All posts by z3u9t.icu

Sunderland’s excessive summer spending looks as if it will continue all across a bumper July.

Already, £67m has been forked out to pick up Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki, and that amount will soon rise as the bold Black Cats put together the finishing touches to secure Chemsdine Talbi from Club Brugge and Simon Adingra from Brighton for an initial fee of £18.5m.

Off the back of firing home seven strikes last season in Belgium, it’s fair to say the excitement levels at the Stadium of Light have risen even more as Talbi edges ever closer to calling Wearside his new home while the addition of Adingra, a Premier League-proven star, will no doubt raise the roof.

Yet, Sunderland aren’t done here when it comes to adding in gems from Europe down the wings to enhance their attacking personnel, as more statement moves wait in the pipeline.

Sunderland eye up club-record £39m move

The name that immediately springs to mind in this regard is Sassuolo star Armand Lauriente, with Sunderland definitely keen on the idea of adding the sparkling Frenchman to their camp very soon.

Transfer Focus

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

Unfortunately, their pursuit of the dynamic left winger has hit some turbulence, as reports suggest that the Regis Le Bris and Co. are a way off Sassuolo’s valuation of the 26-year-old at this point, which comes in at around the hefty £26m price range.

Obviously, Sunderland could well bounce back in this race and splash out such a high amount, considering money doesn’t seem to be too much of a concern for the newly promoted side this summer, but they might well be better placed to just go all out to land an upgrade on Lauriente instead by signing off on a club-record switch for Kerem Aktürkoğlu to move to Wearside.

Indeed, Turkish journalist Kutlu Akpinar – via his X account – has revealed that the Black Cats are keen on snapping up the pricey Benfica attacker this summer, with a £39m price tag above his head.

This really would be an earth-shuddering statement from Sunderland if a move were pulled off, with Aktürkoğlu performing at the very top of his game for many a season now.

Why Aktürkoğlu would be a big upgrade on Lauriente

Of course, Lauriente is just fresh off a 19-goal season himself for his current employers Sassuolo as Fabio Grosso’s men returned to Serie A in style.

On top of that, the £26m attacker has shown he can strut his stuff in both Serie A and Ligue 1 with a high 42 goals and assists coming his way from 133 appearances in these challenging leagues.

24/25

Benfica/Galatasaray

55

18

16

23/24

Galatasaray

51

15

9

22/23

Galatasaray

38

10

14

21/22

Galatasaray

50

13

13

20/21

Galatasaray

31

6

3

Yet, those promising numbers end up paling in comparison with Aktürkoğlu’s exploits with the explosive 26-year-old up to a staggering 94 goals and assists himself when plying his trade in both Turkey and Portugal.

Further, he has also managed to muster up an electric 11 goals and assists when competing in Europe’s most illustrious competition in the Champions League, with that £39m price tag next to his name not looking quite so steep anymore.

Instead, it could be deemed a far more worthwhile investment to make than trying to chase after Lauriente, with Aktürkoğlu already causing Premier League defences all sorts of headaches when he smashed home this effort versus Manchester United on Europe’s grandest stage in 2023.

Hailed as “silky” in approach by data analyst Ben Mattinson at the height of his glittering Galatasaray spell, the time might well be right for the Turkey international to now try and prove himself in another tough European environment in the Premier League.

He would surely be capable of pushing the likes of Enzo Le Fee and Romaine Mundle to a starting spot down the left, whilst Lauriente might fall victim to fading into the background next to such a proven and dangerous performer.

Le Fee 2.0: Sunderland lodge bid to sign 'one of the best LW's out there'

Sunderland fans could soon be cheering on a new star who might be their next Enzo Le Fee.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 9, 2025

Crystal Palace are now lining up a £27m double swoop for a “terrific” defender and a “monster” midfielder, according to a report.

Palace eyeing new defender with Guehi exit increasingly likely

Marc Guehi has just one year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, meaning this summer is Palace’s last chance to cash-in for a large fee, and Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed the centre-back is edging closer to the exit door.

As such, Oliver Glasner faces the difficult task of finding a replacement for his captain, but there has now been a breakthrough in the pursuit of Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande, with widespread recent reports suggesting the Eagles are closing in on a deal.

The signing of Diomande could be viewed as a real coup, given that the likes of Newcastle United and Real Madrid have also been named as interested parties, but the Sporting ace is not the only centre-back of interest.

According to a report from The Sun, Crystal Palace are now lining up a double swoop for Middlesbrough centre-back Rav van den Berg and midfielder Hayden Hackney, which could amount to £27m.

Palace scouts have been watching the Boro duo in action at the U21 European Championship, with Hackney playing a role in England’s triumph, picking up one assist in four appearances throughout the tournament.

Boro boss Rob Edwards is eager to keep hold of the midfielder, but a sale for a large fee could help the manager fund his own summer transfer business.

Hackney and Van den Berg could be savvy signings for Palace

Palace have displayed a good eye for signing top Championship talents in the past, with Eberechi Eze arriving from Queens Park Rangers and going on to score the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

There are also signs the Middlesbrough duo could go on to be successes in the Premier League, with Hackney being lauded as a “monster” by one analyst, picking up five goals and three assists in the Championship last term.

At 23-years-old, the defensive midfielder is at a good age to be a long-term success at Selhurst Park, and the same can be said about 20-year-old Van den Berg, who received high praise from Michael Carrick last season.

Wow: Crystal Palace now hold direct talks to sign £15m Brighton "playmaker"

The Eagles have approached a Brighton player over a potential move to Selhurst Park this summer.

ByDominic Lund Jun 29, 2025

“He’s a terrific individual, really grounded and humble, terrific character and great attitude. He has a real calming influence but quite sure of himself in a really good way.”

Palace should have a sizeable transfer kitty if the Guehi sale goes through, and the Middlesbrough starlets could be bargain signings at a combined £27m.

After spending more than ever at Anfield, FSG are reportedly looking to show the door to a number of players this summer. One Liverpool star has already rejected the chance to leave, however.

Liverpool's summer business off with a bang

When Liverpool won the Premier League in the 2019/20 campaign, they decided to settle for what they had – enduring a quiet transfer window in the summer that followed. Soon enough, Manchester City were back on their throne as a result. Five years on, however, FSG have learnt from that harsh lesson and are investing more than ever to build what could be a dominant Liverpool side.

Having already signed Jeremie Frimpong, the Reds are set to welcome his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate, Florian Wirtz, for a British record fee. Simply put, it has so far been a statement summer from Richard Hughes and Michael Edward, who are not stopping there.

Liverpool now want "complete" £51m+ defender ahead of Man Utd and Newcastle

The Reds want to win the race for his signature.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 14, 2025

Wirtz has been one of the most talented players in his position for the last two years, recovering from an ACL injury to help Leverkusen to an invincible domestic season before performing at similar levels last season. Now, by joining up with the likes of Mohamed Salah, he could finally take his seat among the very best that European football has to offer.

Appearances

92

Goals

34

Assists

35

Although their spending will excite Liverpool fans, it is unlikely to come without sacrifice this summer. With Giorgi Mamardashvili, Wirtz and Frimpong arriving – potentially among others – the likes of Darwin Nunez and now Andy Robertson have been linked with moves away.

The Scot has most recently attracted the interest of Atletico Madrid, as per Fabrizio Romano, and talks are already reportedly underway. Of course, it’s in Madrid that Robertson could square off against Trent Alexander-Arnold in what would add an interesting narrative to a derby already so fierce.

It’s not just Robertson attracting interest, however, as FSG have now seen one big-money player reject the chance to leave this summer.

Alisson rejects Galatasaray move

Despite the fact that FSG have already welcomed his replacement for years to come in Mamardashvili, it looks as though Alisson Becker is set to stay put. According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Alisson has rejected a “concrete enquiry” from Galatasaray and will be staying put at Anfield in the coming months instead of joining the 25-time Turkish Super Lig winners.

The Reds initially agreed a deal to sign Mamardashvili last summer before loaning him back to Valencia. Now, a year on, he’s set to join up with his new teammates.

Given that Caoimhin Kelleher has already left for Brentford, there will be a place in Arne Slot’s squad for Mamardashvili, but Alisson is not budging. The £150,000-a-week goalkeeper has seemingly made the decision to keep hold of his No.1 spot even as his long-term replacement arrives.

After sealing the appointment of Thomas Frank to replace Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur are now set to tackle the transfer market in preparation for an all-important campaign where they’ll be back in the Champions League.

Tottenham agree deal with Thomas Frank to become new manager

Earlier today, respected journalist Fabrizio Romano gave his famous ‘here we go’ to Frank joining Spurs, with the Lilywhites triggering his £10 million release clause and agreeing terms on the Dane’s contract.

Tottenham: Frank already urging Levy to sign "immense" £100k-a-week talent

The Dane is now set to replace Ange Postecoglou.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 10, 2025

The 51-year-old’s move to Spurs comes just five days after chairman Daniel Levy’s decision to sack Postecoglou was announced, despite the Australian ending their 17-year wait for a major trophy and guiding them back to Champions League football.

Tottenham cited their woeful domestic form last season as the main reason behind Postecoglou’s dimissal, regardless of certain squad members like James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Pedro Porro publicly speaking out in his defence and wanting the 59-year-old to continue.

Taking this into account, Frank could now be set to inherit an awkward atmosphere, and the Premier League-proven boss has an intriguing task on his hands to carry on the club’s momentum after their Europa League triumph in Bilbao.

Following their well-documented injury crisis last term, it is also imperative for Levy to back Frank in the summer transfer market.

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge recently claimed that Tottenham want to ideally strengthen all areas bar their goalkeeper, and Frank has reportedly already recommended Spurs move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze in particular (GiveMeSport).

A new wide-attacker is on the agenda, especially on the left, with out-of-favour winger Timo Werner returning to parent club RB Leipzig, despite Postecoglou initially holding high hopes for the German and calling him a “quality player”.

Tottenham hold "genuine" Jack Grealish interest

According to reliable transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, writing in a column for talkSPORT, Tottenham are targeting £300,000-per-week Man City forward Jack Grealish as an option to replace Werner on that side.

Jacobs reports that Tottenham hold a “genuine interest” in signing Grealish, but they face competition from Everton, AC Milan, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah.

His sky-high salary is a major stumbling block for any suitor, meaning a permanent sale is made all the more challenging given City value their man at around £50 million.

Realistically, a loan deal where City pay a fair percentage of Grealish’s wages is perhaps the most likely avenue for Spurs to explore a potential deal here.

Grealish would be competing with Mathys Tel for a regular starting berth on that side, with Jacobs also reporting that the Frenchman is expected to remain in north London.

The England international wants regular game time to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans in time for the World Cup next year, and Tottenham could be an ideal landing spot in that regard.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now seriously considering a bid for a £22m “magician”, who could be brought in to replace Matheus Cunha this summer, according to a report.

Cunha closing in on Man Utd move

Cunha is set to join Manchester United in a £62.5m move, with the deal likely to go through despite the Red Devils making a late attempt to pay the fee over five years rather than two. The 26-year-old has, of course, been a key player for the Old Gold in the Premier League, netting 15 goals in 33 games in 2024/25, and his departure will leave a hole in the squad, but a new statistic highlights the fact the Brazilian isn’t exactly the hardest of workers.

That said, the forward’s attacking output is by far the most important thing, and Vitor Pereira is now tasked with bringing in a replacement capable of recording a similar number of goal contributions next season.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Wolves now have an attacking midfielder in mind, having set their sights on Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss, with a serious bid for the 21-year-old now being considered.

Contact made: Wolves launch move for £34m Brazilian requested by Pereira

Pereira is looking to make his mark this summer.

ByTom Cunningham May 23, 2025

El Khannouss is being targeted as a direct replacement for Cunha, and there is a belief he could be the Old Gold’s new talisman heading into the 2025-26 campaign, but it will take a bid of around £22m to prise him away from Leicester.

Pereira’s side are very keen on wrapping up a deal for the Leicester ace, having found it difficult to land Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, but there could be serious competition for his signature, with Arsenal also considering a move.

"Magician" El Khannouss could be ideal Cunha heir

The 21-year-old found it difficult to make a name for himself in a poor Leicester side during the 2024-25 season, but he is still very young, and there are some signs he could thrive at Molineux as a replacement for Cunha.

Lauded as a “magician” for his performance against Southampton earlier this month, the Moroccan has shown real signs of quality on occasion, picking up an assist and an 8.0/10 SofaScore rating courtesy of a very impressive display against the Saints.

Statistic

Number completed

Assists

1

Duels won

5

Successful dribbles

3

Accurate crosses

2

The maestro’s play-style is also easy on the eye, having become known for trivela passes during his time with Genk, and he could be an exciting player to watch for Wolves supporters.

With Cunha’s departure set to generate £62.5m, Wolves should have ample funds to replace the Brazilian international, and El Khannouss could be the ideal heir.

The summer transfer window officially opens for business next month and full focus will now be on that for Celtic after the 2024/25 campaign came to an end on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers will surely have been disappointed by his side’s failure to clinch the domestic treble after they lost to Aberdeen on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup.

The Scottish giants had already secured the Scottish Premiership title, for the fourth time in as many seasons, and won the League Cup by beating Rangers on penalties in the first half of the campaign.

Celtic also made it through to the play-off round of the Champions League, losing to Bayern Munich, after making it through the initial league phase.

The Hoops enjoyed a successful season, in spite of their SFA Cup final defeat to Aberdeen, and it came off the back of significant investment in the team last summer.

Celtic showed that they are willing to splash the cash to improve the side and compete in Europe by signing Augsburg central midfielder Arne Engels for a club-record fee.

Why Arne Engels has been worth the money

The Glasgow giants reportedly broke their club transfer record to sign the Belgian starlet from the Bundesliga outfit for a staggering fee of £11m.

It was a huge sum of money to play for a then-20-year-old midfield maestro, yet it has turned out to be money well spent so far because he has delivered impressive performances on the pitch for the Hoops.

Engels ended the season with a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the middle of the park.

Celtic have dominated Scottish football, winning the last four titles and three of the last five domestic cups available to them, so any signings coming in should be with a view to improving their form in the Champions League.

Appearances

10

Goals

1

Big chances created

3

Assists

3

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.4

Ground duel success rate

59%

Aerial duel success rate

67%

As you can see in the table above, Engels helped them to do that with his displays in Europe, which led to Celtic reaching the play-off round, having been dumped out with one win in the group stage in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Belgian whiz has been worth the money for the Hoops, so far, because he has delivered quality in the Champions League, including a goal and an assist in the 5-1 win over Slovan during the league phase.

Celtic, however, could take the Belgian talent to the next level by splashing the cash once again to sign a striker to make the most of his creativity next season.

Celtic expected to move for new striker

According to Anthony Joseph, writing for Sky Sports, Celtic are ‘expected’ to make a new move to sign Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Denmark youth international has been a long-term target for the Scottish giants, and they are now prepared to make yet another swoop for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Transfer Focus

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

Joseph adds that the closest the club have come, to date, to signing the 23-year-old star was in the recent January transfer window, after Kyogo Furuhashi left to join Rennes, but they were unable to get a deal over the line.

The journalist states that Brondby have been sticking to their valuation of at least £10m for the attacker, which is slightly less than what the Hoops paid to sign Engels last summer.

This suggests that it is a deal the Premiership champions could afford to do if they feel he is worth splashing the cash on, given that they were prepared to spend big on the Belgium international.

They should, now, sanction a £10m swoop for his services when they make their expected move for the striker because he could take Engels to the next level with his finishing ability.

Why Celtic should sign Mathias Kvistgaarden

The Hoops should splash the cash on Kvistgaarden because of his exceptional form for Brondby in the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that he could be a lethal forward for Celtic with the creativity that Engels can provide.

In the Premiership, the Belgium international was only rewarded with six assists from the 11 ‘big chances’ that he created for his teammates throughout the season. This shows that the midfielder was let down by the quality of finishing from the club’s forward players in the top-flight.

Adam Idah was one of the wasteful attackers responsible for that. The Ireland international scored 13 goals and missed a whopping 19 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership, whilst he also underperformed his xG of 13.57.

This suggests that Celtic could take Engels to the next level as a creator by signing a striker who can more than make the most of his creativity, which is why they should swoop for Kvistgaarden.

Appearances

35

29

xG

13.57

13.82

Goals

13

17

Penalty goals

1

0

Chances created

19

19

xA

2.60

2.22

Assists

0

5

As you can see in the table above, the Danish attacker would come in as a big upgrade on Idah because of his finishing quality, having scored five more goals from open play with a similar xG tally at league level.

Kvistgaarden, whose form was dubbed “absolutely sensational” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a striker who has the movement and the finishing skills to take Engels’ assist tally way beyond the 13 he got this season.

The 23-year-old striker, who scored 23 goals in all competitions, could thrive on the kind of quality that Engels can provide from a central midfield position, and that could make him a star for the Hoops next term as their regular starter in the number nine position.

It is now down to the board to sanction a £10m deal for the Danish marksman, to both provide Rodgers with a clinical and effective starting centre-forward, whilst also taking Engels to the next level by finding a player who can make the most of his creativity.

Celtic could sign Idah upgrade in £40m star who's "guaranteed goals"

Celtic have been tipped to swoop for a star who would be a big upgrade on Adam Idah.

ByDan Emery May 25, 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.

Fulham are now set to open talks over a deal for a “beautiful footballer” this summer, who is set to be available on a free transfer, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Cottagers stepping up summer transfer plans

The Cottagers have been showing signs of year-on-year development under the helm of Marco Silva, and they are in a good position to record a top-half finish in the Premier League, which should put them in a good position to attract some quality players this summer.

Silva’s side have managed to progress despite losing some key figures in recent windows, with Joao Palhinha among them, but the midfielder’s move to Bayern Munich hasn’t gone exactly to plan, which means a return to Craven Cottage could now be on the cards.

The west Londoners are keen on strengthening in the middle of the park, and they are also looking to upgrade their defence, with contact being made to discuss a deal for versatile Juventus defender Nicolo Savona, who has impressed in the Serie A this season.

Fulham star's agent meets with rival club who desperately want new forward

He could be about to cross the divide.

ByBarney Lane Apr 21, 2025

Savona’s main position is right-back, but the Italian is not the only target in that area of the pitch, with Sky Sports reporter Sheth recently taking to X to reveal Fulham are now interested in signing Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters.

Walker-Peters’ contract is set to expire at the end of the season, which means he will be available on a free transfer this summer, and the Cottagers are expected to open talks with his representatives when the campaign comes to a close.

Sheth states there will be “competition” for the defender, with London rivals West Ham United being named as potential suitors last month.

"Beautiful footballer" Walker-Peters could thrive in better side

It has been a season to forget for Southampton, who have recorded just two victories in the Premier League all season, which indicates it could be a gamble for Fulham to sign a player who has been a key part of such a poor side.

However, the 28-year-old has impressed in the Premier League in the past, chalking up 147 appearances in the competition, while also earning two caps for his national side.

Not only that, but the London-born defender has also received very high praise from former manager Russell Martin in the past, with the ex-Saints boss lauding him as a “beautiful footballer” after scoring in a 1-0 victory against Bristol City, before adding: “He can score more and assist more. It’s a brilliant, brilliant goal.”

As such, there are signs that Walker-Peters could thrive in a better side, and his availability on a free transfer is an added bonus for Fulham, making him a low-risk addition to Silva’s squad.

Monday was the day. Leeds United officially confirmed their promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking at the start of this week.

The Whites knew that they had a chance to get out of the Championship if they beat Stoke City, and they ran out emphatic 6-0 winners against the Potters.

Five of their goals came in the first half, before Wilfried Gnonto got in on the act in the second 45, and that result meant that they could cheer Burnley on against Sheffield United in the evening kick-off.

The Clarets beat the Blades 2-1 at Turf Moor in a result that confirmed Leeds and Burnley’s places in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign, whilst the two teams must still battle it out in the final two matches to see who wins the title.

Daniel Farke can now start to think about his preparations for next season and how his team will attack the top-flight; the players who will remain key to the starting XI, and those who may not be up to the task of stepping up.

One player whose future will be interesting to see unfold is centre-forward Joel Piroe, who has struggled at times this season but provided a reminder of his quality against Stoke.

Why Joel Piroe could be replaced this summer

The former Swansea City marksman is a terrific finisher at Championship level, that cannot be denied, as he has scored 19 goals from 16.41 xG and only missed 12 ‘big chances’ in the division this term.

Piroe scored four goals from four shots, totalling 1.35 xG worth of chances, against Stoke on Monday, showcasing his ruthless edge in front of goal.

However, he found himself completely unmarked in the box for all four of those chances, as the Stoke defenders left a lot to be desired with their performances, and the striker may not get that kind of time and space in the Premier League.

The left-footed forward had failed to score in his previous nine Championship starts, leading to doubt about his place in the team before his exceptional showing on Easter Monday, and Farke may question whether or not he has the attributes to be the club’s starting number nine in the top-flight.

Appearances

44

Dribbles completed per game

0.3

Dribble success rate

33%

Ground duels won per game

1.7

Ground duel success rate

27%

Aerial duels won per game

0.6

Aerial duel success rate

20%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe’s work off the ball has left a lot to be desired in the Championship this term, as he has been dominated by opposition defenders on the ground and in the air.

The 25-year-old striker is too lightweight at times, as shown by his dreadful success rate in duels, and that is a big concern ahead of a Premier League season where Leeds will be with their backs against the wall and fighting to avoid relegation.

All three newly-promoted teams, assuming Ipswich do not win all five of their remaining games and West Ham lose all of theirs, are being relegated from the Premier League this year, as they were the year before, which illustrates how difficult it will be for the Whites.

This means that Leeds will likely need a centre-forward who can alleviate pressure on the team by holding the ball up, duelling with defenders, and by running the channels to stretch the play and open up space for the midfielders to work.

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Unfortunately, Piroe’s physical data suggests that he will not be cut out for thatrole in the Premier League, which is why Farke could replace him with a new signing this summer.

One star from the 6-0 win over the Potters who should not be replaced in the starting XI for next season, though, is right-back Jayden Bogle, who has been an even better signing than Piroe.

Why Bogle has been a better signing than Piroe for Leeds

The English full-back was reportedly signed for a fee of £5m from rivals Sheffield United last summer, whereas Piroe was signed from Swansea for a reported fee of more than £10m in the summer of 2023.

Despite costing less than half as much as the Dutchman, Bogle has been far more consistent in his performances over the course of this promotion-winning campaign at right-back, showing that the club hit the jackpot with their deal for the defender.

Piroe has dipped in-and-out of the team at times, coming off the bench on ten occasions, and has gone through dry spells, with zero goals in nine games prior to the Stoke match, as well as struggling with his lack of physicality consistently throughout the season.

Bogle, on the other hand, has started all 42 of his appearances in the division, averaging 87 minutes played per game, which illustrates how much Farke has relied on him week-in-week-out.

Tackles + interceptions

3.2

xG

5.09

Ball recoveries per game

3.5

Goals

6

Ground duel success rate

55%

Big chances created

9

Aerial duel success rate

53%

xA

5.63

Error led to goal

0

Assists

4

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old full-back has shown that he can mix defensive quality and strength with outstanding attacking contributions from a defensive position.

Bogle, whose pass to Piroe against Preston was dubbed “tremendous” by Aidy White, has the drive and quality to motor down the right flank to deliver goals and assists – assisting Piroe’s second against Stoke.

The ex-Sheffield United star has also won the majority of his duels on the ground and in the air, without making any errors that have directly led to goals against for Leeds.

Therefore, Bogle is a complete full-back who seems to have the qualities required to make the step up to the Premier League in Farke’s current team, because he has the physicality and the technical ability to deal with the step up.

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This is why he was an even better signing than Piroe because he can handle both sides of the game, making him a player with top-flight potential, and he cost less than half as much, which shows that Farke hit the jackpot by signing him from the Blades.