Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has described his fifth yellow card of the season as “mind boggling”.
The Everton midfielder will miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace after reaching the threshold for a one-game suspension after only six Premier League matches.
Dewsbury-Hall’s latest yellow card came in Monday night’s 1-1 draw against West Ham for a challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters where he appeared to clearly get the ball. Writing on X, the 27-year-old said:
“Forgive me if I’m wrong, and I might be, but some of these decisions are so hard to take. Mind boggling.”
Everton 1-1 West Ham
6.43
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
6.86
Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
6.72
Everton 2-0 Brighton
6.75
Leeds 1-0 Everton
6.77
Dewsbury-Hall has impressed for the Toffees since making the move from Chelsea this summer, scoring his first goal against Wolves last month. Everton boss David Moyes agreed with the midfielder’s assessment, saying:
The international break will have come at a welcome time for Rangers and under-fire boss, Russell Martin, with the former Scotland defender having endured a miserable start to life at Ibrox.
Four points from four in the Premiership, alongside a Champions League qualifying embarrassment, has already plunged the ex-Southampton boss into crisis. Can he turn it around?
There’s no hiding from what was a miserable August, although nothing has been decided yet. The season is only in its infancy.
With 14 new signings needing to properly bed in to life in Glasgow, it may still be too soon to properly judge Martin’s tenure, albeit with the pressure on considering the nature of their summer outlay.
Roughly £30m was reportedly spent by the Gers during the most recent window, with the most notable investment having been the £8m that was splashed out on goal-shy Everton youngster, Youssef Chermiti.
That eye-watering fee – which could rise to £10m with add-ons – will bring with it a lefty weight of expectation. Is the Portuguese striker worth the risk?
Youssef Chermiti's record pre-Rangers
Three goals in 22 games for Sporting Lisbon. No goals in 24 senior outings for the Toffees. A record that points to Rangers – and former Everton chief Kevin Thelwell – gambling on potential rather than proven quality.
It is a “heck of a gamble” at that, in the words of club legend Ally McCoist, with there little evidence to suggest that Chermiti will prove to be a success in Scottish football, amid his recent woes on Merseyside.
Signed on a £15m deal by the Premier League side back in the summer of 2023, the 21-year-old has been reduced to bit-part status since then, albeit with then-boss Sean Dyche admitting in 2024 that he was recruited as a “development player” who would have fared better with a loan move.
Rather than a temporary exit, Chermiti has now secured a permanent switch to Scotland, thus marking the club’s most expensive outlay since the £12m capture of Tore Andre Flo back in 2000.
The merits of such a deal can be debated long into the night, with the Portugal youth international – who has scored seven times in 75 recorded games at academy and senior level, as per Transfermarkt – in need of a positive start to try and win over an expectant fanbase.
That said, the Light Blues’ extensive recruitment can help ease the burden on the marquee new addition, with Bojan Miovski likely to be the main man in attack for Martin and co instead.
Bojan Miovski's market value
If Chermiti is the long-term expensive gamble, then Miovski appears to be the perfect alternative, providing an experienced, ‘proven’ option who has already delivered the goods in the Premiership.
Market Movers
Described as a player who “does everything” during his time at Aberdeen by Billy Dodds, due to his impressive scoring rate and link-up play, the Macedonian marksman could prove a real coup following his £2.6m switch.
Indeed, while Chermiti is yet to flourish at first-team level, the 26-year-old has more than proven his worth in recent years, having notably scored 44 times in 98 games during his time at Pittodrie.
That impressive haul included a fine record on the big occasion, with Miovski scoring four times from just nine meetings with Rangers in all competitions, alongside netting three times in eight games against Celtic.
Livingston
7
5
Rangers
9
4
Hibs
9
4
Ross County
8
4
St Mirren
7
4
Motherwell
7
4
Celtic
8
3
While a return of four goals in 23 games for Girona last term is hardly the most eye-catching, the clinical number nine has already been there and done it for the Dons, a fact that pundit Andy Walker believes will make him a “better signing” than his new teammate:
That fact is also reinforced when considering what Miovski’s actual market value is, with the Gers having seemingly secured a bargain when considering their £2.6m investment.
As per the great minds at CIES Football Observatory, the 33-cap international has a peak value of as much as €16m (£14m), eclipsing the figure that was dished out on Chermiti.
While Rangers won’t be looking to cash in on their new addition any time soon, that valuation does point to them striking a significant profit in the years to come.
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After signing Youssef Chermiti for an enormous fee of £8m, would Rangers have been better off keeping a “rapid” attacker sold for £4m?
Newcastle United lost to Celtic in nightmare fashion in their latest pre-season test.
Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops ran out emphatic 4-0 victors over Eddie Howe’s low-on-energy Toon on Saturday, with one of the main talking points at the final whistle coming in the form of Alexander Isak.
Now being linked with a mega-money switch to Al-Hilal he was left out completely from the disastrous runout in Scotland.
Howe did insist after the game that Isak is happy to remain at the Toon for the foreseeable future, but transfer rumblings away from this ongoing situation suggest that the Premier League side do have striker targets in mind as they prepare for any possible eventuality.
Newcastle agree personal terms with £50m centre-forward
Indeed, it’s no great secret at St James’ Park that a new centre-forward is a priority this summer.
After all, even if Isak does stay, Howe only has a raw William Osula he can rely on for some back-up firepower, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko allegedly on the Toon shop-list to add more explosive options up top after Hugo Ekitike moved to Liverpool, rather than Tyneside.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
Any deal to bring the Slovenian attacker to Newcastle would reportedly cost the Premier League outfit a whopping £78m, with a far cheaper deal potentially on the horizon/
As per reports on the continent, Newcastle have now agreed personal terms with long-term target Yoane Wissa, but are still pushing hard for a club-to-club agreement with Brentford, as the Bees remain hesitant about the Magpies’ offer, having already lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United.
Brentford's YoaneWissacelebrates scoring their first goal
It remains to be seen what Newcastle have bid for the standout Brentford number 11, with previous reports suggesting he was available for around the £50m mark.
Why Wissa would be a better signing than Sesko
For such an amount, Newcastle should really be pushing hard to get a deal over the line, as the DR Congo international is a far better option than Sesko, not just in terms of being a cheaper acquisition.
Of course, nobody at Newcastle would be up in arms if Sesko were to join the building, even for such an extortionate fee.
Back in the Bundesliga, the powerful striker has garnered a reputation for being an ice-cold finisher of chances, with a bumper tally of 39 strikes coming the one-time Arsenal target’s way from 87 outings in Germany.
Yet, Wissa can boast even more strikes for the Bees than Sesko has registered for Leipzig – despite the 22-year-old’s lethal reputation – with a stellar 45 Premier League goals next to his name from 137 clashes, 19 of which came about just last season in West London.
Sekso lags just behind, in contrast, with five fewer goals in German top-flight action across the 24/25 campaign.
It’s not just goals alone that separates the pair, however, with Wissa also bettering his Slovenian counterpart in many different areas of their respective games, while also already knowing the ins and outs of the intense Premier League environment.
Total shots
2.77
2.54
Shot-creating actions
2.13
1.80
Attempted passes
18.13
22.62
Pass completion %
76.5%
66.9%
Progressive passes
2.07
1.55
Progressive carries
1.85
1.68
Touches in attacking penalty area
5.03
3.51
When looking at the table above, it’s clear Newcastle would be landing themselves an attacking diamond in Wissa for £50m, as opposed to rashly gambling on an expensive alternative.
The 5-foot-9 menace is perhaps more suited to linking up with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga in his fresh home, when you consider he trumps Sesko by averaging more shot-creating actions and accurate passes per 90 minutes over the last year.
Moreover, the “remarkable” forward – as he’s been labelled in the past by European football expert Zach Lowy – also averaged far more touches in the attacking penalty area over the last year, meaning he could be just the lively poacher-like presence Howe is searching for in the same mould as Isak.
Sesko might well be seen as a shinier, newer thing coming in from foreign shores, but if it were between the Leipzig number 30 and the 28-year-old, Newcastle should press on with sealing Wissa’s signature, especially if they’re already at the personal terms stage in proceedings.
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Tottenham Hotspur will have to balance the books soon by making key player sales, especially with the plethora of non-locally trained players in their squad, which could result in them having to submit a weakened Champions League squad.
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Spurs need to sell players due to a key UEFA rule.
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Due to UEFA rules, Spurs require at least eight ‘locally trained’ players to be named in their 25-man list, and if they cannot meet this quota, then their total of A-list players will be reduced to make up the deficit.
While Morgan Gibbs-White’s potential arrival – which has now been delayed due to legal complications – could have a positive impact on this, given he came through the Wolves academy, their recent signing of Mohammed Kudus means that the north Londoners currently boast around 24 non-locally trained players in their current squad, even if this does include the likes of Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil, Yang-min Hyeok, Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Taking this into account, The Telegraph reports that Tottenham will need to sell at least one player this summer, and there are plenty of candidates.
Gil and Solomon are very likely to be sold after spending 2024/2025 out on loan at Girona and Leeds United respectively, with the former already confirming his intention to leave N17 in the coming weeks.
“That’s something my agent will tell me where things are going, but they [Spurs] told me, and I told them, that the best thing is for us not to continue being linked to Tottenham,” said Gil to Estadio Deportivo in April.
“They bet on me when I was young, and they’ve treated me fairly well, but if I have to go back there, I’ll focus on giving my best as always. I’m calm because no one can have a bad word to say about me not being professional. Without playing, I’ve always trained well, I’ve done what I had to do, so whatever has to happen, will happen. We’ll see where we are next year.”
Son Heung-min has entered the final 12 months of his contract and may be sold by Spurs, according to recent reports, with Yves Bissouma also attracting interest from Turkey.
However, another option could be injury-plagued striker Richarlison.
Richarlison likely to leave Tottenham as Vasco de Gama phone him
They’re very unlikely to make a substantial fee back off the £60 million they paid Everton to sign the Brazil striker in 2022, but Tottenham’s signings of Gibbs-White and Kudus will only push him further down the attacking pecking order.
Spurs are also still interested in signing Brentford star Yoane Wissa, and if they were to sensationally bring in the Bees star too, it would surely draw the curtain on Richarlison’s north London career.
The 28-year-old, barring a fine purple patch under Ange Postecoglou midway through 2023/2024, has found life very difficult at Spurs overall – with journalist Leonardo Lacerda, via Bolavip, sharing that clubs in Brazil could offer him a route back home.
Lacerda is quoted saying that Vasco de Gama president, Pedrinho, has personally phoned Richarlison to gauge the possibility of a transfer, but the ex-Watford man also has admirers in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s happening! President Pedrinho, accompanied by a member of the Vasco leadership, contacted Richarlison directly through a phone call,” said Lacerda.
“The goal was to get a closer look at the striker’s situation, as he’s unlikely to remain at Tottenham next season. In addition to Vasco, the striker is attracting interest from Fluminense, Flamengo, and Palmeiras. Two Saudi Arabian clubs have also entered the fray—Al Ahli and Al Ittihad.”
With Richarlison emerging as a real man in demand, it is now Levy’s task to set a realistic asking price, with reports suggesting Spurs will let him go for around £20 million.
With Habib Diarra and Reinildo already on their way, Sunderland have now reportedly stepped up their pursuit of an 11-goal striker by submitting an opening offer.
Who Sunderland could sign after Diarra and Reinildo
Both Diarra and Reinildo stand out as impressive signings for a promoted side and the former should particularly make his mark in Wearside next season. But the Black Cats still have work to do. Keeping hold of their Premier League place will be an incredibly tough task – just ask the last six sides that attempted to do so – and further investment will be key.
Even after splashing out a club-record fee for Diarra, the Black Cats have reportedly set their sights on signing the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, although that would be at a bargain price thanks to his current status as a free agent.
The Frenchman left Everton at the end of last season and could now get the chance to stay put in the Premier League courtesy of Sunderland. It’s a deal that would work for both parties too. Doucoure’s experience would be invaluable next to younger talents like Diarra and the player, himself, is still more than good enough for England’s top-flight.
He’s not the only name on Sunderland’s wishlist, though. Those at the Stadium of Light have also reportedly set their sights on Bournemouth’s Hamed Traore. Like Diarra, the attacker set Ligue 1 alight last season and could now earn a permanent move away from the Cherries, be it thanks to Sunderland or another club this summer.
Ligue 1 seems to be where it’s at for Regis Le Bris’ side too, amid further reports that they’ve now submitted an opening offer to sign an impressive striker from France’s top tier.
Sunderland submit opening offer to sign Abline
As reported by Foot Mercato, Sunderland have now submitted an opening offer worth €20m (£17m) to sign Matthis Abline from FC Nantes this summer. The Black Cats already made contact with the French side about the forward earlier this summer and have now made their first move in pursuit of his signature.
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Whether their £17m offer is enough to complete is a question that Sunderland may have an answer to soon enough. Nantes have already told Marseille that they’ll only sell their star striker for €50m (£43m) in the coming months, but whether clubs outside of France will have to pay such a premium fee remains to be seen.
Described as an “instinctive finisher” who’s “quick” and “direct” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Abline scored 11 goals in all competitions at Nantes last season and could now have the chance to repeat that record in the Premier League when August arrives.
Nottingham Forest have now made an offer to sign another striker after securing a move for Botafogo’s Igor Jesus.
Nottingham Forest to sign three Brazilians for £33m
The Reds are yet to officially announce their first summer signings, however, they have reportedly agreed a deal worth £33m for three Brazilians from Botafogo.
Currently at the FIFA Club World Cup, Botafogo are set to lose, Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano to Forest, with the former of the three arguably the player who Forest need the most.
A centre-forward, Jesus looks set to rival Chris Wood for a starting spot under Nuno Espirito Santo and is actually a senior Brazil international.
Former Brazil manager Dorival Junior heaped praise on Jesus, 24, following his call up to the national squad.
However, with Jesus set to rival Wood at the City Ground, Forest don’t look to be stopping there when it comes to attacking additions.
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In fact, another centre-forward could be on the cards as the Reds plan for the 2025/26 Premier League season and the Europa Conference League.
Nottingham Forest make bid to sign Yoane Wissa
According to reports from Africa Foot, Nottingham Forest have stepped up their interest in Brentford striker Yoane Wissa.
It has been claimed that Forest have made a bid to sign Wissa after ‘accelerating their transfer efforts’. The Bees want up to €40m (£34m) and it is thought that Forest are ‘ready to meet the financial demands set’.
Dubbed a “goalscorer” and also wanted by Tottenham, the DR Congo international has been a solid performer in London since joining back in 2021.
Games
149
Goals
49
Assists
13
Alongside Bryan Mbeumo, Wissa enjoyed his best season of his career in front of goal in 24/25, netting 19 Premier League goals in 35 games.
Still just 28 years of age, Wissa would arrive with plenty of top flight experience and came in for praise from former manager Thomas Frank back in April.
“He has been very good. How many teams have their number nine that has scored 15 goals? May be Alexander Isak and Erling Halaand? That is exceptional for him. A big credit. He has been very good and having Wissa and Bryan on 15 goals and more I think we are the only club with that.”
Of course, Frank forgot to mention Wood when it came to 15+ goal league strikers, but now, we could see the New Zealand star’s spot in the side under threat, should Forest sign Wissa alongside Jesus, making this one to watch.
With a deal for Florian Wirtz all but wrapped up, the question remains as to just where the exciting German will line up in Arne Slot’s Liverpool side, amid his mega-money arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 22-year-old’s time in the Bundesliga – which yielded 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 games for Leverkusen in all competitions – saw him operate in a number ten berth, or off the left flank, thus handing Slot something to think about heading into next season.
An educated guess would suggest that the youngster is being brought in with the view of replacing Dominik Szoboszlai in a central role, with the workmanlike Hungarian only registering eight goals and nine assists across all fronts last term.
Should that prove to be the case, there is still a headache to be solved on the left flank, not least with both Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo having been linked with exits in recent weeks.
Whether or not the Premier League-winning duo do depart, there is still a need to acquire a nailed-on first-choice in that wide berth – something which could happen if recent speculation is to be believed.
Liverpool targeting move for a new winger
While signing a new centre-forward also remains a priority for Slot and co, it would appear that there is also a focus on strengthening on the flanks, with long-term target Anthony Gordon still seemingly on the agenda.
Further reports have also claimed that Liverpool could be in the mix for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, amid the Brazilian’s uncertain future at the Bernabeu, albeit with it yet to be seen what role the Brazilian will have under new boss, Alonso.
More recently, meanwhile, it has been reported that the Reds are plotting a move for Paris Saint-Germain sensation, Bradley Barcola, with the Premier League champions said to be ready to rival Bayern Munich for the Frenchman’s signature.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The belief is that Liverpool could continue to spend big even after Wirtz’s arrival, with it likely set to require an offer of over £100m to prise Barcola from the Parc des Princes, after just two seasons in Paris.
For a player who cost £38m amid his move from Lyon in the summer of 2023, the Ligue 1 side would be making a sizeable profit on the 22-year-old if that asking price is met.
Paris St Germain's BradleyBarcolareacts
The question now is, would Barcola really be worth £100m?
Why Barcola would be a good signing for Liverpool
After a quiet year or so on the transfer front, with Federico Chiesa the only senior arrival last summer, the Merseysiders have sprung into life this time around, with the marquee move for Wirtz showcasing that they aren’t afraid to splash the cash.
Florian Wirtz
Like Wirtz, Barcola would be a long-term addition who can also make an immediate impact, such is his quality at such a young age, having been hailed as “one of the most exciting talents in Europe” by scout Jacek Kulig.
Yes, he may have been somewhat overshadowed by Champions League final hero, Desire Doue, of late, although the ex-Lyon starlet is a devastating asset in his own right, as evident by his moment of magic in that Munich showpiece.
Picking the ball up just inside the Inter Milan half, the wing wizard delightfully surged his way into the opposition penalty area, before producing an exquisite drag back that left the goal gaping.
Sadly for those of a PSG persuasion, they were denied what would have been “one of THE great Champions League goals” – as per TNT’s Darren Fletcher – as Barcola hit the side netting, albeit with the build-up alone illustrating just what a talent he is.
That was no flash in the pan either, with the £100m man having been in stunning form throughout 2024/25, after registering 40 goals and assists in 58 games in all competitions, including seven in the Champions League.
For comparison, the aforementioned Gakpo recorded ‘just’ 25 goals and assists during Liverpool’s title-winning season, with only four of those having come in Europe’s premier competition.
Non-penalty goals
0.47
0.47
Assists
0.39
0.20
Shot-creating actions
4.24
3.83
Pass completion
81.9%
75.1%
Progressive passes
3.33
2.66
Progressive carries
5.45
3.13
Successful take-ons
1.74
1.45
Touches in opposition box
8.95
5.35
Progressive passes received
15.17
12.77
As evidenced above too, when comparing the duo across the last 365 days, it is Barcola who comes out on top across a string of metrics, namely assists, progressive carries and touches in the attacking penalty area – further outlining why he could enhance Slot’s forward line.
To further rubberstamp the point, Barcola already has 54 goals and assists to his name in just 97 games for his current side, while Gakpo is only just ahead on 58 goal involvements, despite playing 128 times for the Reds.
Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch with the Premier League title.
The Dutchman has, of course, proven a hit at Anfield amid his role in Slot’s debut season heroics, but if the club are keen to kick on again and cement their domestic dominance, then a figure like Barcola may be just what is needed.
A bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool now in talks to sell £50m star
Liverpool should think twice about parting ways with this talented first-teamer.
Aston Villa have booked a medical for a transfer target after agreeing terms over a four-year deal at Villa Park, and he could be the club’s next Jhon Duran.
How Jhon Duran is doing in Saudi Arabia after Aston Villa sale
It looked as if the 2024/25 season would be Duran’s big breakthrough campaign under Unai Emery, especially after he scored a famous winner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League league phase.
Games
78
Goals
20
Assists
1
Minutes played
2,275
However, despite being a regular in the first half of the season, Duran was sold by Villa to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the January transfer window. Talking after moving to Saudi Arabia, Duran said: “I’m really happy about the move. People in general and the media speculate about a lot of things. I think of only my family, my agent and me. I know why we make the decisions that we make. My family are especially important in these decisions. I don’t think it’s a backwards step for me. I’m moving to a competitive league and there are many stars here.”
Al Nassr's JhonDuranreacts
Villa could go on to receive more than £70m after only signing Duran for £18m from Chicago Fire in January 2023, and the Colombia international has gone on to score on a regular basis for his new employers. In 18 appearances for Al-Nassr, Duran has scored 12 goals, partnering Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.
Villa are now on the search for their next attacking gem, and they feel they may have found it in likely first summer signing Zepiqueno Redmond following talks last month.
Aston Villa book medical to sign Zepiqueno Redmond
According to Football Insider and reporter Pete O’Rourke, Aston Villa have planned for Feyenoord forward Redmond to have his Midlands medical early next week.
The teenager has agreed a four-year deal with Villa and a move will be made official when his Feyenoord contract expires at the end of June.
Aged just 18, Redmond can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder alongside his centre-forward role, and according to O’Rourke, ‘Emery and Monchi believe the Netherlands youth international can become as successful as Duran, the last teenage striker they signed.’
It is a big claim, and if Redmond can have the success Duran did in the Midlands, then Aston Villa will definitely be onto a winner and could go on to make big money further down the line.
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Fabrizio Romano has called Redmond “a talent” and “a striker with important potential”, with clubs in Italy also keen on the forward before Villa made their move.
The youngster will arrive at Villa after scoring two senior goals for Feyenoord in just nine appearances, so we may see him in Emery’s match day squads from the off in 25/26.
The transfer window is just around the corner, and it feels set to be an era-defining one for Arsenal.
While a third second-placed finish on the bounce is far from ideal, Mikel Arteta’s side have proven without a shadow of a doubt now that they are one of the very best teams in the country, but they’ve also shown that they lack a cutting-edge up top.
Therefore, it’s hardly been surprising to see the club linked with a host of talented strikers in recent weeks and months, with two of the most significant being Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoheads at goal
However, while either would surely improve the Gunners, recent reports have linked them to someone who’d be a better signing than both.
Arsenal's Sesko & Gyokeres alternative
Before getting to the superstar in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other centre-forwards who have been touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks, like Julian Alvarez and Joao Pedro.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former has been linked with the North Londoners quite heavily over the last week or so, and while it would be hard to pry him away from Atlético Madrid a year after he joined them, it would be worth trying as in just 54 games this season, he has scored 29 goals and provided seven assists.
On the other hand, Pedro could be available for close to £100m, which, for all his undeniable talent, does feel a little steep, as he’s only played 30 games this season, in which he’s scored ten goals and provided seven assists.
Joao Pedro celebrates for Brighton & Hove Albion.
In other words, the Brazilian marksman doesn’t feel like he’d be a better signing than Sesko or Gyokeres, unlike Alexander Isak.
Yes, according to a recent report from the Mail Online, the Newcastle United striker remains in the picture ahead of the summer.
While the report claims that a transfer feels unlikely due to his price tag now being ‘north of £100m,’ it also reveals, crucially, that the Swedish international is ‘Arteta’s preferred choice.’
It would be a complicated and costly deal to get over the line, but given Isak’s unreal ability, it’s one well worth going all out for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Sesko or Gyokeres.
Why Isak would be a better signing than Sesko & Gyokeres
So, let’s start off with the most straightforward and significant reason why Isak would be a far better signing than Sesko: his output.
For example, in just 42 appearances for the Toon this season, totalling 3324 minutes, the 25-year-old “bagsman,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 27 goals and provided six assists.
That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 100.72 minutes, which is undeniably superb.
Appearances
42
45
Minutes
3324′
3258′
Goals
27
21
Assists
6
6
Goal Involvements per Match
0.78
0.6
Minutes per Goal Involvement
100.72′
120.66′
In contrast, the Leipzig star has found the back of the net 21 times and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes this season, which comes out to a good but less impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.
Now, that might be a little crude, but when it comes down to a striker, the most important metric is their raw output, and when it comes down to it, that’s something the former Real Sociedad star has over the Slovenian.
However, things get a little more complicated when it comes to Gyokeres because, by that same logic, his absurd haul of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances suggests he’d be the better poacher to bring to the club this summer.
Yet, that’s not the case, and the crucial reason why is that the former Coventry City gem has no experience of football in a top five league.
There is a genuine risk that the Stockholm-born star could be a repeat of Darwin Núñez, who moved to Liverpool off the back of producing 38 goal involvements in 41 games for Benfica in the 21/22 campaign and just finished this season with a haul of 14 goal involvements in 47 games.
Ultimately, if Arsenal can, they should be doing all they can to sign Isak this summer, as he’s already a far better goalscorer than Sesko and has far more experience playing and thriving in the toughest competitions than Gyokeres.
Better than Sane: Arteta makes £50m winger Arsenal's new priority signing
The international star would be a great addition to Arsenal’s squad this summer.
And so, it all comes down to this. A pivotal game that could not only define a season, but also define the future of Manchester United.
Victory in the Europa League final would see United sneak into next year’s Champions League, providing the benefit of additional funds and an extra negotiating tool for upcoming transfer negotiations.
It would also provide a welcome boost for the early Ruben Amorim regime, a moment to kickstart a tenure that has been largely wretched on the Premier League front.
The Portuguese coach has repeatedly stated that winning the competition would not be enough to “save” the club’s season, although the prospect of potentially finishing empty-handed and in 17th in the table is too grim to ponder.
In truth, the Red Devils simply have to win. The problem is, the same will be true of Tottenham Hotspur, amid the need to end their own 17-year barren run with regard to silverware.
With so much riding on a game of immense magnitude, Amorim and co can’t afford any passengers – something which a certain Rasmus Hojlund is looking like right now.
Rasmus Hojlund's game in numbers vs Chelsea
While Ange Postecoglou took the decision to rest his key men against Aston Villa on Friday – with Micky van de Ven among those left out of the matchday squad at Villa Park – Amorim opted for a different approach at Chelsea, having deployed what could well be his starting lineup for tonight’s clash in Bilbao.
The worry for the former Sporting CP boss will be that despite an encouraging opening, which saw Harry Maguire’s fine finish chalked off for offside, the Red Devils still ended up on the losing side, having again failed to provide that cutting edge in the final third.
Amid what was the eighth league game in succession without a win for the Old Trafford side, chances were few and far between, with Amad Diallo coming closest with an effort from the angle late on.
For Hojlund, meanwhile, it represented yet another game this season in which he failed to even register a shot in the top-flight, having merely been a bystander to proceedings at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, the struggling Dane lost the ball on 13 occasions from his 26 touches, as per Sofascore, having also failed to complete a single successful dribble, alongside recording a 65% pass accuracy rate.
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A particular issue remains the 22-year-old’s desire to engage in needless battles with opposition centre-backs, as he ultimately won just two of his 11 total duels, getting little change out of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.
Amorim subsequently stated that he is “really happy” with the former Atalanta man, although perhaps the Portuguese is merely attempting to gee up the misfiring marksman, amid the lack of an obvious alternative through the middle.
Games (starts)
14 (10)
Goals
6
Shots*
1.5
Big chances missed
4
Goal frequency
154min
Assists
2
Big chances created
5
Key passes*
1.3
Total duels won*
36%
Possession lost*
5.4
Indeed, it might be time to consider actually replacing Hojlund with a wildcard solution, even if it would be a risk in a game of such importance…
How Man Utd can replace Hojlund
With just ten goals to his name in 2024/25, including just four in the top-flight, Hojlund is approaching the end of a miserable second season in Manchester, having failed to build on a debut campaign that saw him finish as the club’s highest scorer in all competitions.
Those woes have ensured that it would be worth considering a potential centre-forward replacement for Wednesday night’s clash, albeit with options limited due to Joshua Zirkzee’s recent absence through injury.
The Dutchman has been pictured in training, alongside Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot, although whether he will be rushed back into the action this evening remains to be seen.
One solution may be to trial Kobbie Mainoo in that role once again, following his surprise start as a striker against Crystal Palace in February, albeit with that experiment failing to work out as the youngster ‘faded after the first 15 minutes’, as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
Man Utd top scorers
The aforementioned Maguire, meanwhile, should surely only be a last resort in the dying embers of a game, with the Englishman needed to hold the fort defensively, amid concerns over the likes of Matthijs de Ligt.
With that in mind, Amorim may instead need to call upon talismanic skipper, Bruno Fernandes, to slot into a false nine berth, with the 30-year-old yet to be trialled in that role in this 3-4-3 system.
The Portugal star has previously played in that central berth in the past, having notably worked in tandem with Scott McTominay as part of a front two in last year’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
A player of invaluable versatility and quality, the playmaking “genius” – as hailed by Erik ten Hag – appears to thrive wherever he is deployed, with such a switch then allowing Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte to offer greater defensive solidity as part of the midfield two.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes, meanwhile, could then be flanked by two of Alejandro Garnacho, Amad and Mason Mount in the number ten berths, with that fluid frontline potentially able to cause problems for a Spurs side who have endured their own notable woes this term.
A further benefit of that switch would be Fernandes’ ability to drop deep and drag the likes of Van de Ven and Cristian Romero with him, rather than the alternative of Hojlund attempting to engage in a duel with the stellar duo.
As The Athletic’s Jay Harris has noted, ‘with Van de Ven and Romero in the starting XI, Spurs can play thrilling football and look capable of competing for trophies. Without them, they look mediocre.’
Trying to get the better of the centre-back pairing will be vital at San Mames, with Fernandes able to give the two men something more to think about, rather than being content in dealing with the hapless Hojlund.
Yes, it would be a bold call to make such a switch for a final, yet with his performance at Stamford Bridge having been so underpar last time out, Hojlund can’t merely be guaranteed of start simply because of the lack of alternatives.
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