La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid are said to be targeting another Arsenal star, amid their strong links to William Saliba, coming as new contract talks with the former take a negative turn.

Real Madrid still eyeing William Saliba despite signing Dean Huijsen

Some Gunners supporters may have been optimistic at one stage that Real’s signing of defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth would spell the end of their interest in Saliba, but this is unfortunately far from the truth.

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The France international, who’s been a vital presence at the heart of Mikel Arteta’s defence since 2022/2023, having formed an indomitable partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, will leave the Emirates for nothing in 2027 as things stand.

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

8.07

Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

7.87

Arsenal 2-0 Man United

7.66

Ipswich Town 0-4 Arsenal

7.28

Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town

7.26

via WhoScored

Arsenal have opened talks with Saliba over a new contract in an effort to ward off Real, and while some outlets even claim an extension is all but agreed (Football Transfers), this appears to be wide of the mark for now.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Saliba remains a “dream” signing for Real, regardless of their Huijsen deal, and they remain watchful of developments regarding the 24-year-old’s contract situation.

“The dream target has always been William Saliba,” said Romano on his YouTube channel.

“My information is that Real Madrid understood at the beginning of May that Saliba this summer was impossible to reach as a target because, for Arsenal, he is a crucial player and they are discussing a new contract with William Saliba.

“So Real Madrid’s position on Saliba is clear – they will sign Dean Huijsen now, but Saliba remains a dream target for them. Arsenal will have the ball in their court to close the agreement, keep Saliba at the club and extend his contract. Otherwise, if this contract won’t be extended, Real Madrid will be there.”

Real Madrid eye Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal contract talks go sour

In more concerning news for Arteta, it is now believed that Real are also keeping a very watchful eye on breakout star Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The Hale End academy graduate made the left-back spot his own this season, putting in some truly exceptional displays which have also resulted in Thomas Tuchel’s nod for the England squad.

The 18-year-old’s form is turning heads at the Bernabeu as a result, with journalist Jonathan Wilson telling The Guardian’s ‘Football Weekly’ that Arsenal’s talks over a contract extension for Lewis-Skelly have been going sour.

“They’ve got to sort out Myles Lewis-Skelly’s contract which expires next summer and I think talks have not been going well from what I hear,” said Wilson.

“Real Madrid are sort of sniffing around there. Imagine Real Madrid wanting a highly-rated Premier League fullback for free. Almost unimaginable, isn’t it?”

Losing the teenage sensation to La Liga, especially on a free, would be a truly dire situation for Arsenal, and it is little surprise Real are considering a Trent Alexander-Arnold-esque deal to bring in one of England’s brightest young defenders at no transfer cost.

Tying down Lewis-Skelly will now be even higher up Andrea Berta’s to-do list, especially considering the newly-found interest from Xabi Alonso’s side.

Continuing their search for a new manager, the 49ers and Rangers have now reportedly added another name to their shortlist alongside Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti.

Rangers' manager shortlist shrinking

The Gers have been considering their options ever since deciding to part ways with Philippe Clement and even handed Barry Ferguson the interim role to buy themselves some time for the rest of the season. With the season now over, however, those at Ibrox have a decision to make between a number of reported candidates.

One name that can at least be ruled out is Ferguson. Although the interim boss showed some promise in European action, his Ibrox record was always unlikely to be enough for the permanent job.

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Nonetheless, he admitted the honour of taking charge if only for a short spell, saying in a recent statement: “I’ve already lived the dream as a player and as captain of Rangers, and to do so as head coach in these last three months has been an enormous honour.

“There have been some ups and downs, but I have loved this experience and given it my all throughout. The backing I have received has been phenomenal. I said, no matter how this period panned out, I would always remain a committed supporter of the club, and I look forward to remaining a Rangers ambassador. I wish whomever becomes the new manager every success in the job.”

Narrowing Rangers’ shortlist down to just a few names, the Gers must get their next decision right. According to reports, it’s Steven Gerrard who is the favourite to become the next Rangers manager and arrive for his second stint in charge.

The former Aston Villa manager recently left Saudi Arabia after a difficult spell in charge of Al Ettifaq, but could be given an instant opportunity to get back to familiarities at Ibrox. Meanwhile, Davide Ancelotti – son of Carlo Ancelotti – has also been heavily linked with what would be his first managerial job away from his father.

There’s every chance that it could be neither of those options, however, with another name now reportedly added to the shortlist.

Rangers add Gattuso to list of candidates

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Rangers have now also identified Gennaro Gattuso as a managerial option alongside Gerrard and Ancelotti. The Italian is well known around Ibrox thanks to his spell at the club from 1997 to 1998 and could now make his return away from the pitch and in the dugout at the home of the Scottish giants.

Whilst Gattuso’s playing career was undeniably iconic – Gerrard himself admitted the Italian’s style “really angered” him in their 2005 Champions League final meeting – his managerial career hasn’t quite hit the same heights.

Often implementing a 4-2-3-1 system, the longest that the Italian has lasted at a club is two years, with spells at Napoli, Valencia and AC Milan all ending fairly unsuccessfully. Now at Hajduk Split until at least 2026, Rangers would also face the problem of getting Gattuso out of his current role.

On their list nonetheless, Gattuso could be an interesting name to watch if neither Gerrard nor Ancelotti take the Rangers job in the coming months.

The Premier League has seen some world-class wingers since 1992, with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah the current best player in the top flight.

The Egyptian King has extended his stay at Anfield and looks set to continue to light up the division, but where does Salah rank among the best wingers in Premier League history?

Ranking factors Appearances Goals Assists Titles What others have said about them 20 best wingers in Premier League history: in pictures

Top 20 wingers in Premier League history

Rank

Player

Clubs played for

1

Mohamed Salah

Chelsea, Liverpool

2

Cristiano Ronaldo

Man Utd

3

Ryan Giggs

Man Utd

4

Eden Hazard

Chelsea

5

Gareth Bale

Tottenham

6

David Beckham

Man Utd

7

Sadio Mane

Southampton, Liverpool

8

Riyad Mahrez

Leicester, Man City

9

Robert Pires

Arsenal, Aston Villa

10

Raheem Sterling

Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal

11

Son Heung-min

Tottenham

12

David Ginola

Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton

13

Freddie Ljungberg

Arsenal, West Ham

14

John Barnes

Liverpool, Newcastle

15

Steve McManaman

Liverpool, Man City

16

Marc Overmars

Arsenal

17

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal

18

Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal, Man Utd

19

Harry Kewell

Leeds, Liverpool

20

Leroy Sane

Man City

20 Leroy Sane Man City

Arguably one of the quickest left-wingers the Premier League has seen, Leroy Sane’s spell at Man City under Pep Guardiola was extremely successful.

The German was one of Guardiola’s first signings at the Etihad and would destroy full-backs with his pace alone, with the Spaniard calling Sane “the best wide player in the world” in 2019.

Leroy Sane’s Premier League stats

Games

90

Goals

25

Assists

28

Titles

2

19 Harry Kewell Leeds, Liverpool

After coming through Leeds United’s academy, Harry Kewell made a big impact in the Premier League with the Whites and then Liverpool between 1996-2008.

The Australian, could score all sorts of goals, beat defenders with ease and use his pace to great effect and won the Young Player of the Year in the Premier League in 1999/00.

Harry Kewell’s Premier League stats

Games

274

Goals

57

Assists

38

18 Alexis Sanchez Arsenal, Man Utd

Alexis Sanchez’s Premier League career may have been stained slightly due to how his time at Man Utd went, however, he lit up the division with Arsenal between 2014-2018.

Under Arsene Wenger, Sanchez would be the Gunners’ main man in attack, so it’s no surprise that the legendary Arsenal manager would call the Chile star a winger who has “something special”.

Alexis Sanchez’s Premier League stats

Games

154

Goals

63

Assists

31

17 Bukayo Saka Arsenal

Over his career, Bukayo Saka could quite easily rise up this list even higher, and he has already made a big impact for Arsenal since turning professional in 2018.

The England international has become a key player for club and country, cutting in off the right to score with his left foot on a regular basis. Regarded as one of the best attackers in the world, Saka has even been called Thierry Henry’s “favourite player” and “one of the best players in Europe” by Robert Pires.

Bukayo Saka’s Premier League stats

Games

200

Goals

55

Assists

45

16 Marc Overmars Arsenal

Continuing the trend of great Arsenal wingers brings us to Marc Overmars, who would star in his first season in north London to help the club win their first Premier League title in 1997/98.

The Dutch speedster was called “world-class” by Arsene Wenger and also had great technical ability, so it wasn’t a shock when Barcelona paid big money for Overmars after three years at Highbury.

Marc Overmars’ Premier League stats

Games

100

Goals

25

Assists

14

Titles

1

15 Steve McManaman Liverpool, Man City

An academy graduate at Liverpool, Steve McManaman’s ability to dribble past defenders with ease was frightening, and he was key for the Reds out wide in the 1990s.

Going down as an arguably an underrated Liverpool legend, McManaman’s displays caught the eye of Real Madrid, where he would go on to become ‘the most successful English player to head overseas’.

Steve McManaman’s Premier League stats

Games

275

Goals

41

Assists

59

14 John Barnes Liverpool, Newcastle

John Barnes was approaching 30 years of age when the Premier League was formed, however, he arguably saved the best years of his career as a winger in the latter stages of his career.

Barnes was even called “the best player” Jamie Carragher has ever trained with and the “best finisher” ahead of Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, which says all you need to know about how good Barnes was at Anfield.

John Barnes’ Premier League stats

Games

201

Goals

28

Assists

29

13 Freddie Ljungberg Arsenal, West Ham

After scoring seconds into his debut against Man Utd in 1998, Freddie Ljungberg didn’t look back and would go on to become a Premier League great.

The skilful Swedish winger would win two titles under Arsene Wenger and had a knack of scoring important goals for the Gunners. His career in north London has seen him recognised as the 11th best player in Arsenal’s history.

Freddie Ljungberg’s Premier League stats

Games

241

Goals

48

Assists

29

Player of the Season

1

Titles

2

12 David Ginola Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton

Iconic winger David Ginola lit up the Premier League in the 1990s and will be best remembered for his time at Newcastle and Tottenham, so much so he was voted PFA Player of the Year during Man Utd’s treble-winning season.

Ginola’s ability to dribble past defenders with ease was his main attribute, and he made the game look extremely easy in his prime, being named among the top 10 Frenchman to play in the Premier League.

David Ginola’s Premier League stats

Games

195

Goals

21

Assists

42

Player of the Season

1

11 Son Heung-min Tottenham

Son Heung-min has shown during his time at Spurs that he can do it all. Create, take defenders on, score every type of goal, the South Korea star has lit up the division for more than 10 years now.

Regarded as ‘the best finisher in world football’, Son also became the first player from Asia to score more than 100 goals in the Premier League and even won the Golden Boot with 23 goals in 35 games in 2021/22.

Son Heung-min’s Premier League stats

Games

333

Goals

127

Assists

71

Golden Boot

1

Cole Palmer’s time at Chelsea so far has been sensational, and it was perhaps summed up last week during the Conference League final. The Blues beat Real Betis to become the first ever side to win all European trophies on offer, and a large part of that was thanks to Palmer.

The England international grabbed two assists to help Chelsea turn around a 1-0 deficit, providing goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson. His magical assists put the West Londoners 2-1 up, before the floodgates opened and two more goals were scored.

Palmer’s influence on that game, and indeed across his Chelsea career, has been astronomical. Interestingly, the Blues have been linked with someone who could be the second coming of the England international.

Latest on Chelsea's transfer search

Signing someone to have the same impact as Palmer has at Stamford Bridge will not be easy, by any stretch of the imagination. With that being said, one man in the Premier League who could become the second coming of Palmer is Morgan Rogers.

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Chelsea are once again linked with the Aston Villa forward, this time by journalist Simon Phillips. He said that Rogers is ‘firmly on the radar’ at Stamford Bridge, with the West London outfit ‘prepared to bid for him’ this summer.

In his report, Phillips does not name a price, but suggests that Nicolas Jackson and Joao Felix are two players of interest to Villa, so a swap deal could be on the cards.

However, talkSPORT have previously quoted the versatile attacker at £100m, should he move this summer.

Why Rogers would be a good signing

The 2024/25 campaign ended in disappointment for Unai Emery’s Villa side, narrowly missing out on a spot in the Champions League on the final day of the campaign. However, it was partly due to Rogers’ good form that they were in that position in the first place.

In 54 games across all competitions, the 22-year-old attacker was sensational. He found the back of the net on 14 different occasions and grabbed a further 15 assists. It is fair to say he was a rich source of goals in Claret and Blue last season.

Break those numbers down further, and you have someone who is “unstoppable” in the Premier League, according to Jamie Carragher. Rogers managed eight goals and 11 assists in the English top flight this season, coming in 37 games.

There was not too much difference between Rogers’ 19 goal involvements and Palmer’s eventual tally of 24 in the Premier League. The England international also played 37 times, and managed 15 goals and nine assists across the top-flight season.

It is not just the goal involvement numbers that are similar between Palmer and Rogers. Not only are they both versatile attackers, but they both played for Manchester City’s academy. Whilst Rogers never made his debut for the East Mancunian outfit, their early footballing education has largely mirrored each other.

In fact, you could make a case for the early part of their professional careers being like for like, too. Palmer left City for a big move to Chelsea, a side competing for top four in the Premier League. Likewise, Rogers went to Villa, who have the same goals, except he made his move via Championship side Middlesbrough.

The stats on FBref also hint at the fact that Rogers could become the second coming of Palmer at Stamford Bridge. For example, the Villa star averages 0.46 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to 0.42 goal-creating actions each game from Palmer.

Rogers and Palmer key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Rogers

Palmer

Goals and assists

0.52

0.64

Key passes

1.47

2.45

Goal-creating actions

0.46

0.42

Take-ons completed

1.91

1.44

Ball recoveries

3.44

2.99

Stats from FBref

Should Chelsea sign Rogers this summer, then he can certainly have the same impact on the club as Palmer has. The stats are there to suggest he is capable of such achievements, and he has certainly showcased last term just how much of a difference-maker he is.

Whilst £100m is a lot of money, there is no doubt that Chelsea would be upgrading their attack by signing Rogers, and he could well be the second coming of Palmer, which is a scary thought for the rest of the Premier League.

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Burnley are now showing interest in signing a “superb” £10m defender, who is keen on a move to the Premier League in the summer, according to a report.

Clarets set to strengthen after promotion

The Clarets have made Championship history this season, becoming the first-ever side to reach the 100-point mark twice, sealing a return to the Premier League at the first attempt in the process.

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Scott Parker will, of course, be delighted to have sealed promotion to the top flight, but the 44-year-old will be well-aware that his most difficult task awaits, having been sacked by AFC Bournemouth in August 2022 following a 9-0 battering against Liverpool.

Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton being relegated this season also proved that it has not gotten any easier to avoid the drop after going up from the Championship, so Parker will need to improve his squad this summer.

Despite maintaining a stellar defensive record last term, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now told the Boot Room that Burnley are looking to upgrade their defence in the upcoming window, having joined the race for Union Berlin right-back Josip Juranovic.

Juranovic, who joined Union Berlin from Celtic for £10m in 2023, is attracting the attention of several English clubs, with Fulham, West Ham United and Leeds United also in the frame, and he would be keen on a move to the Premier League.

As such, the Clarets should stand a good chance of signing the versatile defender, who is of great appeal to the interested clubs due to his versatility, having proven himself at left-back for Union Berlin during the 2024-25 campaign.

"Superb" Juranovic has proven himself at the top level

The former Celtic man may be yet to prove himself in the Premier League, but he has 11 Champions League appearances to his name, while also catching the eye with some impressive performances for his country at the 2022 World Cup.

Indeed, the Croatian received high praise from Jurgen Klinsmann during the quarter-final against Brazil, with the former Tottenham Hotspur man saying: “He is basically telling Vinicius Jnr, ‘I’m in charge, I’m the boss here.”

Alex Scott also hailed the defender for a “quality” first-half display, and Croatia went on to win the game on penalties, following a number of important defensive contributions from the now Union Berlin man.

Juranovic vs Vinicius	Defensive actions
Duels (won)	5 (5)
Clearances	4
Tackles	4
Interceptions	1

The Croatia international, who has been lauded as “superb” by former teammate Joe Hart, has since gone on to establish himself as an important player for Union Berlin when fit, making 62 appearances for the German side.

The only concern over the signing of Juranovic is likely to be his injury record, having been limited to just 17 Bundesliga appearances last season due to a number of setbacks, but his experience at the top level means he could still be a solid signing for Burnley.

As Manchester City’s summer clear-out commences, Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid could reportedly come calling in pursuit of one particular player in the coming months.

Man City set for summer clear-out

It’s been a season to forget for Manchester City, who will be desperate to secure Champions League qualification this Sunday and finally put the current campaign behind them. For the first time in Pep Guardiola’s time at The Etihad, the Citizens have it all to do in the summer transfer window.

No longer are they the dominant champions capable of dispatching 19 other Premier League sides with ease. That’s an era which is ruthlessly and rapidly coming to an end. Instead, the Manchester club need to write a new chapter with new heroes and fresh characters, starting with a number of emotional farewells to several players who will be deemed undeniable legends.

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Already, of course, Kevin De Bruyne has said his goodbyes. The Belgian – one of the best to ever play for Manchester City – bid an emotional farewell to The Etihad last week to begin a summer of departures for the Citizens.

The midfielder told the fans after waving goodbye: “I wanted to play with creativity, I wanted to play with passion. I wanted to enjoy football and I hope everyone enjoyed it.

“Everybody has pushed me so hard inside and outside the club to be the best version of myself and these guys in front of me have made me better than I was before. It’s an honour to play with these guys. I’ve made so many friends for life.”

In the coming months, it will be a question as to who joins De Bruyne out the exit door at Manchester City. There are certainly a few candidates who are coming to the end of their peaks, whilst another name has also reportedly been targeted by Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid now targeting Grealish

According to reports in Spain, Simeone and Atletico Madrid are now targeting a summer move to sign Jack Grealish, who could leave Manchester City this summer in a bid to gain a starting place elsewhere. The England international has often been forced to watch on from the bench this season and desperately needs a fresh start.

Of course, Grealish wouldn’t be the first English player to complete a move to the Spanish club either. Just last summer, Conor Gallagher decided to leave Chelsea in favour of the Metropolitano and has thrived ever since. Now, a year on, it could be Grealish’s turn to join Simeone in La Liga.

Despite a difficult spell at The Etihad, the £300,000-a-week midfielder has still found himself at the centre of praise from Guardiola, who told reporters following Grealish’s performance against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup earlier this season: “I’m happy for him. I know it’s not easy when you don’t play regularly. In the last game in the FA Cup he played very good, much better than today.”

Whether that praise is enough to keep hold of Grealish seems unlikely at this stage, but only time will tell if Atletico Madrid come calling this summer.

Arsenal have now held talks over a deal for an “unbelievable” forward, amid doubts over Gabriel Martinelli’s future, according to a report.

Gunners could now be ready to sell Martinelli

It has been revealed that Mikel Arteta may now be ready to sell Martinelli this summer, as the manager looks to reshuffle his squad, and AC Milan have emerged as potential suitors, with Rafael Leao’s future at the San Siro still very much up in the air.

Should the Gunners decide to cash in on the Brazilian, they would be looking to receive a fee of at least £50m, although he is currently planning to fight for his place in the starting XI, and has no plans of pushing for a move elsewhere.

It would certainly seem harsh to sell the 23-year-old, considering he has been a regular source of goals and assists over the past four seasons, but Arteta has shown he is willing to make big decisions in the past, most notably replacing Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

Assists

2021-22

29

6

6

2022-23

36

15

6

2023-24

35

6

4

2024-25

33

8

4

According to a report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have now held talks over a deal to sign West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, who could seemingly be brought in as a replacement for Martinelli, as he is said to be capable of playing on both flanks.

However, the two London clubs may be some way apart in their valuation of Kudus, as he has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his West Ham contract, while the Gunners are hesitant to stump up more than €55m-€60m (£46m – £51m).

The Ghanaian is keen to leave the Hammers this summer, as he intends to play in Europe next season, meaning a move to the Emirates Stadium could be of great appeal, although Chelsea and Newcastle United are also in the race for his signature.

"Unbelievable" Kudus could excel at the Emirates

The 2024-25 campaign was not the 24-year-old’s best, picking up just five goals and three assists in the Premier League, but he was part of a West Ham side that underperformed as a whole, and the winger’s previous exploits indicate he could be a success at Arsenal.

Indeed, the former Ajax man enjoyed a very impressive debut campaign in England, amassing 14 goals and nine assists in all competitions, during which time he was lauded as “unbelievable” by teammate Michail Antonio.

Antonio was left particularly blown away by the winger’s dribbling ability, which was also on display regularly last season, despite not setting up or scoring as many goals as in previous campaigns.

There are certainly signs that Kudus could kick on at the Emirates Stadium, but that said, he should not be brought in as a direct replacement for Martinelli, considering the Brazil international is still young, and it would be very harsh to sanction his departure this summer.

Despite reaching a hefty 90 points in the Championship last season, Sheffield United are now resigned to another campaign in the second t ier

Both Burnley and Leeds United soared into the top two spots in the division at their expense with a mammoth 100 points each, leaving Chris Wilder’s men to fight it out in the cruel lottery of the playoffs.

To make matters worse, the Blades headed into their playoff showdown at Wembley versus Sunderland having never been promoted via this nail-biting route, with that unlucky streak unfortunately continuing against the Black Cats.

It was Tommy Watson who broke United hearts with a last-gasp finish, but the chance would never have fallen to the feet of the new Brighton and Hove Albion youngster kindly if it wasn’t for an inexplicable moment of madness from Welshman Kieffer Moore.

His head-in-hands back-pass could be his last ever cursed moment donning Blades red and white, with Wilder and Co. perhaps tempted to move on the injury-prone striker, having blown hot and cold throughout last season.

Indeed, the experienced EFL attacker would miss 17 games in total due to injury, meaning these three strikers on the potential United shopping list could be viewed as upgrades on the often missing 32-year-old.

1 Emil Riis Jakobsen

Emil Riis Jakobsen would certainly come in and be a similar striker to Moore, considering the Dane boasts a towering 6 foot 3 frame when contrasted wit the ex-Cardiff City man’s imposing 6 foot 5 build.

The soon-to-be free agent has been on Wilder’s radar before according to reports, and with his Preston North End contract confirmed as not being renewed, now could be the perfect time to finally add him to his Blades roster as a back-up attacking body.

After all, Jakobsen did manage to better Moore’s six-goal haul just this season gone with 12 league strikes in total, with the likes of Tyrese Campbell presumably keen to bounce off such an experienced EFL head as promotion is sought after once more.

2 Oli McBurnie

Wilder could also look to the past when recruiting a possible Moore replacement, meaning a deal might soon be on the table for Oli McBurnie to spectacularly return to Bramall Lane.

This wouldn’t be an unusual deal for Wilder to sign off on, considering United were reportedly keen on adding the £2m-rated Scotsman back to their camp in January.

Moreover, with 29 strikes already in his back pocket for the Blades, he wouldn’t need a long time you imagine to get back up to speed with proceedings, having also chipped in with a respectable five strikes for current La Liga employers Las Palmas across the 2024/25 campaign.

It would all rest on whether the Yorkshire-born attacker would fancy swapping Spain for the challenges of the EFL again, but it could be an inspired switch if it clicks into gear.

3 Charlie Kelman

Away from going after seasoned Championship veterans, the Blades could look to Queens Park Rangers hotshot Charlie Kelman as an alternative up top after an explosive loan spell at Leyton Orient.

United have been recently linked with a move for the slick 23-year-old, and after years of not being handed that many meaningful first-team opportunities at Loftus Road, he might well fancy a switch to Wilder’s men to become an exciting reserve option.

Games played

46

Games started

37

Goals scored

21

Assists

5

Shots*

2.4

Shots on target*

1.1

Goal conversion %

19%

Big chances missed

20

Kelman would instantly burst into life leading the line for Richie Wellens’ promotion-chasers, as seen in his 21 strikes and five assists helping the O’s reach the League One playoff final, only to then fall at the vital finishing hurdle to Charlton Athletic.

Wilder and Co. tasted similar agony, but will hope landing promising new strikers such as Kelman can get them over the line this campaign to come.

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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.

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As their chase to sign Joao Pedro continues, Newcastle United have reportedly turned their focus towards an alternative option who already has a hat-trick to his name at St James’ Park.

Newcastle chasing Joao Pedro deal

After sitting out of the last two transfer windows due to PSR concerns, Newcastle are reportedly going full steam ahead with potential incomings this summer – setting their sights on Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest and Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion. Both options would undoubtedly add extra quality to Eddie Howe’s side, who will need all the strength in depth they can get now that they’re back in the Champions League.

Pedro would particularly hand the Magpies a much-needed solution whenever they find themselves without Alexander Isak. When both Callum Wilson and the Swede have struggled on the injury front, it’s been Anthony Gordon who was forced to step up out of position. The arrival of Pedro would quickly end that problem and perhaps even bridge the gap on quality to Isak.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Joao Pedro

Alexander Isak

Starts

23

34

Goals

10

23

Assists

6

6

Expected Goals

8.9

20.3

Whilst the Brazilian struggled to keep up with Isak for goals – as did a fair few forwards last season – he was always clinical when given an opportunity in front of goals, having outperformed his expected goals. So the potential is certainly there for those numbers to increase and in a side like Newcastle, Pedro’s opportunities in front of goal would only increase.

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The Brighton man won’t come cheap, however. The Seagulls are reportedly demanding as much as £60m to sell Pedro this summer which could leave Newcastle assessing their options. If that does prove to be the case, it’s then that they could turn their attention towards another Premier League rival.

Newcastle keen to sign Justin Kluivert

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are now keen to sign Justin Kluivert from Bournemouth this summer in a transfer battle against Manchester United. Unlike Pedro, the Dutchman’s price tag reportedly sits at around €55m (£47m), handing those in Tyneside the chance to land a cheaper alternative and one who already has a hat-trick to his name at St James’ Park.

If Newcastle wanted to take a look at Kluivert’s quality then they certainly received the closest opportunity to do so. By the time that last season came to an end, the forward had scored two hat-tricks and taken his Premier League total to 12 goals in a fine campaign.

Earning plenty of praise as a result of his hat-trick against Newcastle, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola told reporters when asked about Kluivert: “I think Justin is obviously playing with confidence. For me the first goal is key, it’s a good transition but he had options to play both sides and he decides to take the shot. And it’s a great decision, a great finish.

“He also scores an amazing goal after that is disallowed, but this was a lovely, lovely goal. And the assist to Dango. Apart from the job that he normally does in our press, he’s adding numbers that is always very nice.”