With Anthony Elanga already on the way, Newcastle United are now reportedly “keen” to beat Chelsea in the race to sign a talented striker who would be an instant upgrade on Callum Wilson.
Newcastle still in the market for a striker
After confirming Wilson’s decision to leave the club at the end of his contract, Newcastle are still on the hunt for another striker to provide competition for Alexander Isak and William Osula.
The veteran forward confirmed the news of his departure, taking to social media to say: “To all you Magpies, it’s time to say goodbye after an unbelievable few years at the Toon.
Newcastle United'sCallumWilsonsalutes their fans after the match
“Thank you for everything. We stood strong together through the highs and some lows to help the club experience new heights. I am so proud to have worn the iconic number 9 shirt and to have added a little more history to it.
“Scoring at the Gallowgate end really is as special as they say. All good things come to an end, but there’s no doubt Newcastle United will always have a place in mine and my families hearts.”
As one striker leaves, however, another could be on his way this summer. Those at St James’ Park have instantly turned towards Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, according to reports, and there’s no doubt that he would round off an excellent list of attacking options at Eddie Howe’s disposal.
As impressive as Wissa is, though, he’s not the only name on the Magpies’ radar, and they may well turn towards an even better alternative ahead of next season.
Newcastle now "keen" to sign Ekitike – Romano
According to Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle are now “keen” to sign Hugo Ekitike ahead of Chelsea this summer.
The talented Frenchman has attracted plenty of interest in recent months, including from Saudi Arabia and Liverpool, but those at St James’ Park will be hoping to make their biggest statement yet by winning the race for his signature.
The deal won’t come cheap given that previous reports have claimed that Frankfurt will demand as much as €100m (£85m) to sell their star striker this summer, but Ekitike could prove to be worth that hefty fee.
Better than Elanga: Newcastle ready to accelerate move for £40m "menace"
Newcastle are looking to add further depth out wide
6 ByJoe Nuttall Jul 10, 2025
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward was described as “strong” by analyst Ben Mattinson last season as he rounded off a fantastic season with 22 goals in all competitions. And now, it should come as no surprise that a hectic race is forming for his signature.
Leeds United have already made several moves in an attempt to bolster their playing squad ahead of their return to the Premier League next season.
The summer transfer window has been open for many weeks now, and the Championship champions have added Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Sebastiaan Bornauw to the group.
The Whites reportedly agreed a fee of around £5m with Wolfsburg to bring Bornauw to Elland Road as their most recent addition to the squad, to bolster their centre-back ranks.
Daniel Farke now has a plethora of central defensive options to choose from, including Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu, Bijol, and Bornauw, although he recently lost one when Max Wober completed a loan move to Werder Bremen.
The German head coach will be hoping that he now has enough quality in that position to form the core of a strong defensive unit that will lead the team to Premier League survival.
It does remain to be seen, though, exactly what sort of role Bornauw will play for Leeds next term, having been signed after Bijol, with Rodon and Struijk also already at the club.
Why Sebastiaan Bornauw may not be a starter for Leeds
The competition that he has ahead of him in the centre-back position suggests that the Belgian central defender has been brought in to provide depth at the back.
That is not to say that it is impossible for him to emerge as a starting calibre-option for Farke if his performances are good enough, but it currently looks like Rodon and Struijk, who were regular starters in the Championship, and Bijol, who has been signed for £15m, are ahead of him in the pecking order.
Another reason why Bornauw may be viewed as a back-up option by Farke initially is because of his lengthy career injury history in Germany.
During his time with Koln and Wolfsburg, the Belgium international has missed a lot of matches through injury in his career, which is a slight concern.
24/25
4
18
23/24
1
2
21/22
1
2
20/21
1
13
19/20
1
2
18/19
3
19
16/17
1
12
However, as you can see in the table above, Bornauw missed 18 games through injury, with four separate issues, in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he has a recent track record of being consistently unavailable.
This does not suggest that Bornauw is the sort of player who Farke can reasonably rely on to be available to start week-in-week-out in the Premier League, which is why he may not be viewed as a starter, at least at this moment in time.
Leeds, however, are now reportedly interested in signing another defender who would come in as an even better signing than the former Wolfsburg man, as he could be a starter for the Premier League new boys.
Leeds closing in on new defender
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are close to securing a deal to sign Lille left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson to bolster their squad.
The report claims that the Whites are closing in on a swoop for the Sweden international, as they look to make him their fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It adds that talks are continuing over a potential move for the 26-year-old full-back, but it remains to be seen how much money it will take to strike an agreement with Lille, as he is valued at around £6m by Transfermarkt.
The Yorkshire Evening Post also reveals that Gudmundsson could fly to England on Sunday to finalise a switch to West Yorkshire if all goes well in negotiations, possibly to complete a medical and agree personal terms.
This latest update suggests that the Whites could have their fourth signing in the building in short order, and he could be an even better signing than their third one.
Why Gudmundsson could be a better signing than Bornauw
Leeds could secure an even better signing than Bornauw by getting a deal over the line to bring Gudmundsson to Elland Road in the coming days, because he has the potential to be a regular starter in the defence.
Whilst the Belgian colossus may be a back-up option initially, for the aforementioned reasons, the Swedish star would arrive as the only senior left-back at the club.
LOSC Lille's Gabriel Gudmundsson against Atletico Madrid.
Junior Firpo has already moved on from West Yorkshire and Sam Byram’s future remains a mystery, as his deal expired at the end of last month, which means that Farke does not have any senior options in that position.
Gudmundsson, who started 20 matches in Ligue 1 for Lille last season, would be in pole position to be the starting left-back for Leeds next term, because there are currently no players in the building who could challenge him for that role.
This means that the left-footed whiz could join the club as an immediate starting-calibre option for Farke, whilst Bornauw may begin the season as a back-up centre-back initially.
Pass accuracy
82%
Top 31%
Progressive passes*
4.59
Top 34%
Progressive carries*
3.58
Top 5%
Successful take-ons*
1.01
Top 30%
Non-penalty goals*
0.10
Top 20%
Crosses into penalty area
0.50
Top 36%
As you can see in the table above, Gudmundsson showcased a lot of quality in possession for Lille in his appearances in the French top-flight last season, ranking highly as a progressive left-back, who can get his team up the pitch with both passes and carries.
These statistics suggest that the left-footed star, who was described as a “fun” player and a “risk-taker” by reporter Joe Donnohue, could suit Farke’s ball-dominant style of play, as he is comfortable in possession and has shown he can consistently progress play down the left whilst playing in a major European league.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkebefore the match
Overall, Gudmundsson appears to have the quality to step in as an immediate starter for Leeds, as a direct replacement for Firpo, which suggests that he will come in as a key operator in the Premier League next season.
Farke's new Rutter: Leeds now showing strong interest in £11m star
Leeds United are still in need of attacking reinforcements, ahead of their Premier League return
1 ByRobbie Walls Jul 6, 2025
Bornauw, however, may have to settle for a back-up role, at least at first, and that is why the Lille star would come in as an even better signing for the club in the here and now.
Arsenal are poised to revamp their squad in many areas this summer, as manager Mikel Arteta looks to end their 20-year-long-plus wait for a Premier League title.
Arsenal "set to sign" another player, it means "sensational" ace will leave
Mikel Arteta’s side have been very busy in the last week.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 27, 2025
The Gunners are already set to sign both midfielder Martin Zubimendi and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, with the former signing his paperwork as a new Arsenal player last week and the latter completing a medical in the last few days (Sky Sports).
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
Joining Zubimendi and Kepa will be Denmark international midfielder Christian Norgaard. Brentford’s captain has been handed the green-light to join Arsenal, after Keith Andrews’ side and the north Londoners agreed an initial £10 million transfer, which could rise to £5 million if performance-related add-ons are met (Sky Sports).
Arsenal are also in advanced talks over a deal for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, so new sporting director Andrea Berta’s extensive work behind-the-scenes appears to be paying dividends after this plethora of updates from the last week.
Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.
Norgaard’s signing wasn’t initially expected, but news surrounding £200,000-per-week midfielder Thomas Partey and his imminent departure seems to have pushed Berta into sourcing an immediate replacement for the Ghanaian.
The 32-year-old enjoyed his best campaign to date at Arsenal last season, making over 50 appearances whilst putting his past injury worries firmly behind him, and that prompted the club to open talks over a contract extension.
However, those discussions ultimately failed to reach a positive outcome, and Partey is now “set to leave” the Emirates after his contract expires on June 30.
Now, the question is: what’s next for the ex-Atletico Madrid stalwart?
Fenerbahce chief travelling to UK for talks with Thomas Partey
According to Turkiye Gazetesi, as translated by Sport Witness, Fenerbahce sporting director Devin Ozek is flying to the UK for talks with Partey.
Ozek is also set to speak with exit-bound Leicester City midfielder Wilfried Ndidi about a potential move to the Turkish Super Lig, but it is believed that Jose Mourinho “especially” wants Partey, as the ‘special one’ looks to build a team capable of challenging Galatasaray.
Ndidi remains contracted at the King Power until 2027, but Partey’s soon-to-be free agent status has gifted Fenerbahce a golden opportunity to reinforce Mourinho’s midfield with proven experience and quality, at zero transfer cost.
The terms on offer from Fenerbahce are yet to be detailed, but it will be interesting to see if they can tempt Partey with an equal or similar wage to his current earnings at Arsenal, which are set to dry up in the next few days.
As exit rumours continue to surround Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa have reportedly opened talks to sign one of Monchi’s top targets who could be an instant upgrade on the Argentine shot-stopper.
Atletico Madrid & Man Utd targeting Martinez
Aston Villa have been stuck between a rock and a hard place this summer with that rock being PSR rules. Whilst in an ideal world they keep hold of Martinez this summer and continue to enjoy the World Cup winner’s talents, his sale would go a long way towards easing their PSR concerns.
The goalkeeper isn’t exactly short on interest, either. Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are both reportedly chasing Martinez’s signature this summer as Aston Villa continue to deliberate over a potential sale.
Of course, the worst-case scenario for Villa this summer would be Martinez joining a direct rival in Manchester United, but they may have little choice in the matter amid reports that he would now prefer a switch to Old Trafford if he is to depart.
It creates a tough choice for Villa once again. Either sell a 32-year-old player who has become a leader under Unai Emery or cash in for the sake of their off-pitch troubles and welcome a fresh option. Aston Villa must pick their poison this summer and hope that the remedy is an unexpected upgrade between the sticks.
Aston Villa in talks to sign "incredible" ex-Championship star in £17m deal
He could finally get his Premier League chance.
1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 25, 2025
To that end, it seems as though those in the Midlands are at least preparing for the worst case and have reportedly opened talks to sign what would be an excellent replacement for Martinez.
Aston Villa open talks to sign Chevalier
As reported by TeamTalk, Aston Villa have now opened talks to sign Lucas Chevalier from LOSC Lille this summer and are converging on a deal for the Frenchman’s signature. With a formal offer now the next step in any negotiation too, Monchi has reportedly already mooted a £40m bid to the Ligue 1 club in pursuit of their goalkeeper.
Starts
34
37
Clean Sheets
11
8
Saves per 90
2.68
2.70
Save Percentage
74.4%
69%
At 23 years old, Chevalier enjoyed an impressive campaign as part of a Lille side that defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League table phase and reached the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition.
If the Villans have the option to solve their PSR problems by selling Martinez and signing Chevalier to replace him then it is a move they should prioritise this summer. The Lille star is too good to miss out on if they’re on the hunt for a new No.1.
Lille'sLucasChevalierreacts
Described as “excellent” by scout Jacek Kulig, Villa would be signing one of the best young goalkeepers around if they managed to lure Chevalier to the Midlands this summer.
Birmingham City stole most of the headlines in League One last season by sealing a title success on a gigantic 111 points, but Wrexham also gained plenty of airtime themselves when clinching yet another promotion.
This was the Red Dragons’ third promotion success in a row, unbelievably, with Phil Parkinson the manager who has amazingly steered the Welsh giants back into the spotlight away from non-league obscurity, to now being one division below the Premier League.
Wrexham will know that their next step up to the Championship will be their most difficult jump to navigate so far, with plenty of new signings ready to enter the building to ensure the next step-up isn’t so difficult, which includes this exciting striker target potentially joining Parkinson’s ranks.
Wrexham now interested in former PL ace
As per an exclusive report from football journalist Graeme Bailey, Wrexham are now in the race to land Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt this summer.
Unfortunately, they aren’t just a lone suitor having a peek at the two-time Premier League goalscorer, with Chris Davies’ Birmingham also keen on landing a loan deal for the explosive centre-forward, as Leeds look to get rid temporarily after sealing their own dramatic promotion.
Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt.
Whilst the 23-year-old has found himself stuck on the periphery at Elland Road as of late, he still has plenty of plus points next to his name that will intrigue Parkinson and Co.
He could even be viewed as a better signing for Wrexham to make than the newly promoted side going after an injury-prone Danny Ings, with the soon-to-be free agent forward more known now for his lengthy absences away from the first-team, than his clinical finishing ability.
24/25
17
1
2
23/24
30
1
1
22/23
22
3
2
Why Gelhardt would be a better signing than Ings
Indeed, the table above makes for some pretty grim reading on the ex-Liverpool striker’s end, with Ings only managing five goals for West Ham over his last three unmemorable seasons.
Whereas, in Gelhardt’s defence – despite tumbling down the pecking order in West Yorkshire as of late – he has still proven he can cut it in the Championship when handed a chance to impress out on loan at Hull City last season.
This spectacular effort back in January would get the ball rolling for Gelhardt in his fresh location, with the ex-Hull number 30 going on to bag another four strikes in league action, away from just this wild shot looping over Paul Nardi’s head.
This will instantly put Wrexham at ease about whether the 23-year-old is well-suited to the demands of the Championship after barren patches of form at Leeds. On the contrary, Ings last played at the demanding level all the way back in 2014, with a concern brewing that he just doesn’t have the legs required to kick back into gear in the EFL.
Games played
22
Goals scored
5
Assists
0
Big chances missed
1
Big chances created
5
Total duels won*
5.2
To Wrexham’s relief, Gelhardt showed he has plenty left in his tank at Hull last season, with a bite present in his game too when winning 5.2 duels on average per Championship clash, away from also creating five big chances on top of his goal tally of five.
The newly promoted side have also been there and done that when it comes to veterans leading the line, as seen in Steven Fletcher being on their books last campaign, with the loan capture of the 23-year-old “wrecking ball” – as he was once labelled by Jamie Redknapp for his aggressive approach – signalling a newer approach centred on the future.
While Ings’ name might be more instantly recognisable, his best years seem to be behind him now.
When it comes to Gelhardt, however, plenty more could still be in the offing.
Big Rathbone upgrade: Wrexham still in race to sign "outstanding" PL star
Wrexham could be about to land a big upgrade on Oliver Rathbone by signing this Championship-experienced ace.
Celtic find themselves in the hunt for more forward options this summer and have received a shot in the arm regarding their pursuit of a 25-goal striker, according to a report.
Celtic looking to sign a striker this summer
Kyogo Furuhashi departed Celtic in January and there was plenty of contention surrounding the club’s decision not to replace the Japanese marksman despite a last-gasp bid to land Danny Ings from West Ham United.
In the end, Daizen Maeda moved into a central position and Adam Idah earned more seniority through the middle, leaving inexperienced forward Johnny Kenny to plug the gaps on the odd occasion.
Ending the campaign on a respectable tally of 20 goals, Celtic striker Idah is confident he can handle the scoring burden associated with being the leading number nine at Parkhead.
He stated on international duty: “The pressure is a lot and you are expected to deliver. I think with my experience now, you have to put that behind you. You know what you are good at.
“If you don’t score for a couple of games, it is not helpful to listen to an ex-player. I am not really concerned with what he thinks – I am there to do my bit.”
Celtic table bid to sign a star who'd unlock Yang's "world-class" potential
Celtic are reportedly interested in a move to sign a star who could be a dream for Hyun-jun Yang.
ByDan Emery Jun 3, 2025
Without question, Celtic will sign a striker this summer. They face more fixture congestion than most clubs around Europe due to their regular juggling act between domestic and European football.
Now, they may have received a boost regarding their pursuit of a reported target to help fill the Furuhashi-shaped void under Brendan Rodgers if recent developments are to be taken into account.
According to Kicker, Celtic target Youssef El Kachati has rejected a move to Hannover 96 as his contract at Telstar moves closer to expiring, with a decision on his next club expected very soon.
The Moroccan striker was previously thought to have found a verbal agreement over a move to Germany with their sporting director Marcus Mann, but he is now said to prefer a switch to a side that will feature in European competition next season.
Youssef El Kachati in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
45
Goals
25
Assists
9
Austria Wien have also been mentioned in the race for his signature. Celtic have been watching El Kachati over several months and will have been aware of his exploits that saw Telstar promoted to the Eredivisie for the first time in almost half a century.
It is anticipated that a decision on his future could come sooner rather than later. At this point, top-flight football with the prospect of testing himself on the continent is a better career option than the German second-tier.
Celtic need to bolster their frontline to handle the strain of another jam-packed campaign of action and El Kachati could be a financially advantageous signing that would provide competition centrally and out wide.
Chelsea are “really pushing” to sign a powerhouse striker ahead of their Premier League rivals Arsenal, with both sides holding negotiations and laying groundwork over a deal as we fast approach the summer window.
Chelsea gifted striker boost after vital win over Nottingham Forest
Enzo Maresca’s debut season as Chelsea manager, regardless of the debate prior to Sunday’s kick-off, can now surely be deemed a success after their all-important 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday.
Chelsea make "formal" bid to sign £84m Liverpool target in "ambitious move"
They’ve apparently submitted an offer.
1 ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025
Levi Colwill’s second-half goal was enough to confirm Chelsea’s spot in the Premier League top-five and subsequent Champions League qualification for next season, gifting BlueCo an almighty boost when it comes to their summer recruitment strategy in the process.
Rank
Team
Points
GD
3
Man City
71
+28
4
Chelsea
69
+21
5
Newcastle
66
+21
6
Aston Villa
66
+7
7
Nottingham Forest
65
+12
Maresca himself confirmed that qualifying for the Champions League would have a profound effect on their plans for the looming transfer window, and reliable reports in the build up to Sunday echoed this theme.
While Chelsea are reported to be prioritising the addition of a new striker, centre-back and winger, it is believed they could also go for a versatile attacking player, goalkeeper, full-back and second centre-back, depending on player sales and their European status (Simon Phillips).
Supporters are very eager to see Chelsea bring in a prolific number nine in particular, and the Blues’ fourth-placed finish is now set to boost their hopes of signing a 25-plus goals-per-season striker who can deliver the goods up front.
“I’m not thinking about next summer, to be honest,” said a coy Maresca after Chelsea’s win over Forest, in his post-match press conference.
“Today is a day that we have to be happy because we brought this club where this club has to be in the most important European competition. And we did today and this is the most important day for them. Now from tomorrow we start to prepare for Wednesday final, and then we have days to see for next season.”
Chelsea now "really pushing" to sign RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko
According to journalist Simon Phillips, while Maresca refuses to get drawn in on the club’s transfer activity behind-the-scenes, they’re in fact making a serious move for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko
Chelsea have Sesko on their list of striker targets, as previously claimed, but they’re now believed to be competing with Arsenal for the 6 foot 5 Slovenia international’s signature after his 21-goal season at Leipzig.
His contract includes a £67 million release clause, and Chelsea are now seriously pressing to sign Sesko after holding talks and laying the groundwork for his signature.
“The new info I have is that Arsenal are now really pushing for Benjamin Sesko as well as Chelsea,” wrote Phillips.
“Both clubs have held talks and laid down some groundwork to sign him. Arsenal also really like Viktor Gyokeres, but there’s a split internally there as to which striker they want to push for.”
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg believes Arsenal’s talks for Sesko are “concrete” as well, so Chelsea do face stiff competition from Mikel Arteta’s side. Interestingly, both sides made a proposal for the 21-year-old last summer, which he rejected in favour of signing an extension at Leipzig (Fabrizio Romano).
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoheads at goal
However, the Premier League duo haven’t appeared to have thrown the towel in when it comes to tempting Sesko with a move to England, and it will be very intriguing to see how this one develops.
Chelsea are badly in need of a centre-forward, with Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku scoring just two top-flight goals between them this calendar year.
Looking to find their Kevin de Bruyne replacement, Manchester City have now reportedly made their first enquiry to sign an in-demand star who’s available for a bargain price this summer.
Man City's frustrating Saints stalemate
With Southampton rock bottom of the Premier League by some distance and already relegated, Manchester City and a returning Erling Haaland looked likelier than ever to put on the ultimate goals show on Saturday. But that proved to be anything but the case.
What the travelling fans got instead was a frustrating stalemate as Southampton secured a point against the odds to move beyond Derby County’s points record – much to the relief of those around St Mary’s. Man City defender Ruben Dias failed to hide that frustration in his post-match press conference too, choosing to criticise Southampton’s defensive approach.
The stalemate will do the confidence of Pep Guardiola’s side no favours as they enter the FA Cup final against an in-form Crystal Palace side, who will do more than just try to play against the Citizens.
Meanwhile, as Wembley awaits, so does De Bruyne’s fast-approaching farewell. Likely to be an emotional goodbye, the Belgian has just three games remaining of a Manchester City career which has seen him win everything there is to win at the club.
Big Rico Lewis upgrade: Man City agree personal terms with young target
Manchester City are closing in on a star who could be a big upgrade on Rico Lewis.
ByDan Emery May 12, 2025
Just how those at the Etihad replace their star man remains to be seen. Names such as Florian Wirtz have already threatened to steal the headlines, but he could yet choose Bayern Munich over the Premier League. He’s not the only target, however, with one Ligue 1 talent now emerging as a serious option.
Man City make contact to sign Cherki
According to Le Parisien, as relayed by Get French Football News, Manchester City have now made their first enquiry to sign Rayan Cherki from Lyon this summer. The attacking midfielder has impressed many throughout the current campaign and will reportedly be allowed to leave Lyon for just €22.5m (£19m) in the coming months.
Rayan Cherki
The Frenchman may already have some fans of his talent at the Etihad after he embarrassed Andre Onana in Lyon’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie. Even though Lyon eventually crashed out in dramatic fashion against the Red Devils, it was often the Cherki show across both legs.
Onana’s mistake allowed Cherki to follow up with a chipped effort to equalise late on for his side ahead of what turned out to be a frantic and heartbreaking second leg.
Nonetheless, even without a Europa League semi-final, the 21-year-old has found himself at the centre of praise from the likes of football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described Cherki’s campaign as “amazing” back in April. Now, after impressing, he could be on his way to Manchester City this summer.
Amid the celebrations at Anfield toward the end of April, after Liverpool had thrashed Tottenham Hotspur to seal the Premier League title, Arne Slot could be seen in deep conversation with sporting director Richard Hughes.
Hughes, who reports to Michael Edwards but wields principal transfer control for the Reds, has only overseen the signing of Federico Chiesa since Jurgen Klopp left one year ago, but who can argue this careful approach hasn’t borne dividends?
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot
Now, though, is the time for action. Strengthen while you’re on top, and all that. However, there is truth in the case for new signings, with Arsenal and Manchester City both looking to rebound from frustrating campaigns and sure to be busy across the summer months.
Slot’s title-winning side are also set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer, and in spite of the season’s success, the first team bears several yawning holes that need redressing.
Liverpool's summer transfer plans
FSG have moved quickly for Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong, who is Trent’s ostensible replacement but carries a dynamic approach which will see him fill multiple roles down the right flank.
Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong
A deal has yet to be finalised, but the Dutchman is in the closing stages of a transfer to Merseyside, with Liverpool ready to activate his release clause in the region of €35m (£30m).
It means Liverpool can turn toward the other defensive flank, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez at the top of the shopping list, and focus on replacing striker Darwin Nunez, who has only scored seven times this season.
Even the most ardent Nunez supporters would struggle to stake a case for a fourth term as Liverpool’s centre-forward. He needs to be sold to make way for something new.
However, the 25-year-old would be a tad frustrated if he leaves as one of the game’s highest-calibre playmakers makes their way into Slot’s squad.
Meeting slated as Liverpool chase superstar
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have scheduled a meeting to discuss signing Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, with The Athletic previously confirming the Reds have joined Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the race.
Their sources anticipate a ‘big push’ from Liverpool in the coming days, with a deal slated for around €120m (£101m), which is more affordable than previously believed.
Though it’s felt that Bayern still have the lead in the race, it’s very much open and FSG are pushing to accelerate matters, emboldened by their understanding that Die Werkself would rather sell abroad than to the Bundesliga champions, who dethroned them last week.
This suggests that Liverpool have a big advantage in the race to sign the star, because they are a more attractive destination to Leverkusen than Bayern are.
What Florian Wirtz would bring to Liverpool
Curiously, data-driven site FBref list Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal as one of Wirtz’s most comparable players. Obviously, there are patent differences between the two, but Liverpool could emulate Hansi Flick’s success in building a new era with such a poster boy who can challenge at the pinnacle for many years to come.
The 22-year-old Wirtz might still be young, but he’s already regarded as a “world-class” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, something echoed by the masses, for sure.
He might even be further into his incredible development, had he not torn his anterior cruciate ligament in March 2022. Aged 18 and regarded as a prodigy, this could have been detrimental, but the German international bounced back in January 2023 and made headway before winning the Bundesliga in his first full season back, and claiming the Player of the Year award besides.
Still, it hardly matters now, for Wirtz has posted, incredibly, 68 goal contributions for Leverkusen across the past two seasons.
He’s got the talent to rival Yamal, to be sure, with the teenage sensation, still only 17, having bagged La Liga and Copa del Rey titles this year after winning the Euros with Spain last summer.
Yamal will only get better, but he has that special flair across underlying physical and athletic metrics that bespeaks his generational quality. It’s something Wirtz yields too.
Goals
0.46
0.29
Assists
0.37
0.38
Shots taken
2.88
4.24
Shot-creating actions
5.64
5.56
Pass completion
80%
75.1%
Passes attempted
64.65
47.52
Progressive passes
6.91
4.92
Progressive carries
4.55
5.88
Successful take-ons
2.88
4.82
Ball recoveries
4.26
3.81
Tackles + interceptions
1.52
1.84
Both players boast similar playmaking metrics, but it’s interesting to note that Wirtz is far more economical with his striking, far outstripping Yamal in front of goal despite taking fewer shots on average.
Moreover, he’s crisper in possession and more of a natural distributor, making a remarkable number of progressive passes per game.
There’s a very good chance these two players will be dominating European football for years to come, so why wouldn’t Liverpool want to get ahead of the curve by signing one of the generation’s superstars to Slot’s cause?. It would be a sure-fire way of consolidating this season’s triumph, no doubt.
Though Yamal would be the perfect heir to Mohamed Salah’s throne, it’s probably fair to say he’s untouchable. However, Wirtz is the most sought-after talent on the market right now, and Liverpool have a genuine chance to bring him over to Anfield in the coming months.
To say Wirtz has a high ceiling would be false; the German star has no ceiling. Like Yamal, the sky is not the limit but the expectation. At Liverpool, under Slot’s wing, he could become one of the greatest players of his generation, ensuring Anfield stays at the top of the domestic and European game for many years to come.
A better signing than Wirtz: Liverpool ramp up move for "the next Mbappe"
Liverpool’s primary goal this summer remains signing a new centre-forward.
Given Celtic’s place in the global football pecking order, they are well-versed when it comes to selling a star player and being able to replace him.
Of course, a lot of the time, the Hoops’ excellent record in the transfer market means they’re able to replace their high-quality departures with signings.
However, Brendan Rodgers is also looking for his current players to step up and perform, with one player in particular having done exactly that this season.
Matt O'Riley impact at Celtic
Matt O’Riley arrived at Celtic from Milton Keynes for a reported fee of £1.5m in January 2022, and the fact he was then sold to Brighton two-and-a-half years later for a club-record £25m gives you a bit of an indication as to how well he performed in Glasgow.
The midfielder made 124 appearances in hoops, scoring 27 goals and registering 35 assists, winning seven major trophies as well as being named the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year before departing.
Ankan Bhowmick of Sports Illustrated labels the Danish international one of Celtic’s ‘best-performing’ players of their successful modern history, while Clive Lindsay of BBC Sport believes he has the quality to go to the very top, saying that his ‘languid running style’ can be ‘deceiving’ given that he’s a ‘quality…all-rounder’.
Given all of this, O’Riley was always going to leave a rather large void at Parkhead, but Celtic haven’t really missed him, thanks to a key player stepping up, but it’s not the player you might be thinking of.
Celtic's current creative focal point
Arne Engels was signed for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg on deadline day, to be O’Riley direct replacement.
However, as outlined by Andrew Newport of the Daily Record, the midfielder has, at times, not quite lived up to expectations so far, with the Belgian himself stating “I don’t care about the price tag… I think I have good numbers and good performances”.
Engels has accumulated ten goals and 12 assists in a Celtic jersey so far, but it is actually Alistair Johnston who has shouldered the creative burden following O’Riley’s exit.
The Canadian international was rewarded with a new contract back in November, with manager Rodgers describing the right-back as “phenomenal”, praising his “desire to improve in everything he does”, adding that “these are the qualities which make a great player”.
Joe Callaghan of the Guardian notes that Johnston has become a “cornerstone” for both club and country, with his performances seeing him included on the long-list for Best FIFA Men’s XI of 2024.
So, let’s analyse how he and O’Riley are similar, despite operating in different positions.
Appearances
29
37
Minutes
2,421
3249
Goals
4
18
Assists
8
13
Chances created
38
91
Big chances created
14
14
Passed attempted
2,023
1986
Through-balls
7
16
Take-on success %
50%
52.11%
Ball recoveries
100
208
Touches per 90
98
78
Of course, due to the obvious aforementioned positional differences, Johnston and O’Riley’s statistics are often somewhat different, although the fact that both created 14 big chances certainly jumps off the page, with the Canadian registering more of those than any other Celtic player this season.
Celtic defender Alistair Johnston.
During the most recent international window in March, Canada’s manager Jesse Marsch stated “there are some weeks I watch Alistair and I think… the games are too easy for him… players do need to be challenged.”
So, while Johnston is playing like O’Riley on the park, could he follow the Dane’s path off the pitch by becoming the latest Celtic fan favourite to be sold for an enormous profit?
Now worth 3x less than Johnston: Celtic struck gold selling "immense" star
Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston has been exceptional this season, ensuring one man remains rather forgotten in the past