All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Whilst they continue to battle it out for their top targets, Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on an unexpected attacking reinforcement who’s worth £50m this summer.

Newcastle win Isak war as Liverpool swoop for Ekitike

It’s a fairly open secret that Newcastle were interested in Hugo Ekitike. Reports went as far as to suggest that they already submitted their first bid. But it was no simple deal.

Thanks to Liverpool, who have also reportedly made their first approach to sign the Frenchman, Newcastle found themselves in a tug-of-war with the Premier League champions. And it looks to be a battle that they’ve lost, perhaps at the benefit of winning the Alexander Isak war.

Left moving on to other targets, Newcastle can at least breathe a sigh of relief that Liverpool are now unlikely to make their move for Isak after seemingly pushing on to potentially seal Ekitike’s arrival.

Isak heir: Newcastle in talks to sign "exceptional" £40m Ekitike alternative

Newcastle are still on the hunt for a striker this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 17, 2025

It’s the battle of the summer and one that Newcastle may be frustrated by. It’s also clear to see why that fight was centred around Isak and Ekitike. The two forwards both enjoyed excellent campaigns last time out and would instantly steal major headlines by completing big-money moves as the new season approaches.

Minutes

2,563

2,756

Goals

15

23

Assists

8

6

Expected Goals

21.6

20.3

With that said, as impressive as Ekitike is, Newcastle still have other targets in mind and that reportedly includes an unexpected Premier League rival.

Newcastle plotting shock Antony move

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle are now plotting a shock move to sign Antony from Manchester United, who have set their price at a hefty €58m (£50m) this summer.

The Brazilian winger will go down as one of Old Trafford’s biggest ever transfer flops after arriving for £86m in 2022, before enduring a nightmare spell. But last season’s loan move at Real Betis saw him get back to his best and may have even been enough to catch the attention of those at St James’ Park.

Appearances

26

Goals

9

Assists

5

What truly puts Antony’s contrasting form into context is the fact that he scored just 12 goals in 96 appearances for Manchester United, before heading to Betis on loan and scoring just two fewer than that in just 26 games.

It’s the type of form that earned the winger plenty of praise in Spain too, including from journalist Guillem Balague. He told BBC Sport: “Betis have given the man love and confidence, played him in the right position and played him all the time.

“He has been absolutely brilliant and he has been emotional. We saw a very cold guy at United, since he has gone to Betis and things have been working, we’ve seen him cry, we’ve see him laugh and Betis fans love that.”

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has made quite the impression already since taking over from his predecessor, Edu Gaspar, in late March – and the 53-year-old is personally very keen to get one transfer over the line.

Arsenal complete signing with medical "done", announcement due "this week"

Mikel Arteta is set to welcome another player.

4 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 9, 2025

Berta is currently attempting to seal an array of deals behind-the-scenes, right after the club officially announced the arrivals of Spanish duo Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi, with Christian Norgaard also completing his move to Arsenal after a medical (David Ornstein).

Arsenal are in advanced talks for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, and the prolific 27-year-old could be joined by either Real Madrid star Rodrygo or Chelsea’s Noni Madueke as the Gunners also target a new left-winger.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£65m

Madueke has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal, but Rodrygo is understood to be their “dream” target in that area, and Berta is known to do work on targets simultaneously before pressing ahead with the best deal.

Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera has agreed terms over an Arsenal move too, but the Premier League title hopefuls are yet to find an agreement with his club and some reports suggest that talks for the 21-year-old have stalled.

Moves for either Madueke or Rodrygo, as reliably reported, won’t impact their talks to sign Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal have held positive talks over signing Eze, but it is believed that Berta and co do not wish to pay the England international’s full £68 million release clause as all parties attempt to find a solution.

Eze is rumoured to be keen on joining Mikel Arteta’s side, though, giving the club some encouragement that there is a deal to be done here.

Arsenal could offer "emerging star" in swap deal for Eberechi Eze

There are a few avenues Arsenal could go down in their attempts to find a full agreement, and one of them is a potential player-exchange.

That is according to journalist Rahman Osman, who told The Sun this week that Arsenal could offer an unnamed “emerging star” to Palace in a swap deal for Eze.

Berta himself is personally “determined” to sign the 27-year-old – who scored 14 goals and registered a further 11 assists in all competitions last term – and the Italian has held talks with his representatives.

He will keep trying to convince Palace to part company, but the south Londoners are just as steadfast in demanding Eze’s full release clause be paid. That being said, Osman also reports that they might be open to accepting a “promising defender” as part of the deal.

A proven Premier League star, Eze spearheaded Palace to their first ever major trophy with the FA Cup final-winning goal against Man City at Wembley last season – 14 years after he was released by Arsenal as a 13-year-old academy youngster.

Sunderland are thought to be in talks to sign a new £17m forward who Regis Le Bris already knows well, according to a new update.

Speakman in Sunderland transfer talks after Le Fee deal

The Black Cats have so far been patient when it comes to new signings, with Enzo Le Fee’s loan move becoming permanent the only incoming piece of business following promotion to the Premier League.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is working behind the scenes on deals, though, and admitted last week he was in three different countries in three days discussing transfers with targets.

By the looks of things, one player on Speakman’s list could now be Sassuolo forward Armand Lauriente, with a new update showing there has been a development.

Sunderland in talks for Sassuolo forward Armand Lauriente

According to reports in Italy relayed by Chronicle Live, Sunderland are thought to have begun talks over a ‘sensational swoop’ to sign Lauriente.

The Sassuolo forward has already worked under Le Bris, scoring one goal in four games under the Sunderland boss during their time at French side Lorient. He can also play anywhere across the front three, so would provide plenty of versatility in the final third, should a deal be struck.

The Black Cats are looking to provide competition to Wilson Isisdor and Eliezer Mayenda and seemingly see Lauriente as the man to do just that, with previous claims suggesting he could cost up to £17m.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a fine campaign in 2024/25, scoring 19 goals and registering six assists in 34 appearances in all competitions, mainly as a left winger.

Dan James

Leeds United

Borja Sainz

Norwich City

Wilfried Gnonto

Leeds United

Sontje Hansen

NEC Nijmegen

Liel Abada

Charlotte FC

As per FBref, Lauriente ranks in the top 1% for goals when compared to attacking midfielders and wingers, the top 2% for shots on target and the top 6% for expected goals.

As can be seen, Lauriente has been likened to a number of wingers playing their trade in England, so a move to the Stadium of Light could be one to keep an eye on.

There could be plenty of change at the top end of the pitch for Leeds United ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, after they made their first signing of the summer on Sunday.

The Whites officially confirmed the signing of Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, with his contract at the Bundesliga side due to expire at the end of the month.

He is a centre-forward by trade, playing 193 career matches in that position, but the German attacker has also played on both the left and right flanks in his club career, which means that he could provide useful versatility across the frontline for Daniel Farke next season.

24/25 (Wolfsburg)

8

20

3

23/24 (Wolfsburg)

39

4

2

22/23 (Wolfsburg)

17

18

4

21/22 (Wolfsburg)

9

31

10

20/21 (Anderlecht)

0

37

18

19/20 (Wolfsburg + Middlesbrough)

4

25

0

18/19 (Preston North End)

0

41

4

As you can see in the table above, though, Nmecha looks set to be a risky signing for Leeds because he has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and has failed to deliver goals on a regular basis since the 2021/22 campaign, which included two goals in five Champions League outings.

The 26-year-old star, who was described as a “complete” striker by Vincent Kompany during his time at Anderlecht, could be a quality option for Farke if he can regain the form that he displayed in front of goal in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.

With Nmecha’s arrival, and the news that they are after another number nine, Leeds may have to part ways with some of the strikers already at the club, and avoid a Chris Wood repeat.

How Leeds fumbled Chris Wood

The New Zealand international enjoyed a prolific spell at Elland Road between 2015 and 2017 after his move from Leicester ahead of the 2015/16 campaign.

As you can see in the graphic above, Wood, who joined the club at the age of 23, averaged a goal every other game for the Championship side, but he never got the chance to play in the Premier League because of his £15m move to Burnley in 2017.

The Kiwi marksman left before the Marcelo Bielsa revolution in West Yorkshire, and has gone on to prove himself to be a very impressive goalscorer in the top-flight.

Wood, who scored 20 goals in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest in the 2024/25 season, has racked up 89 goals in 263 top-flight games in his career for Burnley, Newcastle United, and Forest combined.

This shows that Leeds fumbled a brilliant Premier League striker option because they cashed in on him before he got the chance to his his peak at Elland Road, and they could be about to repeat a similar blunder with Mateo Joseph.

The latest on Mateo Joseph's future

Earlier this month, journalist Graeme Bailey told Leeds United News that Real Betis had agreed a fee worth up to £8.5m to sign the Spain U21 international this summer.

However, Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, as relayed by Sport Witness, then rubbished that claim and reported that a deal between the two clubs is nowhere near complete.

In fact, Estadio Deportivo stated that there was a big gap between what the LaLiga outfit would be willing to pay for Joseph and what the Championship champions want for their back-up forward.

Now, Sunday’s edition of ABC Sevilla, as relayed by Sport Witness, reports that Real Betis are currently in talks with the striker and his representatives over the possibility of a move to the club.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that Betis, who will play Europa League football next season, are planning to convince the player to make the switch before they enter serious negotiations, after making initial contact with Leeds to gauge a price tag for him.

That price tag is reported to be as high as £13m, as per Mundo Deportivo’s separate report on Sunday, which is not all too dissimilar to the fee that the Whites received for Wood from Burnley.

Why selling Joseph could be a Wood repeat

As aforementioned, the New Zealand international moved on from Elland Road for a big fee before he had the opportunity to fulfill his potential as a Premier League goalscorer.

Joseph is not in the exact same situation as Wood was in, as he only scored three goals in 39 matches in the Championship this season, but it would be a similar move in the sense that he would be leaving before fulfilling his potential.

The Spanish marksman produced three goals and three assists in just 11 starts, mainly coming off the bench, as he found himself behind Joel Piroe in the pecking order.

Selling him now would mean that Leeds will never see him flourish at first-team level, which would be a shame when you consider the level that he could reach in the future.

Non-penalty xG

0.36

Top 29%

Shots total

2.73

Top 11%

Shots on target

1.05

Top 17%

Non-penalty goals

0.21

Bottom 34%

xAG

0.13

Top 20%

Assists

0.21

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

2.31

Top 20%

Touches in the opposition’s box

5.25

Top 10%

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old marksman showed plenty of encouraging signs in the Championship, as he regularly got shots on target, got himself into great postions to score, and was effective at creating chances for his teammates.

However, Joseph, who was hailed as “dynamite” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, needs to find consistency in his finishing, because that appears to be the one area of his game that is letting him down.

The Leeds youngster, though, scored 19 goals in 33 games for the club’s U21 team and has scored eight goals in 11 caps for Spain’s U21 side, which suggests that the potential is there for him to deliver goals on a regular basis.

Given his impressive scoring record at youth level and the great situations he is getting in at first-team level, it could be down to confidence or nerves in front of goal that is stopping him from exploding for Leeds.

This is why Joseph leaving to sign for Real Betis, amid talks with the Spanish outfit, could be a Wood repeat for Leeds because it could be another case of a promising young forward leaving to fulfill their potential elsewhere.

The Championship champions could end up watching on as Joseph finds his feet in front of goal to become a regular scorer for Betis, given that the rest of his game already appears to be at a high level.

Terms agreed: "Dominant" £17m star says yes to signing for Leeds United

Leeds United appear to be closing in on their first signing of the summer window.

ByDan Emery Jun 15, 2025

The signing of Nmecha has put another hurdle in front of Joseph at Elland Road, but the club should avoid selling him for now due to the potential he has to be a star in the future.

Glasgow Rangers have a lot of work to do during the summer transfer window as they go about building a squad that can compete for the Scottish Premiership title next season.

Russell Martin arrived at Ibrox earlier this summer as the new head coach and the new boss will be aiming for success in his first year in charge.

The Gers manager has inherited a team that ended the 2024/25 season without a single trophy to show for their efforts, which illustrates how big the job ahead of him is going to be, as he is not taking on a side that is ready to hit the ground running next term.

Plenty of work is already going on to alter the make-up of the squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as the Light Blues confirmed the signing of Lyall Cameron on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Scottish midfielder has joined on a free transfer from Dundee to bolster Martin’s options in the attacking midfield positions next season.

What Lyall Cameron could bring to Rangers

One thing that stands out about Cameron is that he has already amassed plenty of experience in the Premiership at a young age, with 65 appearances in the league since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

This means that he could hit the ground running at Ibrox as a player who has already played plenty of matches in the division in the last two years, which means that he knows what to expect physically and tactically.

His performances in the Premiership in the 2024/25 season also suggest that the midfield whiz could be an exciting addition to the squad as a player who can make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Cameron, who can play as a central midfielder or as an attacking midfielder, ended the campaign with a haul of nine goals and five assists in 33 outings in the league for Dundee.

Shots on target

20

Top 4%

xG

3.80

Top 7%

Goals

9

Top 4%

xA

4.78

Top 10%

Chances created

54

Top 4%

Assists

5

Top 9%

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish maestro ranked highly among his positional peers in the division when it came to scoring and creating goals as an attacking midfielder.

These statistics suggest that Cameron could arrive as an exciting addition, given his ability to make things happen in front of goal, but the Gers are now looking to sign another attacker who would be even more exciting for Martin.

Rangers hopeful of deal to sign new winger

According to STV News, Rangers are ‘hopeful of concluding’ a swoop for Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues believe that they are in pole position to secure a deal for the Ghana international, whose contract with the English side expires at the end of this month.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the Ibrox giants would be due to pay a minimal training compensation fee to Peterborough for Poku if a move goes through as expected, due to his age and UEFA’s cross-border compensation rules.

STV News also reveals that the Light Blues are hopeful of bringing Max Aarons, who came through the Norwich academy during Martin’s time in Norfolk as a player, to the club from Bournemouth, in what is likely to be a loan deal.

If the Gers can finalise a move for Poku on a ‘free’ transfer in the coming days, Rangers could have an even more exciting signing than Cameron for their new head coach.

Why Kwame Poku is more exciting than Lyall Cameron

The 23-year-old’s form for Peterborough in the 2024/25 season suggests that he has the potential to provide even more quality than the former Dundee man at the top end of the pitch for the Gers next term.

Poku, who plays as a left-footed attacker on the right flank, could come in as a direct replacement for Vaclav Cerny, who returned to Wolfsburg this summer, and potentially offer even more of a threat than the Czechia international from the right wing.

The Wolfsburg loanee caught the eye with his performances for the Gers during the 2024/25 campaign, but the Light Blues may be set to sign an even better talent.

Appearances

27

33

Goals

12

12

Big chances missed

3

6

Big chances created

9

6

Assists

8

4

Dribbles completed per game

1.9

1.4

Dribble success rate

47%

46%

As you can see in the table above, the Posh wizard scored more goals per game than the former Rangers sensation, whilst also delivering far more quality as a creator for his teammates in the final third.

This suggests that Poku, if he can translate his form over to the Premiership, could improve the team’s attack next term by offering plenty of quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, as shown by his output in League One this term.

The left-footed magician, who was dubbed “outstanding” by reporter Lukman Evergreen, has shown that he can score and create goals at an impressive rate, even scoring three more goals and providing three more assists than Cameron managed in the Premiership last term.

This means that Poku could carry an even greater threat than the new Rangers signing in front of goal next season if Martin can get a deal over the line for the Peterborough star in the coming days, as this latest report suggests that they will.

Martin can replace Hagi with Rangers move for "explosive" £10m "weapon"

Rangers can brilliantly replace Ianis Hagi by signing this reported transfer target.

ByDan Emery Jun 17, 2025

The right-sided winger would be an incredibly exciting signing for Martin at Ibrox because of his potential to be an upgrade on Cerny, and his potential to deliver even more quality at the top end of the pitch than Cameron.

A “special” Liverpool player has now been linked with a shock move to a Premier League rival this summer, following an on-air claim by Sky Sports News.

Liverpool set to sell first-team stars this summer

So much focus is on the players the Reds could sign before next season, from Florian Wirtz to Milos Kerkez, but there are also a host of players who could leave Anfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has already departed for Real Madrid, while on the opposite flank, Kostas Tsimikas could be the man to make way at left-back, assuming Kerkez arrives from Bournemouth. Caoimhin Kelleher is also reportedly closing in on a move to Brentford, as he searches to be a No.1.

Further up the pitch, Harvey Elliott has been linked with a move away, even potentially being part of a swap deal involving Bayer Leverkusen superstar Wirtz. The 22-year-old Liverpool attacker has struggled for playing time this season and may feel a new challenge is best for his development.

While Mohamed Salah has committed his future to the Reds, all of Arne Slot’s other attackers – Federico Chiesa, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez – have all seen their futures thrown into doubt to differing extents, ahead of potential big changes to the squad. Now, another exit update has dropped regarding another player.

Everton want Liverpool winger Ben Doak

According to some “breaking” news on Sky Sports on Monday morning, Everton are interested in signing Liverpool winger Ben Doak in the summer transfer window, in a move that would cause some shock waves across Merseyside.

Seeing a player move from Liverpool to Everton, or the opposite for that matter, is so rare, which is why this Doak update comes as a surprise. The Scotland winger spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Middlesbrough, in order to aid his development, and he bagged 10 goal contributions (three goals and seven assists) in the Championship. He is a huge young talent, being hailed by Jurgen Klopp during their brief time together.

For that reason, Liverpool selling the £30m-rated Doak, especially to their local rivals, would have to be considered a risk, given how high his ceiling could be.

Everton could now make shock move to sign £250k-p/w England star for Moyes

The Toffees are excited to kick off a new era and could begin their journey with a bang…

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 1, 2025

That said, if Slot and Richard Hughes don’t feel he has it in him to make the grade at Anfield, they need to be trusted, even though it would be preferable to sell him to someone else other than Everton.

Aston Villa missed out on Champions League football for next season with a controversial 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday.

Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen’s goals in the second half secured the win for Ruben Amorim’s side, confining Unai Emery’s men to Europa League football.

The Villans were handed an uphill task after goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was given a straight red card after taking out Rasmus Hojlund after Matty Cash’s under-hit back pass.

However, the result could’ve been different for Emery’s men, after Morgan Rogers was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, leading to the club making a complaint to the Premier League over the officiating decisions.

Despite the defeat and the questionable decisions made by the officials, numerous players failed to deliver, leaving the club with some big decisions to make during the off-season.

Aston Villa’s poor performers against Man Utd

As previously mentioned, goalkeeper Martinez made a huge mistake that handed Villa a tricky task to try and claim all three points against the Red Devils.

The Argentine has been linked with a move away from the West Midlands in recent weeks, meaning that his disappointing display at Old Trafford may be his last for the club.

However, he wasn’t alone in producing a disappointing display, with left-back Ian Maatsen struggling to impress, even giving away the penalty for Eriksen’s goal.

His poor showing didn’t stop there, losing possession a staggering 13 times, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he entered, looking way off the pace and contributing to the defeat.

Both will likely be frustrated with their lack of impact, but despite their respective outings, one other player massively struggled, with Emery needing to make a bold decision on his future.

The 5/10 Villa star who needs to be sold this summer

After missing out on the Champions League, Villa now have a huge summer ahead of themselves to prevent breaking the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.

The club have had to make sales over the last couple of summers, with this one likely to follow in the same vein given the failure to secure a place in Europe’s biggest competition.

Martinez is just one player touted with a move away from Villa Park, with midfielder Rogers another star who could see his future lie away from the club.

However, Emery must boldly sell fellow first-team member Ollie Watkins this summer, needing to cash in on the 29-year-old whilst his stock is at its highest.

He was subject to interest from Arsenal during the January transfer window, but the hierarchy rejected offers for their talisman, enabling him to play a key role in their Champions League aspirations.

However, his showing at Old Trafford was nothing short of a disappointment, failing to deliver the goods and once again going missing in a key encounter.

The England international featured for the entirety of the contest, registering just 21 touches – the fewest of any player who started the game – highlighting his lack of impact.

Minutes played

90

Touches

21

Shots taken

0

Dribbles completed

1/2 (50%)

Duels won

5/15

Passes completed

6/15 (40%)

Possession lost

12x

He also failed to register a single effort on goal and only completed 50% of his dribbles, further highlighting how poor he was when the ball fell his way.

Watkins’ disappointing showing didn’t end there, only winning five of the 15 duels he entered, often being dominated by the Red Devils’ backline in the defeat.

As a result, the striker was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Birmingham World’s Charlie Haffenden – further demonstrating how poor he was yesterday.

After such a showing, the manager should look to offload him during the off-season, handing the opportunity for another player to thrive at the top end of the pitch.

Given the current financial situation, the hierarchy will face over the coming months, Watkins should be the first player sacrificed, offering Emery the chance to mount another Champions League push next season.

Their next McGinn: Aston Villa enter the race to sign £30m "top talent"

Aston Villa could strengthen their midfield this summer by signing this star.

ByRoss Kilvington May 25, 2025

17 defeats. That’s the dismal record Manchester United have been on the receiving end of this season.

Despite that, they could still qualify for the Champions League. It’s funny how football all works out, isn’t it?

Just days ago, the Red Devils were celebrating their place in the Europa League final, but things just continue to go from bad to worse on the domestic scene.

Last weekend, they were on the end of a 4-3 defeat at Brentford and despite that win over Bilbao in midweek, they could not carry any momentum in this weekend’s events.

West Ham were the visitors to old Trafford on this occasion and they came away with a 2-0 win, Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen scoring.

United didn’t get on the scoresheet but they really should have. They may have scored seven across their two semi-final legs but in the Premier League, it’s all been rather laboured in the final third.

Why Man United’s attack is struggling

This was never going to be an overnight fix for Ruben Amorim upon replacing Erik ten Hag but not even the former Sporting coach would have expected things to be quite this challenging.

One of the biggest reasons for their lack of potency hasn’t just been the finishing ability of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund but it could be argued that there’s a lack of creativity and the squad doesn’t possess the right players to get the most out of Amorim’s system.

Patrick Dorgu was signed in January as a wing-back but the manager will need to strengthen significantly in those areas over the summer.

Dorgu

With Amad also injured for the last few months, it’s meant that United have had to rely solely on Bruno Fernandes to carve out goalscoring opportunities. The captain has had a wonderful campaign, registering 38 goal involvements in all competitions, but even his threat has waned in the last several weeks, failing to score a Premier League goal in his last six matches.

So, with Fernandes faltering, they’ve not really had an answer elsewhere. That was all too apparent against West Ham on Sunday.

Yes, the squad may have been fatigued, but it’s evident that, first and foremost, Fernandes doesn’t thrive as well in a deeper position and secondly, that Kobbie Mainoo does not suit this system, playing in one of the central no.10 positions.

He doesn’t score many goals at the best of times and even a re-energised Mason Mount couldn’t expose the Hammers this weekend.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Hojlund too has struggled, largely due to a lack of service. Truth be told, he should have found the net against Graham Potter’s men, only emphasising the problems Amorim faces in their forward line.

How Hojlund is now becoming Man United’s new Martial

Let’s cast our minds back to the summer of 2015. It’s September and Anthony Martial has just become the most expensive teenager of all time, trading the principality of Monaco for a move to the north west of England in a deal worth £36m.

At the time, he was being billed as one of France’s next great football players. In fact, Martial was rated so highly that one part of the terms in his move involved a Ballon d’Or clause which would see Monaco receive another payment should the forward be named the world’s best player.

Well, it’s safe to say he never even came close to living up to that hype. Martial spent nine years at Old Trafford in a stint where he failed to live up to the immense promise many expected of him.

Across 317 appearances in United red, he did actually score 90 goals which is a pretty impressive record by all accounts.

15 of those came in his debut campaign and there was there was even the 23-goal season of 2019/20 to shout about. However, from that moment onwards, he only bagged another 20 in United colours before departing in 2024. He’s now at AEK Athens in Greece.

There are certain similarities between Hojlund and Martial here. Signed for an enormous fee as a young forward, a ridiculous £72m to be exact, the Dane had a promising first season and could still come good.

He netted 16 goals in his first season at the club, one more than Martial’s opening year, but it does feel as though Hojlund’s United career will also go down as a story of unfulfilled promise.

The simple fact is that despite boasting some impressive attributes, namely a powerful running style and the ability to gallop down the channels, he’s an incredibly frustrating player all the same.

There has certainly been a lack of service for the former Atalanta striker this season but even when given chances, he’s fluffed his lines. That was certainly the case against West Ham on Sunday.

Minutes played

90

Touches

31

Accurate passes

9/15 (60%)

Shots on target

2

Shots off target

4

Expected goals (xG)

1.31

Successful dribbles

0/2

Big chances missed

2

Ground duels won

1/6

Aerial duels won

3/8

Possession lost

13x

In the process of amassing just 31 touches and only completing 60% of his passes, he wasted two glorious chances which rather typified his season.

To his credit, Hojlund busted a gut to get on the end of the first one, but after Amad had played his teammate in, the 20-year-old could only stick the shot straight at the on-rushing Alphonse Areola. The second opportunity was even more glaring.

About three or four yards out, the net was gaping and ready for Hojlund to find the net, only for Areola to race across his line and keep out the shot. It was a remarkable save but it certainly looked easier to score than it did to miss.

The £85k-per-week forward was handed a low 4/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst as a result, who himself lamented that late effort that Areola denied.

While there are some pretty obvious differences between Hojlund and Martial, notably that the latter did go through a prolific spell, their stories of being signed for a colossal sum of money at a young age bear similarities.

Amorim and Co will just hope he can find more consistency than the Frenchman ever did on English shores.

Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd star who was as bad as Ugarte vs West Ham

Manchester United suffered a 17th defeat of the Premier League season.

1 ByMatt Dawson May 11, 2025

It will be fascinating to see whether Jadon Sancho will remain at Chelsea beyond this season. The England international is currently on loan at Stamford Bridge from Manchester United, and has a £25m buy obligation in his contract.

However, a recent report from the Mirror suggested the Blues will not activate the option and will instead send Sancho back to Old Trafford this summer. His record in West London is respectable, with four goals and ten assists in 39 games for the club this season. Eight of those goal involvements came in the Premier League.

If Chelsea decide not to keep Sancho beyond this season, they will be in the market for a new winger and could make a move for one former Premier League star.

Chelsea’s search to replace Sancho

One of the most interesting sagas in the summer transfer window will be that of Leroy Sane. The Bayern Munich star, formerly of Manchester City, could well be on the move again this summer, with a return to the English top flight on the cards.

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According to a report from Football Insider, Chelsea are thought to be ‘are intensifying their interest in the winger’ and could make a move for him this summer.

With a view to replacing Sancho, the German could be one of their primary targets.

However, they will not be alone in the race for Sane, who is out of contract next month. London rivals Arsenal are also interested in the 29-year-old, with the Gunners and Enzo Maresca’s Blues considered the ‘frontrunners’ this summer.

Why Sane would be a good signing

Should Chelsea sign Sane this summer, there is no doubt about the experience and quality he would bring to Stamford Bridge. The German international has had another impressive season, helping Bayern reclaim the Bundesliga title under his former teammate, Vincent Kompany.

In 44 appearances this season for the German giants, Sane has managed 13 goals and six assists across all competitions. 17 of those goal involvements have come in the Bundesliga, in just 29 appearances.

The former Schalke academy star is a consistent goalscorer, too. He has only ever gone four games this term without a top-flight goal or assist, although he managed just one goal and no assists in 13 Champions League games.

What a player Sane was during his first stint in England, for City. He managed 39 goals and 44 assists in 135 games. According to Statman Dave, the 29-year-old was “phenomenal” at his peak for City.

Well, his Premier League numbers speak for themselves. Not only did he help City to two top-flight titles during his three full seasons at the club, but he managed to score and assist 55 goals in 90 appearances in the competition.

Games

26

32

31

Minutes

1787

2424

1867

Goals

5

10

10

Assists

4

15

11

Mins per G/A

198

96

88

Chelsea will surely be hoping Sane can replicate the impact Cole Palmer has had at Stamford Bridge. Of course, there are parallels between the two, given that they both played for the Citizens, although Palmer’s opportunities were few and far between at the Etihad Stadium.

He played just 41 times for Pep Guardiola’s side, and since his move to West London, has become “the best player in the Premier League”, which Jamie Carragher claimed back in October.

If Sane can somewhat replicate the England international’s 40 goals and 25 assists in 88 appearances in Blue, he will be a successful signing, to say the least.

Palmer has certainly been an excellent addition to the club, and Sane would surely hope to follow in his footsteps in that sense.

For what would be a free transfer, this seems like a deal Chelsea can’t miss out on. They would be signing a proven Premier League player who can still contribute at the highest level.

A better signing than Osimhen: Chelsea in talks to land the "next Haaland"

Chelsea appear to be making moves to land a star who would be better than Victor Osimhen.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 14, 2025

Arsenal have been handed a boost in the race to sign a player who’s been described as “perfect” for them, with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta’s target keen on a move to the Emirates after holding talks.

Arsenal face PSG after 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace

Following their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, all eyes are now on Arsenal’s blockbuster Champions League semi-final first leg at home to PSG next week.

Arsenal hold "exploratory" talks as Berta eyes "special" £34m player

The Italian is getting to work ahead of his first summer transfer window.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

No other domestic games await the Gunners this weekend, meaning Arteta can put all of his focus into overcoming Luis Enrique’s side, who are enjoying a sensational unbeaten Ligue 1 campaign and pose a very tough test.

Arsenal will go into the contest with plenty of confidence after dismantling 15-time European champions Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the last round. However, Arteta did send a subtle warning to his players after they couldn’t get past Palace on Wednesday, criticising their poor performance.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

“I’m disappointed with the result and the performance as well,” said Arteta after Arsenal’s draw with Palace.

“I think we never got the consistency in many areas to completely dominate the game – we always had the feeling that we had the ball, we had possession, we went in front twice, but the game wasn’t grabbed, it wasn’t dominated and controlled the way that we normally do because we were below the standards in some areas. When you are not at your best, but you are two times ahead, you have to be able to see the game off, and we weren’t able to do it, especially with what happened in the second half.”

Arteta will demand a much higher level when Arsenal face one of Europe’s most in-form teams, and in a match which has the potential to make or break their whole campaign.

Arsenal handed Dean Huijsen transfer boost after update

Away from the pitch, Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta are planning for the summer window, with Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen reliably believed to be a serious target for them.

The 20-year-old’s active £50 million release clause has piqued interest from a host of elite Premier League clubs, including Arteta’s side, and it is believed that Huijsen has already held talks with Arsenal over a move.

This is backed up by talkSPORT and journalist Alex Crook, who also reports that Huijsen favours a move to Arsenal over the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham. Anfield is another preferred destination of the Spaniard’s, so Liverpool are in the race, but Crook says Huijsen has his eyes on a potential switch to Arsenal as well.

Following his move to Bournemouth from Juventus, Huijsen has proved a bargain buy after signing for just £16 million, but it now appears that it is inevitable he’ll depart the Vitality as a plethora of huge sides get ready to battle for his signature.

Football Analyst Ben Mattinson has called him the “perfect” option to rotate with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, while it is hard to argue after his excellent 2024/2025 campaign on the south coast.