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Liverpool have work to do if they are to rediscover the balance that saw them lay waste to the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season at the Anfield helm.

Despite the many changes to the Reds first team over the past few months, it’s perhaps difficult to suggest that Liverpool have made dramatic improvements on last year’s title-winning team, with Mohamed Salah even suggesting that this is so when quizzed on FSG’s summer spending.

That’s not to say sporting director Richard Hughes has overseen a poor transfer window; far from it. It’s simply that Liverpool were coherent and instinctive last season, a fully-gelled team, but have now parted with several important first-teamers and have replaced them with up-and-coming talents.

It’s only natural that a bedding-in period would take place, with the absence of balance and defensive solidity across the first two fixtures of Liverpool’s campaign evidence of that.

But for all the upheaval, Liverpool remain attentive to the market as it draws toward the stretch, with Hughes and Slot in concert over the Reds’ need for depth across the frontline and at the rear.

The latest Liverpool transfer news

Will Liverpool pull it off? Alexander Isak’s inflammatory statement on his future made it clear he wishes to leave Newcastle United and sign for the Premier League champions this summer, but the Magpies have struggled to sign strikers this summer and are publicly stressing he’s going nowhere.

Whatever happens, it’s been an unsavoury saga, but the door remains ajar, with Newcastle desperately scrambling for a new number nine.

But Liverpool need a defender too. While Giovanni Leoni was welcomed to Slot’s squad this month, the 18-year-old centre-half should be eased into the swing of things.

It is Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace who would provide the jewel for Liverpool’s defensive crown. The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside, with less than a year remaining on his contract.

The outcome of that saga remains unknown, and the same goes for Isak. However, Liverpool do need such a player, and if Newcastle maintain their obstinacy over their talisman’s future, it’s crucial that there’s an alternative option.

Liverpool holding talks for Isak alternative

According to Football Insider, Real Madrid star Rodrygo remains on Liverpool’s radar as they mull over a late-window bid.

The 24-year-old is anticipated to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this month, and his representatives have jetted over to England to hold talks with Liverpool officials over a potential transfer. And the same goes for Manchester City.

Xabi Alonso has made it clear that the Brazil international is not at the fulcrum of his vision in the Spanish capital, but Real Madrid won’t cash in for a cut-price figure, having listed him at a lofty €90m (£76m).

The sale of Diaz to Bayern Munich has left Liverpool light up top, and Rodrygo would be the perfect versatile forward to complete Slot’s frontline.

Why Liverpool want Rodrygo

While there is no question that Liverpool’s priority heading into the closing stages of the summer transfer window is to get Isak garbed in red attire, Rodrygo wouldn’t be a half-bad fallback.

Rodrygo has long starred as a first-team star with Los Blancos, having left his Brazilian homeland for the peerless superpower after he turned 18.

And though the 2024/25 campaign left plenty to be desired for him, Rodrygo has been hailed by his teammate Jude Bellingham as “probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad.”

His sharpness with both feet and his propensity for equal shares of goals and assists lend themselves to different positional roles, but Slot would typically deploy him on the attacking left flank.

However, for all its control, Slot’s system is anything but rigid. Interchangeability and tenacity are key tenets, and it’s for this reason that Dominik Szoboszlai has played such a central role in the manager’s plans. Szoboszlai, indeed, could prove the perfect partner for Rodrygo at Liverpool, playing from his industrious central role and pushing forward to combine with the South American.

Arne Slot’s Most Used Players at Liverpool
#	Player	Apps
1.	Mohamed Salah	54
2.	Virgil van Dijk	51
2=	Dominik Szoboszlai	51
2=	Alexis Mac Allister	51
2=	Cody Gakpo	51
Data via Transfermarkt

You could say that new recruit Florian Wirtz would be a devastating and dynamic dance player for a prolific wide forward like Rodrygo, and perhaps that is so, but Szoboszlai has proven himself to be an energetic and effective midfield force for Liverpool.

The Hungarian might not be a clinical player, per se, but he’s been hailed by content creator Asim Mahmood as a “machine” with a “seriously elite mentality” since Slot dropped him from ten to more of a box-to-box deployment in the middle of the park.

Data from Sofascore shows that the 24-year-old created three key passes against Crystal Palace and two against Bournemouth in Liverpool’s Premier League opener, winning ten duels across the two fixtures and making a total of ten tackles too.

How does this relate to Rodrygo? Well, the Real Madrid man is known for his commitment and perseverance, winning 56% of his ground duels in La Liga last year (Sofascore).

Form and fluency in the Spanish capital have dwindled for his world-class talent, but he could pick himself up and then some by signing for Liverpool and emulating Szoboszlai in putting 110% effort into his performances.

The £120k-per-week Liverpool star, after all, ranks among the top 15% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for ball recoveries made per 90 and the top 5% for pass completion, via FBref, thus underscoring his crisp and energetic style of play, ensuring Liverpool purr.

Rodrygo would dovetail right into the Anfield running with Szoboszlai pulling strings behind him. His ‘poor’ 2024/25 campaign still yielded 25 goal involvements across all competitions – the same as Diaz – and he was routinely played out of position to accommodate Vinicius Junior.

His clinical touch would be strengthened in a role of greater importance at Liverpool, especially when forming partnerships with selfless, hard-working stars like Szoboszlai.

New Van Dijk: Liverpool in strong position to sign £23m Guehi alternative

Liverpool are looking for a new centre-back and it might not be Guehi

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 21, 2025

Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa looks to be a matter of when and not if, with the Englishman following Marcus Rashford in moving to the Midlands side from Old Trafford.

It has not been made clear whether there will be an option or obligation to buy the winger at the end of the season, but he will spend 2025/26 in the West Midlands.

He might not be the only creative player who joins Villa before the window slams shut at 7pm today, either.

Aston Villa exploring another deal alongside Sancho

With the deal to sign Sancho on loan all but confirmed, Villa will move on to their next target. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Villans are now closing in on a move for Harvey Elliot to join Unai Emery’s ranks.

Transfer Focus

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

The Liverpool star is set to sign on a season-long loan deal, although it would include an obligation to buy as part of that initial temporary switch. According to Ornstein, the Reds are looking for a fee in the region of £35m, should such a clause be included.

Why Elliot would be a good signing

Described as a “diamond” by football scout Antonio Mango, England under-21 international Elliot has impressed for Liverpool. However, with the quality they have in creative areas, such as Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz, it is hard for him to break into the side.

However, his quality is undeniable. He has made 149 appearances for the Reds, with 15 goals and 21 assists to his name. His best campaign came in 2023/24, which was Jurgen Klopp’s final season. Elliot scored three goals and assisted nine in 33 Premier League games.

The former Fulham player shone in the recent under-21 European Championships, too. He was a pivotal part of England retaining their title, scoring five goals in six games and even skippering the side in their final group stage clash.

It is easy to see how Elliot could become the second coming of Morgan Rogers at Villa Park. The newly-crowned PFA Young Player of the Year winner has been sensational under Emery since his move to the West Midlands.

In 73 appearances so far, he’s found the back of the net on 17 occasions and has also chalked up the same number of assists.

Last season in the Premier League, he scored eight times and created 11 goals for his teammates.

It is easy to draw comparisons between the two players. Both are young English talents who excel at operating between the lines and creating chances.

On top of that, they’ve each played for huge clubs, with Rogers coming through the Manchester City academy, and Elliot, of course, at Liverpool.

Statistically, you can compare the players and see the similarities. In the last two Premier League campaigns, Elliot has averaged 2.46 key passes and 2.83 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

As for Rogers, he’s played an average of 1.44 key passes and completed 3.26 progressive carries on average each game.

Goals and assists

0.63

0.53

Key passes

2.46

1.44

Progressive passes

9.01

3.62

Progressive carries

2.83

3.26

Ball recoveries

4.87

3.6

Signing Elliot could be a huge addition for Villa. He is certainly similar to Rogers, given the playmaking ability he possesses in the final third. For a fee of around £40m, this could be a bargain for Emery and for Monchi on deadline day.

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ByJoe Nuttall Sep 1, 2025

Barcelona will kick off their Champions League campaign against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Thursday with injuries clouding preparations. Lamine Yamal is ruled out, but coach Hansi Flick is placing his faith in Marcus Rashford to step up. With Frenkie de Jong and Gavi’s fitness also under scrutiny, the Blaugrana enter the competition looking to improve on last season’s heartbreak.

Marcus Rashford's chance to shine at Barcelona

Barca will be without teenage star Yamal, sidelined due to pubic discomfort aggravated during the international break with Spain. Flick confirmed the winger’s absence in his press conference but stressed optimism with Manchester United loanee Rashford, who is set to start against Newcastle. The coach highlighted Rashford’s qualities and believes he is ready to grab the spotlight in this crucial opener. Rashford has featured in four La Liga games so far, starting twice and coming off the bench twice. He has yet to score but has registered one assist, with his standout display coming in the 6-0 win over Valencia.

AdvertisementAFPCoach Flick backs Marcus Rashford

In a press conference, the ex-Bayern Munich coach made his belief in the England international crystal clear as he backs him to generate some good performance.

"Ultimately, we have a great team. We also have Marcus Rashford in this position," he said. "If someone up front can't play, he can, and he showed how good he is on Sunday. I hope he can put in the same performance in England that he did against Valencia. I've been following Marcus Rashford since his early days at Manchester United and I've always thought he's incredible. What I've seen these past few weeks is very good."

Barcelona's relief from injury woes

De Jong is expected to feature after easing back from a gluteal problem, a timely boost in the middle of the park. Gavi, however, continues to battle lingering knee pain and remains doubtful. On the positive side, Marc Bernal, who returned from a long ACL recovery, impressed against Valencia and could be given another start. His resilience and sharpness offer Flick another midfield option in a squad stretched by injuries alongside midfielder Fermin Lopez.

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AFPBarcelona all prepped up to face Newcastle

Roony Bardghji was given his La Liga debut in Barca's clash against Valencia after flick punished and dropped Raphinha. The Brazilian winger is now well-rested and is expected to be sharp for the midweek fixture. Barca will be looking to set the tone for this year's campaign building on new-found clarity, motivation and determination.

It hasn’t always been this way. There was a time, not too long ago, when Liverpool were scraping to qualify for Europe, or indeed failing to qualify for Europe.

The Luis Suarez-led Premier League title charge of 2013/14 will forever remain an incredible, awe-inspiring season, but it stood as a lonely outlier across a number of years of strife and disappointment.

But Jurgen Klopp changed all that, remoulding Anfield and placing Liverpool back among the big-hitters on the global stage. For many, it was a return to the old days of excitement and glory at the top.

Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley were joined by another in the shape of the larger-than-life German manager, who signed and grew, organically, a team capable of challenging for the biggest prizes year on year.

Liverpool had created superstars like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Bobby Firmino. They joined the likes of John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish and the like from an era of old.

And now, there’s a new wave.

Slot's Liverpool rebuild

Arne Slot led Liverpool to their first Premier League title in five years last season, and in the first year since Klopp stepped down too.

He did it without any proper transfer investment, only bringing Federico Chiesa, who scarcely played for several reasons, over in a £12.5m deal.

He’s since been rewarded. Liverpool have spent a British-record £116m sum on Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, and are looking to smash their own record with a bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak. The Sweden striker wants to sign for the Reds, and a first informal approach has been made.

Such players have the potential to evoke nostalgia on Merseyside, for sure, but Liverpool are planning to sign yet another high-class footballer this summer with something of a stylistic connection to a former icon.

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ByAngus Sinclair Aug 1, 2025

Indeed, the aforementioned Barnes was quite the player back in his heyday, and Liverpool have a similar player in their sights.

Liverpool make contact with CL superstar

As per Spanish journalist Siro Lopez, Liverpool have been in contact with Real Madrid star Rodrygo as Slot looks to replace Diaz.

The Brazilian forward, 24, is anticipated to leave Xabi Alonso’s fledgling project after falling out of favour, but he remains one of the game’s most talented wingers and could be available for a fee in the region of £69m.

Rodrygo has also been coveted by Arsenal this summer, and with Leandro Trossard rumoured to be leaving the Emirates, FSG might want to act swiftly with this one.

Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo

Like Barnes, Rodrygo is an elegant and dynamic forward, though he’s, of course, more accomplished at this stage of his career than when Dalglish agreed a £900,000 fee with Watford to bring the now-retired great to Anfield in 1987.

The Los Blancos sensation has scored 68 goals and supplied 51 assists across 270 senior showings in the Spanish capital, winning the full gamut.

Rodrygo is a big-game player and could prove a fantastic Diaz replacement in that regard, filling in a void and ensuring that Liverpool have the technical quality and firepower to make an impact on the grand stage.

His talismanic approach adds a further level to the argument that he’s apt as the club’s new Barnes.

Barnes, when operating on the left side of the midfield, was a powerful and direct player, renowned for his speed and athleticism, his purposeful strides and (at times) clinical finishing.

He led a storied career, but it was at Liverpool that Barnes enjoyed his finest hours, notably winning two top-flight titles, two FA Cups and leaving as a two-time Liverpool Player of the Year.

Liverpool

406

107

92

Watford

237

64

9

Newcastle

41

7

1

Charlton

11

–

–

Though it’s unlikely Rodrygo would take a leaf from Barnes’ book and relocate to a deeper-lying midfield role in the deeper stretches of his career, there’s little question that the Brazilian shares some of the 61-year-old’s one-time versatility and cleverness on the pitch.

Former England international Tom Finney once said, “Players like John Barnes come along just once in a lifetime.” His pace, power and sheer will to win allowed him to thrive as one of the game’s elite, and these are traits also found within Rodrygo’s skill set, for sure.

As per FBref, Rodrygo ranked last season among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting his mix of sharp passing and high-speed, controlled running with the ball.

The right-footer might not have enjoyed his best season in 2024/25, only scoring six times in La Liga, but he was routinely played out of position and could find a permanent home on the left flank in Slot’s Liverpool.

Carlo Ancelotti might have hailed his “special striker” for being able to “play in all positions”, but coming off the left flank, his potency and creativty are maximised.

Should sporting director Richard Hughes pull this one off, perhaps we will see the spirit of Barnes reborn in Slot’s Liverpool, adding that extra bit of quality to take this illustrious project to the next stage.

Bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool ready to sell Slot's "monster" for £47m

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, and now face the exit of another star player.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

Stumps After the first day’s spotlight shone firmly on Australia’s Test hopefuls, India Test squad member Abhimanyu Easwaran and reserve Mukesh Kumar had contrasting fortunes before B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal led an India A fightback on day two in Mackay.Trailing by 88 runs on the first innings, India stared down the barrel at 30 for 2 after the wickets of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu. But Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal steadied the ship with an unbroken 178-run partnership as batting became easier on a surface that flattened out as the day wore on.They learned the lessons from India A’s disastrous first innings of 107 when a number of batters nicked off. Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal demonstrated patience and judged the full lengths well as they closed in on centuries. They waited to pick off the bowling, which was more wayward than on the opening day.Both batters used their feet well to offspinner Todd Murphy, who did not threaten and had figures of none for 54 from 17 overs. His struggles reared just before stumps when a delivery slipped from his fingers and landed near the square leg umpire.Devdutt Padikkal scored 80 in an unbroken 178-run stand with B Sai Sudharsan•Getty Images

It was a terrific recovery from India A after the wickets of Gaikwad and Abhimanyu, who each had double failures for the match. Gaikwad could only tentatively poke at a length delivery from quick Fergus O’Neill and edged to second slip where Cameron Bancroft demonstrated why he is one of the country’s best fielders, with a sharp catch low to the ground.Abhimanyu is seen as a contender to play in the early part of the Test series given the uncertainty over Rohit Sharma. But he was all at sea against the new ball with O’Neill producing rampant movement.Abhimanyu was fortunate to have survived on 2 after edging quick Jordan Buckingham to third slip only for the delivery to be deemed a no-ball. The pressure was building on Abhimanyu, who attempted to play more positively and also scampered for tight singles on a couple of occasions. But he pushed his luck after dashing off for a quick run only for the athletic Buckingham at midwicket to throw down the stumps leaving the diving batter just short of his ground.India’s recovery appeared to have had a setback when Padikkal on 31 drove O’Neill straight to Nathan McSweeney at short extra-cover only for the delivery to be called a no-ball.Cooper Connolly played positively, hitting five fours in his 37•Getty Images

Padikkal had medical treatment on his legs late in the day, but fought through as India A eyed setting a tough target with the focus soon to shift once again to those Australia A batters hoping to partner Usman Khawaja in the first Test.India A’s revival was started by Mukesh. He bowled unwavering spells and nipped the ball both ways to finish with 6 for 46, while quick Prasidh Krishna unfurled canny changes of pace, which has served him well in white-ball cricket, to claim a three-wicket haul.Australia A resumed their first innings at 99 for 4, trailing by just eight runs, with skipper McSweeney having a golden opportunity to boost his bid for first Test selection. McSweeney had survived through to stumps on a madcap day one after the early dismissals of Test candidates Bancroft, Sam Konstas and Marcus Harris.He once again showcased dogged defence and good judgment to leave deliveries outside his off stump. After a slow start to the day’s play, it took 17 deliveries until the first runs were scored when Cooper Connolly flayed a boundary through the off side.Connolly, 21, decided to counter-attack and quickly passed McSweeney after smashing 22 runs in an eight-ball whirlwind. His ability to shift gears is a reason why Connolly has risen in the ranks quickly and is seen as a contender for the Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.Mukesh Kumar finished with innings figures of 6 for 46•Getty Images

In a contrast to many batters so far in this match, Connolly drove with ease and underlined why in Western Australian cricket circles he has been compared favourably to former Test batter Shaun Marsh. He appeared set for his fourth half-century from six innings in his first-class career before a tame dismissal on 37 when he mistimed a delivery from Mukesh to square-leg.It led to the quick wickets of Josh Philippe and McSweeney, whose dedication to defence was finally broken when he was caught at gully after being lured into driving a full delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy.Reddy was able to find late movement that deceived McSweeney to highlight an impressive performance of 1 for 14 from seven overs.Australia A led by just 29 runs at the fall of McSweeney’s wicket before Murphy hit a breezy 33 to frustrate India A. It was left to Mukesh to finally wrap up the innings as he clean bowled Brendan Doggett for his fifth wicket and then picked up Murphy – who was the fourth batter in the innings to fall in the 30s.

Jason Kerr says batter suffered “pretty serious” injury when rolling ankle playing football in warm-ups

ESPNcricinfo staff and ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2024

Tom Banton joins in the celebrations despite needing crutches•Getty Images

Somerset threw open the County Championship Division One title race by beating leaders Surrey in a thrilling day-four finish at Taunton – but victory came at a cost, with Tom Banton ruled out* of Saturday’s Blast semi-final rematch between the teams after rolling his ankle while playing football.Banton batted at No. 11 in Somerset’s second innings, scoring 46 in a vital last-wicket stand with Craig Overton worth 71. Surrey then collapsed from 95 for 3 to 109 all out in the final session of the game, Somerset securing victory with minutes left in the day to cut the champions’ lead at the top to eight points.Speaking before the extent of Banton’s injury was confirmed, Jason Kerr, Somerset’s head coach, conceded that it was “pretty serious”, adding that James Rew would be added to their squad as wicketkeeping cover.”Tom is an incredible talent, but so is James and we believe he has a bright future in all formats,” Kerr said. “Yesterday was a fantastic day and we need to use the confidence and momentum from that tomorrow. We know that anything can happen in the short format of the game, but the confidence in the group is extremely high and it’s a challenge that we’re all looking forward to.”Aside from Banton, who top-scored with 132 in the first innings, Somerset’s heroes were Archie Vaughan – the son of former England captain, Michael – and Jack Leach. Vaughan, playing only his second first-class match, claimed match figures of 11 for 140, while Leach took 9 for 142.Somerset’s dramatic victory kept them in touch with Surrey, the two-time defending champions, and maintained their hopes of winning a domestic treble, having also progressed to the One-Day Cup final later this month.”It was a crazy hour at the end,” Somerset captain, Lewis Gregory, said. “There were periods when not much happened, but the lads hung in there and Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan were fantastic the whole game.”To get a win with only a couple of minutes left in the match was very special. Four-day wins are some of the most pleasing you have as a cricketer because you work so hard for them.”Archie has taken to first-class cricket like a duck to water. The fact that he is more of a batter than a bowler is the really exciting bit and we believe he is going to be very good to watch with the bat over a number of years. If you throw in the off-spin he has bowled in this game, there is a mighty special cricketer developing.”Leachy is a great mate of mine. He has been through a good deal of adversity in his life and not just his cricket career. It’s great to see him back in the England squad and I’m sure he will show what he can do in Pakistan.”The coaches and myself said at the start of the season that we wanted to be in a position to challenge for trophies come September. The fact that we can still win three shows the calibre of players we have in our dressing room.”Although Surrey had their lead at the top cut, they remain in control of their own destiny with two rounds of the Championship to play – a home fixture against Durham and a trip to Chelmsford to play Essex.”We had a concentration lapse for the last hour of the game and it cost us the result,” Surrey head coach, Gareth Batty, said. “It was a very good game of cricket and we played our part in it, but Somerset deservedly take the points.”We are still top of the league and eight points clear. And, while we had a poor hour, there were still lots of positives to take from the game for us.”Archie Vaughan bowled nicely, but it is for Somerset to comment on his performance. It’s a really nice start for the lad and we wish him all the success for the future.”It will stay in the dressing room how we are feeling. We are a very tight unit and we will go into next week incredibly confident that we can do what is required at The Oval.”We meet Somerset again at Finals Day on Saturday. It will be a different format and different colour ball, but both teams have played good cricket in the group stages. There will be a few new faces in the match-ups and we will go again.”*September 13, 4.23pm BST – This story was updated following confirmation of Banton’s omission

There might still be over two months left of the summer transfer window, but Arsenal fans are starting to get a little nervous, and understandably so.

For example, Premier League title rivals Manchester City have already secured the mercurial Rayan Cherki, among other potential first-teamers, while Liverpool have smashed their transfer record to bring in the incredible Florian Wirtz.

Worse yet, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who were diabolically poor this season, are battling to sign the free-scoring Bryan Mbeumo.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as reports have now linked Arsenal to a Premier League star who has been compared to the Brentford monster.

Arsenal ramping up pursuit of Premier League star

With Arsenal’s attack being their Achilles heel this season, the club have unsurprisingly been linked with a plethora of talented frontline players, including a handful from the Premier League, such as Ollie Watkins and Karou Mitoma.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former was a surprise target for the Gunners in the winter window, and as he ended the campaign with a haul of 31 goal involvements in 54 games, it’s easy to understand why they might be interested in him again, especially at a price of around £40m.

However, the links to the Brighton & Hove Albion star are a little harder to understand, as while he did well enough this year, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in 41 games, he didn’t do enough to justify the reported £80m price tag.

Moreover, similarly to the Aston Villa ace, it’s hard to draw too many parallels to the highly sought-after Mbeumo, which isn’t the case for the Gunners’ latest target: Mohammed Kudus.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Sun, Arsenal are one of a few English teams incredibly interested in signing the West Ham United star.

In fact, alongside Chelsea, the report has revealed that Arsenal have already held ‘exploratory talks’ over the player, who will have an £85m release clause active in his contract for clubs in the Premier League ten days from July 1st.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but due to Kudus’ immense talent and potential, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Mbeumo.

How Kudus compares to Mbeumo

In this instance, the primary comparison to the Brentford star stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the Premier League this season and came to the conclusion that Mbeumo was the sixth most similar forward to Kudus in the competition.

Kudus & Mbeumo

Statistics per 90

Kudus

Mbeumo

Progressive Carries

3.40

3.43

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.24

0.20

Passes into the Final Third

1.60

1.66

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.52

0.50

Live Passes

29.1

30.7

Shot-Creating Actions

3.72

3.80

Tackles

1.32

1.29

Tackles Won

0.80

0.82

Successful Take-On %

44.2%

46.8%

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 PL Season

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked incredibly closely, such as non-penalty expected goals, progressive carries, passes into the final third, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

However, it’s not just the comparable statistics that make the two players so similar, as they are also both incredibly versatile.

For example, the Bees ace is more than capable of playing off the right, up top and even as a second striker when necessary, while the Hammers’ “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Gary Al-Smith, can play off either flank, up top and even in central and attacking midfield.

So, the former Ajax gem would provide Arteta with some of the same tactical flexibility that the Cameroon international looks set to provide Ruben Amorim or Thomas Frank.

Finally, while the 24-year-old dynamo didn’t enjoy his best campaign this year, he’s shown an ability to be as effective as the former Troyes gem.

For example, across his time in the Netherlands and then East London in the 23/24 season, the Ghanaian phenom was able to score 18 goals and provide ten assists in 48 appearances, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.71 games.

Ultimately, while it could cost them an arm and a leg, Arsenal would do well to sign Kudus this summer, as he’d provide them with another brilliant attacking option and be the perfect answer to whoever signs Mbeumo.

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford Jun 24, 2025

Chelsea have just hours to register more new signings in time for the Club World Cup, which kicks off this weekend, and Stamford Bridge officials are attempting to finalise some behind-the-scenes captures.

Chelsea working on deal for Jamie Gittens with Mike Maignan move off

After sealing their £30 million deal for Liam Delap, who will be travelling with Enzo Maresca’s squad to the CWC rather than competing in the Euros with England Under-21s, BlueCo have been trying to get two more players through the door before the 7pm deadline this evening.

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and Chelsea have been in talks with the Rossoneri over a cut-price deal, but Milan value their captain at around £25 million – a figure which Maresca’s side are not keen to pay.

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The Blues are in negotiations to sign a centre-forward, with a meeting taking place in recent days.

ByDominic Lund Jun 9, 2025

Chelsea would have preferred to fork out £10 million for Maignan, but while there was some hope that a compromise could be reached at £15 million (Dom Smith), the deal is now off according to Romano.

Meanwhile, despite time running out fast, Chelsea have also been working to finalise a high-profile deal for Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.

Chelsea had an opening bid of around £30 million rejected for Gittens, but they’re expected to go in with another offer as Maresca’s side scrap to agree a deal and bring him to the CWC.

It is believed that Chelsea have already agreed personal terms with Gittens, though Dortmund are demanding up to £51 million to sell, so this is another story to keep a close eye on today.

Luckily for Maresca, even if Chelsea miss the deadline to sign Gittens tonight, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has shared that there will be a unique registration period midway through the CWC – from June 27 to July 3 – which allows Chelsea to introduce new signings to their tournament squad right after the group stage finishes.

Chelsea make contact with Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers via representatives

So, taking this into account, Chelsea are in fact able to strengthen their team midway through the CWC – so failing to complete a deal for Gittens or Maignan by 7pm may not actually be the end of the world when it comes to their prospects of winning the competition.

Chelsea are looking to bring in a versatile attacking midfielder alongside a new left-winger in the form of Gittens, according to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, and they’ve started to lay some groundwork over a potential deal for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

As per Phillips, via his SPTC Substack, Chelsea have made contact with Rogers’ agents, and are seriously weighing up adding to their contingent of ex-Man City academy gems with a summer move for the forward – who is expected to cost around £80 million.

Chelsea would apparently “love” to sign the England international, if they consider it a realistic opportunity, and it’s not hard to see why.

Rogers is fresh off the back of a phenomenal campaign with Villa, racking up 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions. While it is claimed that the 22-year-old wouldn’t push to leave the Midlands, he’s also likely to be at least open to the prospect of a switch, according to Phillips.

Seeking instant upgrades this summer, Manchester United have now reportedly made their first contact to sign an impressive Premier League defender for Ruben Amorim.

Man Utd end Asia tour with victory

After finishing as low as 15th in the Premier League and losing in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, the last thing that the Manchester United squad needed was further humiliation. But defeat at the hands of ASEAN All-Stars and an awkward open-top bus tour through Kuala Lumpur ensured that their moments to forget only continued.

As they arrived in Hong Kong, the Red Devils would have been feeling that same concern that they’ve felt all season, especially when Juninho opened the scoring to put the hosts in front. This time, however, Amorim’s side spared their blushes and came from behind to seure a 3-1 victory, courtesy of goals from Chido Obi-Martin and Ayden Heaven.

With or without that comeback victory, the damage may have been done on Manchester United’s post-season tour, which only extended their misery.

Nonetheless, Amorim was left pleased following the Hong Kong game and singled out his young players for their efforts, telling reporters: “I really like the kids. I think Jimmy [Thwaites], in the last 15 minutes, as a midfielder, he wants to play. It doesn’t matter how many minutes. These kind of young kids are really important. They will have space in our team.

”Of course, it’s a good feeling [for Obi to score twice] but he needs to continue to train really hard because the Premier League is a different world. We have to improve as a team but I’m really pleased with the kids. Ayden proved, in every game for the first team, he is ready to be an option. Of course, he has got to improve.”

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Away from the tour, meanwhile, those at Old Trafford have also been busy working on some key upgrades, which could see Amorim handed another wing-back to slot straight into his system.

Man Utd make contact to sign Estupinan

According to Ben Jacobs, who was speaking to The United Stand, Manchester United have now made a first approach to sign Pervis Estupinan from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer. The left-back once again played an important part at The Amex, as Fabian Hurzeler’s side finished as high as eighth in the Premier League. Now, as a result, he could be on the move.

Whether the Seagulls allow their £15m left-back to leave is the big question. Hurzeler is well aware of the talent that he has at his disposal and was full of praise for Estupinan when he returned from injury in August, telling reporters: “He missed a lot of content and a lot of technical things also in the preseason. It’s important now to get from a mix between video sessions and then the pitch sessions.

“That’s why I think that he will be a great player for us again, but we shouldn’t put pressure on him because after a long injury the players need time to adapt and that will be important.”

That said, what should make any potential deal easier this summer is the fact that the Brighton star is represented by the same agent as Manchester United defender Leny Yoro – making him one to watch.

If there is one thing Arsenal have really lacked this season, it’s goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side are set to finish second in the Premier League this weekend, but as things stand, they have scored 18 goals fewer than Liverpool.

With their attacking output such an apparent weakness, it’s hardly been surprising to see the Gunners linked with a host of brilliant strikers and wingers in recent weeks, with Rodrygo perhaps being the most exciting of them all.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the North Londoners might now be looking at a potential alternative to the Real Madrid star, someone who’s been compared to Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other players linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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The former has scored an unreal 53 goals in 51 appearances this season while providing another 13 assists for good measure, so even though he’d reportedly cost the Gunners between £60m and £70m, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it.

Likewise, Mbeumo has been on fire for Brentford this season, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists in just 41 games, making his £60m price tag seem more than reasonable.

However, another name that has recently entered the picture, and someone who could be an ideal Rodrygo alternative, is Ademola Lookman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are looking for a new winger this summer, and the Atalanta star is someone they are interested in.

In fact, Plettenberg claims that talks with the Nigerian international and other players “are in full swing.”

According to stories from earlier this year, the former Napoli star could cost the North Londoners up to £55m, and while that’s a lot of money, he’d certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Saka.

How Lookman compares to Rodrygo and Saka

So, before we get to why Lookman might be an ideal alternative to Rodrygo, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it has come from.

Well, in this instance it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Englishman is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Nigerian across the last 365 days.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.78

0.79

Shots

3.23

3.39

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.53

0.63

Live Passes

33.8

33.0

Shot-Taking Actions

5.44

5.93

Interceptions

0.12

0.16

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, crosses into the penalty area, live passes, shot-taking actions and more, all per 90.

In short, there are a lot of statistical similarities between the “world-class” 27-year-old, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, and Saka, although were he to join the Gunners, he’d almost certainly have to play off the left – where he is still comfortable – which makes him an alternative to Rodrygo.

So, who comes out on top when we compare the pair’s output from this season against one another?

Interestingly, it’s actually the London-born dynamo who comes out on top, as in 39 appearances, totalling 2826 minutes, he has scored 20 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games or every 104.66 minutes.

In contrast, the Brazilian international has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3290 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games or every 143.04 minutes.

Ultimately, Rodrygo would certainly be a statement signing, but should it not materialise, Arsenal may end up better off bringing in Lookman, as he’s both more productive and incredibly similar to Saka.

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