As they look to maintain their impressive form against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, Coventry City may have to do so without two players following the latest injury news.
Lampard: Coventry "spot on" in Millwall thrashing
Frank Lampard is doing an excellent job at Coventry. The former Chelsea manager is reviving his career in the technical area and has transformed the Sky Blues from a frustrated mid-table side into serious play-off hopefuls, and that transformation was on show for all to see against Millwall.
Hagi Wright’s brace, followed by goals from Ellis Simms and Kaine Kesler-Hayden from the bench saw the visitors secure a 4-0 rout of their London opposition and move into the automatic promotion spot after eight Championship games.
Still unbeaten and not slowing down, Lampard was full of praise for his side in his post-match reaction – saying: “A really good performance because that’s a tough place to come – it’s a strong squad, strong team they have and the feeling is the stadium is hard to come here and get tight wins, let alone finish the way we did.
“Everything was spot-on from the lads in a busy week – to come here in the middle of the week is a tough challenge. It was great how we started the game, great how we dealt with everything in between, great how we finished the game.”
Up next for Coventry is a trip to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday. The Sky Blues will be hoping to avoid any upset against a side dominated by struggles away from the pitch rather than any progress on it.
This time around, however, Lampard’s side may have to maintain their unbeaten run without two of their star players following the latest injury news.
Update on Torp and Eccles' injuries
As revealed by Lampard, Coventry could be without Victor Torp and Josh Eccles against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. The duo were forced off through injury in the second half and face a race against time to travel to Hillsborough.
Lampard seemed fairly relaxed about both injuries in his reaction. Whether that’s a good indication as to how serious they are will be interesting to see, but it would come as no surprise if Saturday came too soon for both Torp and Eccles. The big task that the Sky Blues manager now has is finding replacements for two fresh injury concerns.
Aston Villa have entered pole position for their potential first major signing of the summer, ahead of both Man City and Leeds United, according to a new report.
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Unai Emery’s side have just two weeks to go before their first Premier League game of the season against Newcastle, and barring goalkeeper Marco Bizot, Villa have been one of the least active top flight clubs in terms of recruitment.
Their transfer window has been dominated by PSR concerns, financial constraints and more rumours linking key men with moves away than stars actually coming through the door.
Youri Tielemans
7.08
Morgan Rogers
6.92
Marcus Rashford
6.82
Tyrone Mings
6.81
Ollie Watkins
6.80
via WhoScored
Emery, and supporters in particular, will be hoping for a late-window surge from the club’s president of football operations, Monchi, in preparation for what is an absolutely vital 2025/2026.
Villa are paying the price for missing out on Champions League qualification, but if they fail to reinforce the squad, it is unlikely they can mount a more successful top four push next term.
Aston Villa managerUnaiEmeryreacts
NSWE have been tipped as contenders for some high-profile upgrades from now until deadline day on September 1, though, with Emery reportedly keen on a move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson among others.
As well as the Senegalese, Villa are believed to be top contenders to sign former Norwich City star Gabriel Sara, who’s fresh off the back of a promising debut season with Turkish champions Galatasaray.
Galatasaray'sGabrielSarashots at goal Andreas Hillergre
The Brazilian hit double figures for assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, including two against Besiktas, with Sara also scoring in a 3-1 derby win over arch rivals Fenerbahçe at the beginning of 2024/2025.
Sara has built upon his fine last campaign at Norwich, where he was included in the 2024 Championship Team of the Year, attracting praise from ex-Canaries boss David Wagner.
“He is an outstanding player. Not only for us but in this division – no one has a doubt about this. It’s crystal clear,” Wagner said in February last year.
Gabriel Sara for Galatasaray.
“Nobody should underestimate that he has played more or less every game from the first to the final minute, and he has put on numbers that, in terms of goals and assists, are near the top of our team.
“He works very hard.”
Now, Villa are looking to offer him a route back to England, and they appear to be serious.
Aston Villa leading race to sign Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara
According to CaughtOffside, Villa are currently the “most advanced” side for Sara, taking pole position at the expense of City, Leeds, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Wolves.
Norwich midfielder Gabriel Sara.
NSWE are also ready to hold talks over signing the South American, who can play both as a traditional centre-midfielder and number 10, with Sara also capable of playing out wide.
Statistically, it’s clear as day why Villa are this keen. Sara recorded a whopping 5.1 shot-creating actions per match and averaged 7.64 progressive passes, placing him in the top 10% of midfielders in Europe (Fot Mob).
His flair and versatility would be a fantastic asset for Emery, and Galatasaray will apparently do business for around £35 million. While Villa are only prepared to go as high as the £17 million mark right now, as per CaughtOffside, it is definitely worth consideration to raise their offer.
Despite the heavy spending Liverpool have completed this summer, Arne Slot’s backline looks rather light.
Aside from the 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, the latter of whom is being courted by Real Madrid, the Reds are short on centre-backs, having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m in June.
But the Premier League champions are in fantastic shape after adding genuine firepower to their ranks. And that’s without even addressing the potential arrival of Alexander Isak.
But. The fact remains. Liverpool’s defensive line is rather light. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have both signed and are terrific talents, but centre-backs they are not.
And with Joe Gomez forced into leaving Liverpool’s pre-season tour in Asia due to injury, the need for more defensive depth has been accentuated.
Liverpool lining up Gomez replacement
In Gomez, Liverpool’s longest-serving first-team player, Slot has an invaluable asset. He is fiercely versatile, remarkably so, having won the 2019/20 Premier League title as Van Dijk’s central partner, having played plenty at right-back and sometimes on the left too.
Centre-back
117
–
2
Right-back
102
–
6
Left-back
33
–
2
Defensive midfield
2
–
–
But the 28-year-old has picked up a minor Achilles injury, meaning he might not be fit for the start of the season, having last featured for Liverpool in December due to sustaining a hamstring twinge.
Given that Gomez has been linked with a transfer away on several occasions over the past year too, it might not be unwise to push ahead and try and sign a long-term replacement.
Liverpool have been touted with a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who is out of contract at the end of the 2025/26 season, but there are no guarantees that they will get that one over the line, especially with Tottenham Hotspur showing a vested interest of their own.
As such, FSG have drawn up an alternative pick, and that man is Giovanni Leoni.
As per InterNews, the Parma centre-half, who is only 18, has been the subject of enquiries from Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham, though Inter Milan remain in the driving seat after their sustained efforts to sign him.
The talented defender may yet attract further suitors, so the time to act is now, and the Reds are said to be readying their bid. It’s mooted that he would cost something in the region of €35m (£30m).
Why Liverpool should sign Giovanni Leoni
It wouldn’t be the first time Liverpool have signed a young prospect from Serie A and nurtured them into a superstar. Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah are both defining features of this illustrious era on Merseyside, although both arrived as refined players.
Philippe Coutinho, however, was but a hatchling on the senior stage. Liverpool signed the Brazilian midfielder from Inter Milan for just £8.5m in January 2013, and he went on to score 54 goals and provide 44 assists across 201 matches before signing for Barcelona in an obscene £142m package in January 2018.
So began the glory days. You know how it goes.
Former Liverpool player Philippe Coutinho.
Coutinho was a one-of-a-kind playmaker, so silky and special, but when he was first welcomed to Anfield as a 20-year-old, the promise was scattered and hazy. He required a hefty amount of fine-tuning.
Don’t worry, we haven’t lost our marbles. This is not advocacy of Leoni slotting into that number ten role, placing surgical passes through to the forwards with the finesse of a maestro in their pomp. This, instead, shines a light on Liverpool’s success in identifying and signing up-and-coming talents from the Italian game.
Napoli's Romelu Lukaku in action with Parma's GiovanniLeoni
And with sporting director Richard Hughes boasting a connection with the Italian scene, fluent in the language and well versed in the footballing culture, having begun his days as a professional with Atalanta in Serie A and spent time as an Italian football analyst, he’s likely on the money when drawing a conclusion that Leoni is a talent worth chasing.
And anyway, he’s not alone in his admiration. The suitors are piling up, and talent scout Jacek Kulig has said that he is “one of the most complete teenage centre-backs in Europe.”
His breakout season in the Serie A attests to that.
Matches (starts)
17 (14)
Goals
1
Assists
0
Touches*
46.9
Pass completion
89%
Key passes*
0.1
Ball recoveries*
2.0
Dribbles*
0.2
Tackles + interceptions*
1.7
Clearances*
3.6
Duels (won)*
2.5 (61%)
Errors made
1
Leoni can, yes, be defined already by his all-encompassing grasp of the defensive game, as well as his dominance in defensive situations. The fact that he won 61% of his duels in the league last season suggests as such.
It’s a rather promising base, in any case. The scope for improvement is vast and exciting.
Just look at Coutinho. Liverpool remember him as a shining light through testing times, a magician who played a fundamental role in his golden era at Anfield.
But he was only a prospect when he first alighted in Liverpool, having scored once and started thrice in Italy across the half-season that preceded his transfer.
He soon found his footing. And Leoni could too. The young Italian defender would serve as Van Dijk and Konate’s understudy, and Gomez’s too, should the English star bounce back from his present injury.
It’s clear that Liverpool need to sign a centre-back, and in Leoni, they might just land themselves a star in the making.
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Leeds United have now officially unveiled Sean Longstaff as their fifth summer buy after promotion to the Premier League.
This is the first time this summer that the Whites have actually purchased some experience of the division; however, with Longstaff able to boast a mammoth 171 Premier League appearances for former employers Newcastle United – with ten goals and nine assists tallied up along the way – before Elland Road came calling.
Still, there are more exciting signings potentially on Leeds’ radar than the 27-year-old’s £12m switch to West Yorkshire, as a versatile forward presence is now eyed up.
Leeds ready to hijack deal for £12m star
A far more eye-catching pick-up than Longstaff’s arrival onto the scene would surely come in the form of Rodrigo Muniz entering Daniel Farke’s ranks, with recent reports suggesting that Leeds are continuing to pursue a move for the Fulham attacker who has a healthy 17-goal return in the top-flight.
Moreover, Igor Paxiao is also on the Whites’ agenda from Feyenoord as they try to replicate their Crysencio Summerville magic, but a move might be on the table for Juventus star Timothy Weah, too, if Leeds can hijack Marseille’s advances at the final hour.
Indeed, as per football journalist Mirko Di Natale, via his X account, Leeds and Everton remain in the background for the hunt for Weah, but a hijack could be on the cards owing to no agreement being reached yet between Marseille and the Old Lady.
The interest is still there – and at a reported £12m – this might well go down as one of the standout deals from Leeds’ hectic transfer window, with Weah potentially going on to be a far more exciting buy than the ex-Toon midfielder.
Why Weah would be a more exciting signing than Longstaff
Longstaff does have that added boost of plenty of Premier League experience, but it will be a competition for the 27-year-old to make Farke’s XI from the get-go, when considering the Whites’ already stacked midfield options.
The German already has Ao Tanaka at his disposal centrally, who is fresh from a standout Championship season where he collected seven goal contributions in total, on top of also having the steady presence of Ilia Gruev by his side.
Newcastle United's SeanLongstaffarrives at the stadium before the match
The brand new Leeds purchase will also need time to get up to speed with proceedings, having only made eight starts in league action last season for Eddie Howe’s Magpies as a rotation member of his squad.
Weah did also struggle for consistent first team minutes in Turin last campaign, with 18 starts being handed his way in the hustle and bustle of Serie A, but the “versatile” ace – as he’s been praised in the past by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley – has still managed to shine in spurts across various positions on the pitch for Igor Tudor’s giants across 78 clashes.
RM
32
2
1
RB
11
1
1
RW
10
3
1
LM
6
0
0
CF
3
0
0
LW
3
2
1
LB
1
0
0
Despite such limited opportunities, Weah would manage to chip in with an impressive five strikes last campaign for his Italian employers, with the American even lining up in defence on occasion.
This flexibility for the cause will be music to Farke’s ears, considering the ex-Norwich City boss loved utilising a similarly fluid body in the form of Archie Gray when he was situated at Elland Road.
Away from his adaptable nature piquing Farke’s interest, Weah would also be capable of pushing Daniel James all the way to a starting spot on the right channel when you weigh up the Welshman’s previous Premier League difficulties – with only 12 goals next to his name in the daunting division – next to the 25-year-old’s more assured presence in Serie A.
This isn’t to say that Longstaff won’t be a valued member of Farke’s squad, with his know-how of the taxing league no doubt coming in handy.
Juventus forward Timothy Weah
But, the “wonderful” £12m star – as he’s been labelled by ex-boss Brendan Rodgers – might just be a slightly more captivating signing to someone peeking in, when you take into account his malleable nature and his bursts of quality at the very top of Serie A.
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Glasgow Rangers completed their latest signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday when they confirmed the arrival of Djedi Gassama at Ibrox.
The 21-year-old winger has arrived at Rangers on a four-year deal to bolster Russell Martin’s options on the flanks, after he scored seven goals in 43 games last season.
Gassama will be hoping to provide a threat in the final third on a regular basis for the Scottish Premiership giants next term, and could be in line to make his debut against Panathinaikos in the Champions League qualifier later this month.
The French forward may not be the only player to arrive at Ibrox this week, though, as there is another player who wants to make the switch to Glasgow in the coming days.
English star pushing to sign for Rangers
One of Martin’s transfer targets is said to be pushing for a move to Ibrox this week, and it could be an even better signing than Gassama if they can get it over the line.
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 the Daily Record, Leicester City central defender wants to complete a transfer to Rangers from the Championship side by the end of this week.
The report claims that the former England international is ready to plead with the Foxes to give him the green light to make the move to Ibrox, in order to be in the squad to face Panathinaikos later this month.
It adds that Martin is a big fan of Coady and that the player wants to join the club to be the ‘linchpin’ of the new defensive set-up at Ibrox next season.
Why Coady would be a better signing than Gassama
At least for next season, the veteran central defender could be an even better signing than Gassama because of the quality and experience that he could use to hit the ground running.
Gassama, at the age of 21, is a young and promising forward who may need time to adapt to Scottish football and to grow as a player, having only managed eight goal contributions in 43 games in the second tier in England last term.
Meanwhile, Coady is 32 and has made 198 appearances in the Premier League. He has proven himself at the very top level in domestic European football, and showcased his in-possession qualities when Leicester were in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign.
Passes completed
84.99
Top 5%
Pass accuracy
93%
Top 1%
Progressive passes
7.20
Top 1%
Passes into the final third
7.20
Top 2%
xAG
0.05
Top 16%
Progressive passing distance
556 yards
Top 3%
Through balls
0.26
Top 2%
As you can see in the table above, the English star is a centre-back who has the quality and mentality to be incredibly progressive with his use of the ball, helping his team to play through the thirds quickly and effectively in a ball-dominant team.
Off the ball, Coady won 64% of his duels that season for the Foxes in their title-winning campaign, which shows that he can also dominate opposition attackers in physical tussles.
Leicester City's Conor Coady.
The former Wolves captain, who was described as an “infectious” character by Gareth Southgate, is a proven quantity who would be able to arrive at Rangers to provide instant, almost guaranteed, quality on the pitch with his abilities in and out of possession as a centre-back.
There is far less risk attached to signing a proven player like Coady, who was playing in the Premier League last season, than bringing in a 21-year-old from the second division in England.
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That is not to say that Gassama will be a bad signing, or that he is not an exciting addition, but Martin also needs instant quality and that is why Coady may be an even better piece of business if they can get it over the line this week.
Yet to grab the headlines this summer, West Ham United are now reportedly in talks to sign two defenders, including a La Liga star who has previously attracted the interest of Aston Villa.
West Ham reject Kudus offer
Whilst rumours continue to arrive regarding potential incomings at the London Stadium, speculation has not died down regarding the future of Mohammed Kudus. The talented winger has found himself at the centre of interest from both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in recent days, potentially handing West Ham an uphill battle to keep hold of their star.
Losing Kudus even after he endured a frustrating second season at the club would undoubtedly provide Graham Potter with a major blow.
The West Ham boss was full of praise for the winger throughout the first few months of his tenure, telling reporters: “I think Mo has had probably a season that, from his perspective, would be a little bit disappointing, not because of his lack of effort or anything like that, but sometimes these things happen.
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“Speaking personally, he’s been great with us in terms of how he’s worked every day, fantastic. He has built his fitness up, built his condition up to the point where he can sustain things a lot better now.”
Given that they’ve reportedly rejected a £50m offer from London rivals Tottenham, it seems as though the Hammers will only sell Kudus at a premium price this summer, if at all.
West Ham's Mohammed Kudus
Whether Spurs return with a better offer is the question that still needs answering. Of course, losing their star man at all will be a frustrating blow, but losing him to a direct rival would only add salt to their wounds.
With that money, however, West Ham could finally focus on incomings and potentially a double deal to hand Potter an impressive defensive boost.
West Ham in talks to sign Mingueza and Diouf
As reported by Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, West Ham are now in talks to sign both Oscar Mingueza and El Hadji Malick Diouf from Celta Vigo and Slavia Prague, respectively. Both players are reportedly open to a summer switch to the London Stadium and, as talks continue, could help the Hammers kickstart their transfer business.
Mingueza, who operates as a right-back, would be an ideal replacement for the departed Vladimir Coufal whilst offering strong competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Diouf, meanwhile, could take hold of the starting left-back spot following Aaron Cresswell and possibly Emerson Palmieri’s departures at the end of the season.
Dubbed “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Mingueza would be a particularly impressive signing for West Ham, who would be stealing in ahead of Aston Villa to welcome a talented defender.
Celtic are said to have made an approach for a £2.5m-rated midfielder, as they look to beat a Premier League club to his signature, among others.
Rodgers pushing for "statement" Celtic signing
Brendan Rodgers doesn’t appear to be messing around this summer, during a transfer window in which he knows the importance of nailing his business.
In fact, the Celtic manager is even thought to be personally pushing to sign Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, according to former scout Mick Brown, with the Republic of Ireland striker linked with either a loan or permanent move to Parkhead this summer.
“Celtic can offer attractive opportunities to players like Ferguson. They’re going to be playing in the Champions League and competing for trophies, which would be valuable experience for a player of his age.
“He could go to Celtic as the main man up front, away from the pressure that comes with the Premier League, and prove what he can do. I think Brendan Rodgers will be pushing to get that done, he wants to be ambitious in the market. He expects to be backed and this would be a statement of intent, even if it’s on a loan deal.”
Evan Ferguson for Ireland.
On the flip side, Celtic will be at risk of losing certain key players, with Nicolas Kuhn falling into that category and reportedly wanted by RB Leipzig, having been in their academy earlier in his career.
Celtic make approach for £2.5m midfielder
According to Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Celtic have made an approach for Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradji, in what looks to be a competitive battle for his signature.
Fiorentina, Parma, Torino, Basel and Galatasaray are all mentioned in the report, but it is Sunderland who are in transfer talks ahead of their return to the Premier League next season, looking to get ahead of others in the race. He is expected to cost £2.5m.
Brendan Rodgers
Baradji will be something of an unknown to plenty of Celtic supporters, with all due respect to him, considering he is yet to play for a team in Europe’s top five leagues.
That’s not to say that he wouldn’t be a good signing for the Hoops, however, and the level of interest in him suggests that he could be an effective addition to Rodgers’ squad, with analyst Maxime Schar calling him a player who is “at ease under pressure”.
At 24, Baradji is at a perfect age, possessing enough experience to hit the ground running immediately, but also still having a healthy chunk of his career ahead of him.
While at his best as a box-to-box midfielder, the Frenchman is also adept of playing in a deeper role, too, and even as a right winger, if needed.
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It looks as though Sunderland are pushing particularly hard to sign Baradji this summer, but Celtic can offer him Champions League football, which will hopefully prove to be a huge lure for him.
Insofar as anything is conclusive during the first few weeks of the summer transfer window, Liverpool have been issued a rather unequivocal no in regard to Alexander Isak.
Arne Slot would love nothing more than to front his project with Newcastle United’s “world-class assassin”, as Isak has been referred by pundit Alan Shearer, but PIF want a package in the region of £200m to free him from his £120k-per-week contract.
It’s not going to happen, in all likelihood. However, that doesn’t mean Liverpool will shelve their interest in a new number nine. There are alternative options on the market.
Liverpool are spending liberally this summer, no doubt, but this is hardly a scattergun approach from Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes; more so, the execution of meticulous planning.
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot
The expeditious nature of their activity highlights FSG’s thought-out strategy, with the club-record signing od Florian Wirtz the perfect representation of that fact.
Why Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz
Wirtz is now officially a Liverpool player. Last week, the Merseysiders agreed a £100m fixed fee – which could rise to a British-record £116m – for Bayer Leverkusen’s star man; now, the Premier League champions have officially announced their marquee move.
After some protracted negotiations, Wirtz is finally Liverpool’s and will bring his “truly generational talent” – as has been said by sports media professional Cristian Nyari – to Slot’s side, a daunting thought for the club’s rivals both domestically and abroad.
But not for Liverpool. While Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave for Real Madrid upset more than a few, here we have a surpassing playmaker of a different breed, one who could spearhead years of sustained success.
Florian Wirtz
And while Liverpool might not be able to secure Isak’s services this summer, there’s every chance that Wirtz could be leading the supply line for another first-rate centre-forward.
Liverpool lining up new striker
Several alternatives are on the line for Liverpool, including Hugo Ekitike, but as per Rousing the Kop, Liverpool have identified Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as the perfect option to sign this summer, should Isak remain out of reach.
Osimhen, who completed a successful loan move with Galatasaray last season, is looking to leave Naples this summer and is believed to have a £60m release clause in his contract.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed
The Turkish giants are looking to bring him back for good, while suitors in the Saudi Pro League continue their long-time bid to bring the 26-year-old over to the Gulf.
However, Liverpool could give him a place at the front of one of football’s most exciting projects.
Why Liverpool want Victor Osimhen
With Darwin Nunez set to depart – curiously, Napoli are chasing a deal for the Uruguay star – Liverpool could find they have a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Serie A champions for their profitable number nine.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen
After scoring 37 goals across 41 matches for Galatasaray last year, winning the Turkish Super Lig, the rangy and powerful frontman has kept his instruments sharp as he targets a statement move.
Osimhen has proven himself by now as one of Europe’s most reliable goalscorers, and though the Premier League would ostensibly present him with the highest calibre of opposition, across the span of a season, that he has faced in his career, with Wirtz by his side there will be more than enough support to maintain top levels of scoring.
24/25 – Galatasaray
41
37
8
23/24 – Napoli
32
17
4
22/23 – Napoli
39
31
5
21/22 – Napoli
32
18
6
20/21 – Napoli
30
10
3
Osimhen’s complete attacking skill set and unflappable mentality suggest that not only could be a dream for Wirtz, but he’d ensure even the most ardent of Liverpool-supporting Isak fans are able to forget about Newcastle’s talisman.
Having spearheaded Napoli’s Scudetto-winning season of 2022/23, Osimhen established himself as one of the game’s true elite, even labelled as “the best striker on the market” by Statman Dave back in February.
Isak might be a bit more dynamic in his mobility, but the Nigerian is hardly a sluggish forward, having ranked among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive carries, the top 16% for ball recoveries and the top 9% for aerial battles won per 90, as per FBref.
He’s a “transitional monster” described by analyst Ben Mattinson, with incredible off-the-ball awareness and positioning that should see him rake goals in by the dozen at Liverpool, with the likes of Wirtz and Mohamed Salah creating chances for him.
Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtzreacts
As per Sofascore, Wirtz, who is principally a central attacking midfielder but has the capacity to drift across most attacking areas, assisted 12 goals and created 17 big chances across the 2024/25 season.
In fact, deeper examination shows the German maverick to have averaged 2.1 key passes per game across his entire campaign, for club and country, which is a truly remarkable feat and the perfect illustration of how he will enhance the performance of someone like Osimhen.
To put that in perspective: Alexander-Arnold has averaged 1.9 key passes per fixture across the span of his own career – and, frankly, we all know just how peerless his playmaking has been at Liverpool.
Wirtz has proven himself across several seasons in the Bundesliga, winning the division’s Player of the Year award in 2023/24 after playing an instrumental part in Leverkusen’s invincible prize-winning campaign.
He’s only just getting started, and if allowed to forge a relationship with Osimhen, there’s no telling how deadly Liverpool could be next year.
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Liverpool are in the market for a centre-forward this summer.
When it comes to transfers, Arsenal are set to be one of the more active Premier League sides over the coming months, with Mikel Arteta even admitting that the club will undergo a “big” window of recruitment.
Arsenal laying groundwork for key summer signings
A lot of groundwork has already been laid on Arsenal’s summer deals by sporting director Andrea Berta, not to mention his boardroom predecessors Edu and Jason Ayto.
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Predating Berta’s arrival at the Emirates, Arsenal entered advanced talks to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad as far back as January, and the Gunners are now hoping to finalise the Spain international’s capture despite very mixed messages.
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
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Members of the media are convinced that Arsenal are set to sign Zubimendi, while Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay and the player himself have publicly tried to pour cold water over an imminent move to N5.
Arsenal will be mindful that the 26-year-old publicly rejected a move to Liverpool at the last minute in 2024, and supporters will also be erring on the side of caution when it comes to celebrating Zubimendi’s capture, at least until he’s pictured hoisting the red shirt aloft.
In any case, they’ve worked extensively on his transfer, not to mention a potential move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenia international is one of Arsenal’s top striker targets alongside Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, but as things stand, it appears Berta is prioritising a deal for the former.
Fabrizio Romano shared news on Friday that Arsenal are advancing for Sesko, but cautions fans that it still isn’t on the verge of being done just yet.
With critics eager to see Berta sign a much-needed striker this summer, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has shared another update on their pursuit of Sesko.
Benjamin Sesko keen to join Arsenal with talks ongoing
According to the reliable reporter, Sesko is keen to join Arsenal, and the north Londoners are currently in very positive talks with his representatives.
Arteta’s side are moving forward with conviction when it comes to agreeing personal terms, but Berta will also have to dig deep into the Arsenal coffers to get this one over line.
Called an “underrated” striker by members of the press, Sesko bagged 21 goals in all competitions last season, which is a fairly modest return, but the club’s repeated attempts to sign him in the last 12 months show what a big fan Arteta must be of the player.
At this stage, Arsenal may as well just go all in and finally acquire the 22-year-old’s signature.
Sunderland have now made an approach to sign an international defender who has 25 Champions League appearances to his name, reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed.
Black Cats set to have money to spend after Bellingham sale
Despite the Black Cats securing promotion to the Premier League in dramatic fashion at Wembley, Jobe Bellingham decided to forge a similar path to his brother by opting to move to Borussia Dortmund, in what was a club-record £32m deal.
The departure will no doubt be disappointing for Regis Le Bris, given that the 19-year-old was a crucial player last season, making 43 appearances in all competitions, but there should now be additional funds to bring in a suitable replacement this summer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tommy Doyle is one of the players who has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Bellingham, but central midfield is not the only area in which Le Bris is looking to strengthen, having also set his sights on a new left-back.
Aston Villa’s Alex Moreno was identified as a potential target earlier this week, following the Spaniard’s return from a loan spell with Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland have now made an approach to sign a different left-back, namely Atletico Madrid’s Reinildo.
That is according to Jacobs, who took to X to reveal that a number of clubs have come forward to sign the Atletico defender, with Leeds United and Forest making approaches of their own, while clubs from Saudi Arabia and Turkey also retain an interest.
Sky Sports: Sunderland now in direct contact to sign £17m Ligue 1 forward
The Black Cats are looking to continue their summer business.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 10, 2025
The 31-year-old’s contract is set to expire after the upcoming Club World Cup, potentially opening the door for a move to the Stadium of Light, and given that he currently earns around £13k-a-week, wages shouldn’t be too much of an issue either.
"Talented" Reinildo needs to leave Atletico this summer
The Beira-born defender is still at an age where he should be playing regular first-team football, but that has not been the case at Atletico Madrid for quite some time, having been benched for all of the Spanish side’s La Liga games since the end of March.
As such, the Mozambique international needs to move on this summer, and the Stadium of Light could be an attractive destination, given that the Black Cats have returned to the Premier League.
Atletico Madrid'sReinildoMandava before the match
There are also some indications the left-back could be a savvy signing on a free transfer, considering Le Bris would be bringing in a player with a lot of experience at the top level, having made a total of 25 appearances in the Champions League.
Once described as a “talented” player by Zach Lowy, Reinildo could be a solid addition to the Sunderland squad this summer, but there may be some justified concerns that he is now past his best, given that Atletico were willing to let his contract run down.