All posts by z3u9t.icu

One area West Ham United have struggled in this season, even with the improvements made under Graham Potter, has been the construction of their midfield and lack of mobility in central areas.

Adjustments such as the pressing scheme and triggers under Potter have helped to cover those deficiencies, but this is clearly an area they should be prioritising in the summer.

Current midfield options include Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Carlos Soler, Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse.

Since Ward-Prowse returned from his Nottingham Forest loan, Potter has favoured starting him alongside either Alvarez or Soucek, bringing more quality on the ball in those deeper areas for progression.

However, his return has not helped add mobility in the middle of the park, something they have lacked since Declan Rice was sold to Arsenal back in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, for a whopping £105m.

Declan Rice's record at West Ham

Rice made 245 appearances for the Hammers first team in his ten years at the club, scoring 15 goals, providing 13 assists and totaling 20,580 minutes.

He also captained the side to their first European trophy since 1965 under David Moyes, winning the UEFA Conference League in the 2022/23 season, a campaign that would prove to be his last year with the club.

Towards the back end of his time at West Ham, Rice was lauded as a “monster on the pitch” by teammate Mark Noble, with the big-money move coming as no real shock.

Since Rice joined Arsenal, the club have been looking to replace his attributes in the middle of the park, signing a multitude of players, all of whom can offer different attributes, but all of whom have failed so far to replicate anything close to the performances Rice was delivering week after week.

Perhaps, the Hammers could well be regretting letting Rice 2.0 leave for a bargain price…

West Ham have already sold Rice 2.0

Moyes and co sold midfielder Josh Cullen to Anderlecht in 2020, for a fee of just £500k. The then 24-year-old became a key figure for the Belgian outfit, working under Vincent Kompany, who he then went on to work with once more at Burnley years later.

Goals + Assists

0.08

0.16

Progressive Carries

0.50

2.45

Progressive Passes

5.12

6.59

Pass Completion %

87.8%

86.5%

Passes into Final Third

5.32

6.40

Key Passes

0.76

1.02

Shot-Creating Actions

2.28

2.75

Tackles + Interceptions

2.09

3.94

Ball Recoveries

5.73

9.18

Aerial Duels Won

1.14

1.02

When comparing Cullen’s underlying metrics from this season against Rice’s underlying numbers from his last West Ham campaign, you can clearly see Rice ranks much higher in many metrics.

But the tenacity in midfield shown by ball recoveries, aerial duels won and tackles and interceptions is still there, and he would have eased the loss of Rice’s on-ball progressive impact, as Cullen also thrives in this department.

Kompany described Cullen as the “ultimate player” praising his effort and labeling him as a shining example for his fellow professionals.

This is the exact sort of character West Ham could have used after losing Rice, not only replacing many attributes they lost when he walked out the door, but also bringing that sense of calm and leadership to the team.

Whilst it’s hard to compare Cullen and Rice on talent alone, the hard-working culture they share in their respective midfield roles does draw comparisons, both willing to do the hard yards for their side, which is exactly what West Ham have been missing since Rice left the club.

Mark Noble discussing cheap West Ham transfer to sign "sensational" forward

West Ham could finalise a bargain deal ahead of next season.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 21, 2025

It’s been a rough month for Ipswich Town.

Since their win over Coventry City in the FA Cup, Kieran McKenna’s side have failed to win again in five outings, four of which were in the Premier League.

If the Tractor Boys are going to pull themselves out of the relegation zone over the coming weeks, they’ll have to seriously step their performances up, and this afternoon’s game against Nottingham Forest could be the perfect opportunity to do so.

That said, the manager is going to have to make several changes to the starting lineup, changes that see Jaden Philogene drop to the bench.

Why Philogene should be dropped

Truthfully, you could argue why several of Ipswich’s starters against Crystal Palace should be dropped, but when it comes to the attack, Liam Delap is undoubtedly the team’s most dangerous player, and Jack Clarke appears to be slowly growing into his role.

So, unfortunately for Philogene, that leaves him as the most likely to be dropped from the lineup, and given his lacklustre display against the Eagles, he probably should be axed.

The former Aston Villa ace was wholly ineffective against the South Londoners, and the few times he did have the chance to influence the game, he was found lacking.

Unsurprisingly, the East Anglian Daily Times’ Alex Jones was equally unimpressed with the “ridiculous” Englishman, as dubbed by ex-Hull boss Liam Rosenior, giving him a 5/10 match rating and writing that it felt like he ‘hardly had any time in possession’.

The 23-year-old’s statistics do not make for pretty reading either, as in his 67 minutes of action he failed to score from an expected goals figure of 0.65, took just 22 touches, had a pass completion of just 57%, failed in 100% of his dribbles, missed two big chances, lost four of six ground duels and lost the ball six times.

Minutes

67′

Expected Goals

0.65

Goals

0

Big Chances Missed

2

Touches

22

Passing Accuracy

4/7 (57%)

Key Passes

1

Dribbles (Successful)

2 (0)

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (2)

Lost Possession

6

It was a performance to forget from the talented winger and one that should see him replaced for today’s clash.

The Ipswich star who should replace Philogene

Given the injuries McKenna has to contend with and the lacklustre form of several other attacking options, the most likely and best choice to come in for Philogene this afternoon is Omari Hutchinson.

The former Chelsea ace came off the bench against Palace after missing the FA Cup defeat to Forest with a knee injury but will more than likely be fit enough to play from the first whistle today, which will be a big boost.

The Englishman has primarily played down the middle this term but has made five appearances off the right, so he should have no problem stepping in for the former Villa gem.

Moreover, while the “superb” talent, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, hasn’t exactly been prolific this season, he’s been solid, amassing a tally of three goals and two assists in 26 league appearances, and two of those goal involvements have come in the last four outings.

Moreover, the 21-year-old has shown us that he can rise to the occasion and produce something quite spectacular, as he did when scoring his long-range effort at home to Manchester United last year.

Ultimately, there is no surefire way to get Ipswich back on track against Forest this afternoon, but with Philogene failing to take his chances last week, dropping him for Hutchinson seems like a positive step.

Forget Tuanzebe: McKenna can axe Godfrey by unleashing Ipswich "warrior"

Kieran McKenna will hope this Ipswich Town star can replace Axel Tuanzebe effectively.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 8, 2025

Liverpool are back in action on Sunday as they prepare to take on Premier League rivals Newcastle United at Wembley in the final of the League Cup.

Arne Slot’s side were knocked out of the Champions League on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle last month.

This means that this clash with the Magpies in the capital is the club’s last chance to add a cup trophy on top of what seems like an inevitable Premier League title success.

Liverpool made the final of this competition by beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final clash with Ange Postecoglou’s side.

They now face an excellent Newcastle team, managed by Eddie Howe, but are boosted by the Magpies missing Sven Botman, Anthony Gordon, and Lewis Hall.

Despite those key players being out, the Toon Army are a dangerous side to play against because they have Alexander Isak in the centre-forward position.

Why Liverpool should fear Alexander Isak

Liverpool should be wary of the Sweden international’s threat on Sunday because he has proven himself to be a lethal number nine for the Magpies in recent seasons.

The 25-year-old marksman joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2022 and has scored 57 goals in 99 appearances for the club to date.

Isak has, therefore, averaged more than a goal every other game for the Magpies during his career in England to date, which speaks to the threat he offers at the top end of the pitch.

The Swedish star has proven himself to be one of the best forwards in Europe with his ability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis, whilst also being a creative presence for his side.

Non-penalty goals

0.71

Top 6%

Non-penalty xG

0.63

Top 5%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.20

Top 10%

Assists

0.22

Top 16%

Shot-creating actions

3.41

Top 10%

As you can see in the table above, Isak ranks incredibly highly among strikers in the top leagues in Europe in a host of key attacking metrics, which illustrates just how effective he has been for Newcastle over the last 365 days.

The Magpies star has scored 19 goals from 15.55 xG in the Premier League so far this season, a tally only Erling Haaland (20) and Mo Salah (27) have beaten.

Therefore, Liverpool should fear Isak and be very wary of his potential threat when they come to face Newcastle in the League Cup final on Sunday, and they will be very aware of him given that the club have a reported interest in signing the forward.

Liverpool's interest in Alexander Isak

CaughtOffside reports that the Reds are interested in bringing the former Borussia Dortmund marksman to Anfield in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report adds that Liverpool are also keen on his teammates Gordon and Hall, who will not be available for the League Cup final, as the club plot moves to bolster their squad ahead of next season.

However, The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently revealed that it could take a fee of around £150m to convince the Magpies to part ways with Isak, and that would be a club-record deal for Liverpool.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Reds are prepared to splash the cash and smash records to bring the Swedish sensation to Anfield to improve Slot’s attacking options in the summer, as £150m is an incredibly significant amount of money to pay.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Liverpool have, instead, had success in the past with signing strikers for relatively modest fees and untapping their potential, rather than buying the finished product straight away.

Former Reds icon Luis Suarez is a great example of that as they hit the jackpot when they snapped him up from Ajax, before he proved himself in Europe’s major leagues.

Liverpool hit the jackpot with Luis Suarez

In the January transfer window of the 2010/11 campaign, Liverpool swooped to sign Suarez from the Dutch giants for a reported fee of just £22.8m – less than 20% of what Isak would cost in the present day.

That turned out to be an absolute bargain of a fee for the club because the Uruguay international, who had scored 111 goals in 159 matches for Ajax, went on to become a superstar on Merseyside.

Suarez, as you can see in the clips above, was capable of the spectacular during his time at Anfield, as he got supporters off their feet with his weekly displays of magic in the final third.

The prolific forward went on to score 82 goals and provide 31 assists in 133 matches for Liverpool in all competitions, before Barcelona came calling in the summer of 2014.

Suarez joined the Spanish giants for a reported fee of £75m ahead of the 2014/15 campaign, which meant that the Reds made a huge profit on the £22.8m they paid for him – showing that they hit the jackpot by signing him from Ajax for such a modest fee.

The mercurial forward, who was called “world-class” by Brendan Rodgers, then went on to enjoy a stunning spell at the Nou Camp, scoring 195 goals and providing 113 assists in 283 games, and has – to date – had an even better career than Isak.

Appearances

35

Goals

40

Minutes per goal

79

Shots on target

70

Conversion rate

29%

Big chances created

21

Assists

16

As you can see in the table above, Suarez has had a 40-goal, with 56 total goal involvements, season in one of Europe’s major leagues in his career.

In total, the striker has hit 20 or more goals on six occasions in LaLiga or the Premier League for Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid combined. Whereas, Isak – who turns 26 this year – only has one such season in his career and has yet to score more than 21 goals in a single league campaign at first-team level.

This shows that the Swedish forward has not had a career as good as Suarez’s, yet, as he has not been anywhere near as prolific on the biggest stages, and that is why a fee of £150m for him may be a bit over the top at this moment in time.

Liverpool may be better off trying to unearth another diamond, as they did with the Uruguay international, instead of smashing their club-record transfer fee to land the Newcastle man.

Better passer than Van Dijk: Liverpool ready £42m bid for 6'3 centre-back

The Dutchman is still on course to become a free agent…

ByTom Cunningham Mar 12, 2025

When Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Mathys Tel on loan last month, there was plenty of understandable excitement from their fans.

After all, the North Londoners were getting their hands on an exciting young talent who seemed to be of interest to a number of their Premier League rivals, such as Manchester United.

However, a month on, and it would be fair to describe the Frenchman’s time in the capital as disappointing thus far, and with just a couple of months left of the season, there is a real chance he’ll return to Bayern Munich as a flop.

Worse still, the Frenchman is currently being outperformed by a former Tottenham flop signed by José Mourinho and then sold by Antonio Conte.

Mourinho's worst Spurs signings

Before getting to the player in question, let’s look at some of the other poor signings the Special One made during his short stint in North London, starting with Matt Doherty.

The Irish international joined Spurs from Wolverhampton Wanderers for around £14.7m in the summer of 2020, and while it looked like a shrewd bit of business at the time, it most certainly was not.

The right-back would make 71 appearances for the club over the next two and a half years, in which he provided eight assists and scored three goals, but failed to ever really impress the fans and was let go for nothing in January 2023.

Mourinho didn’t just make poor permanent signings in N17, though, as he also welcomed Carlos Vinicius to the club from Benfica on loan with a £41m option to buy in October 2020.

The Brazilian forward had scored 24 goals and provided 13 assists in 47 games the campaign prior, so there was some hope that he’d be able to make a real difference for Tottenham.

However, while the Bom Jesus das Selvas-born ace scored six goals and provided three assists in the Europa League and bagged a hat-trick against Marine in the FA Cup, he only scored once in nine league outings and was sent back to Portugal the following summer.

The now Fulham ace wasn’t the only underwhelming attacker signed by Mourinho in 2020, as another is now outscoring and performing Tel away from the club this season.

The former Spurs dud outperforming Tel

With Mourinho not actually making all that many signings while in the Spurs hot seat, it’ll come as no surprise that the attacker in question is Steven Bergwijn.

The Dutchman joined the North Londoners for about £27m in January 2020, but aside from completing one of the Premier League’s best comebacks, the skilful winger joined Ajax just two years later for around £26m with eight goals and nine assists to his name in 83 appearances.

Over the next two and a bit years, the “big-game monster,” as dubbed by journalist John Cross, would score 29 goals and provide 11 assists in 80 games for the Amsterdam outfit before making a surprise move to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League in September.

Since moving to the Middle East, the 27-year-old has scored ten goals and provided six assists in 23 appearances this season.

When you add the one assist he picked up in his final four games for Ajax prior to his move, the former Lilywhtes star has averaged a goal involvement every 1.58 games this term.

Appearances

27

20

Goals

10

1

Assists

7

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.62

0.10

In contrast, in 20 appearances for Bayern and Spurs this season, Tel has scored one goal and provided one assist, which is an average of a goal involvement every ten games.

Ultimately, it goes without saying that the 19-year-old is playing in a far harder league, but as he’s looking increasingly unable to impact games, we wonder if Spurs wish they had someone like Bergwijn on the bench just for the next couple of months.

Ange can forget about Kulusevski by unleashing "incredible" Spurs star

Dejan Kulusveski has been ruled out for Spurs with an injury.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 6, 2025

Leeds United have conducted phenomenal business over the last couple of years, helping them in their quest to secure promotion from the Championship.

Joel Piroe may have cost a small fortune at £10m in the summer of 2023, but he’s been worth every penny, scoring 29 times in his 85 games since his transfer from Swansea City.

The Dutchman currently sits as the club’s top goalscorer, showcasing his excellent form for Daniel Farke’s side, playing a key role in their success this campaign.

Such form has kept talented youngster Mateo Joseph out of the starting lineup, with Piroe easily the German’s first-choice striker after his recent form, which has seen him net six times in 2025.

He’s been joined in the side by one other player who’s been another phenomenal addition, thriving at the heart of the side and looking to be a bargain, given his cheap transfer fee.

Ao Tanaka’s stats for Leeds in 2024/25

Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka joined Leeds for just £3.5m in the summer, looking to provide the needed squad depth in the centre of Farke’s squad.

However, he’s exceeded beyond all expectations, becoming a regular in the side, starting every Championship game of the calendar year – showcasing his rise over the last few months.

The 26-year-old has won an average of 1.7 tackles per 90 in the league throughout this season, the joint-most in the squad, with only Jayden Bogle matching his tally.

He’s also managed to win 1.5 interceptions per 90, a figure that is the highest in the Whites’ side, showcasing his crucial ability to regain possession – allowing the likes of Piroe in attacking areas.

Tanaka has also completed 90% of his passes, handing the forwards the ammunition to succeed in the final third, making him the perfect box-to-box midfielder for Farke.

However, despite his importance to the club, he’s still valued lower than one player who’s taken his career to the next level after his move away from Yorkshire.

The former Leeds star who’s worth more than Tanaka

Leeds attackers have often captured the hearts of the fanbase at Elland Road, more than likely being the stars of their success over various time periods.

Mateusz Bogusz could’ve been another player to add his name to the club’s history books, but the Polish star was unable to make a huge impact during his time in Yorkshire.

The attacking midfielder joined the Whites from Ruch Chorzow back in January 2019, originally linking up with the club’s academy setup before having minutes in the first team.

However, he would only feature three times before being sent on various loan spells to Logrones and UD Ibiza but was unable to wriggle his way into Farke’s plans.

As a result, Bogusz would move to MLS side LAFC for a fee in the region of £1m in a deal that would catapult his career into action, potentially leaving the club to rue his departure.

Statistics

Tally

Games played

36

Goals scored

16

Assists

8

Pass accuracy

84%

Chances created

77

Successful dribbles

41

Touches in opposition box

122

During his two years in America, the Pole featured 90 times, registering 24 times and 18 assists, leading to journalist Greg Beacham dubbing the midfielder as “dangerous”.

The 23-year-old has since moved to Mexican side, Cruz Azul, for a fee in the region of £8m, with his transfer fee higher than Tanaka’s current market value, with the Japanese star valued at £3.3m by Transfermarkt.

Given Bogusz’s rise away from Yorkshire along with his increase in value, the club may have offloaded the talent too prematurely – having the skillset to add to Farke’s side in their hunt for promotion.

However, he remains a case of what could’ve been for the Whites, with the Polish international showcasing what they have missed out on by not handing him the opportunity in the first team.

Leeds can finally axe Aaronson by starting "superb" star out of position

Daniel Farke could hand one Leeds United a new role at Elland Road over the coming weeks.

1 ByEthan Lamb Feb 27, 2025

In the 2024/25 summer transfer window, Chelsea spent €261m (£216.2m) on transfers, making €198m (£164m) in sales, in order to fund much of this business. A large majority of those sales included academy graduates, being sold in order to comply with PSR.

Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson were all sold after either coming through the Chelsea academy or being initially signed for the academy, meaning all of these sales constitute as “pure profit” for the club – and owner Todd Boehly – on their books.

Player

Fee (£)

Ian Maatsen

£36.8m

Conor Gallagher

£34.7m

Lewis Hall

£27.3m

Romelu Lukaku

£24.8m

Omari Hutchinson

£19.4m

Angelo

£19m

Diego Moreira

£1.6m

Hakim Ziyech

£0

Thiago Silva

£0

Tino Anjorin

£0

Malang Sarr

£0

Whilst most of the sales were players on the fringes of the squad, Gallagher – who captained Chelsea for the majority of last season in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell – made 50 appearances for the Blues, scoring seven goals, providing nine assists and totalling 4,036 minutes played.

The sale of the Englishman may now look to be something of a mistake, considering his soaring market value, although the Blues may well have struck gold with another high-profile sale in the summer.

Chelsea's key academy sales

Gallagher came through the Chelsea academy, going on to make 95 senior appearances, scoring ten goals, providing ten assists and totalling 6,061 minutes played.

The English midfielder was viewed as “priceless” by Mauricio Pochettino, being a clear favourite of his throughout his season in charge.

The 25-year-old midfielder was sold to Atlético Madrid in the summer for a fee of around £35.8m, making 30 appearances so far this season for the Spanish giants, scoring two goals, providing three assists and totalling 1,633 minutes played.

Whilst the Gallagher sale wasn’t the best value, selling him for what is now seen as under his current value, there was another sale in the 2024 summer window, which perhaps was more on the side of a good sale price, with Boehly and co extracting a fee higher than his current valuation.

Chelsea struck gold with 2024 exit

Moving on academy talent like Gallagher has been a common theme in recent years at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues having also cashed in on the likes of Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Marc Guehi, among others.

Another among that list is the aforementioned Maatsen, who Chelsea sold to Aston Villa ahead of the current campaign, with the 22-year-old signing a six-year deal for the Villans, costing them around £37.5m.

The left-back has made 30 appearances this season, providing one assist, contributing to five clean sheets and totalling 1,029 minutes played.

Since being sold, Maatsen’s value has decreased according to Transfermarkt, now being valued at €32m (£26.5m).

This would suggest Chelsea made the right decision at the time, selling Maatsen off the back of a strong loan spell with Dortmund, despite Pochettino being “so happy” with the Dutch full-back in the 2023/24 pre-season:

That being said, Maatsen, being 22 years old, still has plenty of time to fulfil his potential, and in years to come the Blues could look back on this deal differently.

But as of right now, Chelsea will be happy with the timing of this sale, and the value extracted from it.

Chelsea can unearth bigger talent than Paez with "one-man war machine"

The Chelsea youngster is currently starring out on loan this season.

1 ByDan Emery Feb 18, 2025

The January transfer window may be over for another season, but an intriguing new report has outlined the efforts Everton made on deadline day and how they were foiled in their attempts.

Everton shining under Moyes

The Blues are in far more positive spirits than they were with Sean Dyche in charge, with David Moyes making an immediate impact since returning for his second spell as manager at Goodison Park.

Everton are now nine points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, and have a game in hand on 18th-place Leicester City, so it looks as though they will once again beat the drop. A home FA Cup tie with Bournemouth awaits on Saturday afternoon, before a massive Merseyside derby showdown with Liverpool next Wednesday evening.

In the January window, the Blues completed the signing of Flamengo midfielder Carlos Alcaraz, bringing him on a temporary basis until the end of the season. They have the option of signing him permanently in the summer, too, should he catch the eye in the coming months.

There were players who Everton reportedly failed to snap up on deadline day earlier this week, however, with West Brom midfielder Tom Fellows reportedly an example of that. Instead, he stayed put with the Baggies, but interest could return for him at the end of the current campaign.

Everton's deadline day could have been so much busier

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Everton “had four players lined up and ready to sign on transfer deadline day”, with The Friedkin Group going big.

Their attempts to bring in new signings were “heavily restricted by profit and sustainability constraints which limited the deals they were able to do” though, putting paid to the Blues bringing in a host of new faces.

While Everton only ultimately signed Alcaraz at the end of the window, it is encouraging to see the club’s owners seemingly backing Moyes in the transfer market. Adhering to financial rules is clearly a must, in order to avoid the same punishment the Blues have received in the past, but this suggests that the funds are there for the Merseysiders to add significantly to the squad moving forward.

Moyes himself has discussed the financial situation: “I think we’ve still got a little bit of work to do with the financial situation, but in the main, I think once we get to the summer, we should be in a good place. Getting to the summer is the bit we need to do now.”

This feels like a key moment in Everton’s history, with the club going through such a torrid time in recent years, whether that be because of several relegation battles, issues with Farhad Moshiri, finances or disappointing managers.

After Alcaraz signing: Everton can now finally axe Dyche's "shining light"

Everton’s new signing might get a start at the weekend

1 ByJoe Nuttall Feb 6, 2025

With Moyes bringing stability back to the club, however, and a move to a new stadium happening in the summer, there is a reason for supporters to be feeling far more optimistic. A number of new signings will only add to that positivity.

Arsenal are extremely busy behind-the-scenes as they look to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s squad with proven quality, and it is believed yet another player has been given permission to join them by his club.

New sporting director Andrea Berta’s arrival has motivated plenty of excitement and anticipation among supporters for this summer window, with the Italian known to spin many plates at a time in pursuit of his preferred transfer targets.

Mikel Arteta personally wants Arsenal to sign £94m forward this summer

They know the costs of what would be a marquee deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2025

Berta’s track record at former club Atlético Madrid also makes him stand out as a proven replacement for ex-director Edu Gaspar, and the 53-year-old has already made a solid start to his tenure at the Emirates with a couple of completed deals.

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

After months of talks, Berta has put the finishing touches on Arsenal’s move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with the Gunners set to pay £56 million for him. This is slightly above his release clause, but the fee will be paid in installments, with Zubimendi recently finalising his move to N5.

Arsenal also triggered Kepa Arrizabalaga’s £5 million release clause to make him Berta’s second summer arrival after Zubimendi (Fabrizio Romano), securing a solid and experienced back-up option for David Raya.

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard was linked earlier this week, as claims started to emerge that Arsenal were considering a shock move for the 31-year-old to replace Thomas Partey, and that deal has seriously intensified in the last 24 hours.

Following accelerated talks with Brentford, they’ve now agreed a deal worth an initial £10 million, plus an additional £5 million in potential add-ons (BBC), and the Denmark international is set to become Berta’s third signing of the window.

Christian Norgaard permitted for Arsenal medical after deal agreed

As per trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Norgaard has now been “authorized” to undergo his medical at Arsenal after a deal was agreed for the Scandinavian, so barring any physical complications, the midfielder will be Arsenal’s “next” completed deal.

With Partey set to leave as a free agent after June 30, Norgaard comes in as a like-for-like stand-in for the Ghanaian, and one who boasts similar attributes as a Premier League proven defensive midfield anchor.

Berta has moved swiftly to ensure that Arteta won’t be left short in the midfield department, and Norgaard has long been praised as a player who “goes under the radar” with his consistent performances.

“Norgaard is a better player than a lot of people give him credit for,” said former top-level scout Mick Brown to Football Insider recently.

“So interest from clubs like Arsenal might come as a shock, but he would be a good option for them. He’s a very consistent performer who goes under the radar a lot of the time, and that’s what these clubs are looking for, a solid, consistent player.”

Liverpool have become one of the most interesting sides to follow on the market this summer and appear primed to announce yet another signing at Anfield, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool not wasting any time on transfers

Jeremie Frimpong became Liverpool’s first signing of the window, and he has been joined by young goalkeeper Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akacemia, though more headline additions are on the way as Arne Slot gets to work.

Florian Wirtz has passed his medical on Friday ahead of a record move to the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen, and Jarell Quansah’s potential move to Germany has set the scene for the arrival of a new central defender.

Recent reports suggest Liverpool have upped their interest in Crystal Palace central defender Marc Guehi and the Eagles could be compelled to sell the England international, who only has one year left on his deal in South London.

Despite the excitement emanating out of the red half of Merseyside, Mick Brown believes the Reds could entertain selling Andy Robertson, citing the financial incentives involved in a potential switch to Atletico Madrid for the Scotland international.

He stated: “In terms of wages and transfer value, they would make the most back from letting Robertson go. If they get an acceptable offer for him, I think they’ll entertain it.”

Liverpool’s first five Premier League fixtures of the new season

Bournemouth (H)

Anfield

Newcastle United (A)

St James’ Park

Arsenal (H)

Anfield

Burnley (A)

Turf Moor

Everton (H)

Anfield

Admittedly, Liverpool’s Premier League-winning side could form a very different complexion next term. There is a feeling that the dynamic has shifted regarding transfer activity at Anfield, with Slot becoming a ruthless force in his mission to claim further silverware.

In light of this, the Reds are now close to completing another deal for a star who has been edging towards a move to the top-flight holders.

Romano: Liverpool agree deal for Milos Kerkez

According to Romano, sharing the news on Friday lunch time, Liverpool’s negotiations with Bournemouth are complete and Milos Kerkez will now undergo a medical with the Reds.

Kerkez registered two goals and six assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Cherries last term as they narrowly missed out on continental qualification.

The Hungarian has been praised by Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola for his improved end product since arriving in the top flight, something which marks him out as the perfect replacement for Robertson, known for bombing down the left flank and whipping in dangerous crosses.

With Robertson potentially on his way out, the 21-year-old appears to be a shrewd replacement that could go on to become a leading light in Liverpool’s side for years to come should the medical go to plan.

Manchester United have now held talks with the agent of a “sensational” player, who is among the main contenders for the Ballon d’Or, according to a report.

Man Utd's pulling power called into question

The Europa League loss against Tottenham Hotspur means, of course, that Champions League football has once again eluded Man United, and Roy Keane has suggested his former club no longer have the pulling power to attract top players.

However, Old Trafford clearly remains an attractive destination, even though European football will not be on offer next season, with it recently being revealed that Bryan Mbeumo would still prefer to join United ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

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There have also been suggestions that Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres remains interested in a move, despite the highly sought-after striker attracting the attention of some other top clubs, suggesting the Red Devils clearly still have pulling power.

As such, Man United have now stepped up their pursuit of the highly-regarded Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, making contact with his agent, Enzo Raiola, in order to discuss a potential summer move.

Donnarumma’s PSG contract is set to expire next June, meaning he could be on the move this summer, despite expressing a willingness to remain at the French club, saying: “My priority is to stay at PSG. I don’t think there will be problems in the negotiations.”

Ruben Amorim is keen to bring in an upgrade on Andre Onana, but it could be difficult to tempt the goalkeeper into a move, considering his desire to remain in Paris, and Champions League finalists Inter Milan could provide competition for his signature.

"Sensational" Donnarumma emerges as Ballon d'Or contender

With just one year left on his deal, the Italian could be available for just £34m this summer, which could be a bargain fee for a player vying to win the Ballon d’Or, currently ranked fourth in the 2025 Power Rankings.

In recent times, a player from the Champions League winners has often scooped up the prestigious award, and the 26-year-old kept a clean sheet in PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Inter in the final, although Desire Doue was arguably the star of the show.

Not only did the PSG shot-stopper impress in Munich, but he also caught the eye of Joe Prince-Wright in the semi-final against Arsenal, with the reporter suggesting the Italy international was one of the main reasons his side progressed past the Gunners.

Evidently, Donnarumma could be a fantastic signing for Man United, but it seems unlikely that he would be willing to leave the European champions to move to Old Trafford.