West Ham United are now in talks over a deal for a “spectacular” midfielder, and they are leading their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature, according to a report.
West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Paqueta uncertainty
Lucas Paqueta has been one of West Ham’s key players over the past three seasons, picking up 18 goals and 14 assists during his time at the London Stadium, but it now appears as though the attacking midfielder could seek pastures new this summer.
Indeed, Paqueta now wants to leave the Hammers, amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, and the board are willing to cash-in, should they receive an offer in the region of £30m.
As such, Graham Potter’s side have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder to replace the 27-year-old, with targets being identified from the Belgian Pro League and within the Premier League.
Target
Current club
League goal contributions in 24/25
Harvey Elliott
Liverpool
3
Mario Stroeykens
Anderlecht
10
Not only are the Irons keen on an attacking option, but they have also made progress in their pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach defensive midfielder Rocco Reitz, according to a report from TEAMtalk.
The report states that talks over a deal for Reitz are now underway, with the Monchengladbach ace expected to leave in this window, given that the £17m release clause in his contract is set to become active next summer.
Everton in race with West Ham to sign midfielder who can leave for £25m
Everton are now involved in a Premier League race to sign an experienced international midfielder.
ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025
The German side don’t want to lose the midfielder for such a low fee, and a transfer battle, which may drive up the price, could be on the cards this summer, with the likes of Brighton, Fulham and Inter Milan also keen.
A number of bids are now expected imminently, and the Hammers should be well-placed to win the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, given that they are thought to be ahead of their Premier League rivals.
Reitz could be "spectacular" signing for West Ham
England were ultimately triumphant in the U21 European Championships, defeating Germany 3-2 in the final, but the Monchengladbach gem impressed throughout the tournament, picking up two assists in five matches.
Not only that, but the German has flourished defensively over the past year, placing very highly across a number of key metrics, when compared to his positional peers.
Statistic
Average per 90
Interceptions
2.61 (99th percentile)
Blocks
1.92 (95th percentile)
Clearances
2.90 (96th percentile)
U23 scout Antonio Mango has also been left impressed by the maestro in the past, singling him out for praise after his Germany U21s debut.
As such, Reitz could be a fantastic signing for West Ham this summer, and it is promising news they are leading the race for his signature.
Arsenal have earmarked the potential signing of a highly-rated forward as an absolute “dream” scenario for Mikel Arteta, with the Gunners extremely keen to secure his signature after hearing bad news about a key target.
Andrea Berta's promising start as Arsenal sporting director
Andrea Berta has made a promising start to life at N5 already, with the Italian sporting director sealing Martin Zubimendi’s signing from Real Sociedad for around £55 million in total (Fabrizio Romano).
Arsenal plot "shock" move for Premier League captain who "goes under the radar"
He’s a leader in the dressing room.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2025
The 53-year-old has also finalised Kepa Arrizabalaga’s £5 million arrival from Chelsea, with the Spaniard swapping Stamford Bridge for north London in what is a very astute move by Berta to secure a capable David Raya alternative.
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
This has now been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, too, with all documents “sealed” for Kepa who becomes Arsenal’s second unofficial signing after Zubimendi.
Arteta’s engine room and goalkeeping options have been bolstered with proven quality, but according to Romano again, £205,000-per-week Real Madrid forward Rodrygo is another man high on Berta’s agenda.
The Brazil international commands a price tag of around £77 million, as well as high wages, so he could be a pricey deal to pull off, but Romano is adamant that Arsenal have placed him at the top of their shortlist of wide targets.
Arsenal "dream" of signing Rodrygo for Mikel Arteta
Speaking on his personal YouTube channel, the respected journalist says that Arsenal “dream” of signing Rodrygo, especially that Nico Williams appears far more likely to join Barcelona.
Williams was a key target for Arsenal, and Berta even held talks with the Spaniard’s representatives in one of his “first acts” as sporting director, as per The Guardian’s Ed Aarons, but his move to London is now deemed “impossible”.
“Arsenal love Rodrygo. When I say Arsenal, it’s about the management, it’s about the coach, it’s about Mikel Arteta,” said Romano.
“They consider Rodrygo as a fantastic player, a dream target as a winger, also because they feel Nico Williams is impossible to reach this summer. Rodrygo, he remains a strong name, for sure, on the list at Arsenal.”
The 24-year-old has racked up 14 goals and 11 assists for Real in all competitions throughout 2024/2025, including the Club World Cup, with Rodrygo’s elite-level experience coming as a major positive, despite barely hitting his prime yet.
The challenges behind any move for Rodrygo are both the finances involved and convincing him to leave world football’s most appealing destination so he can start completely fresh in the Premier League, but Arsenal’s serious interest is crystal clear.
Sunderland are looking to bolster their squad with new signings during the summer transfer window in an attempt to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.
Regis Le Bris’ side won promotion via the play-offs from the Championship in the 2024/25 campaign, and go up to the top-flight knowing that they need to add more quality to the squad.
Sunderland managerRegisLeBrisapplauds fans after the match
It was recently reported that the Black Cats are in talks with Dynamo Kyiv to secure a deal for Ukraine international centre-forward Vladyslav Vanat to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
The 23-year-old striker scored 17 goals in 28 league games for Dynamo Kyiv this season, along with one goal in the Europa League, and could be an exciting addition in the final third.
However, Sunderland will also have to look at ways to improve the team at the other end of the pitch, as they will be in a relegation battle that will see their defence constantly tested by high-quality sides.
With this in mind, the club should be looking to secure an upgrade on current first-choice Anthony Patterson, who may not be ready for the Premier League.
Why Anthony Patterson may not be Premier League ready
The 25-year-old stopper has been Sunderland’s first-choice since he broke through as the number one in the 2021/22 campaign, and started 45 games in the Championship this term.
However, Patterson’s performances in the second tier for Le Bris do not suggest that he is likely to make the step up to the Premier League to be a reliable figure between the sticks.
The Black Cats academy graduate let too many errors, like the one in the clip above, creep into his game, and he will be punished even more at a higher level, given the step up in the quality of attackers.
Appearances
42
Save percentage
69%
Goals prevented
-1.75
Error led to shot
2
Error led to goal
1
Percentage of crosses claimed
4.2%
As you can see in the table above, Patterson conceded 1.75 more goals than expected based on the xG of the shots that he faced, which meant that he underperformed as a shot-stopper overall as he let in more than the average goalkeeper would have been expected to.
He also ranked within the bottom 35% of goalkeepers in the Championship by only claiming 4.2% of the crosses into his box, as well as ranking in the bottom 11% for defensive actions outside of his box per 90 (0.64).
These statistics suggest that Patterson is unlikely to be a key player for the Black Cats in the Premier League, as he underperformed as a shot-stopper, a cross-claimer, and a sweeper-keeper at a lower level in the second tier.
Sunderland in talks to sign Ligue 1 star
Supporters should, therefore, be pleased to read that the club are reportedly eyeing up a deal to sign an upgrade on the English goalkeeper this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland have made an approach to sign OGC Nice shot-stopper Marcin Bulka to bolster their ranks between the sticks.
The reporter claims that the Black Cats are now in talks with the Ligue 1 side to secure his signature as part of their “ambitious” approach to the market.
OGC Nice's MarcinBulkaand Youssouf Ndayishimiye celebrate after the match
Romano adds that multiple other teams have approached Nice with an interest in the Poland international, which suggests that there will be plenty of competition for his services throughout the summer transfer window.
There is no mention, however, of how much money the French side are set to demand for the former Chelsea goalkeeper, or how much Sunderland are prepared to pay for him.
Why Marcin Bulka is an upgrade for Sunderland
The Black Cats could improve their team by winning the race for Bulka’s signature before the end of the summer transfer window, based on his performances for Nice in Ligue 1 during the 2024/25 campaign.
He started 34 games in the French top-flight and caught the eye with his impressive shot-stopping skills, saving 75% of the shots on his goal and preventing 2.74 goals.
That came after the former PSG goalkeeper, who was hailed as “sensational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, prevented 2.00 goals in 34 Ligue 1 games for Nice during the previous campaign, which shows that he has consistently outperformed as a shot-stopper over the past two seasons.
Bulka, as you can see in the clips above, is capable of producing some stunning saves to keep the ball out of the net, and has proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues over multiple seasons.
His performances as an all-round goalkeeper in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he would arrive at the Stadium of Light as a significant upgrade on what Le Bris currently has between the sticks.
Save percentage
75.8%
70.3%
Saves made per 90
3.53
2.14
Penalty save percentage
33.3%
20%
Crosses stopped per 90
1.15
0.55
Percentage of crosses claimed
8.3%
4.2%
Defensive actions outside the box per 90
0.97
0.64
As you can see in the table above, Bulka outperformed Patterson as a shot-stopper, a cross-claimer, and as a sweeper-keeper this season, whilst playing at a higher level in the top tier in France, compared to the Championship.
These statistics suggest that the Polish colossus, who has been Nice’s number one for the past two campaigns, has the quality to arrive on Wearside as an immediate upgrade on the current Sunderland number one.
Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
He has proven his quality in a top European league and could, therefore, hit the ground running as a reliable and quality goalkeeper who can stop shots and crosses with impressive regularity, particularly compared to Patterson.
This is why the Black Cats must do their best to win the race for Bulka’s signature, now that they are in official talks with Nice to agree a deal for the 25-year-old star, who would improve their chances of avoiding the drop from the Premier League next term.
He's the new Le Fee: Sunderland battling English clubs to sign £1.2m star
Sunderland is monitoring this promising midfielder who could be Regis Le Bris’ next Enzo Le Fee.
Liverpool have found out their fate for their title defence in 2025/26. The Premier League fixtures were confirmed on Tuesday morning, with Arne Slot hoping to lead his team to the title for the second year in a row.
With Florian Wirtz set to join soon, and the experience of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the squad, they have an exciting side. Indeed, those players and their teammates will begin the title defence on Friday, 15th August, at home to Bournemouth. Their first away trip will see them travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United.
It has already been a busy summer at Anfield, and things will now only ramp up with the announcement of the fixtures.
Liverpool's latest transfer target
Liverpool’s 2025 summer window has started quickly. They already have Jeremie Frimpong in the door, and seem set to add Wirtz and Milos Kerkez from the Cherries, sooner rather than later. Then, the attention can turn to their next reported target.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The highly reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano has recently confirmed on YouTube, via Caught Offside, that the Reds hold “concrete interest” in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. Romano explained that Reds ‘are involved in the story’ for the Frenchman this summer.
However, the deal can’t progress yet, because Liverpool ‘are waiting to find a solution for Darwin Nunez’, who will leave the club this summer.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Once that transfer has gone through, a move for Ekitike might speed up. The Mirror recently quoted his price at £60m, so it is safe to assume the Merseysiders will need to pay somewhere in that region.
Why Ekitike could help Salah break more records
At just 22 years of age, Frankfurt superstar Ekitike has garnered himself a fantastic reputation, having shone in the 2025/25 campaign. Football scout Antonio Mango once called him a “gem” of a footballer while journalist Graeme Bailey has outlined how some think he could be “the next Mbappe”. It is easy to see why.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
The Frenchman, who came through the Reims academy, where he was born, managed to score 22 goals and grab 12 assists across all competitions last season.
He played 48 games and was a really important part of a Frankfurt side that finished third and qualified for the Champions League.
Indeed, Ekitike comes with a great pedigree in Europe, too. Of his 34 goals and assists last term, seven came in the Europa League, which included a goal away to eventual winners, and Liverpool’s Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.
If the Reds are able to get this deal over the line, Ekitike could become the perfect player alongside Salah. The Liverpool legend was sensational yet again last season, winning the Golden Boot with his 29 goals and picking up 18 assists, too.
With 87 assists to his name in the Premier League and no signs of slowing down, there is a realistic chance that the man lovingly dubbed the “Egyptian King” by the Anfield faithful could climb higher up the list of all-time most assists in the English top flight.
Ryan Giggs currently tops it with 162 assists, so Salah has some way to go, but matching his assist total from 2024/25 next season will see him climb to fourth and go far ahead of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
Ekitike could be the perfect player to help get him there. His underlying stats on FBref from last season are those of a true goalscorer, with 0.53 goals per 90 minutes ranking him in the top 19% of Bundesliga forwards.
The Frenchman is a complete centre-forward, and wouldn’t just help boost Salah’s assist numbers. He is a chance creator too, averaging 1.55 key passes each game, which places him in the top 12% of Bundesliga forwards. With Salah’s eye for goal, they could form a deadly duo.
Goals
0.53
81st
Goals and assists
0.81
88th
Expected goals
0.76xG
95th
Key passes
1.55
88th
Shot-creating actions
3.55
84th
There is no doubt that Liverpool’s investment this summer has been huge, but in many ways, it has to be in order to compete for the Premier League title again. Perhaps, for just £60m, Ekitike could be the missing piece in their side.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
It will be fascinating to see how this move develops, but one thing is for sure: the Frenchman could form a superb partnership with an all-time legend of the Premier League.
He'd be elite alongside Wirtz: £130m star is now Liverpool's no.1 target
Liverpool may not be done with their big spending yet
West Bromwich Albion’s drawn-out search for a new manager has ended with Ryan Mason now officially in the Baggies’ hot seat.
There is plenty of intrigue surrounding this appointment as the Championship side ditch the tried and tested approach of Tony Mowbray for something left-field and fresher, with the 33-year-old taking on his first ever head coach role having only once been a stand-in option at ex-employers Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham's Ryan Mason
He will want to get down to business soon in the transfer market to begin to leave a lasting mark on his new side, with plenty of signings rumoured to be entering the building alongside the fresh-faced manager.
West Brom locked into talks with new striker
Mason could utilise those Spurs connections when adding to his Baggies squad, with North London prodigy Mikey Moore already being tipped to make a loan move to the EFL to expand his horizons, away from previous links suggesting Jamie Donley could call the West Midlands home shortly.
Further, it looks as if West Brom could win themselves a new deadly marksman in the form of Hearts’ goal machine Lawrence Shankland.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland.
Journalist Mark Hendry has now revealed that West Brom are locked in talks about bringing the prolific 29-year-old to the Hawthorns, as the Hearts captain increasingly looks more and more likely to walk away from the Edinburgh giants on a free transfer.
But, the Championship promotion hopefuls aren’t alone in their interest, with Hendry surprisingly adding that both Al-Ettifaq and Al-Wedha are sniffing around from Saudi Arabia.
How Shankland could be West Brom's best striker since Maja
If West Brom were to pip these outfits to the coveted signature of the Scotsman, they could be about to seal their best striker signing since Josh Maja’s addition, with the equally lethal attacker going on to be a golden purchase up top himself, considering he joined the ranks in 2023 on a free transfer as well.
Maja has endured difficult periods at the Hawthorns, however, with a mammoth 44 games missed through injury over the last two seasons.
But, when he’s fit, there’s a real lack of strikers in the Championship that possess the same clinical edge the Nigerian has in abundance, with the devastatingly effective number nine picking up 12 goals last campaign, despite only being fit enough to line up for 26 league clashes.
Shankland has also displayed a “ruthless” cutting edge – in the words of pundit Chris Sutton – throughout his celebrated spell on the books of Hearts, with this last-gasp goal against arch rivals Hibernian just one of many crucial strikes the Glasgow-born attacker has powered home for Derek McInnes’ men.
Having played up and down the various Scottish leagues across his goal-laden career to date, it does feel like the time is right for Shankland to test himself in a new and challenging environment, with the 6 foot 1 menace hopeful he can take to the pressures of the Hawthorns in his stride, much like Maja did when taking the plunge two years ago.
24/25
43
9
11
23/24
47
31
8
22/23
47
28
4
After all, before his return to England, the ex-Sunderland forward had begun to garner his own reputation for being a reliable source of goals when leading the line for Bordeaux, with 29 goals tallied up from 93 appearances.
Therefore, when assessing Shankland’s monstrous total of 68 strikes from 137 contests for Hearts, he should find his shooting boots are an equally uncomplicated find in the EFL’s elite league.
Lawrence Shankland
Mason would love to welcome in Shankland then as one of his first signings, with the 33-year-old no doubt crying out for a potent forward line to help his new side instantly gun for promotion.
Mason can sign West Brom's next Fellows in young star who's like "Neymar"
Ryan Mason would love to welcome this stunning star to this brand-new West Bromwich Albion squad.
While they were less successful on the trophy front than the current Tottenham Hotspur team, it would be fair to say the side Mauricio Pochettino built was the best the club has seen in the modern era.
From front to back, the team was filled with simply sensational players who really should have won at least a couple of major honours during their time in North London.
The likes of Harry Kane and a younger Son Heung-min would give opposition defenders nightmares, while Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld did the same to opposition attackers.
However, arguably, the most talented player in that squad was Mousa Dembélé, and now it looks like Ange Postecoglou might be brewing his own version of the Belgian.
Mousa Dembélé's Spurs career
Dembélé joined Tottenham in the summer of 2012 from fellow Premier League side Fulham for a fee of just £15m, which, in retrospect, has to be looked at as one of the deals of the century.
Former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele.
It didn’t take long at all for the former Cottagers star to settle into life with the Lilywhites, scoring his first goal for the club on his debut – a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City.
He finished his first campaign in North London with two goals and five assists to his name in 44 appearances, and while he looked the part, he only improved when Pochettino took charge ahead of the following season.
Under the Argentine, the Antwerpen-born titan became the all-action “monster,” as dubbed by Eric Dier, that he’s remembered as today.
It was practically impossible to get the ball off of him, and if he didn’t have it, you could be sure that he’d do everything he could to win it off the opposition – usually to great success.
The 37-year-old icon was the engine of that Spurs side, and to say his teammates appreciated him would be a massive understatement, with Kyle Walker once describing him as “the best player I’ve ever seen play football” and Harry Kane simply calling him “incredible.”
After making 249 appearances for the club, in which he scored ten goals and provided ten assists, the midfield maestro finally left in January 2019 to join the Chinese Super League.
Appearances
249
Starts
181
Minutes
16115′
Goals
10
Assists
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.08
Minutes per Goal Involvement
805.75
However, some of his teammates would have liked him to stay for the rest of that season, as Kieran Trippier would later claim that Spurs could have won the Champions League with him still in the side.
He might have done what the club’s new Dembélé did for them against Manchester United on Wednesday night.
The Spurs star becoming their new Dembélé
Okay, so the first thing to say here is that we aren’t arguing that anyone in the current Spurs squad is as good a player as Dembélé was, as that would be absurd.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, there is one youngster who starred on Wednesday night and has some of the characteristics that could see him develop into the team’s modern version of the Belgian: Pape Matar Sarr.
The Senegalese international joined Tottenham under Nuno Espírito Santo’s reign for around £14.6m, and after spending the 2021/22 season on loan with the French side, made his way to North London, where he has continued to develop since.
Much like the club’s former number 19, the 22-year-old is primarily a central midfielder but has the ability and flexibility to play in defensive midfield and, even on occasion, slightly further up the pitch.
In terms of his style of play, the “sensational” dynamo, as dubbed by Spurs content creator tehTrunk, is constantly on the move, be that darting forward to help out in attacks or covering ground to help out the defence, and while he’s not quite as safe on the ball, you’d have described the former Lilywhites star in a similar way.
We saw all of these characteristics in Bilbao, with Spurs writer Alasdair Gold awarding him a 9/10 match rating at full-time for his ‘constantly running display’ and how well he did ‘to break up United’s play.’
Ultimately, while we would never say Sarr is on the same level as Dembélé, we do think there are parts of his game that are quite similar, and with another few years of development, he could get close.
Spurs' 18-year-old "monster" is going to be better than Romero & Van de Ven
The tremendously exciting youngster could be special for Spurs.
Despite sitting as low as 16th in the Premier League, Manchester United and INEOS reportedly have full belief that they will win the race to sign one particular attacking reinforcement this summer.
Man Utd's disastrous season
When Ruben Amorim arrived to replace Erik ten Hag in November, Manchester United were a side struggling to gain a foothold in the race to secure European football. At the time, it seemed as though it was impossible for things to get worse. This was the Red Devils at their lowest, many believed.
Fast-forward six months, however, and United have been handed a brutal reality check. Amorim’s side not only sit adrift of European football, they sit just two places above the relegation zone with two games left to be played. Yet to even reach the 40-point mark, which is usually considered the stage of safety, United are arguably fortunate that Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town already have their relegations confirmed.
Admitting his embarrassment over his side’s league position after suffering a 2-0 loss at the hands of West Ham United on Sunday, Amorim told reporters: “How a manager of Manchester United is supposed to feel in that position – embarrassed, and it’s hard to accept.
“I think everybody has to think seriously about a lot of things here. Everybody is thinking about the final. The final is not an issue in this moment in our club. We have bigger things to think and we have to change a lot of things in the end of the season.”
Man Utd could sign £150k-a-week Aston Villa star if Bruno Fernandes leaves
He has enjoyed an outstanding season for his current team.
2 ByHenry Jackson May 12, 2025
With plenty of work to do whether they win the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur or not, it looks as though Manchester United could start by reinforcing their frontline.
Man Utd confident that they'll sign £30m Delap
According to The Boot Room, Manchester United now believe that they’ll sign Liam Delap ahead of Chelsea this summer, with technical director Jason Wilcox now pushing to get a deal done, in what is a boost for Amorim and the Red Devils.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapin action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye
A former Manchester City player, Delap’s arrival wouldn’t be without some headlines but it is, ultimately, one that the Red Devils should be making following the forward’s excellent season at Ipswich Town. Given that he will reportedly be available for a release clause worth just £30m after Ipswich’s relegation too, United could be landing a bargain deal.
Praised for his “warrior-like” approach by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Delap has quite the decision to make this summer. Unlike in the past, game time wouldn’t be an issue at a club of Manchester United’s stature, and he would likely be an upgrade on Amorim’s current options. But after such a disastrous season, attracting players will be more difficult than ever for the Red Devils this summer.
Crystal Palace have now emerged as dark horses to sign a “future Ballon d’Or winner” as a possible replacement for Eberechi Eze this summer, according to a report.
Eze's future at Selhurst Park in doubt
Eze has once again been very impressive in a Palace shirt this season, picking up four goals and eight assists in the Premier League, while he also played a major role in the 3-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Aston Villa, scoring the opening goal in the rout.
As such, the England international is now starting to attract widespread attention from elsewhere, with Premier League rivals Liverpool recently being named as the frontrunners for his signature.
There could be fierce competition for the 26-year-old, however, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also in the race, and there is a feeling he could be “open” to a move to north London.
Would cost £0: Crystal Palace now open talks to sign versatile 6'4 colossus
The Eagles have made contact over a move for a defender, who is capable of playing in five positions.
ByDominic Lund Apr 24, 2025
With Eze contracted until 2027, it remains to be seen whether the Eagles are willing to sanction his departure this summer, particularly considering Marc Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton are also attracting interest.
However, should Palace decide to cash-in, they will need to bring in a replacement, and a report from Caught Offside has now revealed they are now emerging as dark horses to sign Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.
Rayan Cherki
Cherki is being targeted by a number of Europe’s top clubs, with Lyon prepared to let him leave for a fee of €30m – €35m (£25m – £30m) this summer, which is viewed as a bargain sum by a number of the potential suitors.
With the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham also in the picture, it may be difficult for Oliver Glasner’s side win the race, but the Lyon star is keen on a move to the Premier League this summer.
"Genius" Cherki could be "future Ballon d'Or winner"
French journalist Julien Laurens is a big fan of the young Frenchman previously lauding him as a “genius” after performing a remarkable roulette during Lyon’s 3-1 victory against AS Monaco.
The 21-year-old broke into the Lyon team at a very young age, making a total of 27 appearances in the 2020-21 campaign, but this season has been by far his best to date, picking up 12 goals and 19 assists in all competitions.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Ligue 1
27
8
10
Europa League
12
4
8
Coupe de France
2
0
1
Having also been described as a potential “future Ballon d’Or winner”, there is every indication that Cherki could be a real coup for Palace, but it may be incredibly difficult to compete with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in the race for his signature.
Newcastle United are well in contention to finish in the Champions League slots and could strike on the market to bring in one of the world’s most recognisable defenders, per a report.
Newcastle look to cement themselves among Premier League elite
Eddie Howe has done a fantastic job at Newcastle and is rightfully adored by their fanatical support, having ended their 56-year trophy drought a matter of weeks ago against Liverpool at Wembley.
Now, the Magpies are firmly in the hunt for a top-five finish and look odds-on to secure a Champions League place for next season, which, in turn, could see a raft of exciting reinforcements targeted to bolster PIF’s mission to establish their side among the elite.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and Bruno Guimaraes celebrate after the match
With the potential to make a statement, Newcastle are in the mix to sign Manchester City star Jack Grealish. However, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur also want to buy the veteran England international.
Arriving at the Etihad Stadium in a £100 million deal back in 2021, it feels unlikely that the Citizens would look to recoup anywhere near that level of fee for his services.
Offering encouragement, Newcastle find themselves in pole position to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and may be able to do a deal worth in the region of £50 million.
Forget Isak & Murphy: Newcastle ace is now playing like an £86m superstar
Newcastle consolidated their position in the top four with a commanding win over Crystal Palace.
ByAngus Sinclair Apr 17, 2025
Attacking reinforcements appear to be on the agenda in the North East, especially when considering the depth they will need balance continental football and Premier League duties next term.
The same train of thought applies to the other end of the field, and Newcastle are now eyeing a potential move for a star could garner global attention.
Newcastle look open talks to sign Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae
According to Foot Mercato, Newcastle have made contact over a move for Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae after reaching out to his representatives to express their interest. Chelsea are also in the mix for the South Korea international, who is said to be open to a summer departure following his £42.8 million move to the Allianz Arena in 2023.
Kim Min-jae’s solid Bundesliga campaign – 2024/25
Tackles won
20
Duels won
124
Aerial duels won
82
Interceptions
36
Recoveries
150
Pass accuracy
92.6%
Labelled “extraordinary” by Park Ji-Sung, the 28-year-old has made 42 appearances across all competitions this campaign, registering three goals in total.
Fabian Schar has recently signed a new deal at St James’ Park and Jamaal Lascelles has another year than initially thought as club captain, but Kim would presumably seek to be first choice with the skipper used more as a depth option again.
Bringing leadership and quality in central defence, the former Napoli man is the sort of player that could take the Magpies up a level or two in their hunt to consistently challenge for major honours under Howe’s stewardship should they be able to push a deal over the line.
Arsenal are in “ongoing” transfer discussions with a forward via agents, as sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta continue their planning for the summer transfer window.
Arsenal braced for historic Champions League night at Real Madrid
While their recruitment plans for next season are beginning to be put into focus, Arteta and co’s current first priority is preparing for what could be an historic Champions League night at the Bernabeu.
Arsenal: £200k-p/w star holds exit talks with Arteta very likely to lose him
His departure would give the Gunners boss a major headache.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 15, 2025
Arsenal hold a 3-0 aggregate lead over Real Madrid heading into their quarter-final second leg, courtesy of two sensational free-kicks from Declan Rice and Mikel Merino’s superb finish at the Emirates this time last week.
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
April 23rd
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
Newcastle United (home)
May 18th
Los Blancos must now mount a major comeback to stand any hope of keeping their Champions League hopes alive, but it is only half-time and Carlo Ancelotti’s side still pose a serious threat.
It is by some distance Arsenal’s most crucial game of the entire season so far, and it has the power to make or break their campaign after they conceded defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
Nothing less than perfect will do against Europe’s most feared side on away turf, with potential victory against Real also coming as a real statement to the rest of the continent that Arsenal are now among it’s truly elite teams.
A good run in the Champions League will also pay dividends when it comes to attracting their top transfer targets when the window reopens, with Berta planning to sign multiple attackers for Arsenal after being appointed as their new sporting director.
This reportedly includes a left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with many interesting names becoming linked to joining Arteta as we approach what will be a “big” summer for Arsenal, by Arteta’s own admission.
In the last few days, it has emerged that Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is becoming a more serious target for Arsenal.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg first reported the Frenchman is being viewed as an alternative to Leroy Sané, and Arsenal are among the favourites to strike a deal for Coman.
Now, the same journalist has shared another update on the 28-year-old’s future involving Arsenal.
Arsenal in "ongoing" talks with Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman
Plettenberg reports that Coman’s representatives are in “ongoing” talks over a potential move to Arsenal, while Bayern are set to replace the winger, eight years after he completed a permanent move to Bayern from Juventus for around £18 million.
“There is contact between Arsenal and Kingsley Coman’s management, with both sides in ongoing communication,” wrote Plettenberg.
France's KingsleyComancomes on as a substitute to replace Michael Olise asFrancecoach Didier Deschamps looks on
“Arsenal are aware that Saudi Arabia is a very appealing option for Coman, but they have expressed their interest. Coman and Bayern are expected to part ways in the summer. The situation is positive, with open dialogue between all parties. Coman will be replaced.”
The former PSG forward has featured regularly under Vincent Kompany this campaign, heading into double digits for goals and assists combined, but he’s been in and out of the starting eleven amid fierce competition for places.
The Premier League appears a viable move as he hits the prime of his career, with Tottenham also believed to be expressing an interest in Coman this summer.