Elia Caprile’s agent has admitted he will talk with Leeds United chiefs at the end of the season regarding the goalkeeper’s future.
The Lowdown: Raphinha and Phillips links
The Whites are seriously flirting with relegation back to the Championship with just four Premier League games remaining with Jesse Marsch’s side sitting just two points above Everton, who have a game in hand.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-2/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
Should the unthinkable happen, the likes of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, who have been heavily linked with Elland Road exits, will more than likely depart.
Raphinha is wanted at Barcelona, while Phillips has attracted interest from Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle United and West Ham.
Could Caprile follow suit?
The Latest: Caprile’s agent speaks out
Caprile is yet to make a senior appearance for Leeds after joining back in 2020 and is currently out on loan at Serie C side Pro Patria, where he has made 38 appearances.
He recently admitted it is his dream to play for Napoli, and Caprile’s agent, Graziano Battistini, has now addressed the goalkeeper’s future.
Relayed by Sports Witness, Battistini said he is set to talk with Leeds chiefs – presumably Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani – at the end of the season regarding Caprile’s future, with the possibility of relegation for the Whites changing all scenarios.
The Verdict: Exit make sense?
Providing Leeds keep hold of Illan Meslier, a permanent exit for Caprile this summer could make sense for all involved.
Alongside Meslier, Leeds also have Kristoffer Klaesson and Dani van den Heuvel on the books at Elland Road, meaning Caprile could be fourth choice ahead of Marsch’s first full season in charge.
Following this update, an exit for the Italian could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, but Leeds have bigger problems to worry about over the next three weeks on the pitch.
In other news: Radz, Orta and Marsch now want to bring ‘X-factor’ attacker to Leeds despite possible relegation
Gary Neville has criticised one aspect of Arsenal’s performance in the 4-1 North London derby victory against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
It was ultimately an easy day at the office for the Gunners against their bitter rivals, with Eberechi Eze, who Tottenham were keen on signing in the summer, scoring a hat-trick, after Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the first half.
Speaking after the game, Jamie Carragher admitted he underestimated just how important Eze would end up being for Mikel Arteta’s side, who put in a fantastic all-round performance to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
However, a fellow Sky Sports pundit wasn’t particularly impressed with one aspect of Arteta’s side’s performance…
Gary Neville criticises Arsenal's set-pieces against Tottenham
Arsenal have been phenomenal from set-pieces this season, with Gabriel looking particularly impressive in the opposition penalty area, picking up two goals and three assists in all competitions.
However, while Neville was complimentary of the overall display, the 50-year-old has suggested the Gunners weren’t quite as threatening from dead-ball situations against Tottenham as they have been previously.
Arteta’s side proved they have what it takes to end the long wait for a Premier League title with their performance on Sunday, limiting their opponents to an xG of just 0.07, with only a Richarlison wonder goal catching them out.
Eze certainly sent out a major statement with his performance too, receiving a SofaScore match rating of 10 after scoring a hat-trick and making a number of other key contributions.
Eberechi Eze’s key statistics vs Tottenham
Number completed
Big chances created
1
Duels (won)
10 (7)
Interceptions
2
Tackles
2
Arsenal also displayed that they aren’t one dimensional, with none of their goals coming from set-pieces, and they managed to cope despite having a number of important players out injured, namely Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel.
As such, Arteta will no doubt be confident his side can go on to have a successful season, but there are some tricky fixtures on the horizon, taking on FC Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday, prior to a trip to second-placed Chelsea at the weekend.
£32m Arsenal star looked like prime Ozil and Odegaard vs Spurs Forget Eze: £32m Arsenal star looked like prime Ozil and Odegaard vs Spurs
Eberechi Eze is not the only Arsenal star who deserves his flowers after north London derby win.
Liverpool spent big back in 2018 on Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, with the pair helping transform the Reds into Premier League winners once again.
More recently, those at Anfield have splashed the cash on Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, with the latter becoming Liverpool’s all-time record signing. However, over the years, the Reds have also missed out on bringing some iconic names to Anfield.
Sir Alex Ferguson named Liverpool star as the best player in England and as good as Keane
This could settle the debate once and for all…
3 ByBen Goodwin May 17, 2025 10 superstars Liverpool almost signed 10 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Starting off with arguably the biggest missed deal in Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2003. Liverpool thought they had their man for just £4m when the forward was at Sporting CP.
Former Reds assistant Phil Thompson recalled the story of Ronaldo’s failed move to Merseyside, with Manchester United hijacking a deal.
9 Jude Bellingham
Liverpool were close to signing Jude Bellingham when he was at Borussia Dortmund back in 2023, however, the Reds would pull out of a big-money deal.
Former Reds stars Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were even looking to lure Bellingham while they were with England, but instead, the midfielder chose Real Madrid.
8 Dani Alves
One of the best right-backs the game has ever seen, Dani Alves came close to a Liverpool transfer in 2006.
Rafael Benitez and the Reds struck an £8m agreement to sign the Brazilian but instead opted to use the funds on Dirk Kuyt. Alves would go on to sign for Barcelona two years later.
7 Dele Alli
Former Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli
Before signing for Tottenham in 2015 from MK Dons, Dele Alli had interest from Liverpool, and being a Reds supporter growing up, was keen on a move to Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers was in charge at the time and once admitted a deal was close, but Spurs ended up paying £5m for Alli.
Dele Alli’s record vs Liverpool
Games
13
Wins
1
Draws
5
Losses
7
Goals
1
6 Diego Maradona
In 1980, Diego Maradona was an unknown teenager coming impressing at Argentinos Juniors and could have signed for Liverpool.
Bob Paisley was in charge at Liverpool and was offered the chance to sign Maradona, however, he was hesitant about the off-field antics of the Argentine and opted against a transfer.
5 Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale in Tottenham training
Gareth Bale began his career as a left-back at Southampton, and Liverpool were after a new one in 2007.
The Welshman was wanted by Liverpool and Benitez, however, a fee failed to be agreed and Bale would join Tottenham. The Reds ended up with Argentine Emiliano Insua.
4 Nemanja Vidic
One of the best centre-backs the Premier League has seen, Nemanja Vidic was actually wanted by Liverpool before his move to Man Utd in 2006.
Vidic would spend eight years at Old Trafford, winning five top flight titles, but Benitez spoke to the Serbian about a move to Anfield.
3 David Silva
After winning the World Cup with Spain in 2010, David Silva was a man in demand and would leave Valencia for Manchester City.
However, Liverpool were also in the race and came close to landing the attacking midfielder. Instead, they would have to face his magic for City over the next 10 years.
2 Michael Laudrup
A teenager in 1983, Michael Laudrup grew up a Liverpool supporter and could have joined the Reds when he was at Brondby.
The length of a contract was the key sticking point regarding Laudrup’s move to Anfield, and he ended up joining Serie A side Lazio.
1 Alexis Sanchez
alexis-sanchez-arsenal-transfer-manchester-united
After Luis Suarez’s move to Barcelona in 2014, Liverpool were on the search for a new marquee attacking signing and attempted to sign Alexis Sanchez.
The Chilean star was at the Nou Camp but would leave that summer, but instead of heading to Merseyside, Sanchez would sign for Arsenal.
Arsenal have become a far smarter club when it comes to the transfer market over recent years.
Mikel Arteta and Co have overseen a host of incredible additions to the squad that have turned them from a mid-table side into consistent Premier League and Champions League contenders.
Yet, the North Londoners lag behind their rivals when it comes to the selling side of transfers.
However, at least they don’t lose future stars for nothing anymore, like they did with a current world-class talent who is playing as well as Bukayo Saka.
Youngsters Arsenal released too soon
As with all big clubs, there are a number of international superstars that Arsenal let go as youngsters, only to regret that decision later.
However, unlike a lot of other clubs, they have gone on to re-sign one of them in a statement deal: Eberechi Eze.
The club released the summer arrival as a teenager and after spending time with Fulham, Reading and Millwall’s academies, he’d finally get a professional contract with QPR, where he’d be spotted and signed by Crystal Palace in the summer of 2020.
During his time south of the river, the Greenwich-born dynamo would rack up a brilliant haul of 40 goals and 28 assists in 169 appearances, which was enough to convince his former side to bring him home.
Another player who came back to North London after being released by Arsenal, although to the wrong side, is Harry Kane.
Released after just one season with the Gunners, the young Englishman would go on to join Tottenham Hotspur a few years later, and by the time he left the capital, he had scored 280 goals and provided 63 assists in 435 games.
The England captain is now tearing it up for Bayern Munich, and he’s not the only former Arsenal prospect doing so.
The former Arsenal youngster now looking like another Saka
There are actually two former Arsenal gems plying their trade for Bayern alongside Kane, and one of them is, of course, Serge Gnabry.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
However, while getting rid of the German international was a mistake, the Gunners did at least get a fee for him, which they did not for Michael Olise.
Yes, before spending time in the academies of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Reading, the dynamic youngster spent a short period at the famous Hale End of the North Londoners, before leaving for nothing.
It was during his time with Reading that Crystal Palace spotted him, and in 2021 he earned an £8m move to the South London side.
During his three seasons with the Eagles, the French international scored 16 goals and provided 25 assists in 90 appearances, which caught the attention of Bayern, who agreed to pay £50m for him last summer.
Now, when we say that the 23-year-old is playing ‘like Saka’, we don’t necessarily mean in playstyle, but more in how important he is to his team from an output perspective.
For example, despite missing almost four months of action last year, the Englishman still racked up 26 goal involvements in just 37 appearances for Arteta’s side.
Appearances
62
Minutes
4410′
Goals
24
Assists
26
Goal Involvements per Match
0.80
Minutes per Goal Involvements
88.2′
In comparison, the former Eagles star scored a staggering 20 goals and provided 23 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes.
In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes, and as he’s already racked up seven goal involvements in seven games this season, it would be fair to say Oliver Glasner has been proven more than right when he claimed the Frenchman was “one of the best talents in the world.”
Ultimately, Arsenal have a brilliant team this year, but just imagine how dangerous they’d be with Saka and Olise in the squad.
Saved by Martinelli: 5/10 Arsenal man was even worse than Merino vs City
It was a game to forget for Mikel Arteta and this Arsenal star.
Under past tenures, Everton weren’t exactly known as the most easy-on-the-eye watch.
Indeed, under Sean Dyche, the football was often a struggle to be entertained by, with just 21 goals finding the back of the net under the unpopular 54-year-old’s reign.
Now, however, with the likes of Jack Grealish leading the way under David Moyes, the Premier League side are a far more captivating sight to behold, with several striker options also available to the Scotsman that should see the goals continue to flow.
Moyes' striker conundrum in 2025/26
There was a drastic change in attack during the off-season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin didn’t pen a new deal at the club after an injury-ravaged few years on Merseyside, culminating in the long-serving Toffees servant swapping the blue half of Liverpool for Leeds United on a free transfer.
To fill this huge void, Moyes and Co would swoop in for rising Villarreal star Thierno Barry, with the Frenchman costing a weighty £27.6m to get through the door.
While he is yet to get off the mark for his new Premier League side from his first three league clashes, the hope will be that the “menacing” forward, as he was labelled by U23 scout Antonio Mango, can grow into becoming a lethal finisher on English shores with time.
Indeed, he tallied up a standout 61 goals previously playing in Belgium, France, Spain and Switzerland.
After all, Beto would regularly spurn chances towards the start of his up-and-down spell. Now, however, he’s the main man Moyes relies on up top, with two goals already next to his name this season.
Still, it could be deemed a risk to just rely solely on these two attackers to deliver the goods, with a homegrown Barry already up Everton’s sleeve. He’s now potentially ready for senior opportunities to boost their options.
Everton's "prolific" homegrown Barry
The high-flying Toffees do have a distinguished reputation for unearthing top gems through their academy in attack, with Moyes the manager who first handed Wayne Rooney a senior shot on Merseyside way back in 2002.
He also had a part to play in Ross Barkley’s rise up the ranks to senior stardom, with Omari Benjamin hopeful he can be the next in line for some first-team chances up top, having lit up the youth pitches at Everton for some time now.
Initially scoring goals by the bucket load at Arsenal in the U18 fold – with 18 strikes next to his name from 33 clashes – the 19-year-old Welshman has since made the switch to Everton and been equally as lethal.
Barry would very much be seen in the same clinical light when firing home ten goals in total for the Sochaux B team, with Benjamin even going as far as to be labelled a “prolific” threat by Arsenal youth reporter Jeorge Bird, before settling into life on Merseyside swimmingly.
CF
12
7
LW
4
1
LM
2
0
RM
2
1
RW
1
1
AM
1
0
As can be seen glancing at the table above, the 19-year-old has slotted into many different roles for the U21s and excelled, with the centre-forward spot his obvious preference overall, as seen in him bagging seven of his ten efforts to date from this position.
However, he can also line up down the left or right wing if needed, much like Barry, who has a sterling record of 14 career goals down either of these flanks.
Moyes might boldly want to insert Benjamin into his first team plans shortly; therefore, with this versatility, a standout attribute of his varied game, away from his red-hot goalscoring ability.
Yet, it could also be seen as a huge gamble to throw another raw and inexperienced striker into the mix, with Barry already very much a work in progress.
The former Villarreal number 15 will just need to shake off that first goal burden sooner rather than later, with Benjamin perhaps offering competition down the line as the revamped Everton attack aims to entertain supporters all season long.
Imagine him & Grealish: Everton may have Baines 2.0 in 19-year-old starlet
Everton’s next Leighton Baines could be a perfect partner to Jack Grealish down the left flank
There is no need to shy away from the fact that Glasgow Rangers need to improve in a lot of areas if they want to claim to be the best club in Scotland once again.
They have not won the Scottish Premiership title for four years and ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy added to the cabinet.
Russell Martin has arrived at Ibrox this summer with the ambition of bringing the Light Blues back to the top, but there also needs to be improvements made off the pitch when it comes to recruitment.
Kevin Thelwell and the recruitment team have to ensure that the former Scotland international has the tools at his disposal to put a successful team on the pitch, whilst also maximising any potential sales.
As you can see in the graphic above, the Gers do not have a particularly rich history of selling talent, with no sales worth more than £20m in their history to date.
However, they have still done well to maximise the money that they have got from sales in recent seasons, with Antonio Colak’s exit from the club standing out as one great example of that.
Rangers hit the jackpot with Antonio Colak
There was a point in time when it looked like the Croatian centre-forward was on course to go down as one of the greatest Rangers strikers of the modern era, after his lightning-fast start to life at Ibrox.
He joined the Light Blues from Greek side PAOK in the summer of 2022 and caught the eye with his early performances in the Scottish Premiership as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first-choice number nine.
Livingston
0
0
Kilmarnock
1
0
St Johnstone
1
0
Hibernian
0
1
Ross County
2
0
Celtic
0
0
Dundee
2
0
Hearts
2
0
St Mirren
2
1
Motherwell
0
0
As you can see in the table above, Colak scored ten goals and provided two assists in his first ten games for the club in the top-flight, which shows that he was on course to be an incredibly prolific number nine for the club.
However, a change in management, with Michael Beale coming in, essentially put an end to his time at Ibrox, as he only went on to score four goals in his last 14 outings in the league after that.
Colak was then sold to Parma for a reported fee of £2.5m in the summer of 2023, and the Gers hit the jackpot with that fee when you consider what he has gone on to achieve.
The Croatian forward has only scored four goals in 48 matches for Parma and Spezia combined since leaving Scotland, and is now valued
at just £850k by Transfermarkt.
This shows that the Scottish giants struck gold with his sale because he failed to replicate his early form at Ibrox elsewhere and is now worth significantly less than the £2.5m they got for him.
European club pushing to sign Rangers star
The Light Blues could be about to repeat the masterclass they played with Colak amid interest from a European side in one of their current centre-forward options.
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 The Scottish Sun, AEK Athens are pushing to sign Cyriel Dessers from the Scottish giants within the next 48 hours, from Sunday night.
The report claims that the Greek team want to accelerate a deal for the Nigeria international in the next couple of days because they want him to join them on their pre-season tour of the Netherlands this week.
It adds that they have offered a fee of £4m for the experienced marksman, but Rangers are holding out for a fee of £5m, and that haggling over the fee is the last step in a potential deal.
Dessers has already agreed personal terms with AEK Athens, which is why it is now down to the clubs to thrash out a fee, and there could be progress in the coming hours.
Why Dessers could be Colak 2.0
The Nigerian striker could follow in Colak’s footsteps by leaving Rangers and failing to replicate the success that he had at Ibrox in front of goal.
Given how dominant Rangers and Celtic are in the Premiership, playing for one of the big two in Glasgow is a great opportunity for strikers because they know that they will get plenty of chances to shine.
In two seasons at Ibrox, Dessers missed a staggering 48 ‘big chances’ in the Scottish top-flight for the Light Blues, which shows that he has had plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net in the division.
A haul of 34 league goals in two seasons is a respectable return for the striker in isolation, but the 48 ‘big chances’ that he missed suggest that his finishing has not been good enough and that the forward should have even more goals to his name.
Appearances
12
xG
5.49
Goals
3
Big chances missed
10
Ground duel success rate
36%
Aerial duel success rate
45%
As you can see in the table above, Dessers also struggled in front of goal in the Europa League, underperforming his xG and missing ten ‘big chances’.
These statistics suggest that the Nigerian striker, who former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness described as “infuriating” and “invisible” at times, will not continue to score goals at an impressive rate if he is in a team that does not create enough chances for him, because of his below-par finishing.
Cyriel Dessers
AEK Athens only scored 48 league goals this season, compared to the 80 Rangers scored in the Premiership, which suggests that Dessers would be part of an inferior attacking unit and would not get as many chances to score.
This, therefore, means that the striker’s value could decrease in the years to come, as a result of a lower goal return, and the Light Blues could look back on a £4-5m deal as a great success, as they can with Colak’s £2.5m exit, as Dessers may not be able to replicate his goalscoring form for the Gers in Greece due to his underwhelming finishing.
Dream Dessers replacement: £6.5m star now keen on signing for Rangers
This Rangers target has said that he would “suit” a move to Ibrox this summer.
ByDan Emery Jun 22, 2025
It is now down to the club to get the best possible deal for the Nigeria international in these negotiations with AEK Athens in the coming hours.
West Ham United could sell Mohammed Kudus this summer and are already making strides in the hunt for his replacement.
West Ham and Mohammed Kudus could go their seperate ways
The Hammers expect plenty of movement in both directions over the next few months and could be set to part ways with one of their best players if reports are to be believed.
Recently, Chelsea have made contact over a potential move for Kudus, and he is also said to be on the radar of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United.
Mohammed Kudus for West Ham against Nottingham Forest.
Intriguingly, the Ghana international has a release clause of £85 million that is open to top-flight clubs in England across the first ten days of July. However, it remains to be seen whether a saga involving the former Ajax man will develop at the London Stadium.
In the case of Newcastle, former scout Mick Brown believes they would try and land Kudus at a fee below his exit clause due to the premium involved in a prospective transfer.
“At £85million or whatever his release clause is, there’s no way Newcastle would do that deal. They’ll consider it if they can cut down that price tag, but they’re not sure about him. They’ve got other targets as well, so I think they’re more likely to go for them before Kudus.”
West Ham now racing to sign 24 G/A midfielder who's "out of this world"
The Hammers are now in a straight shoot-out with a rival Premier League club for the signature of a goal-scoring midfielder.
ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025
If Kudus were to depart, the Hammers would need to act decisively on the market to secure an appropriate replacement, and they could well now be closing in on a smart acquisition if that turn of events were to occur.
West Ham 'well positioned' to sign Nicolas Gonzalez
According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, West Ham are ‘well positioned’ to sign Juventus winger Nicolas Gonzalez and the Argentina international is likely to be on the move for £22 million this summer.
Seen as an ideal replacement for Kudus, the 23-year-old registered five goals and four assists in 36 appearances across all competitions last season. While he was not part of his country’s World Cup winning squad he is highly decorated at international level, winning two Copa Americas.
Capable of playing on either flank, as an attacking midfielder or through the middle, he is a versatile presence that could help to allieviate the burden on the likes of Jarrod Bowen when it comes to chance creation.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether Kudus will need to leave first in order for a move to go through or if the finance would be available already in terms of being able to meet both his transfer fee and wages.
Either way, West Ham appear to be stepping up their hunt for attacking reinforcements and there will be plenty of excitement in East London if this one materialises.
It has been a funny old season for Tottenham Hotspur this year.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were abysmally poor in the Premier League and FA Cup but somehow managed to win the Europa League.
Now the North Londoners have the Champions League to look forward to next year, although based on how utterly dominant Paris Saint-Germain were in the final on Sunday, they’ll need to add some real quality to the squad in the coming weeks and months.
Fortunately, recent reports have suggested that the club may well be closing in on the signing of a top-quality midfielder who has won comparisons to one of the stars for PSG in the final: Vitinha.
Tottenham transfer news
The last few weeks have seen Spurs linked with several incredible talents, such as Daizen Maeda and Rayan Cherki.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former might not be the most exciting name, but considering he scored an astounding 33 goals and 12 assists in 51 games for Celtic this season, his supposed £25m price tag could represent a real bargain.
Yet, Cherki might be an even better deal, as the young Frenchman has been able to rack up a tally of 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances for Lyon this year and could be available for around £19m thanks to a release clause in his contract.
Rayan Cherki in action for Lyon
Even still, the North Londoners now seem keen on someone who’d possibly be the best deal of the lot, and it’s another player from Ligue 1: Angel Gomes.
According to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, Spurs have already made an offer for the England international.
In more good news, he goes on to reveal that while other clubs, including West Ham United, have also made offers for the midfielder, Tottenham have “grown in confidence” that they’ll be able to get their man.
The reason so many teams have already submitted offers to the player is that he’ll be a free agent at the end of this month and, therefore, represents a sensational bargain.
In all, it’s a deal Spurs should be fighting to get sealed as soon as possible, as, on top of his own qualities, Gomes has also won comparisons to the incredible Champions League-winning Vitinha.
How Gomes compares to Vitinha
So, before we get to some of the other reasons Spurs should be signing Gomes this summer, it’s important to address this comparison to the unreal Vitinha and where it’s come from.
Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in Ligue 1 last season and came to the conclusion that the Portuguse star was the ninth most similar midfielder to the Englishman ace in the competition.
The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy, key passes, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.29
0.27
Progressive Passes
7.13
7.71
Progressive Carries
1.71
1.74
Passing Accuracy
89.4%
89.7%
Expected Assists
0.21
0.17
Key Passes
1.68
1.57
Successful Take-On %
62.9%
61.5%
Aerial Duels Won
0.24
0.17
On top of his undeniable similarities to a European champion, the midfield “magician,” as dubbed by fellow professional Jonathan Panzo, has plenty of experience.
For example, despite being just 24 years old, the Edmonton-born star has made ten appearances for Manchester United, 32 for Boavista, four for the England senior side and 134 for Lille.
Ultimately, even if he wasn’t available for free, Spurs would be wise to sign the experienced and reliable Gomes, so the fact he’s available for free makes this transfer a total no-brainer.
He's shades of Bale: Spurs confident of signing "superstar" winger for £0
Spurs could sign a player who’s like Gareth Bale this summer.
Liverpool have now made contact over a summer deal for a “ridiculous” forward, who is also a target for Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, according to a report.
Reds ramping up summer transfer plans
With deals to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez seemingly progressing nicely, the next task at hand for FSG may be to strengthen in attacking areas, given that Mohamed Salah has largely carried the goalscoring burden this season.
Salah’s attacking numbers this term are off the charts, but Jamie Carragher has admitted that he’s had some concerns about whether the Reds’ other forward options, such as Luis Diaz, are at the required level.
Diaz’s ability to play through the middle may tempt Arne Slot to keep hold of the Colombian, considering Darwin Nunez is looking increasingly likely to be heading for the exit door, but there may also be a temptation to bring in a new winger.
According to a report from L’Equipe (via Get French Football News), Liverpool have now made contact over a deal for AS Monaco forward Maghnes Akliouche, who has also emerged as a target for French champions PSG.
AS Monaco's MaghnesAkliouche
The Champions League finalists are only willing to spend €50m (£42m) on the winger, however, and with Monaco looking to hold out for a fee of €60m (£51m), the deal is currently at a standstill, which could allow one of the other potential suitors to swoop.
Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on Akliouche, with the latter club recently opening talks over a deal, so there may be competition for his signature from the Reds’ Premier League rivals.
Liverpool now also working to sign young Italian left-back with Kerkez
Michael Edwards isn’t messing around this summer.
ByHenry Jackson May 20, 2025 "Ridiculous" Akliouche starring in Ligue 1
PSG have re-asserted themselves as a dominant force in Ligue 1 under Luis Enrique, but Monaco are also likely to be pleased with their campaign, having secured a third-placed finish, and the right-winger was one of their most important players.
The 23-year-old picked up five goals and 10 assists in 32 Ligue 1 outings, while also catching the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, who described the Frenchman as “ridiculous”.
Not only are Liverpool looking at signing a new winger, this summer, but they have also set their sights on an attacking midfielder, with Florian Wirtz recently speaking to Slot about a move to Anfield, although a deal is likely to be on the expensive side.
Akliouche’s main position is right-wing, but the Monaco star has also featured in attacking midfield on a number of occasions, and he may be better suited to playing in that area for the Reds as an alternative to Wirtz, considering it will be very difficult to dislodge Salah.
The transfer window is just around the corner, and it looks set to be a big one for Arsenal.
While Mikel Arteta’s side have had to contend with a torrent of injuries this year, it’s still become increasingly clear that they do not have the attacking options at their disposal to get over the line.
For example, the only player to reach double digits for goals and assists in the squad this year has been Bukayo Saka, who’s done so despite missing almost four months of action with a hamstring injury.
So, with this in mind, it’s hardly a surprise to see the North Londoners being linked to so many talented attackers in recent weeks, including one who has won the Premier League in the past and even been compared to Saka.
Arsenal's winger search
While the priority for Arsenal this summer will likely remain a new centre-forward, the club have still been linked with a plethora of talented wide players, such as Nico Williams and Rayan Cherki.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former has a release clause of £48m in his current deal, which doesn’t seem too steep considering he’s still just 22 years old and has managed to rack up a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this year.
However, Cherki could be even cheaper, with some reports claiming he could be available for just £30m, which would be a steal, as in just 43 games this season, the young Frenchman has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists.
Rayan Cherki
Yet, if the club want to go all out on a superstar striker this summer, they might have to go for a genuine bargain on the wing, someone like Leroy Sané.
According to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Bayern Munich star, and, alongside Chelsea, are currently the frontrunners to secure his signature.
While the competition from the Blues is far from ideal, the good news is that the £245k-per-week star wouldn’t cost anything in transfer fees, thanks to his current deal expiring in the summer.
It might still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Arsenal should do what they can to bring Sané to the Emirates, as he would add some real quality to the attack, and he’s even won comparisons to Saka in the past.
How Sané compares to Saka
So, before we get into some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Sané this summer, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.
Leroy Sane for Bayern Munich
Well, in this instance, it comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions at last summer’s European Championships and concluded that the Englishman was the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the German in the entire competition.
We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including but not limited to expected assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.
Expected Assists
0.09
0.11
Progressive Passes
3.04
3.57
Passing Accuracy
83.8%
83.8%
Shot-Creating Actions
3.03
3.30
Goal-Creating Actions
0.43
0.47
Successful Take-Ons
2.17
2.00
However, on top of their statistical similarities, they are also both predominantly right-sided, left-footed players who have played and thrived under Arteta’s coaching, with the German spending several years with him at City.
Aside from the similarities to their best player, though, why should the Gunners bring the Bayern star this summer?
Well, first and foremost, while he has spent plenty of time off the right, he’s just as capable on the left, meaning he could provide some genuine competition to both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard next season on top of being able to rotate with others in the side.
Moreover, even though he’s closer to the end than the start of his career, the “world-class” international, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has still been seriously effective this term, racking up 13 goals and six assists in 44 appearances, totalling 2348 minutes.
That means the former Premier League winner is currently averaging a goal involvement every 2.31 games, or every 123.57 minutes, which is undoubtedly the sort of output that would give the North Londoners a serious boost.
Ultimately, Arsenal should be going all out to sign Sané this summer, as not only does he share some key similarities with Saka, but he remains a productive attacker and, best of all, he’d be free.
Their answer to Salah: Arsenal make offer for £63m CF who's outscoring Isak
The dazzling striker could be the one to lead Arsenal to glory next year.