All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

If you could encapsulate Tottenham Hotspur in one week it would be the period of days that have just played out. It’s classic Spurs, it really is.

On Wednesday, everything looked smooth sailing as far as a deal to sign Eberechi Eze was concerned. This was a spectcular signing, a Premier League proven talent capable of taking Thomas Frank’s side to the next level.

Alas, Arsenal swooped in and stole the boyhood Gooner away from their rivals. Eze is now a full-time Gunner, it’s time to forget about that saga.

And boy did Spurs forget about it on Saturday afternoon. The Etihad has been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years and they went to Manchester City this weekend and won again, swatting aside Pep Guardiola’s side 2-0.

It was a complete defensive performance and the inroads Frank has already made in making Spurs more secure at the back is mightily impressive. Yet, they still need new recruits in the market.

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Missing out on Eze is a colossal blow. With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison out, the latter with an ACL injury, Spurs desperately need to find more creativity.

They have sourced that in the form of Mohammed Kudus who has enjoyed a spritely start to his time in white.

Transfer Focus

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

Yet, more is required and it’s required quickly. The window is eight days away from closing and Daniel Levy needs to find that Eze alternative.

Well, a move for Manchester City star Savinho is still on the cards according to reports in Spain.

The Brazilian has been the subject of interest from the north Londoners for a few weeks now but it’s touch and go to know whether City will sanction a sale.

In a bid to do so, Spurs are now prepared to put a club-record £73m on the table to bring the Citizen to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Previously, they had only been willing to put a fraction below £50m forward, but amid the Eze blow, Levy and Co know they must act.

Savinho: Tottenham's answer to Lamine Yamal

Signing someone of Savinho’s quality in the remaining week of the window is a must for Spurs if they are to realise their lofty ambitions this term. They have started with consecutive wins and look good value, having not conceded yet.

Still, extra firepower is required and they’d surely find that in the form of the Man City star. While he’s not so prolific as far as goalscoring is concerned just yet, only bagging three times in 2024/25, he’s one of the best creators in English football, registering 13 assists in all competitions.

Amid those injuries to Kulusevski and Maddison, he could be just the creative hub that Frank is seeking.

Comparisons to Ballon d’Or contender, Lamine Yamal, will also raise excitement levels. Speaking after a dazzling display from the Brazilian last term, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson said: “His decision making is unbelievable. He remins me a bit like Yamal. They can dribble, they dribble at the right time, they pass at the right time. He’s going to be a superstar.”

While taking anything Merson says must be done so with a pinch of salt, there is logic here. Indeed, according to data-led website, FBref, Yamal was the most similar winger in European football to Savinho last term, based on statistics.

Of course, Yamal is a generational talent, but it’s of great intrigue to see where they are most comparable.

Goals

0.05

0.28

Assists

0.41

0.41

Key passes

2.35

2.02

Progressive passes

3.42

5.05

Shot-creating actions

5.66

5.93

Progressive carries

6.99

5.71

Carries into final 3rd

2.30

3.03

From a goalscoring perspective, plenty of wingers in European football are streets ahead of Savinho but we can see here that he’s one of the most creative around.

Over the league season, he registered the same number of assists per 90 minutes as the great Yamal while he also made more key passes.

The Spanish wonderkid was far ahead for progressive passes but in other aspects, notably progressive carrying and shot-creating actions, there isn’t a great deal to seperate the duo.

Based on a number of things, the 21-year-old is still incredibly raw but as Merson said, he looks as though he’s on his way to becoming a superstar. He’s not going to reach Yamal’s overall quality but having someone with those traits in your squad will help a great deal.

Spurs do need more goals but creativity is also on their shopping list. They’d get that and then some if they signed City’s Brazilian star.

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Forget Eze: Spurs preparing move for "unstoppable" star who's like Rodrygo

Tottenham Hotspur have moved on to other targets after missing out on Eberechi Eze’s signature.

1 ByEthan Lamb Aug 23, 2025

Sunderland recently confirmed that summer signing Granit Xhaka will be the club captain for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign and, hopefully, beyond.

The Switzerland international joined from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £13m earlier this summer, and Regis Le Bris has waxed lyrical over his leadership already.

Xhaka is also a top-quality midfielder who can play as a number six, a number eight, or as a number ten, and produced 23 goals and 29 assists during his time with Arsenal, per Transfermarkt.

The Swiss midfield general turns 33 next month, though, and the Black Cats may already be looking for a player who could be his long-term successor in the middle of the park.

Sunderland could hijack move for midfield magician

The Championship play-off champions are supposedly eyeing up a potential swoop for a player who could be described as a younger version of Xhaka.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Football Insider, Sunderland could ‘hijack’ Juventus’ move to sign Brighton & Hove Albion central midfielder Matt O’Riley this summer.

The report claims that the Italian giants have held talks over a deal for the Denmark international, but the Black Cats are also showing an interest in the former Celtic superstar.

It adds that Brighton are looking for a fee in the region of £30m for the Danish star, after they paid £25m to Celtic for him last summer, and it remains to be seen whether or not Sunderland or Juventus are willing to pay that price for him.

Why Matt O'Riley is a younger Granit Xhaka

At the age of 24, O’Riley is eight years younger than Xhaka and would come in at the Stadium of Light with far more long-term potential to be a key player on the pitch for many more years to come.

Like the Sunderland captain, the Brighton ace is a versatile midfielder who has played as a number six, a number eight, and as a number ten throughout his career, as a left-footed star who likes to make things happen with the ball at his feet.

During his time in Glasgow, O’Riley scored 27 goals and provided 35 assists in 124 outings for Celtic, which shows that he can have the sort of impact in the final third that Xhaka had during his spell at Arsenal.

The Danish star, whose consistency was hailed as “phenomenal” by Brendan Rodgers, also showed off his attacking quality in the Premier League with Brighton last season.

xAG

0.23

0.14

Assists

0.19

0.22

Shot-creating actions

3.84

3.74

Progressive passes

3.65

9.91

Progressive carries

2.11

1.31

Tackles

1.54

1.50

As you can see in the table above, O’Riley made a bigger impact in the final third as a creative threat than Xhaka did in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen, whilst also making more tackles per 90.

However, the Swiss star was significantly more impressive when it came to progressing play as a passer from deep, which speaks to his experience and knowledge of the game, as he knows what positions to pick up and when and how to progress play in midfield.

Training and playing with Xhaka at Sunderland could be the best next step for O’Riley in his development, because it would be like him learning from an older version of himself given the similarities in their play styles and quality.

Therefore, the Black Cats should be pushing to beat Juventus to his signature this summer because the 24-year-old star could be Le Bris’ own younger version of Xhaka to mould into the captain’s long-term successor.

Le Bris’ next Rigg: Sunderland in the race for another CB after Alderete

Sunderland are now monitoring a move for this teenage sensation who could be Regis Le Bris’ next Chris Rigg.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 14, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack has already been subject to improvement this summer, with Thomas Frank evidently wanting added reinforcements in such a department.

It may come as a surprise to many, especially considering the side registered 64 league goals last season – the seventh-highest tally of any side in the Premier League.

However, Mohammed Kudus has already been signed to add further depth to such an area, but their business has shown no signs of slowing down as of late.

Countless players have emerged on their radar in an attempt to aid the new boss during his first year in charge, with the hierarchy backing him after taking the reins.

It remains to be seen how much more money the Dane will have at his disposal, but it’s clear that he’s already made up his mind on who he wants to bring to North London.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

In their ambitions of adding to the front line, Real Madrid star Rodrygo has emerged as a surprise option after he was told he’s free to leave the Spanish giants this summer.

The Brazilian would undoubtedly be a marquee signing for Frank this summer, with a fee in the region of £86m mooted – a figure that might be out of reach for the Lilywhites.

As a result, many other players are being lined up by the board, which has seen Stade Rennais talent Arnaud Kalimuendo touted by TEAMtalk for a move to North London.

Their report claims that the hierarchy have already started talks with the Ligue 1 outfit over a move for the 23-year-old, who scored 18 times across all competitions last campaign.

It also states that he could be available for a fee in the region of £30m this window, but could face competition for his signature from fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

Why Spurs’ £30m target would be Frank’s answer to Kalimuendo

Kylian Mbappé is a player who has been one of Europe’s most-feared talents in recent years, understandably so given his clinical record in front of goal with multiple sides.

The Frenchman netted 256 goals in 308 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain over a seven-year spell, before making a huge move to join Real Madrid last summer.

Such a move has allowed the 26-year-old to reach new heights in his career, finding the net 44 times in his 59 appearances, ending his first season in Spain as the division’s top scorer.

His goalscoring prowess has made him such a threat to countless sides across the continent, already winning 18 major honours during his time at the top level.

However, whilst the Lilywhites will be unable to land Mbappé himself, they could be about to sign their answer to the forward with a summer move for Kalimuendo.

The 23-year-old has a long way to go until he matches the levels produced by his compatriot, but he’s already showcased his talents during the early stages of his own career.

FBref have labelled him as a similar player to Mbappé, showcasing the talent he possesses, even outperforming the Madrid star in multiple areas last season.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

20

34

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Passes into final third

2.4

2.3

Fouls won

1.4

1.2

Aerials won

0.8

0.1

Aerial success rate

47%

40%

Pass accuracy

83%

82%

Kalimuendo, who’s been labelled “one of the most prolific” talents by talent scout Jacek Kulig, posted a better goal per shot on target rate, highlighting the clinical edge he possesses based on the chance he was presented with last season.

His creativity is also reflected in his higher tally of passes completed and passes made into the final third, having the tools to provide others around him with the chance to thrive in North London.

The youngster’s all-round brilliance is further demonstrated by his aerial ability, with his versatility and varied skill set making him a talent who Spurs need to get their hands on.

£30m for a player of his calibre in today’s market would certainly be a bargain and offer an addition that would hand Frank the attacking quality he craves this summer.

Should he continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why he can’t be one of Europe’s leading talents, potentially leading the Lilywhites to Premier League glory in the near future.

Their best forward since Kane: Spurs in talks to sign "world-class" star

Tottenham Hotspur have the opportunity to land one of their biggest ever transfers this summer.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jul 30, 2025

Benjamin Sesko has been a player who has been massively on the radar of Manchester United this summer, unsurprisingly so given his goalscoring form in recent times.

The RB Leipzig striker managed to score 21 times for the Bundesliga side across all competitions, undoubtedly improving the situation within the final third at Old Trafford.

He’s found the net 39 times in his 87 outings for the German side, evidently ready for the next step in his career, which could see him move to the Red Devils this summer.

However, any deal for the Slovenian could be an expensive one, with a fee in the region of £80m constantly being mooted to see him move clubs this summer.

Their interest has been growing throughout the summer transfer window, leading to a huge update being dropped on his future over the last couple of days.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

The Red Devils made their opening offer for the 22-year-old this week, with their bid totalling £74m including add-ons, but it’s unclear if such a bid will be accepted by the Leipzig hierarchy.

However, they’re not alone in their hunt for his signature this window, with fellow English side Newcastle United in the hunt for his signature – leaving the player with a decision to make before the end of the window.

He’s not the only player currently in their sights, which could see Galatasaray star Gabriel Sara also make the move to England, according to Takvim via Sport Witness.

They claim that the Red Devils are preparing a €40m (£35m) offer for the 26-year-old central midfielder this summer, just one year after he joined the club from Norwich City.

It also states that the player would be open to a move to join Amorim’s side, but the Turkish side are in no rush to offload him and will only part ways if his asking price is met in this window.

Why United’s latest target would be their next Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has been one of the key members of the United squad in recent years, playing a vital role despite the club’s lack of success in England’s top-flight.

The Portuguese international has often been the go-to man in terms of contributions within the final third, scoring a staggering 98 goals in his 290 appearances for the Red Devils.

Such a deal will go down as one of the best in the club’s history, with his £47m move from Sporting CP back in January 2020 now looking like an excellent piece of business.

However, the club have the opportunity to replicate such a move this summer with a deal to sign Sara, with the Brazilian potentially following suit of the 30-year-old and his own move to Manchester.

The 26-year-old could replicate such a move by joining the club from another European side outside the top five divisions – before making an impact with his creativity.

If he can replicate such figures from his recent season in Turkey, it would be a superb addition and one that could add another dimension to Amorim’s already impressive attack.

Sara, who’s been labelled “outstanding” by former boss David Wagner, registered 7.6 progressive passes per 90, along with 2.4 passes into the opposition’s box – with both figures ranking him in the top 7% of all players in Europe.

Games played

31

Goals & assists

10

Pass accuracy

82%

Progressive passes

7.6

Progressive carries

2.7

Passes into final third

6.3

Passes into opposition box

2.4

Take-ons completed

65%

Aerials won

68%

He also completed 2.7 progressive carries per 90, helping him complete 65% of the take-ons he attempted – showcasing his impressive ability with the ball at his feet.

The Brazilian’s talents are also reflected out of possession, winning 65% of the aerial battles he entered, whilst registering 1.6 tackles won per 90 – arguably being a perfect box-to-box option.

£35m for a player of Sara’s quality this summer would be great business by the club, adding needed depth within the midfield department in their quest for success.

If he can replicate the levels achieved by Bruno at Old Trafford, it would go down as another brilliant piece of work by the recruitment team – handing Amorim the platform he needs for success.

More crucial than Sesko: Man Utd prepare £26m bid for "phenomenal" star

Manchester United are making a move to land a star who’d be better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 5, 2025

It’s been an interesting summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far.

The club were quick to fire Ange Postecoglou and appoint Thomas Frank, but as things stand, have made just one genuine new first-team addition in Mohammed Kudus.

Compare that to fellow ‘big six’ side Liverpool, for example, and it simply doesn’t look like enough, as they’ve already signed stars like Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.

Moreover, the Reds now appear set to land the goalscoring extraordinaire Hugo Ekitiké, although, based on reports, Spurs could be looking to sign someone who has been compared to him, someone who is also an Arsenal target.

Spurs target the next Ekitike

While there is some understandable frustration from some Spurs fans this summer due to Kudus being the only new genuine first-team signing so far, there are still reasons to be positive.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, Daniel Levy and Co still seem intent on signing Morgan Gibbs-White, with some reports claiming that they’re set to make another improved offer of £65m, perhaps in a bid to placate and smooth things over with Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis.

Moreover, the North Londoners have continued to invest in promising youngsters, with Japanese centre-back Kota Takai joining for £5m, Mathys Tel making his move permanent for £30m and Croatian defender Vuskovic finally joining up with the first team after spending the last two years out on loan.

In fact, the club appear intent on adding even more promising prospects to the squad this summer, including one who could become their own Ekitike.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Sébastien Vidal, who claims Spurs are interested in Mainz gem Nelson Weiper.

The journalist has revealed that the Lilywhites have now joined the list of clubs keen on the Germany U21 star, a list that includes rivals Arsenal.

Vidal has revealed that an offer of €14m – £12m – should be enough to tempt the Bundesliga side into selling their exciting prospect this summer.

It might sound like a lot of money for someone relatively unknown in England, but Weiper looks like he could be something special, and he’s already been compared to the incredible Ekitike.

Why Weiper could be Spurs' future Ekitike

So, the first place to start is with the most concrete comparison to Ekitike, as we are well aware that it might sound a little absurd to compare an up-and-coming striker with someone who is set to cost £79m.

The comparison itself stems from FBref, which analysed players in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League over the last 365 days, and concluded that the French phenom is the second most similar forward to the Mainz ace.

While it might be hard to believe, the best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by exploring some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.64

0.77

Progressive Carries

1.67

1.86

Shots on Target

1.53

1.53

Live Passes

20.5

20.6

Tackles

0.64

0.56

Successful Take-On %

47.6%

43.7%

Aerial Duel Win %

43.6%

46.8%

While he still has plenty of developing to do, the fact the 20-year-old was able to take as many shots on target as Ekitike in the top-flight for a team that finished sixth is seriously impressive, and suggests he could become a real threat in dangerous areas.

In fact, you don’t even have to speculate too much, as across his junior career he has been a seriously prolific striker.

For example, in just 19 games for Mainz’s under-19s, he’s scored 22 goals and provided one assist, and in just 474 minutes for Germany’s U21s, he has scored four goals and provided one assist.

Ultimately, there is always going to be an element of risk in signing someone so young, but with the fee needed beingf relativley low, his impressive numbers and the compariosons to Ekitike, this feels like a risk worth taking for Spurs.

Better deal than Kudus: Spurs willing to pay £61m to sign "complete" star

Spurs are in talks to sign a Premier League star who is an even better signing than Mohammed Kudus for Thomas Frank.

ByDan Emery Jul 21, 2025

Glasgow Rangers continued their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with a behind-closed-doors friendly clash at St. George’s Park on Saturday.

The Light Blues were held to a 1-1 draw, as Danilo scored the only goal for the Ibrox side.

There is still plenty of work left to be done before Rangers face their Champions League qualifiers later this month, not least on the transfer front.

Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama looks set to be the next player through the door. When asked about the forward’s arrival, Russell Martin said: “We’re waiting on their end to be sorted but we fully expect Gass to be our player hopefully fairly, very, very soon. We need to try and strengthen as many areas as possible.”

The 21-year-old attacker, who predominantly plays on the left flank, appears to be on the verge of joining the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Nasser Djiga, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, Max Aarons, and Lyall Cameron at Ibrox.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

Gassama is far from the finished article and supporters should not expect him to immediately be an incredible talent who is going to produce 20 goals and assists in his first season.

At the age of 21, he has plenty left to learn and plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, which means that the winger will be a long-term signing for the Gers on a permanent deal from the Owls.

However, that does not mean that Gassama will not be a useful player for Martin to call upon at Ibrox next season, because he produced a decent amount of quality in the final third in the Championship last season.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the French dynamo scored seven goals and provided one assist in 43 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, who were not competing for promotion from the division.

xG

5.92

Top 16%

Goals

7

Top 14%

Shots on target

23

Top 14%

Chances created

38

Top 23%

xA

2.54

Top 32%

Assists

1

Bottom 27%

Touches in the opposition box

153

Top 6%

As you can see in the table above, he ranked well among his positional peers as a goalscorer and was unfortunate to only have one assist, as his teammates let him down with wasteful finishing.

These statistics suggest that he could be an exciting player for supporters to watch as a winger who constantly gets himself into high-quality goalscoring positions by taking plenty of touches in the opposition’s box.

Gassama will not be the only winger to arrive at Ibrox this summer, though, and the Light Blues are reportedly eyeing a forward who is even better than the Owls sensation.

Rangers battling to sign Premier League forward

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers have joined the race to land the left-footed forward, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sheffield United.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that Wolves are looking to reinvest some of the cash that they brought in from the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, and they have identified the Eagles youngster as a target.

The Scottish Sun reveals that Rangers, who are now battling the Old Gold for the winger, would like to bring the 22-year-old star to Ibrox on a season-long loan, as they are not prepared to pay the £10m asking price for a permanent move.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Wolves will stump up the £10m required to sign Rak-Sakyi, which means that the Gers are still in the race at this moment in time.

Why Rak-Sakyi is even better than Gassama

The English forward would be an even better signing for Rangers next season than Gassama with the immediate future in mind, as he could hit the ground running as a star for the Light Blues in the coming months.

Rak-Sakyi, who was hailed as “wonderful” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, only started 22 games in the Championship for Sheffield United last term, but racked up seven goals, 3.48 xA, and two assists for the promotion-chasing Blades.

Despite his limited game time, the right-sided winger showed that he can make a big impact in front of goal, which suggests that he could thrive at Ibrox as a regular starter under Martin if he arrives in Glasgow this summer.

The £10m-rated star, who delivered 15 goals and nine assists for Charlton in the 2022/23 campaign, could offer more in the final third than Gassama at the start of next season, as he heavily outperformed the Sheffield Wednesday man in the Championship when on the pitch.

xG

0.18

0.32

Goals

0.21

0.36

xA

0.08

0.18

Assists

0.03

0.10

Chances created

1.14

1.51

Dribbles completed

1.99

2.44

Touches in the opposition box

4.60

7.69

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi outperformed the French whiz as a scorer, a creator, and as a dribbler in the second tier of English football, in terms of what he offered per 90.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star is more likely to offer consistent quality in front of goal as a scorer and a creator of goals for Rangers if given regular game time than Gassama is next season, given their respective performances at the same level last term.

Therefore, Rak-Sakyi could be a terrific signing for Rangers to immediately add goals and assists to the team on the right flank ahead of the Champions League qualifiers later this month.

Bad news for Souttar at Ibrox: Rangers plotting move to sign "great leader"

Having already made six summer signings, plenty more are forecast to follow at Rangers, so will they secure a deal to sign a “great leader”?

ByBen Gray Jul 13, 2025

It is now down to the Gers, though, to convince Palace to send the winger to Ibrox on loan for the season, despite interest from Wolves in a permanent deal for the young attacker.

Tottenham Hotspur are now confident about winning the race for a £25m striker, who could be in line to join alongside West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, according to a report.

Tottenham pushing to sign Kudus

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that Tottenham are in ongoing talks over a deal to sign Kudus, with the Ghanaian winger keen to make the move across the capital.

The interest in Kudus comes amid doubts over Son Heung-min’s future, with widespread reports suggesting the forward wants to remain in north London for one more year, which means Thomas Frank may have to bring in a long-term replacement for his captain.

With Everton and a whole host of other Premier League clubs keen on Richarlison, a new striker may also be required, and Tottenham have now been provided with an update on their pursuit of OGC Nice’s Evann Guessand.

Football Insider sources say that Spurs are confident about winning the race for Guessand this summer, with the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers also in the race for the forward’s signature.

Tottenham targeting £35m swoop to sign goalscoring midfielder with Kudus

The Lilywhites are set to step up their transfer business.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 7, 2025

The French side have set an affordable asking price of £20m – £25m, off the back of an impressive 2024-25 campaign, with transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke adding: “There’s been talk that Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce would like to sign him as well.

“My sources tell me the player himself is not overly keen on that move, so that will be positive news for his Premier League suitors.

“Looking at the interested clubs, Brighton, West Ham, Wolves… Tottenham I’m sure would be pretty hopeful that, if they do follow up their interest, that they could win the race for his services.”

"Electric" Guessand could be versatile option for Frank

The 24-year-old is capable of playing on both wings and through the middle, meaning he could be a versatile option for Frank in attack, and the 2024-25 campaign was by far the Nice star’s best season to date.

The Ivory Coast international registered 12 goals and nine assists in 33 Ligue 1 outings, indicating he could be a solid replacement for Richarlison, who missed a whopping 37 games through injury last season.

Having averaged a 7.19 match rating in Ligue 1, the France-born forward was also Nice’s second-best-performing player last term, while outperforming every Tottenham player to make more than six Premier League appearances.

Player

Average rating (Premier League)

Son Heung-min

7.0

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

At just £20m – £25m, Guessand could be a bargain addition to the Tottenham squad, and a move to north London should be a far more attractive proposition than joining Wolves or Brighton.

In what would be the ultimate statement of intent from INEOS, Manchester United are now eyeing a shock move to hijack a Champions League megastar ahead of Arsenal after Real Madrid lowered their asking price.

Who Man Utd could target after Bryan Mbeumo

After launching a fresh bid worth more than £60m to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, all signs a pointing towards success for Manchester United in their chase to sign the winger. In another big money deal, the Red Devils look increasingly likely to welcome their second attacking reinforcement of the summer following Matheus Cunha.

It always needed to be a big summer at Old Trafford, however, and INEOS may not be done after Mbeumo. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team have also set their sights on improvements in goal, in midfield and further attacking additions to round off an excellent summer of business.

On the goalkeeper front, the main name mentioned in recent weeks has been Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. The Midlands club have PSR troubles hanging over their head and will likely need to sell a player before the June 30 deadline – potentially allowing United to take full advantage.

Meanwhile, when it comes to midfielders it is Ardon Jashari who has found himself among recent headlines. The Belgian Pro League’s Player of the Season has reportedly attracted the interest of United, who could land an instant upgrade on Casemiro.

It’s going forward that INEOS could save their best work once again though, with reports now suggesting that United may yet hijack Arsenal’s move to sign a Real Madrid megastar.

Man Utd eyeing shock Rodrygo hijack

As reported by Caught Offside, Manchester United are now eyeing a shock move to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid this summer in what would see them hijack Arsenal’s pursuit.

It looks as though the Brazilan’s Real Madrid departure is a realistic possibility this summer as he continues to be overshadowed by the work of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

Arsenal are chasing his signature, which will now cost around €85m (£73m) following Madrid’s price drop from €110m (£94m), but United’s interest could now complicate things for the Gunners.

It would be some statement if INEOS managed to beat Arsenal to Rodrygo’s signature, albeit an expensive statement at that. Not only would United be spending another £73m to secure his signature, but the Madrid man also currently earns around £10.5m-a-year at the Bernabeu to form what would be Ratcliffe’s biggest deal yet.

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Previously described as a “special” player by former manager Carlo Ancelotti, there’s a strong argument to be made that Rodrygo would be worth every penny of that £10.5m-a-year contract.

The talented winger may be an afterthought at Madrid at times, but there’s no denying that he’d instantly become the biggest star at Ruben Amorim’s disposal if he joined Manchester United this summer.

Recent history suggests that Leeds United are going to find it incredibly difficult to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League next season.

The last six teams to have been promoted from the Championship have been relegated in their first season back in the top-flight in the last two campaigns, including Southampton, Leicester, Ipswich, Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton.

This illustrates the huge gap in quality between the two divisions and shows that the Whites will not find the step up easy, despite their 100-point haul in the second tier.

Daniel Farke, of course, already has experience of how difficult it can be, as his Norwich City side were relegated in the 2019/20 campaign, after they had won the Championship title the previous season.

However, his Canaries team went up alongside Aston Villa and Sheffield United, and both of those teams avoided the drop in their first year back in the Premier League.

There were many reasons that those sides stayed up and Farke’s Norwich outfit did not, but a key player in Villa’s success since their promotion has been all-action midfielder John McGinn.

Why Leeds United need a player like John McGinn

Without meaning to state the obvious, the Premier League is an incredibly high-quality division that requires a high level of both technical quality and athleticism in order for players and teams to shine.

It is not enough to just be technically sound, if you do not have the athleticism to match it, and it is not enough to just have physical qualities, as you need to be technically good enough to compete.

McGinn has been a key player for Villa since earning promotion with the club in 2019 because he has the physical and technical qualities required to be a star in the middle of the park, racking up 203 appearances in the Premier League to date.

The Scotland international has provided a threat at the top end of the pitch for the Villans, with a return of 17 goals and 25 assists in those 203 outings, which shows that he can make a decent impact in the final third from a central midfield position.

McGinn can also compete out of possession with his peers in the top-flight. In the 2024/25 campaign, for example, he averaged 1.5 tackles and interceptions per game and won 4.1 duels per match in midfield.

Leeds need their own version of the Scottish star because they need players who can compete technically and physically in the Premier League, and they are reportedly eyeing a gem who could be Farke’s own version of the Villa ace.

Leeds in talks to sign Ligue 1 star

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Leeds United are in talks to sign Strasbourg central midfielder Habib Diarra to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Italian reporter stated: “They are in negotiations for the player. He’s really appreciated.

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“Diarra is one of the most appreciated options internally, but it’s not an easy deal because of the valuation, so it’s still complicated to make it happen. But Leeds are trying.”

It was previously reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post that the Championship champions have already had an offer of £22m rejected by the French side for the midfielder, and it remains to be seen exactly how much it will take to secure his signature this summer.

Leeds are in talks, per Romano’s latest update, though, and they will now be hoping to strike an agreement with Strasbourg in the weeks to come.

Why Leeds should sign Habib Diarra

The Whites should be pushing to get a deal over the line for the 21-year-old central midfielder because he has the potential to be Farke’s own version of John McGinn.

Per FBref, the Aston Villa star is the most comparable player to Diarra in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions out of all attacking midfielders, based on their respective statistics over the past 365 days.

As you can see in the chart above, McGinn and Diarra excel in similar areas of the game, particularly in possession, and this means that the Senegal international could come in and have a similar impact at Elland Road as the Scottish dynamo has had at Villa Park.

The Leeds target has been a regular for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 in recent seasons, which means that he has already proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues. Whereas, the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Ao Tanaka have all yet to establish themselves as top-flight players.

Diarra, who scored against England for Senegal in June, caught the eye with his impressive performances in and out of possession in the French top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign.

Appearances

30

xG

3.34

Goals

4

xA

4.27

Assists

5

Recoveries per 90

3.44

Duels won per 90

3.78

Tackle success rate

59%

As you can see in the table above, the right-footed dynamo has similar attributes to McGinn in the middle of the park, as he can deliver goals and assists whilst also winning duels and being efficient as a tackler.

The 21-year-old star, who was described as a “complete” midfielder by analyst Ben Mattinson, can combine solid defensive work off the ball with the potential to be a difference-maker in the final third with his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Diarra could, therefore, be Farke’s own version of McGinn at Elland Road, and be a Premier League-ready talent for the Whites to put in their starting XI on day one in August.

As aforementioned, Leeds need players who can combine physical and technical qualities if they want to avoid an instant relegation, and signing the Strasbourg star would mean that they have one more of them in the door.

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The 49ers mean business this summer…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

Wrexham will no doubt be a busy club this summer as they attempt to tweak their personnel to fit into their fresh Championship surroundings.

The Red Dragons finally got the ball running with their first pick-up recently, with second-tier goal machine Ryan Hardie leaving Plymouth Argyle behind for a new adventure in Wales.

The now former Pilgrims number nine has an impressive 22 Championship strikes next to his name from 77 appearances at the level, with a hefty ten of those coming just last campaign, even as Argyle heartbreakingly slipped down to League One.

He will get more chances to strut his stuff in the EFL’s elite league with Phil Parkinson’s men, however, with this already bumper goal tally hopefully rising even more at the Racehorse Ground.

Hardie's reputation as a goal machine

The lethal Scotsman ended up being one of the very few select players to come out of Plymouth’s relegation season with their heads still held high.

Even if his individual season didn’t turn out to be that memorable, he still will have departed Home Park this summer as a modern icon of the club.

In total, Hardie bagged a colossal 74 goals from 248 appearances in Devon, with Wrexham excited to see what heights the 28-year-old can soar to as one of their main marksmen after promotion.

After all, with Paul Mullin rumoured to be off, the Red Dragons needed to bolster up top. But, the attacking signings might not be done just yet, as another statement deal involving a Championship regular could be in the offing to help Hardie become even more potent.

The "vital" star who could make Hardie even better

Whilst Hardie’s goal tally last season was seriously impressive, he might well have been hampered by the situation he found himself in at the foot of the second tier.

Wrexham will be aiming not to get sucked into any similar battles against the drop, and with potential signings such as Barry Bannan entering the door, no such dog-fights should be on the agenda.

On the contrary, Bannan’s potential arrival on the scene could have Wrexham dreaming of back-to-back promotions, with a report from football journalist Alan Nixon earlier this month talking up the prospect of the skilful 35-year-old midfielder swapping Hillsborough for pastures new in North Wales.

Of course, the Owls wouldn’t just let their long-standing servant leave so easily, but the Red Dragons have already poached one Championship superstar in Hardie, with Bannan perhaps the next to link up with Parkinson’s men to enhance the ex-Plymouth striker’s output.

Games played

374

77

Goals scored

18

22

Assists

51

7

Evidently a legend of the EFL now, even as he reaches the twilight years of his career, Hardie’s fellow compatriot continues to deliver the goods in terms of goals and assists in the taxing division, as seen in nine of his 69 overall goal contributions in the Championship coming in 2024/25 for Danny Rohl’s men.

Creating eight big chances along the way too, Bannan would be desperate to slot straight into his new Wrexham side and be as classy, with Hardie equally champing at the bit to line up alongside such illustrious company to try up his second-tier goal haul.

There has been talk to suggest that the much-loved figure at Hillsborough could opt to sign a new Owls deal before the month is out, with former Wednesday boss Darren Moore once labelling the diminutive ace as “vital” to the team’s cause.

But, if the clock continues to tick away and a deal isn’t struck, Wrexham will feel quietly confident that they could win his services for zilch, with Hardie potentially going on to be an even more effective goal machine partnered next to Bannan.

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