Everton manager David Moyes has now personally requested the signing of an “excellent” midfielder this summer, according to a journalist.
Toffees in need of summer rebuild
There has been a major improvement in performances since Moyes returned to Goodison Park, and the manager has achieved his main aim of avoiding relegation from the Premier League ahead of the move to Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.
However, the Toffees have made a habit of drawing far too many games, meaning they have now won just one of their last ten matches, most recently slipping up against already-relegated Ipswich Town in the penultimate match at Goodison Park.
Moyes’ side raced into a two-goal lead against the Tractor Boys, but the visitors fought back to earn a point on the road, which underlined the need to bring in new reinforcements in the summer transfer window.
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Targets have been identified in several key areas, including striker, with the Merseysiders now leading the race for Jamie Vardy, while the Friedkin Group are also ready to back Moyes by making a move for Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer.
Everton are interested in bringing in a new midfielder from elsewhere, but they also need to secure the future of Carlos Alcaraz, who has shown some promising signs since arriving on loan from Flamengo back in January.
Evertonmanager David Moyes withEverton's CarlosAlcaraz
According to journalist Bruno Lemos (via Sport Witness), Moyes has now personally requested for the Friedkin Group to sign Alcaraz on a permanent basis this summer, regardless of whether the mandatory clause to sign the midfielder for €18m (£15m) is triggered.
There are conflicting reports as to how many games Alcaraz will have to feature in for the Toffees to be obligated to sign him permanently, but Moyes wants a deal done either way, having seemingly been left by his performances in the second half of the campaign.
"Excellent" Alcaraz has earned permanent move
Upon arrival at Goodison Park, the 22-year-old was described as an “excellent ball carrier who can add real quality to our attack” by sporting director Kevin Thelwell, and he has since gone on to put in some impressive performances for Moyes’ side.
The attacking midfielder has featured 13 times in the Premier League, picking up one goal and two assists, most recently setting up Beto’s opening goal in the 2-2 draw against Ipswich at the weekend.
Not only does the Argentine contribute going forward, but he is also more than willing to pitch in defensively, ranking highly across some key defensive metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
1.60 (80th percentile)
Interceptions
0.99 (99th percentile)
Clearances
1.35 (95th percentile)
Alcaraz has proven he is well worth snapping up on a permanent basis this summer, so it is no surprise that Moyes has made it clear he wants club chiefs to get a deal over the line.
As Manchester United prepare to head into the defining game of their season on Wednesday night, a key dilemma for manager Ruben Amorim to contemplate is the centre-forward berth, amid the continued woes of young Rasmus Hojlund.
Despite showcasing flickers of life with goals against Bournemouth and Athletic Club in recent weeks, the 22-year-old has still scored just ten goals in all competitions this season, with just four of those coming in the Premier League.
The Europa League – or European competition in general – has been a welcome solace for the Dane following his £64m switch in 2023, although even his 11 goals on the continent to date should not cloud Amorim’s judgement considering the wretched campaign that the former Atalanta man has endured.
Against Chelsea on Friday night, for instance, the struggling striker won just two of 11 duels and lost the ball on 13 occasions, with there a very real debate to be had over whether the former Sporting CP boss can find a wildcard solution to replace the club’s number nine in Bilbao.
As for the long-term, meanwhile, Hojlund’s woes have indicated that signing an upgrade is essential this summer. On the evidence of recent reports, that work has already begin, amid the speculation surrounding Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.
Latest on Man Utd's interest in Liam Delap
While a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers man Matheus Cunha appears to be edging ever closer to an agreement, the suggestion is that United are also looking to raid the Premier League for young Delap, following an encouraging first campaign in the top-flight.
Cunha, Delap, Amorim
Despite playing his part in a side that has slipped back into the Championship under Kieran McKenna, the 22-year-old has still managed to rack up 12 league goals thus far, with no player back at Old Trafford even reaching double figures, by contrast.
Reportedly available for just £30m this summer amid the presence of a relegation clause in his contract, the England U21 star represents an affordable option ahead of next term, with The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell outlining that talks have already been held with the player regarding a move.
As per Whitwell, however, the Red Devils are set to face competition from the likes of Chelsea, with Delap set to engage in negotiations with a number of suitors before making his decision.
The suggestion is that the club could afford to sign both Cunha and the former Manchester City starlet, even if Champions League qualification is not secured. That said, might it be worth stretching the budget just a little further?
Man Utd chasing Delap alternative
Having signed Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in successive summers, the decision to plump for another young striker like Delap could prove another mistake for those at Old Trafford, with the club simply needing to get it right in the centre-forward department.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast
According to reports in Spain, the Red Devils are seemingly in the mix for a prolific alternative, amid claims that they are among the Premier League clubs to have made an approach for Sporting sensation, Viktor Gyokeres.
As per the report, while it is Arsenal who remain in the ‘best position’ to sign the 26-year-old, United are said to have emerged as a ‘strong competitor’ of late, amid the forward’s prior relationship with Amorim.
Sporting Club's Viktor Gyokeres.
The suggestion is that the former Coventry City man will end up back in England this summer, with Fabrizio Romano having outlined in recent days that he could be available for around €65m (£55m),
That extra £25m, in relation to Delap, would prove worth the investment for a player who could prove to be the next Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Viktor Gyokeres
Why Gyokeres could be the new Van Nistelrooy
It is not too difficult to argue that not since the days of Van Nistelrooy have United truly had a reliable goalscoring presence at the club, with the clinical Dutchman chalking up 150 goals in 219 games in all competitions, including 95 in just 150 Premier League outings.
Signed from PSV Eindhoven in 2001 for a then British-record fee of around £19m, having seen a deal collapse a year earlier due to injury, the beloved striker hit the ground running in a United shirt, having scored twice on debut against Fulham.
In truth, the then-24-year-old had picked up where he left off in his homeland, having netted 77 times in just 90 games for PSV, after previous stints with Den Bosch and Heerenveen.
Any fears over whether he could cut it in English football were swiftly eased, with Van Nistelrooy proving that a goalscorer of that ilk can deliver the goods wherever they are plying their trade.
Hopefully, the same can be true of Gyokeres, with the “ball-striking monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – enjoying a similar record to what Ruud recorded at PSV, having netted 96 times in just 101 appearances in Lisbon.
Competition
Games
Goals
Assists
Liga Portugal
33
39
8
Taca de Portugal
6
4
3
Champions League
8
6
0
Allianz Cup
3
4
0
Supertaca
1
0
2
Competition
Games
Goals
Assists
Liga Portugal
33
29
9
Taca de Portugal
6
6
4
Europa League
9
5
2
Allianz Cup
2
3
0
Like Van Nistrelrooy too – who provided 20 assists in Eindhoven, as per Transfermarkt – the former Coventry hero can also create chances for others too when leading the line, having chipped in with 28 assists of his own.
In essence, Gyokeres is the complete striker, possessing that ability to lead the line on his own in impressive fashion, much like Van Nistelrooy was able to do in Sir Alex Ferguson’s 4-5-1 formation in the early 2000s.
The “hottest striker in Europe” right now, as per ESPN’s Mark Ogden, the one-time Brighton and Hove Albion asset is in simply blistering form. A reunion with Amorim could represent the dream alternative to chasing Delap, even if it comes at a greater cost.
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Even though there are four Premiership matches still to play, Rangers supporters’ focus is very much on their plans for the summer.
Sunday sees the final Old Firm of the season, with the Gers actually targeting a third successive victory over their fiercest rivals, although it hasn’t helped much, given that Celtic sit 17 points clear at the top, crowned champions last weekend.
If Rangers are going to bridge that gap over the summer, they’ll need to get their recruitment spot on, so could bringing a “massive talent” in on loan prove to be a smart move?
Arne Engels' impact this season
On deadline day last summer, as a replacement for Matt O’Riley, Celtic broke their transfer record to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported £11m.
So, has the Belgian proved to be good value for money this season?
Let’s have a look at the midfielder’s statistics to help decide.
Appearances
48
Minutes
3,017
Goals
10
Penalty goals
8
Assists
12
Big chances created
14
As the table outlines, Engels’ output this season is pretty impressive this season, albeit his goal-scoring numbers are somewhat inflated by the fact he has converted eight penalties.
Nevertheless, at 21-years-old, there’s still plenty of time for him to come good and, flipping it to Rangers, they simply cannot afford to spend £11m on a player, their record signing of the modern-era is the £7m paid to make Ryan Kent’s move permanent in 2019.
So, should the Gers utilise the loan market to add quality to their squad, with another ex-Liverpool youngster potentially available?
Rangers' midfield target
As outlined already this week, Rangers may have the chance to reignite their prior January interest in Bobby Clark, with the youngster in line for a loan exit from Red Bull Salzburg this summer.
Bobby Clark for Liverpool
The 20-year-old spent time in Birmingham, Newcastle and then Liverpool’s academies, making his breakthrough on Merseyside, appearing 14 times for the Reds’ first team, most notably winning the EFL Cup against Chelsea at Wembley.
Then, last summer, after Jürgen Klopp’s long-time assistant Pepijn Lijnders was appointed as Salzburg’s new manager, he convinced the Austrian Bundesliga side to pay £10m to secure his services, the third-biggest fee Salzburg have ever paid.
Fair to say, this has not worked out for anyone involved; Lijnders was sacked just before Christmas, while die Roten Bullen remain fourth in the table, on course for their lowest finish in two decades, set to enter the Conference League in the second qualifying round, having featured in the Champions League group phase in each of the last six seasons.
Bobby Clark
As a whole, this campaign has been a complete catastrophe for Salzburg, while it’s not gone much better for Clark personally.
Appearances
24
13th
Minutes
1,142
16th
UCL minutes
326
14th
Goals
1
=12th
Assists
2
=9th
Due to his lack of minutes, a report by Christoph Nister of Kronen Zeitung claims that the plan is for Clark to be loaned out next season, so should Rangers make a move?
Well, despite the fact it has not worked out for Clark in Austria, he is still a quality player.
Newcastle reporter Lee Ryder has hailed him as a “really exciting player”, Ciaran Varley of BBC Sport is impressed by his ‘fast footwork’ and eye for goal, while Caoimhe O’Neill of The Athletic described him as an “attacking midfielder” who “plays close to the striker” and “is very athletic”.
So, let’s analyse how he compares to the aforementioned Engels – with the pair noted as similar players in this season’s Champions League, as per FBref.
Non-penalty goals
31%
31%
Shots
23%
54%
Assists
28%
94%
Shot-creating actions
43%
70%
Pass completion
47%
4%
Progressive passes
32%
37%
Progressive carries
71%
52%
Successful take-ons
42%
36%
Tackles
83%
71%
Interceptions
24%
20%
Touches
68%
64%
As the table outlines, Clarke and Engels are stylistically very similar, with the Englishman actually coming out on top for a high proportion of these Champions League statistics this season, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that Salzburg were generally hopeless in that competition, losing seven of eight fixtures, finishing third-bottom.
Liverpool midfielder Bobby Clark in pre-match Premier League action against Bournemouth.
Thus, Clark would certainly be worth Rangers taking a punt on, a move that the 20-year-old may find even more attractive, if a certain Steven Gerrard is re-appointed manager.
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Liverpool typically sought to strengthen with untapped potential when under the wing of Jurgen Klopp. But Klopp has left his long-held manager’s post last year, and things feel different at Anfield.
That’s not to discredit the German’s dynasty, taking the reins on Merseyside when the Reds were a pale shadow, reduced to a colourless, rudderless state. Klopp made Liverpool whole again, winning a fair amount of silverware along the way.
However, FSG have undergone a refurb and are now looking to strengthen Arne Slot’s Premier League-winning squad with some of the finest that Europe has to offer.
One of those targets is Florian Wirtz, 22, whose playmaking quality knows no bounds. Bayer Leverkusen’s talisman will fetch a considerable figure this summer, but Liverpool are very much intent on staying in the race.
Why Liverpool want Florian Wirtz
At the start of the season, former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes claimed Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world,” with his vision, awareness, and magic touch proving invaluable for Xabi Alonso’s side over the past few years.
He might not have hit the same stratospheric heights of last year, but Wirtz has retained his world-class level across the 2024/25 campaign, outperforming Liverpool’s positionally similar players.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid when his contract expires, Liverpool are going to need to find a new way to maintain their matchless creative flair in the Premier League.
As you can see below, no English team has created more than Liverpool across the past five campaigns. Trent played a defining role in achieving this.
Premier League – Most Big Chances Created
Season
Club
Stat
24/25*
Liverpool
105
23/24
Liverpool
102
22/23
Liverpool/Man City
103
21/22
Liverpool
97
20/21
Liverpool
82
Data via Premier League
Liverpool want to reinforce their successful season by bringing in new signings, and Slot’s aiming for the best. Though it would require another significant outlay, the Reds are also planning to move for a new name at number nine.
With Darwin Nunez set to be sold, this is one to start getting excited about.
Liverpool make contact to sign prolific striker
Liverpool desperately need a more reliable marksman. Nunez is consistently inconsistent, while Diogo Jota’s long injury issues have finally seeped into his game this year.
FSG are ready to move incisively. According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have opened contacts with Sporting Lisbon regarding the potential transfer of Viktor Gyokeres, though Arsenal are favourites in the race.
It’s felt the Gunners are closing on a £9m-a-year agreement with the Sweden striker, but that Liverpool – and Manchester United – have shown strong interest and are ready to pounce on any opportunity, should Mikel Arteta’s side fumble.
Gyokeres has been one of the most prolific players in Europe over the past several years, and Sporting are looking to fetch £60m for his sale.
Why Viktor Gyokeres could be a great signing for Liverpool
When Sporting signed Gyokeres from Coventry City for £20m after a failed promotion push to the Premier League, it was felt that English football had lost an interesting attacking profile capable of playing at the top level.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
Two years later, the 25-year-old may return to English soil as “one of the best strikers in Europe,” as he has been described by Fabrizio Romano.
Across 100 matches for Os Leões, the one-time Brighton prospect has scored 95 goals and laid on 28 assists. Powerful and athletic, he’s surely tailor-made for a role at one of the Premier League’s top competitors.
The £62k-per-week star has bagged 52 goals from 50 matches in all competitions this season alone, meaning he’s significantly outscoring Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Isak is an incredible goalscorer and very much on Liverpool’s shopping list, but with a £150m price tag, it’s hrd to argue that he, with 27 goals from 41 games in 2024/25, would be the more prudent signing at an outlay some £90m more than Gyokeres. Liverpool have work to do across a number of positions, after all.
Only a few weeks ago, Gyokeres netted four goals in a single game for the Liga Portugal champions, who are level in first place with Benfica, superior goal difference owing largely to the centre-forward’s clinical shooting.
Given that he’s scored 57 league goals across his two terms in the Iberian division, Gyokeres has proven himself capable of leading the line at Liverpool, for sure. And when you consider he’s missed only 34 big chances in that timeframe, as per Sofascore, the argument only strengthens.
As per FBref, Gyokeres ranks among the top 1% of forwards this season in divisions similar to the Portuguese top flight for goals scored, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for assists per 90. Not bad at all.
Now think of all this, think of how efficient and deadly and “insane” all this is, as the 6 foot 2 striker has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Now imagine all that with Wirtz in behind him.
The fusion of skill sets could take a Premier League-winning Liverpool team to a whole ‘nother level entirely. Indeed, with Wirtz’s remarkable supply line finding Gyokeres, whose movements and intelligence get him in perfect positions from which he can let his predatory instinct take over, would allow Slot to challenge for the biggest trophies once again.
There was a decided lack of impetus across tournamental fronts this season: in the FA Cup, a rotated Liverpool fell to Plymouth Argyle, who have just been relegated from the Championship; after a dominant Champions League group phase, PSG got the better over two legs in the last 16; Liverpool did reach the Carabao Cup final, but were turned over by Newcastle.
In the Bundesliga this season, Wirtz might not have succeeded in defending Leverkusen’s title, but he has given a stellar account of himself once again. As per Sofascore, he’s hit 22 goal contributions from only 24 starts, creating 17 big chances and averaging 2.7 dribbles and 5.3 successful duels per game.
Last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Year knows his stuff, all right, and still so young in his career, he’s got the world at his feet.
The prolific performances of Gyokeres alongside Wirtz’s creative mind would surely spark the kind of success Slot is searching for next season, allowing Liverpool to take their fantastic campaign and shape it into a period of sustained, trophy-winning success.
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Sir Alex Ferguson always had an eye for homegrown talent, building his Manchester United dynasty on the backs of British and Irish stars like Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane.
The legendary Scottish manager was well known for not always seeing eye to eye with even his greatest stars however, and was not afraid to dish out punishment to some of the biggest names in the game.
Gary Neville recalled a dispute after he swore at the 83 year-old during their time together at United: “He fined me a week’s wages, battered me after the match.
“Did it again the day after in his office. Then he proceeded to leave me out for the next two weeks, put me on the bench. He shouted something on to me [in the game] and I knew it. I spent the next 15 minutes of the match thinking, ‘I am done. I’m done.’”
Perhaps the most well-known case of ‘Fergie’ taking on one of his own players came in 2005, leading to Keane’s departure as Red Devils captain.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder had been in and out of the team since an injury sustained due to a poor tackle from Liverpool’s Luis Garcia, and had also taken issue with the quality of the team’s accommodation during a pre-season camp in Portugal.
And after an outburst criticising his teammates on MUTV as well as several rows with Ferguson and assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, Keane left Old Trafford by mutual consent in November 2005.
Ferguson: Gerrard was the best midfielder in the Premier League
Suddenly United had a gaping hole in a team that had dominated the Premier League for years, and Sir Alex has since revealed the only man capable of filling that void at the time was Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
It’s little surprise the Scot was so appreciative of Gerrard’s talents either. At a time when United were dominating their north-west counterparts domestically, Gerrard was the sole constant thorn in their side.
Appearances
35
Wins
13
Draws
2
Losses
20
Goals
9
Assists
5
Yellow cards
6
Red cards
2
The Premier League has seen some of the best midfielders in the world throughout the years, leading to fierce debates as fans rank the likes of Keane, Gerrard, Vieira, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard.
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Sir Alex wasn’t the only one full of praise for Liverpool’s skipper though, with the legendary Jose Mourinho once admitting he tried to sign him both with Internazionale and while he was in charge at Chelsea.
It’s truly difficult to comprehend how England’s ‘golden era’ was unable to succeed with the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes leading the charge.
Newcastle United failed to make it back-to-back victories in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon with a disappointing 1-1 draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Gaining all three points would have seen Eddie Howe’s Magpies really lay down a marker when it comes to their top five aspirations, but this draw means the tussle between themselves, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest will only intensify more ahead of a thrilling May to follow.
On another day, however, the Tyneside outfit could have returned back home empty-handed, with more heroics from Alexander Isak thankfully bailing the visitors out.
Isak's heroics on the South Coast
It’s hardly a surprise now when Isak’s name flashes up as a goalscorer for the Toon, with the unerringly accurate Newcastle number 14 now up to 27 goals in all competitions after firing home a last-gasp penalty on the South Coast.
The spot-kick beating Bart Verbruggen also means Isak is now on a hefty 23 Premier League strikes, with this total being the most lethal tally a Newcastle player has managed in league action since Alan Shearer’s 22-goal haul during the 2003/04 campaign.
Amazingly, Howe’s men had actually had two penalties overturned via VAR before Isak’s was given, meaning it was crucial that the lethal Swede fired home with confidence, and he did just that to send the away masses into momentary delirium.
Away from his effort from the spot wrongfooting the Seagulls goalkeeper, it was somewhat of a quiet day at the office from Isak in open play, seen in the 25-year-old only registering two efforts on goal and 20 accurate passes, away from his last-gasp moment of quality.
But, any negatives from his overall game were quickly brushed under the carpet after the penalty trickled in.
Whereas, one of Isak’s attacking teammates might well find his starting spot is up for grabs after an entirely unmemorable performance against Fabian Hurzeler’s hosts.
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The 5/10 Newcastle star who could now be dropped
It’s clear when reading over the match numbers that there were a whole host of underperformers from Newcastle’s perspective.
Indeed, having posted two assists last weekend, Kieran Trippier was nowhere near his rampaging best down the right flank when squandering possession 15 times, whilst Joe Willock struggled too in an attacking capacity when making just 17 accurate passes, also booked for diving.
But, Jacob Murphy would be the biggest letdown for Howe, considering the usually electric number 23 has eight goals and 11 assists next to his name across 32 Premier League outings this season, but offered virtually nothing when bombing forward against the Seagulls.
This would result in Howe putting Murphy out of his misery on the 56th minute mark, with the Magpies boss clearly fed up by the fact the 30-year-old had registered just one effort on Verbruggen’s goal when still on the pitch, among other lacklustre numbers.
Murphy’s performance in numbers
Stat
Murphy
Minutes played
56
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
30
Accurate passes
17/22 (77%)
Accurate crosses
0/2
Accurate long balls
0/1
Shots
1
Successful dribbles
1/2
Total duels won
1/4
Stats by Sofascore
Frustratingly, Murphy would also tally up no accurate crosses, no accurate long balls and just one successful dribble when attempting to create an opening for the visitors, on top of also failing to be aggressive when needed when winning just one duel from four attempted.
Arguably, the 30-year-old’s replacement in Anthony Gordon offered more from his limited minutes on the Brighton turf, with one of the overturned penalties on the day coming about from the ex-Everton man’s burst of pace, alongside the lively attacker winning four of his own duels.
Northern Echo journalist Scott Wilson would hand out a low 5/10 rating to the former Norwich City winger subsequently stating that his afternoon was defined by a number of promising crossing opportunities being ‘wasted.’
It could well be time for Howe to axe Murphy from his starting lineup to freshen up proceedings, therefore, with the Magpies boss hopeful that both Gordon and Harvey Barnes next to Isak can cause Chelsea all sorts of bother in a huge Premier League clash up next.
In-demand player would rather join Newcastle despite offer from Barcelona
Arsenal have been blessed with some utterly superb strikers in the past.
From Ian Wright in the early 1990s to the legendary Thierry Henry in the 2000s and even Robin Van Persie in the early 2010s – although the less said about him, the better.
However, while the team are in a far better place than they were five or six years ago, it would probably be fair to say that the last great striker who played for the club left in 2022, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Fortunately, Mikel Arteta and Co finally seem to be addressing the squad’s need for a clinical number nine, as recent reports have touted one of Europe’s most exciting strikers for an imminent move to the Emirates, a striker who’d be Arsenal’s best since Aubameyang.
Arsenal's striker search
Given Arsenal’s lack of goalscoring threat this season, it’s hardly surprising that the last few weeks have seen a number of top strikers linked with the club, such as Evann Guessand and Serhou Guirassy.
Transfer Focus
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The former could reportedly be available for just £25m this summer, and while he might not be particularly well known to Premier League fans, his tally of 13 goals and 10 assists in 42 games for OGC Nice suggests he’d be worth picking up.
Guirassy, on the other hand, has a release clause worth £59m in his contract, but that too might prove to be more than fair, as in 45 appearances for Borussia Dortmund this season, he’s racked up a stellar haul of 34 goals and nine assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.04 games.
However, to ensure they sign someone who’d be their best striker since Aubameyang, the Gunners might want someone even more prolific than the Guinea international, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.
According to a recent report from Monday’s print edition of Portuguese outlet O Jogo, as relayed by Football Transfers, Arsenal have made massive progress in their pursuit of the Swedish international.
In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the North Londoners have struck a €65m – £55m – deal with Sporting ‘to sign the striker’ and that they will ‘officially complete the signing’ next week.
It’s a lot of money to spend on a forward from outside a top-five league, but given Gyokeres’ simply unreal record, it looks like it’ll be money well spent, especially as he could be the club’s best nine since Aubameyang.
Why Gyokeres will be Arsenal's best striker since Auba
While he left in unceremonious fashion and wasn’t exactly lethal towards the end of his time in North London, it cannot be forgotten that for much of his time at Arsenal, Auba was a tour de force in front of goal.
For example, he became the fastest player in club history to hit 50 Premier League goals in July 2020, and then, even with his downturn towards the last 18 months of his time at the Emirates, he left the club with a brilliant record of 92 goals and 21 assists in 163 games.
Since he left, Arteta has used Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz as his starting strikers, and while they’ve all done well enough here and there, none of them have been or are particularly prolific.
Appearances (*at Arsenal)
101
206
96
86
Minutes
8297′
13222′
5461′
6617′
Goals
96
71
26
29
Assists
28
35
20
13
Goal Involvements per Match
1.22
0.51
0.47
0.48
Minutes per Goal Involvement
66.91′
124.73′
118.71′
157.54
For example, the Frenchman left the club with 71 goals and 35 assists in 206 games, while the Brazilian has amassed 26 goals and 20 assists in 96 games, and the German has 29 goals and 13 assists in 86 games.
In contrast, Gyokeres has been simply unstoppable since moving to Lisbon in the summer of 2023.
In 101 appearances for the Portuguese champions, the goalscoring “monster,” as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has put the ball in the back of the net on 96 occasions and provided 28 assists, which equates to a sensational average of 1.22 goal involvements per game for just under two years.
Moreover, the Stockholm-born phenomenon has also been a dangerous outlet for the Swedish national side, as in just 26 appearances, totalling 1568 minutes, he has scored 15 goals and provided six assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.23 games, or every 74.66 minutes.
Ultimately, while Arteta has had some talented forwards in his squad since Auba left, Gyokeres looks like he could be the first one to match the Gabonese icon’s ability, making his supposed signing look like a masterstroke.
Arsenal ready big bid to sign "unbelievable" £68m upgrade on Odegaard
The incredible international would be unreal for Arsenal.
Going in pursuit of even greater success next season, Liverpool are now reportedly prioritising a move to sign an impressive La Liga midfielder in this summer’s transfer window.
Salah reiterates desire for even more success
Mohamed Salah may be a two-time Premier League winner and undeniably one of the greatest players to ever grace English football, but he is not slowing down. At 32 years old, the Egyptian has just broken the record for most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season, with 28 goals and 18 assists, and was recently crowned the Football Writers’ Player of the Season.
He still wants more, however. That new contract wasn’t signed with the intention of slowing down in the final stages of his Liverpool career. Instead, Salah reiterated that he still wants to win at least one more Premier League and one more Champions League at Anfield.
The winger recently told Gary Neville: “This year I won the Premier League and I think I never felt happier in the club for eight years like this moment in the Spurs game. I really wish we win the Champions League game. I know the Premier League is always nice for the club and that’s how it should be but I would love to win the Champions League and Premier League again.”
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To achieve exactly that though, Liverpool will need to back Arne Slot in this summer’s transfer window. As successful as the Dutchman’s first season has been at Anfield, there remains question marks about whether the Reds were simply in the right place at the right time. And those questions must be answered in emphatic fashion next season.
Well aware of that, FSG are already acting to replace the departing Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong in the coming months and have now reportedly identified another target who could help them to match Salah’s clear ambitions.
Liverpool prioritising Jauregizar move
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now prioritising a move to sign Mikel Jauregizar from Athletic Club this summer. Slot reportedly rates the midfielder and could finally land the type of reinforcement that he has wanted since targeting Martin Zubimendi last summer. Given that the Reds are set to miss out on Zubimendi to rivals Arsenal, welcoming Jauregizar would arguably make perfect sense this summer.
Starts
24
32
Progressive Carries
0.59
1.14
Progressive Passes
4.73
5.96
Ball Recoveries
5.78
4.32
The numbers highlight the similarities between the two midfielders, but also one key difference. Although Jauregizar has struggled to match Zubimendi’s ability to progress play, he has worked better out of possession – a trait that Slot has come to appreciate in Dominik Szoboszlai at Liverpool this season.
Labelled “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Jauregizar could be next in line to undergo the same transformation that Ryan Gravenberch has undergone in the last 12 months. From struggling star, the Dutchman is now a nominee for the Premier League Player of the Year award under Slot.
Mikel Jauregizar scoring against Manchester United in the Europa League.
As for matching Salah’s ambitions, an added controller in the middle of the park in Jauregizar could go a long way towards Slot’s Liverpool side becoming far more dominant this summer and winning the top honours once again.
This summer presents a huge opportunity for Leeds United to strengthen their first-team squad, bolstering the ranks ahead of their return to the Premier League in 2025/26.
Daniel Farke has created an excellent squad at Elland Road over the last two years, leading the club to Championship glory this season, notching a staggering 100 points.
The midfield has been crucial to their success, with Ao Tanaka undoubtedly being the star in such a department, featuring 43 times and being named in the EFL’s Team of the Season.
Brenden Aaronson, Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rothwell have all also played their part, with the latter returning to parent club Bournemouth as a result of his loan ending.
However, if the side are to remain in the top-flight at the end of next campaign, additions are needed during the off-season, with work already being made to land new stars for Farke’s side.
The latest on Leeds’ pursuit of new midfielders
Manchester City star James McAtee has been constantly on Leeds’ radar in recent weeks, reemerging after previously being a loan target 12 months ago.
The 22-year-old looks set to leave the Etihad this summer, with the Whites battling Nottingham Forest for his signature, but he may cost a pretty penny with Manchester City demanding £35m for his signature.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
However, another name has emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure of keen interest, according to Africa Foot’s latest report.
The report claims that the Whites are battling Roma for the 32-year-old, who after signing for £20m a number of years ago, is out of contract at the end of the campaign, with the Malian appearing to wave goodbye at Goodison Park on Sunday.
It also states that he could be tempted by an offer to remain in England’s top-flight, extending his stint in such a division after spending the last nine years between Watford and the Toffees.
Why Doucoure has shades of Kalvin Phillips
Midfielder Kalvin Phillips undoubtedly remains one of the best players to come out of Leeds’ Thorpe Arch academy, developing through the youth levels before making his mark at Elland Road.
Former Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
The 29-year-old made a total of 234 appearances, helping the side secure promotion in 2020, before cementing their place in the Premier League – something which Farke will be desperate to do this campaign.
He caught the eye with his passing ability and ball-winning talent, whilst also registering numerous goals and having a positive impact within the final third when the ball fell his way.
Phillips would depart to join Manchester City in a £45m deal back in the summer of 2022, already being linked with a return to Yorkshire after his dismal stint under Guardiola.
However, the club should steer clear of any reunion and pursue a move for Doucoure, with the Malian international having the tools to be the club’s next version of the academy graduate.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Whilst he’s featured in a more attacking role than Phillips this campaign, he has still managed to thrive in and out of possession, whilst handing the manager an added threat in the final third.
Doucoure, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one journalist, has registered five combined goals and assists this campaign, whilst also notching a higher shot-on-target rate – highlighting his clinical edge in attacking areas.
How Doucoure compares to Phillips in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Doucoure
Phillips
Games played
32
19
Goals & assists
5
0
Progressive carries
1.5
0.3
Shot-on-target accuracy
29%
18%
Pass accuracy
80%
79%
Tackles won in the defensive third
0.8
0.5
Take-on success
53%
41%
Aerials won
41%
24%
Stats via FBref
He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst registering more progressive carries – handing Farke an excellent option in possession throughout what’s likely to be a difficult campaign.
The Toffees star’s dominance doesn’t stop there, winning more tackles in the defensive third and coming out on top in more aerial battles, offering the added defensive talent needed in the club’s midfield.
Given the fact that he’s available on a free transfer this summer, it’s a no-brainer that the Whites need to snap up a deal for Doucoure, with the Malian offering an experienced option in the middle of the park.
If he can get anywhere near the levels achieved by Phillips at Elland Road, he would be one hell of an addition, potentially playing a massive role in their chances of achieving survival next campaign.
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As they did at the start of this season, Arsenal will go into next year as one of the clear favourites to win the Premier League.
While such an expectation now feels entirely normal, it wasn’t just a few years ago, as the 22/23 campaign marked the first season in a long time that the Gunners mounted a serious challenge for the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side failed to even qualify for the Champions League the year prior but came flying out of the gate and came painfully close to becoming champions with the exciting wing play of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, two of the club’s stand-out players.
While the former has only improved since then, the latter has struggled to match the 22 goal involvements he produced in 46 games, but the board might be about to sign a centre-forward who could help him get back to his best.
Arsenal's striker search
With Arsenal clearly needing another striker as far back as last summer, the club have been linked with a whole host of free-scoring forwards this year, from Alexander Isak to Benjamin Sesko.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former would probably be most people’s preferred option, as he’s proven in the Premier League and has been in incredible form this season, scoring 27 goals and providing six assists in just 40 appearances for Newcastle United.
However, with reports from earlier this year claiming that he could cost in excess of £150m, it seems incredibly unlikely that this is a deal that gets done.
Sesko, on the other hand, could cost around £58m this summer, and considering he’s managed to rack up a tally of 21 goals and six assists in 43 appearances for RB Leipzig, that might just be a reasonable fee.
Yet, as the Slovenian is still just 21 years old, the North Londoners might want a more senior marksman leading the line next year, which is where Viktor Gyokeres comes in.
According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in the Sporting CP superstar ahead of the summer transfer window.
In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners have now made an opening bid of €60m for the Swedish superstar, which is about £51m, and considered likely to be too low.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
The good news is that the Portuguese giants are willing to sell him for less than his €100m – £85m – release clause, but the bad news is that the likes of Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are also all keen to secure the 26-year-old’s services.
It would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Gyokeres’ immense ability in front of goal, it is one well worth fighting for, especially as he could get Martinelli back to his best.
Why Gyokeres could get Martinelli back to his best
Let’s say that Arsenal have their bid accepted, or they increase and get their man that way; why would Gyokeres help get Martinelli back to his 22/23 best?
Sporting Club's Francisco Trinaco and Viktor Gyokeres.
Well, while there are a few different reasons, they fundamentally all come back to one thing: his output.
For example, in 50 appearances last season, totalling 4169 minutes, the prolific “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Alex Turk, scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists.
Gyokeres’ Sporting Record
Season
23/24
24/25
Appearances
50
49
Minutes
4169′
3948′
Goals
43
52
Assists
15
12
Goal Involvements per Match
1.16
1.30
Minutes per Goal Involvement
71.87′
61.68′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That means he averaged 1.16 goal involvements per game for the entire campaign, or, in other words, he produced one every 71.87 minutes.
However, if that wasn’t good enough, he’s doing even better this season, as in 49 appearances, totalling 3948 minutes, the Stockholm-born sensation has scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists.
Such an incredible level of output means the 26-capped international is averaging 1.30 goal involvements per game at the moment, or one every 61.68 minutes.
Just imagine a striker as unbelievably efficient as him starting to the right of the Gunners’ number 11; his goal and assist numbers would explode.
Moreover, the sheer presence of someone so clinical in the frontline will force opposition defences to focus more attention on him, thus opening up more space for Saka and the rapid Brazilian to exploit.
Ultimately, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Gyokeres this summer, as not only would his goals make a significant difference on their own, but he’d also surely help Martinelli get back to his very best.
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