Wolves are the front-runners to sign Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window, according to a new report that has emerged this week.
The Lowdown: A Champions League beast
Bruno Lage will be looking to sign a number of new faces at the end of the season, with his side’s Premier League campaign fizzling out a little, perhaps due to a lack of squad depth.
One player who has been continually linked with a move to Molineux is Palhinha, who has matured into one of Sporting’s most reliable and tenacious players in recent years.
The 26-year-old started all six of his side’s Champions League group stage matches this season, averaging an monstrous 3.7 tackles per game in the competition.
To put those incredible numbers into perspective, no Wolves player with three or more appearances is averaging more than 2.7 tackles per game in the Premier League.
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The Latest: Wolves in pole position
It looks as though Wolves’ interest in Palhinha hasn’t gone away, with A Bola [via Sport Witness] claiming that they are the ‘main favourite’ to acquire his signature this summer.
It is stated that ‘everything indicates’ that he will leave Sporting and that a move to the Premier League is on the cards. Jorge Mendes is tipped to work his magic and bring him to Wanderers instead of Tottenham.
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The Verdict: No.1 Neves replacement?
With Ruben Neves looking increasingly likely to leave Wolves in the summer, it is imperative that Lage brings in a like-for-like replacement – someone who can enjoy a similar level of influence on proceedings in the middle of the park.
Palhinha certainly looks the most likely option, in that respect, possessing his compatriot’s deep-lying ability in midfield, proving to be strong both on and off the ball.
His aforementioned tackling statistics highlight one part of his game but he has also scored three goals and enjoyed an 87.8% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga this season, showing that he is an all-round package.
In other news, journalist Tim Spiers has dropped a key Wolves exit claim. Read more here.
Everton will travel down south this evening to take on Watford and despite the boost that Watford are already relegated from the Premier League, there has been a huge blow to Frank Lampard’s relegation battle.
What’s the latest?
The Toffees boss took to his pre-match press conference to confirm that Yerry Mina will not be available for selection following a small calf injury and will likely not feature until the last game of the season.
When asked about Mina’s availability Lampard told the press (via Liverpool Echo):
“Yerry’s not, he’s got a small injury in his calf so he won’t be playing in this game.
“We’re probably looking towards the last game Yerry could be in contention for.”
Lampard will be gutted
This will surely be hugely frustrating for the team and Lampard will likely be gutted to lose one of his best centre-backs ahead of the final hurdle of their relegation battle considering they have begun to pick up some momentum and crucial points in the Premier League since Mina’s return.
Everton have picked up seven points in the last three games that the defender has been involved in over their last five games, winning two and drawing one, so his return to the team and involvement has clearly had a hugely positive impact, something Lampard will now have to work without.
In fact, the Colombian has been involved in eight of Everton’s ten wins this season further proving that having him in the team makes a massive difference to the side’s ability to take points from their opponents.
On top of this blow to the backline, the former Chelsea boss is also without Ben Godfrey who is working to recover and get his fitness back on track ahead of the end of the season following a thigh injury, so Lampard will need to lean on Michael Keane and Mason Holgate for the foreseeable.
With that being said, there are now only four games to go for the Toffees and four opportunities for the side to pick up as many points as they can ahead of the end of the season to seal their fate and potentially survive in the Premier League.
AND in other news: Everton now plot bid for “red-hot” £17m sensation, just imagine him and Doucoure
Glasgow Rangers reportedly now face a ‘big fight’ to keep Ryan Kent this summer.
The Lowdown: Europa League hero
Kent was just one of many Europa League heroes for the Teddy Bears as they overcame RB Leipzig 3-1 at Ibrox on Thursday night to book themselves in the final against Frankfurt.
The winger grabbed the assist for the opening goal of the game by James Tavernier, and also recorded a team-high two key passes, while he won three of his duels, made two tackles and one interception (SofaScore).
The Latest: ‘Big fight’
Taking to Twitter, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team now face a ‘big fight’ to keep hold of Kent in the summer, as he is ‘attracting interest’ from a number of clubs in the Premier League.
Expanding in his latest piece for 90min, Bailey added that the Light Blues have accepted that they will not be able to match teams in the top flight in terms of contract offers, given that he only has a year left on his current deal.
Bailey’s sources have confirmed that the uncertainty over his contract is now attracting interest, with Leeds United, Everton, Wolves and Fulham named as possible destinations.
The Verdict: Worrying
It is certainly worrying for the supporters to hear of uncertainty over Kent’s long-term future, as they will no doubt find it difficult to pull him away from the attraction of the Premier League.
He has been one of their best performers in both the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership, and at 25 years of age, has not yet reached his full potential.
Nonetheless, if the Gers do decide to sell him, then they need to make sure that they get a sizeable fee in order to help find a suitable replacement.
In other news, find out which ‘absolute legend’ Andrew Dickson hailed against Leipzig here!
West Ham United could reportedly pass up the chance to sign on-loan ‘keeper Alphonse Areola on a permanent deal, owing to the player’s hefty salary.
What’s the word?
According to respected insider ExWHUemployee, (via westhamzone), the Frenchman’s current wage could prove a major stumbling block in the Hammers’ hopes of keeping him at the club beyond this summer, with the 29-year-old reportedly taking home roughly £125k-per-week at parent club Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking about the situation on the West Ham Way Podcast, the trusted source said of the three-cap international that: “The manager likes Areola and it’s just that his wages are £125k/week. This would mean that he would be the highest-paid player and if he’s going to be backup to Fabianski next year, you can’t pay your backup keeper the highest wage at the club.”
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The World Cup-winning stopper made the move to the London Stadium on a season-long loan deal over the summer, although do have the option to make it permanent.
A poor decision?
Although there is a sense in not handing out such a vast wage to a player who hasn’t even been the regular number one in the Premier League this season, it would seem foolish to discard the Paris-born giant at the end of the campaign, particularly following his impressive form in the Europa League.
Dubbed “remarkable” by commentator Peter Drury, the £8.1m-rated man has featured in ten of the club’s 11 games in the continental competition, only sitting out the very first group stage clash away at Dinamo Zagreb.
Since then, he has registered five clean sheets in the Hammers’ surge to the semi-final stage, conceding just 0.7 goals per game and making 2.8 saves per game, while also averaging a 7.12 match rating – the sixth-best among David Moyes’ squad in Europe this term.
In his 17 appearances in all competitions for the club this season he has conceded just 14 goals, while counterpart and rival Lukasz Fabianski has shipped 45 goals in 35 outings across all fronts.
The Poland international has been the undisputed number one over the last few seasons – having joined from Swansea in a £7m deal back in 2018 – although at 37 he is now perhaps coming towards the end, with a younger replacement on the agenda.
There have been rumours of a deal for Burnley’s Nick Pope and West Bromwich Albion’s Sam Johnstone, perhaps showing signs that Moyes and co are looking towards the future in the goalkeeping department.
Declan Rice’s future is also of great importance to the club but in Areola, they have someone who they must also do their best to keep in east London.
He is already a man who has shown his worth at the London Stadium and supporters would surely agree that it would be a mistake not to snap him up permanently.
IN other news, “He wants..”: Insider drops big Rice claim that will have West Ham supporters buzzing
Chelsea have opened talks with the representatives of a big-name player after their triumph over Barcelona in the Champions League, according to a fresh update on Wednesday morning.
Chelsea seal statement win over Barcelona on dream European night
Enzo Maresca’s side put in a scintillating performance at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, dismantling Barça 3-0 in a European encounter that underlined their credentials as genuine contenders for silverware this season.
Chelsea dominated from start to finish, displaying an intensity and quality that left the five-time European champions thoroughly outclassed.
The Blues flew out of the blocks with relentless energy, pressing Barcelona high and refusing to allow the Spanish side any time on the ball. Their attacking intent was evident throughout a pulsating first half that saw Chelsea create numerous opportunities, though they endured frustration as two goals were chalked off for offside and handball before finally breaking through.
The first goal arrived when Marc Cucurella’s dangerous cross deflected off Jules Koundé, giving Chelsea a deserved advantage after 27 minutes of intense pressure.
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Estevao was the star of the show as Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League.
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It got from bad to worse for Barça, with captain Ronald Araujo receiving a second yellow card for his reckless challenge on Cucurella near the touchline. The sending-off proved catastrophic for Hansi Flick’s side, allowing Chelsea to seize complete control after the restart.
The second half belonged to 18-year-old sensation Estevao, who produced a moment of individual brilliance that will be remembered for years in west London.
Collecting the ball wide on the right, the Brazilian winger embarked on a mesmeric dribble, gliding past Pau Cubarsí before cutting across Alejandro Balde and unleashing an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net. The stunning strike showcased his exceptional technical ability and composure, stealing the show in a much-anticipated head-to-head with Barcelona’s own teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal.
Liam Delap then rounded off a superb Chelsea display with his first Champions League goal for the club after initially seeing it chalked off, with Cucurella getting a lot of plaudits too for his exceptional display against Yamal.
Minutes
93′
Expected Assists
0.59
Tackles (Won)
5 (4)
Interceptions
1
Clearances
2
Blocked Shots
1
Recoveries
4
Aerial Duels (Won)
1 (1)
Key Passes
1
Passes
55/63
Touches
97
It was a statement win for Chelsea, who now go into their mouth-watering Premier League tie against Arsenal this weekend in very high spirits.
Now, according to Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, supporters could have more reason to get excited.
Chelsea reopen talks with Mike Maignan who's "very keen" to join
AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan has long been a target for Chelsea amid their hunt for an elite-level keeper, with his contract expiring at the end of this season and potentially up for grabs at zero cost.
As per Tavolieri, Chelsea have reignited negotiations with Maignan and his camp, as the French international edges closer to departing the San Siro.
BlueCo are seizing on a developing contract standoff that could see the 30-year-old leave Italy as a free agent next summer, with Maignan reportedly informing Milan that he will not sign a new deal despite the club offering improved terms that would double his current salary.
The France number one can begin formal discussions with foreign clubs from January onwards, positioning Chelsea favourably in the race for his signature.
Maresca apparently views the experienced shot-stopper as a potential solution to Chelsea’s ongoing goalkeeping concerns. While Robert Sanchez has featured regularly this season, Filip Jorgensen could leave in January, and neither have fully convinced Chelsea’s manager.
Maignan is also “very keen” on the idea of joining them, so this could be one to watch closely as we fast approach the winter window.
The former Lille star is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top shot-stoppers, with Liverpool’s Alisson describing him as a world-class keeper at a truly elite level.
Back in the Premier League after a long absence, Sunderland have wasted no time in trying to establish themselves as more than just relegation candidates.
In the summer, the club spent £141.5m – the second-highest spend by a promoted side in English football history, behind only Nottingham Forest in 2022.
That money brought in Habib Diarra (Strasbourg), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Chemsdine Talbi (Club Brugge), Noah Sadiki (Union SG), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), and Nordi Mukiele (PSG).
Such investment has been rewarded early.
With three wins from their opening fixtures, Sunderland sit fifth in the Premier League, a position even their most optimistic supporters could not have imagined at this stage.
The challenge ahead is sustaining that form, particularly with a trip to Old Trafford looming this weekend.
For all the headline arrivals, though – alongside the headline makers like three-goal hero, Wilson Isidor – it is perhaps the least expected of their summer deals that is proving to be the most significant.
Sunderland's previous £30m sensation
Sunderland fans know better than most the importance of having a goalkeeper who can make the difference at both club and international level.
Their academy produced Jordan Pickford, who emerged from a series of loans to displace Vito Mannone in 2016/17.
That season, Pickford was so impressive that he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, a rare honour for a keeper.
When Sunderland were relegated at the end of that campaign, Pickford became a prized asset.
Everton swooped with a £30m deal, which remains one of the most lucrative sales in the club’s history.
Since then, Pickford has made 325 appearances for Everton, keeping 91 clean sheets, and has established himself as England’s undisputed No.1 with 78 caps, producing defining moments in penalty shootouts at the World Cup and European Championships.
That legacy of homegrown excellence set the bar high for any future Sunderland keeper.
While most of the focus has been on flashy outfield signings this summer, it is the man between the posts who is beginning to capture the same kind of acclaim Pickford once did.
Sunderland's next £30m star in the making
Signed quietly from NEC Nijmegen for £9m, Robin Roefs has been nothing short of outstanding in his first Premier League season.
The 22-year-old Dutch youth international, with ten U21 caps to his name, has played every minute of Sunderland’s campaign so far – 540 minutes in total – and already has three clean sheets to his name.
Described by Andy Sixsmith as having had an “excellent start” to life at Sunderland – while being dubbed “absolutely awesome” by Kevin Phillips – Roefs has shown maturity beyond his years.
While he was at fault for a goal conceded against Aston Villa – palming a shot into the roof of his own net – his response since then has highlighted his resilience and temperament.
Statistically, he has been elite: a save percentage of 82.5% (99th percentile), a clean sheet rate of 50% (99th percentile), and a cross-stopping percentage of 10% (91st percentile).
A direct comparison with Pickford’s current numbers underlines the scale of his start, with the pair deemed to be statistically similar players, as per FBref.
Matches Played
6
6
Saves
18
11
Clean Sheets
3
2
Penalties Saved
1
1
Last season, Roefs averaged 3.0 saves per 90 minutes, compared to Pickford’s 1.83. His save percentage of 82.6% far outstrips Pickford’s 72.2%, and he has conceded just 0.67 goals per 90 against Pickford’s 1.0.
Even in clean sheet percentage, Roefs comes out on top—50% to 33.3%.
It is no surprise, then, that Roefs has also been likened in style to Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya, as per Fbref, both keepers renowned for combining strong shot-stopping with modern distribution.
For Sunderland, having a player of that calibre between the sticks provides a foundation for their survival hopes and long-term ambitions.
Supporters may have expected their big-money forwards or high-profile midfield additions to steal the spotlight, with Isidor certainly flourishing despite the step up, but it is Robin Roefs who has been their standout.
Just as Pickford’s rise once brought Sunderland significant acclaim and financial reward, there is already a sense that Roefs could follow a similar path—both in terms of on-field impact and, in time, market value.
At only 22, Sunderland may already have unearthed their most important signing of the summer.
Not Xhaka: Sunderland's "remarkable" star looks like their best signing
Sunderland sealed the best signing of their summer when landing this remarkable star.
Leeds United finally scored a goal from open play in the Premier League in their exciting 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home on Saturday.
The Whites had only scored one goal, a penalty against Everton, in their opening four matches of the top-flight campaign, which created concerns over the attacking quality within the group.
Daniel Farke’s side hit back at the critics with three goals in the first half at the Molineux, two coming from open play, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach, and Noah Okafor all got themselves on the scoresheet.
Stach’s goal was the pick of the bunch. The summer signing from Hoffenheim’s belting free-kick into the top corner was a beautiful goal, and he followed that up with an assist for Okafor’s strike.
That win does not put all concerns over the quality of the squad to bed, though, firstly because Wolves have lost all five of their matches in the division and appear to be one of the weaker teams in the league.
Secondly, because there are still some players in the team who are yet to reach lift-off in the Premier League, Brenden Aaronson is one of them.
Why Brenden Aaronson needs to step up for Leeds
To his credit, the USA international is a hard-working player who will always put in a shift and leave everything on the pitch with his relentless pressing and desire to win possession back.
Unfortunately, though, Aaronson’s lack of physicality often means that his hard work goes unrewarded at Premier League level, because opposition players are faster and stronger than him.
For example, the USNMT star has not won a single aerial duel in the division so far, across five appearances, per Sofascore, and he has already been dribbled past six times, ranking in the bottom 6% of wingers in the league in that statistic, per FotMob.
Aaronson showed flashes of quality in the Championship last season, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in 46 matches, but he has yet to prove that he is good enough for the Premier League.
His performances when the West Yorkshire outfit were last in the big time do not help the idea that he is not up to scratch at this level, as he was not up to the task in the 2022/23 campaign.
Appearances
36
xG
3.86
Goals
1
xA
2.59
Assists
3
Ground duel success rate
43%
Aerial duel success rate
17%
As you can see in the table above, Aaronson hugely underperformed in front of goal and lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air in that season, as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League.
This is why the 24-year-old attacker has to step up in the present day and start to show that he can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, having failed to provide any goal contributions in five league games so far this term.
The lack of quality provided by Aaronson at the top end of the pitch should enhance the feeling of regret that the club should have for cashing in on a player who has gone on to be even better than the former RB Salzburg star.
Leeds had Polish attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz on their books before they decided to cash in on him in March 2023, for a fee of £874k, per Transfermarkt.
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What the versatile forward has achieved since moving on from Elland Road suggests that the Whites had a mare by allowing him to move on for a fee that was less than £1m.
Why Leeds United should have kept Mateusz Bogusz
Bogusz only played three times for the first-team, starting two of those matches, at Leeds before his move to LAFC in 2023, which means that the midfield star did not get many opportunities to shine in West Yorkshire.
The Poland international’s transfer to the MLS provided him with the chance to play regular football and showcase his quality at the top end of the pitch week-in-week-out, and he grasped that chance with both hands.
Bogusz, who was hailed as a “dangerous” player by reporter Greg Beacham, scored 24 goals and provided 19 assists in 90 matches for LAFC in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he provided goals and assists on a regular basis.
The 24-year-old star, who is the same age as Aaronson, proved that he could produce consistent performances in the final third, mostly playing as an attacking midfielder for the American outfit.
Appearances
36
46
xG
9.20
11.43
Goals
16
9
Big chances created
9
9
xA
6.11
6.05
Assists
8
2
As you can see in the table above, Bogusz’s performances in the MLS during the 2024 season were more impressive, particularly from a goalscoring perspective, than Aaronson’s were in the Championship for Farke’s dominant side.
These statistics suggest that the Whites would have been better off with the Poland international in the number ten position, because he could have offered more quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals at the top end of the pitch.
As well as missing out on a quality player, Leeds also missed out on a bigger payday. Cruz Azul swooped in to sign the attacking midfielder for a fee of £7.4m in January of this year, which is significantly more than the £874k that the Whites raked in for his services in 2023.
At the time of writing (23/09/2025), Bogusz is valued at £6.5m by Transfermarkt after a return of two goals and seven assists in 32 outings for the Mexican side. This means that his value has soared by 644% from the £874k that he was sold for less than three years ago.
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Therefore, Leeds must regret cashing in on Bogusz for multiple reasons, because he would be an upgrade on one of the club’s current attackers, Aaronson, and because they missed out on millions.
Florian Wirtz’s medical is scheduled for Friday, and Liverpool supporters are surely now confident that they will get their man.
Despite all the noise regarding obscene transfer fees, Bayer Leverkusen’s Wirtz will sign for an initial £100m fee, with a further £16m achievable through add-ons.
Florian Wirtz
No doubt, Arne Slot can’t wait to bring the German playmaker into his team, adding some truly world-class quality to ensure the Premier League champions stand a great chance of defending their belt.
Of course, Liverpool need a new centre-forward to dance to the creative tune Wirtz will play from number ten. Darwin Nunez’s time on Merseyside is at an end, reported interest from Serie A rising.
Multiple names have been bandied about, but Hugo Ekitike’s has held the most weight over the past several weeks.
The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool
Liverpool need a striker, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike has been billed the perfect fit, not just a budding goalscorer of a high class but also a dynamic and rounded player whose strength lies in his elegance and flair.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
The 22-year-old completed his first full season in Germany last year, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists across 48 matches in all competitions.
But with a deft touch, selfless link-up play and intelligent off-the-ball movements all front and centre of Ekitike’s skillset, there’s little question that he has a “very complete offensive range”, as noted by one French reporter.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has also dubbed Ekitike “one of the best strikers out there”, but he’s not the best. That particular player lingers elusively out of reach for all who might want him this summer, but Liverpool haven’t given up hope.
Liverpool still in for Ekitike alternative
As per the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle, Liverpool are still huge admirers of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and are attentive to his situation.
Even though The Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed the 25-year-old would not be moving this summer after qualifying for the Champions League, Liverpool chiefs are looking to raise funds through the sales of existing players, and the summer is still young.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
For their part, Newcastle categorically don’t want to sell. Isak is the cream of Eddie Howe’s crop and has been valued at more than £150m.
Why Alexander Isak would be perfect
Isak is one of the best players in the Premier League, with analyst Raj Chohan even declaring him “the best striker in the world” after his extraordinary 2024/25 campaign.
Newcastle signed the marksman from Real Sociedad three years ago in what remains a club-record £63m move, but Isak has shaken away the injury issues of seasons past to have enjoyed his finest year yet, bagging 27 goals and six assists over 42 matches in all competitions.
In the Premier League, his 23-goal return was surpassed only by that man Mohamed Salah, and with Isak missing only 18 big chances and creating 11 golden opportunities for his teammates, as per Sofascore, he’d help Liverpool’s Egyptian star and the rest in creating a layered attacking game next year.
Isak’s goalscoring is second-to-none, sure, but that’s not why Liverpool have a vested interest. Instead, it’s the player’s underlying quality, so rounded and technically impressive.
His physicality and robustness (when swerving the injury front) have established the rangy forward to become one of the best in the world, with his goal against Liverpool at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup in March underscoring his value.
Maybe that was the game that convinced FSG of this star’s prowess, for rumours of his potential cross-country summer switch have persisted ever since.
It’s hardly surprising. Liverpool clearly want a certain type of centre-forward, with FBref’s data-driven model revealing Ekitike to be one of Isak’s most statistically comparable players.
Let’s have a look at how they match up.
Goals scored
0.75
0.53
Assists
0.20
0.28
Shots taken
3.10
4.00
Shot-creating actions
3.00
3.55
Touches (att pen)
6.17
6.88
Progressive passes
2.87
1.86
Progressive carries
2.71
3.27
Successful take-ons
1.37
1.83
Ball recoveries
1.80
3.06
Tackles + interceptions
0.49
0.81
What’s interesting is that Ekitike is a bit more active in his ball carrying and in his recoveries, but he also unleashes strikes on goal with greater regularity, with xG (expected goals) tally reaching 0.76 per 90.
Isak’s xG tally, conversely, amounted only to 0.66 per 90, which basically means he scored more frequently than he should have from the chances he found himself at the centre of.
Ultimately, we’re not going to see both players under Slot’s wing, but one of them should suffice. Given Ekitike’s stylistic similarities to Isak, though, you could argue that he’s little more than an imitation of the Swede, pastiching his style of play but not to the same effect.
Ekitike and Isak
The 6 foot 3 star has a wealth of experience as a top striker in the Premier League, so it’s understandable that Liverpool would have to pay a premium.
Would the £150m mark be too much for the Reds? It’s likely, but then such a figure is potentially overinflated. Wirtz, it must be said, was touted at €150m (£127m), right up into Liverpool announced themselves the finances involved in a deal that leaves the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal with bigger outlays on single-player transfers at this stage.
To fork out what would likely reach the £100m ballpark once again in the same transfer window would be a big ask of FSG, but the American owners have established a self-sustainable model that has bred illustrious success, and with the right player sales, this might just be one to keep an eye on.
Their new Mo Salah: Liverpool favourites to sign "incredible" £84m striker
Liverpool are planning to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer market.
Manchester United are now circling to sign an “incredible” attacker, in what would be a hugely controversial deal, according to a report.
Red Devils moving swiftly in the transfer market
Matheus Cunha became Man United’s first signing of the summer last week, with Ruben Amorim getting his summer rebuild underway early doors, and the manager has no plans to stop there, as another forward could be on their way to Old Trafford soon.
There are conflicting reports about who United’s priority target is at centre-forward, but recruitment chiefs certainly have a number of potential options in mind, with it being revealed they are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Target
Current club
Potential cost
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
£29m
Benjamin Sesko
RB Leipzig
£84m
Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford
£60m
Viktor Gyokeres
Sporting CP
£67m
Any top striker is only as good as the service he receives, however, and with widespread reports linking captain Bruno Fernandes with a move to Saudi Arabia, Amorim may also be tasked with bringing in another attacking midfielder this summer.
According to a report from The Mirror, the Red Devils have a hugely controversial target in mind, as they are now circling to sign Manchester City maestro James McAtee, who could now be edging closer towards an Etihad Stadium exit.
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McAtee has been left out of Man City’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, which could spell the end of his time on the blue side of Manchester, with United believed to be keen on a surprise deal to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford.
With the 22-year-old’s contract set to expire in 2026, City may view this summer as their final opportunity to cash-in on the Englishman, and reports from elsewhere have detailed they could look to hold out for a fee in the region of £25m.
"Incredible" McAtee needs fresh start
Man City have already made the mistake of letting some exciting academy graduates leave in the past, most notably Cole Palmer, who has gone on to excel at Chelsea, and there are signs McAtee could be capable of following a similar path.
Lauded as “incredible” by former teammate Oli McBurnie, the Salford-born midfielder impressed when given the opportunity during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring seven goals in 27 outings, but unfortunately his game time was far too limited.
James McAtee
Not only is the City ace an attacking threat, but he is also clearly a well-rounded player, given that he has impressed on some key defensive metrics over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
1.96 (89th percentile)
Blocks
1.96 (99th percentile)
Should McAtee be willing to cross the Manchester divide, there are signs he would be able to kick on at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a difficult deal to get over the line, given the rivalry between the two clubs.
This time last year, Leeds United were full to the brim with nerves as a Championship playoff final awaited the Whites at Wembley.
Thankfully, no such heartache on the biggest stage is plaguing Daniel Farke’s men currently, with any loss to Southampton now a distant memory, considering the second-tier title was wrapped up in style this season by the West Yorkshire giants.
One downside to Leeds winning promotion could come in the form of Harry Gray’s development being hindered, with so much already anticipated of the teenager at Elland Road despite the attacker only being 16 years of age.
Gray's incredible rise at Leeds
Plenty of the hype surrounding Gray does come from his notable namesake, with his brother Archie now on the books of Tottenham Hotspur and a Europa League winner after exploding into life in the senior game with the Whites.
Farke was heavily responsible for the 19-year-old’s sudden rise in the first team, considering he gifted the versatile Spurs number 14 his first senior opportunities at Elland Road, with history now amazingly repeating itself.
Indeed, with Leeds’ promotion virtually wrapped up, the German would start to name the 16-year-old sensation amongst his substitutes, with his first official appearance for his boyhood employers coming against Stoke City last month.
With 11 goals next to his name playing for both the U18s and U21s too, this could well be the early beginnings of a future icon in West Yorkshire. After all, he has already been described as “one of England’s best prospects in his generation” by data analyst Ben Mattinson.
Gray might not be the only rising star that could soon work his way into Farke’s regular first team picture, though, with this fellow Thorp Arch product possessing the potential to be as big a talent as the much-talked-about striker if given time.
The Leeds youngster who could be as impressive as Gray
It isn’t the biggest shock in the world to see the Leeds conveyor belt continuing to churn out more and more top-drawer youngsters with the likes of Kalvin Phillips once beginning his journey with the Whites.
Sam Chambers could be the next prodigy to rise the ranks and make an impression; therefore, with the exciting 17-year-old also gaining his first meaningful senior opportunities this season when given a cameo late last year versus Plymouth Argyle in the league, alongside an FA Cup chance against Millwall in 2025.
These rare slices of senior action would follow on from Chambers thumping home this effort in pre-season action for Farke’s men, with the promising Scotman really catching the eye at a youth level for the Whites for his versatility all across the attacking positions.
Indeed, his ability to maraud down the wings or play as a number 10 has even seen his ever-improving game be compared to that of Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling by SCOUTED editor Llew Davies, who stated that Chambers “breaks open games, beats presses, creates positive attacking situations. He’s a little bit like Grealish, Emile Smith Rowe and Dibling.”
AM
20
2
3
CM
5
1
0
CF
4
1
1
LM
3
0
0
RW
1
0
0
LW
1
0
0
RM
1
0
0
Chambers will aim to follow in both Grealish’s and Dibling’s footsteps, therefore, as the electric duo were both raw gems themselves once upon a time at Aston Villa and Southampton before their big breaks.
If he can go on to live up to these lofty comparisons, he could even be a bigger talent than Gray, with the future looking very bright at Elland Road as Premier League football returns, alongside yet another generation of stars coming through that look extremely encouraging.
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