All posts by z3u9t.icu

Wolves could not only sell Ruben Neves to Barcelona this summer but also lose him for a ‘hugely knocked down price’, according to a worrying new transfer report.

The Lowdown: Neves on the move?

The Portuguese has stood out as one of Wanderers’ best players in the Premier League this season, excelling in the middle of the park with his quality and tenacity.

Neves has scored four goals and registered two assists in the league, not to mention enjoying an average pass completion rate of 84.2%.

Unfortunately, the 25-year-old has been continually linked with a move away from Wolves this summer, and a new update further suggests that that will happen in the worst way possible.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-6/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Double blow for Wolves

According to Sport [via Sport Witness], Barcelona not only see Neves as their number one midfield target but are also confident of signing him on the cheap compared to others.

It is claimed that they could sign him for a ‘much lower ‘amount than fellow target Martin Zubimendi, who has a €60m (£50.7m) release clause – Transfermarkt value Neves at £36m.

[freshpress-poll id=“388780″]

The Verdict: Cough up the cash Barca

If Wolves are to lose Neves this summer, it is essential that they only sell him for a huge amount of money – frankly, only a club-record exit fee will do, beating the current amount of £40.23million received for Diogo Jota.

Bruno Lage will need the money to bring in a top-quality replacement and not having those funds would feel like a double whammy after losing arguably his star player.

If Barcelona want Neves, they must pay the amount that Wolves are willing to part with, or accept having to look at a different target instead.

In other news, Wolves have been linked with an exciting Premier League signing. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool are believed to be edging closer to the signing of Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay, according to a report from 90min. 

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

A graduate of the youth academy at Pittodrie, the 18-year-old starlet has enjoyed a breakthrough couple of seasons north of the border.

Following a fleeting Scottish Premiership debut in March 2021 against Dundee United, Ramsay has now made 39 appearances for the Aberdeen first-team, racking up nine assists during that time – it is perhaps no surprise to see the team so renowned for using their full-backs as playmakers now on the hunt.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-32/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Albeit only a sample size on which to base an opinion and despite his fledgeling years, a big move may already beckon for the Scottish youth international…

The latest: Liverpool in pole position

As per 90min, Liverpool are said to be ‘confident of winning the race’ to sign Ramsay this summer.

It’s claimed that the Reds will beat interest from Leeds United, West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace in order to land the teenager who was described as being among the ‘elite’ bracket of young talents in Europe by Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack.

Furthermore, the report states that ‘sources close to the Reds now believe a deal is close’ as Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Julian Ward look to kickstart their summer transfer window early.

The verdict: Smart move

Although it’s currently nigh on impossible to envisage a world in which Ramsay can usurp Trent Alexander-Arnold, the ability to rest and rotate the three-cap Scottish Under 21 ace’s compatriot Andy Robertson with Kostas Tsimikas has proven invaluable this term.

Following a successful loan spell at Fulham it’s expected Neco Williams could look to move onto pastures new and as such Klopp will want an immediate replacement.

So far this season Ramsay – who boasts very strong crossing, key passes and set-piece ability (WhoScored) – has scored once and provided nine assists in 33 appearances, highlighting similarities with Alexander-Arnold that make it clear to see why Liverpool and Klopp would be keen on bringing the youngster to Anfield.

In other news, Liverpool have been boosted by a fresh transfer update. Read more here.

Graham Smyth has dropped a promising injury update on Leeds United centre-back Liam Cooper ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal.

What’s the latest?

In a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening Post, the journalist revealed that Jesse Marsch is optimistic the sensation the defender felt in his knee ahead of the Manchester City loss last weekend is not a serious injury, before going on to state that it is possible the Scotland international plays against Arsenal on Sunday.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title=”Read the latest Leeds United news and rumours!”]

Smyth went on to write in his piece: “Cooper has been described at Leeds as the master of getting himself right for matchdays even after a disrupted week of training and if he’s in any way close to contention, he’ll push to be involved in such a big game.”

Marsch will be buzzing

Should Cooper indeed be deemed fit enough to feature at The Emirates this weekend, it would certainly be an outcome that will have Jesse Marsch and the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

Indeed, while injury has severely limited the 30-year-old’s game time this term, the £6.3m-rated Scot has nevertheless proven his importance to the Whites over his 18 Premier League appearances, helping his side keep five clean sheets, as well as making an average of 2.1 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 3.4 clearances and winning 6.9 duels – at a success rate of 67% – per game.

These returns have seen the £35k-per-week defender average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.07, ranking him as Leeds’ best performing outfielder in the top flight.

As such, considering just how important the Arsenal fixture is in Leeds’ season – with the Whites currently sitting just two points above the relegation zone – Cooper’s return would undoubtedly come as a huge boost for Marsch, something the 48-year-old manager desperately needs at present.

AND in other news: Sources: Orta eyeing Leeds bid for £19.8m-rated ace, he’s like “Messi inside the area”

Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey has been dealt a blow after picking up another injury in the win over Norwich City on Saturday.

What’s the word?

Speaking in his post-match press conference following the 2-0 victory over Dean Smith’s side, manager Steven Gerrard revealed that the Jamaican speedster faces a race to be fit for next week’s trip to Turf Moor, having been withdrawn just 40 minutes into the clash with the Canaries.

Asked about the summer signing’s status, the Villa boss said: “It’s an ankle issue. In terms of the extent and the damage I’m sure he’ll be MRI scanned in the next 24 to 48 hours. I’m really disappointed and frustrated for him because he’s worked really hard to get back, he’s been training ever so well.”

The Englishman then went on to add: “He said there was a bit of a twist after the contact so we’ll get him looked at. He’s obviously going to be a major doubt for the next game against Burnley because it’s very rare that you come off the pitch and you’re available for the next game, so we are concerned about it.”

Huge Blow

That frustration for all concerned stems from the fact that it has been a disrupted debut campaign for the 24-year-old since his £25m move from Bayer Leverkusen, having been restricted to just seven Premier League starts for the Midlands side.

The £27m-rated man had missed a fair portion of the season over the festive period with a thigh injury, although since his return to action in February he has failed to nail down a regular starting berth, despite the club’s inconsistent form.

He had arrived last summer with a big reputation after providing 65 goal contributions in 156 games in all competitions for the Bundesliga side, although has since chipped in with just one goal and two assists in the top-flight during his brief stint at Villa Park.

Nevertheless, he had begun to show signs of life in his recent outings, notably going close to scoring early on in Saturday’s win, only to be denied by a fine save from opposition stopper Tim Krul, while Birmingham Mail writer John Townley wrote that he looked “lively in spells” prior to his withdrawal.

With Gerrard’s men still not certain of survival – despite reaching the ‘magic’ 40 point mark with that latest victory – they are still in need of all the help they can get, with Bailey’s potential absence in the coming weeks far from an ideal situation.

Yes, it has not gone to plan so far, but there is certainly an immense talent in there somewhere, with his former coach Heiko Herrlich previously suggesting that he “can do anything” such is his undoubted quality.

He looked as if he had begun to build some rhythm in recent weeks, although this latest setback is set to be a huge blow for both his manager, the supporters and the player himself.

In other news, “I’m told”: Journo gives huge Aston Villa transfer boost, Gerrard will be delighted…

Former Premier League midfielder Jamie O’Hara has heaped praise on Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate following the 2-0 victory over Villarreal. 

The lowdown: One foot in France?

The Reds took a giant stride towards their 10th European Cup final and a showdown in Paris with a relatively straightforward win over a resilient Villarreal outfit at Anfield.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was integral in the opener as the midfielder’s cross was deflected beyond former Manchester City goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli before Sadio Mane doubled the lead moments later.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-30/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, it wasn’t a member of the attacking fraternity that caught the eye of one particular onlooker…

The latest: O’Hara impressed

Speaking live-on-air, TalkSPORT show host O’Hara lauded central defender Konate for his display in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

“We talked about maybe if they got in behind Trent? But Konate tonight was just awesome, he was a machine. There is no weakness.”

Indeed, the 22-year-old won 5/5 (100%) of his aerial duels and 8/9 (89%) duels in total, also making two clearances in a 7.40/10 rated display (Sofascore).

The verdict: Unbeaten

As things stand the French Under 21 international is yet to taste defeat as a Liverpool player when featuring, playing in 23 unbeaten matches since signing from RB Leipzig for £36million last summer (Sky Sports).

With performances such as this, albeit the Reds were relatively untested in a defensive sense, it’s easy to see why Jurgen Klopp held refrained from spending big on a centre-back in January 2021 despite the desperate need for reinforcements.

Konate has been nothing short of a revelation on Merseyside and looks almost certain to play a huge part in what is an exciting run-in on the quest for a never before seen quadruple and beyond.

In other news, a key Liverpool update has emerged regarding a superstar player. Read more here.

Mikel Arteta might have a squad full to bursting with outrageous talent at Arsenal, but it’s still clear who his most important player is: Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon has become the club’s talisman in recent years, and when fit, has more often than not been their best attacking outlet.

For example, in 277 appearances, the incredible game-changer has scored 76 goals and provided 71 assists, which is a return made all the more impressive by the fact he started out at left-back.

In short, Saka is an irreplaceable player for Arsenal, so fans should be excited about reports linking the club to someone comparable.

Arsenal target a Saka-type star

Arsenal finally added to their attacking options in the summer, bringing in Viktor Gyokeres to rival Kai Havertz, and Noni Madueke to cover for Saka.

Transfer Focus

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

However, in the minds of most fans, they didn’t properly reinforce the left-hand side, as while Eberechi Eze can play there, he spent almost all of last season playing in midfield, which is also where he has been playing this year.

Moreover, even though Lenadro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are playing better this year, it wouldn’t be wise to rely on them to keep up the good form, considering how poor they both were last year.

So, with all this in mind, it’s not all that surprising to see the Gunners want to sign a new exciting left-wing option, someone who could be compared to Saka.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which claims Arsenal are interested in Kenan Yıldız.

The report has revealed that the young attacker’s representatives are ‘demanding’ a wage of around €6m, which Juventus consider to be too much, and this stand-off has opened the door to potential suitors.

According to the story, the Gunners are one of them, with Arteta said to be ‘a huge admirer’ of the Turkish talent and his ability to play outwide or down the middle, who has a price tag of around €100m, which is about £88m.

It would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Yıldız’s immense talent and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be another Saka.

Why Yıldız is like Saka

So, as things stand, it’s not controversial to say that Yıldız isn’t close to being the player Saka is.

After all, the Hale End monster is four years older than the Turkish gem, and as a result has had far more time to develop into the world-class international he is today.

However, even though the Englishman is unquestionably the better player at the moment, that does not mean that the 20-year-old is not similar to him, nor does it mean he can’t reach the same level in four years.

Moreover, he already shares a lot in common with the Ealing-born ace.

For example, like the Arsenal star, he has come through at one of the biggest clubs in world football and established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet at such a young age.

More than that, though, he has practically become Juventus’ talisman over the last year, someone the fans can imagine leading the storied Turin outfit back to glory.

After all, he has already amassed 98 appearances for the Old Lady, in which he’s scored 19 goals and provided 15 assists.

Appearances

98

Starts

64

Minutes

5761′

Goals

19

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

169.44

What’s even more impressive is that 21 of those goal involvements came in 52 appearances last season.

It’s not just at club level where the positionally versatile Regensburg-born gem has been making waves, either, as he’s already won 26 senior caps for Turkey, scoring five goals and providing four assists.

When you take all of that into account, it’s not hard to see the similarities between the 20-year-old’s rapid rise and Saka’s, nor does it sound all that outrageous when one analyst describes him as “one of the best wingers in the world.”

Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Yıldız, as he’s clearly a superstar in the making and someone who is undeniably Saka-like.

Arsenal can forget Eze by unleashing the "biggest talent in England"

The sensational gem could be a huge star for England and Arsenal as he replaces Eze.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 18, 2025

With Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah among those to depart Parkhead in recent times, Celtic have frustratingly had to witness some of their best and brightest move on to pastures new, instead of sticking it out for the long haul in Glasgow.

Those who have moved on haven’t always enjoyed the best of fortunes, however, with the club’s record departures a case in point.

Indeed, Kieran Tierney – sold to Arsenal back in 2019 – has returned to Scotland this summer after six injury-hit years at the Emirates. Jota, meanwhile, is also now back on the books after enduring a miserable time in Saudi Arabia and France.

Matt O’Riley

Brighton

£25m

Jota

Al-Ittihad

£25m

Kieran Tierney

Arsenal

£23m

Moussa Dembele

Lyon

£19m

Nicolas Kuhn

Como

£16m

Odsonne Edouard

Palace

£14m

Kristoffer Ajer

Brentford

£13.5m

Virgil van Dijk

Southampton

£13.5m

Victor Wanyama

Spurs

£12.5m

In the case of Matt O’Riley, the elegant playmaker has joined Marseille on loan after just a solitary season at Brighton. Kuhn, now at Como, is yet to start a Serie A game since his £16m switch.

Even Kyogo – who departed for Rennes in January in the hope of securing a more prominent role for Japan – has found himself now operating in England’s Championship rather than the Champions League, with the grass certainly not always greener.

That being said, there are those who go on and flourish elsewhere after leaving the Premiership side, with young Ben Gannon-Doak proving a prime example.

Ben Gannon-Doak's display in numbers vs Belarus

Every club has a tale of ‘one that got away, with Gannon-Doak the most prominent name in recent times with regard to Celtic and their academy production line.

Handed two senior appearances by Ange Postecoglou as a mere 16-year-old, the flying winger could not be tempted to stay put in Scotland, instead moving to Premier League giants Liverpool for a compensation fee of just £600k.

While the intense competition at Anfield has seen the now 19-year-old move on to Bournemouth this summer, the nature of the £25m price tag emphasises just what a talent he truly is – a fact that he again showcased on Monday night away at Belarus.

The man who previously tormented Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol, Gannon-Doak is emerging as a real outlet for Steve Clarke and for Scotland despite his relative youth, with new Cherries teammate Ryan Christie highlighting just why he has become such a firm favourite for the Tartan Army:

That positivity was on full display on Monday, with Gannon-Doak – unleashed from the start by Clarke – proving a constant menace down the left flank, having been the away side’s ‘brightest creative spark’, according to GIVEMESPORT.

In his 74-minute outing, the youngster notably completed three of his four attempted dribbles, enjoyed a 93% pass accuracy rate and registered one key pass, as per Sofascore, having produced a performance of real authority off the left.

There was also steel to match the silk, however, a fact emphasised by a crunching challenge on the halfway line, that resulted in a yellow card, as he also notably won seven of his 11 total duels.

A player who looks like the complete package, Celtic will rue having let him slip from their grasp. That is in the past, however, with there now a new shining light to enjoy at Parkhead…

Callum Osmand could be Celtic's answer to Gannon-Doak

Too often in recent times have Celtic had to watch as their academy products have been snapped up by top-flight clubs south of the border, with teenage goal machine Daniel Cummings notably making the switch to West Ham United this summer.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

That being said, there are times where the Hoops are able to get their own back, with Brendan Rodgers and co memorably poaching a young Moussa Dembele from Fulham back in the summer of 2016.

Such a coup looks like it could well have been replicated this summer too, with the Scottish champions having managed to prise another teenage striker from Craven Cottage, in the form of Callum Osmand.

The 19-year-old may have yet to enjoy a taste of senior football in west London, although he has flourished at youth level in recent years, scoring 23 goals in just 38 U18 games, alongside netting 20 times in 35 games for the U21 side.

In one outing for Celtic ‘B’ team, the prolific teen has already got off the mark, emphasising just why he is so “highly-rated”, in the words of Rodgers:

Having discussed the potential move with another Fulham product, O’Riley, the Welshman will be looking to try and emulate the playmaker’s impact in green and white, with a starting berth seemingly up for grabs amid the uncertainty surrounding Celtic’s number nine berth.

Much like Gannon-Doak, the rapid talent appears to have that fearless quality to his attacking game, a point that has been emphasised by Fulham expert Jack Kelly:

While Celtic have had to witness Gannon-Doak flourish at international level, perhaps they could well get their own back with the case of Osmand, with it set to be intriguing to see if he can make a first-team impact under Rodgers this season.

There is a centre-forward vacuum to be filled in the wake of Idah’s departure – could Osmand now fill it?

Celtic struck gold signing £1.5m "beast" who's now worth more than Dolberg

Following Celtic’s failed pursuit of Kasper Dolberg, who joined Ajax instead, the Hoops do have an attacker with a higher value.

Sep 9, 2025

Chelsea have now made an approach to sign a “powerful” striker as a replacement for Nicolas Jackson, who could still exit Stamford Bridge this summer, despite a late twist.

Blues make approach for new striker as Jackson saga takes twist

All the indications were that Jackson was set to complete a loan move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, but the Blues cancelled the deal before the Senagelese forward was able to complete a medical, given the recent injury to Liam Delap.

Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Delap could be set for a relatively lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring issue, saying: “Hopefully it’s not long, but this kind of case, this kind of injury, it always can be six, eight weeks.”

Understandably, Jackson is frustrated with the move not going through, having fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, and there have even been recent reports suggesting the 24-year-old is now refusing to fly back to London from Munich.

Chelsea working tirelessly to sign star with £433m exit clause after Buonanotte

Enzo Maresca’s side are surprisingly not done with their incomings.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 30, 2025

As such, in a new update, David Ornstein has revealed that Chelsea would be willing to sanction a permanent departure before the transfer window closes, and they have now started running the rule over potential replacements.

Given a lack of loan options, permanent deals are being explored, with Ornstein revealing the Blues have now made an approach to sign Sporting CP striker Conrad Harder, having lodged an enquiry.

Harder is attracting widespread interest from across Europe, with RB Leipzig and AC Milan recently being named as potential suitors, and the Italian club reportedly even agreed a deal worth €27m (£23m) earlier this week.

However, it seems as though a move could be contingent on getting Jackson off the books, which could be difficult, given that Chelsea are only willing to sanction a permanent exit at this stage.

Harder would be risky signing for Chelsea

The 20-year-old is yet to prove himself in a major European league, having started his career at Nordsjaelland, before moving to Sporting, where he chipped in with a solid, if not spectacular, number of goals during the 2024-25 campaign.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Liga Portugal

28

5

Taca de Portugal

7

5

Champions League

9

1

As such, the youngster could be a risky addition to Maresca’s squad, and the manager already has Delap on the books as an up-and-coming young striker, so there may be issues surrounding a lack of game time for one of the forwards at a later stage this season.

That’s not to say the Sporting starlet isn’t an exciting young striker, with scout Jacek Kulig praising him for his “powerful finishing”, while also claiming the Dane is a “counter-attacking threat”, who has a very good work-rate.

However, it would perhaps make more sense to hold onto the more established Jackson until the January transfer window, at which point Delap should have returned from his hamstring injury.

Leeds United’s transfer business over the last couple of years has been nothing short of sensational, playing a massive role in their ability to secure the Championship title.

After their failure to win the play-offs in the 2023/24 season, multiple key players departed Elland Road for a move to the Premier League, resulting in the loss of numerous star men.

Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray were all sold, bringing in over £100m in player sales – a simply staggering feat for a side in England’s second-tier.

However, such funds allowed for the arrival of the likes of Ao Tanaka and Jayden Bogle, with both players playing a vital role in Daniel Farke’s side this campaign – as seen by their EFL Team of the Season inclusions.

If they are to secure survival in 2025/26, the hierarchy will need to replicate such dealings, handing the manager the funds to land quality talents who can further bolster the ranks in Yorkshire.

Leeds’ activity in the transfer window ahead of the summer

Even though the window is yet to open, Leeds have already been active in the market, looking to land multiple players to provide depth to multiple areas of Farke’s side.

The midfield department has arguably seen the most interest generated, with Manchester City’s James McAtee and Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes just two names thrown into the mix.

The latter could be available for a fee in the region of £30m after the Saints suffered an immediate return to the Championship, with the Whites looking to take advantage of such a situation.

As for the forward line, Jamie Vardy has been a name mentioned in recent weeks, with the 38-year-old to be a free agent this summer after announcing he would be departing Leicester City at the end of his current deal.

However, if any player does complete a switch to Yorkshire in the coming months, they will have high standards to live up to, based on the displays produced by multiple players during their previous stint in the top-flight.

The Leeds star who could be sold for more than Phillips

Kalvin Phillips came through the Leeds academy ranks and built a name for himself, playing a vital role in the previous promotion-winning season before becoming a mainstay in the Premier League.

The 29-year-old made a total of 234 appearances for the Whites, including 49 in the top-flight, being a key reason why the side finished 9th in their first season back in the top-flight back in 2020/21.

Such displays didn’t go unnoticed, leading to various England call-ups and featuring under Gareth Southgate for the national team at Euro 2020.

He would ultimately leave in a £45m deal to join Manchester City in the summer of 2022, earning the club a huge sum of money, with his career rapidly declining ever since, as seen by his loan spell at now-relegated Ipswich Town.

However, the club have another talent in the form of Wilfried Gnonto, who could leave for a higher figure if he continues on the current trajectory he’s on at Elland.

The “electric” ace, as labelled by statistician Statman Dave, has starred in Yorkshire over the last couple of years after his £3.8m transfer from FC Zurich in the summer of 2022.

He’s managed to find the net on 22 occasions in his 118 appearances, including one against Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the season, securing the club the Championship title as a result.

Such performances and tallies have led to interest over the last couple of years, with numerous sides across the globe registering interest in landing the Italian talent.

Most notably, Gnonto was the subject of huge interest from Saudi Arabia back in January, but the Whites refused to sell the 21-year-old, demanding a fee in the region of £50m for his services.

Rank

Player

Team

Fee

1.

Raphinha

Barcelona

£55m

2.

Kalvin Phillips

Manchester City

£45m

3.

Archie Gray

Tottenham Hotspur

£40m

=

Georginio Rutter

Brighton & Hove Albion

£40m

4.

Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United

£30m

5.

Crysencio Summerville

West Ham United

£25m

The return to the Premier League this season hands him the platform to thrive once more, after previously registering four goals and two assists in his last season in the top-flight.

Should he manage to build on his previous term in England’s top-flight, his price tag would certainly increase further over the coming months – having the potential to be a club-record departure.

No supporter will want to lose such a talent in the near future, with the 21-year-old having the chance to build on his success in Yorkshire and play a key role in their survival hopes.

However, it once again highlights the superb work done by the hierarchy in recent times, with such business needing to be replicated during the upcoming window.

Leeds could sign £13m ace who was one of the best young players in the world

This would be a shock move.

ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025

Liverpool have “made contact” with a rival Premier League attacker over a move to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool in need of Nunez and Jota upgrade

The Reds are expected to have one of their busiest summers in years, with upgrades needed in various positions, despite their Premier League title win.

In attack, a new centre forward is badly needed, with neither Darwin Nunez nor Diogo Jota representing the solution in that area now. The former simply hasn’t kicked on enough in three seasons, while the latter is an injury-prone player who cannot seem to stay fit for a whole season.

Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike has been linked with a move to Liverpool various times, and could stand out as the most exciting No.9 option this summer, especially considering Newcastle United look highly unlikely to allow Alexander Isak to leave.

Brighton attacker Joao Pedro has also been mentioned as an option for the Merseyside, as has Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, who could potentially be used in a false nine role, even though it isn’t his most common position. Now, a big claim regarding the Reds signing another attacking player has emerged.

Liverpool make contact with Premier League attacker

According to Foot Mercato‘s Santi Aouna on X, Liverpool have made contact with Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku over a summer move to Anfield.

There would have to be question marks about Liverpool signing the £195,000-a-week Nkunku, considering he hasn’t exactly been a roaring success in a Chelsea shirt since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2023, only making nine starts in the Premier League this season.

Signing the 27-year-old would feel like a gamble by the Reds – one they don’t need to take – even though Thierry Henry has admitted he loves watching him play, and he has been lauded by former Chelsea and England centre-back Gary Cahill, who hailed him as a “very strong” player.

If Richard Hughes and Arne Slot truly feel that Nkunku is the best option to bring in this summer, they need to be trusted, but given his injury record and form at Chelsea, it would be a surprise if that was the case.

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.

ByAngus Sinclair May 16, 2025

Liverpool would be far wiser to look to sign Ekitike, who is five years his junior and seemingly on an upwards trajectory, following a great season for Frankfurt that has seen him score 15 goals in 30 Bundesliga starts.