Manchester United are now preparing a significant offer for a “rapid” new player, who has been demanded by Ruben Amorim ahead of the January transfer window.
Amorim looking to sign new centre-back who could partner Maguire
In the wake of Harry Maguire scoring a dramatic late winner against Liverpool at Anfield, Nicky Butt has suggested Man United have made a mistake by not bringing in a top centre-back partner for the England international.
The former midfielder said: “Do you know what you were saying about never letting the club down, I think it’s the other way around, I think the club has let him down, if I’m honest.
“If you look at his best games they have always been for England, he’s had John Stones next to him, it’s like a Yin and Yang.
“With Harry, he’s going to that club, and he’s never had a player next to him who can compliment him ever…”
In fairness, Matthijs De Ligt has arguably improved considerably this season, but Amorim is a little light on top-quality options, with Paul Scholes recently criticising Luke Shaw, who started at left centre-back against Liverpool.
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The Manchester United legend has praised one of Ruben Amorim’s key players, who he was initially “sceptical” about.
ByDominic Lund Oct 21, 2025
As such, bringing in a new centre-back in the January transfer window could be a savvy move, and Amorim has now demanded the signing of Sporting CP star Ousmane Diomande, with the United boss keen to secure a reunion.
That is according to a report from Spain, which also states Man United are now preparing a significant offer for the centre-back, who is valued at around €50m (£43m), which would be an affordable fee.
Amorim believes the Sporting CP defender would be an ideal fit in his three-at-the-back system, and he has now been identified as a key target for the winter transfer window.
"Rapid" Diomande is a Gabriel and Saliba "hybrid"
William Saliba and Gabriel have formed a formidable partnership at Arsenal, with the Gunners conceding just three Premier League goals this season, and both centre-backs rank among the best in world football.
As such, it should excite United fans to hear the Sporting star has been described as a “hybrid” between the two Arsenal defenders by scout Ben Mattinson, while journalist Zach Lowy has also been left very impressed.
Moreover, the youngster is very assured in possession of the ball, placing in the top 1% of centre-backs for his pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year.
With Man United clearly in need of a new centre-back, Diomande could be the ideal addition to the squad, and his previous experience working with Amorim is an added bonus.
Hale End. It’s not quite La Masia but Arsenal’s academy system has very quickly become revered across the country.
While the Gunners have always had a habit of producing top young players, in the last decade it’s taken on a particular level of prominence.
From Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, the conveyor belt of talent has consistently provided Mikel Arteta with some of the finest young talents in the country.
For Nwaneri and Dowman, the goal will be to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and there is every chance they will.
The generational academy duo have become the two youngest players in Premier League history and the world is their oyster. They look ready to dominate English football for years to come.
Youngest players in PL history
Player
Age
1. Ethan Nwaneri
15 years, 5 months
2. Max Dowman
15 years, 7 months
3. Jeremy Monga
15 years, 8 months
4. Harvey Elliott
16 years, 1 month
5. Matthew Briggs
16 years, 2 months
While Nwaneri looks special, Dowman looks next level. He’s burst onto the scene at an almighty rate of knots and aged just 15, is already impacting Premier League games. It’s echoes of Lamine Yamal’s rise at Barcelona.
While Arsenal will hope they have another Yamal or Saka on their hands, expectations must be tempered, just as they had to be when the latter burst onto the scene under Unai Emery.
What happened when Saka burst onto the scene at Arsenal
Arsenal supporters don’t have much to thank Emery for but he was the manager who spotted Saka and gave him his first-team debut.
The date was 29th November 2018. The competition was the Europa League. The opposition were Vorskla Poltava. Saka appeared from the bench in a 3-0 win aged 17 years, two months and 24 hours. The rest, as they say, is history.
Just a few weeks later, Saka made his first start for Arsenal in a 1-0 Europa League victory over Qarabag. Then, in the New Year, he made his Premier League debut in a 4-1 win over Fulham on 19th January 2019.
Starting lineup for Saka’s first start
GK – Emi Martinez
RB – Carl Jenkinson
CB – Sokratis
CB – Laurent Koscielny
LB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CM – Mo Elneny
CM – Joe Willock
CAM – Mesut Ozil
RW – Eddie Nketiah
LW – Bukayo Saka
CF – Alexandre Lacazette
At first, Saka appeared on the left wing but made a seamless transition across both flanks. It was from the right side that he scored his first senior goal.
While he should have scored in that game against Qarabag, firing at the goalkeeper from a matter of yards out, he did finally find the net nearly a year later.
The Europa League was a fine competition for Saka to develop in and it was on the continental stage that he scored in Arsenal colours for the first time, bagging in a 3-0 win over Frankfurt.
While the England international has now found a home on the right wing, much of the embryonic stages of his career played out at left back or left wing-back.
Indeed, he has played at left-back 21 times in his club career. During Arteta’s first match in charge of the club in December 2019, Saka was fielded in that position. He even made his England debut in that area of the pitch.
It’s rather remarkable, therefore, that he is now one of the best wingers in world football. Arsenal journalist Charles Watts even went as far as to say that the club’s number 7 was “the best right winger in the world” in 2023.
Now, in 2025, Saka has very much lived up to that billing, winning England’s Player of the Year on a couple of occasions and proving he is the man for the big occasion for club and country. He stepped up and scored at a vital moment at the Euros in 2024, netting against Switzerland and bagging inside the Bernabeu last season.
So in 2025, seven years after Arsenal’s best player burst onto the scene, where is the next Saka coming from?
Arsenal's next Saka has emerged from Hale End
Be it luck, be it the hard work of those behind the scenes at academy level, Hale End has had enormous success in recent years at producing players ready to be integrated into the first team.
Last term, Nwaneri featured on 37 occasions for the Arsenal senior side, scoring nine goals and supplying two assists. For a 17-year-old, it was a remarkable campaign.
However, the teenager is not the academy darling anymore. Dowman is the shiny new toy and he’s making his own impact.
While yet to score at senior level, the 15-year-old has showcased why he is rated so highly. He won a penalty against Newcastle in pre-season and won another spot-kick against Leeds in the 5-0 win at the beginning of the season. He did so by using his dazzling dribbling ability. Few in the game have as good close control of the ball as Dowman.
Yet, while both will naturally draw comparisons to Saka – being left-footed and playing off the right – it’s Myles Lewis-Skelly’s rise that evokes the strongest comparisons to his international colleague.
While many onlookers spent much of last season waxing lyrical about Nwaneri, it was actually Lewis-Skelly who enjoyed the brightest rise, quickly overtaking his good mate and becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet.
But, like Saka, he has emerged on the scene out of position and in the same role too.
Lewis-Skelly is a midfielder by trade and that is where the Gunners envisage his future. Yet, his development so far has been best served at left-back.
Standing in for an injured Riccardo Calafiori last term, the 18-year-old enjoyed a standout season, eventually being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Season award.
While ill-discipline cost the youngster at times, being sent off on two occasions, he was particularly vital during the club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.
Speaking on TNT during Arsenal’s win against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital, Premier League great Rio Ferdinand said: “I’m sorry, is Lewis-Skelly really 18? His date of birth is right, isn’t it? He looks so calm and so cool in and out of possession. Before the game he was on a call, just talking and chilling. He is special.”
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So, like Saka, he broke through at left-back despite it not being his natural position, and he’s got the composed, mature personality that his fellow Hale Ender possesses.
The problem for Lewis-Skelly, as Thomas Tuchel recently outlined, is his game time.
Last season was a special one for the teen, one that saw him also earn his first England caps. He even scored on his international debut. He’s an unbelievable talent, alright.
Yet, Arsenal’s squad is now stacked. Calafiori is fit again and the academy graduate is still awaiting his first Premier League start of the campaign.
Quizzed on whether Lewis-Skelly would be in next summer’s World Cup squad if he doesn’t play regularly, the Three Lions boss said: “Maybe it becomes a problem for him, yeah. To just be a good citizen in camp will not be enough over the course of a year.
“You have to perform at club level on a regular basis. In the last camp he got the credit, that I was convinced we have to take care of him and nominate him because we accelerated his career. It was our responsibility after we called him last season.”
We do have to remember that the Arsenal gem is still only 18. Even if he doesn’t make it to the World Cup next year, his time will no doubt come.
However, like Saka, it may not come at left-back. Arsenal’s sparkling number 7, the club’s poster boy, eventually made it on the right flank. He’s captained the club, he’s played 200 times in the Premier League, contributing 55 goals and 51 assists.
As club insider Hand of Arsenal once revealed, however, there is a belief that Lewis-Skelly could well be a “future captain” too, and he must now channel his inner Saka to get there.
A change of position to midfield will come at some point and it’s when that happens that he’ll get to really push on and explode. Just you wait.
He's just like Saka: Arsenal now have the "biggest talent in England"
The sensational gem could become as good as Saka at Arsenal.
Middlesex overcame stubborn Glamorgan resistance and the rain to beat the visitors by nine wickets on the final day of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash at Lord’s.Chris Cooke’s stoic 213-minute 69 and Ned Leonard’s career-best 47 led the Welsh rearguard the pair sharing a heroic stand of 88 for the eighth wicket – this after Sunday’s half-centurion Kiran Carlson had fallen without adding to his overnight score.Timm van der Gugten contributed a useful 28, but they were bowled out for 329 shortly after 3pm, Toby Roland-Jones returning three for 68.Needing 59, despite a lengthy rain delay, Middlesex got home with 13 overs to spare, Leus du Plooy 27 not out finishing the game with a six.Carlson’s dismissal in Roland-Jones’ second over of the day was highly controversial. The Seaxes’ skipper bowled a great line, and the ball bounced a fraction on the batter who appeared to hit the back of his pad with the bat rather than making any contact. Carlson shook his head all the way back to the pavilion.Cooke and new batter Van der Gugten dug in, the latter twice driving the Henry Brookes straight to the pavilion rope. It took Dane Paterson’s second delivery with the new ball to beat the outside edge and clip Van der Gugten’s off stump to end the stand of 47.The resolute Cooke, who survived a huge Roland-Jones shout for lbw, found another staunch ally in Leonard, the pair ensuring Middlesex would have to bat again when the latter top-edged Paterson to the fence at third in the first over after lunch.Cooke reached 50 with a sixth four tickled to fine leg and the 50 partnership soon followed. By now rain clouds were amassing to add to the hosts’ frustrations, Zafar Gohar’s emotions boiling over as he flicked the bails off with his hand in the aftermath of another lbw appeal answered in the negative. By the time Brookes had one upheld to end the obdurate Cooke’s 151-ball vigil, the lead was 50.Gohar’s mood wasn’t helped by Jack Davies dropping Leonard off the very next ball, but left with the tail, the 22-year-old missed out on a maiden first-class half-century when he attempted a reverse-sweep later in the following over and was castled.Shoaib Bashir needed a concussion check after being struck on the helmet by a short one from Brooks and the innings ended two balls later when the England spinner skied the seamer to mid-wicket.Middlesex promoted Holden to open and he promptly deposited Leonard’s first ball into the Tavern Stand, only to fall later in the same over trying to repeat the shot.Bad light and rain drove the players off soon afterwards with the score 16 for 1, leading to a two-hour delay. However, when the clouds dispersed the hosts coasted home with no further alarms.Players wore black armbands and the pavilion flags were lowered in memory of former Welsh umpire Jeff Evans who died yesterday aged 70.
Ben McKinney’s excellent unbeaten century gave Durham the edge on day one of their Rothesay County Championship clash with Warwickshire.Durham had the worst possible start when they lost Alex Lees in the first over, but they recovered well with McKinney leading the charge and he was well supported by Emilio Gay and the fortunate David Bedingham, who was dropped twice on his way to making 58.The Bears then took the initiative thanks to double-wicket bursts from Michael Booth and Taz Ali either side of tea, but Matthew Potts joined McKinney at the crease and made an unbeaten half-century to take Durham to 343 for seven at the close.McKinney impressed on tour with England Lions over the winter and he’s brought that form with him to the county scene. The tall left-handed opener saw out some tough periods but he remained calm and composed throughout the day to pick up his third first-class ton.This century, when others around him struggled, will likely prompt further calls for the opener to be in the reckoning for a senior international call-up and England Test skipper Ben Stokes was among the spectators as he steps up his recovery from injury at Chester-le-Street.Durham won the toss and elected to bat at the BANKSHomes Riverside, but the decision didn’t look a good one when Ethan Bamber bowled Durham skipper Alex Lees for a six-ball duck.McKinney and Gay settled the nerves for the hosts, with the former producing a booming shot through the covers which went for four. Gay, who made a pair against Nottinghamshire in the season opener, then got in on the act with a lovely punch through backward point for four.The hosts continued to tick along nicely through the two left-handers. McKinney showed a good balance of attack and defence amid some tight Warwickshire bowling, but he launched a Rob Yates delivery for four to keep the scoreboard ticking over.However, Booth picked up a much-needed wicket soon after as Gay edged a delivery behind to keeper Kai Smith for 41. But that brought last year’s top Division One run-getter Bedingham to the crease and he looked in good touch from the off as the South African international picked up a boundary with the first delivery he faced.McKinney and Bedingham resumed after lunch and they continued to combine well as the former reached 50 off 93 balls to kickstart his season.Warwickshire then missed two huge chances to get rid of the dangerous Bedingham, as the South African was dropped twice, both from the bowling of Bamber, with Smith and Yates the culprits for the visitors.The drops were proving costly for Warwickshire as Durham talisman Bedingham reached his half-century from 88 balls, but Booth removed him for 58 after he trapped the South African in front.McKinney continued to impress as he plundered a Booth ball through the covers for four but Ollie Robinson didn’t last long as Booth got his third scalp of the day when the wicketkeeper picked out Ali at extra cover for 12.Ali then got himself into the wickets with two in quick succession as Colin Ackermann holed out to the legside boundary for 18 after tea and he then bowled ex-Warwickshire man Will Rhodes for a three-ball duck. A third wicket in seven balls then came for the visitors as Ben Raine was bowled for four by Sri Lankan international Vishwa Fernando.Despite the chaos at the other end, McKinney remained calm and composed and reached his century from 186 balls after a nervy period in the 90’s where Potts had the bulk of the strike.Potts supported McKinney well and produced some lovely shots as well including a cut shot for four from a Fernando delivery.McKinney then heaved a Bamber ball over the legside boundary for six to pass his career best score and just before close Potts passed fifty for the fourth time in his first-class career.
Irrespective of what did, or did not, happen on deadline day, Leeds United still had an incredibly busy summer transfer window for their return to the Premier League.
They may not have landed Facundo Buonanotte or Harry Wilson in the final days of the window, but they did make ten first-team additions to the squad, including the likes of Anton Stach, Lucas Perri, Sean Longstaff, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The depth of incoming signings meant that there were always going to have to be exits along the way, and Patrick Bamford was one star who had to move on from Elland Road.
Why Patrick Bamford left Leeds United
In July, Daniel Farke confirmed to the media that he told the former England international that he was not going to be in the squad for the Premier League season.
The Leeds boss told reporters: “In the second day of pre-season, I got him into my office and told him he is not in my plans for the upcoming season. It would have been easy for me to hide behind the sporting director or wait until we got someone else in, but he has done so much for this club, he deserves respect and transparency.”
It did not come as a huge surprise, though, after the forward ended the 2024/25 campaign with 17 Championship appearances and zero starts, per Sofascore.
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Leeds and Bamford then came to an agreement to terminate his contract a year early to look elsewhere for a new club, but he has yet to find one at the time of writing.
The left-footed forward was a Marmite figure among supporters in recent seasons, becoming a bit of a scapegoat at times. Now, Leeds may have a new scapegoat in the squad after Bamford’s departure, and it is not Calvert-Lewin.
Leeds have found their new Patrick Bamford
The former Everton man may be the most obvious player to take on that mantle given that he missed a penalty and missed four ‘big chances’ off the bench in his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.
However, Calvert-Lewin has yet to start a game for the club and did not have a pre-season with a team, which means that he is getting a bit of slack for the moment.
One player who is not getting much slack is Wales international Dan James, who appears to be on his way to becoming the team’s new scapegoat after Bamford.
25/26 Premier League
Dan James
Appearances
3
Starts
3
Shots
3
Shots on target
0
Goals
0
Big chances created
0
Assists
0
Dribbles completed
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester United man has not had a strong start to the season in the Premier League, with a complete lack of impact in the final third.
LeedsUnitedNews claimed this week that James’ position in the starting XI should be under threat because of his disappointing performances, and stated that Farke should be ‘concerned’ by his form.
It is fair to say that he has not had the best start to the season, and supporters will remember that he was loaned out to Fulham when the Whites were last in the Premier League because he was not deemed to be good enough for the squad, but he is still a useful player.
Like Bamford, who scored 60 goals for the club, did in recent seasons, James will still have a part to play for Farke, after scoring 25 goals in the last two seasons for the German boss.
James, who pundit Sanny Rudravajhala once described as “electric”, may just have to settle for using his speed as a weapon off the bench, rather than being relied upon as a starter week-in-week-out.
Whilst he has faced his fair share of criticism and his place in the team may be at risk, as explained by LeedsUnitedNews, the Welshman could be an impactful player for the club in a different way this season.
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Therefore, whilst he may be on his way to being the new Bamford at the moment, James dropping to the bench to play a slightly more reserved role may lead to less criticism of his performances due to him not being as important to the team.
Cruz Azul extended their unbeaten run in the Apertura 2025 with a 3-2 win over Juárez on Matchday 9, climbing into first place with 23 points from nine games. Manager Nicolás Larcamón, who joined at the start of the season, credited the team’s collective strength and fierce internal competition as driving forces behind their impressive form.
Getty Images SportAn unstoppable Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul are one of the hottest teams in Liga MX as the only unbeaten side in the league after nine rounds. With a record of seven wins and two draws, are shaping up as one of the top favorites to win the title. They boast the best attack in the tournament and one of the strongest defenses, a balance that reflects how well Larcamón has adapted since taking over in June.
His arrival was initially met with heavy criticism, especially after suffering a 7-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup, but the team’s current dominance shows just how quickly the coach has turned things around.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'The confidence it brings'
Larcamón emphasized that finishing first is more than just a morale boost – it’s part of the team’s larger ambition.
“This is a match we must face with great responsibility. We aim for first place, and if we can achieve it this week, fantastic. The big objective is to be in first, not just for what it means on paper but for the confidence it brings. We are working to make that happen," he said.
The Argentine manager highlighted the value of a competitive locker room, where multiple players are pushing for a starting role. He praised the impact of Ángel Sepúlveda and Gabriel Fernández, calling them key figures in the team’s attack and essential to their playoff aspirations:
“It’s very positive to have attackers with confidence and quality for the type of football we want. I firmly believe that competition in every area of the field keeps players from relaxing. Both Ángel and Gabriel show great humility and give us excellent coverage in the position. I take my hat off to them," he said.
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Cruz Azul will host 17th-placed Querétaro next Wednesday in Week 10 of the Apertura 2025, setting up a strong possibility for the team to extend its winning streak.
Joe Burns has been announced as Italy’s new captain. The former Australia batter had shifted his allegiances to Italy in May this year.Burns, who was born in Brisbane, had qualified for Italy through his mother’s heritage and made his debut for them in June.”I am honoured to take on this role and represent Italy on the international stage,” Burns said in a statement. “For me, it is a return to my family’s roots. Italian cricket has enormous potential and I am excited to contribute to its growth. Together with my team-mates, we are working to achieve ambitious goals and make our fans proud.”Related
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Fabio Marabini, president of the Italian Cricket Federation, backed Burns to succeed in the leadership role. “Since day one, Joe has shown great generosity and professionalism, putting his experience and competitive spirit at the disposal of the team,” he said. “His choice as captain reflects our ambition to take Italian cricket to new levels. We are also counting on his leadership to play a leading role in the next qualifying stages for the 2026 T20 World Cup.”Burns has played five T20Is so far, all for Italy, scoring 211 runs at an average of 70.33 and strike rate of 144.52. In his most recent T20I, he scored an unbeaten 108 off 55 balls to set up a victory against Romania in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Europe Qualifier Group A.Burns has also attracted interest in franchise T20 cricket, with Dubai Capitals signing him up for the upcoming season of the UAE’s ILT20. Burns has also featured in the Vitality Blast apart from the Big Bash League.In his previous coming, as an Australia Test opener, Burns had scored 1442 runs from 40 innings across 23 matches – between December 2014 and December 2020 – hitting four centuries and averaging 36.97.Italy had also emerged on the IPL radar when Burns’ team-mate Thomas Draca made the long list for the 2025 player auction. The fast bowler, however, didn’t make the final cut.
As Alexander Isak edges closer to the exit door, Newcastle United are beginning to map out life without their talismanic striker.
The Swede’s choice to skip Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Southeast Asia and instead train at former club Real Sociedad has only heightened speculation about his future.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
While Liverpool lodged a bid to secure his signature, the Magpies are already working on contingency plans. In Benjamin Šeško, Newcastle believe they have identified an heir to Isak’s throne.
A towering presence at 1.94m, the 22-year-old is equally capable of leading the line with intelligence and intensity.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoheads at goal
Despite the club’s willingness to meet RB Leipzig’s valuation, the Slovenian appears to prefer a move to Manchester United – even in the absence of European football.
This has left the door open for alternatives.
One name is emerging as a serious contender – a raw but high-ceilinged talent who combines power, pace and composure in front of goal.
Newcastle looking at Europe's next powerhouse forward
According to TEAMTalk, Newcastle and Aston Villa are among five Premier League clubs interested in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.
FC Porto's SamuOmorodioncelebrates scoring their first goal
The 21-year-old Spanish-Nigerian powerhouse has taken Europe by storm since joining Porto from Atlético Madrid for around £15m last summer.
Aghehowa has scored 27 goals in 45 games, including six in the Europa League and two against Manchester United, evidence of his ability to shine on the biggest stage.
As per the report, sources close to the player suggest he is keen on a move to the Premier League, drawn by its competitiveness and global appeal. However, Porto’s valuation, a steep £70 million, partly due to Atlético Madrid’s 50% sell-on clause, may complicate matters.
Nevertheless, it’s believed a lower fee could be negotiated, with £50m-£60m having been suggested.
Why Samu Aghehowa Might Be the Next Šeško — Or Better
Standing at 1.93m, Aghehowa fits the same physical profile as Šeško. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson described Omorodion as an “absolute powerhouse”, while also noting that he is the “real deal”.
Samu Aghehowa in action for Porto.
Crucially, he’s already proven capable of shouldering a club’s attacking burden, an attractive quality for both Newcastle and Villa, especially with the latter facing uncertainty over Ollie Watkins’ future.
Should Newcastle miss out on Šeško, Aghehowa represents a similarly ambitious gamble, albeit one with a potentially higher ceiling.
Benjamin Sesko
In truth, comparisons between the pair are as inevitable as both are towering, physically dominant forwards.
What’s more, both are under the age of 23 and represent the archetype of the modern target man: capable of bullying defenders whilst also possessing the technique to play in dynamic, high-tempo systems.
According to data from FBref, his non-penalty expected goals (npxG) stood at 8.4, with 11 goals scored in open play, and he averaged 2.5 shots per 90 minutes. But as promising as those numbers are, Aghehowa’s hold up well in comparison.
In the Liga Portugal, the Porto man scored 19 league goals and added three assists. Across all competitions, he notched 27.
The same data shows he ranks in the 75th percentile for non-penalty xG per 90 (0.43) and the 86th percentile for total shots per 90 (3.10).
In terms of pass completion, he’s even more efficient than Šeško, ranking in the 96th percentile (77.8%), demonstrating his ability to play quick link-up football.
Additionally, the former Atleti starlet is an active presence in the box.
Sesko vs Samu
He ranks in the 86th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (5.45), and, surprisingly for a striker, in the 73rd percentile for interceptions – testament to his defensive work rate.
Šeško, for all his finishing prowess, has a more passive off-ball profile. With Isak increasingly detached, training independently at Real Sociedad and unlikely to return without resolution, Newcastle’s hierarchy must make a call.
Wait for a Šeško U-turn, or invest in the next rising star before the market catches up?
Aghehowa might not be a household name yet, but neither was Haaland before his Salzburg breakout, nor Šeško before Leipzig.
The traits are all there: size, speed, hunger, and a fearless eye for goal. In the end, signing him wouldn’t just be a response to Isak’s departure, it could be a defining statement of ambition for the years ahead.
Gordon's new Isak: Newcastle leading the race for £50m Sesko alternative
Newcastle are faced with the unenviable position of finding an Isak replacement this summer.
The start of Celtic’s competitive season is right around the corner.
A week on Sunday, the Hoops begin their Scottish Premiership title defence when they welcome St Mirren to Parkhead.
Celticmanager BrendanRodgerscelebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
After that, they’ll travel to Pittodrie for a Scottish Cup Final rematch against Aberdeen, while there’s plenty more for supporters to get excited about throughout August, with an Old Firm derby at Ibrox and a Champions League play-off tie to come later in the month.
Thus, with the new season rapidly approaching, Brendan Rodgers is doubly eager to get his new recruits over the line.
Celtic's search for a new centre-forward
Ever since Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold to Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £10m in January, the Hoops have been in the market for a new striker.
Following last mid-week’s pre-season friendly victory over Stade Rennais, Rodgers stated that he wants “to add to our front line” having “lost a lot of goals” in recent months, given that Nicolas Kühn has also departed for Como for around £16.5m.
In terms of pure centre-forwards, Shin Yamada has arrived from Kawasaki Frontale for around £1.5m, so will challenge Adam Idah for the starting number nine spot, but Rodgers will still want more.
Mathias Kvistgaarden appeared to be their top target since January, but he has instead decided to join Norwich City from Brøndby for a reported fee of £6.9m, leaving the Scottish champions searching for an alternative.
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Well, Rodgers does have previous when it comes to unearthing unknown strikers as Celtic manager, namely signing Moussa Dembélé nine years ago, so could he be about to do something similar?
Could Celtic sign a highly-rated young striker?
As Celtic scour far and wide for a new striker, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman claims they should go all in and sign Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers.
He believes, should he make the move to Glasgow, Kone “would thrive massively at that level” adding, given that Celtic “dominate games and create chances”, he would score plenty of goals.
Back in January, Luton Town had a £6m bid rejected by the Chairboys for Kone, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, likely to cost even more than that now.
To support this, a week ago, it was documented that Celtic have an interest in Kone, with the young marksman believed to be worth around £7m.
Richard Kone
Speaking on CBS’ Morning Footy, Wycombe legend Adebayo Akinfenwa noted that “if Hollywood was going to have a script for a story, this would be it”, given that Kone arrived in England to represent Côte d’Ivoire at the Homeless World Cup in 2019.
He then represented Athletic Newham in the Essex Senior League, England’s ninth tier, for five years, before being scouted and signed by Wycombe in January 2024, following an extended trial.
Richard Kone
Well, what a find this has proved to be, with the 22-year-old scoring 25 goals in 73 appearances for the Buckinghamshire-based EFL League One outfit, named both the division’s Player and Young Player of the Season, having netted 18 times in the league.
Let’s assess his statistics from League One last year to underline why he scooped up both accolades.
Goals
18
3rd
Shots
100
5th
Shots on target
40
5th
Shots per 90
3.28
3rd
Successful dribbles
44
16th
Big chances missed
16
6th
As the table notes, only two players, Charlie Kelman and Jay Stansfield, both of whom were playing for clubs who got promoted, scored more goals than Kone, while he ranked highly for every attacking metric included.
His performances certainly impressed writer Kai Watson, who labelled him a “mentality monster”, adding that “aggression, positioning and work rate” are amongst his strengths.
So why could he be a repeat of Dembélé’s arrival from 2016?
Well, before joining Celtic, the Frenchman had made just 64 senior appearances for Fulham, the vast majority of which had come at Championship level, so few could’ve forecast that he burst onto the scene as he did, scoring 32 goals during his first season at Celtic, five of which came in the Champions League.
Thus, there is certainly precedent for a young, inexperienced striker joining Celtic from the EFL and exploding into a top-class centre-forward.
If you’re not yet convinced by the déjà vu, listen to this; Kone’s non-league Athletic Newham are based on Atlético Madrid, they wear the same kit and their badge is nigh on identical, and with whom did Dembélé win La Liga? You guessed it!
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The Hoops have made a formal approach for an attacker, who was regularly among the goals in the 2024-25 campaign.
Liverpool are in a ruthless mood this summer and after welcoming Florian Wirtz for a British-record fee, Richard Hughes is reportedly set for talks to sell one of Arne Slot’s star and has already contacted his potential replacement.
Liverpool not done after record Wirtz deal
Unlike in the past, Liverpool are not just sitting back and admiring their silverware. They’re gunning for more. Jeremie Frimpong arrived first to replace Trent Alexander-Anrold, but the biggest headlines were still to come as Wirtz followed his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate to Anfield in a British-record £116m deal.
The German is ready to take the Premier League by storm too, telling Liverpool’s official media channels: “I’m really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League.
“I will see how I can perform there. I hope I can do my best. I spoke also with some players who played there and they told me that it’s perfect for me and every pitch is perfect, you can enjoy every game. I’m really looking forward to playing my first game.”
Florian Wirtz for Germany
Even after Wirtz, however, Liverpool are not done there. It has been a summer full of business for Richard Hughes, who is making up for lost time following a quiet debut year in Merseyside. Up next looks set to be Milos Kerkez, whilst reported talks to sell one star man could lead to another big-money incoming.
Liverpool set to hold talks to sell Nunez
According to Fabrizio Romano, reporting on Saturday afternoon, Liverpool are set to hold talks with Napoli next week over the sale of Darwin Nunez. The Italian club reportedly see the forward as their dream target and are now looking to learn more about the details of a potential move.
The sale of the struggling forward could be good news for those in Merseyside, who have reportedly already contacted Hugo Ekitike over a deal to replace Nunez this summer.
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When speaking about the Frenchman, Romano recently told the Market Madness Podcast: “Well, I think for Ekitike this could be a possibility to go to Liverpool, because there were calls from Chelsea two weeks ago. Man United, in recent days, also made contact with the agents to understand the situation.
“But for Liverpool, this is also a possibility. Liverpool also spoke to the agents. Also, Liverpool considered Ekitike an interesting opportunity. And so that’s the name I would keep in their shortlist.”
Minutes
2,563
1,133
Goals
15
5
Assists
8
2
Expected Goals
21.6
5.8
As the numbers show, Liverpool would once again be landing an instant upgrade this summer to continue what is likely to go down as their best-ever transfer window, even if the Frenchman could cost £85m.