West Ham United are enduring a mixed season so far this year. They aren't in danger of getting relegated, but they don't look likely to challenge for a Champions League place either.
An impressive win away to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last week was followed up by a 5-0 thrashing away to Fulham on Sunday, which only goes to demonstrate the topsy-turvey nature of the Hammers' form.
However, while they are stuck in ninth place in the league, they are joint top of their Europa League group and are once again flying on the continent. However, with only Manchester United scoring fewer goals than them in the top half of the league, David Moyes' men will need to start finding the back of the net more regularly to move up the table.
West Ham transfer update on Dominic Solanke from Fabrizio Romano
The Bournemouth striker has been a long-term target at the London Stadium.
ByChloe Chadwick Dec 11, 2023
So recent links to Chelsea's Armando Broja should excite the West Ham faithful, although it should no doubt worry Michail Antonio.
West Ham United transfer news – Armando Broja
According to Steve Kay of Football Transfers, Chelsea striker Armando Broja is a January transfer target for several Premier League clubs, including West Ham United who are 'leading the way.'
The publication claims that the Albanian international has an estimated transfer value of €20.5m, which works out to around £18m, which, for a player who has Premier League experience, sounds like a reasonable enough fee.
Armando Broja
The "complete forward", as described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has struggled for game time in recent seasons, and while that has been primarily down to an unfortunate run of long-term injuries, his inconsistent form hasn't helped his cause.
However, during his loan spell at Southampton in the 2021/22 season, he showed the league glimpses of what he could do were he given the chance to lead the line for a topflight team, scoring six goals in 21 starts for the Saints.
One player who might not be so enthused about this link is Antonio, as the Jamaican striker would likely be the man to make way for the 22-year-old.
Armando Broja would take Michail Antonio's place
Antonio has been a reliable, if not spectacular, servant to the Irons for eight years, signing from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for a fee of £7m.
In the years since, he has played as a winger, a full-back and a striker for the club and has even claimed the title of West Ham's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
However, he scored just five goals in 33 league appearances last season and has found the back of the net only twice in 12 matches this season, which just isn't enough if the Hammers want to progress as a club.
When comparing Broja's underlying numbers to his potential new teammate, it becomes clear that he would be the better option up top for the Eastenders.
Broja
Antonio
0.27
0.20
1.92
2.78
0.77
1.11
2.31
1.00
87.5%
59.2%
1.92
1.89
3.08
3.78
0.77
1.44
While he doesn't necessarily blow Antonio away in the areas where he comes out on top and actually comes out second best for progressive carries and passes, the fact that he is 11 years his junior and so highly thought of makes the choice a no-brainer.
With a run of games in a settled team, the "devastating" forward, as described by former Juventus defender Sergio Porrini, is sure to come good and start banging in the goals.
One Celtic player is starting to become a target overseas ahead of the New Year, with another club making an offer for his services.
Celtic transfer update
The Hoops were busy over the summer following Brendan Rodgers’ return to Parkhead, with a number of additions being made in multiple areas of the pitch.
Celtic summer window signings
Fee
Gustaf Lagerbielke (IF Elfsborg)
£3m
Odin Thiago Holm (Valerenga)
£2.5m
Marco Tilio (Melbourne City)
£2m
Hyun-Jun Yang (Gangwon)
£2m
Hyeokkyu Kwon (Busan I-Park)
£1m
Maik Nawrocki (Legia Warsaw)
£4.3m
Tomoki Iwata (Yokohama F. Marinos)
Undisc.
All fees according to Sky Sports
Alongside all the arrivals, there were also some departees, and the club actually made a profit in the summer, mainly due to Jota’s big-money exit to Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad. As well as Jota, Celtic also received fees for Carl Starfelt, Albian Ajeti and Conor Hazard, and by the looks of things, the club could soon bring in cash for another player in 2024.
Celtic outcast Yosuke Ideguchi made the move back to Japan earlier this year, joining Avispa Fukuoka back in February. Since then, reports have claimed that the J1 League want to secure his services on a permanent deal.
Yosuke Ideguchi
However, in a new Celtic transfer update from Japan, relayed by The Glasgow Times, the Hoops have already received an offer from Avispa Fukuoka and now fellow Japanese side Vissel Kobe are also said to have made a "formal offer" for the midfielder.
Yosuke Ideguchi's career at Celtic
Ideguchi arrived in Glasgow back in January 2022 and is under contract until 2026, however, things haven’t worked out for the Japan international. He has missed a number of games through injury since putting pen to paper in Scotland and has made just six senior appearances in green and white. His injury issues have continued while on loan at Avispa Fukuoka.
Yosuke Ideguchi injury history
Injury
Games missed
Season
Broken ankle
17
2022/23
Fitness
12
2022/23
Knee
7
2021/22
Unknown
10
2020/21
Former Greuther Furth boss Damir Buric previously heaped praise on the player, though, saying:
“In regards to Yosuke, I can only speak the best. He is an outstanding person with great character. First of all I was very impressed with the way he came back from that serious injury. What impressed me most was the way he was working during his time out with the injury.
“It was just unbelievable, almost like soldier. He showed such a great attitude and positive approach. He was extremely disciplined, took in every additional training session of physical rehabilitation and invested all of his time in getting back as soon as he possibly could.”
He appears to be a player with quality when fully fit, however, unfortunately, Celtic haven’t seen that version of the player enough, so a permanent exit could make sense for all involved in 2024, whether that be with Avispa Fukuoka or Vissel Kobe, making this one to watch.
Leeds United will hope 2024 is the year the Whites return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, triumphantly re-entering the top flight under the expert guidance of Daniel Farke after a disastrous relegation had killed the feel-good mood around Elland Road.
Farke could well need to add positive reinforcements to his squad this transfer window to aid this promotion push, adding in fresh blood to complement the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Daniel James already firing on all cylinders in West Yorkshire.
Farke could even boldly go back in for this failed summer buy this month, with former Leeds target Nadiem Amiri itching for a move away from Bayer Leverkusen now.
Leeds transfer latest – Amiri pursuit
Leeds felt sick to their stomach when Amiri refused to join the Whites late on in the summer transfer window, the deal all but done before the German attacking midfielder spectacularly pulled the plug last second.
The Championship promotion hopefuls could well go back in for the Leverkusen man this month despite this humiliating rejection however, TEAMtalk reporting in November that a deal could be back on with Amiri pushing for a move away from his current Bundesliga club after limited game time this season.
Leeds wouldn't be alone in their pursuit however, with German football website BILD further adding fuel to the fire by stating that French clubs Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyon are also interested in signing the unsettled midfielder in an article last month.
The Whites will hope that potentially signing Amiri – who they could land at a bargain £5m price-tag – can supercharge Georginio Rutter's goal numbers, the Frenchman taking a back-seat with his assist output for the new 5 foot 11 arrival to shine instead.
Amiri's style of play
Frozen out of Xabi Alonso's plans this season – the ex-Liverpool player turned successful Leverkusen boss starting the 27-year-old in zero games this season in the league – Farke could well see something in Amiri that he can reignite on his arrival to Elland Road.
In his prime for the current top-flight leaders in Germany, Amiri was a dangerous attacking midfield prospect to contain – notching up 15 assists across his first two seasons at the BayArena, before experiencing a dip in form.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig even described the nimble midfielder as "superb" when Amiri starred for the German U21s back in 2019, further praising the now 27-year-old's "versatility" with Amiri capable of playing as a more traditional central midfielder too if needed.
Skilful and silky at his best for the German giants, the fringe figure of Amiri now did manage to pick up an assist in DFB-Pokal action recently when given a rare start – helping Leverkusen convincingly beat SV Sandhausen 5-2 at the start of November.
Amiri could well give Joel Piroe healthy competition if the 27-year-old did finally put pen to paper on a Championship move, the former Swansea star fading in and out of games in the last few weeks with zero successful dribble attempts managed away at West Brom to close out 2023 for Leeds.
Whereas, his slick counterpart excels in carrying the ball forward with intricate deftness – Amiri completing 2.78 progressive carries per 90 minutes over the last year according to FBRef, with 1.71 successful take-ons another stellar statistic sticking out.
Amiri could well be the creative maverick Leeds need in that attacking midfield spot to begin catching teams out more regularly, instead of settling for goal-shy performances seen in back-to-back 1-0 defeats on the road before a big win against Birmingham City was secured.
Leeds forward Georgino Rutter.
Rutter could also explode into life in front of goal and begin to add more strikes to his slim season tally of four goals as a direct consequence of this move, knowing he doesn't have to do the heavy lifting anymore and constantly be a focal point to create openings for other teammates.
Tottenham Hotspur may end up waving goodbye to another fan-favourite star before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.
At the start of June, The Telegraph reported that club captain Heung-min Son could move on from London after leading the team to the Europa League trophy this season.
Tottenham Hotspur'sSonHeung-minreacts
The outlet claimed that the South Korea international could be sold by Spurs in order to generate funds to bolster the squad ahead of their return to the Champions League, amid interest from teams in the Saudi Pro League.
Son has racked up an eye-catching haul of 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 appearances in all competitions for the club since signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.
The experienced forward’s departure this summer would mean that all three of Mauricio Pochettino’s iconic attacking line-up will have moved on, following Dele Alli and Harry Kane’s exits from the club in recent years.
All three stars were key players for the former Spurs head coach at the top end of the pitch, and Alli’s contributions should not be overlooked.
Why Dele Alli was a star for Spurs
The London-based club reportedly splashed out a fee of £5m to sign the attacking midfielder from League One outfit MK Dons in 2015, and Pochettino brought him into the first-team squad for the 2015/16 campaign.
Alli hit the ground running in the Premier League, bypassing the Championship, with a return of ten goals and eight assists in 33 top-flight games in his first season with Spurs.
The England international went on to plunder 67 goals and 59 assists in 269 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham before his move away from the club in 2022.
These statistics show that the former MK Dons talent provided plenty of quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Spurs during his time in London, whilst he also offered Pochettino a lot of flexibility in the way that he could be deployed within the starting line-up.
Attacking midfield
158
42
40
Central midfield
48
9
5
Left midfield
36
14
8
Centre-forward
8
2
1
Defensive midfield
2
0
2
As you can see in the table above, Alli was deployed in several different positions for Tottenham, mainly playing as a central or attacking midfielder, or off the left flank.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who now plays for Como in Italy, was a star for Spurs due to both the quality he provided at the top end of the pitch and the versatility he offered the manager.
Spurs may now be about to unearth their next version of Alli, who was a key member of the attack that included Son and Kane under Pochettino, as they are expected to sign a Premier League star.
Spurs expected to sign Premier League midfielder
West Ham United outlet HammersNews reports that the Premier League side expect Aston Villa attacking midfielder Jacob Ramsey to sign for Tottenham this summer.
The Hammers are interested in a deal to sign the former England U21 international to bolster their own squad this summer, but the club believe that the 24-year-old talent is on his way to another team in London.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Speaking to HammersNews, the ‘top spokesman’ for the West Ham owners said: “I think the player (Ramsey) is going to Spurs.”
Spurs were recently linked with an interest in the Villans starlet, who could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer, and this latest update suggests that they are set to win the race for his signature.
Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey
Earlier this year, The Boot Room reported that Manchester City are also interested in the attacking midfielder, who is valued at a fee of around £50m by Aston Villa.
However, it remains to be seen exactly how much Spurs will end up paying for the English talent if they do end up signing him, as West Ham expect.
Why Spurs should sign Jacob Ramsey
The Lilywhites should push ahead with a deal to sign the 24-year-old star in the coming weeks because he could arrive at the club as Thomas Frank’s own version of Dele Alli.
Ramsey may not seem like an obvious signing for Spurs, given that he has only scored two Premier League goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but his form in the past for Villa suggests that there is a quality player who could be unearthed.
The Villans maestro’s performances in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns suggest that he has the potential to develop into a top performer for Tottenham if Frank can get the best out of him.
Ramsey, who was once dubbed “sensational” by Seb Stafford-Bloor, plundered 12 goals and eight assists in those two seasons, and was particularly impressive in front of goal in the 2022/23 campaign, with six goals and seven assists to his name that term.
Non-penalty xG
0.20
Top 16%
Non-penalty xG
0.17
Top 14%
xAG
0.17
Top 14%
Assists
0.24
Top 6%
Shot-creating actions
2.77
Top 40%
Progressive carries
3.21
Top 9%
As you can see in the table above, the English star caught the eye as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Villans, ranking highly among midfielders in the Premier League in several key attacking metrics.
Like Alli, Ramsey’s top three most played positions are central midfield, attacking midfield, and left midfield, which means that he can offer Frank the same positional flexibility that the former Spurs star did for Pochettino, as a playmaker who can play centrally or come in off the left.
Jacob Ramsey in Premier League action for Aston Villa.
His form in the 2022/23 season also suggests that he has the potential to provide an impressive threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from those three positions, which is exactly what Alli did throughout his time in North London.
Therefore, Frank could unearth his own version of the former England international by securing a deal for Ramsey, before helping him to get back to the kind of form he displayed at the start of his Villa career.
A bigger talent than Eze: Spurs make enquiry for "sensational" £40m star
Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for another Premier League talent.
The Premier League has staged a plethora of talented strikers over its 31-year history, though only 11 have scored 150 goals or more.
With that in mind, Football FanCast has decided to take a look at the top all-time Premier League goalscorers.
Without further ado, here is the list…
Rank
Player
Scored for
Goals
Alan Shearer
Blackburn, Newcastle
Harry Kane
Tottenham
Wayne Rooney
Everton, Man Utd
Andrew Cole
6 clubs
Mohamed Salah
Chelsea, Liverpool
Sergio Aguero
Man City
Frank Lampard
West Ham, Chelsea, Man City
Thierry Henry
Arsenal
Robbie Fowler
Liverpool, Leeds, Man City
Jermain Defoe
5 clubs
10 Jermain Defoe 162 goals
Jermain Defoe has enjoyed a marvellous career at a number of different clubs. The Londoner scored 162 goals across 496 appearances in the Premier League, which is a phenomenal total when you consider the fact he never featured for a title-challenging side.
The former England international produced his most prolific top-flight season in 2009/10, scoring 18 goals for Tottenham Hotspur, helping the Lilywhites achieve a fourth-placed finish.
The 41-year-old returned to the North London club in 2022 as part of the Academy coaching staff and as a Club Ambassador.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
57
20
6
Tottenham Hotspur
361
140
31
West Ham United
104
40
3
Sunderland
100
37
4
Rangers
74
32
10
Bournemouth
64
23
2
Portsmouth
36
18
5
Toronto
21
12
3
9 Robbie Fowler 163 goals
Robbie Fowler was a wonderfully gifted footballer and had a deadly left foot, striking 163 Premier League goals in 379 appearances for three different clubs.
Despite a prolific goal return, the Liverpool-born forward only amassed 26 caps for England, which he admitted was ‘nowhere near enough’.
“I only got 26 caps, which was nowhere near enough, and I always felt I was only there to make up the numbers, not be offered a real chance to play,” Fowler said.
Perhaps England undervalued his abilities but his hometown club certainly didn’t. Liverpool fans consider him one of the greatest-ever players to pull on the famous red shirt.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
26
7
3
Liverpool
369
183
49
Manchester City
92
27
5
Leeds United
32
14
1
Perth Glory
28
9
0
Northern Fury
26
9
4
Cardiff City
16
6
1
Blackburn Rovers
6
0
1
Muangthong United
2
0
0
8 Thierry Henry 175 goals
Thierry Henry is often namechecked in conversations regarding the greatest Premier League players of all time, which evinces just how ridiculously good he was.
The former Arsenal forward won a whopping four golden boots in England’s top flight and was a part of the infamous Invincibles team.
Jamie Carragher on Henry: “There is only one winner (greatest striker in Premier League history). It amazes me anyone would ever debate it. It is not even close. Thierry Henry is not only the greatest Premier League striker, he is the greatest Premier League player.”
The Frenchman has the second-best Premier League goal-to-game ratio (0.68) since 2000, a feat only bettered by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Trophy
Year(s)
Supporters’ Shield
2013
UEFA Super Cup
2010
Supercopa de España
2010
Copa del Rey
2009
FIFA Club World Cup
2009, 2010
Champions League
2009
LaLiga
2009, 2010
Confederations Cup
2003
Community Shield
2002, 2004
FA Cup
2002, 2003, 2005
Premier League
2002, 2004
UEFA EURO
2000
World Cup
1998
Ligue 1
1997
7 Frank Lampard 177 goals
Frank Lampard is the only midfielder in the top 10, having netted 177 Premier League goals in 611 appearances.
The former Chelsea skipper had an uncanny knack for arriving late into the penalty area and slotting home, a trait that very few players possessed.
The three-time Premier League champion was one of the best players in the world during his pomp and came second in the 2005 Ballon d’Or rankings to Barcelona’s Ronaldinho.
The 106-cap England international is generally considered the best player to ever play for Chelsea.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
106
29
12
Chelsea
648
211
145
West Ham United
179
33
18
Manchester City
38
8
4
New York City FC
31
15
4
6 Sergio Agüero 184 goals
Sergio Agüero, who is synonymous with THAT goal against Queens Park Rangers, was a prolific marksman during his 10-year spell at Manchester City.
Quite remarkably, the Argentine forward only won one Golden Boot award, despite surpassing the 20-goal mark in six separate seasons.
Agüero left the Citizens in 2021 and Pep Guardiola was visibly upset when speaking to Sky Sports, admitting that he cannot be replaced.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Premier League
33
26
8
Champions League
7
6
1
FA Cup
1
0
0
League Cup
1
0
0
5 Mohamed Salah 185 goals
Liverpool forward Mo Salah.
There is little doubt that Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is one of the true PL greats. Approaching 200 goals after steering the Reds to another Premier League title in 2024/25, there seems to be no stopping the Egyptian, who is also set for another Golden Boot.
Only three players have reached a double century, so Salah’s recent contract extension at Liverpool will surely provide the goal machine enough time to get amongst the other heroes of Premier League history.
Salah also leads the way for African Premier League goalscorers by some margin, with former Reds teammate Sadio Mane his closest challenger in that regard, as the Senegalese trails by some 74 goals (and counting).
Season
Club
Appearances
Goals
2013/14
Chelsea
10
2
2014/15
Chelsea
3
0
2017/18
Liverpool
36
32
2018/19
Liverpool
38
22
2019/20
Liverpool
34
19
2020/21
Liverpool
37
22
2021/22
Liverpool
35
23
2022/23
Liverpool
38
19
2023/24
Liverpool
32
18
2024/25
Liverpool
36
28
4 Andrew Cole 187 goals
Andrew Cole held the record for the most goals scored in a 42-game Premier League season, netting a colossal 34 goals for Newcastle United during the 1993/94 campaign.
Another deadly period in front of goal ensued the following season before Manchester United acquired his services for a British transfer record fee worth £6.25m in January 1995.
Cole went on to enjoy a trophy-laden seven-year spell with United and formed a deadly partnership with Dwight Yorke. The duo amassed 53 goals between them during the treble-winning 1998/99 campaign.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Premier League
40
34
13
FA Cup
3
1
0
League Cup
2
6
1
3 Wayne Rooney 208 goals
Some will tell you Wayne Rooney underachieved in his career, which is extraordinary considering he became Manchester United and England’s record top goalscorer.
The top 10 players who have never won the Ballon d'Or award
Football FanCast has taken a look at the best players to have never won the award.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 1, 2023
The Birmingham City boss emerged as England’s golden boy as a 16-year-old and was thrust into first-team action thereafter – which was perhaps a contributing factor to his early decline.
And quite unfairly, people forget just how good he was because of that, though, his astonishing 208 Premier League goal tally speaks for itself.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
120
53
21
Manchester United
559
253
145
Everton
117
28
8
D.C. United
52
25
14
Derby
35
7
3
2 Harry Kane 213 goals
Harry Kane is the only active player on this list and was tipped to become the all-time leading Premier League goalscorer before he completed an £86.4m move to Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich in the summer, so that feat may not be achieved now.
The 30-year-old has started life at Bayern in electrifying form, scoring 21 goals whilst laying on seven assists in just 16 appearances.
Such form could see him acclaim the Ballon d’Or next year, though, he’ll likely have to triumph with England at the Euro’s.
Tottenham Hotspur do have a buyback option, so it will be fascinating to see if Kane does return to the North Londoners before the close of his career.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Bundesliga
13
18
5
Champions League
6
4
3
DFL-Supercup
1
0
0
1 Alan Shearer 260 goals
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer tops the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer charts with a total of 260 goals, putting him 47 clear of second-placed Kane.
The Newcastle native collected three Golden Boot awards and fired home 34 goals in a single league season with Blackburn Rovers, helping the Lancashire club acclaim their first and only Premier League title.
Shearer remained loyal to his hometown club and famously turned down two offers from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, which ultimately came at the expense of silverware.
But he cemented himself as a Newcastle United legend and now has a statue outside St James’ Park, evincing his heroic status at the Tyneside club.
Former Magpies boss Graeme Souness on Shearer: “In my opinion, Alan Shearer is the greatest English centre-forward there has ever been without a shadow of a doubt; he’s a very, very special player. He makes average balls into great balls.”
Manchester United boardroom figures "really like" a "future icon" ahead of a potential move for him this month, according to a key update from journalist Dean Jones.
Man Utd January transfer rumours
The Red Devils' woes have been evident throughout this season, with an incredible nine defeats coming their way in their first 20 Premier League games, and 14 losses in all competitions. It has highlighted the importance of the club conducting some business in the January transfer window, with a lack of quality on show throughout the squad.
Thankfully for United supporters, there have been plenty of rumours linking them with new signings in various areas of the pitch, including Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, who continues to be backed to complete a move to Old Trafford. In-form VfB Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy is seen as an interesting attacking target, given Erik ten Hag's goalscoring issues in the final third, and highly-rated Nice defensive ace Jean-Clair Todibo is someone who has been seen as a potential option, too.
Serhou Guirassy
19th December
Nico Williams
19th December
Donyell Malen
8th December
Max Moerstedt
7th December
Timo Werner
1st December
Man United keen on signing Benjamin Sesko
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that Manchester United are interested in signing Benjamin Sesko, revealing there are people high up within the club who are big fans of the RB Leipzig striker.
"Sesko is a bit of a different candidate to sign compared to the other names that have suddenly come into the frame because he is somebody that has been profiled so heavily by the club. There are people within the structure that still really like Sesko, and his availability would definitely turn a few heads around Old Trafford, so I can see that one being a little bit more tempting.
"But it does throw up the question of what it means for Hojlund, so it will be interesting to see whether Manchester United will go there again. My hunch is that they probably won't but, seeing as they were so hot on him before and thought they might come in for him again in a year or two, it might be interesting."
Sesko could be a wonderful signing by United, and while Rasmus Hojlund is already an exciting young talent leading the line, strong competition for places is essential moving forward, and the Leipzig star could be a big upgrade on the soon-to-be-departing (and never available anyway) Anthony Martial.
The 20-year-old has already made a big impression in his career despite his tender years, with Sesko's stats reaching 29 goals in 79 appearances for former club RB Salzburg, as well as netting ten times in 25 caps for Slovenia at international level. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded him in the past, describing him as a "future icon" and "outstanding".
The £26m signing Man Utd could make to end Casemiro's stay at Old Trafford
Erik ten Hag will look to strengthen United’s midfield this January.
ByTom Lever Jan 1, 2024
It doesn't appear as though a move is necessarily close right now, but snapping him up could be great business if they can get it done, providing Ten Hag with two hugely exciting young strikers in his squad.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is conducting simultaneous talks to finalise a few key summer transfer deals right now, with manager Mikel Arteta set for serious backing ahead of another Premier League title challenge.
Madueke will love him: £65m star pushing to sign for Arsenal "every hour"
Noni Madueke could be joined in the Arsenal attack by a £65m game-changer.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 7, 2025
In a major boost for the Gunners boss, it looks like the club’s long search for a prolific number nine will soon draw to a close.
This is because Arsenal are attempting to finalise a deal for Viktor Gyokeres after agreeing personal terms with the Sporting CP striker (David Ornstein), and there is much excitement around this potential move considering his 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Primeira Liga side.
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
£65m
Alongside the 27-year-old, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has also agreed terms over a move to Arsenal, so the Gunners could welcome both a new left-winger and a striker in one fell swoop.
This potential deal for the England international would be separate to their advances for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, according to Fabrizio Romano, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein backing this up in his own update last week.
“Arsenal are exploring a deal for Eberechi Eze, as things stand. They’ve held some conversations, not club-to-club so far, it’s more with the player’s side of things,” said Ornstein on The Athletic’s YouTube channel, via afcstuff on X.
“It would be as a potential attacking addition. It’s not like they would be looking at him and not a left-winger or not a striker, it’s an additional thing. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, I’m not saying it’s advanced.
“Arsenal, I think, wouldn’t want to be going as high as the release clause, if they proceed with this. I’m sure Crystal Palace would like to see the release clause met if they’re going to lose their player.”
Eberechi Eze wants to join Arsenal with Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke
As per ESPN, Arsenal are in ongoing talks over a move for Eze, and the 27-year-old is keen to join Arteta’s side alongside both Gyokeres and Madueke.
Interestingly, the broadcaster reports that Palace have set a ‘fixed price’ of at least £56 million for their star attacking midfielder, which is more than £10 million below his reported £68 million release clause.
Negotiations are happening between all parties – the player, Palace and Arsenal – but ESPN note a word of caution.
There is apparently some uncertainty surrounding whether they can actually sign both Madueke and Eze once they complete a deal for Gyokeres, which will likely be done first, even if it isn’t entirely ruled out.
The former QPR star, who was once axed from the Arsenal academy, scored 14 goals and assisted 11 others in all competitions last term – standing out as Palace’s key figurehead – and Eze’s winning goal in the FA Cup final ended the Eagles’ history-long wait for a major trophy.
Glasgow Rangers will need to add more players to their current squad if Philippe Clement aims to add to the League Cup trophy that the Gers won prior to Christmas.
With European knockout football to come from March, plus Scottish Cup and Premiership titles to chase, the Ibrox side could face fixture congestion during the second half of the season.
Glasgow Rangers managerPhilippe Clement.
Judging by the injury crisis which engulfed the squad in the weeks prior to Christmas, Clement will be keen on making sure he has enough reinforcements across all areas of his first team squad to handle the games ahead.
With this in mind, a new name has been linked with a move to Glasgow, as Michy Batshuayi has emerged as a shock contender to join the club this month.
Rangers transfer news – Michy Batshuayi
Danilo is currently out injured and will miss the next few months, while Cyriel Dessers hasn’t exactly been in clinical form since joining in the summer and this could prompt Clement to add to his forward options.
Fabio Silva has already made the move north of the border, signing a short-term loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he will hope to hit the ground running at Ibrox.
Michy Batshuayi in action for Fenerbahce.
One new striker won't be enough and according to the Scottish Sun, the Light Blues have been linked with a surprising move for Batshuayi, as the former Chelsea gem is in line to arrive on a short-term deal.
The 30-year-old has failed to agree a new deal with Turkish side Fenerbahçe, thus meaning he is on his way out of the club and this can play right into the hands of Rangers, who are ready to swoop.
Indeed, it appears as though the Gers are leading the chase for the Belgian gem and crucial talks are expected in the coming hours, as per the report.
Everton are also keen on securing the services of the player but the allure of European nights at Ibrox and the chance to win trophies looks like the trump card for the 49-year-old manager to entice Batshuayi to Scotland.
Although he may not have lived up to his prestigious talents, the striker could certainly be a big upgrade on Dessers during the second half of the season, no doubt about that.
Cyriel Dessers’ season in numbers
The Nigerian striker didn’t come cheap, costing former boss Michael Beale £4.5m from Serie A side Cremonese last summer, yet he has failed to live up to that lavish fee.
Dessers had played 30 games for the club prior to the winter break, but he scored just nine goals during that time period, hardly prolific by any stretch of the imagination.
Cyriel Dessers
The 29-year-old may rank second in the squad for shots on target per game (1.4) and third for goals (six) in the league, but the forward also ranks first for big chances missed (11) and it is clear this is where big improvements are required.
With the club chasing glory on three fronts in the second half of the season, they simply cannot afford to be wasting chances in the final third and more often than not, Dessers misses key opportunities.
One key example was against Celtic in the Old Firm derby at the end of 2023. The striker effectively pressed the Celtic defence and had the perfect opportunity to score as he was one-on-one with Joe Hart.
Dessers eventually took too many touches, and he couldn’t even get a shot away at goal, thus ruining the big chance he created.
Adding Batshuayi to his squad could give Clement the licence to drop Dessers to the bench and therefore improve the quality of his attacking options in the process.
Clement must now ditch Rangers star who won just 3 duels vs Celtic
Rangers face Kilmarnock this afternoon in their final clash before the winter break
ByRoss Kilvington Jan 2, 2024 Michy Batshuayi’s career statistics
The 6 foot 1 machine started his career at Standard Liege in his homeland, scoring 44 goals in 120 matches before sealing a move to French giants Marseille in 2014, and it looked as though he could follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Romelu Lukaku.
Another goal-laden spell followed in Ligue 1 and 17 goals in the French top flight during the 2015/16 campaign meant he was on the move yet again, this time to Chelsea.
In what should have been a move that elevated him to being a better player, the striker couldn’t quite secure consistent football in the starting XI for the Blues.
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He did score the goal which secured them the Premier League title in his maiden season, yet Batshuayi managed just 23 goals before joining Borussia Dortmund on loan for the second half of the 2017/18 season.
Journalist Josh Bunting praised him following his debut for the German side, describing him as "absolutely deadly in front of goal.”
Since 2018, his career has been of the nomadic variety, playing for no less than six clubs, and his current spell at Fenerbahçe has been his longest since leaving Chelsea.
Batshuayi's season by numbers
The former Dortmund gem may have only featured for 867 minutes this season, but he has scored eight goals during that time. Dessers, on the other hand, has taken 1,834 minutes to score just nine goals, clearly demonstrating who has made the better use of their time on the pitch.
Batshuayi has also missed fewer big chances (four vs 11) than Dessers, along with losing possession less often (3.2 vs 8.2) and having a better goal conversion rate (21% vs 12%) and these stats suggest that the Belgian could be an upgrade on the current Rangers forward.
The 30-year-old would arrive in Glasgow fresh for a new challenge and considering his lack of action this season so far, he could peak during the second half of 2023/24, just when Clement would need him most.
Belgium's MichyBatshuayiin action
Making a move for the Fenerbahçe machine is a no-brainer for the Ibrox side, especially with his stature within the game and if he hits the ground running, he could add plenty of goals to what is, at times, a lacklustre attack.
The next couple of days will be crucial, and the onus is now on the former AS Monaco coach to entice Batshuayi to Scotland.
There have been moments, flashes, when Darwin Nunez has looked like the player Liverpool thought they were investing in three years ago, with the Anfield side’s then club-record capture memorably getting off the mark on debut in the Community Shield.
Who can forget the Uruguayan’s breathtaking brace as the ten-man Reds romped past Newcastle United at St James’ Park in August 2023, with Nunez briefly resembling the player who had hit 48 goals in just 85 games for former club Benfica.
Unfortunately for all concerned, such statement displays have been few and far between to date, with the chaotic nature of the profligate striker looking distinctly at odds with the cool and composed style of Arne Slot’s football.
That chasm resulted in Nunez scoring just seven times in all competitions in 2024/25, having notably been restricted to just eight Premier League starts. An exit – most likely to Serie A champions Napoli – now appears an inevitability ahead of next term.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
With Luis Diaz earning admiring glances from those at Barcelona, the need for a new figure to lead the line has only been heightened. Enter, a high-profile target…
Liverpool plotting bid for high profile forward
£187m has already been spent on acquiring Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, although with funds set to be raked in amid the potential sales of Nunez and Diaz – alongside Jarell Quansah’s £35m exit – there could still be further activity for Slot and co over the coming weeks.
The Merseysiders have notably been linked with a move for Eintracht Frankfurt starlet, Hugo Ekitike, with the 23-year-old believed to have emerged as a top target, amid his ability to feature off the left or in a central role.
That versatility is also a feature of Real Madrid star Rodrygo’s game, with reports in Spain suggesting that Liverpool are among a trio of Premier League clubs who are keen on signing the highly-rated Brazilian.
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The suggestion is that, along with Manchester City and Arsenal, the Anfield side are in the mix for the 24-year-old’s signature, with the report outlining that they have already been ‘informed’ of the player’s situation.
Not only has there seemingly been contact made, but the piece also outlines that Liverpool are ready and willing to submit an offer for the former Santos starlet, with prior reports indicating that he could command a fee of around £75m.
With The Athletic noting that Rodrygo could be made available by the LaLiga giants this summer, having played a bit-part role for Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup, now could be the perfect time for Slot to pounce.
Why Liverpool need to sign Rodrygo
Having seen Trent Alexander-Arnold join the Spanish outfit for a fee of around £10m earlier this summer, the Reds could more than get their own back by prising the unsettled Rodrygo from the Bernabeu.
Rodrygo stats
At just 24, the Brazil international offers that perfect blend of youth and experience, having already spent six seasons in Madrid, following his £38m arrival back in the summer of 2019.
Such a deal could evoke memories of the capture of a certain Fernando Torres from the Spanish capital back in 2007, with the prolific striker making the switch at the age of 23, having proven himself for Atletico Madrid.
Like Rodrygo – who has scored 68 goals in 270 games for Los Blancos – Torres was an undoubted star in LaLiga, with that first spell at Atleti seeing him reach double figures for league goals in each of his first five seasons.
Such red-hot form was more than replicated at Anfield, with ‘El Nino’ ultimately dazzling alongside Steven Gerrard and co, having terrorised defences up and down the country over the next four years.
A return of 81 goals in 142 games is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, certainly not when compared to Nunez’s return of just 40 goals in 143 games thus far, having been hailed as “among the best” in the division by then-boss Rafa Benitez.
Similar praise has been dished out by ex-Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, in relation to Rodrygo, with the iconic Italian naming his young winger as one of the “best players in the world”, alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.
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While Rodrygo’s star has been dimmed by that trio, it is hard to deny his quality, with the fleet-footed marksman already scoring 25 times in just 65 Champions League appearances for his current side. For comparison, Torres scored 20 times in 79 career outings in Europe’s elite competition.
Although not necessarily a centre-forward by trade, the £75m man could emulate Diaz in providing a more fluid and mobile option through the middle, with Ancelotti previously suggesting in the past that number nine could be best suited to him, as his “strengths are his movement”.
Having previously seen Torres make a smooth transition to live in England, after leaving Madrid behind, hopefully Rodrygo can follow suit this summer.
He's as exciting as Wirtz: Liverpool in contact to sign a £75m "superstar"
This transfer target could be the perfect Luis Diaz replacement at Liverpool.
Eddie Howe will want his Newcastle United side to click back into gear to respond to recent poor performances in the Premier League against Sunderland, getting vocal dissenters on Tyneside back on side with a comprehensive win in the Tyne-Wear Derby.
It won't be a walk in the park for the Magpies hopping over to enemy soil in Wearside however, Michael Beale's hosts gunning for promotion in the Championship away from the distraction of the FA Cup.
Howe will look to change things up for the prospect of facing off against a buoyed on home side in such a big clash, potentially making four changes to the lineup that lost 4-2 to Liverpool last time out in top-flight action…
1 GK – Martin Dubravka
Martin Dubravka will remain in-between the sticks for the Tyne-Wear face-off, the Slovakian shot-stopper pulling off a remarkable ten saves at Anfield – as per Sofascore – to ensure Newcastle weren't further embarrassed in the 4-2 loss.
2 RB – Valentino Livramento
With Eddie Howe stating that Kieran Trippier is touch and go in the buildup to the Sunderland showdown, the Magpies boss will more than likely keep faith in his stand-in right-back Valentino Livramento for tomorrow's Cup tie.
The 21-year-old has competently filled in to date with Tripper sidelined, making three interceptions in total versus Fulham in mid-December to help his team comfortably win 3-0.
3 CB – Fabian Schar
Worrying Newcastle fans when he limped off in the Fulham win owing to a hamstring issue, the Magpies faithful will have breathed a collective sigh of relief that Schar's injury wasn't a long-term one.
Instead, the Swiss titan has remained in the first team and continues to battle valiantly – accurate with seven of his nine long balls in Newcastle's 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the tail-end of December, wanting to make things constantly happen even with the game getting away from Howe's men.
4 CB – Jamaal Lascelles
Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles.
The first change could see Sven Botman rested for the high-pressure occasion of Sunderland away, Botman playing four matches on the trot without a breather after returning from a lengthy injury layover.
Jamaal Lascelles will be trusted to slot back into the side and partner Schar most likely, the 30-year-old centre-back contributing to five Newcastle clean sheets when playing this campaign.
5 LB – Lewis Hall
Howe could also opt to start Lewis Hall over Dan Burn at the left-back spot, Hall offering Newcastle more exuberance and energy as a youthful option away from a tired and lethargic Burn.
The latter man has also been poor in recent contests for the Toon – only winning six of his 13 duels last match versus the Reds – and so it could be time to give Hall another opportunity.
6 CM – Lewis Miley
Lewis Miley for Newcastle United against Paris Saint-Germain.
Howe isn't afraid to start his youngsters and push them straight into the deep end whatsoever, with 17-year-old Lewis Miley having to feature regularly for Newcastle in the Premier League owing to injuries piling up at St James' Park.
The teenage midfielder hasn't let any big occasion completely throw him off just yet, creating two big chances when pulling on a Toon strip so far this campaign and even scoring in the Fulham win to the joy of those watching on in Tyneside.
7 CM – Joelinton
The third change from the Liverpool defeat could see Bruno Guimaraes boldly axed to make way for Joelinton to come back in centrally, the Brazilian number 39 way off the pace against the Reds in a second-rate showing.
Losing possession 19 times in total to routinely hand Liverpool the ball back, Guimaraes' creativity was also stunted in the 4-2 defeat with zero shots on Alisson's goal registered and zero key passes managed.
It could well be the time therefore for the former Lyon man to be dropped to freshen up proceedings, Joelinton the sort of figure too who will be giddy to get one over on Sunderland as a tenacious and lively figure adored by the masses at St James' Park when firing on all cylinders.
8 CM – Sean Longstaff
kalvin-phillips-sean-longstaff-newcastle-opinion
The final central midfield spot will be occupied by Sean Longstaff, the 26-year-old a bright spark away at Liverpool where others failed to get going.
Longstaff would get an assist for his efforts come full-time, delivering a corner-kick into the perfect area late on for Botman to power home a header, and will hope he can contribute again versus Sunderland but with Newcastle coming out as victors instead of losers.
9 RW – Miguel Almiron
Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron.
The fourth and final switch in personnel could see Miguel Almiron come into the front three for the tantalising game against the Black Cats, with Joelinton moving back to the middle of the park with this potential change.
Almiron has shown flashes this campaign of his immense quality – helping himself to three goals in the league and one assist – but the Paraguayan attacker needs to up his game soon to reach the heights of his previous goalscoring numbers he's managed with the Toon.
At the peak of his powers last season, Almiron managed to bag 11 goals in total with football journalist Josh Bunting labelling the former Atlanta United man as "sensational" when on-song for the Magpies previously.
Newcastle's £60k-per-week man would want nothing more than to endear himself again to the hardened Magpies fanbase with a strike against the Black Cats tomorrow, the nimble forward electric on his day.
10 ST – Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak will also want to strike fear into the Sunderland defence tomorrow with another gung-ho display slaloming forward, the Swedish sharp-shooter finding the back of the net in the last two games in the Premier League prior to this Cup clash.
Isak scoring three games on the trot would surely silence the home fans packed into the Stadium of Light, helping Howe's Magpies pick up a coveted win in the Tyne-Wear Derby.