Nottingham Forest have a new manager at the helm in Ange Postecoglou, and he may already be about to sanction his first major piece of business since arriving at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou speaks after appointment
Nuno Espirito Santo has now left the East Midlands after his public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis proved to be the final nail in the coffin for their relationship, in a development offset by Edu Gaspar’s appointment as sporting director.
Ultimately, the Tricky Trees opted to go in a different direction, and they didn’t wait long to secure their replacement. Postecoglou arrives with a Europa League title to his name and the question now surrounds how his high-octane style of play will take shape on the River Trent.
Speaking ahead of his first match in charge of Nottingham Forest against Arsenal, the Australian manager made it clear that his attacking mode of operation will be a key feature of his next career step in the Premier League, even if it isn’t the only trick up his sleeve.
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With anticipation growing surrounding how Postecoglou will take to life in his new role, he may have already sanctioned his first piece of transfer business at the club.
Nottingham Forest's Jota Silva set to sign for Besiktas
According to Fabrizio Romano on social media platform X, Nottingham Forest winger Jota Silva is set to join Besiktas on an initial loan deal with an option for the Turkish giants to purchase the Portugal international.
In a transaction that could see the Tricky Trees earn £17 million between the fee for his loan agreement and future permanent transfer, Marinakis may earn some funds for Postecoglou ahead of the January window once all is signed and sealed.
With the former Vitoria Guimaraes man flying to Turkey today, he will bring the curtain down on his time in England, which resulted in four goals and three assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.
Dan Ndoye’s arrival has left Nottingham Forest well-stocked in the wide areas, so being able to offload a spare part for a healthy sum is a pleasing development for supporters.
Leeds United have had a busy summer in the transfer market as they look to avoid the pattern of newly promoted teams being relegated from the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side have spent over £70 million this summer, but one of their most notable signings was Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton.
After completing his transfer, Calvert-Lewin spoke about how Farke convinced him Leeds was the right destination for him: “I also spoke with the manager prior to this and we had a really good conversation, and he was a centre-forward himself. So, he was just explaining how the life of a centre forward is, and he gave me a feeling of a lot of understanding, and it made me really excited to work with him as well.”
Calvert-Lewin has adapted his game as he has got older in a way that he contributes to the team in ways other than goals, and he expressed that he is looking forward to “continuing the things that I am good at but also bringing new aspects and new facets to my game”.
With multiple players through the door, one of the club’s biggest figures in recent years could be on his way out.
Meslier receiving interest from "boyhood club"
Leeds United’s keeper Illan Meslier could be returning to his “boyhood club”, FC Lorient, according to Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri.
Leeds United's IllanMeslierreacts
Meslier was born in Lorient and joined their youth team when he was nine years old. He rose through the ranks of the academy and eventually made 30 first-team appearances before being loaned out to Leeds, who subsequently bought him on a permanent transfer.
The French keeper has fallen out of favour at Leeds, and Lorient have now “made contact with #LUFC to inquire about the possible conditions of a transfer”.
The French side have already signed a goalkeeper this summer with Bingourou Kamara on a free. Kamara, alongside 36-year-old Benjamin Leroy, are the club’s only keepers, meaning that they’ll likely have to strengthen their depth in this area again this summer. If the next keeper they sign is Meslier, then he would likely be an immediate starter.
Meslier's Leeds decline
Meslier’s career at Leeds looked likely to be over even before the interest from Lorient. During pre-season, Meslier was starting behind 34-year-old Karl Darlow, and he fell even further down the pecking order when the club signed Lucas Perri.
The signing of a new goalkeeper felt inevitable after last season’s Championship campaign, where Meslier’s performance left a lot to be desired. He underperformed his xG faced by 2.73 goals, putting him in the bottom 20% of goalkeepers despite his team’s promotion.
He was also in the bottom 3% of players for errors that led to a goal, with his mistakes being punished on three separate occasions. Going forward, he wasn’t much better, and his long ball distribution only had a 27.3% success rate, which put him in the worst 15% of goalkeepers.
Perri is not the perfect goalkeeper, but he does improve upon £30,000-a-week Meslier in several key areas. Chief among these is his save rate compared to his xG faced as Perri was expected to concede 48.95 goals but only ended up conceding 44 league goals last season. This means that where Meslier concedes chances that he should be saving, Perri often pulls off unlikely saves.
It seems a near-impossible task for Meslier to re-establish himself as Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper, so a move to his boyhood club might be the best outcome for all parties.
Two big Italian clubs are worried that Liverpool are “really serious” about a highly-rated player they both want to sign this summer.
Van Dijk demands more after Community Shield defeat
The Reds lost to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday afternoon, losing on penalties after a 2-2 draw, never quite getting going after a promising start. Captain Virgil van Dijk conceded a penalty and wasn’t at his imperious best, and speaking after the game, he demanded more from Liverpool with the new Premier League season approaching.
“We all have plenty of experience, winning and losing. What kind of impact it should have is that we realise we need a couple of things that we have to improve as a team if we want to retain the title, which obviously will be a very big job in itself.
“We have a recovery day tomorrow and then we fully focus on Bournemouth, which will be a very tough game. But I’m really looking forward to the start of the Premier League. Friday at home with our fans, we know it’s going to be emotional obviously with everything that is going on and happened. But I’m really looking forward to it.”
Liverpool supporters will be hoping to see more transfer business completed at both ends of the pitch this month, and now a new update has emerged regarding their pursuit of a new centre-back.
Liverpool "really serious" about signing "complete" ace
According to Tuttosport [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are “really serious” about £34.6m-rated Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni, amid plenty of interest in him this summer.
Both Inter Milan and AC Milan are also keen on signing the 18-year-old, with the report stating that the Serie A giants need to “watch out” for the Reds hijacking a move for him. Meanwhile, Parma Live claim that the Merseysiders are “in pole position” to get their man.
Napoli's Romelu Lukaku in action with Parma's GiovanniLeoni
A new centre-back is imperative for Liverpool before the transfer window closes, with rumoured target Marc Guehi impressing for Palace against them on Sunday.
Leoni could be a cheaper option than the Eagles captain, however, as well as being seven years younger, with scout Jacek Kulig among those who admire him, describing him as a “complete” player.
At just 18, Leoni is already an established player at a high level, starting 14 matches in Serie A for Parma last season, as well as averaging 3.6 clearances per game.
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Unlike Guehi, the Italian is also more likely to be content with a squad role at Liverpool to begin with, given his age, and he could prove to be an ideal understudy to Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
It seems that Everton are looking to completely overhaul their attack this summer. David Moyes’ side have lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who departed the club after his contract expired. French under-21 striker Thierno Barry signed as his replacement.
Indeed, Moyes will no doubt be hoping for more consistency in front of goal. The Toffees were one of the Premier League’s lowest scorers last season, with Understat detailing that they managed just 42 goals. That was better than just three sides in the top flight, all of whom were the relegated trio last season.
Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin is replaced by Beto.
However, an increase in goals will not only come from the strikers, but those playing in behind them, too. That is perhaps why the Toffees are heavily linked with a new attacking midfielder, too.
Everton target new attacking midfielder
It is clear to see that Moyes wants more goals from his attack. Barry is a statement signing for the present and future, and Charly Alcaraz, who made his loan move from Flamengo permanent, is also a clear sign.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Now, Everton are seemingly plotting a move for Manchester City and England international Jack Grealish. According to The i Paper, the Toffees manager is ‘a huge admirer’ of the former Aston Villa star, with the club ‘ready to make a pitch’ to the 29-year-old.
However, they are by no means the only side in for Grealish. West Ham United are one of the Premier League sides who will rival Everton for his signature, with Serie A winners Napoli also in the conversation.
Grealish was valued at £40m earlier in the summer, but the Merseysiders may only want a loan move for the England star.
Why Grealish would be a good signing
There is no doubt that the last 12 months or so have been tough for Grealish. He has not had any level of consistent game time at the Etihad Stadium, and did not make City’s Club World Cup squad over the last month or so.
Manchester City's JackGrealishon the substitutes bench
In the 2024/25 campaign, Grealish played just 32 games for Pep Guardiola’s side. In that time, he scored three goals and managed five assists. In 2025, the attacker played just seven games in the Premier League, featuring for more than half an hour once in that time.
Yet, let’s not forget the contribution Grealish has made overall in his 190 Premier League appearances so far. He is a three-time champion and has 27 goals and 31 assists. In the 2020/21 campaign, he contributed 18 goals and assists in 26 games for Villa.
If Everton manage to pull this signing off and bring Grealish to the Blue half of Merseyside, he could be their new James Rodriguez.
The Colombian was described as “an intelligent, top player” by legendary manager Claudio Ranieri, and was sensational in a Toffees shirt.
James-Rodriguez-celebrating
He only played 26 games for the club in the 2020/21 season, but had a huge impact. Rodriguez bagged six goals and created nine across all competitions, bringing creative flair to their side from the number 10 role.
That is certainly the impact Grealish would love to replicate. Described as a “special” player by former Arsenal player Paul Merson, he could bring the same game-changing ability to the Hill Dickinson Stadium that Rodriguez showed at Goodison Park.
The stats via Squawka from the 2020/21 campaign show just how similar the pair are. For example, Grealish averaged 0.8 goals and assists and created an average of 3.3 chances per 90 minutes. In comparison, the Colombian averaged 0.7 goal involvements and created 2.1 chances each game.
Grealish and Rodriguez key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Grealish
Rodriguez
Goals and assists
0.8
0.7
Chances created
3.3
2.1
Forward passes
13
12.2
Take-ons completed
2.7
1.8
Touches
65.2
72.6
Ball recoveries
5.2
6.3
Stats from Squawka
If Grealish can replicate the form he showed in his final season at Villa Park, he can surely be the second coming of Rodriguez. The creative impact he possesses and the ability to drive his team forward is certainly similar to the former Toffees star.
Man City's Jack Grealish warming up with Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji.
This is, in many ways, a risk-free deal for Everton. Signing a player with the talent of Grealish on loan could be a smart move, especially if he can replicate what Rodriguez did for the club all those years ago.
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On a slightly cooler evening in Dubai, with semi-final qualification hopes in the balance, India brought their A-game to the fore to thrash Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2024. They put on their best batting show – perhaps the best among all teams in the tournament so far – and then were clinical with the ball and on the field to send the Asia Cup champions packing from the tournament.Batting first, India rode on half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to post 172 for 3, the highest total in this T20 World Cup. They then skittled Sri Lanka out for 90 to register an 82-run win, India’s biggest in T20 World Cups, with Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana picking up three wickets apiece. As a result of their massive win, their net run rate (NRR) jumped to 0.576, better than Pakistan’s and only behind Australia’s. This is notable as their NRR had taken a beating following the 58-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match.
Shafali, Mandhana remind us what India missed
Before Wednesday, India’s opening stands against Pakistan and New Zealand were 18 and 11 respectively. In a tournament where batting first seemed to give teams an advantage, India batted second in both their matches. India got to bat first after Harmanpreet won her first toss and the openers set about their task steadily.Sri Lanka pressed their spinners into service and both Shafali Verma and Mandhana found it tough to break free. Shafali took the aerial route for India’s first four in the third over and did so again in the fourth and the fifth. She was on 24 off 20 in the fifth over; at that point Mandhana was on 6 off 10. But in a pattern different from the previous game, she was not being impatient or trying too hard.Smriti Mandhana was rapid after the first six overs•Associated Press
Mandhana finally got going with a smack over the left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari’s head as India ended the powerplay on 41 for 0. She also slogged another left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera for a six over wide long-on in the next year to signal the gear change. India managed to hit at least one four in each over between the third and the ninth. Chamari Athapaththu kept India guessing by giving her bowlers one-over spells till the 13th over, by then Mandhana overtook Shafali to get to a fourth T20 World Cup half-century.
Harmanpreet says hello from No. 3
It took a run-out to end India’s opening partnership at 98, their third-highest in T20 World Cups, when Athapaththu and Ama Kanchana – brought in for Hasini Perera – combined to catch Mandhana short on 50. On the very next ball, Athapaththu had Shafali miscuing a heave to cover. That over meant Athapaththu ended the one-spell strategy and bowled a second over in the spell – the 13th and the 15th overs.Having batted at No. 4 against Pakistan, Harmanpreet came in at No. 3 and was soon joined by Jemimah Rodrigues before she even faced a ball. Few batters in the Indian line-up are at ease against spin than Rodrigues. She used the sweep to first put Ranaweera away and then moved in her crease to pull Athapaththu to the deep square leg boundary.At the other end, Harmanpreet hit Kumari for a four and a six to ensure the openers’ platform did not go to waste. Rodrigues soon fell for 16 off 10 – she was given a life at 13 when Kavisha Dilhari dropped a dolly at deep midwicket – but played a vital role in injecting momentum after two quick wickets.By then, Harmanpreet, with a cushion of a long batting line-up to follow, cut loose. She first paddled Kanchana past short fine leg before hitting two fours to spoil Athapaththu’s figures. Ranaweera could not hang on to a powerful hit at cover when Harmanpreet was on 22. She hit Kanchana and Prabodhani for two fours each in the last two overs to bring up only her third half-century in T20Is since the 2023 T20 World Cup. That blitz – 52 not out off just 27 balls – helped India take 46 off the last four overs, the most by any team in this T20 World Cup.Renuka Singh struck twice in the powerplay to dent Sri Lanka•Getty Images
She had retired hurt against Pakistan due to a neck injury, and had come for the toss with a pain-relief patch on the right side of her neck but was termed fit for this game. However, she did not take the field in the chase, with Mandhana captaining the team.
Sri Lanka slide in chase
Heading into the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka had the most wins since April last year and their win-loss ratio was better than that of India and Australia. Because they had hunted down 166 to win their maiden Asia Cup title, it would have been a tad premature to write them off in the 173-run chase in Dubai. But India were on the money from the word go, and never let them even get a sniff.An athletic effort from Radha Yadav, substitute for Harmanpreet, on the second ball of the chase set the tone. She ran back to her right from backward point and dived full length to catch a miscue from Vishmi Gunaratne. Mandhana then handed the new ball to Shreyanka Patil at the other end, ahead of Deepti Sharma. Patil responded by pushing one slightly quicker and getting it to spin away, enticing a defensive, hard-handed poke from Athapaththu to gather the edge to slip. When Renuka Singh had Harshitha Samarawickrama, the star of the Asia Cup final, feather an outside edge in the third over, the challenge was almost quelled.Legspinner Asha then joined the party in the middle overs, picking up three wickets using the sharp spin available to undo the batters. Her biggest wicket was that of Anushka Sanjeewani, who was the enforcer in the 37-run fourth-wicket with Dilhari. After floating a few up to the batter, Asha pulled the length ball to deceive the Sri Lanka wicketkeeper, with Richa Ghosh stumping her. Asha and Reddy, the Player of the Match against Pakistan, struck regularly through the middle overs. Both finished with identical figures of 3 for 19, Reddy’s efforts creditworthy after she was taken for 12 in her first over. For the third game in a row, Sri Lanka finished with a double-digit total in this competition.It was an outing that raised India’s hopes of a semi-final qualification, with their last league game against Australia on Sunday.
Manchester United could trigger the £45m release fee in the contract of a “phenomenal” striker on Tuesday evening as the clause runs out within a matter of hours.
Man Utd eyeing Gyokeres alternatives
With widespread reports suggesting that Viktor Gyokeres is closing in on a move to Arsenal, Man United have been forced to move on to alternative options, and contact has recently been made over both RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.
Despite a deal for Gyokeres now looking very unlikely, there are several options on the shortlist for Ruben Amorim, many of whom were prolific in front of goal during the 2024-25 campaign.
Target
Current club
League goals in 24/25
Benjamin Sesko
RB Leipzig
13
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
16
Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea
10
Dusan Vlahovic
Juventus
10
Luis Suarez
Almeria
27
Last week, it was also revealed that United had made an offer for Fiorentina striker Moise Kean, off the back of an impressive campaign for the former Everton man in the Serie A, but it was seemingly not high enough to tempt the Italian club into a sale.
However, Fiorentina would be powerless to prevent Kean’s departure if the Red Devils were to trigger his release clause, and a report from Italy (via Sport Witness) has revealed they could do exactly that before it expires within the next 12 hours.
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The report states: “At this point, the situation is tightening. Kean never accepted Al-Qadsiah’s offer, nor did he comment on Al-Hilal’s interest, which had contacted his entourage in recent days. Manchester United’s prospect should not be underestimated, as the Red Devils could make a move for the 2000-born player during the final hours of his release clause.”
The centre-forward’s release clause amounts to €52m (£45m), but it expires on Tuesday at midnight, meaning United will need to move swiftly if they are keen on a deal for the Fiorentina star.
"Phenomenal" Kean may deserve another chance in England
The striker’s time at Everton didn’t go exactly to plan, scoring just two goals in 29 Premier League games during the 2019-20 season, but his performances in Italy last season indicate he could deserve another chance in England.
Fiorentina'sMoiseKeancelebrates scoring their second goal
The Italy international bagged 25 goals for Fiorentina in all competitions, while also earning himself high praise from Italy legend Christian Vieri, who said: “We do have Kean and Retegui. They are two very good strikers. If they play together they are very dangerous. Kean is a phenomenal striker, a phenomenal centre forward.”
Perhaps the 25-year-old’s most memorable strike was his opening goal in his side’s 2-1 victory over Genoa in February, beating the goalkeeper with a remarkable effort on the spin.
That said, given that Kean’s last spell in the Premier League was way below par, it would be a surprise if Man United were to trigger his release clause before it expires on Tuesday evening.
This summer has been a testing one for Arsenal fans so far.
Unlike Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, the North Londoners are yet to confirm a single signing, with the one positive piece of news coming out recently being that of Gabriel Magalhaes’ contract renewal.
Moreover, following reports from Fabrizio Romano, it looks like there is a real chance that Thomas Partey could be the latest player to leave for free this summer, following fellow midfielder Jorginho.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetareacts
Fortunately, the club seem incredibly close to securing the services of Martin Zubimendi, and if reports are to be believed, they are looking to sign another international star who’d be an even more exciting acquisition.
Arsenal's next transfer after Zubimendi
After months of speculation following Sami Mokbel’s initial exclusive around Zubimendi’s move to Arsenal back in January and the countless times it looked like he might be heading elsewhere since then, Romano helped to reassure fans on Friday evening by confirming that the Spaniard’s £55m move to the club was signed.
The Real Sociedad ace, who has long been a target for top sides from Liverpool to Real Madrid, will add some real quality to the middle of the park for the Gunners’ and if his performances for Spain are anything to go by, he is more than just a defensive midfielder.
However, given how long we’ve known about this potential deal and the fact he is, first and foremost, a six, it’s easy to understand why the excitement might not necessarily be there for some fans. After all, the North Londoners’ biggest problem this season was scoring goals.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
So, there’s a hope and an expectation that the next player the club focuses on will be an out-and-out attacker, potentially someone like Rodrygo.
The good news is that that may be what happens, according to a recent report from The Mirror.
The story has revealed that while a deal may take some time to happen this summer, the Gunners’ interest in the Real Madrid star is ‘genuine.’
Moreover, while he won’t come cheap, the report claims that a fee in the region of £70m may be enough to tempt Los Blancos into selling.
While that is still a lot of money, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Arsenal, and as he’d be a far more exciting signing than Zubimendi, this is a deal they should be pushing for.
Why Rodrygo would be a more exciting signing than Zubimendi
Well, simply put, while Zubimendi might be able to have just as much of an impact on the team’s performances from the base of midfield, Rodrygo would be a more exciting signing because attackers are what get people on their feet.
It might sound terribly reductionist, and we are sure there are a few purists who prefer to watch a defensive midfielder, but when it comes down to it, the vast majority of fans want to see goals, and with the Real Madrid gem, that’s what they’d get.
Since the start of the 23/24 campaign, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has scored 32 goals and provided 20 assists in 104 appearances, totalling 7,202 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 138.5 minutes over a two-year period.
Appearances
52
52
Minutes
3777′
3425′
Goals
18
14
Assists
9
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.51
0.48
Minutes per Goal Involvement
139.88′
137′
What makes those numbers all the more impressive is that for most of the last two campaigns, the Brazilian international has been forced to play out on the right or up top, and while he can evidently still do that to great effect, he is primarily a left-winger, so just imagine how good he could be in his natural position.
However, perhaps just after goals, the next most exciting thing to see on a football pitch is a winger who runs at, takes on and beats his opposing defender, which is a skill the former Santos gem has in spades.
According to FBref, he sat in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers for carries into the final third in La Liga this season, the top 12% for carries into the penalty area and the top 15% for successful take-ons, all per 90.
Those stats help to show that not only is the 24-year-old an incredibly positive runner with the ball and someone who can spearhead attacks, but he also possesses the ability to get past full-backs and centre-backs.
For comparison’s sake, Gabriel Martinelli sits in the bottom 42% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for successful take-ons per 90, so fans would notice a big improvement on the left in that regard.
Ultimately, Zubimendi looks like a great signing for Arsenal and someone who can help them control games next season, but due to his output, tenacity and ability on the ball, Rodrygo would be a far more exciting addition to the team.
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The midfield monster would be a game-changer for Arsenal.
Manchester City mean business at this summer’s Club World Cup.
On Wednesday, the Citizens announced their squad for this summer’s tournament in the United States and it is certainly star-studded, featuring new recruits Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Aït-Nouri.
The Sky Blues commence their campaign against Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday, before also taking on Al Ain and then Juventus in the group phase, with many backing Pep Guardiola’s team to go all the way.
Meantime, back home, as they turn their attention to the future, are Man City about to secure the services of the “exceptional” next Phil Foden?
Manchester City's spending spree continues
Man City can no longer register any new players for the group stages of the Club World Cup, but that doesn’t mean transfer activity doesn’t continue behind the scenes.
The Citizens have already splashed out around £30m on Cherki, while spending bigger fees of £46.5m on Reijnders and £31m on Ait-Nouri. Their next move could be a great deal cheaper.
Rayan Cherki
Indeed, according to a report by David Ornstein and Jordan Campbell of the Athletic, Manchester City are ‘close to reaching an agreement’ as they seek to sign Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg.
Subject to personal terms being complete, it will be a record fee for a player from the Norwegian top-flight, said to be around £17m according to previous reports.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The plan is for Nypan to spend next season on loan at La Liga side Girona, also part of the City Football Group network of course, so it’ll be a little while before we see him donning a sky blue shirt, but Man City supporters should still be excited.
How Sverre Nypan compares to Man City's current midfield star
Despite being just 18 years old, having made only 70 appearances for Eliteserien side Rosenborg, scoring 14 goals, Nypan is one of the most highly sought-after young players in the world.
Seb Stafford-Bloor of the Athletic documents his ‘remarkable’ rise, labelling him a ‘mighty prospect’, outlining that he is predominantly a number eight, but can also be deployed as a number ten.
Nypan is Rosenborg’s youngest-ever player, debuting at the age of just 15 years and 322 days back in November 2022, before also becoming the Troillongan’s youngest-ever goalscorer, netting against champions Bodø/Glimt in the Arctic Circle the following May.
As part of the Guardian’s Next Generation of 2023 series, Michael Yokhin praised Nypan’s “superb ability to read the game and vision”, analyst Ben Mattinson believes he is an “exceptional talent”, while Jacek Kulig from Football Talent Scout asserts that he has a “huge future ahead”.
So, let’s assess his statistics.
Sverre Nypan 2024 Eliteserien statistics
Statistics
Nypan
Eliteserien rank
Minutes
2,106
64th
Goals
8
15th
Assists
6
6th
Big chances created
7
22nd
Shots per 90
2
18th
Key passes per 90
1.4
25th
Successful dribbles per 90
1.4
12th
Average SofaScore rating
7.28
18th
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table outlines, Nypan is the creative hub of Rosenborg’s team, ranking very highly for all metrics included, which is very impressive for an 18-year-old, especially when considering that, according to Global Football Rankings, the Eliteserien is the 26th strongest league in the world.
Right now, Man City’s creator in chief, following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, is likely to be Phil Foden.
Manchester City star Phil Foden
The England international was sensational in 2023/24, picking up every individual accolade going, as the numbers below highlight.
Phil Foden’s statistics 2023/24
Statistics
Foden
Man City rank
Minutes
4,114
2nd
Goals
26
2nd
Assists
13
2nd
Shots
154
2nd
Shot-creating actions
182
2nd
Goal-creating actions
31
1st
Attempted take-ons
118
2nd
Carries into final third
92
2nd
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com
At his best, Foden is the heartbeat of this Man City side, ranking incredibly highly for every attacking metric, something Nypan is replicating, albeit of course at a lower level for now.
Stefan Bienkowski of Transfermarkt praises Nypan’s ‘exceptionally high football IQ’, adding that he handles the ball very well, much like Foden.
Thus, it is clear that the teenager is a high-potential player, surely making him a Man City star of the not-too-distant future.
Bid incoming: £67m star is now finished at Man City after Cherki arrival
With Rayan Cherki having arrived at Manchester City, as part of the Sky Blues’ big spending spree, one star could be on his way to a PL rival.
Arsenal have been handed a boost in the race to sign an “exciting” player for manager Mikel Arteta, with his transfer preference coming to light ahead of what will be a crucial summer window for new sporting director Andrea Berta.
Arsenal planning to make seven major signings this summer
Berta is expected to have a busy debut window at the Emirates Stadium, with as many as seven major signings anticipated, according to some reports.
Arsenal "ready to pay" asking price for Prem star who Arteta and Berta want
The Gunners boss and director are in agreement.
By
Emilio Galantini
Apr 26, 2025
GiveMeSport believe £300 million could be spent on the acquisition of a new second-choice goalkeeper, full-back, potentially two midfielders, a new left-winger, right-winger and striker, although some of these plans may have changed.
Arsenal’s final Premier League games
Date
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
Newcastle United (home)
May 18th
Southampton (away)
May 25th
With Arsenal now attempting to tie Thomas Partey down with a new contract, the need for two central midfielders has been pushed aside for now, but perhaps it could come back to the forefront if an agreement can’t be found on fresh terms.
The need for another left-back is obvious, with Kieran Tierney joining Celtic on a free transfer in July and Oleksandr Zinchenko likely to be sold. Jakub Kiwior can play in that position when required, as can Riccardo Calafiori, but Arteta has admitted that Arsenal need strength in depth if they’re to mount a more successful Premier League title challenge next season.
Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with the exit door and Leandro Trossard’s deal expires in 2026, while both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s injuries exposed Arteta’s lack of depth up front recently – forcing Arsenal to use Mikel Merino as an emergency striker.
Goalkeeping number one David Raya also needs competition to keep him on his toes, and Neto is due to return to Bournemouth when his loan deal expires.
Joan Garcia likely to choose Arsenal move over Man United and Man City
According to Spanish news outlet Sport, promising young Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia remains on the club’s radar under Berta’s leadership.
RCDEspanyol'sJoanGarciain action with FC Barcelona's Hector Fort
The 23-year-old agreed personal terms with Arsenal last summer (Fabrizio Romano), but a move ultimately fell through. Garcia is set to have plenty of options again this year after another excellent season at Espanyol, and elite Premier League sides are in the mix, including Arsenal, Man United and Man City.
As per Sport, Garcia is likely to choose a move to Arsenal over City and United, with the Gunners seen as English favourites to sign him. However, Berta must also be wary of competition from abroad, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also keeping firm tabs.
Garcia’s contract includes a £21 million release clause right now, but it could rise to £25 million if a club chooses to snap him up 15 days before the window shuts.
“An uber-athletic keeper with dominant cross-claiming, composure on the ball, standing at 6’3” tall, García is an exciting keeper ready for a step-up,” wrote Football Analyst Ben Mattinson about the keeper.
“García is such an athletic GK. His legs are so powerful and springy enabling him to generate more power to reach the ball. Good flexibility, agility and his proactiveness enable him to be an alert shot-stopper in the box and recover to make double saves.”
Tottenham Hotspur face Nottingham Forest tonight, looking to build on their tremendous victory in the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.
Ange Postecoglou’s side booked their place in the semi-finals, setting up a clash with Norwegian outfit Bodo Glimt, with the majority of their attention on such a fixture.
However, the Lilywhites will look to end their Premier League campaign on a high, in what has been a hugely disappointing one by their usual high standards.
They have the opportunity to dent Forest’s ambitions of securing a Champions League place, led by former boss Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked in North London after just 17 games in all competitions.
If Ange’s side are to claim all three points this evening, he will have to drop one player who’s failed to deliver when handed the opportunity from the start in recent weeks.
Why Ange should drop Johnson against Nottingham Forest
Welsh winger Brennan Johnson has failed to match his early-season form, which saw him register a goal in six consecutive games across all competitions.
The 23-year-old has only found the back of the net twice since the end of February, with his showing against Frankfurt in midweek certainly one to forget despite the victory.
He featured for 85 minutes of the contest, completing just 69% of the passes he attempted, whilst winning just two of the six duels he entered – often being dominated in the final third.
His total of just 22 touches, an average of one every 3.8 minutes, showcased his lack of impact when on the ball, needing to be replaced as a result of his poor showing.
With little to nothing left to play for other than pride in the league, Ange could take the clash with the Reds to experiment with his first-team, potentially handing a rare start to one other first-team member.
The player who Ange must start against Nottingham Forest
Injuries have massively plagued Ange throughout the majority of this season, hugely preventing any chance of rising up the table – having to often utilise players out of position.
Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecoglou
The likes of Archie Gray and Ben Davies have often had to fill the void at the heart of the defence, with numerous forwards missing, leaving Johnson with very little competition in the process.
Wilson Odobert is just one player who’s spent an extended period on the sidelines throughout 2024/25, restricting him from making an impact after his £25m move from Burnley last summer.
The Frenchman has only featured in 14 games across all competitions, most of which have come from the substitutes bench, but it hasn’t prevented him from making a huge impact.
In one of his most recent starts for the Lilywhites, he scored twice in the Europa League triumph over AZ Alkmaar – only making one start since his impressive showing nearly six weeks ago.
Whilst he was an unused substitute in the win on Thursday night, it could be an opportunity for Postecoglou to shuffle his pack and hand the 20-year-old just his sixth league start.
He’s completed 1.8 dribbles per 90 in the league to date, whilst also registering the same amount of efforts on goal, having the attacking threat to add to the front line.
Games played
10
Minutes played
448
Pass accuracy
86%
Successful dribbles
1.8
Shots taken
1.8
Duels won
4.3
Touches in opposition box
5.8
Odobert, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by Jacob Horsfall, has the drive and threat with the ball at his feet that could cause the opposition backline no end of trouble tonight.
It’s the perfect opportunity for the youngster to impress, potentially staking his claim for a starting role in the Europa League, having a massive part to play in their quest for a first trophy since 2008.
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