All posts by z3u9t.icu

Sunderland have joined the race to sign Hull City’s James Scott ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the word?

That is according to reports via Portsmouth.co.uk, who state that Sunderland, amongst the likes of Derby, Portsmouth, Accrington and Hibernian are all keen to secure his signature.

As per the report, the Hull man may get a chance to prove himself to boss Shota Arveladze, who reportedly wants to see the player in action before deciding the next chapter of his career.

Imagine him and Stewart

21-year-old Scott, who has scored 15 goals in his career so far, has endured a somewhat difficult start to his career as a professional.

After scoring £1.5m.

Having registered six returns in the form of terrific” by former Mackems boss, Jack Ross.

His first 16 appearances for the Edinburgh outfit saw zero returns for the club, but in the final few games, he has demonstrated his ability, having managed hat-trick against St. Johnstone in the final game of the campaign.

It means he has scored four goals in five fixtures in the Scottish Premiership Relegation Round and has given clubs like Sunderland the inclination to look towards the Scotsman, who could form a formidable partnership with fellow countryman Ross Stewart.

Despite his incredible haul of 59 chances, with nine of these classed as big chances this campaign.

Scott, who was described as “perfectly placed” for his second goal against St. Johnstone, has been operating in a Hibernian side that have drummed up just 33 big chances this term, whilst Sunderland have managed to create almost double that with a tally of 64.

It goes without saying, a two-man Scottish partnership between Stewart and Scott could make for an unstoppable duo who could bolster the Black Cats, offensively speaking.

Scott’s finish to this season bodes well for his start to the next.

In other news: Neil can save Sunderland millions by unleashing 19y/o who can “make something happen”

Derby County are set to be faced with a fresh threat ahead of the start of the 2022/23 season as the Rams could receive a three-point deduction heading into the new campaign, according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon.

The Lowdown: Takeover update

The Rams entered administration back in September last year amid ongoing financial problems at the club, and despite a valiant effort after multiple deductions, Wayne Rooney’s side were relegated to League One.

Chris Kirchner was named as the preferred bidder for Derby in April, but even though most of the key areas of the takeover had already been arranged, a new roadblock appeared as it was reported that the American businessman was reluctant to proceed if unable to strike up a deal with Mel Morris for Pride Park.

However, Kirchner’s exclusivity period has now been extended by Quantuma after expiring last weekend, hopefully providing more time for negotiations to be agreed.

The Latest: Derby facing new threat

In a new report published on Nixon’s personal Patreon page after that update (via Football League World), it’s claimed that a new three-point deduction will come into action if the administrators fail to pay the player’s wages for the month of May, a term that would be triggered after being issued two years ago following Morris not paying the playing staff.

In addition, if it’s revealed that the County squad are not paid on time in June either, then there’s a possibility that the club could be dealt an extra three-point deduction on top of the original one.

The source states that the only way in which the club could avoid these punishments altogether is if all of the players and staff decided to defer their wages on a voluntary basis until there is a sufficient sum of money in the bank.

The Verdict: A never-ending saga

Fans of the Rams will have no doubt have been praying the constant points deductions was all over now that the Championship season has come to an end, but it looks like that’s far from the case.

There were rumours circulating back in February that Derby had informed the EFL that they were close to completely running out of money, so it wouldn’t come as any surprise to see Quantuma fail to cough up the amount required to prevent this further sanction.

If Kirchner still has strong intentions to complete a deal for the takeover of the club, hopefully this is something that can be finalised over the coming days to kickstart the new chapter of Rooney’s Rams before the opening day of the new season.

Liverpool have been dealt a major blow regarding their pursuit of RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku.

What’s the word?

According to L’Equipe [via Liverpool Echo], not even a bid of £85m for the Frenchman would be enough to take him off the Bundesliga club’s hands this summer.

Liverpool aren’t the only club linked with the 24-year-old either, with the likes of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid all looking to sign him.

Jurgen Klopp might be priced out

Klopp is steering Liverpool to potentially their greatest-ever season, with an unprecedented quadruple bid getting closer to realisation every week. He already seems to be planning for the future too, with several of his players on the wrong side of 30, and replacements could well be signed sooner rather than later in order to bed in quickly.

However, the manager may need to look elsewhere for attacking options after the news regarding Nkunku, with the asking price for him approaching ridiculous levels.

At first glance, the Frenchman would make an excellent signing, having scored 32 goals and grabbed a further 20 assists from 49 matches this season.

freshpress-quiz ]

These are truly phenomenal figures, especially when you consider that he isn’t an out-and-out centre-forward but can play in a variety of positions, which include attacking midfield and featuring as a second striker.

The 24-year-old is one of Europe’s finest talents at the minute and former Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch described him as a player “who has no weaknesses”; and judging by Nkunku’s performances this season, it’s hard to argue against that notion.

Liverpool might just have to make do with moving towards other targets unless they feel that a fee of close to £100m is justifiable for the French predator.

Given FSG’s reputation for frugality at Anfield, it seems highly unlikely that such an amount will be spent on one player, so the news of Leipzig’s lofty asking price could leave Kopites gutted that their hopes of signing the prolific 24-year-old appear very slim.

AND in other news, Liverpool plotting mega offer for “dangerous” £19.8m-rated gem, he’s Klopp’s new Firmino

Barcelona are reportedly ‘very close’ over a summer move for Leeds United winger Raphinha.

The Lowdown: Deco at the Nou Camp

Raphinha has been heavily linked with a move to the Catalan giants this year, with reports suggesting earlier this month that Deco, the 25-year-old’s agent, flew out to the Nou Camp. He was looking to progress personal terms, with a contract until 2027 mooted at the time.

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The Brazilian, labelled as ‘unbelievable’ by Paul Merson, has remained a regular under Jesse Marsch, scoring his tenth goal of the season against Watford earlier this month.

The Latest: Spanish update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Spanish outlet Sport on Tuesday regarding Raphinha and Barcelona. They claimed that the La Liga giants now have an agreement in place with the winger, and a transfer is ‘very close’.

However, the report adds that striking terms with the Whites will be more difficult, with Barcelona possibly hoping Leeds go down to make a deal easier.

The Verdict: Next few weeks key

Marsch’s side aren’t safe yet on 34 points with five games remaining, so there’s a chance a return to the Championship could be on the cards.

Should that happen, Barcelona will be able to activate a €25m relegation release clause in the summer, something which would be a disaster for everyone at Elland Road.

There will be no clause if Raphinha helps Leeds stay in the top flight, though, making the next few weeks extremely important both on and off the pitch – stay up, and Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani can demand a huge fee for the wing wizard.

In other news: Radz and 49ers will now reward Marsch if he keeps Leeds up by moving for 29-goal forward. 

Tottenham Hotspur have already started their pre-summer exit negotiations, with QPR believed to be in talks to sign multiple youngsters from the Premier League giants ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The Lowdown: An established connection

The Lilywhites already have a strong relationship with the Hoops following a long line of talented prospects making the move to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in recent years, including the likes of loan signing Jack Clarke.

It’s now thought that the Championship outfit are hoping to put this connection to good use once more as they look to arrange some potential moves ahead of the start of next season.

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The Latest: Potential targets

In a fresh update, a Spurs source has told Football Insider that ‘discussions are being led’ by QPR’s U23s head coach Paul Hall, who is said to be ‘targeting rising stars’ who have the ability to make an impact in the second-tier of the English Football League.

Some of the players named in the report that are said to be of interest are strikers Troy Parrott and Kion Etete, alongside midfielder Harvey White.

The Verdict: One for the future

Parrott, who is currently out on loan in League One with MK Dons, is probably the player who has impressed the most during his spell away from north London and is definitely one for the future.

The 20-year-old Irishman has scored nine goals and registered seven assists in all competitions for Liam Manning’s side so far this campaign, via Transfermarkt, showing just how much of an attacking threat he can be when given the chance to prove himself.

Hailed as being a “quality” player by his fellow Dons teammate Scott Twine, Parrott still has plenty of his prime years left ahead of him, and should he be able to maintain his impressive run of form and continue his development in the second tier, there’s no doubt that he will one day end up leading the line for Spurs in years to come.

In other news… Tottenham have been handed a boost in the race to sign ‘one of the best CBs in the world’.

Sunderland’s extremely impressive start to life back in the Premier League has been built on a very strong defensive spine.

Indeed, the well-drilled Black Cats have only given up 11 goals across the 12 games they’ve played since dramatically returning to the big time, with five wins also coming their way.

Robin Roefs, in particular, has stood out as a top-drawer summer recruit in between the sticks, while Daniel Ballard has made the jump to the top-flight look routine, too, winning a commanding 6.3 duels per match across his seven Premier League starts.

This defensive doggedness is very unlike-Sunderland, when you look back at the woes they are used to experiencing at the foot of the top-flight table.

Still, even when times were consistently tough and bleak, previous club captain John O’Shea managed to stand out as a commanding force.

O'Shea's hero status at Sunderland

The Black Cats would have felt they’d won themselves a coup when O’Shea arrived through the door in 2011, having picked up 394 appearances for Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson’s heyday as a manager, before coming to the Stadium of Light.

The revered manager would even hail him as a “great professional”, despite his importance to the Red Devils’ cause sometimes slipping under the radar, with the Wearside outfit managing to win the five-time Premier League winner for just a reported £3m.

He would turn into a relegation fighter quickly, though, in his new surroundings, with his determined displays, matched by his knack of being in the right place at the right time to pop up with a big goal, making him a fan favourite from the get-go.

One of his former Sunderland bosses in Martin O’Neill, would go as far as to say he had “enormous” respect for the veteran defender, with the Irishman only absent from 18 league contests during his first four seasons at the club, all of which ended up in Sunderland surviving.

Unfortunately, the latter years of his Black Cats journey would culminate in a relegation down to the Championship, but he is still fondly remembered to his day for being a dependable giant.

In the current Sunderland ranks, it could be argued that the forceful Ballard – coming in at a 6-foot-2 frame – is most similar to O’Shea in his Stadium of Light prime, with two important goals already next to his name this season.

However, a different member of Le Bris’ rigid backline has caught the eye in this regard…

Sunderland's new John O'Shea

Sunderland might not be struggling against the drop this season, but that doesn’t mean certain members of Le Bris’ camp don’t still evoke similarities to heroes of the Black Cats’ recent past.

Like O’Shea, Nordi Mukiele would have been viewed as a statement deal for Sunderland to secure this summer when leaving Paris St Germain behind, having accumulated a hefty 200 appearances in both the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, before embarking on a fresh Premier League challenge.

For just £12m, too, Mukiele has now gone down as a steal similar to O’Shea, only costing £3m, with the Frenchman visibly at the peak of his career, donning Sunderland red and white.

The £100k-per-week fighter has jaw-droppingly beaten Ballard in the duels won count total so far for the season, with a mighty 7.6 duels won on average to date, among other impressive numbers, making him a regular from minute one of his Stadium of Light stay.

Games played

10

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Touches*

63.7

Accurate passes*

29.9 (79%)

Clearances*

6.6

Total duels won*

7.6

Clean sheets

3

With a goal and assist also next to his name, alongside collecting three clean sheets, Mukiele has managed to stand out as a well-rounded performer for Le Bris and Co. so far, away from just being seen as a “colossus” in physical duels, as per the words of Sky Sports’ journalist Andy Sixsmith.

Mukiele will be aiming for a long career in the Premier League now, past just a standout debut season, to become even more like O’Shea, with his levels never dropping for the Black Cats so far, already putting him on the same pedestal as the “always solid” Irishman, as both Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves labelled him recently.

It could also be argued, like O’Shea, Mukiele’s determined performances have gone somewhat unnoticed to the neutral, next to Granit Xhaka stealing the spotlight for his equally combative showings.

But, if he were to be a vital part of the defence that saw Sunderland pick up a mid-table finish, or even higher, right after promotion, he would surely be handed his flowers, as a new batch of heroes begin to emerge on Wearside.

Le Bris can end £7m star's Sunderland career by signing Guendouzi

This Sunderland leader will surely be shown the exit door if Matteo Guendouzi does join Regis Le Bris’ ranks.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

After enduring the summer of all summers at Anfield, Liverpool could still miss out on their top target amid interest from Real Madrid, who beat the Reds to Jude Bellingham back in 2023.

Isak delivers emphatic Liverpool statement

Alexander Isak was made to wait, but eventually he got his move. Arriving on deadline day in a deal worth around £125m, the Swede finally got his wish and will now be looking to go from a player on strike to a player back in action at his very best.

Joining Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo on Arne Slot’s list of attacking options, there’s a strong argument that Liverpool now have the strongest frontline in all of Europe. As such, it came as no surprise that Isak instantly set his sights on creating history in Merseyside.

Without their new star striker, Liverpool have not even got out of first gear but remain the only side in the Premier League with a 100% win record. Slot’s side needed late winners against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and, most recently, Arsenal as their rivals quickly became sick of the sight of the champions before the international break.

Now, those same rivals will be dreading the impact that Isak could make. It must be said, however, that he wasn’t the only top target on deadline day and after Liverpool hesitated, they’ve seemingly allowed Real Madrid to swoop in.

Real Madrid now eyeing Marc Guehi move

As relayed by reports in Spain, Real Madrid have now set their sights on signing Marc Guehi on a free deal when his current contract expires next summer. The defender looked destined for Anfield on deadline day after a deal was agreed and medical completed, before Crystal Palace pulled the plug in ruthless fashion.

Leaving the door for rivals to make their move when his contract expires, Liverpool could suffer an all too familiar hijack at the hands of Real Madrid. Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that the Spanish giants jumped ahead of the Reds to sign Jude Bellingham – who has thrived ever since – and pried Trent Alexander-Arnold away from Anfield this summer.

Isak can do the one thing for Liverpool that Haaland never did at Man City

The Swede could already hand the Reds one key advantage.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 2, 2025

Liverpool should be desperate to avoid a repeat and secure the arrival of Guehi once and for all, either in January or next summer. Described as “calm and composed” by former Manchester City defender Micah Richards, the Crystal Palace defender looks set to have a big decision to make when the time comes.

Will Aston Villa be busy in the final few days of the transfer window?

So far this summer, due to constraints relating to the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules, the Villans have made just one noteworthy signing, with Evann Guessand arriving from Nice for £26m.

However, following the sale of Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £39m, plus £4m in potential add-ons, there is optimism this will allow the Claret and Blue Army to spend before the transfer window slams shut.

So, could Aston Villa make a move to sign an “explosive” attacking midfielder from within the Premier League?

Aston Villa's search for an attacking midfielder

After arriving in January, Marco Asensio made quite the impression at Villa Park, scoring eight goals in 21 appearances, three of which came in the Champions League, averaging a goal every 139 minutes.

Unai Emery would reportedly love to be reunited with his compatriot on a more permanent basis, with claims made that an agreement on personal terms has already been reached. While it is yet to be seen if a similar agreement can be struck with PSG, he is completely out of Luis Enrique’s plans.

Regardless of what occurs on that front, is there another target emerging who may prove to be an even better signing?

Well, according to Brazilian outlet Globo, Aston Villa have made contact with West Ham United over the possibility of signing Lucas Paquetá, with the Midlands side said to be planning a move for the playmaker.

They add that Tottenham and Everton are also interested, with the Hammers valuing their creator in chief at £50m.

Transfer Focus

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

Talks remain ‘ongoing’, and Aston Villa currently lead the race to sign him, so could Paquetá swap one claret and blue club for another?

Why Lucas Paquetá should excite Aston Villa supporters

Last month, Paquetá was cleared by the Football Association of all charges related to alleged spot-fixing allegations.

If found guilty, the Brazilian would likely have received a lifetime ban, and this prospect had been hanging over him for two years, scuppering his proposed £80m move to Manchester City back in the summer of 2023.

Having now had his name cleared, it is widely expected that Paquetá would push for a move away from the sinking ship that is West Ham this month, so could a move to the Midlands be on the cards?

Speaking on Sky Sports following a 1-1 draw between Aston Villa and West Ham in January, Jamie Redknapp labelled the Brazilian “explosive”, asserting that he possesses an immense amount of talent.

Redknapp adds that Paquetá has lacked consistency recently, with many putting this down to the looming allegations, and the table below documents his dip in form.

2025/26

3

2 & zero

2024/25

36

5 & zero

2023/24

43

8 & 7

2022/23

43

5 & 7

As the table documents, Paquetá endured a miserable campaign last time round, as did West Ham as a team to be fair, having accumulated 27 goals and assists across the previous two campaigns.

Also, now an innocent man, he’s started this season excellently, scoring two goals in three games, on target against Wolves in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, having scored this absolute rocket against Chelsea last Friday.

So why would he be a better signing than Asensio?

Well, prior to joining Aston Villa, the Spanish international had scored just seven goals and registered 11 assists in 47 appearances for PSG, this spread across 18 months.

Asensio has not been a consistent, high-level contributor since his Real Madrid days, scoring 12 goals in all competitions in 2022/23, suggesting he might just be a fading force.

Paquetá, on the other hand, could be an elite-level player at Villa, having continued to show his quality in an otherwise dismal West Ham side, so the Villans should go all in on the Brazilian, while confining Asensio’s career in the Midlands to history.

Emery's own Grealish: Aston Villa agree terms for "magical" late signing

Aston Villa are ready to welcome one or two late signings to their squad as the transfer window draws to a close.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 29, 2025

Alexander Isak’s form in the 2024/25 campaign for Newcastle United has been sensational. Around a month ago, at the end of April, Jamie Carragher described the Swede as the “best striker in the Premier League right now”, and looking at the numbers, it is not hard to see why.

In 33 games in the English top flight, the striker has scored 23 goals and grabbed six assists. He has featured for 2,684 minutes in the Premier League, leaving him with an extraordinary average of one goal every 116 minutes.

With Isak’s superb form, it is no surprise Newcastle are looking to bolster his attack and bring him even more support in forward areas ahead of next term.

Newcastle’s latest attacking target

There might not be a more eye-catching signing to go along with Isak and winger Anthony Gordon in the Magpies’ attack than Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. It has been an impressive campaign for the Englishman, and he could well leave the Bundesliga this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, in conversation with Football Insider, Newcastle ‘are working on a move to sign’ the young winger this summer. Brown confirmed that the North Eastern side have ‘had scouts watching him this season’ and could now swoop in to sign him.

Surprisingly, although Gittens is a player with high potential, this is a deal that could come cheap.

A report from talkSPORT last month claimed he is valued at just £35m by Dortmund. However, they also link Chelsea to a move for the winger, meaning Newcastle might face strong competition.

Why Gittens would be a good signing

It has been a strong campaign for Gittens, despite a tough time of it as a team for Dortmund. Described by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley as “England’s best winger in 24/25”, the 20-year-old has certainly made a difference at times in that famous Black and Yellow shirt.

In 48 games this season across all competitions, Gittens has managed to find the back of the net on 12 occasions and has also created five goals for his teammates. In total, 12 of those goal involvements have come in the Bundesliga.

However, if there was one game where Gittens really showed what he can do, it was away to Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage. The former Manchester City academy man impressed against the La Liga giants, executing an incisive counter-attack to give his side a 2-0 lead.

One thing that really stands out about Gittens is his ability with the ball at his feet. He is a fantastic ball carrier, deadly in one-vs-one scenarios and confident in taking a defender on and beating him in those situations.

In fact, the stats on FBref from the Bundesliga season show just how good he is when carrying the ball. For example, Gittens averages 5.73 progressive carries and 3.9 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% of wingers in the Bundesliga.

Take-ons attempted

8.67

99th

Take-ons completed

3.9

99th

Progressive carries

5.73

99th

Carries into final third

2.84

94th

Carries into penalty area

3.19

99th

Well, Newcastle will be hoping that Gittens can replicate Isak’s impact at St James’ Park. Just like the young England U21 star, Isak was formerly a Dortmund player, where he made 13 appearances but only scored once.

However, his impact in the North East has been colossal, proving that you can certainly make a fine transition from Germany to English football.

108 games and 62 goals later, he is, as Carragher said, one of the stars of the Premier League, and a far better player than he was at Dortmund all those years ago.

Newcastle would surely love for Gittens to replicate that sort of impact. He could well become the second coming of Isak, that is to say, a former Dortmund player who has a fantastic impact on the North Eastern club.

At just £35m, Gittens seems like a bargain, and this feels like a move Newcastle must do, to further elevate their attack.

A dream for Isak: Newcastle plotting move for £50m "wonderkid"

Howe has sent scouts to watch a Bundesliga wonderkid for Newcastle United.

ByRoss Kilvington May 17, 2025

Leeds United and the 49ers Enterprises have now made a transfer decision over the future of a £90,000-a-week Everton player, according to a new report.

Leeds' plans for the Premier League are underway

The Whites secured the Championship title on Saturday in the final game of the league season, and now the focus will be turning towards next season, as they are once again back in the Premier League.

Leeds can seal stunning Solomon repeat by signing £30m Premier League star

Leeds United could look to replicate the success of their Manor Solomon deal by signing this attacking star.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 6, 2025

Signing a new striker appears to be high on the list of targets for Daniel Farke this summer, as Leeds have already held internal talks over signing Troy Parrott from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. Parrott has been in fine form this season, and given his experience in the Premier League with Tottenham, Leeds are interested in a potential deal, which could cost them more than £20 million.

As well as looking at Parrott, the Championship title winners are keeping their options open, as they also hold an interest in two other strikers. TEAMtalk have reported that the Whites are pursuing a deal to sign Jamie Vardy, as he is set to become a free agent once he leaves Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Leeds are also seriously interested in signing Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town. The forward is said to have a relegation clause in his contract at Portman Road, but the Tractor Boys are hoping to get around £26-£30 million for his services, given they are heading back to the second tier.

Leeds make decision over Jack Harrison's Elland Road future

These potential arrivals may mean the Whites and the 49ers have to balance the books and move some players on, and according to a new update from Football Insider, Leeds have decided that Jack Harrison is unlikely to return to Elland Road should his stay at Everton not be extended.

The winger is currently coming to the end of his two-year loan deal at Everton, and David Moyes has yet to decide whether to keep Harrison on a permanent basis or not.

The 28-year-old, who earns a weekly wage of £90,000, has still got three years left on his contract at Elland Road, but that hasn’t changed the minds of the club chiefs, as if a permanent move to Everton doesn’t work out, he will have to look for a move elsewhere.

One reason for that is because the Whites are already stocked in the wide positions, and they are planning to add to those options with the addition of two new wingers.

Apps

70

Goals

5

Assists

4

Harrison has played 31 times for the Toffees this season in the Premier League, 22 of which have come as a starter. However, he has struggled to make an impact in front of goal, netting just once and grabbing just one assist, which could be another reason why Everton may not be interested in a permanent deal and Leeds don’t want the player to come back to Elland Road.