All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

A “sensational” £100m midfielder has now emerged as Manchester United’s top midfield target ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, with Ruben Amorim personally keen.

Man Utd keen on new midfielder amid Bruno concerns

Amorim has been forced to find a way to fit talisman Bruno Fernandes into his system, but there are concerns about whether the Portugal international is suited to playing in central midfield, with ex-Chelsea man Craig Burley criticising his positional awareness.

Burley said: “They have got no legs in midfield, we’ve talked about this with Casemiro and Ugarte. Bruno Fernandes is playing there, but it’s not his position.

“He doesn’t understand the defensive aspects and the positional aspects of being a deeper-lying midfielder. And it also negates, which we’ve talked about at length, his ability to influence 30 yards further up the field.”

Man Utd submit offer to sign two "special" English midfielders in double swoop

The Red Devils have tabled a proposal for two midfielders.

ByDominic Lund Oct 15, 2025

Perhaps with that in mind, the Red Devils have set out to bring in a new central midfielder, and summer target, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, has remained on the shortlist, with a report from early September revealing plans to smash their transfer record in 2026.

However, according to a report from The i Paper, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has now overtaken Baleba as Man United’s top target in midfield, with Amorim personally keen, as the manager is a fan of his directness and willingness to pass forward.

The Brighton midfielder, on the other hand, has made a disappointing start to the season, which has caused United to think twice about pursuing the Cameroonian, with one insider saying: “A calming influence, a midfielder on a different level with the ball at his feet wouldn’t go amiss right now,”

“Baleba can get about the pitch more, but does he possess Wharton’s quality on the ball? The club could do with the latter.”

"Sensational" Wharton would be very different option to Baleba

The Palace star, who reportedly has a price tag of £100m, is a very different type of player to Baleba, posing more of an attacking threat, while, as previously mentioned, expressing a willingness to drive the ball forward, which is why he has caught Amorim’s eye.

Average per 90 (past year)

Adam Wharton

Carlos Baleba

Assists

0.15

0

Shot-creating actions

3.94

1.88

Progressive passes

5.98

3.33

Tackles

1.90

2.47

Interceptions

1.39

1.53

As shown, the Cameroon international excels more from a defensive point of view, which suggests he is more of a like-for-like replacement for Casemiro, although there have recently been widespread reports suggesting the ex-Real Madrid man could sign a new contract.

As such, Baleba may not be a necessary signing, and it is probably a wise idea to focus on signing Wharton, who has received very high praise from Sky Sports’ Nubaid Haroon in the past.

Arsenal have made an approach to sign a £162,000-per-week forward for manager Mikel Arteta, coming after a U-turn behind-the-scenes.

Arteta tipped to sign new striker at Arsenal despite Havertz form

Kai Havertz resurrected his debut campaign at Arsenal after a slow start to life at the Emirates last term, impressing in a makeshift forward role and ending 2023/2024 with 14 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

Arsenal could hijack deal for "marvellous" ace attracted to PL

He’s a man in demand…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 27, 2024

Havertz has been praised for his Arsenal form since the turn of the year, which could be worrying for striker Gabriel Jesus, following the Brazilian's lacklustre 23/24 campaign blighted by fitness issues and overall lack of form.

Jesus missed 16 games for Arsenal through injury last season, all while Havertz grew into his role under Arteta and earned plaudits. To make matters more concerning for Jesus, there are still reports that Arsenal could look to sign a striker before summer deadline day.

Bukayo Saka

20

Leandro Trossard

17

Kai Havertz

14

Martin Odegaard

11

Gabriel Jesus

8

Arteta is rumoured to be keen on a striking partner for Havertz, while the Spaniard also reportedly wants an alternative to Jesus going forward. Arsenal did attempt a deal to sign RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko earlier this window, but to no avail, with the Slovenian penning an extension at his current club instead.

As per various reports in the press, alternatives to Sesko since then have ranged from Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres to cheaper options like Ajax forward Brian Brobbey.

Another ambitious target comes in the form of Napoli star Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian widely tipped to leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium if interested sides can reach an agreement with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Arsenal have been backed to make an offer for Osimhen, while journalist Ben Jacobs told GiveMeSport earlier this year that the Gunners have a chance.

“We still can't rule out Arsenal in the race for Osimhen," said Jacobs in February.

"It’s also true that PSG have Osimhen very, very high on their list of targets and can move in the market because they will free up money due to Kylian Mbappe’s departure. I'm still told by sources that Osimhen’s priority is the Premier League, which is encouraging for Chelsea and Arsenal. He would be looking for about £250,000 per week, which Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG would all be happy to pay.”

Arsenal make new Osimhen approach after U-turn behind-the-scenes

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport have an update on Arsenal's links to Osimhen, claiming they've re-joined the race, with Arteta's side seemingly pulling a U-turn after cooling their interest.

They also state that Arsenal have made an approach to sign Osimhen, who is apparently on around £162,000-per-week at Napoli. The former Lille star's release clause is set at around £109 million, so it remains to be seen if Edu Gaspar and co deem a price anywhere near this amount worth paying.

Meanwhile, they face competition from PSG and Chelsea, who are also in the picture for Osimhen. Former Napoli boss Rudi Garcia has described his ex-star as a "crazy driving force", and this is backed by his excellent Serie A goalscoring record.

A twist has emerged regarding Leeds United’s pursuit of free agent Cheikhou Kouyate, according to a fresh update from journalist Adam Pope.

Reports say Leeds agree Kouyate deal

We may be in between the summer and January transfer windows currently, but that doesn’t mean a big Whites rumour isn’t doing the rounds.

According to recent claims, Leeds had agreed a deal to sign free agent Kouyate, who was most recently at Nottingham Forest, prior to leaving the Premier League side at the end of last season.

The 34-year-old is said to have completed a medical at the Championship club, coming in and adding a huge amount of experience and quality in the middle of the park just when needed.

While it has looked as though Kouyate is on the verge of ending his stint as a free agent and becoming a Leeds player, bolstering their promotion push in the process, a new update has offered a twist on the matter.

Twist emerges regarding Kouyate to Leeds

Taking to X on Saturday, Pope claimed that Kouyate’s move to Leeds is still in the balance, suggesting that things aren’t quite as far along as they first appeared of a deal being agreed.

This may frustrate Leeds supporters, considering it looked as though a deal for Kouyate had been agreed and Daniel Farke had acquired the services of a proven top-level footballer.

Last year, Steve Cooper heaped praise on the veteran midfielder during their time together at Forest, saying of him: “He’s in contention to start. Cheikhou has great experience in the Premier League and he’s a big voice in the dressing room. He’s a fantastic character, a great guy, very happy, but very committed as well. He’s a real man’s man in terms of leadership.”

With Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu both out with relatively long-term injuries for Leeds currently, it is paramount that they bring in a midfielder who can help fill the void in front of the defence to rival Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell. The injured pair are both key men and failing to replace them could have a hugely detrimental impact on their promotion hopes.

Granted, Kouyate is now arguably past the absolute peak of his powers, considering he is 34 years of age, but there is no reason why he can’t still do a good job in the Championship, having been playing Premier League football earlier this year.

"Big" – Sky Sports man impressed as 49ers agree new Leeds deal with Adidas

He’s impressed…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 11, 2024

He has made 291 appearances in the top flight, which says so much about his quality and consistently, while 92 caps for Senegal is also eye-catching, showing that he has been a vital player for his country over many years. Hopefully, a deal will be struck with Leeds, even if it is only on a short-term basis.

Glasgow Rangers made two signings on deadline day, as defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo and attacking midfielder Nedim Bajrami joined from Feyenoord and Sassuolo respectively.

It might not have been the business the Ibrox faithful were looking for, but two signings is better than none, giving Philippe Clement a couple of options to choose from in key positions.

Moving on the likes of Scott Wright and Todd Cantwell recently will have also helped in regard to getting more players off the wage bill, but the onus will be on Clement to further strengthen in January.

The Belgian manager will now have to utilise the players he has at his disposal between now and then, hoping that the Light Blues will still be in a title race by then.

In the Premiership, the club have won two of their three matches, sitting two points behind Celtic ahead of the first Old Firm clash of the season on Sunday.

It has been a stuttering start to the campaign, but the 6-0 win over Ross County last week saw the team get into their stride, as both Rabbi Matondo and Cyriel Dessers shone against the Highland side.

Dessers has endured his criticism, but could he turn out to be an important player for the Gers as the season progresses?

Cyriel Dessers’ statistics for Rangers this season

The Nigerian centre-forward has featured in all six of the Light Blues’ fixtures so far this term, scoring five goals and chipping in with an assist.

A more than impressive return, but he will now be expected to step up against the likes of Celtic and in Europe, scoring against better teams in tighter matches.

Against County, he was superb. Along with his two goals, the 29-year-old completed 100% of his passes, made two key passes and created a big chance during the encounter.

Goals

3

Assists

0

Big chances created

1

Big chances missed

3

Shots per game

3.3

Successful dribbles per game

0.7

Goals breed confidence, which means Dessers should be heading into the first derby match of the campaign aiming to score his first ever Old Firm goal.

If he can link up well with those flanking him, along with whoever plays in the number ten slot, then the striker has the capability to cause the Celtic defender plenty of problems.

Despite his strong start to the season, Clement certainly missed a trick by failing to sign another centre-forward during the summer transfer window, especially considering how many the Light Blues were linked with.

One name went on to join another club in Europe and helped lead them to the group stages of the reformed Champions League – Albion Rrahmani.

Rangers' summer search for a striker

One of the biggest transfer sagas, particularly during the first half of the transfer window, was whether Rangers would bring the Kosovan striker to Ibrox.

Even at the start of August, his club side Rapid were claiming that the asking price for the striker was set at around €6m (£5m) if any club wished to sign him before the deadline.

It soon became clear that the Gers were not going to make a move for him, as he subsequently joined Sparta Prague instead, resulting in a major missed opportunity for Clement and Co.

Rrahmani had scored 18 goals in just 29 matches for the Romanian club last term, showcasing his talents in front of goal during his single campaign at Rapid.

The 24-year-old also created 13 big chances, averaged two key passes per game and succeeded with 1.2 dribbles per game, proving that he could link up well with others, which would have given Clement a big advantage.

Since moving to Prague, he has already opened his account, scoring against Malmö, which secured progression into Europe’s premier club competition for the Czech side.

Would Rangers have managed to qualify for the group stages if Rrahmani was in the starting XI? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but the qualities that the striker would have brought to the club may have given them an advantage against Dynamo Kyiv.

Why Albion Rrahmani would have been ideal for Cerny

Clement may not have improved all areas of the first-team squad during the summer transfer window, but one area which is stronger now than what it was last season is the right wing.

Not only has Wright departed Ibrox, but Czech winger Vaclav Cerny has joined the Gers on a season-long loan deal from Wolfsburg, adding some experience to that side of the pitch.

The 26-year-old has already begun to showcase his talents at Ibrox, notching a goal and two assists in six games, of which only three appearances were from the starting XI.

His pinpoint deliveries into the box have worked well for Dessers so far, but imagine how Rrahmani would fare with the Czech winger providing plenty of chances for him in the box.

Dubbed as “powerful” by Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson amid the links to Ibrox, Rrahmani would be a dream player for Cerny, causing chaos in Scotland and on the continent.

Dessers, although much improved in recent weeks, certainly isn’t the striker to lead the Light Blues to the Premiership title, especially considering how many big chances that he misses.

Signing Rrahmani would have been a major upgrade for the Nigerian striker ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, but it was clear the funds weren’t readily available at the time to lure him to Scotland.

Dessers and Danilo will be tasked with leading the Gers to glory this term. Supported by the likes of Cerny and Matondo, hardly the players the supporters were expecting when the transfer window opened in June.

The season is still in its embryonic stage and anything can happen during a nine-month-long race, but the general feeling is the club are far too lightweight in the attacking department and this could be Clement’s downfall.

Only time will tell whether these players are good enough when it really matters.

Rangers have struck gold on Ibrox gem who's worth millions more than Cerny

Philippe Clement has signed a player who could be sold for a substantial profit in the future…

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 31, 2024

Southampton are set to complete the signing of a 20-year-old ace with lots of international youth team experience, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Southampton transfer news

The Saints lost 1-0 away to Newcastle United in their opening Premier League game of the season, despite the Magpies having 10 men for much of the game. While on-pitch duties are now at the forefront of Russell Martin's thinking, that's not to say that new signings still aren't possible this summer.

Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas has been spoken about as a possible target, coming in and providing much-needed competition between the sticks. Alex McCarthy started at Newcastle, but he is now a veteran figure who should arguably be a backup option at the highest level.

Belgium and Antwerp midfielder Mandela Keita has also been linked with a summer move to St Mary's Stadium, with a £10m move for the 22-year-old mooted, following a bid of that amount.

In fact, Keita is seen as a possible alternative option to Tottenham ace Oliver Skipp, who has also been mentioned as a possible addition for Martin between now and the end of the summer transfer window. The Englishman could struggle for minutes at Spurs this season, so he may see a move away as ideal at this point in his career.

Now, it looks as though Southampton are closing in on another signing this summer, following a significant fresh transfer claim that has emerged.

Southampton agree deal to sign 20-year-old ace

According to Romano on X, Southampton are "set to sign" Sporting CP midfielder Mateus Fernandes, snapping him up in a potential £15.3m deal after moves for Cameron Archer and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Fernandes may not be the household name that many Southampton supporters want to see arrive in the coming weeks, but he is an exciting young footballer who could be an excellent long-term addition for Martin.

At just 20, the Portuguese has already made 10 appearances for Sporting, scoring and assisting once apiece, and he has been capped for Portugal in four different age groups, as the table below shows:

Portugal Under-21s

7

2

Portugal Under-20s

2

0

Portugal Under-19s

9

0

Portugal Under-18s

9

1

Granted, Fernandes isn't a player who is may not arrive as an immediate starter for Southampton, making a huge difference in their attempts to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season, but he could be a handy squad player from the off.

Premier League Table: Latest EPL standings for 2024/25 season

Stay up to date with the English Premier League standings after matchday 33.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

He has enough experience at a high level to suggest that he should be able to do a solid job, but most exciting is the fact that he still has so many years ahead of him, and could therefore mature into a fantastic option for Saints over time.

Aston Villa are building a squad for the future, with a whole host of talented youngsters staking their claims in the first team this season.

Jhon Duran is showing his worth as an elite goalscorer, having scored four goals already this season in only 131 Premier League minutes, whilst Jacob Ramsey, Ian Maatsen, Lamine Bogarde and Kosta Nedelijkovic all other notable names.

But one of the best young players who is really showing his importance this season is Morgan Rogers.

The 22-year-old has impressed at the start of this campaign, most notably against Arsenal, despite losing 2-0.

Morgan Rogers vs Arsenal

Villa haven’t particularly been lacking a talisman since a certain Jack Grealish departed, but Rogers is showing shades of the tricky Manchester City star with the way he glides forward with the ball.

Jack Grealish's time at Villa

Jack Grealish left Aston Villa back in 2021 for a fee of £100m, making him the biggest transfer in British football history at the time.

The Englishman made 213 appearances for the Villans, scoring 32 goals, providing 41 assists, and totalling 15,338 minutes played for the club.

His play style was described as “playing in a playground with his schoolmates” by ex-Villa manager, Dean Smith, who waxed lyrical about his balance whilst carrying the ball.

Grealish would mix agility, balance, and end product, often bailing Villa out of trouble, as teams had to double or even triple-team him to stop him.

The 29-year-old has since gone on to make 131 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 14 goals, providing 19 assists in 8,698 minutes played, winning a few Premier Leagues, and a Champions league along the way.

Despite Rogers now having arrived, they may well have missed the boat on a dream replacement for the former club captain.

Emile Smith-Rowe could have replaced Grealish

Back in 2021, when Grealish left the club, Villa were linked with a move for Arsenal’s Emile Smith-Rowe. The Villans had two bids rejected and as a result, were forced to move on to other targets. The likes of Emiliano Buendia and Danny Ings arrived instead.

Buendia has since had cruel luck with injury – that cannot be helped of course – but one does wonder what might have happened if they got a move for Smith Rowe over the line instead.

The highly rated Hale End academy product was described as “dynamic” by one analyst on social media, who praised his technique and aggression when carrying the ball into space, certainly eye-catching qualities.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

This ability to carry the ball, progress, play, and make things happen, is exactly what Villa needed to replace to fill the void of Grealish leaving the club, but a deal did not materialise, and now Smith-Rowe has joined Fulham this summer, for a fee of £27m initial, plus add ons which could take the deal to £34m total.

Since moving to Craven Cottage, he has turned into a “monster” – as Troy Deeney described – and is now even outperforming the aforementioned Rogers.

Goals

0.48

0.00

Assists

0.24

0.33

Progressive Carries

2.75

3.50

Progressive Passes

5.00

3.33

Shots Total

2.38

2.00

Key Passes

0.75

2.17

Passes into Final Third

3.50

2.00

Shot-Creating Actions

2.75

4.67

Tackles

2.25

0.83

Whilst Smith-Rowe and Rogers are performing relatively closely in their metrics, the Fulham man has shown more of a completeness to his game, notably scoring two goals and supplying one assist.

Offering progression via passing and carrying, having a high shot volume, creating for himself and others, and also doing the dirty work, winning 2.25 tackles per 90.

Rogers is a different type of player, who can link up really well in tight spaces, drive into space with his lengthy frame, and escape opposition players, but if Villa wanted someone to replace Grealish from all those years ago, Smith-Rowe definitely would have been better option over Buendia.

Sold for £15m: Aston Villa hit gold over star who's now worth millions less

They sold him for just £15m

1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 26, 2024

Newcastle United have undergone a sweeping transformation this summer – though that is away from Eddie Howe's first-team squad.

The Tyneside outfit might have seen significant structural movements, but little has happened on the transfer front. Lewis Hall's loan move has been completed on a permanent basis and Lloyd Kelly has been landed on a free transfer following his departure from Bournemouth, but the backline requires more work and a wide forward is also pursued.

St. James' Park has gone from strength to strength over the past several years, following the PIF-backed club takeover, and now there is a chance to overcome last season's hiccup, stemming from the injury-plagued nature of the Magpies' year, and mount a campaign back toward the Champions League.

Fans are understandably yearning for some added impetus in attack – and the pointers suggest that they will get their wish – but with Sven Botman's knee injury keeping him sidelined until the end of 2024, Howe is desperate to secure another centre-back to restore his side's imperiousness in defence.

Newcastle lining up another defender

The left-sided Kelly brings security and dynamism to the backline but more is needed on the central right. As such, there might just be something in reports that Newcastle are pushing to sign OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo.

The French defender is Juventus' priority target this summer and rejected West Ham United despite the east London side agreeing a £27m deal to sign him.

Now, according to transfer specialist Graeme Bailey, the Toon are preparing to launch a move of their own after holding discussions with Todibo's representatives.

Newcastle’s new sporting director Paul Mitchell is seeking to hijack Juventus' hijack in what would be an extraordinary turn of events. There's a distance to travel but this one is cautiously encouraging.

Jean-Clair Todibo's 23/24 season in numbers

Todibo, standing at 6 foot 3, is a colossal defender with a steely protective ability and a remarkable level of technicality that speaks of his suitability in Newcastle's fluid, progressive system.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 18% of centre-backs in Ligue 1 last season for assists (0.07 per 90) and the top 10% for shot-creating actions (1.47 per 90), highlighting that inborn creativity that would open up a new dimension from deep.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has praised his "high-quality" presence in the rearguard and this is reflected in the all-encompassing nature of his game, with the 24-year-old also keeping 14 clean sheets from 30 Ligue 1 matches last season, completing 90% of his passes and averaging 1.9 tackles and winning 4.5 duels (at a success rate of 59%).

But the most eye-catching element of the former La Masia starlet's skillset is his athletic prowess, with the mobility and energy levels necessary to rule over the defensive third with an iron grasp – averaging 7.1 ball recoveries per game in the French top flight.

Todibo's influence is such that he wouldn't just improve his prospective defensive partners on Tyneside. With such a robust approach to his play, he might actually be the dream defender for Bruno Guimaraes.

Why Newcastle must sign Jean-Clair Todibo

Guimaraes has been linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer, though June's sales of Elliott Anderson and teenage winger Yankuba Minteh have eased the burden relating to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules considerably.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United have all registered a vested interest of late but a clause in Guimaraes' contract relating to a £100m release clause has now expired, meaning that Howe and Co can demand any fee they see fit for the club's midfield linchpin.

Signed from Lyon for £40m in January 2022 – at the start of the Magpies' new wave of hope – the Brazil international has been lauded for his "world-class" skills by teammate Dan Burn and chalks up some staggering metrics each season.

Matches played

17

32

37

Matches started

11

32

37

Goals

5

4

7

Assists

1

5

8

Pass completion

86%

85%

85%

Big chances created

3

2

12

Touches per game

46.9

68.4

81.0

Key passes per game

0.7

1.3

1.7

Dribbles per game

1.3

1.4

1.9

Ball recoveries per game

7.0

7.7

6.5

Tackles per game

2.6

2.4

2.4

Duels won per game

6.2

7.0

7.7

The table above highlights Guimaraes' almighty stats across his two-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League. It's a lot to unpack, but illustrates the absurd level of roundedness that supercharges Newcastle's engine room.

He did struggle at points last season but this was largely down to the incessant injury problems that plagued his team – especially in defence. By placing Todibo behind him – a defender who unbelievably made more ball recoveries than him on average in his league last season – Newcastle could return to the fore.

After all, while the £160k-per-week midfielder's combative nature holds together the middle of the park with steely resolve, it's his ball-playing mastery that would benefit the most from such a sturdy defender behind.

Indeed, Guimaraes ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues last season for assists and shot-creating actions and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, emphasising that fact.

Todibo would provide security and stability, yes, but also his own progressive style to thread through to Newcastle's main man, in turn enhancing the collective fluency of the side.

Juventus might feel that they are the favourites to sign Todibo, but Newcastle are seemingly set on disrupting the party in Turin. If they pull it off, it really will be quite the signing.

The end for Almiron: Newcastle offered deal to sign £50m "magician"

The Magpies are looking to improve their forward line this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 20, 2024

West Ham United and new manager Julen Lopetegui are hoping to strike a deal for a third summer signing this week, according to The Guardian.

West Ham make second signing after Guilherme

The Hammers and technical director Tim Steidten have been hard at work behind the scenes at the London Stadium, making new additions ahead of Lopetegui’s first season in charge.

Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme was the first signing of the Lopetegui era, joining from Palmeiras on a five-year contract. The winger has reportedly cost more than £25m, and the Hammers have now made their second signing of the window.

West Ham could now sign "top striker" for just £17m

Talks have already been held.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 26, 2024

On Wednesday, West Ham announced the signing of former Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham on a free transfer. The 33-year-old has penned a two-year deal with the Irons and said after officially joining:

“It feels brilliant to be a Hammer! As soon as I heard of the interest, it was something that I was keen to get sorted and get done and I’m just delighted to be here.

“I've been fortunate to play for teams with a real strong fanbase, a fanbase that's passionate about their club, and West Ham are no different. They're a fanbase that care deeply about their football club, it’s a family club as well, and I find it's always better to play for a team where you have those supporters cheering you on week in, week out.

"Especially in the last few years, the Club has had some really good success in Europe and in the Premier League as well. I think the Club has gone from strength to strength and I think I'm joining at a very, very good time as it's a positive time for the Club.”

After Guilherme and Foderingham, West Ham now look to be turning their attention to signing centre-back Max Kilman from Wolves. They have already had a bid rejected by those at Molineux for the player who worked under Lopetegui in the Midlands, but it looks as if there could be movement in the coming days.

West Ham hoping to seal Kilman deal this week

According to The Guardian in the last 48 hours, West Ham are hoping to seal a deal for Kilman this week. It is stated that Wolves could be tempted into selling their star centre-back for £45m, with West Ham’s opening proposal being worth around £30m plus add-ons.

The 27-year-old, praised as a "monster" of a player by presenter Tom Parker, has missed just one Premier League game across the past two completed seasons for Wolves, making more than 150 appearances for the Old Gold in total. Kilman also praised Lopetegui and his Wolves teammates following a win over West Ham in 2023.

"We've put our heads down and worked really hard in training. And it has paid off today [against West Ham]. We're defending better and we're more solid – this is the real Wolves. We're just delighted to get the win and go from there. We've bonded a lot over the break and have gelled together, and you can see that on the pitch.

"Every game in the Premier League is so tough, and West Ham are a great side, so to get the clean sheet means everyone is delighted."

TalkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney has explained why he thinks Tottenham Hotspur should've signed a £330,000-per-week striker instead of Dominic Solanke.

Solanke joins Tottenham from Bournemouth in £65 million deal

Over the summer transfer window, Spurs finally ended their year-long wait for Harry Kane's replacement – agreeing a £65 million deal to sign Solanke from Bournemouth after the Englishman's stellar 2023/2024 campaign.

"Top class" Tottenham attacker seals out-of-window move to European club

Spurs

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 6, 2024

Ange Postecoglou's side will pay an initial £55 million plus a further £10 million in add-ons for Solanke, who made his Premier League debut for them against Leicester City on the opening weekend.

The 26-year-old was Bournemouth's superstar player last term, scoring 21 goals in all competitions for the Cherries, plus an additional five assists. Solanke has been absent for their last two league games, having picked up an ankle injury at Leicester, but there is a chance he could feature against Arsenal in the north London derby right after this international break.

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Premier League

38

19

3

FA Cup

1

1

1

EFL Cup

3

1

0

"Dom is close but we're going to be a bit cautious with him," said Postecoglou in an update on Solanke before Spurs' loss to Newcastle.

"We've got a big programme post the international break, so he'll miss out.”

Supporters will be eager to see Solanke kick-on and show the kind of form he did for Bournemouth last season, and at the earliest opportunity, with Tottenham's signing of the forward praised by Jermain Defoe.

“It is not a move that has surprised me," said Defoe on talkSPORT.

"Going off his form last season, the amount of goals he scored and if you look at the way Ange wants to play, he suits that Tottenham role. He’s got a lot of energy, he’s almost an old-school number nine who makes a lot of runs in behind. He also presses high which is one of Ange’s principles. I think he will score a lot of goals in that Tottenham team, I’m happy for him.

“I hope he gets his first goal soon because as a centre-forward, you know, confidence is massive. I hope he doesn’t think about the fee too much, but in terms of his ability, he showed last season that he’s someone that can score goals consistently and I am looking forward to seeing how he does.”

Troy Deeney explains why Tottenham should've signed Ivan Toney

While Solanke's move has been praised by many, there are others like TalkSPORT's Deeney who believe that Tottenham should've gone for Ivan Toney instead.

Toney was heavily linked with a move to Spurs in the summer, but the striker, now on £330,000-per-week at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, was forced to agree a late switch to the Middle East or stay at Brentford.

However, Deeney is convinced that Toney would've been a better striker for Tottenham than Solanke.

“Ivan Toney was available," said Deeney on the Seaman Says podcast. "Let’s use him as a case in point. Would he add value to Chelsea? Yes, he would score more than Nicolas Jackson. In my opinion he would score more than Solanke at Spurs. Everyone is looking for that mobile, running striker, the goalscoring comes like fifth in the list of attributes."

Arsenal have got their Premier League campaign off to a brilliant start this season thanks to impressive back-to-back wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa.

However, with their next fixture scheduled for Saturday lunchtime, the focus of many fans has switched to the club's transfer dealings, and so far, there has been less to get excited about on that front.

Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori and Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino remain the only officially announced additions to the first team this summer. However, Edu Gaspar and Co have been busy working on several departures, including Eddie Nketiah's reported £30m move to Crystal Palace.

Interestingly, the Englishman's proposed move to South London and the hole in the squad he'll leave may have inspired the board to act, as recent reports have now linked the club with a player who'd be his dream replacement.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are very interested in Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Evan Ferguson.

In fact, the report claims that the Gunners are now lining up a move for the 19-year-old and 'are ready to make an offer to Brighton' for his services.

However, there are two significant barriers to the North Londoners getting their man: the £70m fee the Seagulls want and the interest from title rivals Manchester City.

In all, it could prove to be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Ferguson's sky-high potential, it is worth pursuing, especially as he'd be a dream upgrade on Nketiah.

How Ferguson compares to Nketiah

Okay, so the first thing to clear up is that at his age and within the context of Nketiah being sold to Palace, Arsenal will not be looking towards Ferguson to be a starter this season, or even next season, regardless of the price.

Yes, he would likely feature in plenty of games and get plenty of chances to show his quality, but it seems unlikely that Arteta would throw a teenager who hasn't got a ton of first-team experience into the deep end, especially with a title on the line.

However, the young "superstar", as dubbed by former professional Danny Murphy, could be the perfect man to replace the Gunners' number 14 and become an excellent backup striker for the next couple of years while he continues to develop into the world-class centre-forward so many seem to believe he's destined to be.

With that said, how does his output from the last two campaigns stack up against the player he could be set to replace?

Interestingly, while he was slightly less effective last season, he was far more so in the campaign prior. Overall, he's racked up 16 goals and four assists in 61 appearances in that time, equating to a respectable average of a goal involvement every 3.05 games.

Appearances

25

39

Goals

10

9

Assists

3

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.28

Appearances

36

37

Goals

6

6

Assists

1

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.19

0.24

In contrast, the Palace-bound dynamo scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 76 appearances in the same period, meaning he maintained a slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 3.8 games.

While you cannot extrapolate too much from this, it is encouraging to see that the young Irishman has already outperformed the Arsenal ace in recent seasons, despite playing for a weaker team and being significantly younger.

Ultimately, if Arteta wants to ensure his next backup striker is better than Nketiah today and has the potential to be a first-teamer in the future, then he could do a lot worse than Ferguson. Therefore, Edu and Co should do their best to get this deal over the line.

Dream Trossard rival: Arsenal in the race to sign "world-class" attacker

The experienced international would add another dimension to Arteta’s attack.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 27, 2024