da bet sport： It’s all hands on deck for Liverpool in the summer transfer market, having conducted plenty of business in the early stages of the off-season.

da bwin： Technically, the transfer market hasn’t yet opened, with the dealings of recent weeks made permissible by the exceptional short-term opening due to the incipient Club World Cup.

And FSG have made fine use of it, banking around £10m for the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was one month away from free agency but left early due to Real Madrid wanting him to play in the United States this month.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has been signed, his £29.5m release clause activated, while Florian Wirtz is on the brink of joining for a British-record fee, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is at the heart of advancing talks for a summer switch too.

With a new striker on Liverpool’s radar too, it’s all going on down Anfield Road. However, a few more exits are in the works too, with there being a sense that Luis Diaz could wind up at a new club before the end of summer.

Why Liverpool could sell Luis Diaz

Barcelona and Al-Hilal over in the Saudi Pro League have both been linked with moves for Diaz this summer, and The Athletic have reported that the former have even seen an approach rejected.

Diaz is only two years away from the end of his £55k-per-week contract, and FSG would be willing to run the deal down instead of accepting a lowball offer and losing one of Arne Slot’s most important forwards while in the shining prime of his career.

The rumour has it that the Reds would accept bids falling within the £60-70m ballpark, though it remains to be seen whether suitors will pay up.

And if they do, Liverpool would need to find a successor. Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon has been on Anfield’s radar for a number of years, and would be in the thick of the chatter should things start to gather pace on this front.

Would Gordon truly represent an upgrade on the South American star? With a reported £80m price tag, would Liverpool be getting bang for their buck? It may well be that cashing in would be a mistake, but not as big a blunder as if FSG allowed another of Liverpool’s linked-away stars to leave.

Another Liverpool star wanted abroad

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Bayer Leverkusen have made contact with Liverpool to discuss the transfer of centre-back Jarell Quansah, understood to be on a separate line to that of Wirtz.

Newcastle have also expressed an interest in the defender this year.

Quansah’s future has been up for debate across recent months, with reporter David Lynch claiming he was a “genuine candidate for departure” back in May, after a frustrating year.

Valued at £50m, Liverpool would bank a healthy sum for their homegrown talent, but in spite of his struggles, it might be a grave mistake to let him venture off for a new challenge.

Why Liverpool mustn't sell Jarell Quansah

Quansash thrived when stepping up for Jurgen Klopp during the 2023/24 season, playing a crucial part for his team following Joel Matip’s career-ending injury.

However, he’s found life under Slot tough, withdrawn at half-time on the Dutch coach’s debut against Ipswich Town last August, his boss revealing post-match that he made the switch due to frustrations over Liverpool’s lack of success in the duel.

Still, the 22-year-old, who featured 25 times across all competitions last year, played a bigger part over the latter half of the campaign after struggling for purchase across the opening months.

Indeed, Quansah will be frustrated with his season, but there was still enough quality that shone through, suggesting Liverpool may yet see the “absolute monster” who was so indomitable in his emergence the year before, as was said by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Quansah might have trudged his way through a difficult 2024/25 campaign, but we wanted to draw your attention to his stunning breakout campaign under Klopp’s wing.

When collating the English talent’s data from 2023/24 against that of Dean Huijsen, who Liverpool had such a vested interest in before his transfer to Real Madrid, you begin to see why selling him would be such a big mistake.

Jarell Quansah (23/24) vs Dean Huijsen (24/25)

Stats (per 90)

Quansah

Huijsen

Goals + assists

0.15

0.19

Touches

97.11

74.94

Pass completion

88.6%

83.4%

Passes attempted

88.64

60.26

Progressive passes

5.07

4.89

Progressive carries

0.98

1.52

Shot-creating actions

0.98

1.59

Ball recoveries

5.45

3.89

Tackles + interceptions

3.18

3.23

Clearances

2.95

7.34

Blocks

1.21

1.48

Aeriel duels won

3.40

2.52

All data via FBref

As you can see, Huijsen might be rather good but Quansah has already proven himself capable of matching his qualities across the ball-playing department.

Furthermore, Real Madrid’s new recruit won 56% of his contested duels across his breakout Premier League season, whereas Quansah came out on top 67% of the time, illustrating his above-average usage of his physicality, of his defensive ability (metrics supplied via Sofascore).

And though we haven’t seen the same Quansah since Slot took the helm, there’s no question a high-level player remains in there, latent, waiting.

Losing Diaz would be a big blow, but given that he’s 28 and could command a huge figure, Liverpool would endure, not least because his contract is winding down.

However, Quansah is a homegrown talent, as Trent was, and he proved his ability to throw down with a sought-after star like Huijsen in the opening stage of his top-flight career.

Sure, several months ago, one data analyst said: “He never plays, and when he has this season, he’s not been good.”

That might be partially true, but we’ve got to remember it was only two years ago that Quansah had wrapped up a loan spell at Bristol Rovers in League One.

He’s an immense talent, and Liverpool might just come to regret parting with one of their own when in the fledgling phase of his promising career.

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da betsson： Leeds United have submitted an offer worth more than £25m to sign a former Championship title winner for Daniel Farke.

Leeds transfer business heating up with Nmecha and Bijol

da fazobetai： The Whites and the 49ers Enterprises have made early progress in the summer transfer window, with Lukas Nmecha agreeing to move to Elland Road on a two-year contract from July 1.

The German forward will leave Wolfsburg for Leeds and won’t cost the 49ers a penny, providing competition to the likes of Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph.

At the back, Leeds are now set to sign Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol after weeks of talks and rumours. The Slovenia international was in Yorkshire on Wednesday and will be the next through the Elland Road door.

With the fixture list announced, Leeds still have plenty of time until their opening game of the Premier League season against Everton and will be hoping to make more additions after Nmecha and Bijol.

Another attacker is wanted alongside Nmecha, and a top target appears to be Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz.

Leeds submit bid to sign Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz

Reports from Sky Sports in recent days claimed Leeds were interested in signing the Brazilian this summer.

According to The Evening Standard, Leeds have made a bid worth an initial £26m to bring Muniz to Yorkshire. The offer also included £6m worth of add-ons, however, those at Craven Cottage have declined the bid from the 49ers.

Fulham see Muniz ‘as one of the club’s most valuable assets’ but they ‘may be forced to consider his exit if an offer too good to refuse arrives’.

It is added that ‘Leeds plan to sign a top striker this summer but are expected to move on to other targets now that their bid for Muniz has been rebuffed’.

Rodrigo Muniz Premier League stats

23/24

24/25

Games

26

31

Goals

9

8

Minutes played

1,599

950

The 24-year-old, who won the Championship title with Fulham in 2021/22, has scored 17 Premier League goals in the last two seasons in the equivalent of just over 28 full games.

He has also caught the eye of Premier League icon Alan Shearer, who called Muniz “horrible to play against” in 2024.

For now, though, it looks as if Leeds will have to look elsewhere for their top striker signing.

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da betway： Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has proven to be one of the busier Premier League transfer chiefs, as he looks to close the gap on English champions Liverpool and help manager Mikel Arteta end the club’s 20-plus-year-long wait for a league title.

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da casino： Both Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga have signed for Arsenal, while Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard is expected to undergo a medical this week (The Athletic), as he closes in on becoming a direct replacement for the now-departed Thomas Partey.

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

Arsenal are also attempting to wrap up a deal for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera as well, so there is every possibility that the Gunners will soon announce four major deals in what would be a major boost.

“There were tentative links a while back, but nothing massively serious, and then all of a sudden an offer had gone for the defender,” said journalist Charles Watts in a recent CaughtOffside column.

“At the time of writing this column there is no agreement between Arsenal and Valencia for the defender, with Arsenal’s opening offer having been rejected.

“Arsenal are expected to return imminently with an improved bid and with reports suggesting that personal terms have already been agreed with Mosquera, this feels like one that could be wrapped up pretty quickly.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal are continuing their chase for a new striker, and Berta has his eyes on a new attacking wide player too – so we can expect a few more deals to potentially be concluded by deadline day on September 1.

A lot of talk has surrounded Arsenal’s serious interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze recently, but another Premier League forward in Chelsea’s Noni Madueke remains a real option for Berta.

The former PSV Eindhoven star has been at the centre of rumoured discussions between Arsenal and Chelsea, as Berta assesses many targets, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg now providing an update.

Arsenal submit offer to Noni Madueke after talks opened

Plettenberg states via X that Arsenal have “submitted an offer” to Madueke and that “talks have started” over a potential deal for the England international, who cost Chelsea around £30 million to sign from PSV in 2023.

The 23-year-old racked up 11 goals and five assists in 44 appearances for Chelsea last season across all competitions, with Enzo Maresca even calling Madueke one of Chelsea’s best players.

Nevertheless, Madueke’s departure is still seen as a realistic possibility, especially now the west Londoners are closing in on both Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and striker Joao Pedro.

He could be an ideal alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, and one who may not break the bank either. Chelsea and Arsenal have enjoyed a fruitful business relationship lately, and the versatile forward may well become their latest in a long line of recent agreements.

“The one thing I love about Noni is he’s direct, and he’ll take you on,” said pundit Jason Cundy in May, to Chelsea’s official app.

“He’s quick. He’s strong. He’s a physical presence. When he goes past you, he stays past you.”

da marjack bet： Southampton are now in advanced talks to sign an international striker who is represented by the same agency as midfielder Flynn Downes.

da apostaganha： Southampton are expected to lose one or two key players over the coming months and therefore will have to enter the market to find replacements as they bid to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Will Still.

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Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be considered their most important player, as he managed to stand out last season in what was a diabolical campaign for the club. His performances for the Saints earned him a call-up to the England national team, and that has now earned him the attention of Portuguese giants FC Porto.

According to Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, Southampton have turned down a bid worth £19 million for Harwood-Bellis from Porto. Despite being under contract until 2028, the Saints are open to selling the defender in this transfer window, but they believe he is worth much more.

Southampton paid £15 million to sign the player from Manchester City last summer, so the likelihood is they’re going to want closer to double that price.

Southampton in advanced talks to sign £7m striker

But while Harwood-Bellis may eventually be on his way out of St Mary’s Stadium, Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg reports some good news – Southampton are closing in on the signing of Damion Downs from FC Köln.

The 20-year-old is considered to be a top target for Saints this summer, and they have submitted a bid worth €8 million, which is roughly £6.85 million, to the German side. Downs is currently away with the USA for the Gold Cup, so a deal for the forward is likely to be completed once that competition is finished.

Downs, who has earned two caps for the USA national team, has been at FC Köln since 2020, when he joined their under-17 team. The young forward worked his way through the age groups and was finally promoted to the first team during the 2023/24 season, where he played 10 Bundesliga games. Downs became even more of a regular last season, as he played 29 games, this time in Bundesliga 2, and scored an impressive ten goals in the process.

Damion Downs’ FC Koln stats

Apps

42

Goals

13

Assists

6

Downs has just one year remaining on his contract, and Saints will be hoping that can work to their advantage, as the German side are likely to want to sell the player before he leaves the club for nothing in 12 months.

They may hold another advantage in the race to sign Downs too, as the striker is represented by agency Wasserman, who also represent current Southampton midfielder Downes, perhaps smoothing negotiations when it comes to agreeing personal terms.

da apostaganha： Celtic are in need of a new option on the left flank ahead of the 2025/26 campaign to cover for the time that Portuguese winger Jota is going to be out for.

da bet7： Brendan Rodgers’ side clinched the Scottish Premiership title in style with a 5-0 win away at Dundee United, but the left-sided forward hobbled off with a worrying injury in the first half.

It was then revealed after the game that Jota would be out for between six and nine months, setting a potential return date as late as February of next year.

The 26-year-old speedster returned to Parkhead in the January transfer window, from French side Rennes, and produced four goals and two assists in seven league starts in the Scottish top-flight before his injury.

This means that the Hoops need another option on the left wing because they are unlikely to have Jota available for a large portion of next season, hence why they are keen on Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

Celtic are reportedly in talks with the Belgian Pro League club in an attempt to secure a deal to sign the left winger, who is valued at £5m, this summer.

What Balikwisha could bring to Celtic

The 24-year-old forward is a right-footed left winger, like Jota, which means that he could play a similar role within Rodgers’ tactical set-up next season.

Balikwisha’s form in the Pro League, when available, over the last two seasons also suggests that he has the potential to deliver both goals and assists from the left flank at a respectable rate.

Balikwisha (Pro League)

23/24

24/25

Starts

27

12

xG

6.46

2.65

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian talent has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in his last 39 appearances in the Pro League, which suggests that he could offer a decent threat at the top end of the pitch from a wide position.

This means that the potential is there for him to replace the goals and assists that they have lost through Jota’s injury, which is why he could be a solid signing for Celtic this summer.

However, Balikwisha’s own injury record over the years is a cause for concern because he has suffered a lot of injuries that have kept him out for significant lengths of time each season during his time with Royal Antwerp.

In the last four seasons, the 24-year-old wing wizard has missed a whopping 63 games through injury, and at least ten matches in all four campaigns, suffering eight separate injury issues in that time.

This suggests that Celtic would be gambling on his fitness by bringing him to Parkhead to replace their currently injured player, which is why it could make more sense to look in a different direction if another target becomes available.

Celtic's interest in Premier League winger

Earlier this summer, Football Insider reported that the Premiership champions were interested in a potential deal to sign Aston Villa forward Louie Barry to bolster their squad.

The outlet claimed that the Scottish giants were willing to explore either a loan or a permanent deal for the former Barcelona academy starlet this summer.

Transfer Focus

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They looked set to miss out on a deal for the 22-year-old talent when Hull City agreed a £3.5m fee to sign him permanently, only for the transfer to fall through after the Tigers were hit with a three-window embargo.

That transfer ban for the Championship side has put Barry back out on the open market and presented teams with an opportunity to snap him up, which means that he could still be an option for Celtic.

It remains to be seen, though, whether or not the Hoops are still interested in the English sensation, or if they would be willing to go in with an offer to sign him permanently at this point in the window.

Why Celtic should sign Louie Barry

Rodgers should seriously consider a swoop to sign Barry from the Premier League outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, though, because he has the potential to be an even better winger signing than Balikwisha.

Whilst his injury history is far from spotless, the English forward has missed fewer games (34) through injury in his career than Balikwisha (63), which suggests that he may be more reliable from an availability perspective.

The 22-year-old star’s form during his time on loan with Stockport County in League Two and in League One in the last two seasons also suggests that the potential is there for him to offer even more than Balikwisha at the top end of the pitch.

Barry produced nine goals and four assists in 20 League Two games in the 2023/24 season, before plundering 15 goals and two assists in 23 League One outings in the first half of last season.

24/25 League One

Louie Barry

Percentile rank vs wingers

xG

0.47

Top 5%

Goals

0.75

Top 3%

Shots on target

1.80

Top 2%

xA

0.21

Top 11%

Assists

0.11

Top 47%

Successful dribbles

2.70

Top 2%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the Villa youngster was one of the best players in the English third tier last season at scoring and creating goals from a wide position, and was unfortunate not to have more assists to show for the xA that he created.

Barry, who was hailed as “electric” by reporter Sam Byrne, scored 24 goals, assisted six goals, and created 12 ‘big chances’ in his 43 appearances on loan at Stockport, which suggests that he has even more to offer in front of goal, particularly as a scorer, than Balikwisha.

The Belgian forward, as aforementioned, has scored 11 goals in his last 39 Pro League outings, which is not as impressive as Barry’s return in England is, whilst playing in the same position.

Therefore, Celtic and Rodgers could land an even better winger than Balikwisha by signing the Villa gem, who is two years younger, less injury-prone, and has more potential to explode as a goalscorer on the left flank.

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da leao： Nottingham Forest are probing the market for reinforcements and could now have put themselves in a position to land a talented defender, according to reports.

Nottingham Forest in flux over Morgan Gibbs-White's future

da wazamba： Following Anthony Elanga’s departure to Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest star man Morgan Gibbs-White is sweating over his future after the Tricky Trees threatened legal action due to Tottenham Hotspur’s manner when triggering a release clause at the City Ground.

Now, it remains to be seen whether a move will go through, though the England international has set an exemplary example in training despite being at the centre of a contentious situation.

Regardless, life goes on at Nottingham Forest and they are pursuing signings after being thrown an unexpected Europa League berth, for now, pending Crystal Palace’s appeal against expulsion from the competition.

Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders during his time at the City Ground and reports suggest Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey is now on the Tricky Trees’ shortlist as a potential Gibbs-White replacement.

Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha have both joined the club from Botafogo, and Cunha has since shared his excitement in being involved at Nottingham Forest as they aim to once again exceed expectations.

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He stated: “I feel great, really happy and grateful for this opportunity. I hope I can make a big contribution to the team and add a great deal so we can achieve many things together, it’s an indescribable feeling, I’m so happy.”

Continuing the theme of defensive reinforcements, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly back in talks to bring a star from one of Europe’s top five leagues to the East Midlands.

Nottingham Forest resume talks to land Pablo Maffeo

According to reports in Spain via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are back in talks to sign Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo and all parties are now hopeful of driving towards an agreement that will see him end up at the City Ground.

Despite initially holding out for £8.6 million, his current employers have lowered their price to around £6.9 million and may be willing to reduce the fee further depending on structure.

Five similar players to Pablo Maffeo (FBRef)

Antonino Gallo

Lecce

Giuseppe Pezzalla

Empoli

Tyrick Mitchell

Crystal Palace

Ki-Jana Hoever

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Gideon Mensah

Auxerre

Last campaign, the former Spain Under-21 international registered two assists in 31 appearances for Mallorca across all competitions, and he is now said to be negotiating personal terms ahead of a potential switch.

Patience may be needed from Nottingham Forest to secure a deal for the ex-Manchester City man, who fashioned 60 shot-creating actions across 2024/25 in La Liga.

Coming in as a genuine competitor to Ola Aina, supporters will be intrigued to see two quality players with experience fight it out for a place in Espirito Santo’s squad this season.

da heads bet： Manchester United are now preparing an offer to sign an “incredible” £6.2 million Brazilian who wants to join the Red Devils, according to a new report.

Man Utd move on to new targets after finalising Mbeumo deal

da pixbet： The Red Devils have spent the last six to eight weeks working on a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. They had seen two bids turned down for the Cameroon international, but on Friday it was confirmed that they had finally agreed a deal with the London side.

The forward underwent his medical at Carrington over the weekend, with pictures emerging of him wearing the club’s training kit, and now an official announcement is expected soon.

Now that United have wrapped up that deal, they are turning their attention to their next set of targets, and they include signing a goalkeeper and a striker. United have been linked with moves for Nicolas Jackson and Randal Kolo Muani most recently, but the Premier League side have also held internal discussions about signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

In fact, TEAMtalk report that United are set to intensify their efforts to sign Sesko, who is said to be valued at £67 million by the Bundesliga giants.

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Meanwhile, signing a new goalkeeper is also considered a priority for United, and on Sunday, Fabrizio Romano reported that the Red Devils made initial contact to be informed on a deal for Senne Lammens, who currently plays for Royal Antwerp.

The 23-year-old is among the options on United’s list, but he is not their only target, as they are also looking at another name.

Man Utd preparing bid to sign John Victor

According to Goal Brasil, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are now expected to make an offer in the coming days to sign John Victor from Botafogo.

The report states that United have been in contact with Victor’s entourage since December last year, and he is now considered their top target in their search for a new goalkeeper. It isn’t clear what United’s offer will be, but the 28-year-old does have a release clause worth €7.4 million, which is roughly £6.2 million, and that figure would need to be paid in full to bypass Botafogo.

It goes on to add that other Premier League teams have approached Victor’s agent in recent days, but the goalkeeper is prioritising a move to Old Trafford. However, a deal will only progress when United have made an offer.

John Victor’s Club World Cup stats

Apps

4

Starts

4

Goals conceded

3

Goals conceded per game

0.8

Saves made

13

Saves per game

3.3 (81%)

Passing accuracy per game

18.0 (65%)

Clean sheets

1

Clearances per game

2.8

The Red Devils are well stacked in the goalkeeper department, as they still have Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, and Tom Heaton in their ranks. The latter pair played in their opening pre-season game against Leeds United over the weekend, but it remains unclear if Bayindir has a future at the club.

Onana has also been linked with a move away and is now dealing with a hamstring injury that could see him miss the start of the season, so Victor, who has been dubbed “incredible” by FIFA’s official media channels, could arrive and have a good chance of being the club’s number one.

da marjack bet： The INEOS hierarchy at Manchester United has been hellbent on avoiding the same mistakes as the previous regime, although there does appear to be a real sense of Deja Vu with regard to Jason Wilcox’s pursuit of a new centre-forward.

da aviator aposta： Rewind two years ago, with then-boss Erik ten Hag having identified Harry Kane as his primary striker target, albeit with United wary of engaging in protracted negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Daniel Levy.

The ageing Englishman instead packed his bags for Germany, while the Old Trafford side went down the high-potential route. Despite reportedly being Ten Hag’s fifth-choice option at the time, in came a 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund for an initial fee of £64m.

Man Utd’s top PL scorer by season

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25

Bruno Fernandes & Amad

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

Stats via Transfermarkt

A player coveted by Paris Saint-Germain at the time, Hojlund had been earning rave reviews amid his promising displays in Atalanta, with then-boss Gian Piero Gasperini highlighting his electric pace that had ripped through Serie A defences.

We’d all seen the clips of the young Dane bursting into the box at breakneck speed. All dreamed of this ‘new Erling Haaland’ proving to be the next Scandinavian striking sensation on Premier League soil.

Overlooked, however, was the mere nine league goals he had scored in his solitary season in Bergamo, with such a gamble having yet to pay off for the Red Devils. The same mistake can’t happen again under Wilcox.

Latest on Man Utd's striker search

Speaking after scoring in the recent 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in the latest Premier League summer series clash, the 22-year-old – who had been linked with a move to Inter Milan earlier in the window – outlined his desire to “stay and fight for his spot, whatever happens”.

A bright start to pre-season has raised hopes that United’s number nine can kick on in 2025/26, although Hojlund might not get his own way, with reports indicating that he could be used as part of a deal to bring in a new striker.

Indeed, it has been claimed – including by The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – that a swap deal could be on the cards which would see the Denmark starlet head to RB Leipzig, with Benjamin Sesko moving in the opposite direction.

Transfer Focus

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

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Additional reports, as per journalist Graeme Bailey, having indicated that there is an “internal confidence” at Old Trafford that a deal for Sesko will get over the line amid their ongoing talks, with the club currently going toe-to-toe with Newcastle United for his signature:

Reportedly valued at around £70m, Sesko – who has been the subject of a bid from Newcastle – is hot property amid two solid seasons in Germany. That said, doesn’t this all feel a little familiar?

Why Man Utd are risking a Hojlund repeat

For a brief moment, it looked like United’s decision to plump for Hojlund had paid off, following his destructive debut away to Arsenal in September 2023. Having endured an injury-hit start to life in Manchester, the towering left-footer announced himself in fine fashion, proving a real nuisance for Gabriel and William Saliba in the home defence.

That image of Casemiro grabbing the youngster by the jersey – a mark that he was to be the man to win the game for Ten Hag’s men – evoked that strong early impression, with Hojlund also subsequently making his mark by netting five times in six Champions League group stage outings, including a breathtaking brace at home to Galatasaray.

Such moments have indicated that there is a player in there somewhere, yet with 26 goals to his name in 95 appearances, this is an expensive risk that has yet to pay off, with TNT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher notably describing the misfiring marksman as perhaps the “most unlucky number nine Manchester United have ever had”.

But should his woes be a surprise? His only season in a top-five league had yielded only nine Serie A goals, having previously scored 17 goals in 53 games for Sturm Graz and FC Copenhagen combined. Thrusting him in as the leading striker was perhaps a step too far, too soon.

Sesko’s path has worryingly been rather similar to date, with the 22-year-old – who is actually younger than Hojlund – having spent two seasons in the Bundesliga, after previously scoring 29 times in 79 games for Austria side Red Bull Salzburg.

A player whom United turned down for a fee of around £2.5m back in 2019, the Slovenian has reached double figures for league goals in each of the last two campaigns, although he hasn’t exactly ripped it up with 13 and 14 goals, respectively.

Like Hojlund, at 6 foot 4 the in-demand striker is an eye-catching figure, having been described as a “monster” of a striker by analyst Ben Mattinson. His penchant for the spectacular will also have onlookers licking their lips – boasting a highlight reel of goals that any number nine would be proud of.

That said, in the view of The Athletic’s James Horncastle, speaking on the Libero podcast, there is a sense that he merely is a “highlights player”, with the respected journalist even quipping that he is akin to a ‘Slovenian Andy Carroll’ in that regard.

A scorer of great goals, but not exactly a great goalscorer then, with United again at a juncture where they are in need of a proven talent, rather than a player of undoubtedly exciting potential.

Like with Ten Hag and Kane two years ago, Ruben Amorim is said to have a preference for signing Premier League menace, Ollie Watkins. Perhaps listening to the Portuguese coach would be the right choice this time around?

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da prosport bet： Liverpool have reportedly made an approach to sign a Sadio Mane-like forward who Manchester United are in talks to sign.

Liverpool announce Ekitike deal and eye Isak

da mrbet： The Reds have spent the most out of all 20 Premier League clubs this summer, with FSG splashing more than £250m on six new signings so far.

Incomings

From

Fee

Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen

£116m

Hugo Ekitike

Frankfurt

£69m

Milos Kerkez

Bournemouth

£40m

Jeremie Frimpong

Bayer Leverkusen

£29.5m

Armin Pecsi

Puskas Akademia

£1.5m

Freddie Woodman

Preston North End

Free

Hugo Ekitike was the latest marquee addition, costing Liverpool £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt. Talking after completing his move to Anfield, the French forward said:

Despite signing Ekitike, Liverpool may not stop there when it comes to striker signings, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak a firm target.

The Swede has his heart set on a move to Merseyside, however, the Reds may have to break their transfer record once more if they are to add Isak to Arne Slot’s squad.

With FSG showing no signs of stopping, the Reds are also looking at a move to sign an in-demand teenager ahead of those at Old Trafford.

Liverpool make contact to sign Man Utd target Idrissa Gueye

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are one of a host of sides to have made an enquiry for Metz attacker Idrissa Gueye. The Reds and West Ham have been in recent contact, as have Brighton, Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, Southampton, and Sunderland.

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Described by FI as ‘one of the hottest properties in Europe’, Gueye is also wanted in Germany and Italy, whereas Liverpool’s rivals, Man Utd, have been in recent intense £17m talks for the 18-year-old striker.

Gueye, already a senior Senegal international, is “rated as highly as Sadio Mane was”, according to reporter Alan Nixon, so Liverpool appear to be wise in making checks on a potential deal for the Metz gem.

A move for Mane from Southampton in 2016 proved to be a brilliant piece of business, with the winger going on to score 120 goals in 269 Liverpool games, winning the Premier League and Champions League.

Now, Gueye could follow in Mane’s Anfield footsteps, making this one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

da bet vitoria： Leeds United have made strengthening their defence a priority during the summer transfer window ahead of their return to the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign.

da esport bet： Lucas Perri has been signed to be the club’s new number one, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw have come in to compete at centre-back, and Gabriel Gudmundsson has replaced Junior Firpo at left-back.

The Championship champions have also swooped to add defensive midfielders Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff to their squad to provide the defence with more strength in front of them.

However, Stach showed against AC Milan on Saturday that he does have more to his game than just being a towering defensive presence in midfield, with a stunning strike in the 1-1 draw.

Daniel Farke, though, does now need to focus on bringing in attacking players to ensure that there is enough firepower in the team to win matches in the Premier League.

As part of that, Leeds need to find a creative attacker who can unlock opposition defences on a regular basis, which essentially means that they need their next Pablo Hernandez.

Why Leeds need their next Pablo Hernandez

During his time at Elland Road, the Spanish forward, who played centrally as a number ten or out wide on the right, provided immense quality at the top end of the pitch.

Hernandez really emerged as a superstar when Marcelo Bielsa arrived at the helm in the summer of 2018, as the Argentine’s system seemed to get the best out of him.

The former Valencia and Swansea man became a cult hero at Elland Road with his majestic performances on the pitch, consistently unlocking opposition defences with his technical quality and wonderful eye for a pass.

Hernandez was an attacking midfielder who offered a big threat as a scorer, with 21 goals in two Championship seasons under Bielsa, but his biggest strength was his creativity.

Pablo Hernandez

18/19 Championship

19/20 Championship

Appearances

39

36

Goals

12

9

Assists

12

9

Big chances created

16

13

Key passes per game

3.0

2.3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Spanish whiz created at least 2.3 chances per game on average across two seasons in the second tier and created a whopping 29 ‘big chances’ for his side.

Meanwhile, no current Leeds player averaged more than 1.6 key passes per game in the Championship in the 2024/25 campaign, which does not suggest that they are likely to be hugely creative after the step up to the Premier League.

That is why the Whites should be in the market to sign an attacking midfielder who can be a creative spark in the final third for Farke’s team this coming season.

Leeds considering bid for £25m attacking midfielder

According to GIVEMESPORT, Leeds United are looking at a potential deal to sign a number ten who could arrive as their next Pablo Hernandez, Bilal El Khannouss.

The report claims that the Whites are ‘considering’ a bid to sign the Leicester City attacking midfielder before the end of the summer transfer window.

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It adds that the Morocco international is expected to move on from the King Power in the coming weeks, with Leeds, Spurs, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, and Bayer Leverkusen all eyeing him up.

GIVEMESPORT reveals that the 21-year-old star has a £22.5m release clause in his contract with the Foxes, but clubs are willing to pay a higher overall fee in order to secure more favourable payment terms, possibly with a lower upfront fee and more add-ons.

The outlet states that the higher fee could be in the region of £25m, and it now remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are prepared to pay that much to bring him to Elland Road to bolster their squad.

Why Leeds should sign Bilal El Khannouss

Farke should push the board to get a deal done for El Khannouss before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September because he could be the Pablo Hernandez-esque figure that they need at the top end of the pitch.

Despite Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League last season, the Morocco international showed that he has the technical and creative qualities to make an impact at that level.

The £25m-rated star, who was dubbed a “sensational prospect” by analyst Ben Mattinson, created eight ‘big chances’ for his teammates in just 27 starts in the Premier League for the Foxes.

In their last respective seasons in the Premier League, Dan James created three, Wilfried Gnonto created three, Brenden Aaronson created five, and Jack Harrison created six.

This suggests that El Khannouss has the quality to step in as Farke’s most creative attacking midfielder or winger straight away, as the current options at the club have not proven themselves to be particularly adept at consistently creating chances in the Premier League.

24/25 Premier League

Bilal El Khannous per 90

Percentile rank vs AMs & wingers

xAG

0.19

Top 46%

Assists

0.12

Bottom 35%

Passes attempted

43.85

Top 15%

Progressive passes

5.28

Top 14%

Passes into the final third

3.67

Top 10%

Key passes

1.73

Top 37%

Through balls

0.45

Top 16%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the Leicester starlet ranked highly in a host of creative metrics in the top-flight last season, but was let down by poor finishing from his teammates to end up in the bottom 35% of his positional peers for assists.

El Khannouss, who predominantly plays as a number ten, could be the creative presence that Leeds are currently lacking in their squad, given his ability to progress play with passes into the third third, with key passes and through balls to set up his teammates.

He has the potential to emerge as the new Pablo Hernandez at Elland Road, as an attacking midfielder who could be the creative hub of the team, and has plenty of room for improvement as a young player.

That is why the Whites should be pushing to get a deal done for him as quickly as possible, because El Khannouss could fill a big creative hole in the squad and still has the potential to get even better in the future.

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