All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United completed their first signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday as Joe Rodon officially joined the club on a permanent deal.

The Wales international has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Elland Road and committed his future to the Whites after spending the 2023/24 campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

A fee of £10m has reportedly been paid for the towering central defender to ensure that the star titan remains in West Yorkshire for next season and beyond.

Academy graduate Archie Gray has, in a separate transaction, signed for Spurs for a fee in the region of £40m after just one season in the first team for Leeds, which has opened up a gap at right-back and in midfield within the squad.

The summer transfer window still has just under two months left to run and this means that Daniel Farke and his team have plenty of time to dip into the market to find players to plug those gaps.

Leeds United interest in English midfielder

Rodon may not be the only player Leeds sign from Tottenham Hotspur this summer as the Whites are reportedly keen on a deal to sign another talent from the Premier League side.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Farke wants to sign former England U21 international Oliver Skipp from the Lilywhites to bolster his options in midfield.

The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit want to add him to the squad after signing Rodon from the North London team, particularly after Gray's departure.

It adds that Skipp is a big admirer of the German head coach, as they worked together during Norwich City's title success in the 2020/21 campaign, and that could give them an advantage in this transfer pursuit.

However, GIVEMESPORT reveals that the 23-year-old talent could also attract interest from the Premier League and may be hesitant to drop down to the Championship.

Spurs are also reluctant to allow him to move on from the club as Ange Postecoglou views him as a squad option who could be called upon next season, despite being behind the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matarr Sarr, and potentially Gray now too.

It is now down to Farke and his team to work hard to convince Tottenham to part ways with the English maestro and then to persuade the player to drop down to the second tier to be a part of their attempt to return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

If the ex-Canaries tactician can get a deal over the line for the right-footed metronome then he could come in as a fantastic partner for Ethan Ampadu.

Ethan Ampadu's debut season at Leeds in numbers

The Whites swooped to sign the defensive midfielder from Premier League side Chelsea on a permanent deal to anchor Farke's midfield last summer.

He started the campaign playing alongside the likes of Gray and Glen Kamara in the middle of the park but was eventually called upon at centre-back during the second half of the season due to Pascal Struijk's absence through injury.

Despite playing in different positions in either half of the term, the Welsh titan remained a consistent and impressive force in the spine of the team as they competed to secure promotion out of the Championship.

Appearances

46

Sofascore rating

7.24

Tackles and interceptions per game

2.9

Ball recoveries per game

6.9

Ground duel success rate

57%

Aerial duel success rate

63%

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old battler provided a fantastic defensive presence for Leeds throughout the campaign with his ability to make tackles, interceptions, and recoveries on a consistent basis.

He was also a monster in duels with opposition players, with a high success rate in physical contests both on the ground and in the air last term, which shows that the Welshman has the quality to dominate matches.

Struijk is due to be back from injury for pre-season and this suggests that he could return to the team alongside Rodon at the start of the campaign, which would then allow Ampadu to return to his favoured midfield role, potentially next to Skipp.

He could be a dream partner for the English midfielder as they are both defensive workhorses who can also provide progressive quality in possession.

Why Leeds should sign Oliver Skipp

Firstly, Ligue 1 side Rennes are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Kamara from the Whites and that would open up a starting spot next to Ampadu in midfield.

Secondly, Skipp is a young player, at the age of 23, with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and grow, which means that he could be brought in as an immediate starter whilst still having the potential to improve and increase in value moving forward.

The right-footed whiz has racked up 77 Premier League appearances for Spurs, and over 100 outings in all competitions for the club, and showcased his quality in and out of possession last term.

Skipp won 58% of his ground duels and completed an impressive 92% of his attempted passes across 21 appearances in the top-flight last term, which shows that he can dominate players on the deck and retain possession at a fantastic rate at the top level.

The former England youth international, who Farke once hailed as a "perfect" lad, is also a proven performer in the Championship who knows what it takes to earn promotion to the Premier League.

Pass accuracy

87.6%

88.1%

Progressive passes

4.86

5.15

Progressive carries

1.63

1.20

Tackles

2.33

1.52

Interceptions

1.17

1.39

As you can see in the table above, Skipp provided a progressive presence in the midfield as Norwich won the second division title with Farke at the helm that term.

His ability to win possession through tackles and interceptions coupled with his quality on the ball makes him a well-rounded midfielder who could star alongside Ampadu, as they are both dominant talents who could boss games for Leeds next season.

Farke could land an "exciting" Piroe upgrade for Leeds

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Therefore, Skipp, who has already worked with the manager could hit the ground running, could be a fantastic signing for the club to make after their deal to bring Rodon back.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in preseason and, having signed the incredibly exciting Archie Gray a few of weeks ago, are a couple of steps ahead of some of their rivals at the moment.

However, with less than a month to go until the Premier League kicks off, a lot can change, and if Daniel Levy wants to give Ange Postecoglou the best chance of success, he needs to bring in even more reinforcements, specifically in attack.

Fortunately, recent reports suggest that is likely to happen, as the latest star touted for a move to N17 is one of the most entertaining players in the league and has even been compared to Phil Foden.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Steve Kay via KS1TV, Tottenham have maintained a strong interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Kay claims that several other teams are interested in the Englishman, including North London rivals Arsenal, but the Lillywhites are "ahead" in the race for his signature at the moment.

The former Queens Park Rangers ace's release clause is £60m, but Kay does not expect that to be a problem for Levy and Co.

It would still represent a hefty investment from the club, but given his performances last season and the complimentary comparison to Foden, it is one worth making.

How Eze compares to Phil Foden

Now, the first thing to address here is the comparison to Foden, which can be divided into two parts.

The first is that, like the Manchester City ace, Eze is a dynamic attacker who can play out wide on the wings and in attacking midfield. Last season, he made nine starts in the former positions and 17 in the latter for Palace, while the City ace made 31 out wide and 15 as the club's ten last year.

The second, and more meaty, comparison between the two stems from FBref, who compare players in the Premier League and then create a list of the ten most comparable players for each one. In this case, they concluded that the Stockport-born dynamo is the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the 26-year-old.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.59

0.59

Progressive Carries

2.98

2.93

Shots on Target

1.45

1.51

Key Passes

2.37

2.30

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.89

1.77

The best way to see how FBref came to this conclusion is by looking at how closely the pair rank in a multitude of important underlying metrics, including non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive carries, shots on target, key passes and carries into the penalty area, all per 90.

However, while the comparison to the Premier League winner is certainly flattering, it's not the sole reason Spurs should sign the Palace "entertainer," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him; you only need to look at his form last season to find out the main reason he's worth £60m.

In 31 appearances for the Eagles, he scored 11 goals and provided six assists, which equates to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games.

If he can do that in a Palace side that only really kicked into gear following the appointment of Oliver Glasner, think of what he'd be able to do under Postecoglou.

Werner upgrade: Spurs hold talks over signing £25m star who's like Son

The talented winger would be an excellent addition to the squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 18, 2024

Ultimately, while it's undoubtedly a sizeable fee, his incredible displays in 2023/24 and complimentary comparison to Foden should be all the encouragement Spurs need that Eze would be an exceptional signing.

Leeds United missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May.

The Whites attempted to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking under head coach Daniel Farke but finished third in the second tier, just below automatic promotion, before falling short in the play-offs.

This means that the West Yorkshire side are now preparing for a second season in the Championship and have to be wary of losing their best players throughout the summer transfer window.

Teenage sensation Archie Gray has already completed a move away from Elland Road to sign for Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, with Joe Rodon returning to Leeds on a permanent deal coming the other way.

The Whites are also at risk of losing some more of their top players as it was recently reported that Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto, and Georginio Rutter are 'likely'.

Alongside the superstar names who could depart from Yorkshire, Leeds are also reportedly on the verge of selling one of their key performers from last term.

Leeds ace set to leave this month

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the club have agreed a deal with Ligue 1 side Rennes to sell defensive midfielder Glen Kamara this month.

The two teams have reached an agreement for a fee of €10m (£8.4m) and the Finland international is now set to complete an exit from the side after just one year.

Leeds swooped to sign the star from Glasgow Rangers last summer for a reported fee of £5m and are now set to make a profit of more than £3m on a player who turns 29 later this year.

That appears to be good business on paper for the Whites, purely from a financial perspective, as they are set to make money on an experienced ace, rather than an up-and-coming talent, which could then give them money to reinvest in the team.

Farke could now perfectly replace Kamara before the end of the transfer window by swooping to sign reported target Oliver Skipp from Tottenham Hotspur.

GIVEMESPORT claimed at the start of July that the club want to snap up the former England U21 international but they could struggle as Spurs are not desperate to cash in on them, due to the homegrown quota in the Premier League.

However, it was said that his relationship with Farke, who he worked with during their time together at Norwich, could help Leeds in a potential deal.

Skipp could come in as a brilliant replacement for Kamara in the middle of the park for Leeds as he can offer similar qualities at Championship level.

Glen Kamara's metronomic play for Leeds

The Finland international provided a calming and reliable presence on the ball for the Farke in the second tier during his first, and likely only, season at Elland Road.

He used his athleticism and quality to buzz around the pitch and pop passes off to control games by dictating the tempo and moving teams around to then find the team's attacking players in dangerous positions.

Kamara ranked within the top 10% of Championship midfielders for passes attempted per 90 (65.01) and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90 (6.87).

This shows that the former Rangers star, who also provided three assists in 37 league outings, is an excellent passer as he ranked highly among his positional peers at getting on the ball and progressing play with his passes.

Appearances

37

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

Ball recoveries per game

4.1

Ground duel success rate

58%

Aerial duel success rate

54%

As you can see in the table above, Kamara also provided quality out of possession for Leeds with his strong play in duels both on the deck and in the air.

The 28-year-old ace used his physicality to win the ball back multiple times per match, through tackles, interceptions, and recoveries, to cut out opposition attacks.

These statistics show that he was an ideal deep-lying midfielder for Farke due to his quality play in possession, getting on and progressing the ball, and his strength in duels to compete in challenges defensively.

This is why his exit will come a blow to Leeds in the here and now, but Farke could move on from Kamara by brilliantly replacing him with Skipp.

Why Leeds should sign Oliver Skipp

The Whites must push to secure an agreement with Spurs to sign the former Norwich loanee as he is a proven Championship performer who has also worked with the manager before.

Farke, who hailed the midfielder as a "perfect" and humble person, had the young starlet on loan with the Canaries during the 2020/21 campaign, and the English ace's performances landed him a place in the league's Team of the Season that term.

Skipp has not played more than 23 Premier League games in a single season since he returned from Norwich in the summer of 2021 and Leeds could look to tempt him with the prospect of regular game time under a manager who knows how to get the best out of him.

When he did play week-in-week-out for Norwich in the 2020/21 campaign under Farke in the Championship, the 23-year-old metronome's performances suggest that he would be a fantastic replacement for Kamara.

Appearances

45

37

Goals

1

0

Big chances created

3

2

Dribbles completed per game

0.6

0.5

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.3

1.9

Ground duel success rate

62%

58%

As you can see in the table above, both players offer very little in the final third when it comes to scoring and creating goals but excel out of possession.

Skipp made 1.4 more tackles and interceptions per game and won a higher percentage of his duels on the ground in comparison to Kamara, which suggests that the potential is there for him to improve Leeds' play off the ball.

The £40k-per-week ace also ranked within the top 28% of midfielders for progressive passes per 90 (4.86), which shows that he can also progress play in a similar fashion to the Finnish star.

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ByDan Emery Jul 10, 2024

Therefore, Farke could brilliantly replace the Rennes-bound ace by signing another midfielder who can dominate opposition midfields with his play in and out of possession.

Nottingham Forest have been tipped to table a massive bid to land a new forward ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

Forest enjoying South American success

Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2022, Nuno Espírito Santo's side have had plenty of success by raiding the south American market. Their headline success has been centre-back Murillo, who arrived at the City Ground from Corinthians 12 months ago in a £10m move.

He promptly cemented himself as one of the best defenders outside the top six and drew admiring glances from across Europe on his way to helping Forest avoid relegation on the final day of last season.

Quizzed on his future, the Brazilian defender admitted he may look to leave Forest in the future to play Champions League football, but committed himself to the Garibaldi for at least another season.

“I need regular game-time and really feel that with Forest I’m in the best place for my career,” he said. “Staying here for another season will enable me to mature as a player and eventually become better prepared if the chance ever comes to play at another level one day."

Nottingham Forest line up five new transfers including £10m winger – report

The City Ground side are set to be busy in the coming weeks.

ByBen Browning Jul 30, 2024

But the 22-year-old is not the only player plucked from Brazil, with young midfielder Danilo also having been signed from Palmeiras, while Forest have already explored this avenue this summer by bringing Carlos Miguel to the City Ground from Corinthians in a move worth £3.3m. Now, they could be set to return to Corinthians to snap up a highly rated talent for their frontline.

Nottingham Forest readying move for teenager

That comes with Forest ready to table a £20m+ bid for forward Wesley Gassova, who has also been on the radar of West Ham United.

The forward, who doesn't turn 20 until March next year, is much more experienced than Murillo was when Forest signed him, having made 79 appearances for Corinthians. Largely deployed on the left of attack, he can also play in central areas.

Wesley's career to date

Appearances

79

Starts

43

Goals

7

Assists

6

However, he is another player whose career seems primed to take off when he moves to Europe. Football Analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him a "dribbling monster" who "is going to break ankles all around Europe" when he eventually moves across the Atlantic.

As per Brazilian reporter Bruno Andrade, Al Nassr have seen a deal worth 25m euros (£21.3m) fall through as a result of intermediaries failing to come to an agreement, but Forest are "on track to offer similar" to try and get an agreement over the line.

It is added that "the club's board of directors still hopes to sell the player in the coming days" amid Forest interest, suggesting that there is confidence a deal could be completed with the Midlands outfit.

Should a move for Wesley prove even half as successful as the deal that brought Murillo to the City Ground, Forest will grab a bargain.

Brendan Rodgers could not have asked for a much better start to the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season for Celtic against Kilmarnock last weekend.

The Hoops ran out convincing winners in a 4-0 rout at Parkhead to shoot straight to the top of the division after matchday one, as they look to defend their title.

Reo Hatate, Liam Scales, Nicolas Kuhn, and Anthony Ralston all got their names on the scoresheet for the Scottish giants, to secure all three points for the team.

Only one player made their debut for the Bhoys on the day despite the summer transfer window having been open for almost two months, with Kasper Schmeichel lining up between the sticks as Joe Hart's replacement.

Paulo Bernardo, who joined on a permanent deal from Benfica, and Viljami Sinisalo, who signed from Aston Villa to be Schmeichel's back-up initially, were both unused substitutes in Glasgow on Sunday.

The Hoops do have their eyes on further additions to the squad before the summer transfer window slams shut for business at the end of the month.

In fact, they are said to be eyeing up a move to sign a player who would bolster the manager's attacking options for the 2024/25 campaign…

Celtic preparing bid for star forward

According to Football Insider, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Adam Idah on a permanent transfer from English Championship side Norwich City.

The report claims that the two clubs have been in discussions throughout the summer transfer window but no move is close to being agreed at this moment in time.

It adds that the Premiership champions have already had an offer of £4m turned down by the Canaries, who believe that their academy graduate is worth more than that.

That rejection has not deterred Rodgers, though, as the Hoops are still looking to bring the 23-year-old attacker back to Parkhead this summer.

The outlet reveals that Celtic are now set to make a new bid to sign the Ireland international, as they prepare a formal offer for the 6 foot 3 marksman. It does not, however, outline how much they are prepared to put on the table for him.

Earlier this summer, HITC reported that the Championship side are looking for a fee in the region of £8m to allow the striker to move on from Carrow Road, which is double the fee the Hoops had previously offered.

If this new bid does do the business and secures a deal for the centre-forward, though, then he could be an exciting partner for Kuhn in the final third this season.

Nicolas Kuhn's attacking potential

The 24-year-old star had five months to settle into life in Glasgow in the second half of last season after his loan move from Rapid Wien in the winter window.

He did show glimpses of his attacking potential in that time with his impressive displays out on the right wing for Rodgers in the Premiership.

The young forward had produced five assists and 11 'big chances' created in just 16 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga during the first half of the campaign.

Appearances

14

Starts

9

Goals

2

Assists

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

1.3

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn did not quite maintain the same level of performance after his move to the Premiership but promising signs were there.

Five 'big chances' created and four direct goal contributions in nine starts was a solid return for a player who had moved to Scotland for the first time midway through a season.

It is now down to Kuhn to kick on and enjoy a strong first full campaign with the Scottish giants, and the early signs suggest that he is set to do so.

The German whiz fired in two goals and provided one assist in the 4-3 win over Manchester City in pre-season and then started the Premiership term by finding the back of the net, by cutting inside onto his favoured foot and scoring via a deflected left-footed effort.

He is a direct and exciting winger with the potential to score and create goals, which is why the gem will be hoping that the club strike a deal for Idah.

Why Idah would be a dream for Kuhn

As aforementioned, Kuhn is a creative flanker who looks to beat opposition defences and play passes and crosses to create high-quality chances for his teammates.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the left-footed whiz created 16 'big chances' in the Bundesliga and the Premiership combined but was only rewarded with seven assists, which suggests that his teammates let him down at times.

Idah, who was praised for his "incredible" talent by Rodgers last term, could come in and provide the winger with a striker who could make the most of his sublime creativity.

Appearances

15

38

Goals

8

14

Big chances missed

7

24

Conversion rate

27%

14%

Minutes per goal

76

179

As you can see in the table above, the Irish forward was significantly more clinical than Kyogo Furuhashi in the Premiership last season, with a much higher conversion rate and over 100 fewer minutes per goal on average.

Kyogo's wasteful nature in front of goal was on display on the opening day of the season against Kilmarnock, as the striker failed to score from a whopping eight shots and missed two 'big chances'.

Idah has proven himself to be a lethal goalscorer at Premiership level and that is why he could be a dream signing for Kuhn, as it would provide the winger with a centre-forward who can finish off the chances he creates.

The Ireland international could also help the German wizard with his back-to-goal play as the 6 foot 3 ace could use his strength and intelligence to provide the flanker with shooting opportunities, just like when they linked up for Kuhn's goal against Aberdeen back in February.

Celtic could land dream signing for Hatate in swoop for £7m star

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ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2024

Therefore, Idah could be a dream signing by Celtic for the former Bayern Munich youngster and, hopefully, this new bid will be enough to bring him back to Parkhead.

Liverpool are reportedly considering making a move for an "unbelievable" 26-year-old winger who is also wanted by French giants PSG.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds are still yet to make a single signing in the summer transfer window, which most supporters would have seen as scarcely believable at the end of last season. A move for Martin Zubimendi fell through, with the Spaniard deciding to stay put at Real Sociedad, and it looks as though an alternative won't come in.

There are still rumours doing the rounds linking Liverpool with new faces between now and the end of the month, however, with Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie emerging as an option, having been a reported target for some time.

Perhaps the player who looks most likely to move to Anfield currently is Giorgi Mamardashvili, who impressed so much for Georgia during Euro 2024. The Valencia stopper would likely come in officially next summer, though, potentially being loaned out to Bournemouth before eventually replacing Alisson between the sticks in 2026.

Some feel that Liverpool could do with a new left-back, given Andy Robertson's advancing years, and Adrien Truffert has been linked with a summer switch, having represented France at the 2024 Olympics. The 22-year-old plays for Ligue 1 side Rennes and could be a strong long-term addition for Arne Slot.

Liverpool eyeing move for "unbelievable" attacker

According to The Boot Room, Liverpool are considering signing Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman this summer, as the Reds look to "strengthen Slot’s options up top". The report states that the 26-year-old was "left out" of his side's opening Serie A squad of the season due to "speculation over his future", primarily links to PSG.

Lookman would certainly be an intriguing signing for Liverpool, not least because he used to play for Everton, so him moving to the other side of Stanley Park may not go down well with Blues supporters.

The Atalanta ace produced a remarkable performance in last season's Europa League final, scoring a hat-trick in his side's dominant win over Leverkusen, leading to him being described as "unbelievable" by Sead Kolasinac.

Former Reds striker Peter Crouch has also heaped praise on him: "He’s got himself out to Atalanta with a manager that wants to work with him, that seems to be able to get the best out of him. And I think it’s a credit to him to be able to bounce back from quite a few knock-backs and return to a Europa League final and be the difference-maker. It’s an incredible story."

At 26, Lookman is a player who could be coming right into his best years, and he could even prove to be an upgrade on Luis Diaz, considering he outscored him 11 to eight in their respective leagues last season, as well as five to three in the Europa League.

Liverpool could sign £50m Quansah upgrade who’ll be one of the world's best

FSG are scouring the market for a new centre-back…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 19, 2024

It could be argued that there are more important areas for Liverpool to strengthen in, however, especially as Diaz has enjoyed a good pre-season, with a new No.6 in the mould of Zubimendi more pressing than a wide player.

Amid a hectic summer of arrivals, West Ham United could now sign further reinforcements, including a two-time Champions League winner who now wants to join the Hammers over any other club this month.

West Ham transfer news

It looks as though the Irons could be in for a busy final eight days in the summer window, having been linked to the likes of Carlos Soler in recent days. They're reportedly in talks to sign the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder in a deal that could be worth just £20m. The PSG man would instantly ease any concerns regarding Lucas Paqueta and the potential ban that he could receive for allegedly breaching betting rules.

Lopetegui's own Gundogan: West Ham in contact over Ward-Prowse upgrade

West Ham could acquire their very own Gundogan-esque midfielder

ByConnor Holden Aug 21, 2024

Meanwhile, even after welcoming both Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, those at the London Stadium could still welcome further defensive additions, having been linked to Galatasaray centre-back Viktor Nelsson this week. The 25-year-old could replace Kurt Zouma, whose future remains in doubt following the collapse of his move to Shabab Al-Ahli earlier this summer.

Looking to possibly sign both a midfielder and another defender, however, West Ham would be wise to kill two birds with one stone, which one arrival would certainly do.

According to Sport in Spain via Hammers News, free agent Sergi Roberto now wants to join West Ham above all in the remaining days of the transfer window, though the London club are yet to make an official offer.

Roberto left Barcelona at the end of his contract earlier this summer and will forever have his place in history as a Champions League hero, having scored the goal to complete the infamous comeback against PSG in 2017.

A two-time Champions League-winning, versatile defender, Roberto could be one of the bargains of the summer as a free agent.

"Marvellous" Roberto could complete West Ham's summer

With the ability to play in midfield and as a right-back whilst bringing a wealth of experience, Roberto would be a fine way to complete an excellent summer transfer window for West Ham. Of course, his arrival wouldn't break the bank either, given that he'd arrive without a transfer fee. At 32 years old, the Spaniard may not be a starter, but there's no doubt he'd add key depth.

Progressive Carries

1.35

1.17

Progressive Passes

5.21

6.43

Ball Recoveries

4.58

6.67

Tackles Won

1.04

1.65

Minutes

860

2,622

Described as "marvellous" by former manager Luis Enrique, West Ham could even be Roberto's final big move, stepping foot in the Premier League for the first time and out of Barcelona for the first time in his career.

The experienced Spaniard will be one to keep an eye on in the final week of the transfer window, especially if the Hammers grant him his wish by making their move for his signature late on.

Despite scoring 85 Premier League goals last season, Newcastle United are in the market to try and further improve their forward line.

Eddie Howe’s side already have arguably two of the best players in the division in the form of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, but the Magpies boss is still craving that third player to complete his attacking trio.

Noni Madueke once looked the most likely to move to St James’ Park, apparently already agreeing personal terms, but the deal is yet to progress with just a week left in the window.

As a result, other targets are still being considered for a potential move to Tyneside, but they will need to act quickly if they are to secure a new attacker.

Any transfer could spell bad news for one Magpies talent who could find himself closer to the exit door.

Callum Wilson’s time at Newcastle

After joining Newcastle in a £20m move from Bournemouth back in September 2020, striker Callum Wilson made an immediate impact on Tyneside.

The Englishman scored 20 goals in his first two campaigns at St James’, helping the club during the transitional period after the takeover by the Saudi PIF.

However, in recent months, the 32-year-old has struggled with injuries, only making 20 Premier League appearances last term and missing the season opener with Southampton at the weekend.

The signing of fellow striker Will Osula from Sheffield United could also spell bad news for Wilson, whilst one other potential addition could push him further down the pecking order under Howe.

Why David could be Isak 2.0 for Newcastle

Swedish striker Isak has been a phenomenal addition for Newcastle after his £60m move from Real Sociedad back in the summer of 2022, scoring 35 Premier League goals in the last two seasons.

He’s been the main focal point in the club’s attempts to secure Champions League football, with his subsequent form attracting big-money interest from Chelsea and Arsenal this summer.

However, this summer they could land another version of the 24-year-old in the form of Lille forward Jonathan David, who has previously been linked with a move to the club.

The Canadian has been a constant source of goals in Ligue 1 over the past couple of years, with FBref ranking the striker as a similar player to the current Newcastle star.

When delving into their respective stats from the 2023/24 campaign, the duo are very similar, with David even bettering the Swede in numerous key areas.

David, who’s previously been described as “one of the best strikers in the world” by journalist Tony Marinaro, registered the same amount of combined goals and assists as Isak during 2023/24 whilst placing more of his efforts on target.

Games played

34

30

Goals + assists

23

23

Shot-on-target accuracy

57%

50%

Shots on target per 90

1.47

1.44

Aerials won

24%

20%

Pass accuracy

82%

78%

He also completed more of the passes that he attempted, whilst winning more aerial duels, making him an excellent all-round option for Howe’s side.

It has previously been reported that the Lille talisman could be available for as little as £25m this summer, with his contract set to expire in less than 12 months time. As evident from his stats compared to Isak last season, he would be a sensational addition, potentially ending Wilson’s time on Tyneside.

With his injuries in recent times, the club should look to offload the former Bournemouth ace, with the Canadian an excellent option to replace the Englishman this summer.

He possesses all of the qualities needed to thrive in England's top-flight, potentially following in the footsteps of Isak and becoming a fan-favourite at St James'.

Better than Minteh: Newcastle could end RW search with "Saka regen"

The club’s hunt for a new winger looks set to continue…

ByEthan Lamb Aug 21, 2024

Celtic could be in for a busy end to the summer transfer window as they look to their business over the line before the deadline passes tonight.

Firstly, a club-record deal to sign central midfielder Arne Engels is on the verge of being completed after he arrived in Glasgow to put the finishing touches on his move.

The 20-year-old talent is set to put pen to paper on a contract with the Scottish giants after a fee of £11m was agreed with German side Augsburg.

Engels may not be the last central midfielder to walk through the door at Paradise this evening, however, as the Hoops want to add another option in that position.

Celtic closing in on Scottish star

According to Sky Sports, the Scottish Premiership champions are closing in on a late deal to sign midfield dynamo Luke McCowan from rivals Dundee.

The report claims that the two clubs are finalising an agreement that will see the 26-year-old midfielder move to the Glasgow giants on a permanent basis.

It states that Premiership side Hibernian have had four bids turned down for the left-footed maestro, including one that was worth up to £800k.

Sky Sports reveals that the Bhoys have agreed a fee of £1m to sign the midfielder, whose contract was due to expire at Dundee next summer.

Bad news for Paulo Bernardo

This signing could come as bad news to one of Brendan Rodgers' other summer signings in that area of the park this summer – Paulo Bernardo.

The Portuguese midfielder re-joined Celtic on a permanent basis from Benfica this summer after spending the 2023/24 campaign on loan but could now find it difficult to get minutes in the side.

Matt O'Riley's departure has opened up a space in midfield next to Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor but the £11m fee set to be spent on Engels suggests that he has been earmarked to fill it.

That means that it could then be down to McCowan and Bernardo to fight it out to be the first reserve and first option off the bench, and it is a battle that the former may win – based on their respective form last season.

Appearances

37

22

Goals

10

3

Assists

5

3

Big chances created

9

4

Tackles + interceptions combined per game

2.5

1.4

As you can see in the table above, the £1m-rated star outperformed the Portuguese gem in and out of possession, despite playing for a side that was lower in the table.

He scored over three times as many goals and created over twice as many 'big chances' from a central midfield position, whilst he also made 1.1 more tackles and interceptions per game.

McCowan was hailed as a "game-winner" by former Hibs man Marvin Bartley and his statistics in the Premiership for Dundee back up that comment, as he provided fantastic quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Therefore, his arrival should be bad news for Bernardo, in the short-term at least, as his presence in the squad could limit his game time this season, despite O'Riley's departure.

Leeds United supporters will have been sad waving goodbye to Liam Cooper recently, as the long-standing Whites servant's departure from Elland Road was finally announced.

It had been a long time coming, with the Scotsman finding his minutes had dried up under Daniel Farke in the Championship last season, but it would have been a farewell that was bittersweet all the same when it was officially confirmed he was leaving for pastures new abroad.

The 33-year-old centre-back – who has signed for Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia – had been an important colossus at the back for Leeds in the past, playing a key role in many dramatic wins under Marcelo Bielsa, as a rock solid figure in the heart of defence.

Cooper's career at Leeds

Cooper would go on to amass 284 appearances for the Whites across ten years at the club, joining the the West Yorkshire outfit in 2014 as a gem for the future from Chesterfield Town under the basket case ownership of Massimo Cellino.

He would slowly rise up the ranks to become an important first-team figure, making 39 second tier appearances during his second season at Elland Road, before becoming even more of a reliable presence under Bielsa's golden time in charge.

The now former Leeds captain would help himself to five goals under the eccentric Argentinian's regime in the Championship when coming up from the back, as he tasted automatic promotion success with his long-standing side in 2020 alongside other Leeds icons such as Kalvin Phillips.

His importance to the cause had started to notably wane, as the likes of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk took over the senior reins in his place, but Farke did still gift the ageing centre-back 16 chances in his XI last season in the league, including starting him in a one-off play-off game even with the pressure being ramped up.

Farke will now be searching for his next Cooper, knowing that dedicated players such as the now-departed Scotsman are hard to come by.

He could well stumble across his next dependable titan for the future when scouring through the up and coming talents in the U21 structure, however, in the form of Portuguese ace Diogo Monteiro.

The next Liam Cooper

Monteiro could well be the best successor to fill the void left behind by Cooper's absence, having excited those at Elland Road for some time with his defensive exploits for the U21s.

The promising 19-year-old has even worn the captain's armband playing in this age bracket on occasion, demonstrating the same leadership qualities that made Cooper a well-liked figure in West Yorkshire during his Leeds peak.

Season

Games played

24/25

1

23/24

18

22/23

9

Last campaign in the Premier League 2 saw Monteiro's minutes spike for the youthful side, making 18 appearances in total, as the likes of Charlie Crew – who has begun to make waves in the Leeds first-team set-up – played alongside him.

The teenage defender will hope his moment in the senior spotlight comes soon, knowing full well that his game could be taken to the next level lining up alongside the likes of Rodon in the Championship, having seen first-hand what first-team experience did for Archie Gray last campaign.

Rodon hasn't quite been at his best so far this season, compared to his imposing brilliance during the 2023/24 campaign, but the Welshman still managed to help his team pick up back-to-back clean sheets and wins before the international break.

Winning all of the aerial duels that came his way during Leeds' 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday last month, Monteiro could complement Rodon's brute nature if selected soon, with football scout Ron Dor on social media referring to the Portuguese youngster as a "monster" during his Servette days.

Monteiro is yet to make his first-team debut for Leeds, but with Cooper now gone, the time could be right for Farke to experiment with what he has for the future in the centre-back department.

Farke could unearth Clarke 2.0 in Leeds teen who outscored Gnonto in 23/24

The Whites youngster appears to be a promising talent within the academy.

ByDan Emery Sep 10, 2024