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Is everything finally beginning to click into place for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?

It feels as if Amorim has constantly been under pressure since taking on the poisoned chalice of the Red Devils gig, but recent results are now pointing in the direction that the Manchester side’s ongoing patience with their ex-Sporting boss is finally paying off, with an emphatic 4-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion picked up on Saturday pushing the regular Premier League underachievers into a temporary top four position.

While a number of his new flashy summer recruits did stand out against the Seagulls, it was another night where Bruno Fernandes shone in attack, too, with the Portuguese playmaker very rarely falling victim to an off-day.

Why Bruno Fernandes was a standout

The alleged £47m forked out to land the skillful 31-year-old back in 2020 continues to look like a very wise use of cash.

Indeed, although he didn’t get in on the goalscoring act during the impressive 4-2 victory, he still managed to be a driving force for his team centrally to push them up the pitch, with three successful marauds forward tallied up by the much-loved number eight come the full-time whistle.

With nine ground duels won, the ever-present ace is still definitely proving his worth as a livewire, with plenty of credit in his bank for the season overall, as well, having assisted Harry Maguire’s late dramatic winner against Liverpool the match before this jubilant win back at Old Trafford.

With 187 goal contributions now next to his name donning United red, per Transfermarkt, it’s clear that Fernandes is one of the Premier League’s greatest transfer steals in recent memory.

Yet, there is a fresh, emerging hero in Amorim’s ranks who could already be viewed as another Bruno-like swipe, with the ace in question instantly hitting the ground running at the Theatre of Dreams after a statement £65m switch in the summer.

Man Utd have now uncovered their "best signing since Bruno"

Significant changes were needed in the summer in the Old Trafford attacking department, with a goal-shy Rasmus Hojlund not cutting the mustard up top.

Benjamin Sesko has already shown signs of promise as the Red Devils’ new leading marksman with two Premier League strikes next to his name, but it’s his attacking teammate against the Seagulls in Bryan Mbeumo who has been receiving the highest possible praise, having bagged a blistering two goals up against a leaky Bart Verbruggen.

Mbeumo doesn’t look fazed whatsoever by the pressures of being one of United’s main attacking sparks, much like Fernandes, who instantly slotted into the daunting Old Trafford environment all those years ago, with both of his confidently dispatched efforts against Brighton taking his Premier League goal tally to a weighty 46 overall for both Amorim and Co. and Brentford.

Five of those strikes have already come about as United’s flashy new number 19, but it’s his overall attacking game – away from his clinical edge in front of goal – that further places him on the pedestal of being the illustrious club’s “best signing since Bruno” in the eyes of statistician Statman Dave.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

2

Assists

0

Touches

59

Shots

3

Accurate passes

34/38 (89%)

Key passes

2

Big chances created

2

Successful dribbles

4/5

On another night, the Cameroonian could well have had an assist next to his name, with two big chances created off the back of Mbeumo, constantly wanting to bomb forward and entertain, much like a relentless Fernandes has shown he is capable of across his successful spell in England to date.

Deservedly so, Mbeumo would also be handed a 9/10 post-match rating by the Daily Express’ Archie Griggs, who simply stated that the red-hot 26-year-old was ‘the best player on the pitch’.

Further hailed as a star who has the “hunger to deliver a different level” by Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, it will be intriguing to see if United can keep up this winning sequence of games moving forward, as an Mbeumo-led effort potentially restores the Red Devils to their former glories.

With Matheus Cunha also at Amorim’s disposal, it really does feel like now or never for the Lisbon-born manager to bring successful days back to the red half of Manchester, with Fernandes lurking in the background also a wonderful asset to have on side.

Amorim must boldly bench Mount and unleash Man Utd's "monster"

Manchester United face Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon looking to extend their current winning run.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 25, 2025

The Giants hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth to upset the Dodgers in the first of a weekend set with the first place team from Los Angeles, can the team follow it up on Saturday?

The Dodgers will send out Cy Young candidate Tyler Glasnow, but can he be trusted at a lofty price tag on the road against a stout Giants lineup that has a quality arm on the mound in left hander Erik Miller?

Here's everything you need to know, including a best bet on the Dodgers vs. Giants game on Saturday night.

Dodgers vs. Giants Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line

Dodgers: -1.5 (-120)Giants: +1.5 (+100)

Moneyline

Dodgers: -210Giants: +175

Total: 7.5 (Over +105/Under -125)

Dodgers vs. Giants How to WatchDate: Saturday, June 29thGame Time: 7:15 PM ESTVenue: Oracle ParkHow to Watch (TV): FOXDodgers Record: 51-32Giants Record: 40-43Dodgers vs. Giants Probable PitchersDodgers: Tyler Glasnow (8-5, 2.88 ERA)Giants: Erik Miller (2-2, 3.79 ERA)Dodgers vs. Giants Key Players to WatchLos Angeles Dodgers

Teoscar Hernandez: While there are plenty of star studded hitters in the Dodgers lineup, its Hernandez who has benefited the most. He is hitting a little below his career average, .252, but his power is up with 18 home runs and a career average slugging percentage. He thrives against left handed pitching, posting a .607 slugging percentage with eight of his 18 home runs coming against that type of pitcher on a third of the at bats. 

San Francisco Giants

Erik Miller: The Giants will need a standout outing from the 26-year-old southpaw. The Dodgers typically tee off on lefty pitching, top five in OPS, but Miller has been strong through seven career starts and 39 appearances. He has a strikeout rate nearing 28%, good for 84th percentile in the big leagues and does an excellent job of limiting home runs with a high ground ball rate that is in the 93rd percentile. 

Dodgers vs. Giants Prediction and Pick

While Tyler Glasnow has been excellent in his first season with the Dodgers, this is simply too wide of a price for him on the road. 

Glasnow has a ton of strikeout prowess, he is in the 98th percentile in terms of strikeout rate, but the Giants strikeout at a league average rate and the team held up nicely against him earlier this season. San Francisco tallied three earned runs with four hits in six innings, good enough that it could extend this game into the bullpen portion of the evening. 

While the Dodgers have an elite pen, the team did use four relievers on Friday night, two of which pitched at least an inning, meaning that Dave Roberts may dig a bit more than usual on Saturday night in San Francisco. 

Meanwhile, Erik Miller is an elite groundball pitcher, 93rd percentile with a strong strikeout rate, 27%, that can limit the power of the Dodgers lineup. 

While LA has more star power, this game can go sideways quickly if the Giants lineup, that is only decimals behind the Dodgers in June batting average as the team adjusts to life without Mookie Betts, enough for me to take the big underdog price. 

It’s been a couple of weeks since the transfer window closed, and it’s hard to remember a better summer for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta got practically everything he could have wanted, from a prolific number nine, to a new highly sought-after six, a backup for Saka and one of the most exciting young defenders in world football.

Moreover, with the signing of Eberechi Eze, he got someone who can replace Gabriel Martinelli out on the left or start as the team’s out-and-out ten.

It’s not even a problem that he’s closer to 30 than some would like, as Arsenal also look to be brewing their own homegrown version of the Englishman, and no, we aren’t talking about Max Dowman.

Why Eze could be a game-changer for Arsenal

Even though Viktor Gyokeres was far more prolific and Martin Zubimendi reportedly caught the attention of Real Madrid, Eze feels like Arsenal’s most important signing this summer.

Even discounting the narrative of his returning home and the story of his choosing the Gunners over Tottenham Hotspur, there are a few reasons why we think his move could be the most consequential.

Firstly, unlike some of the other new faces, the Greenwich-born maestro is already Premier League-proven.

Including the games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest this year, he has made 149 appearances in the competition, during which he has scored 34 goals and provided 24 assists.

Secondly, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, has proven himself capable of taking high-pressure games by the scruff of the neck and dragging his team over the finishing line.

For example, he scored in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup as Palace won their first significant honour last season.

Finally, as we’ve already mentioned, his versatility means he can play out on the left or in the ten depending on what the team need, or which other players are out of form.

However, Arteta has to be careful not to play him out wide too often, as while the former QPR gem can play there, it’s clearly not his preferred position.

We can see this in his heatmaps from last season, when he clearly moves towards the middle the further up the pitch he gets.

Attacking Midfield

144

35

21

Left Winger

53

10

8

Central Midfield

43

9

3

Left Midfield

32

8

5

Right Winger

11

3

1

Right Midfield

4

0

0

Centre-Forward

2

0

0

Moreover, the vast majority of his goal involvements have come when he is playing in attacking midfield, 56 to be exact.

In all, Eze looks like he’ll be an incredible addition to this Arsenal squad, and in even better news, it looks like the club are already brewing their own version.

Arsenal's homegrown Eze

Now, given the way pre-season went, and the way he’s started the season prorper, some may assume that the player in question is the sensationally talented Max Dowman.

Chalkboard

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

However, that’s not the case, as while he could well develop into an Eze-esque star for Arsenal, he is still just 15 years old, and we haven’t really seen enough of him to determine something like that.

Instead, when it comes to the Gunners’ homegrown version of the former Palace star, we are talking about none other than Ethan Nwaneri.

There are a few reasons for this, and the first is where he plays.

Like his older teammate, the Hale Ender is someone who can play in a number of roles – with Arteta even claiming he could play up top last season – but he seems to have two he’s most comfortable with, which are right-wing and attacking midfield.

Moreover, while he can play out wide, as he did for much of last year, he spent most of his time in the academy playing as a ten, and he’s even told the press that it’s his preferred role.

The second similarity is that the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, has already proven himself to be a significant goal threat, as well as someone who can create.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

For example, in 37 appearances, totalling just 1378 minutes, the Enfield-born dynamo scored nine goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or every 125.27 minutes.

Finally, like the 27-year-old, the Gunners’ next big thing is an entertainer on the pitch.

He’s not afraid to try something audacious with the ball at his feet, and according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, and that dribbling past an opponent is always one way to get the fans on their feet.

Ultimately, Eze could well be the difference for Arsenal this season, but Nwaneri could end up being just as, if not more, important in a few years.

Arsenal fans gave £60m ace the Madueke treatment all summer, now he's set to star

The Arsenal star could be in for a career revival this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 19, 2025

Everton are showing themselves to be a real threat in the forward areas based on their blistering attacking performances so far in the Premier League.

Of course, it is only early days, but the Toffees have responded to a disappointing 1-0 loss on the opening day to Leeds by putting five strikes past Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Jack Grealish picking up a mightily impressive four assists along the way.

With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also in on the goals and assists, alongside Iliman Ndiaye already running teams ragged with two efforts on the board, David Moyes’ men are now far removed from their previous attritional makeup under Sean Dyche.

This is before you even throw new recruit Tyler Dibling into the equation, with the 19-year-old a bold pick-up from Southampton who is also ready to take the Premier League by storm.

What Dibling can offer Everton

Everton has managed to produce many of their own special homegrown attackers over the years, with the likes of Ross Barkley and Wayne Rooney springing to mind.

With this example, however, they have poached the cream of the academy crop from the Saints in Dibling, with the teenager costing a whopping £40m to bring in this summer, even as his ex-side suffered relegation at the end of last campaign.

When watching the young forward in action, it’s clear to see why he has cost such an extortionate amount, despite still being inexperienced, with an impressive four goals and three assists next to his name in the St Mary’s senior ranks.

One particularly memorable display from the direct winger last season against Manchester United even saw former England legend turned commentator Stuart Pearce herald Dibling as a “devotee to Grealish”, with a hope now that the entertaining attacker can be as instantly successful on Merseyside – like the ex-Aston Villa midfielder – away from loose comparisons.

Amazingly, while the Toffees have invested significantly in the future with this £40m buy, they could well have their very own homegrown Grealish brewing in the background, too, in this 18-year-old ace.

Everton's own homegrown Grealish

As previously mentioned, the Merseyside outfit has often been viewed as a club that gives their very own chances in the first-team set-up when ready.

One up-and-coming youngster that has risen the ranks and looks destined for more senior minutes soon is 18-year-old Harrison Armstrong, who was named on the bench by Moyes for the action-packed victory at Wolves.

He has since moved on to Preston North End on a season-long loan, but the highlights package posted by the Lilywhites after his move was confirmed shows off the obvious talent the skilful midfielder possesses to be viewed in the same glowing light as the assist-heavy Grealish.

Indeed, from just eight senior appearances to date for the Toffees, Armstrong has a standout three assists next to his name.

Armstrong’s Everton record
Position	Games	Goals + Assists
CM	19	3 + 1
DM	11	2 + 2
LW	4	1 + 0
AM	3	0 + 1
CF	2	0
RW	1	0 + 1
LM	1	0
RM	1	0
Sourced by Transfermarkt

With a further ten goal contributions also coming his way for the Everton U19s and U21s – when looking at the table above – it’s abundantly clear why he has been labelled a “phenomenal” youth talent by one of his former managers in John Eustace, when previously loaned out to Derby County.

His adaptability to play all across the midfield positions only strengthens the argument more that he could be a new Grealish in the making, with the Liverpool-born starlet more than a capable performer on the left flank – much like the new Everton number 18 – away from just lining up in a central midfield spot.

It could well be that Armstrong just needs more first-team experience under his belt before he’s regularly strutting his stuff in Moyes’ senior side, with another loan out to the second tier, no doubt toughening him up.

The EFL’s elite division made Grealish the stylish performer he is today, after all, with a sturdy 14 goals and 16 assists notched up in the Championship by the 29-year-old, before further cementing himself as a Premier League star on Merseyside.

Armstrong will hope he can live up to his own hype down the line, with both the 18-year-old and Dibling up Moyes’ sleeve, making the future look very rosy at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, away from the short-term heroics served up by man of the hour Grealish.

Everton on verge of £17m move for Doucoure-esque "difference-maker"

This could be a brilliant signing for the Blues.

By
Henry Jackson

Sep 1, 2025

It wouldn’t be a summer transfer window if Chelsea were not extremely busy, would it?

This summer, the Blues splashed over £300m on nine new senior recruits, six of whom are attackers.

Well, the recent 5-1 demolition of West Ham emphasised the attacking potential that Enzo Maresca’s side possesses, but do they have a slight issue at centre-forward, one that a Cobham graduate sold for £34m could’ve fixed had he stayed?

Chelsea's striker conundrum

During Chelsea’s controversial 2-0 West London derby victory over Fulham last weekend, Liam Delap hobbled off in the 14th minute due to a hamstring injury, and this had quite the ripple effect.

At the same time, Nicolas Jackson was in Bavaria finalising a move to Bayern Munich, only for Chelsea to pull the plug on the move, despite having frozen out the Senegalese international since the Club World Cup, saying that they could not let him go.

Jackson’s agent, Ali Barat, released an angry statement and, in the end, he did complete his move to Bayern, with the Bundesliga champions paying an extortionate £14m loan fee, with a £56.2m obligation to buy having been agreed.

Instead, the Blues decided to recall Marc Guiu from his loan at Sunderland, the Spaniard having seen just 103 minutes of action for the Black Cats, scoring against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup, with Chelsea having to pay a penalty fee, cutting short one of the shortest loan spells in Premier League history.

It remains to be seen how long Delap will actually be sidelined for, while the returning Guiu is far from guaranteed minutes, given that Maresca has João Pedro, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estêvão Willian, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Tyrique George and others from which to choose.

Nevertheless, this whole chaotic and messy situation could’ve been avoided had Chelsea kept hold of a Cobham academy graduate once compared to the club’s greatest-ever centre-forward.

Chelsea's ideal Liam Delap back-up was sold in 2021

Tammy Abraham joined Chelsea at the age of seven, but certainly had to work hard for his place in the first team at Stamford Bridge.

Following loan spells at Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa, scoring 48 goals in 78 EFL Championship appearances, his breakthrough came once Frank Lampard was appointed manager in 2019.

Abraham was Chelsea’s top scorer in 2019/20 with 18 goals, including 15 in the Premier League, before bagging 12 the following campaign, part of Thomas Tuchel’s team that won the Champions League against Manchester City at Estádio do Dragão.

That summer though, the England international was sold to Roma for £42m which makes him the fourth most expensive Chelsea academy sale of modern times, behind Mason Mount, Ian Maatsen and Conor Gallagher.

He then netted 27 goals during his first season with the Giallorossi, winning the inaugural Conference League, before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the final day of the season against Torino, which rather hampered his progress.

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Now 27, he spent last season on loan at AC Milan, scoring ten times for the Rossoneri, two of which came against Roma in the Coppa Italia, before joining Beşiktaş on loan back in July.

Well, Abraham has made a bright start to life in İstanbul, scoring six goals in eight appearances for the Black Eagles, averaging a goal every 108 minutes, including a hat-trick against St Patrick’s Athletic in a Conference League qualifier in Dublin.

At his best, speaking after a Champions League victory over Lille, Rio Ferdinand compared Abraham to Chelsea’s greatest-ever striker, asserting that much of what he produced was “Didier Drogba-esque”, praising his “hold-up play” while highlighting his “magnificent touch” and beautiful finish for his goal at Stade Pierre Mauroy.

But how do his statistics compare to those of Delap? Let’s find out.

2025/26

6

0

2024/25

10

13

2023/24

1

8

2022/23

9

4

2021/22

27

0

2020/21

12

0

2019/20

18

N/A

2018/19

26

N/A

As the table documents, given that Delap is only 22 years old, he has only ever scored 25 senior goals, yet to prove himself as a regular goalscorer, even if bagging 12 in the Premier League for a very poor Ipswich side is a noteworthy achievement.

Abraham on the other hand, aside from campaigns massively blighted by injury, has been consistent in front of goal, reaching double figures in five of the last seven full seasons, including surpassing 25 goals for both Aston Villa and Roma, making a blistering start to his Beşiktaş career last month too.

So, while Delap, who is five years younger, clearly has greater potential, Abraham would certainly have proved to be a capable deputy, given their stylistic similarities too, both physical penalty box presences who like to stay within the width of the area.

Thus, for however long Delap is on the sidelines, Abraham would’ve offered the perfect cover.

Not Palmer: Chelsea hit gold on sensation who's worth way more than Simons

The international ace has been brilliant for Chelsea and Enzo Maresca.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 5, 2025

Nottingham Forest are reshaping their squad to prepare for their first season in Europe in almost 30 years. Following their 7th-place finish in the Premier League and Crystal Palace’s demotion to the Europa Conference League, Forest will be one of the two English sides in this year’s Europa League.

The club have made a number of big signings this summer, including Dan Ndoye from Bologna and Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha, both from Botafogo. The trio have arrived for a combined £62.8 million.

Forest are now also pushing for Manchester City youngsters James McAtee and Rico Lewis in the hopes of bolstering their squad depth ahead of a packed fixture list, while talks have also been opened for Douglas Luiz and a deal is nearly complete for Ipswich attacker Omari Hutchinson.

There are only so many spots in the dressing room however, leading to some exits in the coming days and weeks.

Miguel to return to Brazil a year on from Forest move

Reports from Brazil, via Sports Witness, have indicated that Carlos Miguel will soon be on his way back to Brazil and that a deal is “close to the finish line”. Miguel only joined Forest from Corinthians last summer, with Forest spending £3.4 million on the transfer and £15,000 a week in wages on the 6 foot 8 goalkeeper.

This spell in the Brazilian Serie A will be spent at Palmeiras, who currently sit four points behind league leaders Flamengo, who have a game in hand. The Brazilian league runs on a different schedule from the European leagues, with the season starting in March and ending in December.

The Palmeiras manager has reportedly already informed the club’s two current senior goalkeepers that they will be falling down the pecking order once Miguel arrives.

While Miguel’s time in England has been subdued, only having made three appearances, there is already excitement in Brazil about his arrival. Brazilian journalist João Paulo Cappellanes predicted that Miguel will start for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, referring to him as a “beast” and a “miracle worker”, citing his stature and “huge wingspan”.

Forest's new goalkeeper cup plan

While his appearances for Forest were few and far between, when he did play, it was in the cups. Of the three cup games he featured in, he had to come off injured in one of them, meaning that fans were deprived of seeing him in the penalty shootout against Exeter City.

A potential replacement for Miguel has already signed for the club in Angus Gunn. Gunn arrived on a free from Norwich City and may be the keeper primarily used in rotation with Matz Sels, as the club have also sold Matt Turner.

Gunn has been Norwich’s choice keeper for the last three seasons, so he will face a personal mental test adjusting to not playing week in week out. Last season, Gunn underperformed against his Xg, conceding 5 goals more than he was predicted to. However, he positively stood out in some key stats, as he didn’t have a single error leading to a goal in the league last season, and he was in the top 8% of keepers for pass accuracy.

Overall, Gunn looks like he’ll be a reliable alternative to Miguel and Sels when called upon.

Crystal Palace are making progress in the transfer market and have now put forward an approach to a two-time Premier League winner in the final days of the window, according to reports.

Crystal Palace look to retain Marc Guehi amid potential incomings

Marc Guehi is the man in focus at Selhurst Park after Eberechi Eze’s exit, and it remains to be seen if the England international will stay or join his compatriot by completing a move away before the window closes.

With his contract expiring next year, Liverpool are in the frame to land Guehi and Manchester City are also reportedly eyeing a late swoop to tempt the former Chelsea man north amid a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding his future.

Nevertheless, there is some positive news for Crystal Palace fans to sink their teeth into, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed on X that the Eagles are closing in on Villarreal star Yeremy Pino for a club record fee.

He stated on X: “Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign Yeremy Pino from Villarreal, exclusive story from last week confirmed. Negotiations underway between clubs to get the deal done asap, #CPFC pushing. Fee could be close to €50m.”

Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss has been a long-term Eagles target, but it remains to be seen if Oliver Glasner decides to bite before the close of play in the market, where more players will begin to become available over the coming days.

Crystal Palace want to complete £40m double deal to replace Eberechi Eze

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1 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 25, 2025

Either way, there is an inevitability that supporters will see incomings at Selhurst Park, and recent developments indicate that Crystal Palace have got the ball rolling over a late swoop for a defender who has led a distinguished career path.

Crystal Palace make approach for Manchester City's Manuel Akanji

Per Sky Sports News on X, Crystal Palace have made an approach to land Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, who they believe could be an ideal replacement if Guehi were to move on this summer.

Defensive reinforcements will be paramount should that sequence of events occur, and the Switzerland international could be available for a cut-price fee due to his contract at the Etihad Stadium being set to expire in 2027.

Labelled “perfect” by Pep Guardiola, Akanji made 40 appearances last campaign for the Citizens, registering two assists, though he is yet to feature under the Catalan boss this term and has fallen down the pecking order.

The 30-year-old may now be set for a new challenge after three years in Manchester and Crystal Palace could be the ideal environment for regular minutes in the prime of his career, especially if Guehi is to depart by next Monday.

Newcastle United are facing a pivotal summer as they brace for the potential departure of star striker Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international, who has rapidly become a fan favourite since arriving on Tyneside, has made it clear that he is open to a move away, and Liverpool are ready to test Newcastle’s resolve with what could be a British-record bid.

Isak’s absence from the club’s pre-season tour of Southeast Asia, attributed to a “minor thigh issue”, has coincided with reports of a breakdown in contract talks.

Newcastle were keen to offer him improved terms, but Isak is believed to have asked for £300k per week, a demand that far exceeds the club’s current wage structure.

Though the Magpies maintain that Isak is not for sale, Liverpool’s growing interest, and Isak’s own openness to the move, has prompted Newcastle to begin preparations for life without him.

In that scenario, they would need a striker who not only shares some of Isak’s traits but also has the potential to grow into an elite Premier League forward.

Newcastle looking at Benjamin Sesko alternatives

According to GIVEMESPORT, one of the candidates to fill that role is Loïs Openda, the Belgian forward currently playing for RB Leipzig. The Magpies are believed to be ‘exploring’ a move for the striker.

Transfer Focus

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

While the club have also expressed interest in Leipzig teammate Benjamin Šeško, Openda offers a more attainable option. One who, despite operating in a struggling side last season, demonstrated the kind of raw output and energy that Newcastle value highly.

Former Club Brugge manager Philippe Clement, who worked with Openda during his development, labelled him “super-fast”, as well as “combative” during difficult spells – precisely the kind of character Newcastle’s recruitment department seeks.

His contract at Leipzig runs until 2028, and a deal won’t be cheap, especially given Club Brugge’s 12.5% sell-on clause.

However, with Leipzig likely to part with Xavi Simons, while Šeško has a much higher price tag, Openda may be the more available of the two.

How Openda compares to Isak

Openda’s playing style is defined by pace, aggression, and sharp movement. While he doesn’t match Isak’s height (1.77m vs. Isak’s 1.92m), he brings a directness that can stretch defences and a physicality that belies his frame.

He’s a centre-forward by trade but is comfortable drifting out wide. Ideal for Howe’s system, which demands positional flexibility in transition.

Statistically, there’s more overlap with Isak than one might expect, with the pair deemed to be similar players among their European peers, as per FBref. According to the data site, Openda averaged 2.82 shots per 90 minutes last season in the Bundesliga to Isak’s 3.10 in the Premier League.

His shots on target per 90 (1.14) and shot-on-target percentage (40.3%) closely mirror Isak’s (1.34 and 43.2% respectively). While Isak recorded more non-penalty goals (19 vs. 9) and expected goals (17.2 vs. 8.2), that comes in the context of Newcastle’s more cohesive attack compared to Leipzig’s disappointing season, which ended with a 7th-place finish and early Champions League exit.

Where Openda truly stands out is in his mentality and off-the-ball work – qualities Howe prizes.

While his defensive stats are modest, just 0.07 tackles in the final third per 90, his pressing intensity and recovery runs have drawn praise from Bundesliga observers. He’s also adept at attacking space in behind, a trait that fits Newcastle’s counter-attacking DNA under Howe.

That said, Openda is far from the finished product. His passing accuracy (63.8%) lags behind Isak’s (75.3%), and he averages fewer progressive passes, carries, and successful take-ons per 90.

With his flaws comes room for growth. Under Howe, a coach known for improving attacking players, those gaps could narrow quickly.

At 25, Openda is entering his prime, and with 27 caps for Belgium already under his belt, he has experience at the highest level.

The Premier League isn’t unfamiliar territory for clubs tracking him either. Aston Villa and Leicester City have previously monitored the Belgian, but neither made a formal approach.

Now, Newcastle appear to be in the strongest position – and in the most urgent need.

While Openda may not yet have Isak’s polish or reputation, he brings a skill set that could flourish under the right guidance. His pace, directness, and goal threat are real, and paired with the right supply line, he could be a devastating outlet in the Premier League.

He’s not an exact copy of Isak, but if they do lose their star striker to Liverpool, Loïs Openda represents a logical and exciting step forward.

More prolific than Wissa & Sesko: Newcastle plot move to sign £40m "menace"

Newcastle United target Ligue 1 striker after summer transfer setbacks

By
Will Miller

Jul 24, 2025

Arsenal’s pre-season is on the horizon, and technical director Andrea Berta is now pushing forward to complete Mikel Arteta’s squad well ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Smart signings have been made in central midfielder Christian Norgaard (pending the completion of his medical) and Kepa Arrizabalaga, who will be expected to play back-up to David Raya between the sticks.

Furthermore, Martin Zubimendi’s arrival will add genuine star quality to the middle of the park, the Real Sociedad maestro coveted by many of Europe’s top outfits in recent years due to his intelligent, deep-lying midfield performances.

However, we’re yet to see Arteta welcome some new forwards to the fold. Heading into the summer market, this would have unanimously have been agreed to be the Gunners’ chief objective.

It hasn’t happened yet, but expect a flurry of movement in the coming weeks.

Arsenal's offensive transfer plans

Arsenal’s centre-forwards shortlist is comprised of four parts: Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Ollie Watkins, Alexander Isak.

The latter’s exorbitant price tag likely puts him out of reach, but the English giants desperately need a new number nine, and it’s likely one of the four will arrive at the Emirates soon.

How Arsenal's striker targets compare in 2024/25.

Sesko and Gyokeres are the frontrunners, with it revealed by David Ornstein on Sunday that the Swede “only wants” Arsenal now that Sporting and the Gunners are locked in advanced talks concerning a move.

However, Arteta is set on signing more than just a new frontman as he looks to bring silverware back to Arsenal next season, five years on from the club’s last triumph.

Chelsea’s Noni Madueke has emerged as a top target for the club. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that contacts between the clubs are set to take place for the versatile winger, with personal terms having seemingly been agreed.

However, there’s another Premier League star on the cards in north London who’s been riding the crest of a wave of late.

Arsenal pushing to sign Premier League star

As per Football Transfers, Arsenal are internally weighing up an official bid for Crystal Palace hero Eberechi Eze, who scored the winning goal as his side defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May.

The Londoners are felt to have taken their curiosity up a notch after cooling their interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, and Eze has a £68m release clause that the Eagles expect to be met.

Kay has revealed that the 26-year-old “wants to join Arsenal”, his close friendship with Bukayo Saka factoring in. Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the England international.

Why Arsenal want Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace have been a mainstay in the Premier League since achieving promotion in 2013. For over a decade, they have been regarded as an entertaining and stable club, but Eze turned them into something greater with his driven finish against City at Wembley.

Five years earlier, he joined from the Championship’s Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m. The maverick’s rise has been an incredible thing, having now bloomed into the “superstar” that analyst Ben Mattinson had crowned him as over a year ago.

An electric attacking midfielder with a tendency to drift over to the left, Eze could prove to be Arsenal’s own version of Florian Wirtz, with the German sensation joining Liverpool in a British-record £116m deal this summer.

Wirtz’s remarkable blend of vision, intelligence and technical quality make him a one-of-a-kind playmaker, and while he’s not a carbon copy, Eze has the skill set to mirror that of the Premier League champions’ new talisman.

The data certainly suggests the Three Lions man could bring his own firebrand style to the Emirates. As per FBref, Eze ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across the 2024/25 English top-flight season for shots taken, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for ball recoveries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

In this way, we can observe that the Palace star, ever-improving, could be a “magician” – as he has been dubbed by pundit Micah Richards – of similar proportions for Arteta’s title-chasing side.

Eberechi Eze’s Crystal Palace by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
24/25	43 (40)	14	11
23/24	31 (26)	11	6
22/23	40 (30)	10	4
21/22	19 (7)	1	1
20/21	36 (31)	3	6
Data via Transfermarkt

In a similar vein, Wirtz, 22, has been described as a “genius” in the past by his former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who had drawn notice to his Mesut Ozil-esque qualities.

But it’s not just the Liverpool star’s ability on the ball, his faculty for a fleet-footed surge or a thunderous strike, but his physicality too.

Luckily, Eze would bring similar athletic abilities to Arteta’s door, having averaged 4.8 successful duels, 1.1 tackles and four ball recoveries per Premier League match last term, as per Sofascore.

Given the existing options in Arsenal’s first team, it feels like Eze could be a game-changer, someone arriving with fresh ideas and a different style of quality to open up a dimension that was lacking last term.

It’s easy to blame the club’s issues across the 2024/25 campaign on the lack of a focal frontman, but the £100k-per-week Palace star could have made a world of difference too.

There’s an early sense that the Premier League title, sure to be tighter next year, will be determined, or at least influenced, by moments of magic, players of unique ability who can drive their side toward an extra three points here or a rousing draw at the most ominous enemy ground there.

In any case, Arsenal fans have plenty to look forward to next season. If Berta can oversee the signing of Eze along with a first-rate central striker and maybe another left winger too, there’s every chance Arteta could lead the Gunners to glory.

Arsenal's next Auba: Berta opens talks for "one of the best CFs in Europe"

Arsenal are interested in signing a new centre-forward this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 4, 2025

Sunderland are back by popular demand and are now closing in on a statement signing to bolster their engine room, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Sunderland plan ambitious moves ahead of Premier League return

Ambition is the watchword for Regis Le Bris, as his side prepare to do battle in the Premier League and avoid the unfortunate fates of many newly-promoted sides over the last few years.

Looking to add solidity between the sticks, Sunderland are reportedly close to bringing in OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, which may cast some doubt on Anthony Patterson’s long-term future as number one.

Journalist Loic Jego added some context to the situation on social media platform X, stating: “Imminent agreement between OGC Nice and Sunderland for the transfer of Marcin Bulka! A deal facilitated notably by the good relationship between Franck Haise and Regis Le Bris.”

Moving on, Sunderland are also interested in Empoli defender Saba Goglichidze. However, Nottingham Forest and the Black Cats’ arch-rivals Newcastle United are also looking to land the Georgian.

Habib Kieta could strengthen Le Bris’ midfield if the Wearside giants can come to an agreement with Clermont Foot, though he is one of many names that could arrive if circumstances align in their favour.

Romano: Sunderland in talks to sign "superb" player loved by Luis Enrique

The Black Cats are in the hunt for a new stopper.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 26, 2025

Steel is necessary to make Sunderland a difficult outfit to take on, with their form at the Stadium of Light likely to be decisive in whether they manage to avoid the drop in their first season back in the top-flight since 2017.

Enjoying a full-circle moment after years in the doldrums, they could now be about to make a headline addition ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Romano: Sunderland set to sign Strasbourg's Habib Diarra

Taking to social media platform X, Romano, echoing other reports, has also confirmed that Sunderland have agreed a package worth just over £30 million plus add-ons to sign Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra.

Delivering his trademark ‘Here We Go’ tagline, the Senegal international’s current employers will include a sell-on clause in the deal, and he is now set for a medical in the North East.

Dubbed “magnificent” by Liam Rosenior, Diarra registered four goals and five assists in 36 appearances across all competitions last term as Strasbourg secured a place in the Europa Conference League.

Making his presence known in a variety of roles across the engine room, the 21-year-old won 99 duels on Ligue 1 duty and also created 27 chances, illustrating that he can perform several functions.

Sunderland appear to have pulled off a coup should the deal go through without a dramatic last-minute hitch, and supporters will hope for more of the same on the recruitment front over the next few months.