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Regis Le Bris might well already be adored by Sunderland supporters for his promotion heroics up to the Premier League, but if he can now keep the Black Cats afloat in the top-flight, his legendary status on Wearside will be even more concrete.

This will be extremely difficult to pull off, considering the Frenchman has never managed a game in the intimidating division before, but the statement additions through the door at the Stadium of Light this summer so far will give him some confidence that safety can be unbelievably achieved.

Up next on the Sunderland transfer agenda looks to be ex-Arsenal warrior Granit Xhaka, with an ambitious move now reportedly being explored.

But, he isn’t a lone, exciting name on the Black Cats’ extensive shopping list, as contact has now been made to try and seal a deal for an up-and-coming striker to join Le Bris’ camp.

Sunderland make contact over deal for £34m star

Crazy amounts of money are being splashed by the Black Cats to try and make their survival dreams a reality, with £30m forked out on Habib Diarra last month, which made him the club’s record buy.

Xhaka would cost far less at around the £9m mark according to reports, but that record fee to land the former Strasbourg midfielder is just about surpassed when looking at the £34m price tag next to Sunderland’s other bold striker target.

A report from Graeme Bailey has revealed that Sunderland are in the race to land in-demand Real Madrid starlet Gonzalo Garcia this summer.

The Black Cats are joined in making contact with Madrid regarding a loan deal by fellow newly promoted Leeds United, alongside Brentford, and West Ham United.

Transfer Focus

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

The LaLiga giants are currently deciding whether Garcia should remain with the side in 2024/25 before making a concrete decision on his future.

Why Garcia is a more exciting signing than Xhaka

Of course, Xhaka does have plenty of Premier League experience on his side that would be invaluable to Le Bris and Co trying to stay afloat.

But, with Sunderland’s reputation for being a haven for youngsters to explode into life even more becoming very well-known, signing Garcia on loan could go down as a more exciting signing than the Swiss enforcer joining the Stadium of Light ranks, particularly if his golden form in front of goal at the Club World Cup translates over well to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.

Before delving deeper into Garcia’s heroics for Los Blancos, Xhaka didn’t always experience the smoothest ride in the Premier League with Arsenal, before moving on to Bayer Leverkusen.

Worryingly so for a team attempting to be competitive in every league clash they are in next season, Xhaka would be known for having a suspect record in terms of bookings in the elite division, culminating in a high tally of four red cards and 57 yellow cards being brandished to him over 225 top-flight outings.

Of course, he also fired home 17 strikes and picked up 24 assists for the Gunners as a fiery midfield character, but forking out £9m on Xhaka might not be deemed the most pressing move to make, considering £30m has already been splashed on the aforementioned Diarra centrally.

Whereas, every team that wants to keep their heads above water in the Premier League needs a potent forward line, but with Le Bris’ main option up top last season in Wilson Isidor, squandering a mammoth 20 big chances in league action.

Not everyone will be confident he can lead the line with venom, which is where Garcia might well come in to save the day.

Games played

6

Goals scored

4

Assists

1

Scoring frequency

113 mins

Goal conversion

36%

Big chances missed

3

Sunderland’s interest in Garcia must have been piqued somewhat by his blistering exploits at the Club World Cup, with the “world-class” striker – as he was dubbed by football journalist Zach Lowy for his clinical displays in America – going on to bag a sublime four strikes from six games in the pre-season tournament.

To bump up his reputation for being a goal machine even more, the 21-year-old has also amassed a hefty 30 goals back in his native Spain for the Real Madrid Castilla squad from only 78 contests, leading to football talent scout Jacek Kulig also labelling him as “incredible.”

Whilst Xhaka might well be the safer pick here with his Premier League credentials, Sunderland could really show they mean business by landing one of Los Blancos’ biggest rising stars and turning him into even more of a menace in such a tough division.

On the contrary, the ex-Arsenal midfielder has perhaps had his moment in the top-flight spotlight already.

Speakman and Ghisolfi in talks to sign £8.5m treble winner for Sunderland

Sunderland have now joined the race to sign an experienced international midfielder.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 16, 2025

Arsenal are making serious moves behind-the-scenes as new sporting director Andrea Berta looks to make a real impression on English shores, with the 53-year-old thought to be closing in on another target.

Arsenal in advanced talks for player with 5-year deal "already agreed"

The north Londoners have made a significant transfer stride.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025

The Gunners confirmed Kepa Arrizabalaga’s arrival in N5 earlier this week.

The now-ex-Chelsea goalkeeper comes in as Berta’s first official signing since he replaced Edu in late March, but Kepa is widely expected to be followed by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who could even be announced as a new Arsenal player on Thursday (Team News and Ticks).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£5m

After agreeing a deal for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard recently, which could reach up to £15 million, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano now says that all the necessary paperwork has been exchanged for his transfer to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta and co will ideally welcome the signing of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera as well, as talks remain ongoing with the La Liga side in an attempt to strike their fourth deal of the window. Valencia did attempt to offer the 21-year-old a new contract to ward Arsenal off, but he’s apparently determined to join Arteta’s side.

“Cristhian Mosquera’s plan remains clear: he wants to join Arsenal project despite new contract proposal from Valencia,” said Romano on X.

“Full focus on negotiations with #AFC as personal terms are agreed, and new bid will be needed after opening one for €14m, rejected.”

Berta has many plates spinning right now, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze also firmly on their radar.

Arsenal talks with Eberechi Eze "well advanced"

Earlier this week, it was reported that Arsenal held “positive” talks with Eze’s representatives last weekend, and like Mosquera, he’s pretty keen on the idea of joining.

Now, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, Arsenal’s negotiations with Eze are “well advanced”, and all that is really left to do is trigger the England international’s release clause to strike a full agreement.

This comes after “further moves” in “recent hours”, as the outlet reported on Wednesday afternoon, so it appears Berta and co have upped the ante in their pursuit since their weekend discussions.

It is worth noting that Palace have no intention of accepting an offer lower than Eze’s £68m clause, with Arsenal told the exact price needed to make the 27-year-old their next major signing.

It is currently unclear what the ex-QPR star is demanding in terms of salary, with Eze on a reported £100,000-per-week in south London right now, but it could end up being quite a costly operation overall.

However, after his best-ever season at Palace with 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, there is little denying he’d seriously upgrade Arteta’s squad.

“His journey has been unique,” said pundit Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports.

“He’s had disappointments in his academy life, released from clubs, found a new journey and a different pathway for himself. He’s got to this level and now he’s an England international.

“This kid, no disrespect to Palace, could go on and play for one of the top teams. He’s got that individual brilliance; he’s got the awareness when he’s dribbling to keep his head up and bring others into play. I speak to other players that play against him, and they say he’s such an elusive player, unpredictable in the way that he carries the ball, but also [his strength].”

Chelsea has experienced a very bumpy Club World Campaign to date, as an opening victory against LAFC was then rudely met by a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Flamengo.

It was far from the most convincing or eye-catching win against LAFC, but it was a win nonetheless for Enzo Maresca’s men to get up and running in the tournament.

However, from a Blues point of view, any slight grievances that were kept under wraps after the underwhelming victory in Atlanta have now come to the surface, with Maresca worrying already that his current squad might not be cut out for a higher finish than fourth position next time out in the Premier League.

Indeed, a sprinkling of upgrades is now desperately needed all across the pitch, with Robert Sanchez alarmingly conceding three goals to Filipe Luis’ men.

Moreover, Nicolas Jackson would only find himself battling in the Philadelphia heat for a matter of minutes before he was sent off, with it being well known that Chelsea are chasing after the services of Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike this summer.

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

Jackson certainly didn’t boost his chances of a long-term Blues future by getting involved in this moment of madness, as the ex-Villarreal man begins to stare the exit door more and more in the face after a challenging few seasons in the English game.

Chelsea are no strangers to high-profile flops taking place in the striker department; however, with Romelu Lukaku failing to ever settle in West London himself over two mostly unmemorable stints.

What went wrong for Lukaku at Chelsea

In total, the Belgian – who was purchased for a mighty £97.5m to begin his second spell – would only go on to score just a slim 15 total goals for Chelsea from 59 games.

There was a lot of notable fanfare surrounding Lukaku on his return to England in 2021, with that mammoth price tag not helping matters whatsoever, on top of his then bumper 64-goal tally for Inter Milan meaning the world was anticipated of him.

Instead, only eight more strikes were added to his already weak Blues back catalogue, with the 6-foot-3 flop also not helping matters on his end when publicly declaring a desire to return back to Inter just a matter of months into his cursed Chelsea stay.

Their patience wore very thin, therefore, with it being a big relief at Stamford Bridge when the long-standing Belgian international moved back to Italy after years of inconsistent form and that infamous interview.

Chelsea's new Lukaku

Lukaku isn’t the only notable striker flop at Stamford Bridge or the last, with recent years seeing the Blues buy Timo Werner and Fernando Torres, among other costly slip-ups.

However, in the case of Jackson, there are certainly some similarities here. The 24-year-old does actually boast seven more strikes than the wasteful Werner at a respectable 30, with the Senegalese attacker only 15 shy of Torres’ total, too.

Incredibly, Jackson has even doubled Lukaku’s slim amount too, despite receiving notable pelters for his off-performances.

He’s not quite tainted his Chelsea stay in a similar fashion just yet – minus his recent dismissal irking Blues fans – but it’s clear that the ex-Villarreal man might be on borrowed time himself and could be put out of his misery shortly, much like Lukaku last summer.

After all, when Jackson entered Stamford Bridge back in the summer of 2023 for £30m, there would have been the same buzz in the air that was around when Lukaku first relocated to West London from Anderlecht.

Indeed, he had just moved to England off the back of bagging a promising 12 La Liga strikes for Villarreal. But, for as much as he has gone on to score that aforementioned tally of 30 goals for the Blues, other numbers away from just this output alone are worrying to read.

Games played

35

30

Goals scored

14

10

Assists

5

5

Big chances missed

24

19

Big chances created

8

6

Looking at the numbers above, Jackson has staggeringly spurned 43 big chances over his two Chelsea seasons, meaning his goal tally could well be even heftier now if he possessed more accuracy.

He could well be more suited to hone his craft where the spotlight isn’t so intensely focused on him, with Chelsea maybe having another Lukaku on their hands in terms of a striker being able to set other European leagues alight, whilst never being able to fully settle in West London, frustratingly.

After all, it has now been reported that Jackson could follow Lukaku’s footsteps very closely by moving out to Italy.

Indeed, a report from Sky Italia – which has been relayed by Sky Sports – indicates that Jackson might be on the move in the coming weeks or months.

Sky Italia alleges that both Juventus and Napoli are intrigued by the prospect of landing the hit-and-miss 24-year-old at some point this summer, although his wages and transfer fee might well be a problem to cough up.

On the contrary, opposing information coming out of Stamford Bridge itself seems to indicate that Chelsea do want to keep their £100k-per-week hotshot around, even as suitors from Saudi Arabia and the Premier League circle.

If Jackson does up and leave – for as much as he has irritated and irked Chelsea supporters over his hot-and-cold stint to date – he could go on to be a rip-roaring success elsewhere like the much-talked-about Belgian.

After all, it’s not as if Jackson isn’t getting into worthwhile goalscoring positions for Chelsea, with the 24-year-old’s barrage of missed chances coming off the back of him being able to find space.

Lukaku also spurned many a big chance when failing to get going in the Premier League, as seen in his tally of 15 big chances being missed during the 2018/19 season.

Therefore, in an environment that isn’t so intense, Jackson could go on to find his goalscoring groove even more, much like Lukaku has managed when plying his trade in Italy.

24/25

38

14

11

23/24

47

21

4

22/23

37

14

7

Lukaku has certainly lived up to the “world-class” billing thrust his way by England manager Thomas Tuchel playing for Napoli, AS Roma, and Inter Milan since his disastrous Blues goodbye, with 49 goals powered home by the long-standing Belgian international across 122 clashes.

Jackson would hope for similar rich veins of form if he soon swapped West London for either Juventus or Napoli, with the 6-foot-2 striker also praised in a glowing manner to Lukaku in the past, having been heralded as “special” by football analyst Rahman Osman when previously shining at Stamford Bridge.

It would be a sad ending for Jackson if he were to shortly head to a new club, with his reckless red card against Flamengo stealing all the headlines, over his prior goalscoring exploits in West London.

But, as has been shown in Lukaku’s own up-and-down story, a move out to Europe could be his best possible next step if he is to depart.

Their next Thiago Silva: Chelsea set sights on signing "monstrous" £80m CB

Chelsea could be set to sign a defender this summer who could be their next Thiago Silva.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 21, 2025

Newcastle United squeezed into the Champions League by the skin of their teeth at the end of last season.

Eddie Howe won’t be complaining, but the Englishman will be desperate to bolster several areas of his first-team squad ahead of next season.

The club will have money to spend thanks to securing a spot in Europe’s top club competition, but Howe must spend it wisely to ensure Newcastle give a better account of themselves next term.

One area of concern is the defence. Across 48 matches in all competitions, the Magpies conceded 58 goals.

As such, bringing in another centre-back or two could be a shrewd move by the manager, no doubt about that.

Both Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are on the wrong side of 30, and while they did a solid job throughout the 2024/25 campaign, the latter notably earning an England call-up, it is evident that replacing them sooner rather than later is a priority for Howe.

Schar, in particular, was impressive at times in the heart of the Newcastle defence.

Fabian Schar's statistics in 2024/25

The Swiss defender has been with the Magpies since the summer of 2018, and he has been a regular under a succession of managers at St James’ Park.

Winning the League Cup last term was the culmination of seven years of consistency for Schar, and it was well deserved. Like a fine wine, he seems to just get better with age.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

42

6

1

2023/24

47

5

3

2022/23

41

1

3

2021/22

26

2

2

2020/21

19

1

0

2019/20

27

2

0

2018/19

28

4

1

The 33-year-old has played 230 competitive matches for the club and last season saw him feature in 42 games, his second-highest tally for a single season since arriving in 2018.

Across his 34 Premier League games for the Toon in 2024/25, Schar helped them keep ten clean sheets. Furthermore, the defender won 46% of his total duels, averaged 1.1 tackles per game and recovered 3.9 balls per game.

It was his attacking statistics that stood out more than most, however. When compared to his positional peers in the top flight last term, Schar ranked in the top 7% for non-penalty goals (0.12), in the top 1% for total shots (1.23) per 90 and in the top 9% for progressive passes received (0.67) per 90.

These attacking abilities certainly helped play a big part in the club securing a top-five finish in the Premier League, and it is likely that Howe will keep Schar around for another season at least.

With just one year left on his deal, next summer could be the perfect time for him to bow out of St James’ Park.

This summer should be spent eyeing a long-term replacement for the Swiss titan. Might Howe have eyes on a major upgrade?

Newcastle among favourites to sign Schar replacement

Howe has spent the early days of the summer eyeing up attacking talent. Names such as Anthony Elanga, Jack Grealish and even Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo have all been linked with moves to the northeast this summer.

Any one of those players would instantly improve Howe’s side, that’s a certainty. But taking a step back and realising that building from the back should be his main priority.

The club have been keen on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi for quite some time now. Might this summer be the perfect opportunity to strike?

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Newcastle and Arsenal are battling head-to-head in order to land the Englishman before the end of the summer window.

Being in the Champions League next season has made the Magpies one of the favourites in the pursuit of the defender, as this is the level he will be looking to play at next season.

His contract expires next summer, meaning Palace will be keen to cash in when the iron is hot. As such, he should reportedly be available for around £40m.

There is no doubt that Guehi would be a much better option for Howe than Schar next season, especially after coming off the back of another strong Premier League campaign.

Why Newcastle must sign Marc Guehi this summer

Schar enjoyed a solid season, but switching him for Guehi would make Newcastle favourites to secure another top-five spot in the top flight.

Despite the Swiss’ ability in the final third, Guehi actually outshone him here, registering more goals and assists (five vs four) compared to Schar in the Premier League last season, but he also recorded a higher shots-on-target percentage (46.7% vs 27.5%) and generated more shot-creating actions (44 vs 37) over the course of the season.

Furthermore, the Englishman also won more tackles (34 vs 21) than Schar in the top flight, while tackling a higher percentage of dribblers (66% vs 40%), making more blocks (55 vs 38) and winning more aerial duels (68 vs 56) compared to the Swiss defender.

This comparison indicates that Howe must be doing everything he can in order to bring Guehi to the north of England.

Previously hailed as “unbelievable” by podcast host Aaron Moniz, Guehi has plenty of Premier League experience, having clocked up 132 appearances in the competition.

Add in the fact that he has been capped by England 23 times, it becomes evident that the 24-year-old is one of the country’s standout defenders of his generation.

If Newcastle miss the boat on the Palace star, it will likely haunt Howe. There are other areas in the squad that need to be strengthened also, but with attacking stars like Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, Howe is stocked in this regard.

With three of his four senior centre-backs aged 31 or older, this department needs some freshness injected into it ahead of 2025/26.

Guehi would be a wonderful signing and his profile fits what Howe is searching for in a defender. With Arsenal also looking to secure his signature, the Toon need to act fast to sign their man.

"I've been told" – Crystal Palace could receive "reliable" Newcastle player in Guehi swap

The Eagles could get a player in return.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 11, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are set to tackle the summer transfer market following the confirmed arrival of Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement in the dugout.

Tottenham announce as Thomas Frank as their new manager

Spurs were repeatedly linked with Frank after chairman Daniel Levy made the tough decision to sack Postecoglou, with the Australian helping to end their 17-year wait for a major trophy but also guiding them to 22 Premier League defeats last season.

Tottenham may be offered "quick" £26m defender in Radu Dragusin swap deal

Spurs apparently agreed a deal for him in January.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 13, 2025

On Thursday evening, Frank was officially unveiled as the Lilywhites’ fifth manager since 2019, after Spurs triggered his £10 million release clause and reached an agreement on his backroom staff.

“Thomas has extensive experience in English football having joined Brentford in 2016 – since becoming one of the longest-serving current managers in the Premier League,” a club statement said.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“During his time at Brentford he transformed the Club, moving them up from the Championship to an established Premier League side, consistently and significantly outperforming expectations for an extended period of time.

“In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. He has a proven track record in player and squad development, and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead.”

On paper, Frank is arguably a perfect for the north Londoners, having worked wonders with limited resources at Brentford whilst also operating under a data-driven recruitment model.

However, the Dane also has zero experience managing a team of this magnitude, nor does he boast any silverware or Champions League know-how, yet he is the man who is about to lead Tottenham into Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.

If Frank is to become a success at Spurs, Levy will need to back him in the transfer market, and this summer is set to be another crucial one.

Frank’s side are reportedly trying to hijack Man United’s move for Bryan Mbeumo, but that is not all.

The 51-year-old has already recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Tottenham, according to GiveMeSport, and it is now reported that he’s also a fan of Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.

Thomas Frank "pushing" Tottenham to move for Morgan Gibbs-White

That is according to journalist Sebastien Vidal, who claims that Frank is “pushing” for Tottenham to sign Gibbs-White in a “statement” move.

The England international, despite this report that a £51 million deal is possible, is likely to cost far more. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have him under contract for another two years, with other reports claiming Forest could demand as much as £100 million for him this summer.

Gibbs-White was a superstar player for Forest during their unlikely push for Champions League football last season, bagging seven goals and 10 assists in all competitions, so Spurs will have to seriously dig deep into their pockets to get them talking.

After confirming their takeover, the 49ers are now reportedly advancing their efforts to land their first signing of the summer at Rangers in the form of an in-demand defender.

49ers complete Rangers takeover

It’s been a long time coming, but Rangers have finally confirmed the news that a consortium of investors led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises has completed an official takeover. The new owners, as confirmed on Rangers’ official website, have committed to investing £20m into the club which will be subject to shareholder approval next month.

49ers chief Paraag Marathe shared his excitement about getting started at Ibox, saying: “At 49ers Enterprises, we have built a track record of sporting and business success, but our driving motivation is our deep connection to the clubs and communities we serve.

A great Cerny replacement: Rangers looking to sign "incredible" new forward

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ByBen Gray May 30, 2025

“We are excited to join Andrew and our other consortium of investors in a new era for this iconic club, and we are determined to build something that supporters can be proud of for years to come.

Cavenagh added onto that by saying: “We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by the Rangers Board, shareholders, staff, and supporters. This club’s history and traditions speak for themselves, but history doesn’t win matches.

“We know that the true way to honour the club’s heritage will be to drive performance. Our focus is simple: elevate performance, deliver results, and bring Rangers back to where it belongs – at the top.”

At the start of a new era, the first task that the 49ers must complete is clear. Rangers need a new manager. Names such as Davide Ancelotti have found themselves linked on that front in recent weeks, but the path that new owners go down remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, the 49ers have also already reportedly turned their focus towards securing the first incoming of a new era and one that could arrive at a bargain price when the summer transfer window swings open.

49ers advancing Toure transfer for Rangers

According to Africa Foot, as relayed by Sport Witness, the 49ers are now advancing a free transfer to sign Almamy Toure on a free transfer for Rangers. The Kaiserslautern centre-back is set to leave the 2. Bundesliga club at the end of his current deal this summer and could be on his way to Scotland as a result.

An experienced defender at 29 years old and a full Mali international, Rangers are not alone in the race to sign Toure. The veteran centre-back also reportedly has interest from Italian club Genoa, Turkish side Trabzonspor and America’s Philadelphia Union.

Amid such interest, it would be an impressive first move from the 49ers if they were to beat others around Europe to a key defensive reinforcement. Toure’s arrival would also hand whoever takes to the dugout next an ideal start in pursuit of building a side capable of catching Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Newcastle United have made contact with an £8.4m-rated goalkeeper over a move to the club, according to a new transfer update.

Huge final day awaits for Newcastle

The Magpies are 90 minutes away from completing one of the most successful seasons in their history, assuming they can seal victory at home to Everton on the final day of the Premier League season.

A win will confirm Newcastle’s place back in the Champions League, which will be significant for so many reasons, including the financial benefits and the calibre of player they can attract to St James’ Park in the summer transfer window.

Ahead of the game, Eddie Howe has issued a rallying cry, highlighting the importance of his team getting over the line: “The prize is so big that everyone is fighting as much as they can. We’ve never got ahead of ourselves. Now, it’s going to go to the end, to the last game, and who knows? The twists and turns are there for everybody. All we can do is our best. They’ve given so much this year. Now, we know we need one more big effort in this last match.”

With the EFL Cup already won this season, ending Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a trophy, the 2024/25 has already been memorable, but getting the job done on Sunday afternoon would be the icing on the cake. As mentioned, it will aid their summer transfer business, and a new update has emerged regarding a potential addition in goal.

Newcastle make contact with £8.4m goalkeeper

According to Fraternite Matin [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are among the clubs to have made contact with Angers goalkeeper Yahia Fofana over a summer move to St James’ Park. Wolves and Southampton are also believed to be in the conversation, and the trio have been encouraged that he would like to leave Angers and join one of them.

The 24-year-old could cost just £8.4m and possibly even less, while an agreement “could be reached quickly” once the highest bidder is confirmed – the player himself wants to choose the best option to progress his career.

It looks like Newcastle are prioritising a new ‘keeper this summer, in order to at least provide competition for Nick Pope, if not replace him, and Fofana could be a strong option for them.

The 18-cap Ivory Coast international was named Angers’ Player of the Year, following an impressive season that saw him start 33 matches and keep seven clean sheets in Ligue 1, with analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as an “athletic” player.

With Pope now 33 years of age, it is important that Newcastle sign a new ‘keeper to be his eventual successor, but focus should also be on signing an immediate upgrade on him.

Newcastle make contact to sign one of the best dribblers in Europe for £21m

The Magpies have stepped up their pursuit of a midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window.

ByDominic Lund May 22, 2025

The Magpies need to be ruthless in terms of improving the team and being a solid Champions League outfit, and in Fofana, they would have a relatively cheap and impressive option between the sticks.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is personally pushing to bring a Brazil international to the Etihad this summer, according to a new transfer claim.

A big summer ahead at Man City

By their incredible standards, City have been a big disappointment this season, not coming close to defending their Premier League title, as well as failing to reach the Champions League knockout rounds.

This summer is a massive one for the club, with Kevin De Bruyne among those moving on and some elite signings needed, in order to be favourites for the title in 2025/26. Plenty of top-quality players are being linked with switches to the Etihad, ahead of what could be a prolific window.

Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo has been backed to come in as a huge statement signing for City, with the Brazilian potentially eyeing a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu. That remains to be seen, but he could be a sensational signing for Guardiola, standing out as one of the best attacking players in Europe.

The Citizens are also rumoured to have opened talks with Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, who is one of the most exciting strikers around. The 22-year-old has scored 15 goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Guardiola wants Man City to sign Flamengo right-back Wesley

According to the Flamengo YouTube channel Paparazzo Rubo-Negro [via Sport Witness], Guardiola is pushing for Manchester City to sign Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca ahead of next season. The 21-year-old has been scouted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe and City are planning to make a move for him, seeing him as the long-term replacement for club legend Kyle Walker.

Wesley could be a brilliant option for City, solving their right-back issue for many years to come and arriving as a young player with a huge amount of promise.

The Flamengo ace is a two-cap Brazil international, and will hope to be a part of their squad at the 2026 World Cup, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as an “interesting” defender.

Admittedly, Wesley has never tested himself in Europe, so he may take some time to adjust to the pace and power of the Premier League, but his age means that there is no rush in throwing him straight into the team from the off next season.

As many touches as Haaland: 6/10 star proved why Man City need Gibbs-White

Man City struggled to a 0-0 draw against Southampton

ByRoss Kilvington May 10, 2025

The fact that Guardiola himself is reportedly so keen on getting a deal over the line for the right-back is telling, highlighting what an impressive footballer he is – he has even been compared to Dani Alves – and he has the pace and Brazilian flair to be a big asset for City.

Whilst Leeds United lapped up most of the praise in the Championship this season, winning the second-tier title, Scott Parker’s Burnley were more than worthy challengers to the West Yorkshire side’s throne.

After all, Daniel Farke’s side only clinched the title on the final day via goal difference, with the Clarets hoping and praying for a shock Plymouth Argyle victory in Devon, but Parker’s men had to make do with the tag of being runners-up despite also achieving a remarkable haul of 100 points.

Still, there would be celebrations aplenty as the Lancashire side instantly returned to the promised land of the Premier League.

Burnley certainly have their unbelievable defensive record to thank for sealing automatic promotion, with James Trafford a formidable option in between the sticks all season long.

Trafford's standout season in goal for Burnley

Unfortunately for the Turf Moor side, some of their standout performers could still depart for more luxurious pastures this summer, even as the Clarets return to the elite league.

Trafford definitely fits into this category, with rumours circulating that Newcastle United are keen on adding the ex-Manchester City stopper to their roster off the back of his unerring quality in the second tier.

Unbelievably, the Carlisle-born ‘keeper would only concede 16 goals across Burnley’s triumphant 46-game marathon, leading to a jaw-dropping 29 clean sheets being tallied up.

Parker has even gone as far as labelling Trafford as “world class” off the back of such a memorable campaign for his promoted side, but he isn’t the only standout figure in the Clarets camp that is attracting deserved Premier League action.

Indeed, there was a performer who was just as lively, albeit at the complete opposite end of the pitch.

The Burnley "superstar" who is ready for the Premier League

Parker will already be wary about the difficult challenge ahead, considering he has only picked up nine career wins at Premier League level as a manager.

But, he will be slightly less hesitant about diving back into the tricky division if he can keep Josh Brownhill situated at Turf Moor, with the 29-year-old keen to make an impression on the top-flight again after taking the second tier by storm in 2024/25.

Staggeringly, the experienced EFL head managed to bag more goals in Championship action this season than Trafford would ship, with a bumper 18 goals coming his way to help his team soar into the top two spots.

With six assists also next to his name, the midfield “superstar” – as he was previously labelled by one of his former bosses in Lee Johnson – will be raring to go in the top-flight next season with or without his current employers.

The likes of Everton and West Ham United are reportedly taking an interest in the skilful Clarets captain to boost their own options centrally.

Championship

231

41

25

Premier League

111

6

6

League One

67

8

4

After all, even with the table above confirming that Brownhill’s most comfortable location is the Championship, he has shown flashes of his immense quality in the Premier League before even whilst Burnley have struggled, with his 2023/24 output seeing him pick up six of his overall 12 goal contributions.

This is why both the Toffees and the Hammers are presumably keen, but if Parker and Co are serious about staying put in the top-flight for the long-term, losing Brownhill would be a disaster.

The much-loved number 8 does already have two top-flight relegations on his CV, but after such a sensational personal season alongside the strong Trafford, he could be just what the Clarets need moving forward to return back to their former Premier League glory days.

Burnley make contact to sign ace with "great potential" amid Kompany talks

The Clarets are on their way back to the top-flight.

BySean Markus Clifford May 2, 2025

Manchester United are now leading the race for a “spectacular” Real Madrid star, who could be allowed to leave for £85m this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd keen to strengthen in attack

Man United’s misfiring frontline is one of several reasons for their extremely disappointing Premier League campaign, and they have now set out to rectify the issue in the summer, having identified several top forwards as transfer targets.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Desire Doue is one of the most high-profile stars under consideration, but it remains to be seen how plausible it is to lure the 19-year-old to Old Trafford, given that the French club’s asking price could be in the region of £275m.

A more attainable target could be Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian “very keen” on signing for United in the summer, and the forward’s £62.5m release clause shouldn’t pose too much of an issue.

Man Utd now leading race for £30m "monster" who just scored at Old Trafford

The Red Devils are now in a strong position to win the race for an attacking midfielder, who could be available for a bargain fee.

ByDominic Lund Apr 30, 2025

The Red Devils are making progress in their pursuit of Cunha, who could be brought in to play in the number 10 role, but a new winger could be brought in alongside the 25-year-old, and they are now leading the race for a Real Madrid star.

According to a report from The Sun, Manchester United are now in pole position to sign Rodrygo, with the Brazilian now ready to leave the Spanish club this summer, should they receive a big-money bid from a Premier League side.

Madrid are looking to receive £85m for the forward, who played an integral role in their dramatic comeback victory against Manchester City in the 2022 Champions League semi-final, scoring two late goals after coming on as a substitute.

Arsenal are also in the race to sign the 24-year-old, but the Red Devils are best-placed to secure his signature.

"Spectacular" Rodrygo impressing in Champions League

Not only did the Brazil international make the difference against Man City en-route to his side’s 2022 Champions League triumph, but he has also continued to impress this season, picking up five goals and two assists in Europe’s elite competition.

The winger hasn’t been quite as prolific in La Liga, however, failing to pick up a single goal contribution since the end of January, despite starting the vast majority of his side’s matches.

That said, the former Santos man is clearly held in very high regard by his manager, having been lauded as “spectacular” by manager Carlo Ancelotti, and his previous exploits indicate that he could be a fantastic signing for Man United in the summer.

However, it could be very hard to tempt Rodrygo into a move to Old Trafford, should Champions League football not be on offer next season, which underlines the need for United to finish the season strongly and win the Europa League.