Manchester United have enquired about the potential signing of a “completely unique” striker this summer, according to a new claim from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Man Utd still searching for new striker
It has been a good summer transfer window to date for United, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo having the potential to be strong signings from Wolves and Brentford respectively.
United desperately need to sign an elite striker, however, with Rasmus Hojlund not yet doing enough to suggest that he is the answer to lead the line for Ruben Amorim in the coming years.
Rasmus Hojlund
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko appears to be the current front-runner to come in this summer, with the Slovenian ultimately now having to choose between the Red Devils and Newcastle United.
While some reports have suggested that the Magpies have won the race to sign Sesko, a different update has claimed that Director of Football Jason Wilcox is confident of getting his man and bringing him to United. Now, another huge player has been mentioned as an alternative option.
Man Utd make contact over signing "unique" striker
According to Sky Germany‘s Plettenberg on X, Manchester United recently enquired about Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, amid strong interest from Liverpool.
In truth, it looks unlikely that United will be able to sign Isak, with Liverpool the obvious favourites to get him, and the player himself keen on a move to Anfield and turning down any chance of a move to Old Trafford.
That said, if the Red Devils were suddenly able to strike a deal for the £120,000-a-week star, it could have been a game-changing piece of business, with journalist Matthew Ketchell speaking glowingly of him.
“He’s got a real easy-on-the-eye, unique style about his play, it’s almost balletic the way he moves, it’s completely unique. The balance he has, the speed he has, the strength he has, the intelligence, it’s kind of all there. He had a little bit of an issue with one-on-ones last season (2023/24), start of this season, where he was going through on goal and not taking his chances – he seems to have cleaned that up.”
Assuming United miss out on Isak, it then has to be a case of them signing Sesko instead, with the Leipzig star having the potential to be a huge hit at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils don’t have Champions League football to offer him, however, or any European football for that matter, whereas Newcastle are playing in the top club competition next season.
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ByTom Cunningham Aug 2, 2025
Hopefully, the lure of United ultimately proves too great for Sesko to turn down, but missing out on him would be a big blow, forcing the club to look at an alternative.
Sunderland fans will be very excited for the upcoming Premier League season now as the Black Cats attempt to cause an instant storm on their arrival, rather than just being content with making up the numbers.
Regis Le Bris and Co. have been extremely busy this summer fine-tuning their options to give themselves the best possible chance at sealing survival and achieving even more, with the standout purchase of Granit Xhaka finally happening, sending shockwaves through the top-flight.
For £17m, the Black Cats have won themselves a potential steal, as the Swiss international prepares to return to the division where he made a name for himself as a tough battler from the middle of the park for Arsenal.
Why Xhaka is a standout deal
The 32-year-old also boasts vast experience in top divisions beyond just the Premier League, having been a staple at Bayer Leverkusen over the last two seasons, before returning to English shores.
Indeed, across the last two campaigns, Xhaka was an ever-present force centrally, with six goals and nine assists coming his way at the BayArena from 99 appearances.
But it’s his no-nonsense, battling attitude that will have caught Sunderland’s eye even more as they attempt to stave off the drop zone in the Premier League, as seen in Xhaka averaging 5.4 ball recoveries per Bundesliga clash last season when tirelessly fighting for his side’s cause.
For the Gunners, the 32-year-old battled with even more intensity, with Xhaka throwing himself into a high 1001 duels in total across his 225 league appearances in North London.
17 goals and 24 assists were also tallied up in the brutal division, with the brand new Sunderland number 34’s ideal blend of skill and grit making him a top asset for Le Bris’ men as they venture up a level.
He could soon be joined by another talent that is also both sleek and combative, if necessary, as Le Bris’ midfield options become more and more stacked by the day.
Xhaka's "incredible" potential midfield partner
It will all be about reining in Xhaka’s aggressiveness, however, as the two-time FA Cup winner did end up with four red cards during his Emirates career.
However, they won’t want to eradicate this side of his game completely, with fellow new recruits that are set to join the building also potentially possessing this bite in their varied game.
Norwich midfielder Gabriel Sara.
New Sunderland target Gabriel Sara – who has been tipped to make a £26m move back to England – certainly showed a spiky side when donning Norwich City yellow and green, as seen in him averaging 4.8 duels won on average across his swansong Championship campaign with the Canaries.
This attritional side to his character means he could well happily line up as a defensive midfield option alongside Xhaka, but in Le Bris’ trusty 4-2-3-1 set-up, the well-rounded Brazilian might be better suited to a number ten role, as the Swiss international prepares to set the 26-year-old up for plenty of chances on Wearside from deep.
Games played
40
46
Goals scored
7
13
Assists
4
12
Touches*
53.4
76.6
Accurate passes*
29.8 (80%)
47.9 (86%)
Key passes*
1.7
2.6
Big chances created
6
16
Total duels won*
3.3
4.8
From this role at Carrow Road, Sara would turn into an “incredible” star for his second-tier outfit – as he was dubbed by U23 football scout Antonio Mango – with his final offering during the 2023/24 season seeing him pick up a staggering 25 goal contributions from 46 league clashes.
He has since refined his game even more in Turkey with Galatasaray, with two goals and ten assists coming his way from 45 games, further allowing him to live up to his “exceptional” billing by Canaries-based journalist Conor Southwell.
Both Xhaka and Sara together have the shared class to enhance Sunderland centrally, as the pair prepare to potentially link up with each other to help their new side succeed in the Premier League.
Bigger talent than Adingra: Sunderland race to sign "outstanding" £26m star
Sunderland could be about to win themselves a bigger talent than Simon Adingra by signing this £26m ace.
Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, taking sporting director Andrea Berta’s summer spending past the £200 million mark – which means exits could be necessary.
Arsenal prepared to bid £55m for star, four-year contract at the ready too
Andrea Berta is swiftly moving on to his next target after Viktor Gyokeres.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 26, 2025
Gyokeres has joined the Gunners for an initial fee of around £55 million, a number that could rise to £64 million with add-ons (The Athletic), after the Sweden international travelled to London this weekend for a medical.
The 27-year-old’s 54 goals in all competitions last season suggests that Gyokeres could be worth every penny if all goes to plan, with the lack of a prolific number nine long viewed as the missing piece of Mikel Arteta’s jigsaw.
However, following their deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera on top of Gyokeres, Berta has now spent hundreds of millions on reinforcing Arteta’s squad.
If Arsenal manage to sign Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze too, with the Eagles reportedly holding out for his £68 million release clause, the north Londoners could end this transfer window spending closer to £300 million.
Taking this into account, and the fact Arsenal currently boast the third-highest wage bill in the Premier League, Berta’s next priority is sealing some departures as well as potentially striking an agreement for Eze.
With PSR lingering in the background, top flight clubs are only permitted a loss of around £105 million over a rolling three-year period. If Arsenal surpass this limit, they face sanctions.
So far, there have been no indications that the club are in any real danger of this, but Berta still needs to monitor the club’s revenues/spending.
Gabriel Jesus gives green-light to leave Arsenal as Flamengo prepare offer
According to South American news outlet RTI Esporte, Flamengo have held talks with striker Gabriel Jesus, and they’re preparing to make an audacious loan-to-buy bid for the Brazilian.
Jesus has apparently gave the “green light” to negotiate a move to Flamengo, and if a move materialises, the clubs would split his £265,000-per-week wages 50/50. Flamengo’s interest comes despite the former Man City star’s lengthy lay-off, with Jesus currently out of action after sustaining an ACL rupture in Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Man United last season.
With Gyokeres arriving, the 28-year-old will have to compete with both Arsenal’s new signing and Kai Havertz for a place up front once he returns to full fitness, so a temporary move away could suit all parties as Arsenal look to trim their salary books.
Jesus enjoyed a purple patch of form under Arteta last season – grabbing six goals and an assist in all competitions from early December to January after a lot of criticism – with his injury coming at an extremely unfortunate time.
Sunderland are looking to build a squad capable of thriving in the top-flight and have now entered the race to sign a striker who excelled last season, according to a report.
Sunderland begin exciting summer of recruitment
Enzo Le Fee and Habib Diarra have been brought in at the Stadium of Light from Roma and Strasbourg, respectively, with the former becoming the Black Cats’ first addition of the window after a fine loan spell last season.
However, another brilliant piece of news for Sunderland is that Florent Ghisolfi has now arrived as their new Director of Football in the North East, and BBC radio’s Simon Pryde believes his remit will be solely focused on recruitment with Kristjaan Speakman handling external matters.
Sunderland manager RegisLeBris on the touchline
He stated: “I think Ghisolfi will be on recruitment. His umbrella will be over player recruitment and the first team squad. Speakman has a wide brief at the moment and this will allow him to focus because the structures in the Premier League are vastly different than those in the EFL.”
He added: “Ghisolfi has plenty of experience. (He was) assistant manager at Lorient for two years. (As a football director) he’s been at Lens, and he’s been at Nice, so he has a glowing reputation within football as a director.”
With that in mind, who could arrive to bolster the ranks? Reports suggest Lorient star Arthur Avom Ebong could be next to join Sunderland and discussions are an advanced stage between all parties over a £4 million deal.
Sunderland’s first five Premier League fixtures
West Ham United (H)
Stadium of Light
Burnley (A)
Turf Moor
Brentford (H)
Stadium of Light
Crystal Palace (A)
Selhurst Park
Aston Villa (H)
Stadium of Light
Now, the Black Cats are reportedly in the hat to sign a striker who showed a clinical edge in front of goal last term that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Sunderland position themselves to sign Luis Suarez
For the avoidance of doubt despite a name that will attract attention, Sunderland have entered the race to sign Almeria forward Luis Suarez this summer alongside Sporting Clube de Portugal, according to reports in Spain via Sport Witness.
The Colombia international registered 31 goals and eight assists in 43 matches across all competitions, though his side failed to gain promotion to the top-flight of Spanish football in the end.
Sunderland plotting bargain swoop to sign "great" Premier League midfielder
The Black Cats could land an excellent deal.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 30, 2025
Notably, Sunderland and Ghisolfi are willing to pay the £21.5 million fee needed to tempt Suarez to England, while Sporting feel that figure is excessive.
However, they have doubts the Santa Marta-born man would favour a switch to the Stadium of Light as he is being lined up in Lisbon as a replacement for Viktor Gyokeres.
Talks have taken place with ‘several’ clubs regarding his future, though the Black Cats’ interest in the 27-year-old is said to be fresh, so it remains to be seen how this one pans out as Regis Le Bris looks to bolster his side’s chances of remaining in the Premier League.
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.
Real Madrid are now in advanced contract talks with a star player to try and fend off Manchester United’s recent approach, according to a new report.
Balancing incomings and outgoings the order of the day at Old Trafford
As of now, it has been a rather quiet start to the transfer window for the Red Devils, as they have just completed one bit of transfer business, and that was the signing of Matheus Cunha. More arrivals are expected however, with Bryan Mbeumo heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, and now United are said to be confident in beating Tottenham to his signature.
Man Utd eye £34m Onana replacement from the same place they overpaid for Hojlund
Man Utd and INEOS have now identified a new target to replace Andre Onana in goal.
ByBrett Worthington Jun 16, 2025
United are also being linked with players who can improve them in other aspects of the team. They are seriously interested in signing Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt and have now added Marco Carnesecchi to their list of options to replace Andre Onana in goal. However, these purchases may have to be put on hold until the club moves some players out the door.
Alejandro Garnacho is one whose time at the club appears to be up, as United are now prepared to sell the Argentine. The Red Devils are looking to get at least £50 million for the attacker this summer. Chelsea were linked with a move for Garnacho back in January, and they are believed to be still interested in a deal now. Meanwhile, Aston Villa have also joined the race to sign Garnacho, as he may be seen as a replacement for Marcus Rashford, who has now returned to Old Trafford.
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho
Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen have also been linked with a move for the United man, and while their interest is genuine, it is a deal that is unlikely given finances and the fact that Garnacho’s preference is to remain in the Premier League.
Man Utd make approach for Brahim Diaz
Given the Red Devils are willing to sell Garnacho, they have been on the lookout for replacements, and according to a report from Spain, Man United have made an approach to sign Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid.
However, Fabrizio Romano has since revealed Real Madrid are now in advanced contract talks with the forward to fend off the interest from United and others. Indeed, Arsenal also joined the Red Devils in making an enquiry, but it seems the playmaker has made his mind up and will stay put for the forseeable future.
Diaz, who has been dubbed an “astonishing” talent by journalist Mina Rzouki, has been at Real Madrid since January 2019, when he joined the club from United’s arch-rivals Manchester City. The Morocco international has had two separate spells on loan at AC Milan since moving to Spain, but in the last two seasons he has become an important member of the Real Madrid squad.
Apps
117
Goals
20
Assists
19
Last season, Diaz played 31 times in La Liga, as well as 11 times in the Champions League. The Red Devils would have seen Diaz as a perfect player who could play in the wide number 10 role, a position Amorim is trying to improve in before pre-season gets underway.
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.
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