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As Everton’s summer transfer business begins to heat up, The Friedkin Group are reportedly expected to launch a £9m move to sign one particular midfield star.

Everton set to sign Thierno Barry

The first signing of the Hill Dickinson era is on his way, according to Fabrizio Romano. Replacing the departing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Thierno Barry is set to commence Everton’s summer business in style and hand David Moyes a striker who has certainly left many impressed whilst at Villarreal.

After scoring 19 goals in all competitions, Barry is ready to take the Premier League by storm and solve a striker problem that has been ongoing at Everton since Calvert-Lewin’s injury struggles began.

As one striker arrives, however, another has bid an emotional farewell. Taking to social media to confirm the news that he is leaving Everton after deciding against signing a new deal, Calvert-Lewin said: “After nine remarkable years I’ve made the incredibly difficult decision – together with my family – to begin a new chapter in my career.

“This isn’t something I chose lightly. Everton has been my home since I was 19 years old. It’s the place that saw potential in me, challenged me to grow and shaped me both as a footballer and as a man.

Moyes knows him well: Everton considering move to sign £7m ace after Barry

The Toffees are set to complete the signing of Thierno Barry.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 3, 2025

“I want to express my gratitude to all the managers and coaches I’ve worked with over the years and to my team-mates who have become life-long friends.”

The Toffees acted swiftly to replace the experienced striker and that could become quite the trend this summer amid reports that Friedkin are now expected to launch their move to sign the perfect Abdoulaye Doucoure heir.

Friedkin expected to launch Wilfred Ndidi move

According to former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers scout Mick Brown, Friedkin are expected to launch a £9m move to sign Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City this summer, triggering his release clause for Everton in the process.

The former scout told Football Insider: “Everton are considering signing Wilfred Ndidi. It’s a move I expect he will be open to as well, the chance to get straight back into the Premier League after getting relegated with Leicester. They’ve been keen on him for a while and he’s a very solid player.

“Everton have had scouts watching his performances and he’s been one of Leicester’s better players. It might prove difficult to get over the line because there are a lot of clubs who have been made aware of that release clause he’s got.

“But I expect them to make an attempt to bring him in ahead of these clubs. Either way, it looks like he’s definitely leaving Leicester.”

A Premier League veteran who is still more than capable in the top-flight, Ndidi represents the type of midfielder who would instantly replace the departed Doucoure at Everton.

With Bryan Mbeumo now expected to undergo a medical next week, Manchester United have reportedly turned their focus towards another summer target.

Latest on Man Utd's goalkeeper search

The clock is ticking on Andre Onana’s place as Manchester United’s No.1 whether he likes it or not. The Red Devils instantly commenced their search for an upgrade this summer and whilst things haven’t moved as quickly as the likes of Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo, their pursuit remains ongoing.

Several names have emerged as candidates for the role with the most prominent being Emiliano Martinez and Diogo Costa. Both would be upgrades on the struggling Onana, but which direction United choose to head towards is the big question. If Statman Dave’s verdict is anything to go by, then it should be the latter rather than Aston Villa’s No.1.

Costa is certainly a realistic option too. The Porto goalkeeper has reportedly already given the green light to a move to Old Trafford this summer and INEOS must now turn to the negotiations table with the Portuguese club.

That said, Costa won’t come cheap and that may prove to be the ultimate stumbling block for the Red Devils. With a release clause reportedly worth as much as £64m, United would be forced to splash out a similar price for the goalkeeper that they’ve already spent on Cunha and Mbeumo.

Bellingham 2.0: Man Utd open talks for "one of the best CMs in the world"

Manchester United appear to be laying the foundations over a move for a sensational young talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 27, 2025

If that is the case then a cheaper option which they could find in the Serie A would certainly be ideal.

Man Utd ready to submit Carnesecchi offer

As reported by Football Italia, INEOS are now ready to submit a €40m (£34m) offer to sign Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta in a bid which would include add-ons to close in on the Serie A club’s €50m (£43m) valuation.

Like Costa, Carnesecchi is just 24 years old and already showing plenty of signs that he’d be an instant upgrade on Onana if Manchester United complete their move this summer.

Starts

34

34

Saves per 90

2.85

2.59

Clean Sheets

13

9

Save Percentage

75.2%

68.9%

In several key areas, the Atalanta goalkeeper outperformed Onana last season. But what stands out most is his incredibly high save percentage and the best context to add to that would be the fact that Alisson Becker only managed 72% – that’s the level of player that United would be signing.

Dubbed “excellent” by Get Italian Football News, 6 foot 3 Carnesecchi was recently called up to Italy’s senior side after starring for the U21s, and although he was forced to sit on and watch from the bench, will have his eyes set on eventually dethroning Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Before that time comes, however, a move to Old Trafford could be calling his name. Whether the goalkeeper answers that call remains to be seen.

With Chelsea having secured Champions League football at the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign, things looked more positive for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Since taking over last summer, he’s done an admirable job in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, notably winning the Conference League on the way to sealing that top-four place.

It’s rare you get the chance to win major silverware over the summer too, but Chelsea have been presented with that at this year’s revamped Club World Cup.

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

However, in true Chelsea fashion, they’ve had a topsy-turvy time of it out in the United States.

They won their first game 2-0 against LAFC but were embarrassed by Brazilian opposition, Flamengo, 3-1 on Friday night.

“We know we could hurt them in some areas”, said former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho after the game. Having recently left Arsenal, the veteran rolled back the years against his ex-employers, notably winning possession more times (8) than Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo (7) put together.

Jorginho wasn’t the only one out there embarrassing Chelsea players, as Nicolas Jackson will testify.

Jackson’s moment of madness against Flamengo

Chelsea actually started their game against Flamengo in fantastic fashion.

Pedro Neto – who scored against LA a few days ago – was on hand once again to find the back of the net.

Sadly, it all went pear-shaped in the second half when goals from Wallace, Danilo and Bruno Henrique sealed all three points.

At 2-1 down, their cause certainly wasn’t helped by Jackson. Only a matter of months ago, the striker nearly ruined Chelsea’s top five hopes by getting sent off at Newcastle and he let his teammates down again on Friday.

Liam Delap – fresh off assisting Fernandez’s goal in their Club World Cup opener – started the game but didn’t enjoy as much success this time around, subbed off in the 64th minute for Jackson.

Well, just four minutes later, the Senegalese forward found himself back in the locker room after being sent for an early bath.

Jackson lunged in late with his studs and the referee saw no other option but to send him off. Celebrating his 24th birthday, it’s safe to say this wasn’t the happiest of occasions for the forward.

Chelsea have already been in the market for upgrades to their forward line this summer and in Delap, they have already signed a fine rival. Yet, amid links to players like Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, perhaps BlueCo just better cut their losses on the player now.

As bad as Jackson was, he wasn’t the only culprit in the defeat.

What else went wrong for Chelsea against Flamengo

Jackson will and should no doubt take much of the blame but Chelsea’s defence put in a rather shambolic performance at the back.

Starting with Flamengo’s equaliser, it was right-back Malo Gusto who failed to cover himself in much glory. He was caught out by a deep cross to the back post where Gonzalo Plata got free of every defender.

Poor positioning from Trevor Chalobah and Levi Colwill subsequently allowed Plata to head the ball back across goal where Henrique had a tap-in.

Gusto was once again caught out for the second when he was easily beaten to the ball by the aforementioned Henrique from a corner, with the ball then finding itself to Danilo who converted another tap-in for the Brazilians.

The third was largely down to Colwill, who failed to clear following a bit of pinball in the area. The result? A third and final goal for Flamengo, capping off a truly woeful day for Chelsea’s defence.

Now, while he was far from the worst defender on Friday, Chalobah certainly didn’t have a good night either. Colwill and Gusto made the big mistakes, but the central defender is only proving why Chelsea should be looking to get rid.

Chalobah came back to the club in January after half a season on loan at Crystal Palace and truth be told, that feels like his level.

Minutes played

90

Touches

61

Accurate passes

58/59 (98%)

Key passes

0

Ground duels won

0/0

Aerial duels won

1/1

Clearances

2

Interceptions

0

Tackles

0

The Express’ Sam Smith summed things up nicely post-game, handing the Englishman a 5/10 match rating.

He wrote that Chalobah will need “to produce better performances if he is to win admirers in the transfer market,” indicating that a “move for the defender seems likely” amid interest from Italian side Napoli.

Remarkably, Chalobah started ten league games after being recalled over the winter but following Chelsea’s nightmare at St James’ Park, he sat out the remaining games, wins over Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, where clean sheets were kept in both matches.

The defender also sat out of the 2-0 win against LA earlier this week, only further indicating that he should probably be on the bench.

Still, with interest from Naples brewing and the Blues looking at signing players such as Jorrel Hato, space must be opened up for upgrades.

If Maresca has any sense, this could well have been the last time we saw Chalobah in Chelsea colours. Like Jackson, a move elsewhere surely beckons.

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ByRoss Kilvington Oct 30, 2024

It looked as if it would go right down to the wire, but Wrexham would clinch automatic promotion out of League One with a game to spare in the end.

The match that would finally seal their unbelievable leap up to the Championship was an unforgettable 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic, with the opening goalscorer on the day being midfield maestro Oliver Rathbone.

He cemented his place in Red Dragons’ history when powering home a fantastic effort early into the first half, and he will hope he can kick on in a Wrexham shirt even more when the challenge of the Championship officially arrives in North Wales.

That said, one new addition could potentially usurp him in that midfield pecking order…

Latest Wrexham transfer news

This off-season could see the Red Dragons conduct their business in a cutthroat manner, with goalscoring icon Paul Mullin rumoured to be on the move to Wigan Athletic, despite boasting a bumper 105 goals in total at the Racehouse Ground.

Transfer Focus

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

Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Welsh giants move away from solely relying on Rathbone for creativity in the middle of the park, with journalist Graeme Bailey now revealing that Wrexham are monitoring Tom Cairney’s situation as they hunt more second-tier-ready stars.

Bailey does suggest that Cairney’s preference is to stick it out with his long-term employers in Fulham, but Wrexham haven’t buried all their hope just yet when it comes to landing the skilful 34-year-old, knowing full well he would significantly enhance their options in the middle.

Rathbone, in particular, might need to watch out.

Why Cairney would be an upgrade on Rathbone

Wrexham entertained League One audiences all campaign long, as the likes of Sam Smith, Elliot Lee, and Steven Fletcher all stood out in the attacking positions.

Rathbone’s name will also be chucked into the mix as another captivating performer, with the former Manchester United youth product ending his own memorable individual season with eight league goals next to his name, which is the same amount both Fletcher and Lee managed, and was only bettered by 18-goal hero Smith.

Moreover, the 28-year-old would tally up a further three assists as a creative machine in the middle, alongside also showing off his grit and determination by averaging 5.3 successful duels per second-tier contest.

Whilst Rathbone is undoubtedly a gem in the lower reaches of the EFL, he hasn’t been as comfortable when jumping up to the Championship in the past, with just a mediocre eight goal contributions collected from 80 appearances at the level when on the books of Rotherham United. To further pile on the misery, he has also been relegated from the unforgiving division.

As a result, Phil Parkinson might well deem it necessary to seal an upgrade on Rathbone to win his team a more accomplished Championship pro centrally, with Cairney ticking all the right boxes.

After all, unlike Rathbone, Cairney has tasted lots of success at the punishing level in the past, with an unbelievable three promotions coming his way from his mammoth tally of 318 Championship outings.

21/22

26

3

4

19/20

42

8

3

17/18

37

6

5

16/17

47

13

11

15/16

39

8

6

14/15

39

3

6

13/14

37

5

8

12/13

10

0

0

11/12

27

0

4

10/11

22

1

4

He might just be what Parkinson’s men need to adjust to their difficult new terrain swimmingly, with the two-time Scotland international amassing a mightily impressive 96 goals and assists combined across his many seasons at the level too.

Hailed as “outstanding” by Scott Parker when the pair were together at Craven Cottage, Cairney has even kicked on to become a Premier League-calibre performer in West London, with two of his 16 goal contributions in the elite league coming about just last season, irrespective of the Fulham veteran now being 34 years of age.

Rathbone won’t be completely chucked to one side, but if it’s a toss-up between the 28-year-old starting or Cairney starting, the reliable Cottagers servant will come out on top every single time, especially as Wrexham aim to consolidate their status as a Championship-capable outfit.

Their next Paul Mullin: Wrexham in talks to sign "clinical" new striker

Wrexham can boost their attacking firepower even more by signing their next version of Paul Mullin.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 9, 2025

While they finally saw their team lift a significant honour in the Europa League, we reckon most Tottenham Hotspur fans are happy to see the back of this season.

For example, away from their continental success, the North Londoners finished all the way down in 17th place in the Premier League and failed to get past the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.

So, whether Ange Postecoglou keeps his job or not, Daniel Levy and Co need to do all they can to bring in the right players this summer, players who can help them rise up the table and put in a good showing in the Champions League next season.

Fortunately, the club seem to be on the same page, as reports are now linking the North Londoners with an incredible talent who could be their answer to Manchester United’s seemingly imminent signing of Bryan Mbeumo.

Tottenham transfer news

Back in the January transfer window, Spurs were one of several Premier League sides quite heavily linked with a move for Mbeumo, and while nothing came of it, the links didn’t go away.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, the Brentford star was still being touted for a move to N17 as recently as last month, but then this week, all hopes of the North Londoners securing the Cameroonian’s signature evaporated.

On Monday evening, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that despite interest from other sides, including Tottenham, the 25-year-old now wants to join the Red Devils.

While missing out on a player as talented as the former Troyes gem is never ideal, the good news is that the Lilywhites have now been linked with another sensational talent compared to him: Xavi Simons.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are one of several teams interested in signing the RB Leipzig star.

The report claims that the North Londoners made contact with the player’s camp in January and that they’ll have to compete with Arsenal, Chelsea, and potentially Liverpool should they opt to move ahead with their interest.

The Dutchman is valued at around £65m by Leipzig, so while it would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Tottenham’s answer to Mbeumo.

How Simons compares to Mbeumo

So before getting into a couple of the other reasons why Spurs should be looking to sign Simons this summer, it’s important to examine this comparison to Mbeumo and where it comes from.

It stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and in this instance, has come to the conclusion that the Brentford star is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Leipzig gem across the last 365 days.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, expected assists, shots and shots on target, goal-creating actions, tackles won, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.48

0.42

Progressive Carries

3.56

3.43

Shots

2.09

2.08

Shots on Target

0.96

0.90

Expected Assists

0.25

0.25

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.53

Tackles Won

0.88

0.82

Successful Take-Ons

1.38

1.37

On top of their statistical similarities, the 22-year-old “pocket rocket,” as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, could also have the same effect on the North Londoners that so many expect the Bees ace to have on United.

For example, despite missing some of the campaign with an ankle injury, the Amsterdam-born dynamo was able to rack up a seriously impressive haul of 11 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances for the German outfit.

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.73 games for a team that struggled more than most expected this season.

Finally, in addition to his ability in and around goal, the 26-capped international is positionally versatile and is more than capable of playing off either wing, in attacking midfield and even as a centre-forward if need be.

Ultimately, missing out on Mbeumo isn’t ideal, but in Simons, Spurs could have their own goalscoring superstar on their hands, so Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

Eriksen 2.0: Spurs looking to sign "extraordinary" £25m Sarr upgrade

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are resigned to losing talisman Matheus Cunha this summer as Manchester United close in on a move for the Brazilian.

The £62.5m release clause has been activated, which means Vitor Pereira will be looking to bolster his attacking options this summer.

Jorgen Strand Larsen has enjoyed a decent debut campaign at Molineux, but further additions will be needed if the club are to push into the top half of the Premier League table next term.

What could the manager do with the services of a prime Raul Jimenez next season?

Why Raul Jimenez was a success at Wolves

The Mexican striker signed for the Old Gold on an initial loan deal for the 2018/19 season, going on to score 17 goals in all competitions for the club.

In the following campaign, he was even better. Jimenez scored 27 goals and grabbed a further ten assists as the club finished seventh in the top flight and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

This is still the last time a player has scored over 20 goals in a single season for the Molineux side, as the centre-forward suffered a few horrendous injuries that impacted his effectiveness.

Indeed, he would only score another 13 times for the Midlands side before being sold to Fulham for just £5m in the summer of 2023. The player has enjoyed an Indian summer in London, scoring 12 top-flight goals this campaign alone.

Wolves haven’t replaced his goals, despite the antics of Cunha and Larsen this term. Might this change in the summer as Pereira eyes a Serie A striker?

Why Wolves must sign Lazio striker Taty Castellanos

Castellanos has an insatiable eye for a goal that would immediately get the supporters onside, especially as he could have the potential to replicate the feats of Jimenez should he move to England.

Reports in Italy claim that the Old Gold are seeking a move for the Lazio frontman, although a price tag of around £29m has been placed on his head.

The 2024/25 campaign was a prolific one for the Argentinian striker. Not only has he found the back of the net 14 times for the Rome-based club, but he has also added eight assists, proving how effective his all-round game is.

Lauded as “extraordinary” by Lazio manager Marco Baroni in October, Castellanos would be an interesting signing for Pereira this summer.

With Cunha departing, goals will have to come from somewhere. Could the Lazio talisman be their main man next season?

Goals

10

Assists

3

Shots per game

3.6

Goal conversion percentage

10%

Goal frequency (minutes)

222

Big chances created

6

When compared to positional peers in the Italian top flight, the 26-year-old ranks in the top 2% for total shots per 90 (3.84) and in the top 12% for touches in the opposition penalty area (5.69) per 90 this season.

Impressive statistics, but would he be able to carry these performances into the Premier League?

Time will tell, of course, but with the money generated from the sale of Cunha, some must go into signing a new striker.

Csstellanos might just be the ideal signing for Pereira this summer.

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ByTom Cunningham May 23, 2025

The fans and players might have a Europa League final to look forward to next week, but the powers that be at Tottenham Hotspur will be looking past that and at the upcoming transfer window.

Daniel Levy and Co have to ensure it’s a massive window this year; otherwise, Ange Postecoglou – or whoever replaces him – could just find themselves in the same place this time next season.

Fortunately, there has been an increasing number of reports linking the North Londoners to a host of incredibly exciting players in recent weeks.

However, while the talented attackers touted for moves to N17 should excite the fans, they could also spell trouble for some of the club’s current stars, such as Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining some of the other exciting attackers linked with Spurs in recent weeks, like Eberechi Eze and Liam Delap.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could reportedly cost the North Londoners a cool £68m, but given his ability to play in a number of positions and the fact he’s racked up 12 goals and 11 assists in 40 games this season, it would be hard to argue with that valuation.

Likewise, while Delap is still young and relatively inexperienced, his £30m release clause seems more than fair for a striker who has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 35 Premier League games this season.

However, if a player is going to come in and send Tel packing back to Bayern, they’re going to have to be someone seriously special, someone like Rayan Cherki.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are one of several sides incredibly interested in the Lyon gem.

The report has revealed that the player’s agent has approached a number of ‘top Premier League clubs’ over a potential transfer, and according to reports from earlier this week, the North Londoners have already inquired about the player, who could be available for just £19m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Cherki’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Tel.

How Cherki compares to Tel

So, the first thing to say is that Cherki is capable of playing off the right of a front three and in attacking midfield, but with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski locking down the former and Brennan Johnson scoring bags of goals from the latter, we reckon the Frenchman would play off the left at Spurs.

Therefore, his arrival in the summer could see the club thank Tel for his service and send him back to Bayern in the summer, as when we compare the two players, it’s abundantly clear that the Lyon ace is the far more dangerous and effective attacker.

For example, in terms of pure output, the “insane” 21-year-old, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists in 43 games, totalling 3009 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.38 games, or every 97.06 minutes.

In contrast, since moving to North London, the Sarcelles-born gem has scored three goals and provided one assist in 18 appearances, totalling 1083 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 4.5 games, or every 270.75 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Bayern loanee, the incredibly one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.69

0.37

Non-Penalty G+As

0.83

0.27

Progressive Passes

9.03

2.52

Progressive Carries

4.47

2.52

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

75.0%

Key Passes

3.23

1.17

Passes into the Final Third

4.38

1.35

Passes into the Penalty Area

3.27

1.62

Live Passes

53.1

29.8

Shot-Creating Actions

6.09

2.54

Goal-Creating Actions

0.88

0.27

Successful Take-Ons

2.03

1.62

For example, in practically every relevant metric, Lyon’s “future ballon d’Or winner,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, comes out on top.

These metrics include things like expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy, key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, it’s clear that Cherki is a far superior player to Tel, and while it would be handy for Spurs to have both next season, we wouldn’t be surprised that signing the former will force the latter to move on.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 16, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has his eyes on a title-winning manager who Chelsea are also targeting to potentially replace Enzo Maresca, according to reports, with Ange Postecoglou’s future continuing to be the centre of debate around N17.

Ange Postecoglou comments on Tottenham future

The Australian, ahead of their all-important Europa League final, commented on widespread reports that Spurs’ clash against Man United could be his penultimate game in charge of the club.

Tottenham: Levy ready to trigger £100k-per-week rival star's release clause

Spurs are front of the queue for his signature.

ByEmilio Galantini May 21, 2025

The likes of David Ornstein suggested in the build up to Wednesday night that Postecoglou is likely to leave Tottenham regardless of their success in Europe, with his exit from N17 seeming far more likely than not after a regrettable domestic campaign.

Spurs are on 21 Premier League defeats this season and still counting, meaning Levy could look to part company with the 59-year-old amid intriguing links to a host of alternative top-level coaches.

Postecoglou, speaking ahead of their first European final since their Champions League loss to Liverpool in 2019, said that he is relaxed about his future irrespective of what happens.

“It doesn’t matter because the reality of it is the opportunity is the same, for me and more importantly for the club,” Postecoglou told reporters about his tenuous position as Spurs boss.

“I’ve said before that whatever happens beyond tomorrow is kind of irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now. That opportunity is to provide something special for the football club and for the supporters and for everyone who has worked so hard, not just this year but for the 15, 16 years, however long it has been without a trophy and also the 41 years without a European trophy.

“If I was worried about my tenure at this football club, it’s fair to say we wouldn’t have been in this position because I would have been distracted long ago. I’m pretty good at just making sure all my focus is on giving this football club the best opportunity that it’s had for a while to do something special. Whatever happens after that, mate, I’m very, very comfortable that I’ll continue on trying to win trophies wherever I am.”

Tottenham shortlist Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi

Spurs could look to Italy in search of Postecoglou’s replacement, with former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli being heavily linked with a move to Tottenham in the last few days after a rumoured recommendation from Fabio Paratici.

As per newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi is on Levy’s radar as well.

The outlet states that Tottenham have shortlisted Inzaghi as a manager target, and he’s also wanted by London rivals Chelsea as a potential heir to Maresca.

The £8.8 million-per-year tactician guided Inter to a Scudetto last season and could still pip Antonio Conte’s Napoli to this year’s Serie A crown, with both sides set for a fierce final day battle for the title.

As Inzaghi also prepares Inter for their Champions League final against PSG, noise will continue to surround his future after an impressive few years at the San Siro. If he becomes available, the “phenomenal” manager is arguably the standout name among Levy’s rumoured candidates.

While it could still end in an incredible crescendo of Champions League glory, it wouldn’t be amiss to describe this season as something of a disappointment for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side were terrible in both the FA Cup and League Cup, and are now at risk of losing their grasp on second place in the Premier League.

Moreover, while the team has underwhelmed as a collective, there have been several players who’ve simply not reached the standards set in the last couple of years, such as Martin Odegaard.

So, with this in mind, it’s not all that surprising to read recent reports linking the club to someone who could be an upgrade on the Gunners captain.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other midfield stars linked with Arsenal in recent months, such as Frenkie de Jong and Kevin De Bruyne.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has been enjoying a stellar campaign with Barcelona and remains on track for a historic treble-winning season with the Catalan club, so while he’d be an exceptional addition to the club, we imagine he’d cost a king’s ransom, even with reports coming out about his contract talks stalling.

In contrast, we now know Kevin de Bruyne will be leaving Manchester City in the summer, so if Arteta can work his magic, he might just be able to convince the mercurial Belgian to join his former title rivals, and with 14 goal involvements in 36 games this season, he’d still be a useful player to have in the squad.

However, knowing the North Londoners might want to make sure they keep the team young and hungry, which could explain the recent links to Brahim Diaz.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have identified the Moroccan international as a ‘top priority’ ahead of the summer and that Arteta really wants the club to sign the player he worked with at Manchester City.

The story claims that Real Madrid are willing to let the player leave for a convincing offer, while stories from earlier this year suggest that they’d be after a fee in the region of €60m, which is about £51m.

It would be a costly deal to get over the line, but one worth pursuing, as he could be a perfect upgrade on Odegaard.

How Diaz compares to Odegaard

So, if Arsenal get their man this summer, and he comes in to play more of a midfield role, he’d be in direct competition with Odegaard for that creative number ten role.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them?

From a pure output perspective, it is the “incredible” Real ace, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, who emerges victorious, but only when we look at the minutes-to-goal involvement ratios.

For example, in 49 appearances, totalling 2058 minutes, the Moroccan international has scored six goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.76 games, or far more consequently, every 158.30 minutes.

In contrast, the Norwegian maestro has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3162 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, but more importantly, every 197.62 minutes.

What about when we take a look under the hood and at their underlying numbers, then? Is it another minor victory for the Champions League winner?

Well, it’s actually a relatively comfortable one for the 25-year-old, as he comes out ahead in most relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.57

0.37

Non-Penalty G+As

0.42

0.34

Progressive Passes

4.62

10.1

Progressive Passes Received

6.99

6.08

Progressive Carries

2.66

3.46

Shots

1.89

1.82

Shots on Target

1.05

0.55

Passing Accuracy

86.7%

82.9%

Key Passes

1.40

2.41

Shot-Creating Actions

3.57

4.86

Goal-Creating Actions

0.84

0.59

Tackles Won

1.26

0.46

Interceptions

0.28

0.17

Blocks

1.12

0.21

Successful Take-Ons

1.54

0.97

Ultimately, while Odegaard remains a talented player, Diaz has outperformed him in just about every metric this season, and if Arsenal can sign him in the summer, they should.

Same agent as Saka: Arsenal lead race to sign £51m upgrade on Nico Williams

The sensational youngster could flourish at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 6, 2025

Leeds United are looking to sign a new dominant in the air player who is being compared to former Whites midfielder Marc Roca.

Leeds transfer rumours following promotion to the Premier League

The 49ers Enterprises haven’t been wasting any time since Leeds secured their promotion back to the Premier League from the Championship on Easter Monday following a 6-0 win over Stoke City and Burnley’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United.

In fact, Daniel Farke’s future as Leeds manager has been thrown into doubt, with the club concerned about his previous record in the top flight with Norwich City.

Talking after sealing promotion, chairman Paraag Marathe said that the club have been “quietly preparing the club” for the Premier League.

“The Premier League is where Leeds belongs, and our goal is to establish a long-term presence there. With that in mind, we have been quietly preparing the club for this moment. The road ahead won’t be easy but we are ready to step confidently into this next chapter. Above all, this is your club and your promotion. I want to thank each and every one of you, along with the players and every member of staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch, for your tireless commitment in pursuit of this unforgettable moment.”

A number of new signings look likely to be made to give Leeds the best chance of Premier League survival, including former midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Leeds and Farke race to sign "amazing" new 21 y/o defender for bargain fee

The Whites have set their sights on a new target, who could be available for a cut-price fee this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 23, 2025

Currently on loan at Ipswich Town from Manchester City, Phillips is thought to be ready to return to Elland Road this summer. Elsewhere, loanee Manor Solomon is expected to make his move to Leeds permanent from Tottenham Hotspur, with Spurs valuing the winger at £15m-£20m.

Now, an update has emerged on another target with Premier League experience, something the 49ers are after when it comes to summer signings.

Leeds want to sign £18m Premier League "machine"

According to reports in the Czech Republic, relayed by TBR Football, Leeds could now sign Tomas Soucek from West Ham United ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The Whites have been named as a potential destination for the 30-year-old, who was signed by the Hammers for £18m from Slavia Prague back in 2020.

Since then, the central midfielder has made 240 appearances for West Ham, with almost 200 of those coming in the top flight. Everton are also thought to be keen on Soucek, who was dubbed a “machine” amid links to the Toffees.

Talking earlier this year, Soucek hinted at a potential move away if he wasn’t getting regular game time: “I know a few guys who are happy with the money coming into their account every month, they enjoy the life of a footballer and don’t care about the bench. I can’t do that. I need to play. I suffer on the bench.”

Marc Roca

Real Betis

Julian Weigl

Borussia Monchengladbach

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa

Rodrigo Bentancur

Tottenham Hotspur

Joao Palhinha

Bayern Munich

Graham Potter has placed Soucek on the bench in West Ham’s last four games, and as can be seen, Football Transfers have likened the midfielder to Roca, who left Leeds for Real Betis.

As per FBref, Soucek has also been ranked in the top 1% over the past 12 months for aerial duels won (3.49 per 90), so he’d certainly bring a physical presence to Yorkshire, should a move go through.