Category Uncategorized

How well prepared are West Ham United for the new Premier League season?

Well, Graham Potter will certainly take encouragement from his team’s performances during the Premier League Summer Series, beating both Everton and Bournemouth, their only defeat coming in the first game of their US tour against Manchester United.

The Hammers’ homecoming is on Saturday, welcoming LOSC Lille to the London Stadium, before the serious business begins at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland a week later.

However, supporters are certainly concerned about the make-up of this squad, given that Mohammed Kudus has been sold to fierce rivals Tottenham, with the arrivals of Callum Wilson, Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf doing little to lift the mood.

Well, could that be about to change, as the Irons target a move to sign a “phenomenal” striker who has been compared to Erling Braut Håland?

West Ham's never-ending search for a striker

With Michail Antonio having been released, West Ham require a new starting centre-forward this season, even after the arrival of Wilson, who surely cannot be banked upon to remain fit, having seen just 458 minutes of action last season, scoring one goal.

Well, fair to say, they don’t have a great track record when it comes to signing strikers for big money, as the table below documents.

Evan Ferguson

2025

Loan

8

Zero

Niclas Füllkrug

2024

£27m

20

3

Danny Ings

2023

£15m

69

5

Gianluca Scamacca

2022

£30.5m

27

8

Sébastien Haller

2019

£45m

54

14

Albian Ajeti

2019

£8m

12

Zero

Javier Hernández

2018

£16m

63

17

Jordan Hugill

2018

£10m

3

Zero

Lucas Pérez

2018

£4m

19

6

Diafra Sakho

2016

£10m

71

24

Emmanuel Emenike

2016

Loan

16

2

As the table outlines, since Antonio’s arrival in 2015, no West Ham striker has scored more than 25 goals for the club, with a vast amount of money wasted on players who produced very little.

As they seek to change that, reports in Spain claim that West Ham are interested in signing Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth, with Brentford also mentioned as potential suitors.

They add that los Colchoneros would be open to offers for the Norwegian centre-forward, as they pursue Roma’s Artem Dovbyk, and that Sørloth could be available for as little as €25m (around £22m).

Transfer Focus

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

So, could the 29-year-old soon swap the Spanish capital for East London?

How Alexander Sørloth would improve West Ham

Fair to say, Sørloth has had a strange career, only really becoming a regular goalscorer very recently, with sporadic scoring sprees in there too, as noted below.

2013/14

Rosenborg

7

1

2014/15

Bodø/Glimt

29

14

2015/16

Groningen

15

2

2016/17

Groningen

30

4

2017/18

Midtjylland

26

15

2017/18*

Crystal Palace

4

Zero

2018/19

Crystal Palace

16

1

2018/19*

Gent

22

5

2019/20

Trabzonspor

49

33

2020/21

RB Leipzig

37

6

2021/22

Real Sociedad

44

8

2022/23

Real Sociedad

46

16

2023/24

Villarreal

41

26

2024/25

Atlético Madrid

53

24

*moved in January

As the table outlines, Sørloth changes clubs very regularly, often enduring long periods without scoring very many goals, including making little impact during his time at Crystal Palace.

Up until recently, his career highlight came in the 2019/20 season, firing Trabzonspor to second in the Turkish Süper Lig and glory in the Türkiye Kupası, on target during the final victory over Alanyaspor at the Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadı, one of his 33 goals that season.

Sørloth has then found his feet again in Spain, scoring 26 goals for Villarreal, earning a £28m move to Atlético Madrid last summer, for whom he netted 24 times, on target every 78 minutes in La Liga.

Alexander Sørloth

Atlético Madrid

20

1.15

Patrik Schick

Bayer Leverkusen

21

1.12

Ousmane Dembélé

Paris Saint-Germain

21

1.09

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

26

0.98

Kylian Mbappé

Real Madrid

31

0.96

Mika Biereth

Monaco

13

0.95

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

25

0.94

Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona

27

0.91

Ayoze Pérez

Villarreal

19

0.87

Oihan Sancet

Athletic Club

15

0.83

Manager Diego Simeone described Sørloth’s form as “phenomenal”, while Domagoj Kostanjšak of Total Football Analysis notes that he ‘thrives on physical duels’, making him a classic target man centre-forward.

Meantime, Juan Fernández Valencia of Breaking the Lines agrees, praising his ‘exceptional ability to win aerial duels’, suggesting there were fears when he arrived at Atleti that he was simply a one-season wonder, but he very much alleviated those concerns in a Rojiblancos shirt.

Should Sørloth return to the Premier League, one player he’ll know very well is Håland, given that the duo have started all four of Norway’s World Cup qualifiers in 2025 up front together, firing their country to four wins out of four.

Håland has found the net during all four of these victories, with Sørloth netting in each of the first three, including a famous 3-0 demolition of Italy, their main rivals for top spot in Group I, in Oslo back in June.

As noted by Stuart James of The Athletic, national team manager Ståle Solbakken faces a real challenge getting both centre-forwards in the same line-up, given their physical and stylistic similarities; both are tall and physically imposing, but have excellent movement and thrive when able to burst in-behind.

That likeness has also been picked up on by FBref, who note that Håland is one of the most statistically similar strikers to Sørloth among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues.

Interestingly, the Atleti star ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90, thus actually placing him ahead of the prolific Manchester City talisman, who ranks in the top 6% in that regard.

Sørloth certainly would not face a similar issue should he move to West Ham, as he would instantaneously become the main man through the middle of the attack, so could the Norwegian be the player to break the Hammers’ striker curse?

Potter's new Bowen: West Ham battling PL rivals for "explosive" £30m talent

West Ham could be getting their hands on a future superstar.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 7, 2025

David Moyes didn’t return to Everton to make up the numbers.

With the club in need of smart squad-building, his second spell promises a more ambitious approach. That outlook has already shaped Everton’s summer.

The permanent signings of Carlos Alcaraz from Flamengo and Thierno Barry from Villarreal, along with Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich, suggest a clear shift towards technical, mobile players who can play through pressure.

But Moyes still wants one more key addition – a player with the composure to dictate rhythm in attack, and the tactical awareness to protect the defence.

Someone who can carry the creative burden left behind by the likes of Abdoulaye Doucouré, who departed the club alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ashley Young this summer.

That figure could soon arrive. And while he’s not yet an established name in Italy, he’s no stranger to the Premier League.

Everton's priority midfield target emerges

According to GIVEMESPORT, Douglas Luiz, who once thrived at Aston Villa, is firmly on Everton’s radar as Juventus prepare for a late-window departure.

Transfer Focus

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

The Old Lady, for their part, are holding out for a £39m fee but are open to loan arrangements if no permanent buyers emerge before deadline day.

Everton are monitoring developments closely and the club is prepared to move in the final weeks of the window – particularly if Luiz remains on the market – having already made a loan enquiry.

A deal would likely be structured around an initial loan with an option to buy, given the financial limits imposed by Everton’s ongoing compliance with FFP regulations.

Such interest has been corroborated by Fabrizio Romano, who stated that three Premier League clubs are in direct contact with Luiz’s camp – Everton and Nottingham Forest among them.

Luiz’s time in Italy has been underwhelming.

Since making a £42m move from Aston Villa, he has struggled to impose himself under either Thiago Motta or Igor Tudor, making just six starts in Serie A last season and featuring for only 45 minutes at the Club World Cup.

Still, his technical quality remains undisputed – It’s no surprise that Luiz continues to attract admirers. In 2024, ESPN Brazil’s Leonardo Bertozzi described him as world-class.

“On the national team level, he will be one of the leading names for the 2026 World Cup.”

For Everton, the prospect of acquiring Luiz on loan, with a view to a permanent move, would represent an astute piece of business.

He wants to return to England, and Goodison Park could give him the platform to rediscover his best form.

Why Luiz could be Moyes' new Arteta

If Everton do get their man, comparisons to a certain former blue won’t be far behind. In his pomp under Moyes, Mikel Arteta was the heartbeat of Everton’s midfield.

A graceful and intelligent operator, he could switch tempo, pick out a pass, and arrive late in the box to score.

His 2006/07 campaign, marked by nine goals and nine assists in 35 games, remains a benchmark for midfielders in blue. Douglas Luiz offers similar potential.

Despite limited minutes, according to data from FBref, Luiz ranked fifth last season in the Juventus squad for both passing accuracy (89.5%) and successful dribbles (72.2%), while also contributing three big chances created and a solid 0.69 key passes per game.

Those numbers, while not elite, reflect a player capable of impacting games even when on the fringes.

Like Arteta, he came through under Guardiola’s influence, albeit at Manchester City rather than Barcelona, and shares a similar mix of technique and tactical intelligence.

During his peak at Aston Villa, Luiz was an all-action midfielder.

He pressed high, recycled possession with ease, and regularly contributed in the final third, with nine goals and five assists in the 2023/24 Premier League season.

Statistically, Luiz offers a slightly different skillset to Arteta, with a greater emphasis on carrying and dribbling through midfield rather than serving purely as a distributor.

But his ability to dictate games from deep, maintain high pass accuracy, and play through pressure makes him an ideal fit for Moyes’ system.

He may not tackle with the frequency of Idrissa Gueye, but his intelligent positioning and ability to escape tight spaces provide a more rounded midfield profile.

Perhaps more importantly, Luiz is a player with something to prove. At 27, he’s entering his prime years and eager to re-establish himself as a key figure for Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Everton, with a stable role and clearly defined structure under Moyes, could provide the perfect stage.

While the financials may be tight – Luiz still has four years left on a contract worth over £150k per week – a well-structured loan move could make the deal viable.

Juventus want to offload him, Luiz wants to play, and Everton need a man in midfield.

Back in 2005, Moyes signed a young Spanish midfielder who would go on to define his Everton side for the next five years. In 2025, history may be about to repeat itself.

He's better than Fofana: Everton make contact for £51m "offensive menace"

Everton are pushing to sign a new right-sided forward this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that the Reds will not hesitate to strike with further additions in the summer transfer market.

Never in the Anfield side’s history has there been such a cascade of first-team signings across a single summer window, but then Liverpool won the Premier League last season and have the financial means to package Slot’s squad with exciting additions.

The thought of Mohamed Salah combining with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, previously two of the German Bundesliga’s brightest talents, over the next few years is quite a thing.

And more may yet be added to the ranks.

However, Luis Diaz has been sold to Bayern Munich for a £65.5m fee, and that’s a departure which will be felt on Merseyside next season.

Liverpool's decision to sell Luis Diaz

Liverpool sold Diaz, 28, due to the fact he had entered the penultimate year of his contract and wanted to leave, earning a comparatively meagre amount compared to many of Liverpool’s best-paid stars.

Bayern presented the Reds with a pretty few pennies, and his sale felt like a no-brainer, although it has now left the Anfield side lacking the versatile forward’s electric-paced energy.

Following the announcement of Diaz’s sale, Salah said this: “Your energy, drive, and passion on the pitch have left a mark that won’t be forgotten.”

And he only improved over the past year, shifting from Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpress to the more methodical ‘Slotball’.

Matches (starts)

37 (32)

36 (28)

Goals

8

13

Assists

5

5

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.9)

2.0 (0.8)

Big chances missed

13

11

Pass completion

85%

86%

Big chances created

5

8

Key passes*

1.8

1.6

Dribbles*

1.8

1.5

Ball recoveries*

3.4

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.0

1.3

Duels won*

4.6

3.8

Diaz’s sale does, of course, hand Cody Gakpo something of a window to grasp over the coming weeks and months, for he is – as things stand – Liverpool’s leading left-sided forward.

But the Colombian, now part of the Die Roten squad, played a fair share of football as a makeshift number nine, and when Liverpool replace him, they might have their sights set at a central player.

Liverpool target wants to join them

As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Liverpool have seen an opening offer for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak knocked back. It fell into the ballpark of British-record territory, in excess of £120m.

Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has corroborated the report, revealing that the 25-year-old is “pushing to join” Slot’s side. The Magpies, it’s important to stress, are adamant they will only cash in should they find a suitable replacement.

Careful planning and handling of finances have allowed Liverpool to shift into this enviable position, and Isak really would be the icing on the cake this summer.

What Liverpool would get with Alexander Isak

Isak has been with Newcastle for three years now, having joined them from Real Sociedad for £63m in 2022. Pundit Ally McCoist hailed him as “the best all-round centre-forward” in the Premier League for his efforts across the 2024/25 season, and it’s hardly an outrageous take.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland may be a more clinical ball-striking machine, but Isak’s rounded style, merging strength with style, suggests he could slot right into the way of things at Anfield.

It’s the kind of offensive game that would play right into Salah’s strengths, prominently, but also Gakpo’s too. Liverpool’s Netherlands ace scored 18 goals and provided seven assists last season, instrumental in winning the Premier League.

He’s not averse to creating and drawing defenders away, of course, and so in this way, Liverpool could find a new high-class partnership developing between Isak and Gakpo, with the Newcastle number nine so elegant and suitable for the prolific wide forward’s skill set.

Matches (starts)

30 (27)

34 (34)

Goals

21

23

Assists

2

6

Touches*

26.8

33.3

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (1.4)

2.9 (1.4)

Big chances missed

21

18

Pass completion

80%

77%

Big chances created

5

11

Key passes*

0.9

1.2

Dribbles*

1.4

1.2

Ball recoveries*

1.3

1.6

Tackles + interceptions*

0.4

0.5

Duels (won)*

2.4

2.8

The £120k-per-week Isak has a lot in his locker, but he has almost simplified his game at Newcastle, relinquishing some of the more athletic and mobile elements to refine his world-class shooting. It worked to an emphatic effect, for Newcastle restored their place in the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup (against Liverpool in the final) besides.

He was only outscored by Salah, but his roundedness suggests that he could be an exciting dance partner for Gakpo, whose responsibilities may well increase with Diaz now gone.

Gakpo isn’t a one-trick pony by any stretch, but he does put an emphasis on his goalscoring, cutting inside and clinically striking on goal.

Since Isak created 11 big chances in the top flight last season, it seems like he would be a tailor-made addition to combine with Gakpo, who ranked among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last year for non-penalty goals (0.47) per 90, as per FBref.

The Dutchman was praised by pundit Peter Crouch for having “gone up a level” since Slot replaced Klopp in the dugout, and you can only imagine the kind of heights that the 25-year-old could reach alongside a cultured and confident superstar such as Isak, who has been described by teammate Nick Pope as being “like a wizard” for the playmaking side to his arsenal.

Once again, Liverpool know that their hopes of signing Isak hinge on Newcastle’s ability to find a replacement. They want RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but he’s also being pursued by Manchester United, who are readying a formal bid.

However, the Magpies will be cautious about keeping Isak on the books after his desperate efforts to force a move to Liverpool, and this is – without a doubt – one to keep a close eye on.

Bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool ready to sell Slot's "monster" for £47m

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, and now face the exit of another star player.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

With T20I and ODI World Cups looming, her ODI bowling workload will be carefully managed, but she remains confident of playing full all-round role in T20s

Andrew McGlashan13-Aug-2024

Marizanne Kapp produced an all-round show in South Africa’s first ODI win over Australia in February•Getty Images

Marizanne Kapp has revealed that she had decided to retire from international cricket earlier this year, but was talked out of it and is now grateful she didn’t go through with it as she feels at the peak of her powers.The toll of balancing franchise cricket with being a vital all-round cog in a rebuilding South Africa side, alongside the fitness controversy around her wife Dane van Niekerk, had become almost too much.But CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe urged Kapp not to rush into a decision. They have since worked together to look at her workload, and Kapp is now committed to South Africa for the foreseeable future, which includes T20I and ODI World Cups over the next 12 months.Related

Goswami: 'Franchise leagues are the future of women's cricket'

Kapp joins Melbourne Stars on three-year deal

Kapp focuses on learnings with ODI World Cup in India

Kapp: 'I try to keep it simple. If I stick to what I do best, it works out'

“I did retire earlier this year – or asked to retire – and luckily I didn’t,” Kapp told ESPNcricinfo. “I spoke to the director of cricket, and he actually asked me to just hang on, think it through, [and] don’t make decisions too quickly, and I’m glad that I didn’t go through with it because I feel like I’m at the peak of my career.”The older I get, I’m getting better. So it would be a shame to have worked for all those years, and now [when] I’m at my peak, I retire from international cricket. I’ve loved playing in all these leagues, but playing for your country and at World Cups is a different level. CSA have been so good to me in helping manage my workload. Now I’ll play for as long as I can contribute.”Had Kapp, who had produced an all-round display in South Africa’s first ODI win over Australia in February, retired, it would have continued a significant loss of big names from South Africa in recent years, including van Niekerk, Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee and Shabnim Ismail.Kapp’s ODI bowling workload will be carefully managed, but she remains confident of playing a full all-round role in T20s for both – her franchise sides and her country. She has committed to playing all ODIs which are part of the Women’s Championship and count towards World Cup qualification, but will miss some T20Is including November’s series against England, which overlaps with the end of the WBBL, where she has signed a three-year deal with Melbourne Stars.Marizanne Kapp on her Test hundred in 2022: “When I had that big knock, it was like, ‘I can do this, I don’t have to prove myself'”•Getty Images

“They [CSA] have been so good to allow me to play in the leagues where I can,” she said. “With T20, it’s not too hard to manage [the workload]. But in ODI cricket, I’m not 20 anymore, and my workload has been so high with the bat that it makes it impossible to continue to bowl ten overs [in every game].”If you look at the make-up of the South African team, we are a bit light on the batting front. So I am needed more with the bat. So the bowling will probably take a bit of a backseat just in ODIs.”A major factor in Kapp’s three-year deal with Stars was working with coach Jonathan Batty and playing alongside Meg Lanning – all three are part of Delhi Capitals in the WPL. The long-term offer was also key for her to have a chance to settle with one team. Last WBBL season, she was picked up by Sydney Thunder as the No. 1 draft pick, after Perth Scorchers opted to retain Sophie Devine ahead of her, but endured a torrid campaign, averaging 9.40 with the bat and taking ten wickets at 37.40.”I’m a player that’s actually very insecure, to be honest,” Kapp said. “Moving [is hard] because I always feel like you now have to prove yourself. Then you try too hard, and things get worse and worse. Unfortunately, last year when I got to Thunder, I was ill, [and] missed a lot of training. And am the type of player that if my preparation is good, then I have more confidence.”So I was low on confidence. Then you are in a new team, so it was nothing on the club or coaching staff; they were amazing to me. It’s probably not my strongest attribute, but I’m just happy I know I’m going to Stars, and they are people I’ve worked with before.”Overall, though, Kapp’s belief that she is at the peak of her career is backed up by numbers, particularly with the bat: in all T20s this year, her average is 33.06 and her strike rate at 142.97, both considerably up on her career figures, with Kapp saying strike rate had been a particular focus for her.Meanwhile, in ODIs since 2023, she is averaging 62.63. She traces the success back to the Test century against England in 2022, but admitted it had been a difficult journey.”It’s probably been my toughest couple of years; it’s not been easy,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed my batting… but [I used to] feel like the world was always so focused on my bowling and wouldn’t speak about my batting, and that makes you lose confidence. When I had that big knock, it was like, ‘I can do this, I don’t have to prove myself’, and from there on, I’ve had a different confidence in my own ability.”My faith has been a massive part of it as well, having struggled with off-field matters, everything that happened with Dane, and with Covid. I spent so much time in my room reconnecting with the Lord.”

With Junior Firpo currently set to leave as a free agent later this month, Leeds United have reportedly joined the race to sign a Bundesliga standout who’s worth just £8m this summer.

Junior Firpo set to depart Leeds

After four years at Elland Road, Firpo has just 24 days remaining as a Leeds player unless anything dramatic happens between now and the end of the month. With his contract expiring, the Whites have missed their chance to cash in and will now watch on as one of their most experienced players departs as a free agent. With or without the chance to cash in, however, Leeds must find a replacement this summer.

Daniel Farke is one of many who are well aware of Firpo’s importance in Yorkshire, having told reporters when asked about the defender’s contract situation at the start of last season: “If I’m honest I haven’t thought about this scenario so far because it was such a difficult summer for other things.

“You know how much I rate Junior [Firpo] and Sam [Byram] and how important they are for us. Junior played a really good game against Burnley, after long travel, improved defensive skill and turning into a leader. Great will to improve further.”

49ers lining up summer swoop to sign "resilient" relegated star for Leeds

He could get an instant return to the Premier League.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 6, 2025

Set to lose one of his leaders nonetheless, Farke must ensure that his replacement, whoever that is, steps up in Firpo’s place. Those at Elland Road cannot afford to get things wrong this summer with the Premier League looming.

None of the last six promoted clubs have survived their first season in the Premier League, but Leeds will be desperate to end that trend. The 49ers look likely to back them in pursuit of that too, given recent links to the likes of Gustavo Hamer and now a talented Bundesliga star who would replace Firpo.

Leeds racing to sign Anthony Caci

According to Foot Mercato, Leeds are now racing Borussia Dortmund to sign Anthony Caci from Mainz 05 this summer. The full-back, who can play on both sides of the defence or even in midfield, has been a standout in the Bundesliga across the last eight months and has more than played his part in Mainz’s shock sixth place finish.

Valued at just €10m (£8m) by Mainz, Leeds would be landing a bargain deal by beating Dortmund to Caci’s signature this summer. There’s even a strong argument that the Whites would be landing an upgrade on Firpo and not just a replacement.

Minutes

2,684

2,616

Assists

7

10

Tackles Won

40

34

Ball Recoveries

131

114

Whilst keeping up with Firpo on the creativity front, Caci outperformed the Leeds man in a number of key areas. Having proven himself in Germany’s top flight, the Frenchman has more than earned the opportunity to do the same in England’s top division.

At just £8m, Caci would undoubtedly be a bargain buy and one that the 49ers should do everything to seal should Firpo depart this summer.

The summer transfer window has now closed. Well, the first window, in any case, opened to accommodate the needs of the incipient Club World Cup.

For Newcastle United, concrete movements have been withheld at this stage, albeit with the completion of Lloyd Kelly’s permanent move to Juventus banking £20m for the Tynesiders.

Eddie Howe does want improvements as his Magpies swoop back into the Champions League, however. England defender Marc Guehi and Brentford’s right-sided superstar Bryan Mbeumo have been shortlisted, but the latter has since stressed his desire to sign for Manchester United.

With Miguel Almiron having departed in January, right wing remains a priority position, and Newcastle have centred their sights on an interesting Mbeumo alternative.

Newcastle begin talks for new forward

Amid speculation over moves for Premier League wingers Anthony Elanga and Mohammed Kudus, it’s another plying their trade in England that’s of attention right now.

Indeed, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Newcastle have opened talks with Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro, with Howe a huge fan and the Seagulls ready to sell.

Available for a figure below £60m, the 23-year-old would fall into a similar financial ballpark as the £60m-rated Mbeumo, thus confirming United have the means to launch an official bid.

Pedro has even expressed a desire to play for Newcastle in a different role – and as it happens, Howe needs some more firepower on the right flank.

Why Newcastle should sign Joao Pedro

Two years ago, having signed for Brighton from Watford in a deal of roughly £30m, Pedro has established himself as one of the most dynamic forwards in England’s top tier, posting 30 goals and ten assists across 70 appearances.

Not just a goalscorer, Pedro ranked among the top 1% of forwards during the 2024/25 Premier League season for assists, the top 17% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

As it happens, such balanced performances have drawn Mbeumo up as one of his most comparable players. The Cameroon international, principally a right winger but more than capable as a focal frontman, scored 20 goals across 38 top-flight fixtures last year.

But he’s not just a marksman: Mbeumo created 17 big chances, and completed 1.4 dribbles and won 4.2 duels on average across the year; Pedro, meanwhile, created 11 big chances, averaging 1.1 dribbles and 4.9 duels per outing, metrics courtesy of Sofascore.

With Brighton’s star forward showcasing such an exciting range of creative and athletic qualities, and with a wealth of experience across various attacking roles, it might just be a deal that works out for the Toon, having profiled Mbeumo extensively.

Centre-forward

119

34

18

Left winger

40

14

0

Attacking midfield

27

11

1

Right winger

5

0

0

Mbeumo might be the talk of the town in the goalscoring department, but Pedro’s not exactly a shoddy shooter himself. In fact, content creator Ryan Adsett has praised the star’s “world-class” finishing, drawing attention to his “magnificent technique.”

Moreover, the Brazilian’s willingness to play ‘out of position’ bespeaks his intelligence and maturity, for he understands Alexander Isak is a moveless monolith at number nine, so staggeringly good at his job that few – if any – strikers playing football today would be able to take his place.

Who knows, Pedro’s ability to thrive across any number of areas could see him become an even better fit in the long term than the Bees man, with Howe known to use such protean profiles, like that of Anthony Gordon, across the frontline.

If Pedro really is willing to play out on the right to best serve the Newcastle project, this has got to be a deal PIF see over the line. His dynamism and desire to play at St. James’ Park suggest he could become the latest superstar created under Howe’s wing.

Better than Elanga: Newcastle holding talks over "generational" £84m star

Newcastle are in the market for a new right-sided forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 10, 2025

As Manchester United romped to a brutal first-leg victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Thursday evening, the performance of a certain Rasmus Hojlund quietly went under the radar in that semi-final clash.

With all the talk centred around the experienced trio of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Harry Maguire, the lively display of United’s number nine was easy to overlook, with the towering Dane notably winning the penalty that proved a key turning point in the tie.

Speaking after that bright performance, manager Ruben Amorim suggested that it was the 22-year-old’s “best game” since he took charge at Old Trafford, with the struggling number nine perhaps beginning to find his groove after netting at the death against Bournemouth last week.

That recent revival could prove vital if United are to claim European glory come the end of May, although in the long term, the fact remains that the former Atalanta man has scored just four Premier League goals all season – a simply dismal return for a striker.

Whether the £64m signing stays or goes this summer, a real upgrade is needed at the top end of the pitch ahead of next term – the Red Devils simply can’t afford a Hojlund repeat.

Man Utd's search for a striker

Amorim has gone from witnessing the heroics of Viktor Gyokeres – who scored 66 goals under his watch in just 68 games – back at Sporting CP, to now having to witness his goal-shy group toil in Manchester.

It is then no surprise that United have been heavily linked with a move to reunite the 40-year-old coach with his former talisman, while recent reports have also suggested that Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick could represent a wildcard option this summer.

With Victor Osimhen also reportedly in the frame, as the Nigerian gets set to enter the final year of his Napoli contract, there are proven targets out there for United to consider, as they seek a new centre-forward for the third summer in succession.

Transfer Focus

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

Frustratingly, however, it would seem that the man that INEOS have actually identified as the leading candidate is Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Old Trafford outfit are making a ‘huge effort’ to bring the 22-year-old to the club.

As per the report, Everton have now joined the race to sign the £30m-rated ace, alongside Chelsea, albeit with there said to be ‘hope’ at United that they will emerge victorious in their pursuit.

A player known well to technical director Jason Wilcox, amid his previous stint at rivals Manchester City, the England U21 international would be an exciting addition – but is he really what Amorim needs?

Why Man Utd could be set to sign another Hojlund

There appears to have become a growing obsession in the modern game with adopting a youth-centric approach in the transfer market. Take Chelsea, for example, whose oldest outfield player this season has been Tosin Adarabioyo, who is still only 27.

Even at United under the INEOS regime, every signing made since last summer has been aged 25 or under, excluding Noussair Mazraoui. Ironically, it would not be difficult to argue that the now 27-year-old has proven to be the best of the bunch.

Equally, Thursday’s triumph away in the Basque Country indicated the benefits of the older heads, with Fernandes and Casemiro proving to be “the difference again”, in the words of journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

United have no doubt been stung in the past by short-term, high profile signings – with transfer fees for those players also likely to prove more costly – although in the case of centre-forward, in particular, the club can’t afford to skimp this summer.

Cast your mind back to 2023, for instance, when Erik ten Hag set his sights on Tottenham Hotspur’s 280-goal hero, Harry Kane, only for the club to instead fork out for a 20-year-old Hojlund, who had scored just ten goals in all competitions for his former employers.

Last summer, meanwhile, another ‘cheap’ option was pursued in the form of Joshua Zirkzee, with the Dutchman available due to a £36.5m release clause in his Bologna contract. After netting just 12 goals last term in Italy, only a further seven have followed in Manchester.

To then consider moving for another young, inexperienced, but affordable forward in Delap could represent a real mistake, with the Englishman not exactly setting the world alight this season. 12 top-flight goals for a now-relegated side is nothing to turn your nose up at, although it’s hardly spectacular.

The Man City academy graduate, as he has shown in 2024/25, is an undoubted talent, with his bulldozing displays for the Tractor Boys seeing him lauded as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones.

And yet, it was only last season that the in-demand marksman had scored just eight league goals while on loan at Hull City in the Championship, with the question there to be asked over whether he is indeed ready to make such a seismic, pressurised step up.

Non-penalty goals

0.37

0.21

Assists

0.07

0.00

Total shots

2.30

1.55

Shot-creating actions

2.23

2.17

Pass completion

61%

76.7%

Progressive passes

1.11

0.83

Progressive carries

2.19

1.34

Touches in opposition box

1.41

2.99

Aerial duels won

1.93

1.19

What will also be of concern is that Delap is actually noted as a statistically similar player to Hojlund among those in their position in the Premier League, as per FBref, with it looking as if Amorim could be handed almost a carbon copy of what he already has at his disposal.

Yes, Delap is of far greater status right now, but it wasn’t too long ago that the speedy Hojlund was also earning rave reviews of his own. Who can forget his debut cameo against Arsenal, when the Denmark international ran William Saliba and Gabriel ragged.

As perhaps to be expected of a young striker, the pressure and expectation of leading the line for Manchester United has weighed heavy on Hojlund, culminating in his current woes.

Amorim is then in need of a Gyokeres, an Osimhen, who will shoulder that burden with ease, having repeatedly proven themselves over a number of seasons. Can the same really be said of Delap?

Approaching yet another pivotal summer window at Old Trafford, the club can’t afford any further mistakes. Of course, the tight budget must be considered, although the desire for affordability should not come at the expense of the need for ready-made quality.

Imagine him & Bruno: Man Utd make £68m bid for "one of the best" talents

Manchester United could be about to land a star who would be perfect alongside Bruno Fernandes.

ByEthan Lamb May 3, 2025

Glasgow Rangers delivered a resolute display in their Europa League quarter-final first leg tie against La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, despite being reduced to ten men early on.

Robin Propper was sent off after he was deemed to have prevented a scoring opportunity and from then on, it looked as though the Spanish side would go on to score a few goals.

Bilbao had 19 shots throughout the match, yet couldn’t find the back of the net. They even had a penalty saved following a decision by the referee after a VAR review and this set up the match nicely ahead of the second leg.

One person who will miss that game, however, is Propper. Perhaps this could work wonders as the Light Blues look to reach the semi-finals.

Why Robin Propper was sent off against Athletic Bilbao

Prior to being dismissed, the Dutchman had yet to win a single duel contested while he lost possession twice, failed to deliver an accurate long ball from two attempts, and took just 16 touches.

After fouling Nico Williams on the edge of the penalty area, Propper was initially given a yellow card for his troubles.

Metric

Highest-ranked

Accurate passes

Daniel Vivian (84)

Key passes

Nico Williams (6)

Tackles

James Tavernier (5)

Shots on target

Oihan Sancet, Maroan Sannadi and Alex Berenguer (1)

Ground duels won

James Tavernier (7)

Following a VAR review, however, referee Istvan Kovacs upgraded this yellow to a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

According to IFAB rules, denying an opportunity outside the box results in a red card, although the sentiment wasn’t quite shared by the Ibrox crowd.

Thankfully, the Gers were able to secure a 0-0 draw that puts them in a solid position heading into the second leg.

Propper hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best maiden season at Ibrox. Did the club sell a player last year who is better than the former FC Twente captain?

The former Rangers star who is miles better than Propper

After spending six seasons with Rangers, making 309 appearances for the club in that time, Philippe Clement sold Connor Goldson last summer to Aris Limassol.

The timing was right, as the centre-back wasn’t at his best throughout 2023/24, but there is no doubt he still would have been a better option than Propper.

Hailed by former manager Steven Gerrard as being “an absolute mountain” back in 2021, Goldson’s influence waned, hence his move to Cyprus.

The English titan averages a 90% pass success rate this season in the Cypriot top flight, along with winning an impressive 75% of his aerial duels and succeeding with 53% of his long ball attempts.

Comparing this to Propper, who has an 89% pass success rate domestically, while winning 64% of his aerial duels and succeeding with 48% of his long ball attempts, proves that Goldson is enjoying the best campaign from a statistical viewpoint.

Furthermore, Propper simply cannot handle the physicality of Scottish football, as opposition attackers can get the better of him, having been dribbled past ten times in the Premiership so far.

Of course, I’m not saying Goldson is the answer to the club’s prayers, but given the choice, he appears to be a better option in comparison to Propper, based off their respective form this season.

As bad as Propper: Ferguson must axe Rangers dud who made just 4 passes

Having battled to a goalless draw at Ibrox, Rangers manager Barry Ferguson must axe his “frustrating” star at San Mamés in next Thursday’s second leg.

Apr 11, 2025

This is why the Gers messed up when they cashed in on the former Brighton man last year because he is currently miles better than the Dutch dud, who is yet to prove his worth at Ibrox.

He’s bowled three overs in the powerplay in each of their first two games – a marked difference in how Bumrah’s overs are usually deployed

Shashank Kishore16-Sep-20259:02

Talking T20: How innovations in the format have evolved over time

Two games into their Asia Cup campaign, India have used Jasprit Bumrah differently from the norm.Instead of bowling the majority – or at least half – of his overs at the death, Bumrah has been given three of his four overs inside the powerplay in both matches. Against UAE, it may have been to get him acclimatised to match conditions, having been on a break since the fifth Test against England ended in the first week of August. But India repeated the tactic against Pakistan too.In 244 T20s prior to the Asia Cup, Bumrah had bowled three overs in the powerplay only 11 times, and not once in T20Is since 2019. For context, even in IPL 2025, he averaged just one over in this phase. India have gone spin-heavy in this Asia Cup, and by opting for batting until No. 8, they are playing just one specialist fast bowler with Hardik Pandya taking the new ball. The plan to front load Bumrah’s overs is for him cause the damage that Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy can capitalise on.Related

Fun and banter but no drop in intensity at India training

SKY: Spinners come prepared so things move 'on autopilot'

Kuldeep, Axar and Abhishek lead India to thumping win

“We’re very happy using him as an attacking option,” captain Suryakumar Yadav had said after the seven-wicket win over Pakistan on Sunday. “If he picks two wickets, even if he bowls a tight spell of his overs, later on we can have a good cushion for all the spinners to come over and make our job a little easier.”With Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana on the bench, the question is who India will turn to at the death if stretched at the Asia Cup and Bumrah doesn’t have many overs left? If Arshdeep gets into the XI at some stage, he’s the obvious choice for the death overs, having made the role his own in Bumrah’s absence from the T20I side following the 2024 T20 World Cup.The other question is whether any of their opponents can stretch India at the Asia Cup? Their next game is against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday – a game of no consequence considering India have already qualified for the Super Four round.None of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel or Varun Chakravarthy are regular bowlers in the death overs. In T20Is since 2023, Kuldeep has bowled only 8% of his overs in this phase. For Varun it’s 4% and Axar 6%. While dew hasn’t been a factor so far, it could be later in the tournament, making it trickier for the spinners later in the evening.Jasprit Bumrah has bowled three overs in the powerplay in both matches at the Asia Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesOn Sunday, Shaheen Shah Afridi was able to score a career-best 33 off 16 balls at the death, lifting Pakistan to 127 when they had looked like being restricted for less. Kuldeep conceded seven runs in the 17th over, Varin 9 in the 18th, Bumrah 12 in the 19th and Hardik 16 in the final over.”I think Bumrah should bowl two overs with the new ball. That gives you flexibility later,” former India fast bowler Varun Aaron told ESPNcricinfo. “Obviously, the spinners are bowling really well, but if one of them has an off day and you desperately need a wicket, Bumrah is the guy who can break through in the middle. Or be your death overs king.”When you hold him back for two overs at the end, you’re almost guaranteed he won’t go for more than 10 an over. Imagine a scenario where opponents need 50 off five overs. With only one Bumrah over to play [in the death], opponents can afford to play him out and still chase down 43 or 44. With two overs of Bumrah up their sleeve, the equation shifts dramatically.””Having said that, the team management must have thought it through, maybe believing he could get the top batters early by bowling three up front. But personally, I feel two at the start is ideal. Then you have the flexibility of either two at the death or splitting it one in the middle and one at the end. When it gets to the business end, they’ll probably switch to a 2-2 split.”

Days after SA and NZ faced each other in an epic Rugby World Cup final, the two countries meet again at the Cricket World Cup

Firdose Moonda31-Oct-20232:16

Van der Dussen: Taking ‘massive inspiration’ from the Springboks’ feat

The match that matters most has already been won. By South Africa. 12-11 on Saturday night in the City of Lights to make them world champions for a record fourth time. Yes, this is a cricket website. No, nothing about this part of the story is about cricket.In rugby’s fiercest rivalry, the Springboks and All Blacks met at the World Cup final in Paris during the weekend in a match that has been lauded as one of the greatest games the sport has ever seen. It was a nerve-shredder, as you can probably tell from the score-line, and ended with both teams down to 14 players and plenty of tears.Four days later, these two countries meet again, though the stakes are much lower this time. South Africa and New Zealand sit second and third on the points table respectively and a lot would have to go wrong for either of them to miss out on the semi-final, where they could play each other again. That’s not to say it’s impossible for things to unravel but it would also be fair to look at this as a dress rehearsal rather than a do-or-die. And for South Africa it could actually be the start, because the country’s attention will now shift to cricket and the expectation that was largely absent from their campaign is going to pile on in multiples.With two months left in 2023, South Africans are starting to think it may finally be their time because this has been a year of unprecedented success. “All the momentum within the sport was started by the women in the start of the year, with them getting into the [T20 World Cup final],” Temba Bavuma, South Africa men’s captain, said after their win against Pakistan in Chennai. “I think it’s been a bit of pressure for us as the Proteas to keep the momentum going. We’re doing well so far and we’ll take the inspiration and motivation from all those performances from our other national teams.”Related

NZ are a mighty team, and nobody knows it better than SA's coach

Gerald Coetzee: A scary all-round package in the making

The “other” national teams also include the national women’s football team, who became the first senior side to advance out of the group stage at the football World Cup but is dominated by the Springboks, who have unified South Africa in a way nothing and no-one else has been able to. And for the cricketers that is something to strive to emulate.”We take massive inspiration from them, – massive learnings and lessons from them as a team; from how they go about things, what they stand for and the purpose they play for,” Rassie van der Dussen said ahead of the New Zealand match. “Siya (Kolisi – the Springbok captain) mentioned in a press conference that if you’re not from South Africa, you don’t really understand what it means or what sporting achievement means for us.”So what does it mean and why is it different to anywhere else? Surely winning is an opioid of the masses everywhere? Not so, explains van der Dussen. “What the Springboks and sport shows is when you get things right and you do things the right way, what you can achieve. Good things happen to good people. And that Springbok team – that’s what they are. They are all hard-working, good South Africans with a real humility about them, and a real hunger for success and it shows when you are willing to put differences aside what is possible for a country like ours.”South Africa have been on a roll in this World Cup•ICC via Getty ImagesAnd that’s the rub of it. Beyond having well-functioning systems that result in collective achievement, sport in South Africa is one of the most front-facing parts of society that speaks to the legacies of division and slowly and painfully, some cohesion. Sport was an essential part of the politics of Apartheid, which kept racial groups segregated and saw all-white teams take the field, and the resistance against it, when people of colour continued playing despite all the obstacles put in their way and with the knowledge they would never represent the country. Cricket was the first (and to date only) sport that has had a reckoning with race and it was recent. The Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings took place just over two years ago and tore the game apart. It has started to come back and to borrow the Springboks slogan, it appears that the cricketers are stronger together.”The situations we’ve faced in the past three years – Covid-19, BLM, SJN and various political stories we have had back home as a team, forced us to pull together,” van der Dussen said. “It’s had the effect of us being really tight off the field as well. Between any two members of the squad there is a real connection. We are blessed in a sense that we are in a good space now because we’ve had to deal with a lot of controversy over the past three years.”But could all of that, along with the very fresh success of the Springboks, combine to make this also the cricketers’ year? Coach Rob Walter tried to play it down. “I don’t think it [the expectation] has become any more because the Boks have won,” he said. “It’s an inspiration as to how they won and hopefully that can catalyse us moving forward. Maybe the media attention will shift to us now. We’ve spoken about it as a team as to what we can take as opposed to how it impacts us for a pressure point of view. Rugby is rugby and they have been very successful over a long period of time. We are trying to take care of our own business here.”2:38

Are expectations high from SA after the country’s Rugby World Cup triumph?

That’s sensible and sobering because while the Springboks have won four World Cups, the Proteas have not even reached one final and despite all the warm and fuzzies South Africans are feeling now, it’s too early to be thinking about that. The immediate challenge is three more group games, starting with New Zealand, a team South Africa have been poor against at World Cups.South Africa have lost five of their last World Cup encounters against New Zealand, including at the 2011 quarterfinal and 2015 semi-final, and six of eight all told. They last beat New Zealand at the World Cup in 1999.The same statistic was true for Pakistan (though they did not play them in 2003, 2007 and 2011) and when they looked shaky on 250 for 8 chasing 271 in Chennai, people were clearing their throats to say the word choke and bringing up South Africa’s storied and scarred World Cup history.

“You realise that fans have been really scarred by previous performances and you really can’t criticise them for feeling that way”Rassie van der Dussen

Almost all South African squads have said the ghosts of tournaments past do not haunt them and most are believable to a point – the point where they crash out. This side, still very much in, is perhaps the most believable because of how they see the reasons that people keep bringing up their previous failings.”You realise that fans have been really scarred by previous performances and you really can’t criticise them for feeling that way, and for criticism to come from a place of hurt,” van der Dussen said. “But personally, and it goes for most of the people in the squad and management team, we haven’t lived that. So it’s not really applicable to us. It’s things that have happened and they love replaying the scenes whenever we take the field and that’s fine but it’s not something that is affecting us. It’s part of history. But it’s certainly not part of us as a team.”And so they move forward, as a team looking to carve out their own identity in a year where being “South African” has taken on more meaning.As for New Zealand, despite getting to the last two finals and losing them, they don’t face the same scrutiny, have even less media coverage than South Africa at this event, and as a playing group, don’t even seem too affected by the All Blacks defeat. They’ll also take some cues from their more famous and successful sporting counterparts which makes the narrative around Wednesday’s match more about two countries’ sporting stories than just two cricket teams.”When you look at the All Blacks as a whole, they’ve played some great rugby throughout this World Cup. The Kiwi way is we look to scrap the whole way,” Tom Latham said. “Obviously faced with a little bit of adversity in terms of being down to 14 men, but it’s something we talk about in our team as well, we scrap right to the end regardless of the situation.”