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Everton manager Frank Lampard must cash in on Michael Keane according to former player Kevin Campbell. Speaking to Goodison News he said that the defender has had a “horrendous” season with Everton, but that he could be useful to another team as a squad player.

It was reported in The Daily Star recently that West Ham United would be willing to pay £20m for the defender, and we think that the Toffees should cash in on him and give one of their young prospects a chance.

The club could cut their losses over Keane, who signed from Burnley as part of a spending spree in 2017 and give 18-year old academy player Reece Welch a chance with the first team.

Initially, he may not be used as a direct replacement due to a lack of experience, but he could develop well if involved, and become a key player over a number of years.

With the end of the season fast approaching Everton are fighting to retain their Premier League status and Keane has been at the centre of that misery. The club are sixth on the list when it comes to most goals conceded this season in the Premier League, with the 29-year-old appearing in 28 of the 33 games played.

If they were able to secure a significant fee for him then it’s a no brainer surely. Former manager at Goodison Park, Sam Allardyce, recently told talkSPORT that Everton “could crack under pressure”, and with some of their performances so far this season ‘lacking fight’, why would you want those players around the dressing room.

One of the advantages with giving younger players a chance is that they are often fearless as they have a point to prove, wanting to show everyone they are good enough to play at the top level. Welch has also risen through the ranks at Finch Farm so would know what an honour it is to wear an Everton shirt.

The England U20 international made his debut for the first team in March, coming on as a substitute in their FA Cup victory over Borehamwood.

He has also appeared 22 times in Premier League 2 this season showing consistency having been promoted from the U18s last summer. The Guardian ranked him in their next-generation list in 2020 where they looked at the 20 best talents at Premier League clubs.

In the process, journalist Andy Hunter described him as “skilful” and “composed” in the backline.

Having trust in youth has worked for the Toffees in the past and we think it can work again now, and could benefit them in the long run as well.

IN other news: Lampard can unearth a new £50m talent in Everton’s “fantastic” 19 y/o who’s “class”…

Arsenal star Declan Rice has had his say on summer signing Cristhian Mosquera as Mikel Arteta waits to discover the extent of his injury problem.

Arsenal defeat Brentford 2-0 to maintain 18-game unbeaten run

The Gunners restored their five-point advantage at the Premier League summit with a straightforward victory over Brentford on Wednesday evening.

Mikel Merino’s early header and Bukayo Saka’s stoppage-time finish secured all three points to extend the Gunners’ unbeaten streak to 18 matches, but Arteta faces mounting injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.

The manager watched Mosquera hobble off just before halftime after landing awkwardly during an aerial challenge with Kevin Schade.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

The defender immediately signalled discomfort and was unable to continue, with Jurrien Timber entering as his replacement to partner Piero Hincapie in central defence.

Arsenal’s defensive problems have now intensified with both regular starters William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes already sidelined through injury, leaving Arteta with severely limited options at the back during a congested festive fixture schedule.

That being said, the good news is that Saliba is expected to be back in a ‘matter of days’, according to Arteta in his pre-Brentford press conference.

If the Frenchman is fit and available for Villa, Arsenal will have little choice but to thrust Saliba right back into the starting eleven to partner Hincapie, with Gabriel still weeks away from returning.

Mikel Arteta says "very powerful" Arsenal star has took him completely by surprise

He wasn’t expecting it.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 3, 2025

The situation worsened against Brentford when Rice gestured toward his right calf before receiving treatment and departing in the 83rd minute. Viktor Gyokeres replaced the influential midfielder as concerns grew about the England international’s availability for crucial upcoming fixtures.

Luckily for Arteta, Rice has managed to avoid a serious injury and is expected to be fit for their upcoming Premier League clash against Unai Emery’s men in-form Villa side.

Supporters can breathe a massive sigh of relief after this news, but they’re still waiting to find out about Mosquera’s condition.

Declan Rice praises Cristhian Mosquera amid Arsenal injury scare

Speaking to Sky Sports before Arsenal’s win over Brentford, Rice explained exactly why the Spaniard could end up being a sore miss — especially with Saliba currently absent and a doubt for this weekend.

The England international, who has been their arguable player of the season so far, told Sky that Mosquera is an “incredible” player with “immense” qualities alongside Hincapie.

This high praise comes as further evidence of what many already know — Mosquera has proved to be one of the bargains of the summer.

Signed for just £13 million from Valencia, the 21-year-old has done exactly what has been required of him whilst barely ever faltering.

Mosquera was handed his Premier League debut in a testing 1-0 defeat at Anfield in August, the club’s last defeat in all competitions, and he performed admirably at a very difficult ground after replacing the injured Saliba.

The youngster has attracted major praise whenever he’s been asked to fill in for one of Arsenal’s first choice pairing, with Martin Keown claiming that Mosquera has ‘the same DNA’ as both Saliba and Gabriel.

Arsenal will now be praying that his development isn’t stifled by a serious long-term injury, and the club are reportedly convinced that Mosquera could become one of the best centre-backs in world football.

With nine games played in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, we’ve already seen the champions’ crown slip, two sackings from one club and one Manchester United fan may just be closing in on a much-needed haircut.

But there’s still plenty more to come and an AI Supercomputer has now predicted how the final table will look come May, using data from the first nine game-weeks to predict every result and the final standings.

Relegation battle

It’s been a refreshing season down at the bottom. As things stand, none of the three promoted sides sit inside the bottom three and all have reached 10 points or above already.

For context of just how important that achievement is, Southampton finished bottom with 12 points after 38 games last season, whilst it took Ipswich and Leicester City all season to reach 22 and 25 points respectively. Sunderland have particularly thrived and sit as high as fourth in the Premier League with 17 points to their name. After nine games, it’s hard to see a world in which they don’t avoid the drop.

The Supercomputer seems to agree with how impressive the promoted sides have been so far this season and believes that, for just the fifth time in Premier League history, all three will avoid the drop. That leaves West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest – the current bottom three – in the dropzone at the end of the season.

15

Fulham

40

16

Leeds United

34

17

Burnley

33

18

Nottingham Forest

30

19

Wolves

27

20

West Ham

26

Bottom half

Away from relegation trouble, the supercomputer has predicted some comfortable campaigns for Brentford, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. Opinions will differ around those clubs whether a mid-table finish would be satisfactory, but Brentford should certainly take hold of that with both hands.

In their first season without Thomas Frank in the Premier League, many predicted the Bees to go down and although there’s still every chance that happens, victory over Liverpool proved just the positive direction that Keith Andrews is taking them. Not only has he steadied the ship, but he has also added his own pragmatic style in West London.

11

Crystal Palace

50

12

Brighton

48

13

Everton

47

14

Brentford

42

Top half

Look away now Chelsea fans, because your top four spot is up for grabs. According to the Supercomputer, the Blues are in for another frustrating campaign after spending big once more in the summer.

Despite impressing at times, Enzo Maresca’s side have largely remained inconsistent and that could leave them scrapping away to stay in the top six altogether. The same can be said for Newcastle United, who have impressed defensively but remained blunt going forward in the absence of one of the world’s best forwards in Alexander Isak.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have been on the up lately and are just two wins away from five on the bounce. After finishing in the bottom half last season, the Supercomputer believes that Ruben Amorim’s side will earn their place back inside the top six and above Chelsea.

5

Man Utd

65

6

Chelsea

63

7

Aston Villa

62

8

Bournemouth

60

9

Newcastle

59

10

Sunderland

52

Top four and Premier League winners

From the glory of champions, the most glaring prediction that the Supercomputer has made centres around Liverpool’s fall from grace. It does believe that the Reds will finish inside the top four, but as many as 17 points behind league leaders Arsenal in a title defence to forget for Arne Slot. Given that they’re currently winless in four league games, however, the Dutchman may just take that final table.

As for Tottenham Hotspur, from the chaos of Ange-ball, they’re expected to rise to as high as third in the league under Frank. The Lilywhites have started in excellent fashion under the Dane and could yet continue that to earn their way back into the top four.

For the Gunners, meanwhile, glory may finally be on the horizon. They’ve waited over two decades to lift the Premier League title again and have been forced to applaud both Liverpool and Manchester City in recent years. Now, at long last, it could finally be Mikel Arteta’s year. The Supercomputer has even gone as far as to predict that they’ll win it by 13 points.

1

Arsenal

89

2

Man City

76

3

Tottenham Hotspur

74

4

Liverpool

72

After years in the wilderness, Sunderland have returned to the Premier League with intent.

Having already defied expectations by winning promotion, the Black Cats made sure their return was backed by serious financial investment.

The new arrivals included Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, Simon Adingra from Brighton, Chemsdine Talbi from Club Brugge, Noah Sadiki from Union SG, Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, and Nordi Mukiele from PSG.

For a club looking not just to survive but to compete, Sunderland needed players who could combine technical quality with the grit and work rate that defines their fanbase.

Few would have predicted such an impressive start.

With three wins from their first five matches, Régis Le Bris’ side sit fifth in the Premier League – an extraordinary beginning that has silenced talk of a relegation fight, at least for now.

This weekend’s trip to Old Trafford will provide a serious test, but Sunderland have already shown that they are capable of defying expectations.

Remembering Seb Larsson at Sunderland

For many supporters, this new Sunderland project has triggered memories of players who once carried the red and white in the Premier League.

In particular, Seb Larsson, one of Sunderland’s most reliable and technically gifted players of the modern era.

Larsson, signed on a free transfer from Birmingham City in 2011, became known for his relentless energy, vision, and above all, his set-piece quality.

He scored on his debut against Liverpool with a stunning volley and went on to make 203 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 21 assists before leaving when the club were relegated.

Arsène Wenger once described him as “maybe the best in the league as a free-kick-taker”, a reputation that endeared him to fans and opponents alike.

One of the new guard, meanwhile, is beginning to play a similar role for this Sunderland side.

While not yet at Larsson’s level of influence, his ability to dictate tempo, carry the ball, and press with intensity has been pivotal.

His profile – both statistically and stylistically – suggests he can grow into that same kind of heartbeat role for the Black Cats.

Sunderland star taking on the Larsson role

Only 25 years old, Enzo Le Fee already looks like Sunderland’s most important long-term signing.

Initially joining on loan from Roma last season, he became a permanent addition this summer for £19m, after playing a crucial role in their promotion campaign.

He made 18 Championship appearances, scoring once and registering three assists, and played the full 95 minutes in the famous 2-1 play-off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley.

This season, he has taken the step up to the Premier League with composure. This comes as no surprise for a player who was once described as a “sensational player” and someone who “does not belong in the Championship” by Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman.

In his first five appearances, he has already opened his account, scoring a late equaliser against Brentford before Sunderland sealed victory with a stoppage-time winner.

Matches Played

5

Goals

1

Shot-Creating Actions

7

Progressive Carries

2

Progressive Passes

6

The numbers show why he is so highly regarded.

Compared to midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the 89th percentile for progressive carries (2.30 per 90), the 85th percentile for successful take-ons (1.00 per 90), and the 85th percentile for tackles (2.87 per 90).

He also sits in the 99th percentile for blocks (2.30 per 90), underlining his defensive work rate and commitment.

Such a well-rounded profile has drawn comparisons to the likes of Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid, as per FBref’s similar players model – both players capable of blending defensive grit with forward drive.

For Sunderland, this balance is invaluable.

He is not just a technical player; he is the engine that allows the team to press, recover, and transition quickly.

Having already made three appearances for France, Le Fee has international pedigree to match his domestic form.

Sunderland fans will be hoping that his career trajectory continues to rise in the same way Larsson once did – creating opportunities, and chipping in with decisive moments.

While the headlines this summer focused on Sunderland’s spending spree and record transfer figures, it may well be that Le Fee – signed before the money poured in – emerges as the player who truly makes the difference.

Much like Larsson before him, he has the tools to define an era at the Stadium of Light.

Le Bris has found Sunderland's new Amad Diallo in "electric" star

Heading into their clash with Manchester United, Sunderland could have their next Amad Diallo in the making with this exciting youngster.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 3, 2025

Despite the recent failings on the pitch for Manchester United, captain Bruno Fernandes has often been a shining light and producing numerous moments of magic.

The Portuguese international saved the Red Devils from a catastrophic campaign, ending the 2024/25 campaign with a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions.

The 30-year-old has continued his excellent form into the new season, already netting two goals in the Premier League – with his latest securing a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim’s job would certainly have been on the line had it not been for his compatriot’s contributions in the final third, with the former Sporting CP talent certainly the club’s most important player in recent years.

However, the same can’t be said for one of his teammates, with the first-team talent unable to make the desired impact, with part of his failures potentially down to his squad number.

The curse of the Man Utd #7 shirt

Over recent years, United’s number seven shirt has often been one that has brought huge pressure onto the players who have worn such an iconic shirt.

Talents such as Alexis Sanchez, Memphis Depay and Ángel Di María have all succumbed to the pressure, subsequently leaving Old Trafford after disappointing spells at the club.

Mason Mount is the latest player to try and break such a curse, but like the aforementioned trio, he’s also struggled to make the impact he would’ve wanted upon his move to the Theatre of Dreams.

The 26-year-old joined in a £60m deal back in the summer of 2023, but he’s been restricted to just 52 appearances in his two-year spell in Manchester – with injuries massively halting his progress.

He’s suffered five separate injuries during such a period, missing a total of 52 matches in all competitions – subsequently being ruled out of 50% of games since joining the Red Devils.

Even when fit, the former Chelsea star has struggled to meet expectations, only registering six combined goals and assists – a record of just one contribution in every eight matches he’s featured in.

As a result of his lack of impact and constant injury issues, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Englishman drop down Amorim’s pecking order – potentially seeing one player take the number seven shirt in the near future.

The United star who could be Amorim’s next #7

As previously mentioned, Bruno has often been the man to come up with the magic for United, but it’s safe to say his responsibility has been taken off his shoulders in 2025/26.

The hierarchy backed the manager for his quest for success, spending over £200m on new additions to improve the options within the final third.

Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were just two of the additions made during the off-season, with the latter being the most expensive of the bunch – arriving in a deal totalling £74m including add-ons.

Fellow summer addition Bryan Mbeumo has already managed to star for the Red Devils, scoring twice in his first appearances for the club after joining from Brentford.

The 26-year-old arrived with huge expectations after netting 20 league goals for Brentford last campaign, but has already kick-started his United career with a bang.

His strike against Burnley helped secure Amorim’s side their first Premier League win of the new campaign – subsequently winning the club’s Goal of the Month award in the process.

Mbeumo, who’s been dubbed a “superstar” by one analyst, has also produced numerous impressive underlying stats which further highlight his quality start to life in Manchester.

Games played

6

Goals scored

2

Pass accuracy

80%

Successful crosses

2.1

Chances created

1.9

Dribble success

60%

Fouls drawn

1.7

Shots on target

1.3

He’s created 1.9 chances per 90 to date, along with a 60% dribble success rate – highlighting his ability to transition the ball into dangerous areas before teeing up a teammate.

The Cameroonian has also drawn 1.7 fouls per 90, whilst completing 2.1 successful crosses per 90, with such numbers further showcasing how much of an impact he’s had since his big-money transfer.

Should he continue his impressive form in Manchester, there’s no reason as to why the attacker can’t follow in Bruno’s footsteps and lead the club back to their former glory.

It looks as though he’s currently the best addition since the Portuguese international, with the pair potentially forming a deadly partnership together in the near future.

As a reflection of his immediate impact, Mbeumo should be handed the number seven shirt, with the Cameroonian talent arguably the perfect man to break the current curse at Old Trafford.

Outperforming Mainoo: Man Utd must regret losing "sensational" star for £0

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one young talent to leave the club on a free.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 23, 2025

A very exciting season awaits for Newcastle United.

Last time round, the Magpies won the EFL Cup, ending their 70-year wait for domestic silverware, and finished fifth in the Premier League, with the Champions League patch featuring rather prominently in Monday’s third kit launch video.

More importantly, ahead of their Champions League return, Eddie Howe – backed by the Saudi PIF – will be determined to bolster his squad, so could some new signings be imminent?

Newcastle looking to bolster their backline

As has been widely reported, Newcastle United are close to signing Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford for £40m, thereby surely set to become the Magpies’ new number one.

This is interesting, because it is pretty debatable if Trafford is a clear upgrade on existing first-choice shot-stopper Nick Pope, more on that later.

Meantime, according to the Mirror, via Fußball Transfers, Newcastle are ‘stepping up their efforts’ to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, claiming that they’ve made a £50m offer.

Transfer Focus

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

They add that Tottenham are also ‘interested’ in signing the Burkina Faso international, while die Werkself ‘are willing to negotiate a sale’.

However, having already sold Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Odilon Kossounou for a combined £164m this summer, die Schwarzroten are not under pressure to accept a low-ball offer, so could hold out for Tapsoba’s £81m release clause.

Nevertheless, having just brought in Jarell Quansah from Liverpool for a reported fee of £30m, Bayer may well be preparing for life after Tapsoba, so could he be on his way to Tyneside?

Why Edmond Tapsoba would be a better signing than James Trafford

Still only 26 years old, Tapsoba joined Bayer Leverkusen from Vitória de Guimarães in 2020, making 226 appearances for the German club to date, starting 28 of 34 Bundesliga matches as die Werkself picked up the Meisterschale for the first time ever in 2023/24.

His performances have earnt rave reviews, with journalist António Mango labelling him a “monster”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout asserted that he is “solid as a rock”.

So, let’s assess how he compares to Newcastle’s current centre-backs.

Appearances

43

42

10

46

Minutes

3,613

3,629

581

3,974

Pass completion %

87%

83.7%

89.4%

88.4%

Tackles

1.4

1.2

2.7

1.1

Interceptions

0.9

1.4

1.1

0.8

Clearances

3.1

4.1

5.5

5.3

Blocked shots

0.6

0.8

0.9

0.7

Ball recoveries

4.5

4.2

3.1

2.8

Aerial duel success %

61%

44%

61%

66%

Ground duel success %

48%

48%

71%

50%

Touches

80.7

72.4

68.5

65.5

As the table documents, Tapsoba compares favourably to Newcastle’s existing centre-backs, leading the way when it comes to ball recoveries and touches per 90, while, across the board, he was only behind Sven Botman on a per 90 basis.

This, however, is due to the fact the Dutchman played fewer than 650 minutes across all competitions last season due to various knee injuries, underlining that centre-back is a position that Howe will be looking to bolster, especially left centre-back.

Goalkeeper, on the other hand, did not appear to be such a problem position, so let’s compare the two ex-Burnley goalkeepers, Pope and Trafford.

Appearances

28

28

Goals conceded

35

62

Saves

86

106

Save %

71.7%

65.7%

Post-shot xG – goals conceded

+1.8

-5.9

% of crosses stopped

10.9%

7.2%

Pass completion %

73.5%

65.5%

As the table highlights, when comparing the pair’s most recent Premier League campaigns, Pope’s numbers are actually more impressive than those of Trafford, with the caveat that the latter was playing for a hopeless Burnley side, and has certainly improved following a season back in the EFL Championship.

Nevertheless, Trafford does not appear to be coming in to fill a position of need, unlike Tapsoba.

Ben McAleer of the Guardian described the defender as calm and composed in possession, while Dylan Buesnel of Total Football Analysis agrees, praising his excellent ball retention and ‘ability to keep the ball under pressure’, adding that his ‘defensive attributes are helping him shine’.

Meantime, Vishnu Anandraj of Breaking the Lines labels him a ‘consistent performer’, impressed by his ‘athleticism and composure’, all of which suggests Tapsoba would be a transformative signing for Newcastle and for PIF, whereas it’s difficult to argue that the same could be said of Trafford.

Manchester United have plenty of decisions to make this summer and Andre Onana’s future at Old Trafford may now have taken another twist, according to a report.

Andre Onana's Manchester United future uncertain

On the face of it, Onana is a name that divides opinion across the Red Devils’ support and his inconsistent performances last campaign won’t have won any favour among the undecided.

The Cameroon international conceded 65 times in 50 appearances across all competitions, and a string of high-profile errors have led Manchester United to look at the likes of Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez as a potential replacement.

Shedding light on the rumours, ex-Premier League scout Mick Brown stated: “Man United have made it clear they would like to sign Martinez. They’ll take whatever they can get for Onana, and then they’ll make contact with Aston Villa and see if they can get a deal over the line.

“He’s seen as a huge upgrade on Onana so they’re prepared to take a hit to get things moving. If Man United could swap Onana for Martinez tomorrow, they’d jump at it. Martinez is in his 30s now, but he’s a very capable goalkeeper and they’re not concerned about that.“

Intriguingly, Manchester United have also been given the green light to pursue Porto stopper Diogo Costa, lending credence to the notion that they could be set for a change between the sticks this summer.

Bruno will make him world-class: Man Utd hold talks for "phenomenal" star

Manchester United appear to be making a move in a deal to sign a new talisman.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 28, 2025

Plenty of names may enter the hat to replace Onana if he is moved on, though it remains to be seen how events develop over the next few weeks.

That said, the Red Devils could now have their house in order on that front as Ruben Amorim tries to sort out his goalkeeping situation.

Man Utd could loan out Onana with John Victor lined up

According to The Sun, Manchester United could loan out Andre Onana this summer and sign Botafogo’s John Victor as a replacement for as little as £6 million.

In the case of Onana, Monaco are said to have asked the question over a temporary move, but his £120,000 per week wages have proved to be a stumbling block. The Red Devils would prefer to conduct a deal with a European club over a Premier League rival.

Andre Onana vs John Victor – who is a better fit for Manchester United?

Andre Onana – Premier League

Save percentage

67.2%

Goals conceded

44

Clean sheets

9

Pass accuracy

69.8%

Penalties faced/saved

1/4

John Victor – Brazilian Serie A

Save percentage

81.1%

Goals conceded

7

Clean sheets

6

Pass accuracy

79.4%

Penalties faced/saved

0/0

Victor may have a smaller sample size than Onana, but purely for demonstrative purposes, his statistics do stand up to scrutiny when evaluating the consistency levels needed for a Manchester United goalkeeper to succeed at Old Trafford.

Keeping ten clean sheets in 29 appearances across all competitions this season, he could be the man to succeed the Cameroon international, even if there will be difficulties to overcome in sanctioning his exit.

Manchester United have now directly “called” the agents of a “phenomenal” £68m striker, with the race for his signature still “open”, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd eager to bolster attacking options

Man United have already secured the signature of Matheus Cunha, and with Bryan Mbeumo, who could cost around £70m, still in their sights, it is no wonder there is a great deal of skepticism about how they will be able to fund their summer transfer business.

However, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has revealed that INEOS have been using a different company for PSR purposes, and the transfer fees for any new arrivals will be spread across the entire length of their contract.

As such, the Red Devils are £100m better off PSR-wise, which could free up the required funds to sign a new striker alongside Cunha and Mbeumo, and Romano has revealed they have made renewed contact over a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

The transfer expert said: “It’s an open race for Gyokeres. He remains on Arsenal’s list in case the Sesko deal doesn’t happen, Man United have called his agents again over the weekend.”

Having held direct talks with Gyokeres’ agents, there is clearly a great deal of interest on United’s behalf, and the Gunners appear to be prioritising a move for Benjamin Sesko, which could open the door for the Sweden international to move to Old Trafford.

Man Utd now preparing Zirkzee plus cash offer for "unbelievable" £50m+ star

The Red Devils are now willing to use Joshua Zirkzee as part of a swap deal…

ByDominic Lund Jun 11, 2025

However, a deal for the Sporting star may not be cheap, with it recently being revealed the Portuguese club have now hiked their asking price to £68m.

"Phenomenal" Gyokeres could push for summer move

Sporting boss Rui Borges will no doubt be disappointed to lose the 27-year-old, should he move on this summer, having singled the centre-forward out for praise back in April, saying: “Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”

However, Borges may have an unsettled player on his hands until a bid is accepted, with it being revealed the former Coventry City man has been left furious by Sporting’s decision to raise their asking price.

It is no wonder the Stockholm-born striker is seeking a move to one of Europe’s top leagues, as he found it all too easy in Portugal last season, outscoring Arsenal target Sesko by a considerable margin.

As such, while it is unclear whether the talks with Gyokeres’ agents were positive, it is promising news that Man United appear to be stepping up their interest, and they will be hoping the Sporting star is keen to reunite with former manager Ruben Amorim.

Is it set to be a busy summer at Celtic?

After missing out on the treble, beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, the Hoops are expected to heavily reinforce their squad this summer.

Well, with a crucial Champions League play-off tie circled in red on the calendar, taking place at the end of August, Brendan Rodgers will want his summer business to be done early, so are the Premiership champions about to land a new recruit?

Celtic targeting a new midfielder

Defenders are certainly the order of the day for the Celts this summer with Kieran Tierney’s return to Parkhead one of Scottish football’s worst-kept secrets.

However, the full-back isn’t the only player who could be closing in on a move to Paradise according to reports.

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Celtic have ‘opened initial talks’ to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.

They outline the fact that the 20-year-old spent this season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, and the Portuguese club have an option to make this move permanent for €5m (around £4.2m).

However, given interest from Celtic, as well as Lille, Rio Ave are preparing to make a quick profit on Tıknaz, placing a €10m (around £8m) price-tag on his head.

So, would he be a good signing for the Scottish champions, and which former Celt is he reminiscent of?

Demir Ege Tıknaz: the next Nir Bitton?

Writer Ryan McGinlay believes that Tıknaz’s ‘resemblance in play-style to Nir Bitton is uncanny’ and, should he arrive, if the Turkey international had even half as successful a Celtic career, he’d be doing well.

Bitton signed from FC Ashdod in 2013 and would remain at Celtic for nine years, making 271 appearances and winning 18 major trophies.

Naturally a defensive midfielder, the Israeli international would frequently fill in at centre-back too, with Kieran Devlin of the Athletic praising Bitton’s ‘reading of the game’ and ‘composure in possession’, with Joe Sullivan labelling him ‘versatile and highly reliable’.

So, could Tıknaz be something similar?

Well, analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Turkiye U21 international ‘reads the game well’ allowing him to ‘step up and intercept​​​​​​​’, praising his ‘timing of tackles​​​​​​​’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’, adding that he possesses a ‘decent passing range’ too.

Meantime, in an interview with Sarah Shephard of the Athletic, Tıknaz​​​​​​​ himself says he has a similar playing style to that of Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker… I can play box-to-box too”.

Well, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, the Turkish youngster is one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, so let’s assess his statistics in the Primeira Liga this season.

Minutes

1,976

107th

Completed passes

826

82nd

Pass completion %

85.1%

45th

Passes into the final third

99

34th

Progressive passes

96

62nd

Tackles

35

15th

Interceptions

47

3rd

Ball recoveries

132

21st

​​​​​​​

Worth stating first and foremost that, according to a study by Bernd Frick, Tommy Kweku Quansah and Markus Lang, the Primeira Liga is one of the ‘least balanced leagues’ in European football, so the fact that Tıknaz was playing for Rio Ave, who finished 11th, makes his statistics all the more impressive.

Demir Ege Tıknaz (Tiknaz)

The Turkish midfielder ranks highly for metrics both in and out of possession, sat third when it comes to interceptions, while also registering noteworthy numbers when it comes to his pass completion percentage as well as passes into the final third.

Thus, all available evidence suggests Tıknaz is a high-quality, high-potential player, one that Celtic should absolutely be looking to snap up.

​​​​​​​

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Tottenham Hotspur have held talks with the representatives of an “outrageous” forward compared to Argentina icon Lionel Messi, according to reports, coming amid their triumph in the Europa League.

Tottenham end 17-year wait for silverware after Europa League win over Man Utd

Brennan Johnson etched his name into Spurs folklore on Wednesday night, scoring the only goal of a tense encounter, with Ange Postecoglou’s side ending the club’s 17-year wait for major silverware after beating Man Utd 1-0.

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As Tottenham’s squad hoisted the trophy aloft, Postecoglou was also reminded of the promise he made earlier this campaign – namely that he ‘always’ wins silverware during his second season in charge.

Guglielmo Vicario

7.7

Yves Bissouma

7.6

Cristian Romero

7.4

Bruno Fernandes

7.4

Destiny Udogie

7.2

via WhoScored

It was a statement which could’ve come back to bite him, but the 59-year-old’s message has now been vindicated by Spurs’ glorious night in Spain. Postecoglou became the first Australian manager to win a major European trophy, doing his country proud in the process, all while changing an ever-present narrative around the Lilywhites that they’re a ‘nearly’ team.

“It wasn’t me boasting, it was a declaration,” said Postecoglou on his ‘second season’ quote after Tottenham’s win over United.

“If we fell short, I was ready to cop it.”

Guglielmo Vicario’s heroics in goal – combined with Cristian Romero’s outstanding defensive display, Micky van de Ven’s acrobatic clearance off the line and the performances of their wing-backs – helped to shut a dominant Man United side out and end Tottenham’s long wait for a parade.

Spurs also sealed a monumental boost by qualifying for next season’s Champions League, and all the riches that come with it in terms of both revenue and player-pull.

This will undoubtedly have a positive effect on their summer recruitment strategy. Whether or not Tottenham’s trophy-winning boss will be at the helm to benefit from it next term remains to be seen, following previous reports Postecoglou could leave regardless of their Europa League campaign.

However, whether it be for Postecoglou or any potential new manager, Lyon star Rayan Cherki is attracting Daniel Levy’s interest.

Tottenham hold talks with Rayan Cherki after Lionel Messi comparison

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham have declared their interest in Cherki after holding talks with his representatives.

Levy and co are apparently attempting to discover more about the terms he’d want to join them, and there are reports that the exciting French winger has a very tempting £19 million release clause in his contract.

This could make the “outrageous” forward one of the bargains of this summer window, especially after a phenomenal 24/25 haul of 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.

GMS also stated that the boldness of Tottenham’s offer to Cherki would be directly linked to their Europa League triumph, so now that they’re confirmed champions, Levy could make a more tempting proposal.

Their status as a Champions League side for next season now also makes Spurs a far more attractive proposition to players like the 21-year-old, so this could be one to watch in the coming weeks, with Cherki also being likened to Messi by former Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.