All posts by z3u9t.icu

Nottingham Forest are stepping up their preparations for the new campaign and could now open talks to bring an exciting attacker to the City Ground, according to a report.

Forest look to rebound from Anthony Elanga departure

When talking about Nottingham Forest, there is one story that grabs most of the attention right now amid Nuno Espirito Santo and company returning for pre-season.

Following his excellent return last campaign, Anthony Elanga is travelling to undergo a medical at Newcastle United after both clubs agreed on a fee for the Sweden international.

Taking to social media platform X, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie added: “Anthony Elanga is costing Newcastle £52m + £3m in add-ons (told those are difficult to achieve). The winger is currently on his way to Newcastle for his medical which is booked in to begin this (Tuesday) evening.”

Manchester United will inherit £6-7 million due to their sell-on clause for Elanga, who came through the ranks at Old Trafford, though Nottingham Forest are already profiling replacements and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman is on their radar.

Intriguingly, Lyon’s Malick Fofana remains on the Tricky Trees’ radar, but Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Napoli will provide stiff competition for his signature.

Nottingham Forest could land a better signing than Weah in £21m "mosquito"

Nuno Espirito Santo is looking to sign a Brazilian winger

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 29, 2025

Plates are beginning to spin as Nottingham Forest look to enjoy another season exceeding expectations, while the added carrot of Europa Conference League football at the City Ground could give them an edge when it comes to acquiring fresh blood.

Losing Elanga will come as a bitter blow, but sound recruitment in the East Midlands has propelled Nuno’s men into challenging the Premier League elite, and they could now be about to make a transfer statement.

Nottingham Forest to open talks for Johan Bakayoko

According to The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest are set to open talks to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko with Elanga headed for Tyneside.

The Belgium international is viewed as a ‘top target’ at the City Ground and is part of a wider plan behind the scenes to bring in two wide players this summer to bolster the manager’s pool of options.

Anthony Elanga in 2024/25 – Premier League

Goals

6

Assists

11

Chances created

50

Completed dribbles

25

Successful crosses

43

Johan Bakayoko in 2024/25 – Eredivisie

Goals

9

Assists

1

Chances created

36

Completed dribbles

47

Successful crosses

21

Comparing well in direct comparison to Elanga, his profile appears to synchronise with Nottingham Forest’s style of play, even if the Swede is more of a creator while Bakayoko finds himself amongst the goals more often.

He was even previously a Newcastle target before they opted to sign Elanga, with the Magpies seeing him as a cheaper alternative, so it’s clear they possess similar attributes and both have room to develop further.

Intriguingly, the 22-year-old only has one year left on his deal at Philips Stadion, which could be a useful bargaining chip for the Tricky Trees if negotiations are to progress.

PSV are likely to demand £30 million for their star man, which would be a record total for Nottingham Forest if they were to press ahead. However, Bakayoko is definitely affordable and appears primed for a shot at the Premier League.

Chelsea know exactly what they need to do to secure qualification for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.

A win and a defeat in their first two games means the Blues must defeat African side ES Tunis in their final group stage match.

With around $125m awaiting the winner of the competition, Enzo Maresca won’t be settling for an early exit. That much is certain.

Several players have impressed stateside for the Stamford Bridge outfit across their opening two matches.

Liam Delap recorded an assist on his debut against LAFC last week, delivering an inch-perfect cross into the path of Enzo Fernández, who slotted home the club’s second goal.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

Elsewhere, Pedro Neto is enjoying a stunning tournament so far. Not only has the Portuguese winger scored in both games thus far, but he has also succeeded with four dribbles per game, and has created two big chances while averaging 2.5 key passes per match.

If he can deliver another wonderful display on Wednesday, the Blues will seal a place in the last 16 without much fuss.

Not everyone has shone in America, however, with Nicolas Jackson enduring a tournament to forget so far.

Why Nicolas Jackson's future is uncertain at Chelsea

Jackson was chosen by Maresca to start the first match against LAFC, where he did manage to grab an assist and make three key passes, although the striker did miss a big chance, something he’s become famed for since moving to London.

It was a solid, if unspectacular, start to the Club World Cup, but Liam Delap’s impressive cameo in the same game meant he would be tasked with leading the line from the start against Flamengo.

The Englishman performed admirably, but was substituted off with just under 30 minutes left, replaced by Jackson.

The former Villarreal star didn’t have long to make an impression, but just four minutes after coming on, he committed a dreadful challenge on Lucas Ayrton, which saw him receive a straight red card.

He can have no complaints, especially given the studs-up nature of the challenge. Jackson will now miss the final group stage match for the Blues.

Goals

10

Assists

5

Shots per game

2.5

Goal conversion percentage

13%

Key passes per game

0.9

Big chances missed

19

Both Juventus and Napoli have reportedly shown interest in signing the Blues centre-forward this summer amid his poor displays and now recent sending-off.

However, an update from Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol quashed the rumours of a potential departure, stating that “Chelsea are planning to have at least two frontline strikers in their squad next season which means Nicolas Jackson is not for sale at the moment.”

It appears as though Jackson will still be a player that Maresca needs in his squad next season, but things have to change if he wishes to contribute effectively.

Could signing a new attacking midfielder perhaps help in this regard?

Chelsea target move for Bundesliga sensation

Maresca has been searching for a new winger over the previous few weeks and players such as Mohammed Kudus, Tyler Dibling and Jamie Gittens are among the main targets.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

There are other positions which need bolstering too, including the defence and midfield. This has led Maresca to search far and wide for potential new signings.

One player who is on their radar is RB Leipzig starlet Xavi Simons. That is according to football.london, who also state that the likes of Joao Pedro, Kudus and Ekitike are those on the club’s wish list this summer.

No transfer fee has been mentioned regarding a move for the Dutchman, but considering he has a contract until 2027 with the club and is valued at €70m (£60m) by Transfermarkt, the Blues could be forced to splash the cash.

This is, of course, nothing new to the Blues, and if Simons does make the move to London, he could be the man to revive Jackson. That’s for sure.

Why Xavi Simons could revive Nicolas Jackson

Last season for Leipzig, Simons demonstrated why, in the words of one data analyst, he is “one of the best 10s in the world,” not only scoring 11 goals, but also registering eight assists in all competitions.

In the Bundesliga, the Dutch starlet created 12 big chances while also averaging two key passes per game and these sorts of numbers could be music to Jackson’s ears.

If deployed directly behind the Senegal international, Simons would surely create chance upon chance for the player, hopefully helping him hit that magic 20-goal-a-season mark next term.

Furthermore, he displayed his creative abilities in the Champions League last season. When compared to his peers in the competition, Simons ranked highly on a range of metrics.

Indeed, he ranked in the top 9% for successful ons (1.88) per 90, in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and also in the top 89% for progressive carries (3.22) per 90 in the competition.

Yet more evidence of how Simons could revive Jackson. He can beat his man consistently while bringing the ball into the final third with ease.

All Jackson has to do is get into the correct positions, and he will have a plethora of chances to score next term.

Further hailed by journalist Alex Barker as “one of the best youngsters in Europe” towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, it won’t be long before he hits the very top and he could do just that at Stamford Bridge.

Will Chelsea ramp up their interest in the player as the transfer window goes on? While a winger remains the priority for Maresca, signing someone like Simons is a must.

Jackson could turn into a new man next season by having Simons operating just behind him. As evidenced, the Dutchman can generate chances galore and regularly bursts into the opposition penalty box.

Better signing than Ekitike: Chelsea ready to launch bid for "elite" star

Chelsea must try and get this fantastic deal over the line.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 22, 2025

Rangers, under new owners the 49ers Enterprises, look set for a busy summer transfer window after appointing Russell Martin as their new manager.

The Gers have already kickstarted their business on an incoming front, announcing midfielder Lyall Cameron as a new Rangers player after he signed a pre-contract agreement earlier in the year.

More new signings could be on the way, and X’s AI tool Grok has already predicted who Rangers could sign this summer, with a £6m star potentially in line to return to Glasgow.

£6m star returns to Ibrox: AI predicts who Rangers will sign this summer

It could be a busy few months for the 49ers.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 14, 2025

But who could be on the way out? Well, we’ve asked Grok to predict who Rangers and the 49ers could sell ahead of Martin’s first season at Ibrox.

AI predicts 5 players Rangers will sell this summer 1 Nicolas Raskin (£25m)

The biggest sale of the summer at Rangers according to AI could be midfielder Nicolas Raskin. It is stated that ‘his recent performances have boosted his profile, making him a valuable asset’ to those in Scotland.

The Belgium international has been linked with numerous clubs in Europe such as Marseille, Fiorentina, and FC Porto.

Grok says an exit is a ‘high likelihood’ and that this summer ‘is a prime window to cash in before his value risks depreciating’, citing a fee in the region of £25m.

2 Cyriel Dessers (£6m)

Next on the list is forward Cyriel Dessers, and an Ibrox departure wouldn’t shock many Rangers supporters given what has been said in the media in recent weeks.

There have been claims that Dessers, who won the Scottish Premiership Golden Boot award in 2024/25, has already agreed a £30,000-a-week contract with Greek side AEK Athens.

Grok says his exit is also a ‘high likelihood’ and that ‘his sale could fund a younger striker’. A £6m fee has been mooted for Dessers to leave.

3 Mohamed Diomande (£10m)

Next on the list who has a ‘potential’ chance of leaving according to Grok is midfielder Mohamed Diomande, who was only signed by Rangers last year.

They say Diomande ‘showed promise but had an inconsistent 2024/25’ and that ‘interest from other clubs exists, and a £10m bid could see him sold’.

The Ivory Coast international is still under contract at Ibrox until 2028 and was a regular in his first season in Scotland.

4 Robin Propper (£3m)

Defender Robin Propper has been linked with an Ibrox exit and a return to FC Twente just 12 months after leaving the Dutch side for Rangers.

There were reports that Propper had agreed a three-year deal to re-join FC Twente and claims that Martin didn’t want the 31-year-old.

However, a move is yet to go through and Grok say that the chances of Propper leaving Rangers are ‘moderate’ and that his exit for £3m ‘could free up wages and squad space’.

5 James Tavernier (£5m)

The last player on the list who could depart Rangers this summer is club captain James Tavernier, who has regularly been linked with an Ibrox exit over the last 12 months.

Games

513

Goals

130

Assists

142

Minutes played

45,296

Trophies won

5

The 33-year-old is into the last year of his Gers deal and Grok states the 49ers ‘may see his sale as part of a huge rebuild’.

Although AI says the chances of the right-back leaving are ‘low to moderate’, it is added that a £5m bid could tempt Rangers into a sale.

Over the last couple of years, Leeds United has been the home to numerous star defenders, many of whom have captured the hearts of the fanbase as a result of their performances on the pitch.

Right-back Luke Ayling joined the Whites for just £500k from Bristol City back in the summer of 2016, racking up over 250 appearances for the club over an eight-year period.

The 33-year-old was part of the previous side that won promotion back to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, before being a mainstay throughout their stint in the top-flight.

The current squad also has many stars that have replicated such an achievement, with the likes of Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu and Junior Firpo cementing their place in club history after their respective parts in the promotion.

However, this summer presents boss Daniel Farke with another opportunity to strengthen his squad, handing more players the chance to adhere themselves to the fanbase in Yorkshire.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

Over the last couple of days, Leeds have made serious moves to land new attackers at Elland Road, to hand Farke with added ammunition within the final third.

Fabio Silva is one player who’s been touted with a move to the club in recent days, with talks being held for the Wolves star, who scored 10 goals on loan at Las Palmas in 2024/25.

However, another name has been thrown into the mix over recent days, with Udinese’s Jaka Bijol the latest player on their radar, according to one Italian outlet.

They claim that the Whites have had their first offer rejected for the 26-year-old centre-back, but remain in talks over a deal and are preparing a second offer.

The defender made 34 appearances in Serie A this season, with no breakthrough yet in a deal for the Slovenian international, who’s valued at around €20m (£17m).

Why Leeds’ £17m target could be Farke’s own Jansson

Centre-back Pontus Jansson joined Leeds way back in the summer of 2016, originally moving on loan from Italian side Torino, before joining on a permanent basis 12 months later.

The Swede made 120 appearances during his two spells at Elland Road, capturing the hearts of the supporters as he helped the club register a third-place finish in 2018/19.

His rise to stardom in Yorkshire was demonstrated by previously being named the club’s captain and offering them a commanding presence at the heart of the defence.

He would eventually leave to join Brentford after a four-year spell with the Whites, playing a huge part in their rebuild and allowing the club to return to the Premier League back in 2020.

However, fast forward six years on from his Elland Road departure, the hierarchy have the opportunity to land their next version of the centre-back in the form of Bijol.

The Udinese star would follow suit by joining the club from an Italian side, whilst offering a commanding presence at the back – as seen by his figures this campaign.

Bijol, who’s been labelled “monstrous” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 5.5 clearances per 90 this campaign, along with 3.3 aerials won – handing the Whites added quality in the back line in their attempts to avoid the drop.

Games played

34

Minutes played

2963

Aerials won

3.3

Aerial success rate

68%

Clearances made

5.5

Pass accuracy

84%

Progressive passes

3

Passes into final third

3.3

His aerial dominance has been further demonstrated by his tally of 68% aerials won – a tally that puts him within the top 6% of all players in Italy’s top flight.

The defender also offers a composed touch in possession, completing 84% of his passes, whilst also playing 3.3 balls into the final third per 90 this campaign, subsequently able to have an impact at both ends of the pitch.

£17m for a player of Bijol’s experience in today’s market could well prove to be a bargain, with the 26-year-old able to make himself a hero if he can prevent relegation in 2025/26.

He also has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Jansson at Elland Road, with the Swede showcasing that signing players from Italy has been a success in previous years.

Better than Beto: Leeds set to make bid for "one of the best CFs in the PL"

Leeds United could finally be about to land a talisman to catapult them to Premier League survival.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 11, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers know they will enter the 2025/26 season without the services of Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is set to join Manchester United in a deal worth £62.5m in the coming weeks and this will leave the Old Gold short in the attacking department.

Cunha was arguably the reason why Wolves remained in the Premier League last season. All good things must come to an end, however, and Vitor Pereira will now be looking to replace the former Atlético Madrid man when the transfer window opens.

Matheus Cunha's Wolves record

Cunha was the club’s biggest attacking threat last season. Not only did he top the scoring charts with 17 goals, while finishing second in the squad for assists with six in all competitions.

Indeed, Cunha registered the most goal involvements (21) in the squad during the Premier League, while also ranking first for big chances created (13), key passes per game (1.8) and successful dribbles per game (1.8).

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

36

17

6

2023/24

36

14

8

2022/23

20

2

1

If it weren’t for his contributions in the final third, Wolves might have found themselves in graver danger towards the end of the season, that’s for sure.

Now the onus is on Pereira to find a suitable replacement for the Brazilian talisman. One who can hit the ground running at Molineux at the start of next season.

Could the manager target a player from a fellow Premier League club?

Wolves could land Premier League star as Cunha replacement

Last week, Birmingham World claimed that the Old Gold were considering making a move for James McAtee of Manchester City this summer.

A fee of around £25m appears to be what Pep Guardiola is set to demand for the youngster. Given that Pereira will have money to play with upon Cunha’s sale, this shouldn’t be a problem.

McAtee has already made 48 Premier League appearances throughout his embryonic career, scoring six goals and grabbing three assists.

Despite playing 27 times last term, only nine of these came in the starting XI. If McAtee wishes to fulfill his potential, moving to a club like Wolves will allow him to play every week.

Hailed as a “special player” by Guardiola, the Englishman would certainly offer something extra to the Wolves side next term.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, McAtee ranks in the top 1% for goals (0.78) and the top 6% for total shots (3.53) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

If given chances, he will certainly score plenty of goals for Wolves. Furthermore, he also created two big chances and had a goal conversion percentage of 25% in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season.

This was despite averaging just 24 minutes per game for City. He might not be at the same level as Cunha just yet, but the English talent certainly has the tools required to eventually get there one day.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Pereira will need to act swiftly, as there are a few other teams also seeking a move for the City starlet this summer.

Offer made: Wolves submit bid for £42m star who "never puts a foot wrong"

The Old Gold have now made a move for a defender.

ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

As results on the pitch continue to encapsulate their struggles even after the Premier League season has concluded, Manchester United have reportedly already set their sights on some key upgrades.

Man Utd defeated by ASEAN All-Stars

Whilst other clubs have taken a much-needed rest following a frantic Premier League season, Manchester United are currently in Asia on a post-season tour. But even outside of Europe, they haven’t been able to escape their problems. Just one week after suffering defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, the Red Devils were humiliated by ASEAN All-Stars earlier this week to only add to their misery.

In a game which featured several mainstays, including Andre Onana, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund, Manchester United’s Asian fans would have been expecting Ruben Amorim’s side to get back to winning ways, albeit only in a friendly.

What they received instead, however, is the experience that many around Old Trafford have become accustomed to. And like those at Old Trafford, they reacted by booing the defeat that they were witnessing – boos that Amorim has since admitted his side need to hear.

The Manchester United boss told reporters after yet another defeat: “I’m always guilty of the performance of the team, no matter what. Since I’ve been here from the first day, I am guilty. The boos from the fans is something that we need, maybe. Because every game we lost in the Premier League, they [fans] were always there [supporting].

Gordon Strachan tells Man Utd to sign £30m star who'd be better than Osimhen

Gordon Strachan was speaking to Football FanCast this week.

ByMatt Dawson May 29, 2025

“It’s like the way of playing, if they see that it’s not working, they will change the way they behave. But I felt when we finished and walked away, the supporters were with us. But, again, let’s wait for the next season.”

The defeat once again highlighted just how desperately Manchester United need to get things right this summer, perhaps starting with a signing that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly not giving up on.

Man Utd set to hold more Joan Garcia talks

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are now set to hold new talks to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia in the coming days, with Ratcliffe failing to give up on the deal despite interest from Barcelona, who are the current favorites to get a deal done. Reports from Spain have even claimed that Garcia has even chosen Barcelona, but Man Utd are looking to hiajck a move.

The interest of the Red Devils comes as little surprise, given they had discussions for the keeper last month. Garcia, with a release clause worth just €25m (£21m), ticks the box for the type of bargain that United must target this summer as they look to replace Onana.

Starts

38

34

Clean Sheets

8

9

Saves P90

3.68

2.59

Save Percentage

75.5%

68.9%

If there are any concerns that Garcia wouldn’t be a major upgrade on Onana, then the numbers should put those concerns to bed in an instant. The Spaniard has enjoyed an excellent season at Espanyol and has been praised by Ben Mattinson since the very start, with the analyst dubbing him “dominant” back in August.

For just £21m, the deal makes perfect sense for Manchester United if they want to end their goalkeeper struggles once and for all in the coming months.

Already focused on the summer transfer window, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is now reportedly leading their charge to sign a Serie A midfielder in the coming months.

Emery focused on Tottenham game

Whilst the Villans continue to build their summer plan around the action on the pitch, Unai Emery’s focus has not changed. Champions League qualification is still a possibility for his side, who have Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to play as they wait for a potential slip up from those above them in the Premier League.

Emery will be well aware of just what’s at stake in the next couple weeks and reiterated the need for focus ahead of this weekend’s Tottenham game, telling reporters: “I am wishing to play. I don’t want holidays because we’re in a very good moment after a long season, but now we’re very, very motivated.

“Very excited to play at Villa Park tomorrow, for our objectives we have in front of us to play again in Europe. It’s not in our hands but we can have some options to play Champions League again. And focusing on Tottenham because I know the most difficult way we can have is our own way, playing against Tottenham tomorrow and how we can beat them.”

Aston Villa register formal interest in signing "dominant" contract rebel

Monchi and Aston Villa could make their move…

ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025

Aston Villa won’t need reminding what Champions League football can offer, either. They experienced moments that those at Villa Park will forever savour this season, with victory over Bayern Munich a particular standout. Now, however, they’ll be desperate to ensure that their place among Europe’s elite is not just a one off blip and, instead, a consistent feature of the competition.

Meanwhile, away from the action, Monchi is already thinking about the targets that could arrive with or without Champions League qualification.

Monchi leading Payero charge

According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Monchi is now leading Aston Villa’s charge to sign Martin Payero from Udinese this summer. The sporting director is reportedly a huge admirer of the midfielder, which could yet see the Villans push on and secure his signature in the coming months. In terms of depth, there’s no doubt that the Argentine has plenty to offer.

Minutes

1,381

2,997

Progressive Passes

3.33

7.03

Progressive Carries

2.16

1.17

Ball Recoveries

4.90

4.35

When assessing the numbers, it’s clear that Payero wouldn’t be able to offer the same quality in possession as Tielemans, but he would be able to complete the legwork that the Belgian arguably struggles with. And that could create quite the midfield combination for Emery.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the midfielder enjoys a foray into English football, either, having previously been at Middlesbrough. It was there that he earned the praise of former manager Neil Warnock.

The former manager told reporters when he unveiled the midfielder in 2021: “Martin will be a great addition to the squad. I think he will be an exciting signing, we’re delighted to get everything done, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

As good a team as Arsenal are, there has been one key factor in their failure to get over the line in the last few years: a lack of genuine attacking threat across the whole frontline.

Now, nobody can question the incredible talismanic abilities of Bukayo Saka, but it has to be said that down the middle and increasingly off the left, the North Londoners are lacking.

For example, despite them still being second in the Premier League, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Newcastle United have all scored more than them.

So, with that in mind, it’s not a surprise to see the team linked to an array of incredible wingers, including one who has won comparisons to the likes of Vinícius Junior and Lamine Yamal.

Arsenal transfer targets

The last few weeks have seen Arsenal linked with a whole host of incredible stars, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth taking a look at some of their other supposed targets, like Rayan Cherki and Liam Delap.

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 could be available for around £30m this summer, so that, combined with his ability to play in multiple positions and brilliant haul of 31 goal involvements in 42 games this season, makes signing him feel like a no-brainer.

It’s a similar situation regarding Delap, as even though he’s not been quite as prolific, he’s still been able to amass an impressive tally of 12 goals and two assists in just 34 top-flight games this season, so his £30m release clause also feels too good to pass up on.

However, while both players have an immense amount of potential, Arteta and Co might be after someone already near the pinnacle of his game, someone like Rafael Leão.

Yes, according to a report from Spain last month, Arsenal are one of several teams keen on the AC Milan superstar ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, the North Londoners are not alone in their appreciation for the Portuguse superstar, as a more recent report from Caught Offside has also credited Chelsea with an interest in the winger, who they claim could be available for as little as €75m, which is about £64m.

It would be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Leão’s immense ability, one well worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Yamal and Vinicius in the past.

How Leão compares to Vinicius and Yamal

So, before we get into the other reasons why Arsenal should be going all out to sign Leão this summer, it’s worth addressing these comparisons to Vinicius and Yamal and where they come from.

Well, in this instance, they stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one.

In this instance, they have concluded that the Real Madrid star is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Milan star across all of those competitions, while the Barcelona star has been ranked as the seventh most similar in this season’s Champions League.

Expected Assists

0.24

0.25

Goals per Shot

0.13

0.12

Goals per Shot on Target

0.30

0.31

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.32

0.31

Successful Take-ons

2.85

3.06

Live Passes

31.5

33.1

The best way to see how these conclusions have been reached is to look at the players’ underlying numbers and find the metrics in which they rank closely.

In the case of Vinicius, those metrics include things like expected passes, goals per shot and shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Expected Assists

0.23

0.20

Passing Accuracy

74.1%

74.5%

Key Passes

1.14

1.15

Successful Take-ons

4.43

4.59

Carries into the Final Third

3.64

3.44

For the comparison with Barça’s young superstar, the metrics include things like passing accuracy, expected assists, carries into the final third, key passes, successful take-ons, and more, all per 90.

The fact the 25-year-old shares an ability to take players on and beat them with two of the best players in the game is hardly surprising, as FBref place him in the top 4% of wingers for successful take-ons in Europe’s top five leagues, and The Athletic’s Alex Barker has called him “one of the best dribblers in the world.”

Finally, away from the incredibly flattering and promising comparisons, another reason Arteta should go out and sign the former LOSC Lille star is his output.

So far this season, the Almada-born dynamo has scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 48 appearances, which works out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games – something the Gunners could really do with off the left.

Ultimately, while it wouldn’t be cheap, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Leão once the window opens, as his output and technical mastery could help propel the club to glory.

Kai Havertz upgrade: Arsenal send scouts for "unpredictable" goal machine

The free-scoring forward could be just what Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 9, 2025

Crystal Palace are now in a fight with fellow Premier League side Wolves over the signing of an £8.5 million striker, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace's summer plans become clearer

Oliver Glasner has not only stabilised the situation at Selhurst Park and led the Eagles out of relegation trouble, but he has also led the South Londoners to the FA Cup final.

New target: Crystal Palace interested in signing "fantastic" £9m "monster"

The Eagles have set their sights on a midfielder, who is set to be available for a bargain fee this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 1, 2025

By winning that famous English trophy, Palace would seal their place in next season’s Europa League as well, and that achievement could do wonders for Palace’s summer transfer budget. Already the Eagles are being linked with several players, as Glasner plots a few changes to his squad this summer.

According to Caught Offside, Palace are in the running to sign midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon. The Premier League side are considered dark horses in the race, given that teams such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

Meanwhile, last week it was reported that Palace could be a step closer to their first signing of the summer, as they have opened talks with Tamiou Kpebane, who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt. The 18-year-old is set to become a free agent this summer, and the Eagles are working on bringing him to South London.

Crystal Palace working to beat Wolves to signing of £8.5m striker

Glasner appears to have his eyes on strengthening all parts of his team this summer, as according to Football Insider, Crystal Palace are eyeing a move to sign Phil Harres from German side Holstein Kiel.

The report states that the Eagles have made regular checks on the centre-forward throughout this season and see him as a player who could become a star. However, they are not alone, as Wolves are also keeping a close eye on him, as well as many other teams across Europe.

The 23-year-old joined Holstein Kiel last summer and has made a solid first impression, netting eight goals in 23 league games. But the Bundesliga side are battling relegation and could be resigned to losing their striker, as they value Harres at £8.5 million heading into the summer.

Harres, who has been dubbed an “instinctive” finisher in the past, is naturally a centre-forward, but he can also play as a right-winger, which would be ideal for Glasner as he likes to have flexibility in his forward line.

Current Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park this summer, but the talk of Harres arriving isn’t likely seen as a replacement for the Frenchman but, in fact, a player who can take some of the burden away in terms of being the constant source of goals.

The one concern would be that Harres has only played football in Germany. Therefore, he would arrive with no Premier League experience and could take some time to adjust, given the Bundesliga has produced a fair few flops on English soil.

Manchester United have now moved ahead of their rivals in the race for an “incredible” striker, having submitted an enticing offer, according to a report.

Man Utd stepping up striker pursuit

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee once again failed to make an impact at the weekend, with Man United succumbing to a 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United, and it is now looking increasingly likely a new striker will be brought in this summer.

The Red Devils are considering a number of options from within the Premier League, with talks recently being opened over a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, who has a release clause of £62.5m.

Ruben Amorim’s side are also becoming more confident they would be able to sign Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer, should they make a move, and they have now expressed a concrete interest in signing the 27-year-old.

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However, Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap has been identified as Man United’s top striker target for the summer, following his breakout season with the Tractor Boys, and there has now been a positive update on their pursuit of the Englishman.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, United have now surged ahead of rival suitors in the race for Delap, given that the offer they have made is “far more solid” than Chelsea’s, which could play a crucial role in deciding the striker’s future.

Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Everton have also been named as potential suitors for the forward, whose agent has fielded a number of calls in recent weeks, but it appears as though the Red Devils are now leading the race for his signature.

Interestingly, the Ipswich star will remain keen on a move to Old Trafford regardless of whether European football is on offer next season.

"Incredible" Delap could be fantastic signing

Ipswich are almost certain to be relegated from the Championship, but it cannot be put down to a lack of effort on their striker’s behalf, having netted 12 Premier League goals.

That total is very impressive, given that the 22-year-old is playing for a side now 14 points from safety, and he has received high praise from reporter Alex Howell, who described him as “incredible” back in March.

Not only has the Winchester-born striker displayed a keen eye for goal, but he has showcased his ability to drive at opposition defences, ranking in the 90th percentile for successful take-ons, and the 86th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year.

It is well-documented that Man United may not have a great deal of money to spend this summer, given their financial issues, which could make Delap the perfect addition at striker, considering he is set to be available for just £30m.