Fresh from Championship promotion, Regis Le Bris could reportedly be in for a big summer at Sunderland as the Black Cats prepare to secure Premier League survival at the first time of asking.

Sunderland interested in Henderson return

Among the exciting deals that could take place at the Stadium of Light this summer is Jordan Henderson’s return. The Wearside-born midfielder has enjoyed an incredible career since leaving Sunderland as a breakout star, becoming the most successful Liverpool captain of the Premier League era by lifting the Champions League, Premier League and both domestic cups.

Now, however, after quickly quitting Saudi Arabia and enduring a mixed spell at Ajax, the England international is at a crossroads that Sunderland could solve. At 34 years old and with Sunderland back in the Premier League, there hasn’t been a more perfect time than this summer for Henderson to complete a fairytale return to his boyhood club.

Having watched Sunderland’s dramatic playoff final victory in person, Henderson has already seen the quality that Le Bris’ side possess with his own eyes. Whether he deems it enough to join up with those at the Stadium of Light remains to be seen, however.

A deal to sign the midfielder, with or without his history at the club, makes perfect sense. If Sunderland are to become the first club in six promoted sides to avoid the Premier League drop, then top flight experience will be key and Henderson offers exactly that and more.

Related Big O'Nien upgrade: Sunderland targeting move for "freak" £20m "monster"

Sunderland might look to upgrade on Luke O’Nien when venturing up to the Premier League.

Posts ByKelan Sarson

The former Liverpool captain may just be the start of the arrivals, however, with one reporter now claiming that Sunderland have “big” transfer plans this summer.

Sunderland planning for "big" summer transfer window

According to reporter Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Sunderland will have “big” funds available this summer as they look to overhaul Le Bris’ squad in preparation for the Premier League.

This could see a number of fresh faces arrive to potentially join Henderson in the coming months in what looks likely to be an exciting transfer window for those at the Stadium of Light, with O’Rourke adding that ‘additions with Premier League experience under their belts’ are wanted.

Alongside the midfielder, Sunderland have also been linked with the likes of Kwame Poku in recent weeks. The Peterborough attacker is a wanted man across English football, but Sunderland’s Premier League status could yet prove to be key. It must be said, however, that the jump from League One to the Premier League would certainly be substantial.

Amid all of the excitement, it is also worth noting that Sunderland could be funding their summer through the sale of Jobe Bellingham. The talented midfielder has reportedly been to visit Eintracht Frankfurt to hear their pitch about a potential move in the coming months, and whilst the visit was not for formal talks to take place, the Black Cats should certainly be concerned.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

With Henderson and Poku potentially arriving, among others, and Bellingham perhaps on his way out, Sunderland will be one of the most interesting clubs to watch this summer.

Leeds United fans will soon be welcoming back a whole horde of familiar faces to Elland Road when Premier League football gets officially underway.

The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray will all likely line up for their new sides in West Yorkshire, with Daniel Farke no doubt one to catch up with his past Whites servants before any niceties then go out the window on the pitch, considering their impressive spells donning Leeds white in the first place.

The German could even be about to win his next version of Gray this summer if all goes to plan, with Leeds reportedly having to spend big to land this new, versatile target.

Leeds interested in £30m star

It had been a relatively quiet window as far as incomings were concerned at Elland Road until Sunday when, out of the blue, Leeds managed to seal the signing of Felix Nmecha.

The striker arrived from Wolfsburg on a free transfer following the conclusion of his contract with the German club. So, who’s next on the radar?

Well, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness) Leeds are now keen on adding standout Southampton gem Matheus Fernandes to their ranks.

Previously, Fernandes has been valued at around the £30m mark, but Sport Witness goes on to elaborate that a heftier asking price could now be in the offing if Leeds, Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace want to win their desired man.

It remains to be seen whether the newly promoted side would entertain a fee that’s higher than the already outlined £30m, but the daring capture of Fernandes could prove to be worthwhile down the line, particularly if the 20-year-old blossoms into Farke’s next iteration of Gray on his potential move to West Yorkshire.

How Fernandes could be Leeds' next Gray

Much like Gray was thrust into the spotlight under Farke during the 2023/24 season at Elland Road, Fernandes has been in and around the daunting environments of senior football for some time now without ever appearing to be fazed.

Indeed, the Portugal U21 international was gifted his senior Sporting debut under the tenure of Ruben Amorim when he was only the tender age of 18, with just ten senior appearances coming his way in the Portuguese capital before Southampton came calling.

Gray only experienced one season himself in the senior ranks at Leeds before his adventure in the big time also occurred, but whilst the 19-year-old did impress in flashes for Tottenham Hotspur last season when infrequently utilised, Fernandes was a constant bright spark for the Saints, even as they unfortunately succumbed to relegation.

In total, the 5 foot 10 starlet collected three goals and six assists at St. Mary’s in all competitions, with his Premier League journey rightfully not grinding to a halt if one of the aforementioned three top-flight suitors soon picks him up.

Fernandes’ career numbers by position

Position

Games

Goals

Assists

CM

68

7

9

AM

33

3

7

DM

6

0

0

RW

4

1

1

LM

3

0

1

LW

2

0

0

CF

1

0

0

RM

1

0

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

For Leeds’ sake, if the similarities between the pair weren’t already obvious, his flexible nature to perform all across the pitch when glancing at the table above will make him even more of a desirable target in their attempts to land their next Gray.

Indeed, the new Spurs number 14 routinely slotted into the full-back positions under Farke’s wing in the Championship to prove his worth to the Elland Road cause.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The “complete” Fernandes – as he has been labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson – is willing to line up as an option down the flank too, away from feeling more comfortable slotting into a lineup as a number ten or into a more traditional central role.

The in-demand 20-year-old will also surely view Leeds as a worthwhile next destination, having seen what the club did for Gray, on top of the fact that the list of other promising young midfielders who have shone in West Yorkshire includes Kalvin Phillips.

Previously hailed as a “big talent” too by scout Jacek Kulig, it will be intriguing to see if Leeds are prepared to fork out a sum around the £30m mark to land such a hyped up star.

Their boldness could pay off if Fernandes goes on to be a similar success story to Gray’s, with the Saints’ number 18 just hopeful he can steer his potential new side to safety if he does join, over another relegation stain blotting his CV.

Related He's now worse than Bamford: 2 teams want to sign "special" Leeds ace

Leeds United will likely sanction an exit for this star who is worse than Patrick Bamford.

Posts ByKelan Sarson

It has yet to be officially confirmed by the club, but Thomas Frank looks set to be Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager.

The Danish coach feels like a sensible choice to replace Ange Postecoglou, as since bringing Brentford up to the Premier League, he’s proven himself capable of achieving a lot with not much.

So, it’s exciting to see what he’ll be able to do at one of the wealthiest clubs in the league after what should be a summer with at least a few offensive signings.

That said, reports have recently linked the club to a tremendously promising player who could be the ideal replacement for Cristian Romero, who could be on his way out of the club.

Tottenham eyeing Romero replacement

So, while the exciting rumours have seen Spurs linked with attacking talents like Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo, there have been some worrying reports concerning Romero’s future in recent weeks and months.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

For example, in early April, the Argentine international was being linked with a move to European royalty Real Madrid.

Then later that month, into May and right up until this week, Atlético Madrid have emerged as the team who seem most intent on signing the World Cup winner for around £60m, and there have even been stories claiming that the players have already spoken with Diego Simeone.

In all, it feels like a distinct possibility that the 27-year-old could leave North London this summer, which might help explain the links to Jarrad Branthwaite.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are now ‘considering a bold move’ for the Everton star this summer.

The story claims that the North Londoners are ‘huge fans’ of the young Englishman and that Frank sees him as ‘a cornerstone for Tottenham’s ambitions to compete for Champions League football.’

However, to get their man, the Lilywhites will have to stump up at least £70m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and potential, it’s one Spurs should pursue, especially if Romero leaves.

Why Branthwaite would be an ideal Romero replacement

Now then, the first thing to say, and it’s important, is that if this deal were to go through, and Branthwaite was signed to replace Romero, fans should not expect him to come in and be just as good right away.

The Englishman is still just 22 years old, and while he’s hugely promising, with respected analyst EBL claiming he “ticks every box,” he’s not going to be at the level of a seasoned 27-year-old.

With that said, when we take a look at the pair’s underlying numbers from this season, the good news is that the Carlisle-born titan doesn’t fare too badly at all and actually comes on top in several defensive metrics.

Branthwaite vs Romero

Statistics per 90

Branthwaite

Romero

Non-Penalty G+As

0.07

0.06

Progressive Passes

2.14

4.52

Progressive Carries

0.06

0.76

Passing Accuracy

79.8%

89.5%

Tackles

1.91

2.23

Blocks

1.47

1.15

Interceptions

1.34

1.29

Clearances

4.71

3.63

Errors Leading to a Shot

0.06

0.13

Miscontrols

0.58

0.64

Dispossessed

0.06

0.32

Aerial Duels Won %

68.6

60.3

Aerial Duels Won

2.72

2.61

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Domestic Season

For example, when he ranks higher than the World Cup winner for things like blocks, interceptions, clearances, and the percentage of and outright number of aerial duels won, all per 90.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Moreover, the England U21 star makes fewer errors leading to a shot, miscontrols the ball less, is dispossessed less often, commits fewer fouls and has a higher success rate when tackling opposition players in a dribble, also per 90.

It’s not just the statistical side of the game that makes the former Carlisle United gem such an appealing prospect, but also his physicality.

Standing at a massive 6 foot 5, the “ball-playing physical beast,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, would add some serious heft to the North Londoners’ backline that the 6 foot 1 Argentine just doesn’t.

Ultimately, while keeping Romero and him staying fit would likely be the best bet for improving Spurs’ defence next season, Branthwaite certainly wouldn’t be a bad replacement, and if they can get him as well as keeping the Cordoba-born titan, then even better.

Related Dream Semenyo alternative: Spurs plot bid to sign "terrifying" £21m star

The dynamic attacker could represent a sensational deal for Spurs.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes

Manchester United have made ‘first formal contact’ over a move to sign a star who wants to move to Old Trafford rather than Barcelona.

Man Utd looking to upgrade on Hojlund and Onana

It is shaping up to be a frantic few months in the transfer window for the Red Devils, with a major squad overhaul potentially on the cards ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge.

A plethora of players such as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho have returned from loan spells and could be moved on permanently, whereas Matheus Cunha became United’s first summer signing.

More attacking additions are on the cards, with a replacement for Rasmus Hojlund being mentioned. The Denmark international has struggled for goals at Old Trafford and has been linked with a return to Serie A.

Related Huge Hojlund upgrade: Wilcox opens talks to sign "new Mbappe" for Man Utd

Ruben Amorim wants to sign a new centre-forward this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

In fact, Amorim has reportedly made it clear that Hojlund doesn’t feature in his long-term Man Utd plans, with the club looking to sell the forward on a permanent basis, although an initial loan offer which includes an obligation to buy may also be considered.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres are just two strikers who United have spoken about to solve their number nine issues.

Meanwhile, someone who has been heavily linked to replace Andre Onana is World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez.

Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now, there have been recent claims that the Aston Villa star wants to make the move to Old Trafford over the coming months. Now, a promising development has emerged regarding Man Utd and Martinez.

Man Utd make first contact for Emiliano Martinez

According to reports abroad, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd have now made ‘first formal contact’ to sign Martinez from Aston Villa.

It is reported that the Red Devils have approached Martinez’s agent over a deal as they want to make him first choice at Old Trafford over Onana.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

They back up reports that Martinez is keen to stay in England despite interest from Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Galatasaray, who have also been in touch. However, with Martinez willing to snub a move to Spain and Turkey, it is added that this ‘further paves the way’ for Martinez to join United.

On £150,000-a-week at Villa Park which works out at £7.8m per season, Martinez’s last trip to Old Trafford was extremely eventful.

The Argentine received a red card on the final day of the 24/25 season as Villa failed to to qualify for the Champions League, and despite no European football being on offer at Old Trafford for now, he seems to be keen on a move to Manchester.

Star striker Viktor Gyokeres is at the centre of a dispute with Sporting CP over his future, and tensions are reportedly reaching breaking point as the ex-Coventry City forward sets his sights on a return to England with Arsenal.

Related Arsenal offered £195,000-p/w France star who held talks to join Tottenham

The Gunners are still searching attacking reinforcements.

Posts ByTom Cunningham

Credible media sources have claimed in the past few weeks that new sporting director Andrea Berta has been working on simultaneous deals for both Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, before deciding which move would be best suited to Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

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

However, as yet, neither striker is any closer to joining Arsenal, despite their eagerness to embark on a Premier League switch.

Sesko is allegedly keen on joining Arsenal, and talks remain ongoing between all parties over a potential deal, while Fabrizio Romano has reported that a move to N5 is Gyokeres’ priority.

The latter had thought that he could leave for around £60 million before deadline day on September 1, but Sporting president, Frederico Varandas, publicly denied this recently.

“I see the agent in the press releasing information. I want to make one thing clear: Sporting has common sense and keeps its word,” said Varandas last month.

“Gyokeres scored 63 goals and 10 assists. Fantastic performance. Certainly one of the best players to have ever stepped onto Portuguese turf. And Sporting will not demand the clause.

“Now blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10. As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyokeres.”

Since then, Varandas has taken another swipe at Gyokeres’ agent, and the striker is becoming deeply frustrated by these statements, as explained by an update from Portuguese newspaper Record this week.

The threat Viktor Gyokeres has made via text as he pushes to join Arsenal

The outlet, via Sport Witness, explains that Gyokeres really wants to join Arsenal, and he’s worried that Sporting’s demand of £68 million could put his dream move to the Emirates in jeopardy – with Arteta’s side refusing to match it as things stand.

Record claims to have access to text messages exchanged between the 27-year-old and Varandas, with Gyokeres threatening to speak to the media himself if a move away carries on being derailed.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

During this conversation with Sporting’s president, it was also claimed that Gyokeres made a decision not to turn up for his pre-season duties, which could really escalate the situation further.

This standoff represents more than just your run-of-the-mill negotiation. For Gyokeres, it’s about securing what he sees as his rightful opportunity to compete at the highest level with Arsenal. For Sporting and Varandas, it’s about maximizing the return on their prized asset while maintaining credibility in future negotiations.

This story is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing transfer tales of this entire window, and if things don’t take a positive turn, Arsenal could be forced to look elsewhere in their pursuit of a prolific new striker.

Newcastle United are believed to be eyeing an impressive double swoop alongside their imminent move for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga this summer.

Newcastle closing in on Elanga signing

The Magpies continue to work hard on new signings, from James Trafford to Marc Guehi, but it looks as though the addition of Elanga from Forest is closer than ever to happening.

According to a new claim from Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Newcastle have agreed a £55m for the signing of the Swede, with a medical expected to take place imminently.

Elanga has the potential to be such an eye-catching signing for Eddie Howe, with his pace helping make them a huge threat on the counter-attack, as highlighted last season when he scored a stunning solo effort against former club Manchester United.

It’s now a case of ensuring that the Forest man becomes a Newcastle player and that there are no late obstacles to overcome, before turning their attention to further signings, with a striker believed to be a major focus for PIF this summer.

Newcastle eyeing double defensive swoop

According to L’Equipe [via Sport Witness], Newcastle remain keen on signing Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri, despite their strong interest in Trafford. He is considered a good alternative to the Englishman and may well head to the Premier League either way this summer, with Leeds United also in the mix.

Meanwhile, Give Me Sport claim that the Magpies are continuing to eye a summer move for Guehi from Crystal Palace, in a potential £70m deal. They are described as being “hopeful of winning the race” to sign the England international once they wrap up Elanga.

Perri stands out as an excellent alternative to Trafford, should Newcastle fail to sign the Burnley man, with Paulo Fonseca even calling him the “best in the world” in his position. At 27, the Brazilian is also a more proven player at the top level than Trafford, although at this point, it would still be a surprise if the Clarets goalkeeper wasn’t the man to come in this summer.

Meanwhile, Guehi arguably stands out as the strongest possible choice to come in and bolster Newcastle’s back-line, having now shown that he can excel for both club and country, standing out as England’s best defender at Euro 2024 last summer.

Now feels like the right time for him to enjoy a new challenge in his career, and he possesses the leadership, quality on the ball and reading of play to be a mainstay of the Magpies’ defence for many years.

Related He will love Elanga: Newcastle in advanced talks to sign a "top striker"

Eddie Howe could be close to signing a new striker for Newcastle.

Posts 2 ByRoss Kilvington

Granted, the £70m price tag is bloated, as is often the case with homegrown players, but he could prove to be worth every penny if he shines at the heart of the defence for the next decade.

Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta’s transfer plans, after manager Mikel Arteta was handed the major boost of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres’ imminent arrival.

Related Famous fans: Which celebrities support Arsenal?

These celebrities can all be found cheering on the Gunners.

Posts ByBarney Lane

Gyokeres, according to The Independent, will fly out to Singapore for his medical as he looks to play some part in their pre-season tour of Asia, with Arsenal finally reaching a full breakthrough to sign the 27-year-old earlier this week.

Arsenal estimated transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

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

Gyokeres is poised to join Arsenal in a deal worth £64 million, including add-ons, with a full verbal agreement now struck between all parties as Arteta prepares to welcome the prolific number nine to his squad.

Given Arsenal’s struggles to break teams down last season, Gyokeres has the potential to be a title-winning signing, and people who’ve worked with the Sweden international simply cannot find enough superlatives to describe him.

“He really was incredible,” said Adi Viveash, who coached and mentored Gyokeres at Coventry City, to Sky Sports.

“His power, taking the ball and running with it, bursting through gaps, linking the play, being very good in both boxes set-piece-wise – which wasn’t a strength of his, but he became certainly very good at defensive set-pieces with me through front post defending.”

“If you give Vik half a pitch in behind with a high line and you get the line wrong, you’re never going to catch him. He’s going to keep making the run in behind so you’re wearing down opposition.”

After Gyokeres, who’ll also be joined by defender Cristhian Mosquera in Singapore, the plan for Arsenal is to prioritise a central attacking midfielder (Ben Jacobs).

Arsenal are seriously interested in Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, as they have been for weeks, but more and more noise is surrounding an alternative to the England international in RB Leipzig sensation Xavi Simons.

Arsenal contact Xavi Simons camp amid Barcelona meeting

According to Romano, Arsenal are guaranteed to have made contact with Simons’ camp, with Chelsea also seriously contending for the 22-year-old’s signature as they plan transfer talks with Leipzig this week.

La Liga champions Barcelona, led by their sporting director Deco, also held a meeting with the Netherlands forward’s representatives recently, but a move to the Camp Nou is seen as unlikely for this window and more one for the future.

Right now, it appears Chelsea are the current favourites for Simons. However, Arsenal remain “attentive” to his situation and a north London switch hasn’t been entirely ruled out yet, meaning he’s still one to watch.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Leipzig only signed the player from PSG permanently in January for an initial £43 million, with Simons now preparing to leave the Bundesliga side after spending some significant time there on loan previously.

Called a “difference maker” by ex-Leipzig boss Marco Rose, Simons has racked up an impressive tally of 21 goals and 23 assists during his time in Germany, but the Premier League could now beckon for him.

Interestingly, journalist Buchi Laba is convinced that Simons would be a “better” Arsenal signing than Eze.

Manchester United have now held talks over a deal for an “enormous” Bayern Munich target, who they have scouted for quite some time, according to a report.

Man Utd set to strengthen in multiple areas

After finishing 15th in the Premier League table last season, it is little wonder that Ruben Amorim is looking to strengthen all over the pitch, with targets being identified in a number of different positions over the past few days.

Player

Current club

Position

Javi Guerra

Valencia

CM

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

ST

Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa

GK

Lucas Beraldo

PSG

CB

John Victor

Botafogo

GK

It may be particularly important for Amorim to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, given that Andre Onana has been subjected to widespread criticism, although there are doubts over whether Martinez would be a suitable replacement.

With the likes of Victor and fellow target Senne Lammens yet to prove themselves at the top level, it could be even more important to have a strong backline next season too, and there has now been a development in Man United’s pursuit of SK Brann defender Eivind Helland.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, United have now held talks over a deal for Helland, who they have scouted for quite some time, but there could be competition for his signature, with Bayern Munich also named as potential suitors.

Brann could be tempted to accept a bid of £8m, meaning a deal would not break the bank, with the Red Devils viewing the 20-year-old as a cost-effective addition to the squad.

"Enormous" Helland has what it takes to succeed in England

The youngster is yet to prove himself outside Norway, so it may be difficult to immediately come in and compete for a starting spot with the likes of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, but the Brann starlet is showing some promising signs.

Data scout Bastian Schmitz has suggested the towering defender has great potential, saying: “He’s a massive talent.

“Helland has an enormous physique, standing tall at 6ft4 and with a broad frame, which means he could already compete physically in the Premier League. Other strengths include his speed and ability to open the game up with his passing.”

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Schmitz also notes that the United target is a versatile player, capable of playing in three positions, namely centre-back, right-back and defensive midfield.

Related Amorim's next Gyokeres: Man Utd open talks to sign "phenomenal" £67m CF

Manchester United appear to have moved on to other targets after missing out on Viktor Gyokeres.

Posts ByEthan Lamb

As such, Helland could be an exciting long-term addition to the squad, and the versatile defender’s potential availability for around £8m makes him a low-risk signing.

Darwin Nunez continues to trundle toward the exit door at Liverpool, leaving behind him a pre-season of preparation in red that has been rich with goals.

But the Uruguayan started only once in the Premier League after Boxing Day last season and scored just seven goals across 47 matches in all competitions. Given that he scored a brace against Brentford, the 25-year-old blanked 41 times under Arne Slot’s wing last year.

So then, Liverpool will need to sign a new striker, even having purchased Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m fee.

Given that Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich for £65.5m last month, you might think a new electric-paced left winger would be at the top of sporting director Richard Hughes’ agenda.

But Rio Ngumoha may well have changed that narrative.

Liverpool's latest prodigy

A star is born. Ngumoha cannot be denied now: this is an up-and-coming player with the potential to go right to the top.

But let’s park our excitement for a moment; Ngumoha is only 16 after all, and must be dripped into life on the professional circuit, not poured right in and exhausted before he has had the chance to develop his remarkable technical and athletic faculties.

Still, his goal-and-assist performance against Athletic Bilbao on Monday afternoon was quite the Anfield debut. Friendly though it was, the attacking midfielder played with such gusto and slickness on the ball, striding forward and unleashing a confident looping strike from outside the area to turn the limelight onto him.

Is it any wonder he has been described as a “special” talent by journalist Bence Bocsak, who said the teenager “has completed more dribbles (14) than any other #LFC player in pre-season.”

Slot will be keen to placate the mounting noise around his name, but you can’t help but think that Liverpool have spawned a custom-built Diaz replacement, one who might play quite the important role in the years to come.

Nguomha’s ball-carrying ability and capacity for goal contributions of all shapes and sizes suggest he could form a dangerous partnership with Ekitike over the coming years, but the same stands for another centre-forward Liverpool are interested in signing this summer.

Liverpool lining up another striker

No, it’s not Alexander Isak we’re on about here. The Newcastle United number nine is Liverpool’s dream target, but the Magpies are playing hardball and might not even find a fitting replacement.

Thus, Caught Offside have revealed that Liverpool have entered the race for Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos, who has fallen out of favour in Luis Enrique’s system.

PSG would hope to recoup something in the ballpark of €65m (£56m) for the Portugal international, who, aged 24, hopes to take the next step in his career and become a focal point for his side.

Though Liverpool want to sign Isak above all others, Ramos would hardly be a poor fallback, and he’s also wanted by Aston Villa, Manchester United, Juventus and Napoli.

What Goncalo Ramos would bring to Liverpool

Ramos cut his teeth in his homeland with Benfica before signing for PSG in an €80m (£70m) deal in 2023, coming off the back of a breakout World Cup campaign in Qatar 2022.

Though the Iberian forward has only scored 33 goals across 86 matches for the French giants, assisting eight goals besides, he’s rarely featured as the star man, starting ten Ligue 1 fixtures in 2024/25. Still, he scored ten times.

And the underlying data is in his favour too. As per FBref, Ramos ranked among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goals scored, the top 11% for assists, the top 9% for pass completion and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

The steady rate of prolific performances across Ramos’ senior career thus far suggests that Slot could shape into one of the world’s foremost forwards, proving the perfect long-term dance partner for an up-and-coming talent like Ngumoha.

Goncalo Ramos – Career Stats so Far (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25 – PSG

46

19

6

23/24 – PSG

40

14

2

22/23 – Benfica

47

27

8

21/22 – Benfica

46

8

4

20/21 – Benfica

12

4

–

19/20 – Benfica

1

2

–

Data via Transfermarkt

Hailed as an “outrageous” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ramos’ wide range of offensive instruments bespeaks his suitability in Slot’s system at Liverpool. He’s fast, powerful and nimble, suggesting he could operate across a variety of roles for a coach who has displayed a preference for forwards who are willing to be fluid in their roles.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

But if Ngumoha’s fast-developing potential has anything to say, it’s unlikely that Slot would be seeking to convert the right-footer into a left-sided forward, whose pace would be used to swerve inside, ready to strike on goal.

Furthermore, Ekitike has indeed already signed on and will bring to the Premier League a more refined and expansive game as a frontman. In any case, the Frenchman is a mean and still-improving goalscorer himself, thus apt to dovetail right into the Slot machine.

But Ramos would bring the icing on the cake, ensuring Liverpool have enough firepower to compete across multiple fronts this season, even if the concerted effort to sign Isak falls flat.

FBref record that both Isak and Ekitike are statistically comparable players to the PSG star, so he’s certainly got the right skill set.

And with Ngumoha already making waves within the Liverpool first team, there’s no reason why these two stars couldn’t strike up a mesmerising partnership in the years to come.

Related Ekitike repeat: Liverpool prepare £50m offer for "monster"; it's not Isak

Liverpool are still hoping to complete several signings before the end of the transfer window.

Posts 2 ByAngus Sinclair

Fair to say, it’s been a pretty miserable summer for Newcastle United supporters so far.

Let’s start with the positives; they have signed Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale, with the latter saving a penalty during Friday night’s pre-season friendly against Espanyol at St James’ Park.

One man who remains conspicuous by his absence is, of course, Alexander Isak, yet to feature at all during pre-season, as he pushes for a move to Liverpool.

Thus, as Eddie Howe’s team brace themselves for life without the superstar Swede, have they identified their ideal replacement?

Newcastle's search for a new striker

As has been widely reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic and many others, Newcastle found themselves in a head-to-head battle with Manchester United for striker Benjamin Šeško, with the Slovenian choosing to go to Old Trafford instead.

He is simply the latest in a long line of players Newcastle have been rather publicly and ignominiously turned down by during this window, including strikers Hugo Ekitiké, Liam Delap and João Pedro, to name but a few, so have they turned their attention to a new target?

Well, according to Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign Samu Aghehowa from Porto.

Adam Crafton and Ornstein of The Athletic add that the Magpies are ‘considering’ making a move for the 21-year-old, who is reportedly valued at around £65m by the 30-time Portuguese champions.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

So, could the Spaniard soon swap the Estádio do Dragão for Tyneside?

What Samu Aghehowa would bring to Newcastle

First and foremost, to avoid confusion, worth stating up front that, up until November last year, he was known as Omorodion, but requested to go by Aghehowa henceforth, his maternal surname, in honour of his mother.

On the pitch too, he’s had an interesting start to his burgeoning career.

On the opening day of the 2023/24 La Liga season, then a teenager, he marked his senior debut with a goal for Granada against Atlético Madrid during a 3-1 defeat at the Metropolitano.

Well, los Colchoneros were so impressed that they signed the unknown youngster just a few days later, paying his €6m (around £5.1m) buyout clause, although he would never actually play for Atleti.

He was immediately loaned out to Deportivo Alavés, scoring eight La Liga goals for los Blanquiazules, including netting home and away against Barcelona, which certainly caught the attention of clubs around Europe.

On the back of this, Chelsea agreed to pay £34m to secure his signature last summer, but the deal collapsed at the 11th hour due to ‘major problems… finalising’ the striker’s contract, supposedly relating to image rights.

Instead, he joined Porto for a reported fee of £12.7m, where he has taken his game to a new level.

In the last 12 months, the 21-year-old has become a full Spain international, debuting against Switzerland in Tenerife last November, before also coming off the bench during June’s Nations League semi-final victory over France.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout was certainly impressed by his performances in Portugal, labelling Aghehowa a “monster”, praising his “pace, physicality and aerial ability”.

Meantime, Elias Burke and Gillian Kasirye of the Athletic document how he is the ‘prototype’ of a modern-day centre-forward, given that the Spaniard is ‘tall, quick, and physically imposing’, noting that he also possesses ‘exceptional pace’ and ‘excellent off-ball positioning’ in the penalty area.

Nevertheless, the question still remains; would he be a better signing than Šeško? Let’s compare the duo to find out.

Samu Aghehowa vs Benjamin Šeško 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Aghehowa

Šeško

Appearances

45

45

Minutes

3,400

3,258

Goals

27

21

Assists

3

6

Goals – xG

+6.6

+2.8

Shots on target %

41.2%

47.5%

Shots per 90

2.83

2.92

Big chances missed

25

18

Big chances created

7

7

Shot-creating actions

64

58

% of touches in penalty area

20.4%

10.4%

Average SofaScore rating

6.99

6.92

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore

As the table documents, in a near-identical number of minutes, the pair’s statistics are remarkably similar across the board.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Spaniard scored more goals and overperformed his expected goals by an impressive amount, while the fact he takes over 20% of his touches inside the opposition’s penalty area underlines his poachers’ instincts.

Worth noting that Aghehowa was playing at a slightly lower level; according to Global Football Rankings, the Primeira Liga is the seventh-strongest league in the world, four places below the Bundesliga.

Also, Porto were, and still are, stuck in the Europa League, while RB Leipzig competed in last season’s Champions League, albeit the Spaniard did score six times in nine European appearances, also netting twice during the Club World Cup back in June.

Thus, with Šeško snubbing a possible move to Tyneside, Aghehowa appears to be the next-best option on the market, so it would be smart for Newcastle to turn their attention to the Spain international.

​​​​​​​

Related Newcastle want to sign "brilliant" Wilson replacement who has 68 PL goals

The Magpies could land a bargain as they look to replenish both striker berths.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford