Julian Alvarez’s agent has poured cold water on rumours linking the Argentine World Cup winner with a sensational switch to Liverpool in the summer of 2024. Reports had claimed the Reds proposed a swap involving Luis Diaz, but Fernando Hidalgo has now confirmed there were no official approaches, insisting the forward remains fully committed to Atletico Madrid.
West Ham United have now made three senior signings this summer, but many more are required.
On Saturday, the Hammers announced the signing of veteran England international striker Callum Wilson, arriving on a free transfer after departing Newcastle.
He joins full-backs El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters as the Hammers’ new recruits so far this summer.
However, given that Mohammed Kudus has been sold and Łukasz Fabiański, Kurt Zouma, Vladimír Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Danny Ings, and Michail Antonio have all been released, Graham Potter will need many more signings if he is to avoid a repeat of last year’s miserable campaign.
So, are the Irons about to spend big to bring in an attacking midfielder who makes for “majestic viewing”?
Fair to say, West Ham supporters were not very pleased with the sale of Kudus, joining fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £55m.
Not many have made this controversial move across London in recent decades, as the table documents.
|
Players moving from West Ham to Tottenham (21st century) |
|
|---|---|
|
Players |
Year |
|
Mohammed Kudus |
2025 |
|
Scott Parker |
2011 |
|
Jimmy Walker |
2009 |
|
Jermain Defoe |
2004 |
|
Michael Carrick |
2004 |
|
Frédéric Kanouté |
2003 |
|
Information courtesy of FBref.com |
|
As the Irons search for a Kudus replacement, according to the printed edition of The Sun (03/08/2025), as relayed by West Ham Zone, West Ham United have been told by Shakhtar Donetsk to pay £40m if they want to sign target Georgiy Sudakov.
Sébastien Vidal of Weekend Sports reported a few weeks ago that West Ham “have opened initial talks”, stating the club wanted to finalise the move as soon as possible, but this has not come to fruition so far.
Nevertheless, he could still become the third Ukrainian to call East London home, after Serhii Rebrov and Andriy Yarmolenko.
Sudakov, who is 22 years old, has made 142 senior appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk since his senior debut five years ago, accumulating 35 goals and 24 assists.
This includes scoring Champions League goals against Barcelona, BSC Young Boys and Stade Brestois while, already this season, he has featured in all four of the Miners’ Europa League qualifiers, dumping out Ilves and Beşiktaş, now set to face Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round, with the first leg taking place in Athens on Thursday.
Andy Jones of the Athletic describes him as a ‘technically gifted…versatile midfielder’, adding that he is one of the ‘most exciting prospects’ and ‘brightest young talents’ that Eastern Europe has to offer.
Meantime, Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Serhiy Palkin stated in April that his star man “will definitely move to a top European club this summer”, with António Mango labelling him “well-rounded” and “creative”, making him “majestic viewing”.
But the question still remains; how does he compare to the outgoing Kudus?
Let’s find out.
|
Georgiy Sudakov vs Mohammed Kudus 2024/25 comparison |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Sudakov |
Kudus |
|
Appearances |
37 |
35 |
|
Minutes |
3,081 |
2,721 |
|
Goals |
15 |
5 |
|
Assists |
6 |
4 |
|
Shots on target % |
31.8% |
27.6% |
|
Take-on success % |
58.8% |
44.2% |
|
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com |
||
First and foremost, worth stating up front that Sudakov was playing at a lower level last season, with Global Football Rankings believing that the Ukrainian Premier League to be the 51st strongest league in the world, albeit he did also impress at Champions League level.
Nevertheless, that caveat aside, Sudakov did score more goals and provide more assists than Kudus last season, posting more impressive underlying statistics too.
The Ghanian, for all his talent, was not very productive throughout the 2024/25 campaign, albeit he may point to West Ham’s general lack of attacking quality and cutting edge, which did not make his life easy.
Even so, should Sudakov swap Ukraine for the London Stadium, he could turn out to be even better than Kudus.
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By
Henry Jackson
Aug 1, 2025
A fresh look at women's football in Football Manager 26 has been unveiled as Sports Interactive revealed the biggest female database in gaming. After years of promises, setbacks, and cancelled editions, the studio has confirmed that from November 4, players can step into the dugout of legendary women’s teams across the globe. This isn’t a token gesture. This is the largest-ever women’s football database in gaming, spanning continents, leagues, and thousands of players.
Rafael Leao has revealed how idols like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka inspired him to choose AC Milan over rivals Inter. The Portuguese winger admitted Lille once tried to push him towards the Nerazzurri, but he refused the move, staying true to his dream of wearing the Rossoneri shirt. Although currently sidelined by injury, the winger remains central to their hopes this season.
From their worst-ever Premier League finish, to managerial changes and a Europa League final defeat, it certainly was a year to forget for Manchester United in 2024/25.
Ruben Amorim was chosen as the man to try and save the sinking ship after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, aiming to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford during his tenure.
He alluded to their struggles when taking the reins, but promised that ‘better days are coming’ – still, as everyone knows, actions speak louder than words at the top-level of professional football.
Judgement on whether his ambitions come to fruition will be seen in due course, as England’s top-flight once again gears up for another year of promise, disappointment and expectations.
A mammoth reaction is needed from everyone associated with the Red Devils in the coming months, especially after the backing provided by the board during the off-season.
Their failures on the pitch in recent times are there for all to see, but there’s no question the United board are showcasing their attempts to prevent such an embarrassing year from reoccurring down the line.
Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have all been recruited to improve the frontline, resulting in a whopping £200m already being splashed in the summer window.
After such moves, reports of landing a new midfielder have intensified, with such a hunt leading them to Brighton star Carlos Baleba – albeit being a complex move given his £100m price tag.
The Cameroonian isn’t alone on their shortlist, as Amorim seemingly wants a reunion with Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand – leading to The Sun reporting a potential £50m bid is currently being lined up.
Within the piece, it’s claimed that the player himself would be open to switching to England, but any move could hinge on any development in the move for Baleba.
With the trasfer deadline now rapidly approaching in the rearview mirror, it’s vital the right move is made to allow the players currently on the books to thrive alongside any new addition.
United’s failures in recent times have largely been down to poor recruitment, forking out mammoth sums for talents who’ve been unable to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
However, the same can’t be said for one man – Bruno Fernandes, who may well end his career at Old Trafford as one of their greatest ever purchases.
No supporter could’ve foreseen the impact he would make, after the board forked out an initial £47m to prise him away from Sporting in January 2020.
The Portuguese international – who’s since been made club captain – has amassed a staggering 98 goals from his deep-lying position, often being the club’s go-to in terms of goal contributions.
However, the arrival of the attacking trio will likely take such responsibility off his shoulders, able to form a partnership with Hjulmand – solving the massive issue which has been apparent at the heart of the side.
Like Fernandes, the Dane may be an unknown quantity to many at present, but any move to the Theatre of Dreams could catapult himself to stardom, whilst aiding Amorim’s ambitions of bringing the glory days back to the club.
According to FBref, Hjulmand ranked in the 99th percentile for passes completed (90%), offering a needed composed figure to the side – who sat sixth in average possession in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.
|
Morten Hjulmand’s stats for Sporting (2024/25) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
28 |
|
Goals & assists |
4 |
|
Pass accuracy |
90% |
|
Progressive passes |
6.4 |
|
Take-on success |
62% |
|
Passes into final third |
6.7 |
|
Tackles won |
2.2 |
|
Interceptions made |
1.1 |
|
Aerial success |
56% |
|
Stats via FBref |
|
Being comfortable on the ball is always important in a system that demands intricate play, but the 26-year-old has also demonstrated his ability to break the lines in Portugal.
He made 6.7 passes into the final third per 90, ranking him in the top 8% of all players in Europe – ultimately leading to analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him a “complete midfielder”.
Such comments also take his ball-winning ability into account, notching 2.2 tackles won and 1.1 interceptions made per 90 – numbers which could put an end to the club’s hunt for a new midfielder.
Hjulmand’s all-round quality would allow him to operate slightly deeper, seeing Bruno take up a free role ahead of him, enabling him to continue his phenomenal levels of output in attacking areas.
Now, the question becomes whether Amorim pursues a move for his former player, or breaks the bank and makes a club-record move to prise Baleba away from the Seagulls’ clutches.
A move for Hjulmand would make perfect sense, already knowing the demands of the manager, but also offering a much cheaper alternative for the hierarchy.
The new additions are undoubtedly providing excitement within the fanbase, but it remains vital they don’t neutralise players like Bruno as a result – with the Sporting star able to aid the captain in taking the Red Devils up the table in 2025/26.
New Pogba: INEOS chasing "extraordinary" Baleba alternative for Man Utd
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2
By
Ethan Lamb
Aug 15, 2025
Jude Bellingham had asked to be left out of the England squad ahead of their upcoming international matches. Thomas Tuchel announced his 24-member Three Lions squad for the World Cup qualifiers on Friday but left out star midfielder Bellingham, who had come back early from his shoulder injury and featured for Real Madrid in their last couple of games.
It’s very rare in the modern professional game that footballers can spend a decade at the same club, but Heung-min Son managed just that for Tottenham Hotspur.
The South Korean joined the Lilywhites from Bayer Leverkusen back in the summer of 2015 as an unknown quantity to many supporters, but it’s safe to say he’s made a name for himself in the present day.
The winger racked up over 450 appearances between 2015 and 2025, scoring 173 times, which ranks him fourth in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.
He even led the side to Europa League glory last campaign, captaining Ange Postecoglou’s men as they ended their 17-year trophy drought with a 1-0 win over Manchester United – a game which was his final competitive outing for the Lilywhites.
Son would leave the side this summer in a £20m deal, subsequently joining MLS outfit LAFC, leaving new boss Thomas Frank with the mammoth task of replacing the fan-favourite.
A new left-winger has been a priority for Spurs and Frank this summer, which saw them target a move for Real Madrid star Rodrygo earlier this summer.
The Lilywhites were reportedly in talks with the LaLiga giants over a potential move for the Brazilian international, but their £86m asking price appears to currently be out of their range.
However, another name has emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons the club’s latest target, according to German outlet BILD.
They claim that Frank’s men have made enquiry over the last few days, looking to gain more information about a potential move for the 22-year-old, who scored 11 times last season.
It’s also been reported that Chelsea remain in advanced talks with the Dutch international over a move to Stamford Bridge, but the Lilywhites could strike late and look to hijack the £60m deal.
As previously mentioned, Son was a real fan-favourite during his decade-long spell at Spurs – catching the eye, whether that be in a number ten or wide left role.
He was often capable of producing a moment of magic that gave the supporters the opportunity to get off their seats – a quality every fan wants in forwards who are employed by their club.
Arguably, his best goal came against Burnley back in December 2019, picking the ball up near his own 18-yard box before driving past countless opponents and eventually slotting home into the bottom corner.
Frank has the near-impossible task of replacing the South Korean in the final days of the window, needing to land a player who can develop into a similar talent in the years ahead.
Such a hunt may have led them to Simons, with the Dutchman possessing a lot of similarities to Son, before his own move to North London way back in 2015.
The Leipzig star is a year younger than the former Leverkusen talent when he joined the Lilywhites, whilst also being able to operate centrally or out wide, despite his tender age.
Frank’s men would also be landing a talent from the Bundesliga, just like they did with Son, with Simons managing to outperform the winger in key areas last season.
The Dutch star, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by Luka Modrić, registered more progressive passes per 90, with more of his attempts going into the final third – showcasing the creative nature he possesses with the ball at his feet.
However, he’s also managed to find the back of the net alone, posting a higher goal per shot on target rate, with such a tally making him a clinical option and aiding Frank’s hunt for new attackers.
|
How Simons & Son compared throughout 2024/25 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Simons |
Son |
|
Games played |
25 |
30 |
|
Goals & assists |
16 |
16 |
|
Shot on target accuracy |
46% |
43% |
|
Progressive passes |
5.9 |
4.7 |
|
Pass accuracy |
79% |
78% |
|
Passes into final third |
3.3 |
1.7 |
|
Through balls completed |
1 |
0.1 |
|
Take-ons completed |
1.4 |
1.2 |
|
Carries into final third |
3.1 |
2.1 |
|
Crosses completed |
3.4 |
3.3 |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
Simons’ creativity is further highlighted by his ability to get into dangerous areas when in possession, completing more take-ons per 90, alongside more carries into the final third.
Such numbers allow him to breeze past the opposition before either going alone or having the tools to provide players around him the chance to improve their own tallies.
£60m would be a hefty figure, but they would be getting themselves a player who can emulate the success endured by Son – potentially being a bargain if he can reach the South Korean’s levels.
Chelsea’s interest in the Dutchman means they will have to work quickly to avoid missing out on his signature, potentially completing a hijack of their own in the closing stages of the window.
Their own Rice: Spurs begin talks to force through "world-class" signing
Tottenham Hotspur have made their move to land a top-level European talent in recent days.
4
By
Ethan Lamb
Aug 27, 2025
Former national team star Alexi Lalas cast doubt on Ricardo Pepi’s chances of making the 2026 World Cup roster after the striker’s knee injury with PSV, noting that USMNT roster spots will only be more competitive – leaving injured players especially at risk of losing out as the tournament gets closer to kicking off.
Celtic were knocked out of the Champions League before they could reach the league phase when they lost on penalties to Kairat on Tuesday night.
The Hoops needed to win on the night after a 0-0 draw at Parkhead last week, but they were unable to break the deadlock before it went down to penalties.
Adam Idah was one of the players who missed from the spot, alongside Daizen Maeda and Luke McCowan, to continue his disappointing start to the season.
The Ireland international started the first two games of the Scottish Premiership season and failed to register a goal or an assist for the reigning champions.
As you can see in the graphic above, the former Norwich City centre-forward missed three ‘big chances’ in the opening day clash with St Mirren, which shows that his lack of goals has not been through a lack of service.
The penalty miss against Kairat would have done little to help his confidence or the feeling that he may not be ready to be the main man for the Hoops.
Looking at Idah’s form in the Premiership last season, Brendan Rodgers may have to utilise him as a substitute option more often than not to get the best out of him.
The 24-year-old centre-forward ended the 2024/25 Premiership campaign with a return of 13 goals in 19 starts, which is a very decent return on face value.
Idah’s underlying statistics in the division, though, show that he was not prolific enough as a starter when Rodgers called upon him as the main number nine for the Scottish giants.
|
Adam Idah: The super sub |
||
|---|---|---|
|
24/25 Premiership |
Starts |
Off the bench |
|
Appearances |
19 |
16 |
|
Minutes |
1,352 |
357 |
|
Goals |
6 |
7 |
|
Minutes per goal |
225 |
51 |
|
Assists |
0 |
1 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
As you can see in the table above, the 6 foot 3 marksman took around 170 more minutes to score a goal in each start in comparison to his strike rate off the bench.
This suggests that he is more effective coming off the bench as a substitute against tired defenders. That may be because he has great physical attributes, as a strong runner and a physical and aerial presence, but he is not always the smoothest player technically.
As a starter, his lack of technical quality can shine through a bit more because he is against fresh defenders who do not allow him to gain an advantage through his physicality.
This is why Rodgers should not use Idah as a starter on a regular basis this season, unless, of course, he turns his form around and proves that he can be a consistent performer from the start.
However, the Ireland international may not get that chance to prove himself for the Scottish giants this season, as the club are looking at bringing another striker in.
According to Football Insider, veteran free agent Jamie Vardy is open to a move to Parkhead to sign for Celtic to bolster their options in the final third.
The 38-year-old centre-forward has been a free agent since he decided to move on from Leicester City at the end of his contract earlier this summer, and this means that the Hoops have a chance to snap him up for nothing.
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Vardy is said to be taking his time before making a decision on his next club, but the report claims that he is open to moving up to Scotland to play for Celtic.
Football Insider adds that he has a number of options to pick from, with plenty of clubs showing interest in him, which means that it will not be an easy deal for the Scottish giants to get over the line.
Knowing that Vardy is open to a move to Glasgow, it is now down to Rodgers and Celtic to convince him to turn down his other offers to make the move to Scotland.
This update will come as awful news for Idah because the arrival of Vardy could mean that the Ireland international does not get the chance to prove himself as a starter.
The former Norwich forward, as aforementioned, has not done enough as a starter for Celtic and needs to deliver consistently as a striker for a prolonged period of time before he can be deemed a reliable first XI player.
Unfortunately, for him, the signing of Vardy could mean that he does not have a chance to put a run of games together as a starter, because the former England international could be the main number nine for Celtic.
The experienced marksman, who has 145 Premier League goals and almost 200 goal contributions under his belt, may be heading towards his 40s, but he is still a lethal centre-forward.
Vardy scored nine goals in 35 games in the Premier League last season, per Sofascore, whilst Idah never scored more than one goal in a top-flight campaign during his time with Norwich City.
The English star also caught the eye as a regular goalscorer when he last played for a team that was in a title race, as he led the line for the Foxes in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign.
|
23/24 Championship |
Jamie Vardy |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
35 |
|
xG |
17.07 |
|
Goals |
18 |
|
Minutes per goal |
99 |
|
Conversion rate |
31% |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, Vardy was a prolific scorer in the second tier to help his side to the title that season, outperforming his xG and enjoying a 31% conversion rate in front of goal.
The free agent forward was once described as a “proven goalscorer” by former Premier League winger Jermaine Pennant, and his statistics back up that claim.
Vardy has over 100 Premier League goals, scored 18 goals in his last Championship season, and scored nine goals in the top-flight last term despite being in a side that got relegated.
This is why his arrival would be bad news for Idah, who has struggled to score goals as a starter, because the former Leicester star could be that focal point up front for Rodgers, as he was during their time together at the King Power, and leave the Irishman without a chance to prove himself from the start.
Worse than Idah: Rodgers must drop Celtic star who lost the ball 20 times
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers must drop this flop who was even worse than Adam Idah against Kairat.
3
By
Dan Emery
Aug 27, 2025
Barcelona have confirmed midfielder Dani Olmo has been sidelined with a calf injury he sustained while on international duty with Spain. The club have learned the full extent of the issue, which could see him miss the upcoming Clasico clash against Real Madrid, while there are concerns around fellow Blaugrana star Ferran Torres.