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Leeds United submitted a near club-record bid to sign a “revelation”, and the 49ers quickly received a response, according to a report.

Leeds stepping up striker pursuit

The Whites and the 49ers Enterprises are still yet to bring in a proven Premier League striker ahead of the new campaign, and given that failing to do so could have a major impact on their survival chances next season, they have now stepped up their pursuit.

Talks have recently been held over a deal for former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has 89 career goals to his name, and the Whites now appear to be closing in on the centre-forward, subject to a medical, as revealed by David Ornstein on X.

However, Calvert-Lewin was not the top target for Daniel Farke’s side, with journalist Ben Jacobs stating Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz was at the top of their shortlist.

The ex-Everton man was regarded as a back-up option for Rodrigo Muniz, and a recent update on Leeds’ pursuit of the Fulham striker suggests they made a proposal prior to sealing an agreement for Calvert-Lewin, following on from an intial £32m bid back in June.

According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Whites submitted a new offer of around €40m (£34.5m) for Muniz, which was subsequently knocked back.

Leeds’ record signing is Georginio Rutter, who cost £35.5m, and they were prepared to spend a similar amount on the Fulham centre-forward, but it now appears as though he could be on his way to Atalanta.

Leeds at risk of missing out on Muniz

Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano has since revealed that Atalanta are making progress in their pursuit of the Brazilian, who is keen on joining the Serie A side.

“Atalanta are confident to get Rodrigo Muniz deal done with Fulham as talks are advancing. Muniz, keen on move to Serie A with negotiations underway.”

Leeds officials sent as major club want rid of their Ballon d'Or nominee striker

The Whites could step up their move for his services…

2 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 11, 2025

As such, Leeds now look set to miss out on a deal, which is likely to be disappointing, as there are plenty of signs the Fulham star could’ve been a better signing than Calvert-Lewin.

Not only is the former Flamengo man much younger than the Englishman at 24-years-old, but he has also outscored him over the past two Premier League campaigns, scoring a combined 17 goals, while Calvert-Lewin has just ten to his name.

Once described as a “revelation” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Muniz has the ability to fire Leeds to safety, so it is a gamble to have pursued the ex-Everton man instead, given his patchy injury record.

Arsenal have now opened talks over a deal for a “world-class” forward, who is pushing to leave his current club, according to a report.

Gunners' striker pursuit rumbles on

At one stage, it appeared as though the Gunners were very close to getting a deal for Viktor Gyokeres over the line, with Fabrizio Romano revealing a deal was close to being sealed over a week ago.

However, the deal has since stalled, with some reports even suggesting that Manchester United could hijack the move, although Romano has since quashed those rumours, insisting the Swedish striker has his heart set on signing for the Gunners.

As such, the north Londoners still appear to be in a strong position to get the deal done, but Gyokeres is not the only attacker they are eager to get through the door, having also set their sights on a winger, with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo of interest.

However, a deal for the Madrid star could be on the expensive side, with the Spanish side holding out for £87m, and Mikel Arteta’s side have now set their sights on a potential alternative option.

Berta set to launch mega-money bid to sign Arsenal's best LW since Sanchez

Arsenal are looking to strengthen their wide forward options this summer.

1 ByMatt Dawson Jul 20, 2025

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have now made fresh contact over a deal for Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who is pushing to leave the Italian club, following a fallout with former manager Gian Piero Gasperini.

Andrea Berta is now weighing up whether to make a concrete approach for Lookman, who could be a far more affordable option than Rodrygo, given that Atalanta are demanding £43m.

However, the Gunners may have to fend off interest from elsewhere, with Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid retaining a strong interest in the forward.

"World-class" Lookman could be fantastic Rodrygo alternative

Not only is the Atalanta star much more affordable than Rodrygo, but he has performed remarkably well over the past year in terms of non-penalty goals per 90, ranking in the top 2% compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.63 (98th percentile)

Progressive carries

5.71 (94th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

5.51 (92nd percentile)

The former Everton man has really kicked on since leaving the Toffees, with journalist John Bennett singling him out for very high praise after scooping up the African Footballer of the Year award at the end of 2024.

At 27-years-old, Lookman is likely to be in his prime years, and he could be a real difference-maker for Arsenal in their pursuit of the Premier League title next season.

A big summer continues at West Ham United.

Last season, the Hammers endured a nightmare campaign, finishing 14th in the Premier League, sacking Julen Lopetegui after just 20 league matches in charge, albeit things didn’t improve very much after Graham Potter’s appointment.

Thus, Potter comes into the new campaign under pressure to deliver quickly, but his squad has, so far, been weakened during the summer, meaning the Irons need new recruits and fast.

West Ham United's search for a new midfielder

Both Lopetegui and Potter tried countless different central midfield combinations throughout last season, without ever discovering the winning formula, as the table below highlights.

Tomáš Souček

38

33

76%

Lucas Paquetá

36

28

69%

Edson Álvarez

31

23

54%

Carlos Soler

33

15

40%

Guido Rodríguez

24

16

32%

James Ward-Prowse

16

13

30%

Andy Irving

11

1

5%

As the table documents, Tomáš Souček aside, West Ham never landed on a reliable, every-game starting midfield, with a rotating cast of characters deployed during the generally dismal campaign.

In truth, the Irons have never replaced Declan Rice who, as outlined by Roshane Thomas of The Athletic, is one of the best players in the club’s modern-day history, so succeeding him was never going to be easy.

Well, as they search for their best midfielder since Rice, Dave Fraser of The Sun is reporting that West Ham ‘are set to battle’ Everton for the signature of Douglas Luiz, adding that both clubs are ‘desperate’ to bolster their midfield options.

The Brazilian international joined Juventus from Aston Villa for a reported fee of £42.35m only 12 months ago, but this move has not gone to plan, with ex-Juve player Alessio Tacchinardi stating that this transfer has been a complete “disaster”.

Transfer Focus

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

Luiz made a miserly 27 appearances for la Vecchia Signora, featuring in just 17% of their minutes, hence why that aforementioned report notes that I Bianconeri are willing to sanction a permanent sale, so could he soon swap Turin for East London?

How Douglas Luiz would improve West Ham

Despite a nightmare campaign in Northern Italy, the reason Juventus signed Luiz in the first place is due to his excellent form at Aston Villa.

During five seasons in the Midlands, Luiz made over 200 appearances, with Adam Gilks stating that he’d become “one of the best sixes in the Premier League”, succinctly labelling him a “world-class” defensive midfielder.

He was awarded Aston Villa’s Supporters’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season in 2022/23, before arguably enjoying an even more impressive season the following campaign.

Jacob Tanswell and Mark Carey of The Athletic noted that he created more than 50 chances during the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, the most of any player at the club, praising his ‘influence’ over all facets of the team, citing Unai Emery, who stated that he is “progressing a lot as a midfielder… adding goals and… being demanding”.

So, would he really be the Hammers’ best midfielder since Rice? Let’s compare the pair to find out.

Goals

0.3

0.2

Assists

0.2

0.1

Shots

0.9

0.8

Chances created

1.6

1

Big chances created

0.3

0.08

Passes attempted

59.2

57.3

Pass completion %

89.36%

88.05%

Duels contested

8.7

7.9

Duels won

4.5

4.6

Tackles

1.8

2.2

Interceptions

0.7

1.8

Ball Recoveries

5.6

9.2

Touches

73.7

71.3

Average Sofascore rating

7.27

7.19

As the table outlines, when comparing Luiz’s final season at Villa to Rice’s last year at West Ham, it is the Brazilian who comes out on top pretty much across the board.

Luiz boasted better statistics when it came to all the attacking metrics, goals, assists and chances created, as well as all the passing numbers, while the out-of-possession statistics were admittedly more even.

Nevertheless, what is clear is that, in the right environment, Luiz is a top-class Premier League midfielder, so could a move to West Ham, which would see him back in claret and blue, revitalise both his career and the Hammers alike?

Their own Wirtz: West Ham to accelerate move for "unpredictable" £30m star

Following Mohammed Kudus’ move to Tottenham, West Ham require attacking reinforcements, so are targeting an “unpredictable” £30m sensation.

ByBen Gray Jul 23, 2025

As pre-season gets underway, West Ham United have reportedly made contact to sign a much-needed striker to get their summer transfer business going once again.

West Ham's search for a striker goes on

After Michail Antonio and Danny Ings both left the club earlier this summer, West Ham have just one senior striker to call on as pre-season approaches. And even then, that’s 32-year-old Niklas Fullkrug, who scored just three Premier League goals in his debut campaign at the London Stadium last time out.

In contact: West Ham now make approach for "world-class" £42m Man Utd target

The Hammers have come forward to sign a midfielder, who is desperate to move to the Premier League.

ByDominic Lund Jul 8, 2025

Whilst Daniel Cummings has arrived from Celtic, the 19-year-old lacks first-team experience and may not be able to fall back on his excellent record at youth level in Scotland to earn a place in Graham Potter’s squad. Instead, the West Ham boss simply must turn towards the transfer market in the coming weeks.

As concerns arrive over their lack of incomings, it could also be bad news for those at the London Stadium going the other way amid recent reports surrounding Mohammed Kudus. All signs are pointing towards a big-money departure, with rivals Tottenham Hotspur preparing a second bid to improve on their initial £50m offer.

Losing the winger would be an undeniable blow, especially to a direct rival in Spurs, but what Kudus’ exit could provide West Ham is the funds to finally kickstart their own summer business.

If that does prove to be the case, then Potter may finally welcome a solution to his striker problems just when pre-season is getting underway.

West Ham make contact to sign Pinamonti

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, West Ham have now made contact in the race to sign Andrea Pinamonti from Sassuolo this summer. The Italian striker looks set to leave the Serie A club after returning from a successful loan spell at Genoa, in which he scored 11 goals in all competitions.

With Brentford and West Ham reportedly chasing his signature, it looks as though the 26-year-old is destined to swap Italian football for the Premier League one way or another before the end of August. Given how he impressed at Genoa last time out too, Pinamonti is not someone that either side will want to miss out on.

Minutes

2,850

790

Goals

10

3

Assists

1

2

Expected Goals

7.7

2.2

A player who U23 scout Antonio Mango once believed would be a “great” signing for Inter Milan, Pinamonti has actually been called similar to Fullkrug by Football Transfers and could now get the chance to rediscover that path towards the top courtesy of West Ham.

The Hammers, meanwhile, would be signing an instant upgrade on goal-shy Fullkrug if they managed to fend off any interest from fellow Premier League side Brentford this summer.

Having already set their sights on Mohammed Kudus, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly targeting a move worth £35m to sign a goalscoring midfielder ahead of Manchester United.

Tottenham readying second Kudus bid

The Lilywhites are wasting no time in pursuit of West Ham United’s Kudus. After the Hammers reportedly rejected their opening offer, those in North London are reportedly already readying a second bid. This time, they’ll have to table more than £50m, but with the winger keen on the move, Spurs will hope to get their second deal of the summer over the line.

Even if Kudus does join Matthys Tel on Spurs’ list of incomings, however, Daniel Levy still has plenty of work to get done if Thomas Frank is to avoid the same fate as Ange Postecoglou.

With that said, the Lilywhites have also reportedly set their sights on the likes of Daizen Maeda and even Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries. The latter would particularly stand out as an excellent addition following his role as Inter reached the Champions League final last season. Compared to current options, the Dutchman would add plenty of competition.

Minutes

1,865

2,610

Assists

2

6

Goals

7

2

Ball Recoveries

65

152

Up against Pedro Porro for a starting role, Dumfries would likely hand Frank quite the selection headache and although any reports remain at an early stage, he could be one to watch.

Frank's own Vertonghen: Spurs make enquiry for "unreal" £21m CB

Tottenham need to sign a new defender or two this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 5, 2025

The same can be said about another impressive star too, who has also found himself on Spurs’ radar as they look to kick on with their summer business.

Tottenham now targeting Orkun Kokcu swoop

As reported by Caught Offside, Tottenham are now targeting a move to sign Orkun Kokcu in a summer swoop which will cost just €40m (£35m) if they push on and secure a deal ahead of Manchester United.

The Benfica man is at the peak of his powers at 24 years old and is attracting plenty of attention as a result. Having scored an impressive 12 goals and created a further 11 assists from midfield in all competitions last season, to say that he would hand Spurs a much-needed threat in the middle of the park would be an understatement.

U23 scout Antonio Mango was full of praise for Kokcu back in 2022, describing him as a “great midfielder” with “brilliant ball control”, and he has only kicked on since swapping Feyenoord for Benfica two summers ago.

Whether the Turkish international opts to make it a third season in Portugal is the unanswered question. Kokcu certainly has the ability to step into the Premier League and Spurs would be landing a bargain deal if they secure his signature for just £35m.

Everton have yet to get going in the transfer window, with only Carlos Alcaraz joining the club.

He was on loan last season, and therefore, he isn’t exactly a brand-new signing, but David Moyes and TFG will be working tirelessly behind the scenes to bolster his squad ahead of the first season at their new stadium.

While the Toffees face an away trip to Elland Road to face Leeds in their match, the opening game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium will take place a week later when Moyes’ men face Brighton.

Between now and then, supporters will no doubt be longing for some new additions.

Everton ready to hijack move for Ligue 1 star

With Alcaraz through the door, it’s looking likely that Everton will make another signing in the shape of Fulham defender Kenny Tete, with the BBC reporting that talks are in progress.

A right-back by trade, Moyes could also be in the market to sign a left-back from Ligue 1.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, according to Leeds Live, the recently promoted club are keen on signing defender Gabriel Gudmundsson from Lille this summer.

However, the report goes on to state that Everton are ready to hijack the move for the Swedish defender, who has just one year left on his current contract.

As such, Moyes could perhaps land a bargain should he convince the left-back to swap Lille for a move to Merseyside, rather than Leeds.

Adding some depth to the squad is a priority, which means a swoop for £6m-rated Gudmundsson could be ideal.

Given the fact that he would be moving from Ligue 1, the Swede could turn into Iliman Ndiaye 2.0.

How Gudmundsson could replicate Ndiaye at Everton

Ndiaye moved from Ligue 1 side Marseille last summer, going on to become one of the club’s key players last term.

Indeed, the winger netted 11 goals across all competitions for the Toffees, helping the club preserve their Premier League status for yet another season.

Goals

9

Assists

0

Big chances created

3

Key passes per game

0.5

Shots per game

1.1

Successful dribbles per game

2.1

The Senegal international also ranked in the top 9% for successful 1.96 take-ons (2.52) per 90 when compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, showcasing why Leeds writer Joe Donnohue has described him as a “fun” player who’s also a “risk-taker”. He’s also competent defensively, however, ranking in the top 11% for tackles per 90 (1.96) over the previous 365 days.

It proves that talent can be found at a reasonable price in France, so might Gudmundsson be the next player to move across the channel?

The 26-year-old would be a great signing. He made 45 appearances for Lille last term, which included nine in the Champions League.

An attacking full-back, he was notably impressive in the competition. When compared to his peers, the Swede not only ranked in the top 19% for progressive carries (2.96), but he also ranked in the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.66) last term.

Those are strong metrics, particularly considering the sheer quality of opposition he played against, with Lille coming up against Real Madrid, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid, defeating the two Spanish sides in the process.

Defensively, the 26-year-old won 54% of his total duels in Ligue 1 last season, along with being dribbled past on just 0.4 occasions per game, showing his strength in one-on-one battles.

Ndiaye made a wonderful impact after moving from the French top flight. If Moyes signs Gudmundsson this summer, the Swede has all the qualities to follow in his footsteps.

He's Ndiaye 2.0: Everton enter race to sign "wonderful" star

Everton have yet to make a signing this summer to bolster their squad.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 21, 2025

Leeds United are now very hopeful they will be able to lure “one of the most underrated defenders in Europe” to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.

Leeds looking to improve their defence

Leeds will know all too well the importance of having a strong defence in the Premier League, having suffered relegation to the Championship after shipping the most goals in the top flight in the 2022-23 campaign, and they have now set out to bolster their options at the back.

Indeed, the Whites have identified a number of defensive targets, while they have also set out to bring in a new goalkeeper, given that Illan Meslier infamously made a number of high-profile errors last season.

Target

Current club

Position

Yahia Fofana

Angers

GK

Nick Pope

Newcastle United

GK

Dara O’Shea

Ipswich Town

CB

Japhet Tanganga

Millwall

CB

Anthony Caci

Mainz 05

LB

The likes of Pope, O’Shea and Tanganga have experience in the Premier League, which could be of key significance when it comes to avoiding the drop next season, but Daniel Farke has also set his sights on adding a Serie A defender to his ranks.

That is according to a report from The Yorkshire Evening Post, which states Leeds are now very hopeful of signing Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, given that Premier League football is set to be on offer at Elland Road.

Farke already has a number of options at centre-back, but departures are said to be inevitable, with Max Wober deemed the most likely to leave, although cashing in on Pascal Struijk could be an attractive proposition from a PSR point of view.

Previous reports have revealed Udinese would be looking to receive a fee of around £17m for Bijol, which should be affordable for a club that is now back in the Premier League.

£50,000-a-week Leeds star unhappy with offer as new contract talks stall

Leeds are now looking to tie down one of their key players from the 2024/25 season, but talks are stalling.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jun 9, 2025 Bijol could be among Europe's most "underrated" defenders

It would be fair to say journalist Bence Bocsak doesn’t believe the Udinese defender gets the respect he deserves, given his talent, having described the Leeds target as “one of the most underrated defenders in Europe” after impressing at Euro 2024.

The Slovenian is aerially dominant, placing in the 93rd percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs, while he has previously proven himself to be a threat in the opposition area on occasion.

The 6-foot-3 colossus could be a solid signing for Leeds this summer, and £17m feels like a fair fee, given that Bijol has impressed at international level, while also remaining a key player for Udinese throughout the 2024-25 campaign, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

Aston Villa are now among the Premier League teams monitoring Manchester United outcast ahead of potentially making a loan offer, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa chasing multiple Premier League players

Since Unai Emery joined the club, the Villans have been busy in every transfer window, and that is unlikely to change this summer, but there will be a lot of caution given the PSR problems they currently face. Villa have been quiet in the early part of the window, but that could be about to change as they hold an interest in multiple Premier League players.

He's scored at Villa Park: Aston Villa racing to sign "fantastic" £42m star

Only Jacob Murphy, Mohamed Salah and Anthony Elanga assisted more goals than him last season…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 12, 2025

It was reported by TEAMtalk earlier this week that Villa are now the team to watch when it comes to who signs Jack Grealish from Manchester City. Emery is a big fan of the England international, and with Grealish being left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, he is now expected to leave the Etihad. However, they do face competition, as the likes of Newcastle United and Everton are also interested in a deal.

Villa also want to strengthen their midfield options and are in the race to sign Mikkel Damsgaard from Brentford. Several Premier League teams are interested in signing the Dane, and with Brentford valuing him at around £42 million, there could be a deal to be done.

But out of these stories, the most exciting piece of transfer news for Villa is that they are reportedly set to enter the race to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Man United, and he is not the only Old Trafford attacker on their radar.

Aston Villa monitoring Sancho loan bid

According to The Sun, Aston Villa are keeping a close eye on Jadon Sancho and are interested in a potential loan deal.

Sancho is set to return to Old Trafford after Chelsea decided not to take up the £25 million buy option they had and instead paid £5 million to end the agreement. Despite a change in manager, his situation at United hasn’t changed, as Ruben Amorim doesn’t plan on bringing him back into the fold.

Therefore, the 25-year-old is looking for a new club, and Villa, as well as Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, are all keeping an eye on his situation. The Villans are willing to strike another loan agreement with the Red Devils, following the one they did involving Marcus Rashford, but United prefer to sell Sancho on a permanent basis.

Apps

89

Goals

12

Assists

11

It was an up-and-down spell at Stamford Bridge, as the England international scored three goals in the Premier League and a further two in the Europa Conference League, as Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca labelled Sancho a “special player” at the start of the campaign.

“He needs to continue in the same way; work hard, every day,” Maresca told the press.

“As I’ve said before, for sure he is going to help us. We really believe that he is a special player. But the only way for him to confirm that is by working hard every day and never be happy and always be ambitious. He needs to want more and more and more.”

Liverpool’s transfer activity over the last couple of weeks has been nothing short of sensational, with the hierarchy certainly looking to back Arne Slot in the transfer market.

Jeremie Frimpong has already completed his switch from Bayer Leverkusen, with former teammate Florian Wirtz continuously linked with a summer move to Anfield.

The German international has already been subject to a bid from the Reds in recent days, which could see the club break the English transfer record if they complete a deal for his signature.

In recent days, he’s posted on social media, hitting back at claims that he will demand the number 10 shirt if he moves to Merseyside, but didn’t deny that he is close to making the move to England.

Such a move for the 22-year-old would undoubtedly improve the options at the manager’s disposal, creating excitement among the fanbase, but could be joined by another big-money talent at Anfield in 2025/26.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions this summer

Left-back Milos Kerkez has been firmly on Liverpool’s radar over the last couple of months, as Slot looks to add depth to the full-back department in their quest to retain the Premier League title.

The latest reports suggest that the Bournemouth star has already agreed personal terms with the Reds, as the clubs are expected to meet once again to get the deal over the line this summer.

However, despite the interest at the back, Slot desperately wants attacking reinforcements, with Alexander Isak once again emerging on their shortlist, according to TBR.

The report claims that Slot’s side are still in the market for a new striker, even if Wirtz joins in the coming weeks, with the Newcastle United talisman their number one target this window.

It also states that the Swede, who scored 23 league goals this season, is their dream option within the final third, but could cost a pretty penny, with the Magpies demanding a fee in the region of £150m.

Why Liverpool’s £150m target could be Slot’s own Mbappe

Over the last couple of years, Kylian Mbappé has been one of Europe’s leading stars, producing massive numbers within the final third for PSG and Real Madrid.

The French international joined the Spanish giants last summer, scoring 43 times in his 56 appearances, but it wasn’t enough to secure a Champions League triumph, with his former employers getting their hands on the trophy.

His numbers this campaign have been nothing short of remarkable, but he was unable to get the better of the Reds in the clash at Anfield, missing a penalty with Conor Bradley producing a last-ditch tackle to prevent him getting on the scoresheet.

Given his tally of goals, the Reds must wish they had a player who could produce such a tally alongside Mohamed Salah in attacking areas, undoubtedly making them a bigger force to be reckoned with next season.

However, a move for Isak could allow them to have just that, with FBref ranking the Magpies’ talisman as a similar player to Mbappé, based on the figures he’s produced in the Premier League this season.

When comparing their respective stats, the Swede has massively outperformed him in key areas, with his talents undoubtedly handing Slot the main focal point he’s desperately craved this summer.

Whilst he’s registered fewer combined goals and assists in 2024/25, Isak has achieved a better goal per shot-on-target rate than the Frenchman, highlighting the threat he poses in front of goal – something which would take the Reds to the next level.

Games played

34

34

Goals & assists

29

34

Goal per shot on target rate

0.5

0.3

Shot on target accuracy

50%

49%

Take-on success

46%

44%

Aerials won

0.9

0.1

Times caught offside

0.6

1.4

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons he’s attempted, and won more aerial battles, handing the side an all-round option within the final third – something which the club have lacked in central areas of late.

Whilst it’s unclear if the Magpies would be willing to part ways with the star after their Champions League qualification, his talents are there for all to see, with his performances against the Reds in recent times nothing short of remarkable – as seen in the Carabao Cup final.

It would be another expensive addition given the move for Wirtz, but it’s phenomenal to see the hierarchy massively backing the manager in the market after his success in his first campaign.

If he does move to the club and matches the levels produced by Mbappé in Europe over recent years, it would be a stellar addition, and one that could lead Slot’s side to consistent European glory alongside their domestic ambitions.

He's Coutinho 2.0: Liverpool hold talks to sign "Ballon d'Or level talent"

Florian Wirtz isn’t the only midfielder Liverpool have their eye on.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 3, 2025

Newcastle United are said to have made contact with a huge club over signing a player who Eddie Howe has hailed as “very good” in the past.

Newcastle already pushing for summer signings

The Magpies are already being linked with new signings under the assumption that they will qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Martin Baturina mentioned as a potential target this week. He has scored twice and registered one assist in Europe’s top club competition in 2024/25.

Newcastle need to target a new striker this summer, in order to provide more competition for Alexander Isak, especially with Callum Wilson expected to leave the club. Liam Delap is one possible option to come in, having suffered relegation from the Premier League with Ipswich Town and not wanting to play in the Championship next season.

At the other end of the pitch, the Magpies continue to target goalkeepers, with Espanyol ace Joan Garcia seen as an alternative option to the likes of James Trafford and Caoimhin Kelleher. He has even quite bizarrely been compared to Lionel Messi, with Manolo Gonzalez saying: “It’s like when Barcelona had Messi. There were tough matches, and Messi would resolve them. Well, we have that in goal with Joan Garcia.”

A centre-back is also required for Newcastle before next season gets underway, in order to add freshness to a key area of the pitch, and now a new update has emerged regarding a potential addition there.

Newcastle make contact with AC Milan over Thiaw

According to The Boot Room‘s Graeme Bailey, Newcastle have made an approach to AC Milan over the signing of centre-back Malick Thiaw this summer, in a possible £25m transfer.

They are “one of several clubs” believed to be in the race to snap up the 23-year-old, with Milan “prepared to listen to offers for some of their regular starters” ahead of the upcoming window.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Thiaw for several weeks, and it now appears as though they have cranked up their efforts to bring him in.

The German could add quality in and out of possession for the Magpies, having enjoyed a 93.4% pass completion rate and averaged 3.5 clearances per game in Serie A this season.

Meanwhile, Howe has shown his admiration for Thiaw, too, saying of him: “There’s no updates on that. I’m always reluctant to comment on these things, but he’s a player I know about, of course I do, from our games in the Champions League against Milan and yeah, he’s a very good player, but that’s it.”

Newcastle now planning face-to-face talks to sign "unbelievable" £30m star

The Magpies are set to hold discussions over a deal for a forward.

ByDominic Lund May 21, 2025

At 23, Thiaw could be the young centre-back that Newcastle crave this summer, coming in as a mainstay alongside Sven Botman, with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn not getting any younger.