All posts by z3u9t.icu

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.

The past several transfer windows saw minimal activity from Liverpool, but that didn’t stop Arne Slot from replacing Jurgen Klopp and winning the Premier League in his first year at the club.

But having achieved such staggering success last term, the Dutch coach has been rewarded by FSG with a series of impressive signings this summer, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz all joining the title-winning side.

Wirtz, in particular, has the potential to become a superstar on Merseyside. Signed from Bayer Leverkusen (after Frimpong) for a British-record £116m fee, the 22-year-old has been described as “the best midfielder in the world” by former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes.

To surpass this incredible acquisition would be a Herculean task, but Liverpool are inclined to try, with sporting director Richard Hughes looking to bag a forward.

Liverpool's summer transfer plans

After a move to Napoli collapsed, Darwin Nunez’s future is currently uncertain. Liverpool want a new centre-forward, and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is the dream.

However, the Sweden star has been priced at £200m, which should put him beyond FSG’s reach.

However, with Luis Diaz mooted for a move away from Anfield this summer and having agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich, perhaps the Reds need to prioritise a bid for a left-sided forward.

And according to reports from Spain, Liverpool could be set to shatter the footballing world with a formal offer for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who is valued at €130m (£113m) by Florentino Perez.

While there is an expectation that Vinicius Jr, 25, will finalise a new deal with Los Blancos sooner rather than later, the protracted nature of the talks could lead Liverpool to swoop in and secure an incredible addition.

What Vinicius Junior would bring to Liverpool

While Liverpool have struck gold with the signing of Wirtz, they might hit an even richer stream through the signing of Vinicius Jr, who has been called “the best player in the world” by Perez in the past.

While there was a fair share of controversy (putting it modestly) around the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the dynamic forward did win The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2024 after missing out on the apex of individual accolades.

Joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in the Brasileiro Serie A for £39m in 2018, making him the most expensive under-19 player in history, Vinicius Jr has since become a superstar on the global stage, one of the most marketable and decorated rising stars of his generation.

Across the past year, he ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 13% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, underscoring the elite danger that could see him surpass even Wirtz at Anfield.

24/25

58

22

19

23/24

39

24

11

22/23

55

23

19

21/22

52

22

17

20/21

49

6

5

19/20

38

5

3

18/19

31

4

9

The Brazil international is a remarkable player, and his sustained brilliance over the past four seasons illustrates his world-class level, which is maybe even higher than Wirtz’s, even though the German has notched 69 goal involvements for Leverkusen across the past two seasons, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2023/24 aftet his outfit’s invincible, title-winning campaign.

Wirtz is the real deal, but he needs to do more at this stage of his career to reach Vinicius Jr’s level, with any far-fetched deal to sign the Madrid superstar set to see him arrive with a pre-existing reputation as a Ballon d’Or contender, a platform Wirtz still needs one final push to reach.

Described as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vini Jr. could be a stunning signing for Liverpool, making a real signal of intent.

While the Reds have already secured a marquee arrival in the form of Wirtz, the South American might just prove to be the cream of the crop, should he arrive in the coming weeks.

A Gakpo upgrade: Liverpool ready to submit bid for "world-class" £86m star

Liverpool will need to replace Luis Diaz if they sell the Colombian this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 14, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur may end up waving goodbye to another fan-favourite star before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

At the start of June, The Telegraph reported that club captain Heung-min Son could move on from London after leading the team to the Europa League trophy this season.

The outlet claimed that the South Korea international could be sold by Spurs in order to generate funds to bolster the squad ahead of their return to the Champions League, amid interest from teams in the Saudi Pro League.

Son has racked up an eye-catching haul of 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 appearances in all competitions for the club since signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.

The experienced forward’s departure this summer would mean that all three of Mauricio Pochettino’s iconic attacking line-up will have moved on, following Dele Alli and Harry Kane’s exits from the club in recent years.

All three stars were key players for the former Spurs head coach at the top end of the pitch, and Alli’s contributions should not be overlooked.

Why Dele Alli was a star for Spurs

The London-based club reportedly splashed out a fee of £5m to sign the attacking midfielder from League One outfit MK Dons in 2015, and Pochettino brought him into the first-team squad for the 2015/16 campaign.

Alli hit the ground running in the Premier League, bypassing the Championship, with a return of ten goals and eight assists in 33 top-flight games in his first season with Spurs.

The England international went on to plunder 67 goals and 59 assists in 269 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham before his move away from the club in 2022.

These statistics show that the former MK Dons talent provided plenty of quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Spurs during his time in London, whilst he also offered Pochettino a lot of flexibility in the way that he could be deployed within the starting line-up.

Attacking midfield

158

42

40

Central midfield

48

9

5

Left midfield

36

14

8

Centre-forward

8

2

1

Defensive midfield

2

0

2

As you can see in the table above, Alli was deployed in several different positions for Tottenham, mainly playing as a central or attacking midfielder, or off the left flank.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who now plays for Como in Italy, was a star for Spurs due to both the quality he provided at the top end of the pitch and the versatility he offered the manager.

Spurs may now be about to unearth their next version of Alli, who was a key member of the attack that included Son and Kane under Pochettino, as they are expected to sign a Premier League star.

Spurs expected to sign Premier League midfielder

West Ham United outlet HammersNews reports that the Premier League side expect Aston Villa attacking midfielder Jacob Ramsey to sign for Tottenham this summer.

The Hammers are interested in a deal to sign the former England U21 international to bolster their own squad this summer, but the club believe that the 24-year-old talent is on his way to another team in London.

Transfer Focus

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

Speaking to HammersNews, the ‘top spokesman’ for the West Ham owners said: “I think the player (Ramsey) is going to Spurs.”

Spurs were recently linked with an interest in the Villans starlet, who could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer, and this latest update suggests that they are set to win the race for his signature.

Earlier this year, The Boot Room reported that Manchester City are also interested in the attacking midfielder, who is valued at a fee of around £50m by Aston Villa.

However, it remains to be seen exactly how much Spurs will end up paying for the English talent if they do end up signing him, as West Ham expect.

Why Spurs should sign Jacob Ramsey

The Lilywhites should push ahead with a deal to sign the 24-year-old star in the coming weeks because he could arrive at the club as Thomas Frank’s own version of Dele Alli.

Ramsey may not seem like an obvious signing for Spurs, given that he has only scored two Premier League goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but his form in the past for Villa suggests that there is a quality player who could be unearthed.

The Villans maestro’s performances in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns suggest that he has the potential to develop into a top performer for Tottenham if Frank can get the best out of him.

Ramsey, who was once dubbed “sensational” by Seb Stafford-Bloor, plundered 12 goals and eight assists in those two seasons, and was particularly impressive in front of goal in the 2022/23 campaign, with six goals and seven assists to his name that term.

Non-penalty xG

0.20

Top 16%

Non-penalty xG

0.17

Top 14%

xAG

0.17

Top 14%

Assists

0.24

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

2.77

Top 40%

Progressive carries

3.21

Top 9%

As you can see in the table above, the English star caught the eye as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Villans, ranking highly among midfielders in the Premier League in several key attacking metrics.

Like Alli, Ramsey’s top three most played positions are central midfield, attacking midfield, and left midfield, which means that he can offer Frank the same positional flexibility that the former Spurs star did for Pochettino, as a playmaker who can play centrally or come in off the left.

His form in the 2022/23 season also suggests that he has the potential to provide an impressive threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from those three positions, which is exactly what Alli did throughout his time in North London.

Therefore, Frank could unearth his own version of the former England international by securing a deal for Ramsey, before helping him to get back to the kind of form he displayed at the start of his Villa career.

A bigger talent than Eze: Spurs make enquiry for "sensational" £40m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for another Premier League talent.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 28, 2025

Arsenal chiefs have their eyes on an England international star for manager Mikel Arteta, with sporting director Andrea Berta leaving no stone unturned in his chase for fresh Gunners talent.

Arsenal transfer latest as Berta looks to make big impact

The north Londoners are working on a busy transfer window and have held talks over numerous targets.

Arsenal enter race to sign £25m Sesko alternative who's "like Haaland"

The dangerous international would be an excellent signing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 17, 2025

The pending arrival of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is expected to be finalised soon, with the La Liga side ultimately delaying his exit so they can register his transfer as part of the next financial year, starting in July (David Ornstein).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Nevertheless, regardless of Zubimendi’s cryptic comments causing quite a stir in the last few weeks, Arsenal are still fully expected to sign Zubimendi this summer after months of talks.

The Spaniard could be joined by one of two heavily linked strikers – Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko – who’ve both been at the centre of Arsenal talks as Berta works on deals for both of them (BBC).

Arsenal are also chasing a new winger, even if Nico Williams is likelier to join Barcelona as things stand, with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo still being targeted by Arteta as they look to add further quality in the wide area (Football Transfers).

Amidst all of this rumoured activity, there are some reports sharing information that Arsenal are considering the signing of another defender.

Reports from Brazil in the last few days revealed Arsenal’s interest in signing Lille centre-back Alexsandro, who’s just made his first two senior starts for Brazil, but another highly-rated international is also in Berta’s thinking.

Arsenal targeting Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi

That man is Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, who looks almost certain to leave Selhurst Park this summer.

The England star is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Palace, giving Eagles chairman Steve Parish until September 1 to make any significant money off his sale.

Parish actually rejected an ambitious £70 million bid for Guehi in the January window, which came from Tottenham, so they’re still unlikely to be pushovers when it comes to parting company with the “sensational” 24-year-old.

Reports suggest Palace could still demand up to £60 million to sell, regardless of his contract situation, but Arsenal are showing an interest in signing Guehi, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

“He’s now into the final year of his contract, so if Crystal Palace aren’t able to persuade him to sign a new deal, this is one of their last chances to cash in,” said O’Rourke to Football Insider.

“Right now, I wouldn’t say there are any clear favourites for him. I think it’s an open race. We know Newcastle are long-term admirers, so I’m sure they’ll be monitoring the situation.

“Arsenal have also shown a bit of interest as well. A lot of it will come down to the player and what he wants to do. If he was to go to Arsenal, there’s no guarantee that he would be a regular starter, and that might not be what Guehi wants especially heading into a World Cup year.

“That’s something that’s going to play a part.”

The Palace captain’s pace and composure on the ball make him a very enticing potential signing for Arsenal, but given the presence of both William Saliba and Gabriel, he’d struggle to break into Arteta’s first team regularly enough.

Arteta also already has Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior as back-up options, even if the latter has been linked with an exit, which makes you seriously wonder if the mooted £60 million fee for Guehi would be far better spent elsewhere.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has sacked Ange Postecoglou. After supposedly a week of deliberation, it was determined the Aussie coach’s Europa League triumph was not enough to save him.

There’s no question this has been one of the most dramatic years in the club’s modern history, certainly one of the most chaotic and turbulent seasons across Europe’s myriad clubs.

All have been watching, though. Watching with glee or compassion, but with eyes riveted on the drama as it unfolded.

Postecoglou made a promise, and that promise was delivered in the most resounding fashion as Spurs won the Europa League in their manager’s second season, salvaging a wretched domestic campaign that has seen the club finish 17th in the Premier League.

Sadly, there will be no season three in this series. There could, however, be an exciting new face in the dugout.

Spurs hold talks for Ange replacement

According to TBR Football, Levy has held talks with a number of candidates for the Tottenham manager’s position, and while Brentford’s Thomas Frank is the leading contender, there’s another Premier League boss who could make the move.

That’s Oliver Glasner, who led Crystal Palace to glory in the FA Cup this term. Earmarked as a potential option, Glasner stated he was “100% committed” to Selhurst Park after the Wembley win against Manchester City, but Tottenham present a compelling long-term project.

The Austrian coach, 50, is even thought to be leading the race to succeed Postecoglou, alongside Frank.

What Oliver Glasner would bring to Spurs

Making the move from a divisional rival below the league’s ‘big six’, Glasner could prove to be Tottenham’s next Mauricio Pochettino, especially since both bosses employ expansive attacking games.

Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Glasner took the Eagles reins in February 2024, replacing Roy Hodgson after ten defeats from 17 matches. Palace were 15th but lacked inspiration and direction.

Hailed for his “incredible” work in south London by AFTV’s James B, Glasner has led Palace to a 12th-placed finish, but with the highest points total in the club’s Premier League history.

24/25

Glasner

12th

53

23/24

Hodgson/Glasner

10th

49

18/19

Hodgson

12th

49

14/15

Pardew

10th

48

21/22

Vieira

11th

48

His high-intensity, hard-working tactical approach is something that could see him emulate Spurs’ one-time gaffer, who was actually criticised once for working his players too hard during Tottenham training.

Of course, Glasner’s FA Cup lift didn’t mark the first major trophy in his managerial career, having won the Europa League with Frankfurt, so he’d bring his own brand down N17, simply aligning with some of the principles that have convinced Spurs to make appointments in the past.

In that regard, he’s proven himself capable of outstripping Pochettino, making the move from a divisional rival but with the winning mentality already constructed.

The truth is, there’s a very solid argument behind Levy’s decision to dismiss the man who ended 17 endless years of searching for a major trophy.

And if he moves to appoint Glasner, whose football is entertaining and whose trophy-winning credentials have been illustrated through victory in the FA Cup last month, Tottenham might just go from strength to strength next term.

He's another Bergvall: Spurs enter race to sign "extraordinary" wonderkid

The promising youngster could be a star at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2025

The summer transfer window officially opens for business on Sunday and Leeds United are preparing to build a squad to compete in the Premier League.

One star who is reportedly on their radar is Argentine attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, as journalist Sebastien Vidal recently claimed that the club are set to bid for the Aston Villa attacking midfielder.

The 28-year-old star racked up 24 goals and 41 assists in 121 appearances under Daniel Farke at Norwich, and has 12 more assists than any other player in the manager’s career to date.

Buendia produced two goals and two ‘big chances’ created in 11 games on loan at Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of this season before returning to Villa, and now he could be on his way to Elland Road.

The former Norwich star is a playmaker, as shown by his assist record under Farke, and Leeds could pair him with a new striker if they manage to bring him over from the Villans.

Leeds eyeing deal for new striker

Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that the club were not going to build their attack around Joel Piroe because they have doubts over his ability to make the step up to the Premier League.

Transfer Focus

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

It would make sense, therefore, for the West Yorkshire outfit to target a striker who has already scored goals in the English top-flight, which is what they are doing.

According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are considering a swoop to sign Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that they have identified Callum Wilson, Jamie Vardy, and Ferguson as potential options to bolster their attack, as all three have the Premier League experience that they would like.

Brighton’s Ireland international spent the second half of this season on loan at West Ham United, and it remains to be seen what will happen with him this summer, but Leeds have emerged as a potential option for him.

Why Leeds should sign Evan Ferguson

If the Whites can get a deal over the line for Buendia this summer, Ferguson could be a dream signing to partner the Argentine playmaker in the final third.

As aforementioned, the ex-Norwich star is a playmaker extraordinaire and he would benefit from having a clinical striker who can make the most of his creativity.

Supporters may see that Ferguson scored one goal in 23 Premier League games this season and doubt his goalscoring credentials, but it is worth noting that he missed all of pre-season last summer with a knee injury and never found his rhythm in the campaign.

22/23

5.67

6

+0.33

23/24

3.97

6

+2.03

24/25

1.36

1

-0.36

Total

10.29

13

+1.89

As you can see in the table above, the Irish forward had caught the eye in his previous two seasons in the top-flight, outperforming his xG by 2.36 to score 12 goals for Brighton.

Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker likened him to Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland in the 2023/24 season, when he scored six times, saying: “I do see a hint of Haaland about him, his stature, his movement, his youth and stuff like that.”

Ferguson still has plenty of time left to develop and improve, at the age of 20, as he is, clearly, not at Haaland’s levels of goalscoring yet, but Leeds could have their own mini-Haaland at Elland Road by bringing him to the club.

Haaland scored 22 goals from 22.01 xG in the Premier League for City this season, but does share a similar build and play style with the Brighton youngster as Lineker claimed.

The 20-year-old starlet has shown that he can score goals efficiently at Premier League level, as evidenced by his form in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, and that is why the Whites should gamble on him this summer to arrive as a dream signing alongside Buendia.

Orta wanted him: Leeds eyeing move for "very prolific" Piroe upgrade

Leeds United are eyeing a Joel Piroe upgrade who was previously wanted by Victor Orta.

1 ByDan Emery May 29, 2025

Farke could have a potentially lethal attacking pairing by reuniting with the Argentine playmaker to consistently create chances for the efficient Ferguson to finish off.

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.

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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.

In a deal that could see them replace Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly set to make a serious move to sign a want-away Premier League midfielder this summer.

Nottingham Forest clarify Marinakis outburst

Whilst Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City last weekend secured their Europa League qualification at the same time that their Champions League fate fell out of their hands, it was owner Evangelos Marinakis who stole the headlines. Marching onto the pitch at full-time, the Greek owner was seen exchanging words with manager Nuno Espirito Santo in a moment which instantly garnered criticism.

Nottingham Forest eye summer swoop to sign £6m winger after scouting trip

He’s a rising star…

ByTom Cunningham May 14, 2025

Since then, however, the Midlands club have clarified the controversial moment – revealing that Marinakis’ frustration was directed at the medical staff who allowed Taiwo Awoniyi to continue before he came off injured not long after. The forward has now reportedly undergone the first part of urgent surgery after an abdominal injury and has been placed in an induced coma with the rest of the procedure due to be completed.

Following a moment full of emotions around a concerning injury, Marinakis also released his own statement on the matter, which read: “Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game. This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!”

The Nottingham Forest owner, like many around European football, are now simply hoping to see Awoniyi make a full recovery.

Nottingham Forest set to make serious McAtee move

Amidst the headlines away from the pitch, those at the City Ground did have Europa League qualification to appreciate last weekend and could put that to instant use in the transfer market.

According to TeamTalk editor James Marshment, Nottingham Forest are now set to make a serious move to sign James McAtee, who is reportedly looking to leave Manchester City this summer. In pole position, Forest’s move for the midfielder certainly makes sense amid rumours that Gibbs-White could be heading in the opposite direction.

What’s more, all it takes is one look at Cole Palmer and Chelsea to realise just how successful Manchester City’s academy graduates can be when given the chance to thrive. And Nottingham Forest could offer McAtee exactly that.

That’s not to say Pep Guardiola isn’t well aware of McAtee’s talents, either, having told reporters following the midfielder’s hat-trick against Salford City earlier this season: “I am so happy for him, he is a special player. A hat trick is not easy. He has an incredible sense in front of goal, he has the right tempo, he changed the rhythm to score and I am very happy for him.”