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According to journalist Bruno Andrade, Francisco Trincao has indicated his desire to leave Wolves during the upcoming transfer window and wants to join Sporting CP to reunite with his former manager Ruben Amorim.

The Lowdown: Underwhelming loan spell

The 22-year-old first arrived at Molineux on a season-long loan from Spanish giants Barcelona last summer, and despite the club having the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season, he has only managed to score three goals and provide one assist in 29 appearances in all competitions to date, as per Transfermarkt.

There have recently been claims that the hierarchy will not trigger their option to buy clause, meaning that the final Premier League game of the 2021/22 campaign against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon could well be the last time we see Trincao in a Wolves shirt.

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The Latest: Trincao in ‘talks’ with Sporting

In a new post on his personal Twitter account, Andrade revealed that the winger is already in ‘talks’ with Sporting about the possibility of a move, who are said to view the winger as an ideal replacement for Pablo Sarabia.

“Sporting’s priority target, Trincao has already given the “yes” to being directed again by Ruben Amorim, with whom he worked at SC Braga. It is the ideal replacement for Sarabia. Talks for a 1-year loan are moving in a positive way – salary issues with Barcelona still need to be settled.”

The Verdict: Exit suitable for all parties

Even though Bruno Lage just last month admitted that he thought the £19.8m-rated ace had a bright future ahead of him, it would now appear that the next chapter of his career will be somewhere far away from the Midlands.

Sarabia is only currently on loan with the Lisbon outfit from Paris Saint-Germain, and with Amorim having already managed Trincao during their time together at Braga, it’s no surprise to see that the forward is being linked with a reunion with his former boss.

Once hailed an “unbelievable” player by Wolves journalist Tim Spiers, the 6 foot starlet has shown some glimpses of talent in the top-flight and could be a great addition to Sporting, but clearly not enough to make the Black Country club want to retain his services for next season.

In other news… Wanderers are now believed to be the ‘main favourites’ in the race for one of their summer transfer targets.

Newcastle United are reportedly set to make an audacious bid to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer as their search for a centre-forward addition hots up.

What’s the word?

As per The Telegraph, the Magpies ‘will launch’ a bid to prise the 25-year-old away from Goodison Park in the upcoming transfer window, with the Tynesiders believing that a deal can progress ‘rapidly’ now that the Toffees are likely to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Previous reports had suggested it could take as much as £60m to secure the 11-cap international’s services with three years still left on his existing deal, with a reduction in that asking price likely to have only been caused by Frank Lampard’s side dropping to the Championship.

It would appear that a new centre-forward is high on the priority list for Eddie Howe and co this summer, amid reports also linking the St James’ Park outfit to Reims youngster Hugo Ekitike and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez.

Better than Wood

The club’s need for a new striker has been heightened by the failings of January arrival Chris Wood. The former Burnley marksman, who joined in a sizeable £25m deal in the winter, has yet to prove he is anything other than just a temporary, albeit expensive, fix.

A reliable goalscorer during his days at Turf Moor, with 53 in 165 games in all competitions for the club, the New Zealand international had appeared an astute capture to help Howe’s men stave off the drop, although he has since proven more of a hindrance than a help despite the club’s impressive run of form.

In his 16 Premier League outings for his current club this term – 15 of which have come as starts – the 30-year-old has netted just twice so far, while his style of play seemingly appears at odds with the progressive approach of his manager, having recorded a mere 52.8% pass success rate.

In need of a quality and more youthful upgrade, in Calvert-Lewin the club have found their ideal fit, the 25-year-old having proven himself to be both a real handful in attack and a notable finisher in recent years.

Although the current campaign has been a frustrating one, with the 25-year-old scored just three times in 14 league games during an injury-hit season, the £37.8m-rated gem had been in prolific form prior to 2021/22, netting 29 top-flight goals across the previous two seasons.

Such form has seen Everton team-mate Richarlison dub the former Sheffield United man a “nightmare” to play against.He compared him to Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo for his impressive leap, with the athletic 6 foot 2 marksman proving a real “pest” for opposition defenders, according to Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate.

Despite his frustrations this term, the £72k-per-week ace remains a real talent and someone that can lead the line under Howe for years to come, with PIF needing to ensure they go all-out with their bid to drag him away from Lampard’s charges.

IN other news, Eddie Howe can now help NUFC sign “spectacular” £64m “nightmare”, he’s better than Saint-Maximin

Newcastle United are reportedly set to reignite their interest in Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard, according to recent reports.

What’s the word?

As per the NorthernEcho, the Magpies are said to have ‘initiated talks’ regarding a potential deal to bring the Englishman to St James’ Park, although are set to face ‘intense competition’ from clubs across the continent in the race for the 29-year-old’s signature.

The report suggests that there have been ‘preliminary talks’ between the player’s representatives and the northeast side, with the £18m-rated gem set to be available on a free transfer once his current deal expires, albeit with that fact sparking interest from the likes of AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 32-cap international had come close to linking up with Eddie Howe’s side in January, although the deal collapsed late in the window due to the Red Devils’ demands, including a reported £12.5m bonus to be paid should he help the club stave off relegation.

Howe delighted

It would appear then that PIF are keen to rekindle that interest in the upcoming window, with the versatile star almost certain to end his 22-year association with the Old Trafford outfit this summer, despite suggestions that incoming boss Erik ten Hag may offer him a lifeline.

In truth, the £80k-per-week man has endured a dismal season at the Theatre of Dreams, making just two league starts in total thus far, while he was also seemingly ‘saddened’ at having been denied an emotional send-off from his current side during the win over Brentford on Monday evening – United’s last home game of the season.

While he has seemingly wasted another season back at Carrington, that’s not to downplay the potential impact he could have for the Magpies were he to sign this summer, having previously shown his quality during a remarkable loan stint at West Ham United last term.

In that brief, six-month spell at the London Stadium, Lingard – who has been dubbed “unique” by former teammate Michael Carrick – looked a rejuvenated figure, chipping in with 14 goal contributions in just 16 appearances for David Moyes’ side.

Equally, when handed the chance back in Manchester he has previously proven his worth, notably recording eight goals and six assists in the Premier League during the 2017/18 season under Jose Mourinho.

It is also easy to forget that this is a player who has netted at a World Cup, as well as in three Wembley triumphs for the Red Devils, doing so in the 2016 FA Cup final, the 2017 Carabao Cup final and the 2017 Community Shield.

Pundit Rio Ferdinand has previously suggested that the Warrington-born playmaker “could play in any top team” such is his quality, although those of a Newcastle persuasion – particularly Howe – will be hoping that it is in the famous black and white stripes that he is lining up in next term.

In other news, Newcastle plot bid to sign player with 191 PL apps, he’d be a big upgrade on Lascelles

Tottenham Hotspur could sign transfer target Pau Torres for cheaper than expected, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The Villarreal centre-back has emerged as a potential option for Antonio Conte this summer, with Spurs scouts recently in attendance to watch him in action during their Champions League exit to Liverpool in midweek, as per the Daily Mail.

A recruitment source has now told Football Insider that the 25-year-old that the Yellow Submarines are expected to cash in on him as he enters the final two years of his contract.

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There’s a need to raise funds at the Estadio de la Ceramica, so Tottenham are growing confident in their chances of securing his signature.

Torres has a £55m release clause but could be sold around the £45m mark, according to the report.

Imagine him and Romero

With manager Antonio Conte deploying a three-man backline at Spurs, there is certainly a need for another out-and-out central defender as full-back Ben Davies has been the first-choice option alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero.

The latter, on loan from Atalanta, has been particularly impressive, so pairing him with someone like Torres could be a mouth-watering prospect heading into next season, where the Lilywhites will be expected to mount a firmer top-four challenge.

And for £10m less than his release clause, it has to be considered something of a bargain masterclass from sporting director Fabio Paratici once again, especially when you consider the teams also interested in the Spaniard.

Both Manchester City and United, as well as LaLiga champions Real Madrid have been linked with the 6 foot 3 colossus.

Torres has been an integral part of Unai Emery’s side both domestically and on the European stage, where they made the semi-finals of the Champions League this season,

As per WhoScored, he ranks inside the top six highest-rated Villarreal players for both LaLiga and the UCL. He has won an average of 1.7 headers, 0.9 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per game but it’s his passing ability that makes him shine above the rest.

The 25-year-old’s 87.7% accuracy rate from over 60 passing attempts per game is more than respectable and sees him second to only Eric Dier (88%) of Conte’s current defensive options.

It’s no wonder that Torres has been lauded as an “extraordinary talent” by his ex-coach Javi Calleja to The Athletic.

If Spurs want to elevate to the next level, then they must fork out the £45m required to land someone of the Spaniard’s calibre. He, alongside Romero and Dier could be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League next term.

AND in other news, Spurs must axe “horrendous” flop and £27m-rated “liability”, Conte would be buzzing…

Rangers will need to turn around a one-goal deficit when they play the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie at Ibrox next week.

The Gers suffered a 1-0 defeat in Germany on Thursday night as they were hit with a late hammer blow after defending superbly for most of the game.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s gameplan appeared to be working brilliantly for them as they held firm at the back until Angelino scored a screamer from distance on the volley to win the match for RB Leipzig in the 85th minute.

Although the night ended in defeat for the Light Blues, there were a number of players who were able to leave the pitch with their heads held high. One player in particular who was outstanding on the night was Croatian defender Borna Barisic.

The left-back was superb as he caught the eye at both ends of the pitch. Defensively, he was solid for Van Bronckhorst’s men – as per SofaScore, the £18k-per-week gem won 100% of his duels throughout the 90 minutes whilst also making four clearances, one tackle and one interception.

On the ball, he was reliable and a threat for the Glasgow giants. As per SofaScore, he only gave away possession eight times from 45 touches, which shows that he was not a liability with the ball at his feet. He also created two chances and was successful with one of his two crosses as he made an impact going forward.

Rangers only had seven shots in total and two of those came from his passes, which shows how influential he was in an attacking sense. He offered a much-needed outlet in possession to get the team up the pitch, relieving pressure on the backline and giving the attackers a chance to get at the Leipzig defence.

Former Gers winger Neil McCann claimed earlier this month that Barisic is “like a train” in attack, and that is how the Croatian looked when he was bombing on the overlap to cause problems for the Bundesliga team, although he did not get too many opportunities to do so because of the nature of the game.

Overall, it was an outstanding performance from the 29-year-old and he did not deserve to be on the losing side on the night. He was excellent and Van Bronckhorst will surely be delighted with how Barisic performed at left-back, nailing down his position ahead of the Old Firm clash on Sunday.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than McGregor: Rangers dud who lost possession 15 times let GvB down badly…

It looked like it would be the week that would end Daniel Farke’s time at Leeds United. One that would all but condemn the Yorkshire giants to a swift return to the Championship. And yet.

While last weekend’s Etihad fight-back ultimately proved in vain, that second-half showing has sparked new life into the Elland Road side, having since claimed four valuable points at home to both Chelsea and Liverpool in recent days.

Unlike in midweek, however, the Whites were far from at their best this time around, with Hugo Ekitike surging the away side into what appeared to be an unassailable two-goal lead.

This is not the Liverpool side that claimed Premier League glory last term, though, nor is it the Leeds outfit which meekly fell to relegation two years ago – they’re made of sterner stuff.

Aided by the reckless Ibrahima Konate, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s spot-kick sparked a frantic finale at Elland Road, with Anton Stach levelling things up just two minutes later.

Man of the moment Dominik Szoboszlai then looked to have popped the Leeds balloon, before Ao Tanaka came up trumps at the death – cue bedlam, delirium, and a queue of writers not quite sure what to make of it.

Tanaka the hero in stunning second-half fight-back

It was all going so wrong for Farke and co, with Joe Rodon gifting an opener to that man Ekitike, before the Frenchman netted a second almost within a minute to make it 2-0 on the 50-minute mark.

There looked to be no way back, with Leeds drifting toward defeat, before a trio of changes sparked the game into life.

Up stepped Wilfried Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and the aforementioned Tanaka to alter proceedings, with the three late arrivals making an impact in all three goals for the home side.

Indeed, it was Gnonto’s direct run which drew the foul from Konate for Leeds’ first, while Aaronson laid on the assist for Stach, as Farke’s men levelled things up just two minutes later.

The headline-grabber, however, was Tanaka, with the Japanese midfielder – who had been replaced by Ilia Gruev in the starting lineup – pouncing at the backpost to snatch a point in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

That moment aside, the 2024 summer signing also notably won 100% of his duels after entering the fray, as per Sofascore, with the decision to start Gruev in his place seemingly backfiring as far as Farke is concerned.

Tanaka will surely be reinstated into the fold next time around, while fellow substitute Gnonto should also be in the mix for a regular starting berth again.

Why Leeds sub now needs to start every game

While Tanaka may have stolen the show in stoppage time, the game truly appeared to change due to the added dynamism of Gnonto in attack, with Leeds looking rather blunt prior to that.

Chalkboard

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

Noah Okafor, for instance, was hooked just after the hour mark, having made just five passes in all, while registering just 14 touches, with the Whites in need of a spark to ignite their limp forward line.

As ever, it was the diminutive Italian who proved to be just that, cleverly drawing the foul from Konate with his fleet of foot inside the area, representing one of two fouls he would win in that late cameo.

Direct and penetrating, the 22-year-old also notably recorded a stellar 100% pass accuracy even while seeking to make things happen for his side, having even recorded more touches (17) than Okafor despite his limited time on the field.

From Championship hero to peripheral Premier League figure, Gnonto has not had the game time he would’ve liked in 2025/26, with a calf injury limiting him to just seven top-flight outings thus far.

Games

43

Starts

26

Goals

9

Assists

6

Big chances missed

6

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

1.1

Pass accuracy*

81%

Successful dribbles*

1.0

On the evidence of Saturday night, however, he should well be a regular fixture moving forward, now that he is fit and firing again, with Leeds simply looking a different team with the speedy forward spearheading the attack.

As noted by Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth, who awarded him an 8/10 match rating, Gnonto was ‘bright, lively, tricky’, having fearlessly taken the hosts forward time and again.

With a trip to Brentford now next on the agenda next weekend, the former Zurich starlet should surely be deserving of a recall to the starting XI.

Farke must unleash "wonderkid" who'd be perfect for Nmecha's new Leeds role

Daniel Farke must unleash this promising youngster who could be perfect for Lukas Nmecha’s new role at Leeds.

ByDan Emery Dec 6, 2025

Manchester United have now identified an “unbelievable” manager as their first-choice target to replace Ruben Amorim, amid the uncertainty surrounding the 40-year-old’s future.

Amorim not out of the woods despite improved results

Frank Ilett, the fan who has vowed not to cut his hair until Man United win five games in a row, probably hasn’t gotten his hopes up just yet, but Amorim has made some improvements in recent weeks, guiding his side to wins in two of their last three Premier League games.

On paper, the fixture list looks relatively kind until late October, with the Red Devils set to take on Brentford away this Saturday, before taking on Sunderland at Old Trafford the following week, giving Amorim a golden opportunity to buy himself some more time.

However, the United boss will be well-aware that things must start improving, given that he is currently regarded as one of the worst appointments since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

It has now been revealed the Man United hierarchy have started making plans for life after Amorim, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing that AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is the number one choice to replace the Portuguese coach.

Iraola, who is one of the most sought-after managers in Europe, is being closely monitored by the Red Devils, having transformed Bournemouth’s fortunes since replacing Gary O’Neil back in the summer of 2023.

INEOS are said to view the Spaniard as an elite coach, with the capabilities of managing a top club, and they have been impressed with the way in which he has implemented his system at the Vitality Stadium.

"He was our best player" – Amorim told Man Utd star is "suffering" more than Bruno in new role

He’s yet to show his best form this season…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 24, 2025 "Unbelievable" Iraola could be perfect Amorim replacement

Sky Sports’ Sue Smith waxed lyrical about the job the 43-year-old has done with the Cherries earlier this year, describing the work he’s done as “unbelievable”.

The Bournemouth boss, who likes to implement a 4-2-3-1 system, led his side to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, and he has made a flying start to the new campaign.

Despite losing a number of key players in the summer, such as Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dango Ouattara, the Cherries have taken ten points from their opening five games, with arguably their most impressive victory coming away at Tottenham Hotspur.

Having now proven himself in the Premier League over a sustained period of time, Iraola could be the ideal replacement for Amorim, but it appears as though INEOS are willing to give the current manager a little while longer, after two wins in the last three league games.

After the perfect start against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade has revealed how he’s similar to the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane.

Howe "really pleased" with "humble" Woltemade

Eddie Howe couldn’t have asked for much more from his £69m striker on his debut last time out. The 6’6 forward rose highest to head home what proved to be the winning goal against Wolves, before wheeling away in celebration. After waiting all summer for a new striker, St James’ Park got the emphatic introduction that they had been desperate for.

Like the rest of those watching on in Tyneside, Howe was left delighted with Woltemade, telling reporters: “It was a great moment for Nick. I was very pleased with how he played today.

“You saw his qualities, his technical qualities that we’ve been discussing and his intelligence but most importantly for a striker, when the ball comes into the box, you need to be there and he was.

“It was a great finish. I’m really pleased for him personally because that just settles him down and relaxes him, he’s a very humble guy, he wants to do well and he’s delighted to be here — I think it’s a great start.”

Woltemade’s debut goal would have surprised no one back in Germany. There’s every reason why Bayern Munich were so keen to secure his signature and even more reason why he stole the show at the U21 Euros in the summer. Now, he’s the man that could make Newcastle forget all about Alexander Isak.

Why Newcastle could be facing instant punishment from UEFA back in UCL

It could be bad news for the Magpies…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 17, 2025

The 23-year-old is hardly short on confidence, either, and has already told Newcastle fans exactly what they can expect from him in the coming years.

Woltemade makes Ibrahimovic comparison

Revealing the players that he’s most similar to, Woltemade compared himself to the great Ibrahimovic. One inch taller than the former AC Milan star, the German’s comparison is a fair one to make, given how he still maintains his technical ability despite his height. Whether he eventually reaches the same level as the Swede is the big question.

Describing his style as “rare” for someone of his height, Newcastle can expect the unexpected from their new striker, who will be looking to follow up his debut goal with another against Barcelona this week.

Now that Rangers have a manager in place, their transfer window activity can begin in earnest.

Last week, Russell Martin was unveiled as the 20th permanent manager in Rangers’ 153-year history, but he faces a big task to guide the Gers through Champions League qualifying this summer and then, ultimately, aiming to topple their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

That will all be a tough task, but could Martin land his dream midfield signing early into his tenure in Glasgow?

Rangers' chasing midfield reinforcements

While recruitment as far as new players are concerned hasn’t been Kevin Thelwell’s first priority since heading to Rangers, attention can now finally turn to who could improve the squad at Ibrox.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to a report by Alan Nixon of the Scottish Sun, Martin would like Rangers to sign midfielder Flynn Downes this summer.

The 26-year-old played for Martin at Swansea and Southampton, initially on loan when the Saints gained promotion from the EFL Championship last year, before he made his move from West Ham to the South Coast permanent a year ago for a reported £18m fee.

That sky-high price tag could prove to be a severe stumbling block, considering Rangers’ record signing of all time is the £12m paid to sign Tore André Flo in 2000, while the highest fee they’ve paid in the modern era is £7.5m for Ryan Kent in 2019.

Nevertheless, after Southampton were instantaneously relegated from the Premier League after just one season back in the top-flight, there could potentially be a fire-sale at St Mary’s, with Downes possibly amongst those sacrificed.

So, could he be reunited with his former manager north of the border?

How Downes compares to Lundstram

Signing English players from down south is certainly not a new strategy for Rangers, with John Lundstram certainly one of the more successful of their imports of the modern era.

After failing to make a senior appearance for Everton, the midfielder, fair to say, was a bit of a journeyman, playing for Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient across two spells, Blackpool, Scunthorpe United and Oxford United.

He belatedly burst onto the scene at Sheffield United, making 62 Premier League appearances for the Blades, a key figure as Chris Wilder’s team finished ninth in 2019/20 as a newly-promoted club.

Nevertheless, it was only once he got to Glasgow that Lundstram truly found a home.

In total, the midfielder featured over 150 times for Rangers, scoring 11 goals, including the late winner against RB Leipzig that booked the club’s place in the Europa League Final, winning the Scottish Cup and League Cup, starting all three finals.

He ultimately departed for Trabzonspor on a Bosman last summer but, should Downes arrive, Rangers supporters would be hoping he could have a similar impact to that of his compatriot.

Host Dan Woffenden describes Downes as “class”, while Roshane Thomas of the Athletic labels him an excellent passer, also documenting how he ‘thrived under manager Russell Martin’ when the pair were together at Swansea.

Meantime, Chris Beaumont of Total Football Analysis praises the midfielder’s ‘fantastic engine’ and ‘physical presence’, asserting that he is one of the ‘hottest midfield prospects’ in English football.

So, let’s assess his statistics in the EFL Championship from the 2023/24 campaign.

Minutes

2,550

163rd

Completed passes

2,019

29th

Pass completion %

93%

3rd

Short passes completed

1,152

12th

Touches

2,419

50th

It is worth mentioning that statistics from Downes’ season in the second-tier were used due to how generally hopeless Southampton were in the Premier League this season, thereby providing a data set that is uninformative.

Also worth noting that, according to Global Football Ranking, the Championship is the 11th strongest league in the world, compared to the Scottish Premiership down in 43rd, thereby offering a slightly more comparable level.

Thus, what the numbers do underline is that Downes is a high-quality passer, ranked third for pass completion percentage, while more than half of these passes were short, between five and 15 yards.

So, in Martin’s system that prioritises possession, he could be exactly the midfielder Rangers require, potentially having an equally enormous impact at Ibrox to that of Lundstram.

Martin could land dream 1st Rangers signing who's "very similar" to Raskin

Rangers could replace Raskin with a South American starler

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 8, 2025

Ask Arsenal fans what it is they need this summer, and the most common answer you’ll get is a striker.

No players hit double digits for Premier League goals in Mikel Arteta’s squad this season, whereas Arne Slot had three players manage the feat, with Mohamed Salah racking up an unreal 29.

Such an evident weakness in the squad has seen the club linked with a host of incredible strikers over the last few months, and while Alexander Isak is undoubtedly at the top of most supporters’ wishlists, his supposed £150m price tag now looks secure as ever following Newcastle United’s qualification for the Champions League on Sunday.

However, while the Swede may be out of reach, recent reports have linked the Gunners with another exciting centre-forward who has won comparisons to him, a centre-forward who’d be a significant Kai Havertz upgrade.

Arsenal's striker search

While it might not always feel like it, there are quite a few strikers who could be on the market this summer, and plenty of them have been touted for moves to Arsenal, such as Viktor Gyokeres 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 long been linked with the Gunners and could finally be available for close to £63m in the coming weeks, which might just be a steal considering he’s racked up a sublime haul of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games for Sporting CP this season.

On the other hand, Pedro might be a harder transfer to justify, as while his tally of ten goals and seven assists in 30 games is impressive, his supposed £100m price tag feels exorbitant.

Fortunately, another striker has now been linked with the North Londoners, someone compared to the incredible Isak: Nick Woltemade.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a handful of clubs incredibly keen on the German forward.

The report claims that Arsenal and Serie A champions Napoli have already made contact with VfB regarding the talented goalscorer, while the likes of Atlético Madrid and West Ham United are currently keeping tabs on the situation.

On top of getting ahead of the competition, the North Londoners would have to stump up around €50m to secure the 23-year-old’s signature, which is about £42m.

It might not be the big-name signing some fans want, but on top of the comparisons to Newcastle’s superstar striker, Woltemade would be an upgrade on Havertz.

How Woltemade compares to Isak & Havertz

Before we take a look at how Woltemade stacks up against Havertz, the man he could replace at Arsenal, it’s worth examining this comparison to Isak and where it has come from.

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

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Swedish international is the second most similar forward to the German across the last 365 days.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.70

0.70

Progressive Passes

2.89

2.88

Shots on Target

1.28

1.34

Switches

0.11

0.10

Goal-Creating Actions

0.55

0.46

Successful Take-Ons %

43.7%

46.2%

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, switches, progressive passes, goal-taking actions and more, all per 90.

With his similarities to the Toon star cleared up, how does he stack up against the Gunners’ number 29?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is ultimately what matters most for a striker, it is the “exceptional” Stuttgart star, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, who comes out on top.

For example, in 33 appearances, totalling 2039 minutes this term, the Bremen-born poacher scored 17 goals and provided three assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games, or every 101.95 minutes.

In contrast, the former Chelsea ace has scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 36 appearances, totalling 2809 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 140.45 minutes.

Ultimately, Havertz could still be an incredibly useful player next season, but as things stand, Woltemade looks to the superior striker, and therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign him this summer.

Arteta has struck gold on Arsenal star who's worth millions more than Wirtz

Arsenal will need to be wary of Florian Wirtz next season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025