Tag Futebol

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was certainly backed by the board with new recruits to improve the squad during the summer transfer window.

The Premier League giants swooped to add Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko to their attacking ranks to completely transform their front three.

Mbeumo has produced one goal and one assist in seven appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, whilst Cunha is still looking for his first goal contribution for the club.

Meanwhile, Sesko has scored two goals in his last two appearances in the top-flight and has scored two goals in four starts in the division since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer.

The Slovenia international will be hoping to kick on from here and prove that he can be a consistent and lethal goalscorer for the Red Devils for many more years to come.

If he can do that, Sesko could be considered to be Amorim’s new Viktor Gyokeres, as the Arsenal striker was such an integral part of the manager’s success with Sporting.

Why Gyokeres was so important to Amorim at Sporting

Amorim won the Liga Portugal title in the 2023/24 campaign after signing the Swedish striker from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, after finishing fourth and second in the two previous seasons.

Gyokeres was so important to the Portuguese manager in that 2023/24 season because his immense performances at the top end of the pitch led Sporting to glory, winning the league title for the first time in three years.

The towering centre-forward was an absolute monster for Sporting. He scored and created goals at an exceptional rate as their number nine after his move from the second tier in England.

Shots on target

58

Top 1%

xG

22.71

Top 1%

xG on target

28.33

Top 1%

Goals

29

Top 1%

xA

6.08

Top 1%

Assists

10

Top 1%

Chances created

54

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, Gyokeres was the best striker in the division. He ranked at the top of the pile in pretty much every key metric as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

These statistics show that the right-footed forward was incredibly consistent for Amorim, given his output, which is why he was such an important player for the manager.

The Manchester United coach has not had a consistent attacker in that vein at Old Trafford, though, as no player managed more than eight goals in the Premier League last season, per WhoScored.

Whilst Amorim will be hoping that Sesko can be his next Gyokeres, there is a central defender who is becoming the manager’s next version of the striker.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Netherlands international Matthijs de Ligt may not be a lethal centre-forward who is going to score 30 or 40 goals in a season for the Red Devils, but his consistent performances at the back could make him the linchpin of Amorim’s team moving forward.

Why Matthijs de Ligt could be Ruben Amorim's new Viktor Gyokeres

The best teams in the world are built around top-quality players who deliver consistently impressive performances over the course of a season.

Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. Erling Haaland at Manchester City. Vitinha at PSG. Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid. Gyokeres during his time at Sporting. The list could go on.

The best teams all have several players who deliver consistently every week, which is what Amorim had with Gyokeres in Portugal, and De Ligt may be starting to show that he can belong in that category of player.

The Netherlands international is a no-nonsense central defender who joined the club from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, but it has taken him a bit of time to adjust to the intensity of the Premier League.

Not every player hits the ground running at a new club. Some players need time to adapt to their environment, and it appears as though de Ligt has finally found his feet in England.

Appearances

29

7

Sofascore rating

6.91

7.04

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.1

3.2

Clearances per game

3.1

5.1

Ground duels won per game

1.5

2.6

Aerial duels won per game

2.0

3.6

Ground duel success rate

61%

69%

As you can see in the table above, the former Ajax and Juventus star has stepped up at the start of this season after a fairly average first year in the Premier League with the Red Devils.

His improved ground duel success rate, in particular, suggests that he has adapted to the intensity and physicality of the division, as he is anticipating situations and reacting to danger quicker, which means that the centre-back is winning a higher percentage of his duels on the deck.

Former United star and England international centre-back Rio Ferdinand has noticed the improvement in De Ligt this season, praising the defender last month: “Matthijs de Ligt has been magnificent this season, solid in all departments.

“I think he’s put himself in place to be the first name on the sheet if we go by [Leny] Yoro being a sub at the weekend. De Ligt now looks like the number one choice defender in the team form the manager’s point of view.”

De Ligt has started all seven of his appearances in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, which backs up Ferdinand’s claim that the Dutchman is the first-choice defender for Amorim at this moment in time.

The 26-year-old star, who still has time left to improve even more, has improved throughout his time at Old Trafford, as evidenced by his aforementioned statistics, and he now looks like a consistent performer who can be relied upon by Amorim.

Not JJ Gabriel: Man Utd brewing homegrown Cunha in "dynamic" 18-year-old

Man Utd could have their next Matheus Cunha in the academy ranks.

1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 11, 2025

That is why De Ligt is on his way to becoming the manager’s new Gyokeres, because he could fall into that bracket of players who deliver consistent performances in successful teams, if he can keep up his current level of performance in the Premier League.

تحدث سامي قمصان المدير الفني للمقاولون العرب، عن فوز فريقه على مودرن سبورت في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وحقق المقاولون العرب فوزه الأول هذا الموسم على حساب مودرن سبورت بهدفين مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما في الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الممتاز.

طالع.. المقاولون العرب يُعلن تعيين سامي قمصان مديرًا فنيًا للفريق

وقال قمصان في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “فوز اليوم جاء في توقيت جيد جدًا بالنسبة لنا، هذا أول فوز لنا منذ حوالي 11 مباراة”.

وأضاف: “فريق المقاولون كبير ويمتلك تاريخًا كبيرًا، وهو أكثر فريق بعد الأهلي والزمالك يمتلك بطولات”.

وتابع: “كان من المهم عودة الثقة للاعبين، والمباراة الماضية لم يحالفنا التوفيق، لكن الحمد لله ربنا أكرمنا اليوم”.

وواصل: “كانت لدينا فترات كبيرة طول المباراة كنا فيها الأفضل، وعندنا ثقة كبيرة في اللاعبين، وأضعنا أهدافًا كثيرة، وأعتقد أنها كانت ممكن تحسم المباراة مبكرًا، لكن في النهاية أشكرهم على الجهد”.

واختتم: “لاعبو الفريق كانوا يلعبون تحت ضغط عصبي كبير، من أجل عودة الثقة والانتصارات وعودة الفريق لمكانه الطبيعي”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O volante Léo Naldi voltou a participar de uma partida com a camisa da Ponte Preta após ficar quatro jogos longe dos gramados por conta de uma lesão dupla no músculo posterior da coxa. Na partida diante do Juventude, Naldi completou 29 jogos pela Macaca e superou a marca de jogos jogos realizados em sua primeira temporada com a camisa da equipe alvinegra, em 2021, quando realizou 27 partidas em toda a temporada.

RelacionadasListasGustavo Scarpa pode deixar a Inglaterra, Internacional anuncia novo técnico… O Dia do Mercado!Listas19/07/2023Futebol NacionalQuais são as mascotes dos times brasileiros?Futebol Nacional16/07/2023Mercado do EsporteLiga ainda pode sair? Entenda o que muda com os últimos movimentos de Libra, LFF e Grupo UniãoMercado do Esporte08/07/2023

A meta agora do volante é superar a marca de jogos realizado na temporada passada: 46 no total. Para que isso aconteça, o volante precisa participar de 19 jogos dos 21 restantes da Macaca na temporada e o foco é justamente esse, retomar a posição e voltar ajudar a Ponte Preta dentro de campo, assim como aconteceu na partida diante do Ju.

– Fico feliz em voltar atuar, principalmente, estou muito agradecido ao Deepartamento Médico, aos meus fisioterapeutas particulares e a todos que me ajudaram, agora quero pensar em bater essa marca e ajudar a Ponte – afirmou.

Naldi também estabeleceu uma meta ainda mais ousada, em sua primeira temporada, o volante marcou 5 gols, em 2022, apenas um e, até aqui, balançou a rede duas vezes, o volante planeja também atingir a meta de gols marcados e superar sua primeira temporada.

– Gols é uma coisa que eu me cobro bastante então espero poder novamente voltar a balançar as redes e quem sabe bater o número também para ajudar dentro de campo – explicou.

Se por um lado, em 2022, Naldi balançou as redes menos vezes, por outro lado, foi o ano em que mais deu assistências, foram cinco no totais, e o jogador que também melhorar no quesito. Neste ano, Naldi deu apenas uma assistência e quer melhorar no fundamento para ajudar a alvinegra.

– As assistências também tem saído, fico muito feliz de ajudar também nesse quesito e, se daqui pra frente, puder evoluir nisso também, vou conseguir evoluir meu desempenho e isso é bom – explicou.

INTERESSE
Com contrato com a Macaca até 2025, o volante despertou muito interesse de diversos clubes durante os últimos tempos. Vasco, Botafogo, Fortaleza e clubes do exterior consultaram a situação do jogador junto a Ponte Preta, entretanto a Macaca fez jogo duro para liberar o jogador e pediu o valor integral da multa para liberar o jogador.

De volta aos gramados e, com tudo para retomar o bom momento, a situação nesta janela deve se repetir e a Macaca deve sofrer outras investidas pelo volante que se destaca há pelo menos três temporadas defendendo as cores da equipedeCampinas.

MatériaMais Notícias

O futuro de Luís Castro ainda não está decidido. O treinador comandou um treinamento na manhã desta terça-feira (27) e depois se reuniu com John Textor para tratar sobre assuntos do clube. O técnico afirmou que está focado no jogo do Botafogo na Sul-Americana e só deve dar um posicionamento oficial depois da partida de quinta-feira (29). A informação foi publicada primeiramente pelo “O Globo”.

RelacionadasBotafogoVeja cinco motivos GLORIOSOS para Luís Castro não trocar o Botafogo pelo Al-NassrBotafogo27/06/2023BotafogoASSINA, ESCOLHIDO! LANCE! CRIA ABAIXO-ASSINADO PARA O ‘FICO’ DE LUÍS CASTRO NO BOTAFOGOBotafogo27/06/2023BotafogoLaterais apresentam atuações seguras e comprovam bom momento do BotafogoBotafogo27/06/2023

O comandante tem demonstrado muita maturidade e tranquilidade com esta situação. O LANCE! conversou com fontes de dentro do clube, que relataram não ter existido nenhuma mudança de humor ou comportamento do treinador nos últimos dias. O interesse do Al-Nassr, pelo menos por enquanto, não tem interferido no trabalho do técnico no Glorioso.

+ Corinthians encaminha venda de joia, “novela” Luís Castro ganha novo capítulo… o Dia do Mercado!

+ Com proposta do Al-Nassr na mesa, Luís Castro comanda treino normalmente no Botafogo

A proposta do Al-Nassr existe e tem balançado Luís Castro. Além dos valores, os familiares do português também enxergam com bons olhos uma ida para Arábia. O Botafogo quer oferecer uma renovação de contrato e uma valorização salarial para tentar convencê-lo de ficar.

+ Até 50% OFF em produtos Alvinegros para os torcedores fanáticos!

Muitos torcedores alvinegros torcem pela continuidade do trabalho e têm realizado campanha nas redes sociais pedindo pela permanência de Luís Castro. O Botafogo é o líder do Brasileirão e vive um momento especial na temporada.

Sunderland now have two home games on the bounce to try and restore the confidence that saw the Black Cats hammer West Ham United 3-0 on the Premier League opening day.

While it likely isn’t a priority competition this season, winning in the EFL Cup against Huddersfield Town later today would come as a welcome treat after losing 2-0 away at Burnley, before a home clash with Jordan Henderson’s Brentford then awaits back in the hustle and bustle of league action.

After the Bees come to Wearside, the next main event on the agenda will be transfer deadline day, with Sunderland not yet done with all their busy activity heading into the chaotic affair.

Sunderland ready to bid for £30m defender

A mammoth £141.5m has already been splashed by Regis Le Bris and Co. this summer.

However, the Black Cats are not completely finished forking out excessive wads of money if new rumours are to be believed, with £30m potentially being spent to try and land RC Strasbourg star Dilane Bakwa, who was previously on Leeds United’s radar.

Moreover, a similar amount of cash could also leave the Sunderland bank account shortly in attempting to land Chelsea reserve defender Axel Disasi.

Indeed, journalist Fabrice Hawkins has taken to X to confirm that the Premier League newcomers are ready to place a bid for the 27-year-old’s services to shore up their options in the centre-back department, with AFC Bournemouth also in the race for the Frenchman.

He could well cost another £30m to get over the line, according to reports, but with Sunderland now waiting on the extent of Daniel Ballard’s injury, after he hobbled off versus the Clarets, snapping up Disasi might well gift Le Bris a dream alternative to the injury-prone centre-back.

How Disasi compares to Ballard

It’s hardly a new development for Sunderland fans regarding Ballard going down with a knock.

Therefore, the alarm bells must have been ringing when the Northern Ireland international had to come off the pitch at Turf Moor after just 10 minutes, considering he has missed 67 clashes in total – since joining Sunderland back in 2022 – due to regular visits to the Stadium of Light treatment room.

This is where the addition of the “dominant” Disasi could come in handy, as he’s been labelled previously by scout Jacek Kulig, with the lofty 6-foot-3 defender showing off an ability to fire home chances – much like Ballard with his seven Black Cats goals and counting – when being in the right place at the right time to slot home this effort on his Blues debut two years ago.

He is also similar to the much-loved Sunderland servant in many other aspects of his varied game, as evident in his promising 2023/24 season in West London.

Games played

31

Goals scored

2

Assists

0

Touches*

82.1

Accurate passes*

64.3 (91%)

Ball recoveries*

4.8

Clearances*

3.1

Total duels won*

4.3

Clean sheets

5

Before somewhat sliding down the pecking order at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, Disasi was a regular in the heart of the Stamford Bridge defence, and for good reason, with a composed 64.3 accurate passes averaged in league action during his first season in the first-team fold. Ballard averaged an 88% pass accuracy himself last campaign in the Championship, when he wasn’t stricken by injury.

Moreover, the table shows why Disasi was referred to as a “monster” by journalist Rahman Osman during his Blues peak, with a high 4.3 duels won on average across his 31 league starts.

Ballard did just better this tally last season in the demanding second tier – with 4.6 won on average – but Le Bris will know he can depend on the 27-year-old to come in and fill in for the ex-Arsenal defender if needed.

After all, while he didn’t set the world alight out on loan at Aston Villa last campaign, he did at least prove himself to be a useful utility option for Unai Emery, with 100% of his duels being won against Nottingham Forest during his penultimate Premier League outing at Villa Park.

Ideally, Sunderland will want Ballard to be fit and starting week in, week out, having already been a star in the top-flight when scoring versus West Ham.

But, if Disasi is available at the last minute, he might well be a smart buy to pursue to lessen the Black Cats’ ongoing worries about their fragile number five.

New Le Fee: Sunderland leading race to sign "very exciting" £30m star

Sunderland is now in the lead to snap up this exciting £30m talent.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 26, 2025

“There’s definitely not panic stations in our change rooms,” Boland says of the mood in the camp after the Perth reversal

Alagappan Muthu30-Nov-2024

Scott Boland gets his cap from Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese•Getty Images

Even as the Perth Test was coming to a close, some of Australia’s reserves had begun training for the day-night Test in Adelaide. That might come in handy now, especially for Scott Boland, as he contended with the first day of the practice game between the Prime Minister’s XI and the Indians struggling to get underway. Boland, who got the call about Josh Hazlewood’s side strain “a couple of days ago”, is favourite to make the XI in Adelaide next Friday and play his first Test since the early part of the Ashes in July 2023.”Obviously I haven’t played a heap of cricket in the start of this season, but I feel like I’ve played enough cricket to feel like I’m in a really good spot,” he said on Saturday afternoon. “My body’s feeling really good now. I had a couple of niggles that were a little bit sore, but knee and foot are feeling really good and I’m confident how the ball’s coming out.”Our last net session in Perth was for me and Josh Inglis, we went pink ball for quite a few overs. So getting it in the hand then and then obviously the overs we can get in probably tomorrow by the look of this weather will be valuable as well. Then Adelaide on Monday, then just a normal prep before a game. So have a good bowl two days before the game and then just prepare to play.”Related

Uncertain Australia walking a tightrope in Adelaide

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal open, Shubman Gill fifty at No. 3 in warm-up

Webster bolsters Australia squad amid Marsh concerns

Race to the WTC final: India back on top after Perth win

Undercooked Australia lose the plot in Perth

Australia’s defeat in Perth has set off alarms on the outside – their top-order batters folded pretty quickly in both innings and the bowling was unable to stop India from piling on the runs the second time around. While Boland admitted a need to go back to the drawing board, he said they wouldn’t be making wholesale changes.”There’s definitely not panic stations in our change rooms,” he said. “There’s obviously going to be some chats around individual performances and everyone wants to perform really well every game they play. But yeah, it’s like, we’ve lost one game. It’s not toys out of the cot, I don’t think.”We’ve spoken as a team about our plans for all the different Indian batters. I won’t tell you those, but we’ve got pretty set plans. They might have a little bit of a tweak after the guys have seen them again from Perth, because obviously [Yashasvi] Jaiswal batted really well there. KL Rahul batted well in the second dig as well and really digged in. So we’ll probably have a chat over the next week and our plans might slightly change, but I’m pretty confident what we did in the first games was good.”There was also a suggestion that the workload Australia’s bowlers had to get through made a difference in the outcome of the Perth Test. “I think our bowlers bowled really well as well,” Boland said. “Maybe the only difference was that the Indian bowlers got a really nice long break between their first innings and second innings where our break wasn’t as long.”‘Probably thought maybe the opportunity had passed’The last 15 months have been frustrating for Boland, kept on standby for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood all through the summer, and then suffering an injury in the winter, which cut his county cricket stint at Durham down from four months to just one day.There aren’t many teams that are unable to fit in a fast bowler capable of holding a line and length all day long. Boland averages 20.34 from ten Test matches – but those ten Test matches are only a fraction of what Australia have played (31) in the time since his debut in December 2021.”Obviously those guys [the big three Australia quicks] have been so resilient, they don’t miss too many and no one must give up their spot at any stage,” Boland said. “And they’re so dominant, so last summer they weren’t bowling a heap of overs, but we’re still able to win most of those games.”So yeah, I probably thought maybe the opportunity had passed, but I’ve worked really hard in the off-season to get my body in a spot where I’m confident that if I get another chance I’ll be able to perform it for Australia again.”I just knew if I put the conversations I had with Ron [Andrew McDonald, the head coach] and George [Bailey, the chief selector] over the pre-season – when I was rehabbing a lot was to try and get my body in the right spot – that I didn’t want to rush anything and then re-injure something and then push my return to play back date a while. So we took it pretty slow with my rehab.”Boland’s run-in to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy included a Sheffield Shield game, where he took 3 for 104, and the Australia A vs India A game, where he took 1 for 87 across two innings.”Played the second game for Victoria and then I’ve missed a couple and then played the ‘A’ game. So I’ve had a pretty good prep and then now it’s just about building up, getting the intensity up in this game here and then in the night sessions as well before Adelaide.”Pink-ball rhythmsBoland’s primary skill – getting the ball to nip off the seam – lends itself to pink-ball cricket, especially when conditions start to turn really helpful as day goes to night. He averages 13.71 from two day-night Tests.”Usually there can be two different games in the one game,” he said. “You can bowl during the day when the sun’s out and it doesn’t do a whole lot, and then you get to the night session and the ball starts moving around a bit. So I think it’s just for the bowlers, we just communicate really well together about what the ball is doing and how the pitch is playing and then just sort of flicking between those modes as quick as you can.”Strategy can sometimes be shaped by the pink ball as well. “I feel like the teams that bat first can sort of time when they want to bowl, if they bat really well on their first day, because if you get a newish ball at night, it can be pretty lethal,” Boland said. “If batters are coming in, they’ve batted through the daytime, they get through to the night session. I think it’s been a couple of instances where the ball hasn’t dominated the bat. I think maybe last year at the Gabba [against West Indies] we took the new ball and didn’t get as many wickets as what we would have hoped in that night session.”But now back to Adelaide, I think they produce a really good cricket wicket that really suits the pink ball and helps it last a bit longer because it does get a little bit softer after 30, 40 overs compared to a red ball.”

Manor Solomon was an integral part of Leeds United’s unbelievable promotion heroics last season in the Championship.

By the close of the season, the tricky 26-year-old winger would be held in very high esteem by Whites supporters everywhere, with a blistering ten goals and 12 assists tallied up by the number 14 across 39 league games helping to clinch the title for Daniel Farke’s champions.

Unfortunately, Solomon is yet to return to Elland Road after the loan move expired, as the promotion hero attempts to settle back into Premier League life at Tottenham Hotspur under new boss Thomas Frank.

That isn’t to say Leeds haven’t tried to land an explosive winger in the same vein as the skilful Spurs attacker, as another target down the flanks now appears on Farke’s shopping list this summer.

Leeds keeping tabs on £4m star

There are still a couple of weeks before the transfer window slams shut, meaning not all hope will be completely extinguished just yet regarding Solomon triumphantly moving back to West Yorkshire for good.

However, a summer move for Igor Paixao is certainly dead in the water, as the former Feyenoord man opted to join Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille right at the start of the month, despite Leeds’ insistent advances.

The Brazilian would have cost the Whites a significant £30m to land, with a far cheaper target now reportedly in their sights to boost their options on the left wing.

As per Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, Farke and Co. are keeping tabs on Fiorentina attacker Riccardo Sottil as an alternative name to add strength down the left channel, but will face competition from Italian outfits Torino and Sassuolo for his signature.

Only valued at around the £4m mark, according to Football Transfers, this could well be a golden, cost-effective move to make on Leeds’ end, especially if Farke can rework his Solomon magic on Sottil.

Why Sottil can become Farke's next Solomon

After all, the reserve Spurs attacker was in dire need of his spirits being lifted when he arrived in West Yorkshire last summer.

Solomon was just fresh off a campaign that was derailed by serious injury, but the former Fulham forward had shown off enough flashes of quality at Spurs – with two assists from six clashes in North London – to be considered a worthwhile risk to go after.

Leeds will deem a move for the £4m-rated Italian to also be a gamble worth exploring, even as he potentially enters into the English game off a similarly disruptive loan stint at AC Milan, which saw Sottil offer up zero goals or assists from eight appearances at the San Siro.

Still, the Turin-born attacker has shown off his class before for Fiorentina, which is what Leeds will be hanging onto, knowing that Solomon came good under Farke’s tutelage down Sottil’s exact same left flank.

24/25

25

5

4

23/24

35

5

5

22/23

26

1

2

21/22

29

4

2

19/20

23

0

1

Sottil’s electric start to the 2024/25 season is what must have caught the Rossoneri’s eye, as the 26-year-old powered home five goals and four assists from just 25 appearances in Florence. In total, away from that standout campaign, Sottil also stands on a hefty 15 goals and 15 assists playing for his boyhood club.

If the former 12-time Italy U21 international can just brush his bruising experience in Milan to one side, he could be transformed into Leeds’ second coming of Solomon, with Sottil also a capable performer down the right channel, on top of further bolstering Farke’s depleted number ten ranks if needed.

It will just require some patience at Elland Road as Sottil gets up to speed with what is expected of him.

But, that patience could be justly rewarded by the Fiorentina number seven playing an eventual important role in Leeds beating the drop, having been dubbed a future talent with “room to grow” by ex-Serie A great Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season.

Leeds can seal stunning Solomon repeat by signing £30m Premier League star

Leeds United could look to replicate the success of their Manor Solomon deal by signing this attacking star.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 6, 2025

Tottenham are “now” actively looking at signing an intriguing alternative to West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, with talks for the Hammers star far from straightforward.

£60m Tottenham man now up for sale, champions preparing bid, Saudi in contact

Spurs are actively looking for buyers.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 5, 2025

Earlier this week, multiple reports began emerging that Spurs had entered talks for Kudus, with chairman Daniel Levy even reaching out to his east London counterpart, David Sullivan, for discussions over the 24-year-old (GiveMeSport).

These talks have been backed up by trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano as well, who reported that a “positive” approach was made as negotiations get underway between all parties involved on the player and club side.

A very reliable Lilywhites source, insider Paul O’Keefe, even states that Tottenham have already seen an initial £50 million offer rejected for Kudus – which happened midway through June.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.00
James Maddison	6.98
Pedro Porro	6.95
Dominic Solanke	6.84
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

West Ham will reportedly sell for around £60 million (The Guardian), and if Spurs manage to get anywhere in pursuit of the former Ajax star, it would be the first transfer between both clubs since Scott Parker’s switch to north London in 2011.

With just under two months to go before the end of the summer window, Levy and co will not want to haggle for too long, with journalist Pete O’Rourke sharing news on a potentially viable alternative.

Tottenham actively looking at signing OGC Nice forward Evann Guessand

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claims that man is OGC Nice forward Evann Guessand, who’s fresh off the back of a 13-goal season in all competitions.

Tottenham have been tentatively linked with a move for Guessand this window, but O’Rourke tells Football Insider that Thomas Frank’s side are actively pursuing the versatile Ivory Coast international – who predominantly featured on the right-hand side in Kudus’ position last term.

As well as on both flanks, the 24-year-old can operate as a second striker and even as a centre-forward when required. Tottenham would also need a maximum of just £25 million to strike a deal for Guessand, making this an attractive option for Levy, and O’Rourke says he’d be the ideal signing for Frank’s system as well.

“A lot of Premier League clubs are looking at Guessand,” said O’Rourke.

“He had a very good season for Nice last season, he got 12 goals and seven assists in 33 Ligue 1 games, so he has a good record. He’s got the physical profile that you think would be a success in English football, and can play anywhere across the front line as well.

“There’s been interest from Brighton, West Ham, Wolves and now Tottenham also have an active interest in Guessand.

“Nice are bracing themselves for interest in this upcoming transfer window. For Tottenham, he would be a good signing, he would fit into how Thomas Frank plays.

“The way Guessand can play anywhere across the front line would make him a valuable addition. Nice will be hoping they can keep hold of him after qualifying for the Champions League themselves.

“They’re looking for a big fee, around £20-25million for a player who still has three years left on his contract.

“It’s not an easy deal to do, but it’s no surprise that a lot of Premier League clubs are looking at him.”

Arsenal are welcoming a host of major signings to N5 this summer, as Mikel Arteta bids to finally transform the club into Premier League title winners once again – 21 years after they were last champions of England.

Chelsea hold talks with £100k-per-week England star this week

Enzo Maresca is prioritising one key area.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard were the first to be confirmed as Andrea Berta’s debut deals since he replaced Edu as sporting director, with the trio swiftly followed by winger Noni Madueke and defender Cristhian Mosquera.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

Arsenal and Chelsea shook hands on a £52 million deal to make Madueke the club’s seventh arrival from Stamford Bridge in just six years, as their good relationship off the field continues.

Madueke put pen to paper on a five-year Arsenal contract earlier this week, with Mosquera also joining Arteta’s side for an initial £13 million, which could rise to £17 million with add-ons.

Given Arsenal have also reached an agreement for Viktor Gyokeres, who could even have his medical in the next few days, and are actively pursuing Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze (Ben Jacobs), Berta will surely need to balance the squad by letting more players leave soon.

Madueke is able to play on both the left-hand side and on the right as an alternative to Bukayo Saka, casting doubts on the futures of both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli amid their interest in Eze as well.

It is possible either one of Trossard or Martinelli could leave Arsenal before deadline day, but there are names who are completely out of the first-team picture and surely destined to quit the Emirates soon.

Karl Hein approves Sevilla proposal with Arsenal exit talks planned

One of them is Estonia captain Karl Hein, who spent last season playing regularly for Real Valladolid in La Liga.

While Hein was powerless to stop them from being relegated to the Spanish Segunda División at the foot of the table, his performances have seemingly done enough to attract interest from Sevilla.

Reports earlier this week claimed the 23-year-old was ready to accept Sevilla’s advances, and Arsenal could even terminate Hein’s contract to facilitate his move.

Now, CaughtOffside report that Hein has approved a potential exit to Sevilla, having been impressed with their offer of consistent game time, and talks are planned for the “coming days” over what could be a loan.

The goalkeeper has just one year left on his contract extension which he signed last year, and to date, Hein’s made just one senior appearance for the Gunners – starting between the sticks in a 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton three years ago.

Celtic look set to lose one of their top talents within the next week or so as Nicolas Kuhn is closing in on a permanent exit from the Scottish Premiership champions.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claims that the club have agreed a fee of around £16.5m with Italian side Como for the left-footed sensation.

The journalist adds that the former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich youth prospect has already agreed to sign a long-term contract with the Serie A outfit this summer.

Kuhn has reportedly turned down a potential return to Leipzig, who were interested in signing him, and has a medical scheduled with Como for next week, which suggests that an official confirmation is not imminently expected.

It does appear, though, that it is only a matter of time before Celtic confirm that the German winger will not be playing for the club next season, which will come as a blow to Brendan Rodgers.

Why selling Nicolas Kuhn is a blow for Celtic

Whilst the Hoops are set to rake in a significant sum of money for the 25-year-old talent, it is always a blow when a high-quality player moves on, and that is what he is.

The 2024/25 campaign was his first full season in Glasgow, having joined from Rapid Vienna in the January transfer window last year, and he really hit his stride on the right flank.

Kuhn ended the season with a return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, which shows that he provided quality in the final third on a regular basis for Rodgers.

The left-footed magician’s form in the Premiership, as Celtic won the league title, was particularly impressive, as the forward showcased his ability to both score and create goals.

24/25 Premiership

Nicolas Kuhn per 90

Percentile rank vs wingers

xG

0.46

Top 10%

Goals

0.62

Top 8%

Shots on target

1.30

Top 14%

xA

0.34

Top 10%

Assists

0.43

Top 10%

Chances created

2.49

Top 12%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn ranked very highly among his positional peers in a host of key attacking metrics, which shows that he scored and created goals at an exceptional rate.

These statistics illustrate why it will be a big blow for Rodgers when this sale goes through, because he is losing a player who has proven that he can make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch for Celtic.

The Hoops have, of course, already signed Benjamin Nygren on a permanent deal to bolster their options on the flanks, but he does not have the creative quality to fully replace what Kuhn offered.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the Sweden international only managed a return of two assists in 30 Superliga appearances, to go with his impressive haul of 15 goals.

Therefore, Celtic may need to dip into the market to sign another wide option who can provide creativity as well as a goal threat, now that Kuhn appears to be on his way out of the club.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that the Scottish giants are interested in Stoke City forward Million Manhoef, who is valued at £10m by the Championship side, and they should now reignite that interest.

Why Celtic should sign Million Manhoef

The Premiership champions could brilliantly replace Kuhn ahead of the 2025/26 campaign by pushing ahead with a swoop for the Netherlands U21 international, as he would arrive with a similar profile.

Like the German star, the Stoke attacker is a diminutive left-footed right winger who has the quality to both score and create goals in equal measure, as evidenced by his form for the English side last season.

He has not delivered the kind of numbers that Kuhn managed for Celtic yet, as he has not had the chance to play in a team that is as dominant domestically as the Hoops are, which means that there would be a degree of risk.

However, Rodgers can afford to take more of a risk with a player like Manhoef because the club have already brought in Nygren to potentially play on the right wing and, as aforementioned, his haul of 15 goals last season suggests that he could be a good option.

The Stoke star ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of five goals and five assists in 28 Championship starts, but it is his underlying numbers behind those headline statistics that are even more promising for Celtic.

24/25 Championship

Million Manhoef

Percentile rank vs wingers

xG

7.74

Top 9%

Goals

5

Top 21%

Shots on target

26

Top 9%

xA

4.83

Top 14%

Chances created

52

Top 9%

Assists

5

Top 20%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Manhoef excelled at getting into goalscoring positions and at creating chances for his teammates, ranking highly among his positional peers, but was not clinical enough with his finishing.

Pundit David Prutton claimed it would be a “tremendous” move for Manhoef to sign for Celtic, and these statistics suggest that the potential is there for it to be a tremendous move for all parties.

The Dutch wizard, who only recorded five assists from 12 ‘big chances’ created in the Championship, could thrive in a team that dominates games week-in-week-out, as Celtic do.

He has been playing for a midtable team, in Stoke, who do not challenge at the top end of the division in the second tier in England, which suggests that he has not had the opportunity to play in a side that is consistently on the front foot.

Related It'd be Ryan Christie 2.0: Euro club open talks to sign £2m Celtic ace

A European team are interested in a deal to sign a star from Celtic this summer.

Posts ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2025

Therefore, Celtic could brilliantly replace Kuhn by gambling on a swoop for Manhoef, who appears to have the potential to explode as a scorer and a creator of goals in a better team than the one he is currently playing in.