While they finally saw their team lift a significant honour in the Europa League, we reckon most Tottenham Hotspur fans are happy to see the back of this season.

For example, away from their continental success, the North Londoners finished all the way down in 17th place in the Premier League and failed to get past the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.

So, whether Ange Postecoglou keeps his job or not, Daniel Levy and Co need to do all they can to bring in the right players this summer, players who can help them rise up the table and put in a good showing in the Champions League next season.

Fortunately, the club seem to be on the same page, as reports are now linking the North Londoners with an incredible talent who could be their answer to Manchester United’s seemingly imminent signing of Bryan Mbeumo.

Tottenham transfer news

Back in the January transfer window, Spurs were one of several Premier League sides quite heavily linked with a move for Mbeumo, and while nothing came of it, the links didn’t go away.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, the Brentford star was still being touted for a move to N17 as recently as last month, but then this week, all hopes of the North Londoners securing the Cameroonian’s signature evaporated.

On Monday evening, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that despite interest from other sides, including Tottenham, the 25-year-old now wants to join the Red Devils.

While missing out on a player as talented as the former Troyes gem is never ideal, the good news is that the Lilywhites have now been linked with another sensational talent compared to him: Xavi Simons.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are one of several teams interested in signing the RB Leipzig star.

The report claims that the North Londoners made contact with the player’s camp in January and that they’ll have to compete with Arsenal, Chelsea, and potentially Liverpool should they opt to move ahead with their interest.

The Dutchman is valued at around £65m by Leipzig, so while it would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Tottenham’s answer to Mbeumo.

How Simons compares to Mbeumo

So before getting into a couple of the other reasons why Spurs should be looking to sign Simons this summer, it’s important to examine this comparison to Mbeumo and where it comes from.

It stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and in this instance, has come to the conclusion that the Brentford star is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Leipzig gem across the last 365 days.

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, expected assists, shots and shots on target, goal-creating actions, tackles won, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Simons & Mbeumo
Statistic per 90	Simons	Mbeumo
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.48	0.42
Progressive Carries	3.56	3.43
Shots	2.09	2.08
Shots on Target	0.96	0.90
Expected Assists	0.25	0.25
Goal-Creating Actions	0.50	0.53
Tackles Won	0.88	0.82
Successful Take-Ons	1.38	1.37
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

On top of their statistical similarities, the 22-year-old “pocket rocket,” as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, could also have the same effect on the North Londoners that so many expect the Bees ace to have on United.

For example, despite missing some of the campaign with an ankle injury, the Amsterdam-born dynamo was able to rack up a seriously impressive haul of 11 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances for the German outfit.

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.73 games for a team that struggled more than most expected this season.

Finally, in addition to his ability in and around goal, the 26-capped international is positionally versatile and is more than capable of playing off either wing, in attacking midfield and even as a centre-forward if need be.

Ultimately, missing out on Mbeumo isn’t ideal, but in Simons, Spurs could have their own goalscoring superstar on their hands, so Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

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As Manchester United look to balance their books this summer amid early incomings, Al-Nassr could now reportedly offer INEOS their biggest payday of the window in pursuit of an attacking ace.

Man Utd readying summer clear-out

With Matheus Cunha already signed and Bryan Mbeumo reportedly likely to follow suit, Manchester United will have little choice but to clear some room in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

In what feels like a never-ending cycle, the Red Devils must rebuild once again and, in doing so, show the door to any unwanted stars in a ruthless summer plan.

Among those heading for the exit door is likely to be Rasmus Hojlund. The struggling striker has never truly made his mark at Old Trafford, despite costing an eye-watering £72m in 2023. Now, two years on, Inter Milan have reportedly come calling for his signature in a deal that could eventually cost around £38m.

Whether Hojlund, himself, accepts a summer departure may be another question, though. The young forward told Danish media when questioned about his Manchester United future this week: “I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United. I’m looking forward to going on a summer vacation, and then I’m fully dedicated to the project that’s underway.

“I know I can’t get much out of reading things. I know what the facts are, and that is that I have a contract with Manchester United until 2030. I expect to play there, so I’m just getting ready for some summer vacation and then hopefully a good pre-season.”

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Whilst Hojlund is keen to stay put, however, the same can’t be said for another struggling Man United star, who could yet hand the Red Devils an impressive financial boost on his way out.

Al Nassr now eyeing Garnacho swoop

One player who has looked almost certain to be heading for the exit door ever since Amorim arrived is Alejandro Garnacho. In Amorim’s first Manchester derby, the Argentine found himself dropped alongside Marcus Rashford. The latter soon left on loan and went on to thrive at Aston Villa. Garnacho, however, stayed put but things have not become better in recent months.

Now, according to The Mirror, Al-Nassr could hand INEOS their biggest payday of the summer by signing Garnacho. The Saudi giants have been pursuing a move to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool, but may turn towards the £50,000-a-week winger if the Premier League champions remain reluctant to sell their South American star.

If that does prove to be the case, Amorim may well be glad to see the back of the winger after Garnacho publicly disagreed with his decision to start Mason Mount in his place in the Europa League final.

Since then, Amorim has reportedly told the young winger to find a new club in front of the rest of his teammates in a public dressing down. Unless anything dramatic happens at this stage, Garnacho’s exit is one that would be best for all parties.

Everton manager David Moyes is aiming to build a side that will be able to secure a top-half finish in the Premier League in their first season at the club’s new stadium.

It is the start of a new era for the Merseyside outfit and what better way to commemorate it by emerging from their recent malaise and moving forward under Moyes.

Much will depend on the transfer business that the club manage to pull off this summer. So far, only Carlos Alcaraz has joined the Toffees. Even then, the South American starlet spent the last six months of the 2024/25 campaign on loan. Therefore, he is hardly a brand-new arrival.

A few days ago, it was reported that Everton were in talks to sign Fulham right-back Kenny Tete on a free transfer.

Everton’s Premier League finishes under David Moyes

Season

Final placing

2024/25

13th

2012/13

6th

2011/12

7th

2010/11

7th

2009/10

8th

2008/09

5th

2007/08

5th

2006/07

6th

2005/06

11th

2004/05

4th

2003/04

17th

2002/03

7th

2001/02

15th

Via Transfermarkt

Moyes is keen on bringing in another full-back, especially on the right side of the defence, and with Tete available for nothing, it is a move that makes perfect sense.

Another player who the club are targeting is Villarreal centre-forward Thierno Barry, who enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2024/25.

Considering Everton scored just 42 goals throughout the Premier League last term, the lowest of any club outside the relegation zone, improving in the attacking department is a major priority for Moyes.

As such, signing Barry could turn into a solid piece of business, especially as he looks ready to take the next step in his career.

Why Everton must sign Thierno Barry

Last season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Armando Broja netted just 13 goals between them, highlighting that this area in the squad needs to be vastly improved.

Barry could be the perfect solution for Moyes. Indeed, the Frenchman made a total of 41 appearances for the La Liga club last term, scoring 19 goals and registering four assists in the process.

He also shone across various metrics when compared to his positional peers in the Spanish top flight last season. Not only did the striker rank in the top 25% for non-penalty goals (0.39) per 90, but he also ranked in the top 27% for total shots (2.75) and in the top 17% for aerials won (3.84) per 90.

Although they might not be a spell-binding array of statistics, considering it was his debut season in Spain, it suggests that Barry is only going to get better and better as time goes on.

The striker has spent the previous few weeks representing France at the U21 European Championships. Across his five games at the competition, Barry has scored once, averaged two shots per game and created two big chances, despite averaging just 37 minutes per game for France.

His future looks bright indeed. Should he make the move to the Toffees, could he be a success on Merseyside? Only time will tell on that front.

Moyes will be keen to supplement the signing of Barry by adding further attacking talent this summer, especially those who can help make the French starlet even better.

Might he possibly be eyeing up a move for an Englishman who impressed in the Premier League last season?

Latest Everton transfer news

While Barry is the main attacking target, Moyes has also shown interest in Timothy Weah and James McAtee this summer already.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Both players would improve the club’s attacking options, without a shadow of a doubt, although they may cost the club a pretty penny.

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are now exploring a potential move for Ipswich Town attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson this summer.

Amid Ipswich’s relegation, several clubs, including the Toffees, Brentford and West Ham, are waiting to make a move for the player, who is valued at €28m (£24m) according to Football Transfers.

The Tractor Boys may have struggled last term, but Hutchinson was one of the few bright sparks, and it is likely he will depart.

Moyes must make sure he is at the front of the queue to sign the talented Englishman, especially as he could be a dream signing for Barry.

Why Omari Hutchinson could be a dream for Thierno Barry

Last season, Hutchinson played 31 Premier League games for Ipswich, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists.

While it wasn’t enough to prevent their relegation, he impressed in large spells, which is now leading to attention in the transfer market.

Aside from his goal contributions, Hutchinson also created six big chances, averaged one key pass per game and succeeded with 1.6 dribbles per game. This is made even more impressive by the fact Ipswich averaged just 40% possession across their 38 league games last term.

It proves that when the Englishman had the ball, he was willing to make things happen for his teammates, indicating that he would be a dream signing for Barry.

Not only would the youngster create chances for the Frenchman, but he would also be able to consistently get into dangerous positions in the final third.

Labelled “dazzling” by Statman Dave in the Championship, he spent the early part of the summer helping England U21s reach the final of the European Championship, playing a key role in their success.

Hutchinson has started four of England’s five matches and, as well as grabbing an assist, he has also created three big chances, averages 1.8 key passes and succeeds with an impressive 2.2 dribbles per game at the tournament.

If England go on to defeat Germany in the final, it will largely be due to Hutchinson’s impressive performances.

Moyes will surely have one eye on the final this weekend, especially as the club have joined the list of potential suitors for his signature.

Getting a move for Barry over the line will be his priority firstly. But once this deal is signed, sealed and delivered, lining up Hutchinson will be on the agenda.

It all depends on the fee Ipswich demands, but if it is reasonable, the Toffees should be all over the move. That’s for sure.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is very keen to land one of his transfer targets before July 23, with a report this week sharing exactly why and lifting the lid on their plans to submit a new bid for the player.

He's more exciting than Zubimendi: Arsenal looking to sign £70m "superstar"

Arsenal could make an even more exciting signing than Martin Zubimendi.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2025

The Gunners will confirm their first signing of the summer very soon.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi travelled to London last week as he finalised a switch to Arsenal and put the finishing touches on his contract, while fellow Spaniard and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is also poised to join Arteta after being deemed surplus by Chelsea.

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

Both men are set to be followed by a striker too, but debate still surrounds who that might be.

Arsenal have been working on deals for both RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, as per numerous reports, including the BBC, but there is a growing belief among some media outlets that the latter is currently in pole position to join Arteta’s side.

“Sporting are going to play hardball, there’s been a fallout between Gyokeres and the club because his agent has suggested that they had a gentleman’s agreement he could leave for £60million, I think they’re looking for nearer £80m,” said talkSPORT’s Alex Crook last week.

“Arsenal are juggling both him and Benjamin Sesko, they’ve opened talks with Leipzig as well but at the moment, I would say Gyokeres looks the more likely.”

Reports in Portugal have claimed that Arsenal saw a £55 million bid rejected for Gyokeres turned down recently. However, they’re expected to go back in with another offer closer to Sporting’s valuation.

Arsenal prepare new Viktor Gyokeres bid as Mikel Arteta pushes

As per another Portuguese source, the newspaper Correio de Manha, Arsenal are “prepared to make another offer” for Gyokeres, with Arteta pushing to sign the prolific 27-year-old in time for their pre-season tour of Asia – which kicks off in Singapore against AC Milan on July 23.

So, in short, if Arsenal decide to go all in for the Sweden international over Sesko, Arteta is keen for Gyokeres to be signed within the next month, and it isn’t exactly hard to see why Coventry City’s ex-star is high on the Gunners’ transfer shortlist.

He spearheaded Rui Borges’ side to their first domestic double in two decades with an outstanding 54 goals in all competitions last season, but they face stiff competition from Man United.

Gyokeres would prefer Arsenal ahead of a move to Old Trafford, as confirmed by the likes of Fabrizio Romano, but he still hasn’t completely snubbed United either.

“Gyökeres would be open to Manchester United. There has been no formal rejection, but a deal to date has also never been at an advanced stage, despite suggestions,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on X in the last 10 days.

“United have not made any formal approach to Sporting. Swedish striker one of several striker options discussed for #MUFC. Gyökeres believes he’ll still be allowed to leave Sporting for €70m.”

Player of the Match Bumrah lauds India’s bowlers for keeping calm even as conditions eased out for batting

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-20243:15

Kirsten: ‘Pakistan made poor decisions at important phases’

Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten has put the team’s defeat down to poor decision-making, after they had “the game for 35 of 40 overs”, while Jasprit Bumrah commended the calmness shown by India’s bowling unit even though the conditions eased out for batting.”Disappointing loss, that’s for sure,” Kirsten said. “I knew 120 was not going to be an easy target. If India got only 120, it was always going to be not the easiest. But I think we had the game at 72 for 2 with six or seven overs left. Disappointing not to get across the line from the position we got ourselves into.”Kirsten was asked where the game slipped from their hands. “Decision-making,” he said. “Maybe not so great decision making. You have got the game on, run a ball, eight wickets in hand, decision making at that point. That’s the game. That’s international cricket for you. You make mistakes like that, you are going to pay. I thought we made some poor decisions at important phases of the game. I thought Rizwan played well for us. We knew it was going to be a tough wicket to bat on. We managed the chase very well but then just let it slip in the end.”Related

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Mohammad Rizwan scored 31 off 44 but fell trying to slog the first ball of a new Bumrah spell. Bumrah went on to win his second Player-of-the-Match award in two matches.”The biggest positive for us was the calmness because when we were batting in the morning, there was a lot more help,” Bumrah said. “And when we started bowling, the skies cleared up and the ball stopped seaming and there wasn’t a lot of lateral movement. So, we had to be more consistent and more accurate and we as a unit were very calm and very clear on what we wanted to do. So, we are very happy that as a unit we were able to contribute and created that pressure and then we were able to get the win.”Bumrah said taking the emotion out of his bowling helps him.”I was trying to focus on what is the best option over here on a wicket like this,” he said. “How do I make shot-making difficult? What are the best options for me? So that way, I try to stay in the present and focus on what I have to do. Because if I look at the outside noise, if I look at people and pressure and emotion takes over, then things don’t really work for me. So, I was trying to do that, trying to create my own bubble, and trying to focus on that and try to put my best foot forward.”Kirsten knows Pakistan’s chances of making it to the Super Eight now rely on other teams’ results, but he also knows they need to improve a lot to even rely on other teams to push them through.”It wasn’t a small total on that wicket,” Kirsten said. “It was a good total. We knew that. But we have still got a chance in this tournament. We are still hopeful that things can play into our hands. Obviously we have got to play a lot better cricket than we are playing. It just comes down to executing our skills together as batters and bowlers. We had that game for 35 of the 40 overs. We played good cricket, we did everything we needed to.”Kirsten said he needed some time to start getting the best out of the players. “Everyone’s responsible,” he said. “We accept the loss and we take the heat because the team has not done well. And we will do what we can to try and rectify it. I have been here for 12 days so it is a new journey for me understanding the players that are going to win games for Pakistan, which is what you are looking for.”

Newcastle United hold plenty of appeal for prospective recruits this summer and they could now be on the verge of landing a key target, according to a report.

Newcastle United make inroads during the summer window

There are plenty of transfer stories beginning to circulate in the North East after Antonio Cordero’s arrival from Malaga was confirmed earlier this week, and it remains to be seen where Eddie Howe will decide surgery is necessary to enrich his squad.

According to Sky Sports reporter Phil Dorsett, Newcastle remain keen on Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro, and it is mooted that the former Bournemouth boss is keen to strengthen his forward line regardless of whether Alexander Isak or Callum Wilson depart.

“NUFC interested in Joao Pedro, who has admirers in PL and Europe. Big summer for Newcastle – Callum Wilson out of contract, and widespread interest in Alexander Isak – who nufc don’t want to sell. But Howe wants another striker, departures or not. And Pedro is an option.”

Defensively, talks have been held to bring Bayern Munich star Kim Min-jae to Tyneside. His asking price is said to have dropped from £42 million to £29.5 million, but Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are also waiting in the wings.

Bolstering the heart of his backline has to be a priority for Howe amidst Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles coming towards the latter stages of their career.

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Lloyd Kelly has left on a permanent deal to join Juventus worth £20 million. Meanwhile, Jamal Lewis has been released by the club as per their annual retained list.

With spaces to fill, Newcastle have now turned the tables and are closing in on a landmark signing, per recent reports.

Newcastle reportedly close to signing Marc Guehi

According to Portuguese newspaper outlet A Bola, Newcastle United have more or less completed a deal to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, which has prompted the Eagles to target Sporting Clube de Portugal’s Ousmane Diomande as a direct replacement.

There is no mention of the fee that it would take for the Magpies to pull Guehi away from the FA Cup holders, but the report states Palace have “lost Guehi to Newcastle”, and he is thought to be valued at around £50m.

Similar players to Marc Guehi – FBRef

Trevoh Chalobah

Chelsea

Oumar Solet

Udinese

Sinaly Diomande

Auxerre

Waldemar Anton

Borussia Dortmund

Once again a lynchpin for Crystal Palace during a productive campaign under Oliver Glasner, the Abidjan-born man made 44 appearances across the recent season, registering three goals and two assists.

Maintaining an element of dominance, Guehi won 168 duels in the English top-flight and continues to show up on a consistent basis for the Eagles, piquing the interest of clubs on the lookout for solidity.

Newcastle have long been at the front of the queue for his signature, and it appears they may finally be close to pushing a deal over the line, making this one to keep an eye on over the next few days.

Gary Kirsten has issued a stark warning to his players that they face being left behind by the modern game if they don’t improve, as the repercussions after two straight losses in the T20 World Cup 2024 begin.Pakistan lost to India in New York on Sunday in a tight game, failing to chase a target of 120. That, coupled with a shock Super Over loss to USA in their opening game in Dallas last week, means their chances of progressing to the Super Eight are already out of their own hands. For Kirsten, who began officially as Pakistan’s white-ball coach a week before the tournament began, the start could not have been any rockier.Related

• Chance for Canada to shut the door on Pakistan's stumbling World Cup campaign

• Bumrah spearheads India's defence of 119; Pakistan on brink of elimination

• Kirsten bemoans Pakistan's 'poor decision-making'

• Old debate, simple answer: Pakistan's batting just not very good

Asked after the loss to India whether the team had put themselves under too much pressure, Kirsten agreed.”You are pretty much spot-on,” he said. “These guys are all international players and they’re aware that when they’re not performing at their best that there’s going to be pressure put on them. That’s understandable, but a lot of these guys have played a lot of T20 cricket around the world over many, many years and it’s really up to them to decide how they’re going to take their games forward.”Kirsten didn’t take names, but Pakistan have retained a strong T20 core through the last three World Cup campaigns now. Seven of the XI that played in New York against India were part of the team that lost the semi-final to Australia in November 2021. Six from yesterday’s XI were in the side that lost to England in the final a year later at the MCG.The scrutiny will fall on the captain Babar Azam and his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan, each of whom have top-scored in the two games but with innings that divided opinion for their strike rate and notable lack of intent. Their approach has been consistent through the three campaigns and though Pakistan experimented with the opening partnership in the run-up to the event, Kirsten said there was “concern around how we can put our innings together and structure it”.Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf have also been part of both previous campaigns and though the bowling has mostly held up its end of the bargain – and came in for praise from Kirsten yesterday – the decline in Shadab’s legspin has hurt Pakistan.Kirsten acknowledged that he still needed time to take better stock of the situation but was clear that players needed to evolve as the format did.”As I said, I’ve only been here a handful of days. I’m having a look into the environment and looking at what the issues are. I look at these players, I’ve watched them play many, many years on TV and kind of getting to know them, they’re fantastic guys. They’re playing for their country, so they really are pumped. I mean, there’s a lot of very disappointed guys in the change room now.”I think for me the most important thing for every international player is that you continue growing and developing as a player, and understanding what the demands of international competition are. The game is changing pretty much every year. So, if you’re not up to it and you’re not improving, you’re going to get found out somewhere.”Former captain Wasim Akram, who was commentating on the game, went further and called for a clear-out from the current team. Though Akram did not take names, he said the nature of the defeat meant somebody had to “bell the cat now”.”Enough is enough. We need changes now. Bring in a new team, six to seven players and then back them through losses so they can develop as a team. It’s time for the PCB chairman to take a bold step. We keep hearing [of the team] that this guy isn’t talking to that guy, or that guy isn’t talking to him. This was the best New York pitch so far, it wasn’t that difficult. How difficult was it to chase 120?”After this performance I don’t think Pakistan deserve to go into the Super Eight.”1:47

Mumtaz: PCB needs to provide leadership skills to players

Shahid Afridi, another former captain, was also far from pleased with what he saw. “The Pakistan batting line-up simply isn’t clicking and what we saw was a weak display of power hitting,” Afridi wrote in his column for the ICC. “For several reasons, this game [against India] wasn’t about playing aggressively. But strategy and smart cricket were required to get the run chase over the line, and those qualities are exactly what Pakistan lacked.”I think now is the time for Gary Kirsten and Babar Azam to make some changes. I would like to see Salman Ali Agha [he is not part of the T20 World Cup squad] come into the side in place of Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed to come in for Shadab Khan.”Most of all, I believe Fakhar Zaman should be promoted to open the innings alongside Mohammad Rizwan, with Babar dropping down to number three.”There are some tough conversations and choices to come but we need to remember that there is still hope: Pakistan are not out of the tournament yet.”

In what could give them an early edge ahead of their opening day battle, Manchester United have now reportedly come thundering into the race to hijack Arsenal’s deal for a £20m midfield talent.

Man Utd gearing up for opening day Arsenal clash

Ruben Amorim couldn’t have asked for a much tougher start to his first full season in charge at Manchester United with the visit of Arsenal awaiting on the opening day. The Gunners will be looking to go again in pursuit of the Premier League title and end their misery at long last and whilst their first hurdle may seem routine on paper, they could yet be up against a new-look Man United side.

The Red Devils have already welcomed Matheus Cunha and are reportedly confident that they will complete a deal to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. But they’re not done there. INEOS are looking to end this summer having made a statement of intent.

Alongside Mbeumo and Cunha, the likes of Emiliano Martinez and Hugo Ekitike could yet arrive to hand Amorim a major boost at both ends of the pitch.

It’s difficult to mention Ekitike without also mentioning top target Viktor Gyokeres, however. As Manchester United and Arsenal prepare to square off on the opening day, it is the Gunners who could land the early advantage by signing the Sporting Club star amid reports that he prefers a move to the Emirates rather than Old Trafford in the coming months.

As talented as Ekitike is, Gyokeres would undoubtedly transform Manchester United’s frontline. Alas, all signs are now pointing towards North London for the Swede who could be set to instead take Arsenal’s attack to a whole new level.

That may not be the last we see of Arsenal and United’s transfer battle, however, with both sides now reportedly jostling to sign another talented target before they meet in August.

Man Utd blistering into Agoume race

According to TeamTalk, Manchester United are now blistering into the race to sign Lucien Agoume in a move that could see INEOS hijack Arsenal’s move to sign the midfielder.

Inter approach to sign both Hojlund and "fantastic" £14m-a-year Man Utd star

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If there were any concerns that the Frenchman could be out of United’s price range, then Sevilla’s financial troubles should instantly put those to bed. As the Spanish club look to raise funds, Agoume could reportedly be available for just £20m this summer.

Praised for his “incisive” passing ability by analyst Ben Mattinson, Agoume may yet have the chance to showcase that trait in English football next season. The 23-year-old is reportedly keen to join a Premier League side which should hand Manchester United and Arsenal a major boost.

Sunderland might be without Jobe Bellingham for their nerve-wracking Premier League adventure, but at least Regis Le Bris still has Chris Rigg to call upon for now.

Amazingly, Rigg is only 18 years of age, despite featuring a colossal 47 times last season for Le Bris’ promotion-winners.

The teenage sensation has rightly garnered lots of attention from higher up suitors; therefore, with Manchester United once reportedly keen on adding the breakout Black Cats star to their star-studded camp.

However, with Bellingham gone, Sunderland must do everything in their power now to keep Rigg at the Stadium of Light for the foreseeable future.

Sunderland interested in move for Rigg 2.0

Le Bris could well land his next iteration of Rigg this summer with a new target – one who’s three years older than Rigg – now on the radar.

Indeed, as per a new report from SportsBoom, Sunderland has made some initial enquiries about landing emerging West Bromwich Albion midfielder Isaac Price.

Burnley and Portsmouth are also named as being in the conversation about snapping up the young Northern Irishman, but Sunderland’s glittering track record with up-and-coming talents might well sway Price’s decision-making to swap the West Midlands for Wearside.

Whilst Price has shown flashes of his excellence from his short stay at the Hawthorns to date, he could really find that his game is elevated by moving to the Stadium of Light.

How Price could be Le Bris' next Rigg

Whilst Rigg had been in and around the senior mix for some time before Le Bris’ arrival, he hadn’t yet captivated the Sunderland masses regularly until the ex-Lorient boss stormed through the door. It’s fair to say he now certainly has.

Rigg’s numbers for Sunderland (senior/youth) by season
Season	Games	Goals scored	Assists
24/25	47	4	1
23/24	30	4	0
22/23	17	0	2
21/22	9	2	2
Sourced by Transfermarkt

The teenager had excited fans at the Stadium of Light with his promising displays in youth circles for some time now but his first real breakout season in the senior side came just this campaign.

Amazingly, that would coincide with promotion being reached, with Rigg now desperate to prove himself in the Premier League, alongside his new potential teammate in Price who will be equally eager to cut his teeth at an elite level.

Much like the 18-year-old starlet, Price has been thrust into the spotlight from a very early age, with his debut for the Northern Ireland senior team coming when he was just 19 years of age.

This has proven to be a wise call ever since, considering the promising Baggies number 21 is up to six strikes already for his national side, despite only receiving 16 caps.

He has also shown why West Brom splashed out a rumoured £2.5m to win his services just this January, with Price managing to pick up one goal and one assist for his new employers from 15 appearances, even as their promotion hopes started to crumble.

Price’s career numbers by position
Position played in	Games	Goals	Assists
CM	60	2	2
DM	24	2	3
AM	20	0	2
RM	20	0	0
RW	2	0	0
LM	2	0	0
CF	1	0	0
RB	1	1	0
CB	1	0	0
Sourced by Transfermarkt

He could kick on even more with Le Bris by his side, therefore, having seen what the ex-Lorient boss has managed with Rigg, with Price’s flexibility to play in a whole host of positions also drawing similarities to the Red Devils-linked youngster. Last season, the 18-year-old wildly lined up as a centre-forward on five occasions.

Dubbed as “outstanding” by former teammate Asmir Begovic when Price was a wide-eyed teen himself at Everton, this could be finally the time the Pontefract-born ace proves himself in the Premier League.

Sunderland’s approach of gifting up-and-coming youngsters plenty of minutes has worked wonders in the past, with that perhaps continuing if Price joins Le Bris’ growing camp very shortly.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 17, 2025

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are hard at work behind the scenes at Ibrox as they look to cultivate a winning squad for next season.

The Light Blues have failed to win the Scottish Premiership title in each of the last four seasons, and the new boss has been brought in to turn their fortunes around.

Steven Gerrard was the last Rangers manager to lift the Premiership trophy after the Liverpool legend led the team to an incredible unbeaten season in the 2020/21 campaign.

Of course, that season was behind closed doors, though, and this meant that supporters did not get to enjoy that amazing success in the stands each week.

Martin will now be hoping to replicate that success with supporters able to enjoy it in the flesh, and he could draw inspiration from how Gerrard’s team was built.

One of the stars of that side was electric left winger Ryan Kent, who provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants that season.

Why Ryan Kent was so influential for Rangers

The former Liverpool forward was an influential figure for Gerrard at the top end of the pitch, and was trusted by the manager, as shown by his 36 starts in 38 league matches.

Kent came off the bench just once in the Premiership season, making 37 appearances in total, which shows that he was a consistent starter and reliable option for the Gers on the left flank.

The English speedster rewarded Gerrard for his faith in him by delivering terrific performances out wide for the Light Blues, leading them to the title with his haul of goals and assists.

Kent ended the campaign with a return of ten goals and nine assists to his name in the Premiership, which earned himself a place in the Premiership Team of the Season, illustrating just how impressive he was in the division.

xG

8.28

Top 11%

Goals

10

Top 9%

xA

8.17

Top 6%

Assists

9

Top 9%

Chances created

68

Top 6%

Successful dribbles

70

Top 1%

Touches in the opposition box

162

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers star was an incredibly influential forward for the team because he finished his chances efficiently, created high-quality opportunities at an impressive rate, and was a constant threat in the opposition box.

Rangers could do with another electric winger in the same mould as Kent to propel them back to the top of the Premiership next season, and they may be on the verge of finding one.

Rangers closing in on new winger

According to The Star journalist Joe Crann, Rangers are closing in on a deal to bring Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama to Ibrox this summer.

The reporter claims that a move to Glasgow is “imminent” after the 21-year-old dynamo agreed terms on a four-year contract with the Scottish giants.

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Crann claims that a fee has been agreed with the Championship side to snap up the left-sided attackers, and that they have already agreed personal terms with the French speedster.

Meanwhile, The Scottish Sun reports that the Owls sensation is valued at around £2.5m and back up Crann’s claim that the winger is closing in on a transfer to Rangers to bolster Martin’s options on the flanks.

At this moment in time, though, it remains to be known exactly how much money the Light Blues have agreed to pay for the exciting young forward, who appears to be on course to be the club’s latest addition.

Why Gassama could be the new Kent for Rangers

Martin could unearth his own version of Ryan Kent at Ibrox next season by helping the Sheffield Wednesday star to unlock his true potential on the left flank.

The 21-year-old gem is still in the early stages of his career and has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve over the years to come, which means that he should not only be judged on the numbers behind his Championship season last term.

Although, that is not to say that there were no promising signs from the French star last season, because the Owls whiz did catch the eye at times with his blistering displays.

Gassama was described as an “exciting” player by teammate Barry Bannan, and that comment is backed up by some of the data behind his performances for the Championship side.

xG

5.92

Top 16%

Goals

7

Top 14%

Shots on target

23

Top 14%

Chances created

38

Top 23%

xA

2.54

Top 32%

Assists

1

Bottom 27%

Touches in the opposition box

153

Top 6%

As you can see in the table above, the potential Rangers signing ranked highly as a goalscorer and constantly got into the opposition’s box, just as Kent did in the 2020/21 Premiership term, but the creative side of his game could be worked on at Ibrox.

Whilst these are not mind-blowing statistics, as he was only directly involved in eight goals at league level last term, Gassama’s form for PSG at youth level suggests that he has another gear to find in the future.

The impressive youngster produced a staggering 22 goals and seven assists in 27 matches for PSG’s U17 team in the 2021/22 season, along with five goals and two assists in eight games for their Youth League side.

This means that Gassama ended that season with a haul of 27 goals and nine assists in 35 games for the French giants at academy level, which is a sensational record and suggests that he has the potential to be as influential as Kent for Rangers if he can get anywhere close to those numbers at first-team level.

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It will now be down to Martin to work with him on the training pitches to help him to fulfill his potential and finally fill the hole that has been left on the wing since Kent’s departure in 2023.