferland Mendy Real Madrid and France

Ferland Mendy has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, but when fully fit, is one of the best left-backs around in Europe.

The Frenchman has made more than 200 appearances for Real Madrid since signing from Lyon and was dubbed a “quiet force” by fellow teammate and countryman Kylian Mbappe. Carlo Ancelotti called him “the best in the world”, however, his lack of attacking output has him low down the list.

Champions League

2022, 2024

La Liga

2021

Nations League

2021

Copa del Rey

2023

UEFA Super Cup

2022, 2024

Spanish Super Cup

2020, 2022, 2024

11 Theo Hernandez Al-Hilal and France

Since leaving Real Madrid for AC Milan in 2019, Theo Hernandez has gone from strength to strength and has earned the praise of legendary left-back Paolo Maldini, who hailed the Frenchman as “special”.

Hernandez, who sealed a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in 2025, also has the blistering pace required to get back from attacking phases and show his defensive qualities.

Champions League

2018

Serie A

2022

Nations League

2021

FIFA Club World Cup

2018

UEFA Super Cup

2017

Spanish Super Cup

2017

Italian Super Cup

2025

10 Andrea Cambiaso Juventus and Italy

Arguably a player who has been going under the radar is Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso. Labelled as an attacking left-wing back with “world-class” vision and “elite passing ability”, the 25-year-old’s Transfermarkt valuation has rocketed to €35m.

Previously linked with Man City, Cambiaso, who actually doesn’t have a weak foot, could soon be the next star left-back to try his luck in the Premier League.

Coppa Italia

2024

Serie B

2021

9 Alvaro Carreras Real Madrid and Spain

Part of Real Madrid’s youth set-up from 2017 to 2020 before joining Man Utd, Alvaro Carreras is now back at the Bernabeu after impressing for Benfica in recent seasons.

Madrid paid €50m and gave Carreras a six-year contract, and he has slotted straight into Xabi Alonso’s defence.

Taca da Liga

2025

8 Myles Lewis-Skelly Arsenal and England

Another impressive youngster starring on the big stage has been Myles Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal. The Englishman has even featured as a left-back under Thomas Tuchel with England, despite coming through the Gunners academy as a midfielder.

Mikel Arteta has used the 19-year-old as a left-back at the Emirates, and Jamie Carragher has even compared Lewis-Skelly’s “football arrogance” to Jude Bellingham and Wayne Rooney.

7 Milos Kerkez Liverpool and Hungary

Milos Kerkez only cost Bournemouth £15m from AZ Alkmaar back in 2023, and the Cherries made a nice profit on the left-back who has joined Liverpool.

The Hungarian is already on his way to the top, so it’s no surprise to see the Reds come in for “one of the most talented left-backs in world football”.

6 Riccardo Calafiori Arsenal and Italy

Riccardo Calafiori now appears to have taken over at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s first choice left-back, with the Italian also capable of filling in at centre-back if required.

Arteta hailed Calafiori’s unpredictability, saying his attacking edge can be “very difficult to control for the opponent”. His stunning first Gunners goal against Man City highlights that.

It was yet another dismal display from the floundering Tottenham Hotspur last night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side took on an inform Bournemouth team at the Vitality Stadium, and despite dismantling Manchester City less than two weeks ago, were played off the park.

It was the North Londoners’ sixth Premier League defeat of the season and the third game in a row in which they’ve dropped points, following shambolic showings against AS Roma and Fulham last week.

Premier League

Bournemouth (A)

1-0 (L)

Premier League

Fulham (H)

1-1 (D)

Europa League

AS Roma (H)

2-2 (D)

Premier League

Man City (A)

4-0 (W)

Premier League

Ipswich (H)

2-1 (L)

It’s impossible to pinpoint the worst performer of the lot for Spurs, but last night showed that Postecoglou must drop one of the club’s biggest stars.

Spurs poor performers

So, before we get to the player in question, let’s examine a few of the other players who stood out for all the wrong reasons, starting with someone who’s becoming a bit of a scapegoat this season, Radu Draguisn.

Now, it should be said that the Romanian wasn’t solely responsible for the defeat, but he did lose Dean Huijsen on the corner he scored from, which was more than enough to justify the paltry 5/10 match rating he received from Spurs writer Alasdair Gold.

Out on the wings, it was a night to forget for both Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson, as the former’s only notable contribution to the game was a tame shot straight at the keeper in the first half, while the latter made no meaningful contribution at all.

Unsurprisingly, neither one impressed Gold very much, who gave the Swedish international a 4/10 and the Welshman an even more damning 3/10 on the night.

Lastly, it was not the return Dominic Solanke would have been dreaming of, as the former Cherries ace was practically anonymous for the vast majority of the game, and on the rare occasion he did find himself in a dangerous area with the ball at his feet, he made the wrong decision or simply blasted the ball miles over, as he did in the first half.

However, there was another of the team’s stars who put in a dreadful display last night, a star who must be dropped for some time.

The Spurs star who must be dropped

So, with most of his teammates already covered, we come to James Maddison, who looked a million miles away from the superstar player who tore City asunder last month.

Instead of spearheading attacks, putting the ball in the back of the net and striking fear into the opposition defenders, the £40m man looked lost at sea, desperately trying to make something happen in one moment and then fading out of the game in another, and his statistics from the game do not help his cause at all.

For example, in his 80 minutes of action, if you can even call them that, the former Leicester City ace amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.22, failed to take a single shot on target, misplaced four of five crosses, made just 39 accurate passes, failed in 100% of his dribbles, missed one big chance, lost the ball a staggering 17 times and committed one foul.

Minutes

80′

Expected Assists

0.22

Assists

0

Shots on Target

0

Crosses (Accurate)

5 (1)

Passing Accuracy

39/47 (83%)

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (0)

Big Chances Missed

1

Lost Possession

17

Fouls

1

Unsurprisingly, Gold was suitably unimpressed with what he saw and gave Englishman a 4/10 at full-time, writing that it was ‘another game lacking in impact’ from the 28-year-old and that he simply ‘didn’t contribute much,’ which is a pretty damming appraisal.

Nobody can doubt the “incredible” midfielder’s ability, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, but his consistency remains a problem, as following the masterclass at the Etihad he has failed to score or assist a goal in his last three games and considering the level of opposition, that’s just not good enough.

Therefore, while Maddison will likely have a significant role to play for Spurs this season, he should be dropped from the starting lineup for some time, as he has not been good enough lately.

Worse than Solanke: Tottenham star who lost the ball 13x dropped a 3/10

It was a night to forget for the talented international.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 6, 2024

Rangers have now been offered the chance to sign a new midfielder in January as they look to recover from their dismal start to the season, it has been claimed.

Rangers reinforcements required in January

Philippe Clement’s side are currently 11 points behind reigning champions and Glasgow rivals Celtic, having endured a tough start to the season in the Scottish Premiership. Worse still, they are seven points behind Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen side, who have enjoyed a rich run of form in the opening months of the campaign and sit second in the league.

Losses to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen as well as Celtic have been damaging to Clement’s side, while they have also been unable to go on one of their usual winning runs that often characterise their campaigns.

There are still chances of silverware this season though, with Rangers impressing in the Europa League and still with a chance of lifting either of the Scottish Cups, with Clement’s side facing Celtic in the semi-final of the League cup before Christmas. One of the problem areas for his side have been the central areas.

Young duo Connor Barron (22) and Mohamed Diomande (23) have been at the base of Rangers’ midfield, and it has been a shoot-out between Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and Nicolas Raskin for the third midfield spot.

Player

Appearances

Goals and assists

Mohamed Diomande

11

3

Connor Barron

13

0

Nicolas Raskin

10

0

Ianis Hagi

4

1

Kieran Dowell

8

0

Tom Lawrence

8

5

Nedim Bajrami

9

1

Clearly, there is room for improvement in that area, with no one able to provide a consistent attacking threat from the middle of the pitch to support unlikely new marksman Cyriel Dessers, who frustrated and dazzled last season but now appears to be more consistent in front of goal. Now, they could land a new option to help them push on in the second half of the campaign.

Rangers offered chance to sign "very good" midfielder

That comes as a fresh report has revealed that Rangers and Clement have now been offered the chance to sign out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka in January.

The former Aston Villa youngster has seen his gametime severely limited since Enzo Maresca’s arrival, who admitted in the summer that though he was a “very good” midfielder, he was not going to get much action in west London.

Rangers now in talks to agree new transfer fee for impressive £16k-p/w ace

The two clubs had agreed a fee but now they are moving the goalposts.

1 ByBen Browning Dec 3, 2024

“Carney, I think he is a very good player. With us, is he going to play 35 games? I’m not sure”, the Italian explained. “The problem is, because of some injuries in the past, I think the best for him is to play 30 or 35 games in a row, to show himself that he is fit and how good he is because he is very good.”

Having failed to secure a loan move in the summer, he is now set to leave in January and is open to moving to Ibrox, according to The Boot Room, recognising that he needs regular first team football.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are happy for him to leave either as part of a “loan move or a permanent departure”, though the latter would be a club record move for Rangers and is therefore highly unlikely. Even a loan move could see them need to pay a substantial chunk of the 21-year-old’s £100,000 a week wages, so it remains to be seen how flexible Chelsea are on that front.

Known as a box to box midfielder with an eye for goal from his time among the youth setup, Chukwuemeka could add another dimension to Rangers’ midfield for the second half of the season, and could help them push for success come the end of the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a pretty intriguing transfer window under the new leadership of co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange, with Spurs believed to be in the market for another attacker in January amid serious interest in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Thomas Frank has attracted some criticism over the Lilywhites’ general lack of creativity in the final third, despite their respectable start on paper.

While the north Londoners sit fifth in the Premier League table and are well in contention for a Champions League place, they’ve already been booed off on multiple occasions this term thanks to their uninspired forward play.

It’s been exacerbated by tactical stubbornness on Frank’s part too.

Throughout most of 25/26 thus far, the Dane has consistently deployed two defensive-minded midfielders in Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, which has brought stability but severely limited their attacking impetus and ability to break down organised defences.

They haven’t been helped by the slow form of summer signing Xavi Simons either, who put in a match-winning display against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League last week but has largely underwhelmed.

Spurs also have 11 first-team players sidelined right now, including key creators Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, with Randal Kolo Muani dislocating his jaw against Man United and star winger Mohammed Kudus missing his second-successive game with a knock.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

Spurs have been linked with both a new centre-forward and winger for the January window, and TEAMtalk have now revealed which is the more likely signing that Paratici will make.

Tottenham sources convinced Spurs will sign attacker amid serious Antoine Semenyo interest

According to their information, Paratici and Lange are leaning towards signing a winger rather than a number nine, but Tottenham sources are “convinced that a new attacker will be through the door in January”.

In terms of who they could target, Bournemouth’s Semenyo stands out as a very exciting target.

The Cherries star was a revelation under Andoni Iraola last season, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous forwards. The Ghana international finished 24/25 with 11 goals and five assists in 37 top flight appearances, and he’s carried on this electric form into 25/26.

Bournemouth have scored 11 goals this season, with Semenyo involved in nine of them — a staggering 81 per cent of their total output and the highest proportion of any player for any Premier League team (The Analyst).

His form has been relentless, with 10 goals in his last 18 Premier League appearances dating back to April, meaning there’s a 77 per cent chance that if Bournemouth score, Semenyo will be directly involved (The Analyst).

Semenyo is, by some way, Bournemouth’s attacking linchpin — leading to serious interest from N17.

As per TEAMtalk, Tottenham recruitment chiefs are massive fans of Semenyo as they actively look at new wingers, but the south coast side won’t be letting him go on the cheap after just tying down the winger with a new deal.

Bournemouth are apparently set to demand £75 million for the African and are in a great position to do so, meaning Spurs will have to smash their transfer record to make any move happen.

That being said, if the Lewis family want to make a statement of intent after Daniel Levy’s departure, signing Semenyo would definitely be it.

The entertaining twists and turns of the summer transfer window are in full flow now in the Premier League.

Leeds United have been very busy on the transfer front as Daniel Farke attempts to add top-flight quality to his squad all over the pitch, with Anton Stach the latest statement addition through the door from Hoffenheim for a reported £17.4m.

However, Sunderland have also been grabbing headlines for their equally eye-catching approach, with Leeds’ promoted rival edging ever closer to one of the standout deals of the window by winning ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka.

The limelight might soon fall back onto Farke’s Whites, however, as more striking deals look to be in the offing at Elland Road.

Leeds weigh up £20m move for star

Of course, the obvious name that has been generating buzz in West Yorkshire is reported target Igor Paixao.

It’s been very much a will they, won’t they situation at Leeds involving the Feyenoord winger, with it looking nailed on that the Brazilian attacker would call Marseille his new home, only for that move to fall unexpectedly to the wayside.

This might well trigger Leeds back into action to win Paixao after all. Yet, another fresh development could see them go after this alternative face in attack instead.

Indeed, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed that Leeds still admire former loanee Manor Solomon, and that there’s a ‘very good chance’ that the £20m-rated Tottenham Hotspur forward returns to West Yorkshire before the window slams shut.

Paixao’s services could well cost around the £30m mark, meaning the South American would cost the Whites far more than Solomon’s £20m valuation, with a lot of other factors coming to the surface – away from price tags alone – indicating that the 25-year-old might be a better purchase long-term than his in-demand counterpart.

Why Solomon could be a better signing than Paixao

After all, there should be no teething issues on display if Solomon is soon welcomed back to Farke’s camp.

The reserve Spurs attacker, in theory, should be able to slot straight back into Farke’s XI and get back to his rampaging Championship best, knowing the intricacies of all the attacking teammates around him.

In total for Farke’s champions last season, Solomon tallied up a blistering ten goals and 13 assists, with his ability to fire home screamers such as this wonderfully taken effort versus Preston North End matched by his genius to carve a team open with a sumptuous through ball, having created a mammoth 21 big chances along the way.

Solomon’s scintillating form in the taxing division even saw ex-Leeds manager Neil Redfearn wax lyrical about his “unplayable” nature.

Despite such glowing words, Paixao can better Solomon on output alone when glancing at his stunning Eredivisie numbers across the same span, with six more goals managed from his 34 league ties, but he does come up short as a team player when managing to create just 12 big chances.

Shots

3.01

2.09

Shot-creating actions

5.08

5.11

Attempted passes

33.94

39.66

Pass completion %

70.0%

80.6%

Progressive passes

3.17

3.86

Progressive carries

4.32

5.01

Successful take-ons

1.79

2.43

The “explosive” Feyenoord forward – as he’s been labelled by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – might well be the more exciting signing to pursue for Leeds fans, who have already seen what Solomon is capable of, but the table above further reinforces why bringing back the 25-year-old, over landing a fresher Paixao, might be the smarter move.

Indeed, across the last year – when looking at FBref – Solomon betters the Brazilian in many different areas of their respective attacking games, with Solomon trumping his counterpart when it comes to shot-creating actions and passes averaged per 90 minutes, on top of also winning the battle in terms of more progressive passes and successful take-ons being averaged.

Away from Solomon’s strengths up against Paixao, the 25-year-old is also more well-versed in what the Premier League demands, having already collected a promising six-goal contributions in the difficult division.

There is no guarantee, on the other hand, that Paixao leaves his Eredivisie bubble behind and becomes an instant success in England, with a reunion deal for the ex-Whites number 14 to return to West Yorkshire looking more and more like a worthwhile move that needs to happen.

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1 ByDan Emery Jul 22, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are targeting Gary O’Neil as a replacement for Vitor Pereira, and the former manager’s stance on a return has been revealed.

The 3-0 defeat at Fulham on Saturday spelled the end for Pereira, with his side putting in yet another disappointing performance, barely laying a glove on the Cottagers and recording a total xG of just 0.24.

Moreover, the Old Gold were also very poor at the opposite end of the pitch, conceding three goals, which means they now have the worst defensive record in the league.

As such, it is no surprise that Fosun finally had enough and sacked the 57-year-old, who penned a new three-year contract less than two months ago, with Wolves’ Premier League status now under serious threat.

After the latest defeat, which was their eighth in ten Premier League games, the Wanderers are now eight points from safety, leaving the new manager with a lot of work to do to dig them out of the relegation zone.

Gary O'Neil pulls out of Wolves manager race

According to an update from reliable reporter John Percy on X, Wolves entered “advanced talks” to appoint O’Neil, who emerged as a “very strong contender” for the job.

However, the former Old Gold boss has on Monday evening withdrawn himself from the running.

Appointing a manager who was sacked less than 12 months ago could be viewed as a backwards step, and the ex-AFC Bournemouth boss doesn’t have the greatest of records in the Premier League, averaging a little over one point per game.

Games

88

Wins

25

Draws

16

Losses

47

Points per match

1.03

However, the Beckenham-born manager does have experience in relegation battles, successfully guiding the Cherries to safety in the 2022-23 campaign after taking over from Scott Parker, before going on to secure a 14th-place finish with Wolves the following season.

Percy also hailed O’Neil for the job he did at Molineux, after taking over from Julen Lopetegui at a difficult time.

In truth, with Wolves eight points from safety, top managers are unlikely to be queuing up for the job, so to miss out on their former boss is a blow.

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2 ByDominic Lund Oct 29, 2025

Nottingham Forest have not been shy about spending big money since they returned to the Premier League three seasons ago. After two campaigns battling against relegation back to the Championship, they have flown out of the traps this term.

Impressively, the Midlands club sit third in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea, their nearest challengers for a top-four spot. They have been superb defensively, conceding just seven times, the second-fewest in the top flight, behind only Liverpool.

So far, the men in Garibaldi Red have had a superb season. They are no doubt desperate to maintain this form and have been linked with a player who could add great strength to the squad in January.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

The player in question here is Bayern Munich and French under-21 international attacker Mathys Tel. The 19-year-old has struggled for game time at the German giants, and could well depart the club in the 2025 winter transfer window.

According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, the Midlands club are “interested” in signing the French winger, and “have already made contact” with Bayern over a potential deal. They will not be alone in their hunt for his signature, however, with German outfit Werder Bremen also chasing him.

Any potential deal would reportedly just be a loan rather than a permanent move at this stage, There could, however, be a crucial stumbling block to signing Tel this winter, with Plettenberg reporting that he “has no plans to leave” Bavaria on a temporary deal.

Why Tel would be a good signing

It would be a fantastic statement of intent to sign such a hot prospect this winter from the Midlands outfit. Interestingly, he is a player whom Edu reportedly wanted to sign at Arsenal. The Brazilian will join Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis in an unspecified boardroom role following a shock resignation from Arsenal. There is certainly a link between Tel and Edu.

It has been a tough start to the season for the young Frenchman. Under new boss Vincent Kompany, his minutes have not really increased, playing 224 minutes across seven games so far, two of which include starts. The dynamic winger has yet to find the back of the net, either.

With that being said, the teenage sensation, described as a “jewel” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has a good record for the Bavarian side. He has played 76 times so far scoring 16 goals and grabbing six assists in just 2230 minutes, equivalent to 24 full 90 minutes.

Should the Midlands outfit bring in the attacker, who is valued at £33.5m by Transfermarkt, he could be an upgrade on Callum Hudson-Odoi. The Chelsea academy graduate has been an important player for the Midlands side this term, scoring two goals in ten Premier League games, but statistically, Tel edges him in many metrics.

When looking at the pair’s stats from last season, there is a clear difference between each. It is worth considering that one played for a high-possession, attacking side in Bayern, whereas Forest were scrapping against relegation. However, in some metrics, there is still a clear gap.

As per FBref, Bayern’s starlet averaged more passes into the final third, with 1.97 each game, and more passes into the penalty area, with 1.62. In contrast, the English winger played 0.97 passes into the final third and 1.55 passes into the penalty area.

The Frenchman also had more success in take-ons last term than the Forest number 14. He completed 3.16 per game, with a 55.2% completion rate, compared to just 2.09 for Hudson-Odoi, who completed 53.8%.

Stat (per 90)

Tel

Hudson-Odoi

Goals

0.6

0.39

Expected goals

0.32

0.13

Passes into final third

1.97

0.97

Passes into penalty box

1.62

1.55

Take-ons completed

3.16

2.09

Take-on success rate

55.2%

53.8%

Carries into penalty area

2.65

1.89

It would certainly be a statement of intent from Forest – and the incoming Edu – to bring Tel in. Not only could he challenge and potentially upgrade Hudson-Odoi, but they would be adding a highly-rated youngster who can play right across the forward line.

In terms of signing a young, hungry player who would continue to fuel a shock European charge, there are perhaps few better.

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