Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Nottingham Forest’s move for an “unbelievable” forward, amid the fall-out surrounding their pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White, according to a report.
Forest considering legal action after Spurs approach Gibbs-White
Spurs’ pursuit of Gibbs-White has proven to be controversial, with Forest ceasing all communication after alleging that an illegal approach had been made for the midfielder, which means the deal has now stalled.
The Tricky Trees have reported Spurs to the Premier League, and it is currently unknown whether the transfer will be blocked entirely, although super agent Sky Andrew has suggested Daniel Levy may have to simply pay more to get a deal over the line.
Andrew said: “If it goes to arbitration, where it must go within the football rules and regulations, then Forest will have to prove that the club went directly to the player or to the agent. Most clubs know that it is very difficult to prove.
“So, this is a case now of how much will the buying club pay for the player. It won’t be £60 million, it will probably have to be more.”
Chief flies to London for transfer talks with £100k-per-week Tottenham star
He could leave Spurs this summer.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 13, 2025
The Lilywhites will no doubt have been left frustrated by the deal stalling, but they could now have an opportunity to get one-up on Forest, with a report from The Standard revealing they are in the race to sign one of their Premier League rivals’ major targets.
Tottenham reportedly remain in the race for Brentford star Yoane Wissa, having submitted an enquiry earlier in the transfer window, at which point they were told that it would take an offer of £50m to tempt the Bees into a sale.
Forest have also set their sights on the forward, having recently had a £20m bid knocked back, indicating Spurs could hijack the deal if they are willing to put a higher offer on the table.
Yoanne Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo celebrate for Brentford.
That said, Brentford have made it clear they are unwilling to sell both Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa in the same window unless they receive a huge bid, so it could be difficult to get a deal done.
"Unbelievable" Wissa emerged as Premier League star last season
The 28-year-old was one of the best-performing forwards in the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 19 goals, the sixth-highest tally in the top flight, while also providing five assists in 35 outings.
Courtesy of his performances last term, the DR Congo international was lauded for his “unbelievable” quality by former manager Thomas Frank, and it is an added bonus that the Spurs boss knows the forward very well.
As such, Wissa could be a solid signing for Tottenham this summer, with the France-born forward’s goal and assist tally suggesting he could justify a £50m price tag, although the fact his contract is set to expire next summer means a lower fee would perhaps be more fair.
Tottenham could make a signing befitting of new manager Thomas Frank by tempting one Liverpool star to north London, according to a new report.
£44m forward submits transfer request as Tottenham eye him to replace Son
Spurs need an heir to the club legend.
5 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 5, 2025
The Spurs squad have returned from what ended up being a whirlwind final game of their Asian pre-season tour against Newcastle United.
Son Heung-min bid a very emotional goodbye to the club in Seoul before sealing an MLS record-breaking move to Los Angeles FC, bringing the curtain down on 10 stunning years in the Premier League.
Adding to the emotion, but in a far more negative way, star playmaker James Maddison suffered a “bad” injury to the same knee which kept him out near the end of last season, with the England international carried off on a stretcher.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Frank’s side take on Bayern Munich in their final pre-season friendly of the summer tomorrow at the Allianz Arena, before gearing up for an all-important first competitive game of the new season.
Tottenham’s blockbuster UEFA Super Cup clash against European champions PSG represents a golden opportunity for Frank to deliver silverware just months after his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy.
A surprise win against Luis Enrique’s Ligue 1 dominators would be the perfect start to Frank’s reign, but the Dane is poised to go into the clash with a weakened squad as things stand.
FFC Spurs – James Maddison
Maddison’s latest problem is likely to keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future, making the need for a new number 10 all the more glaring.
Tottenham were on the verge of signing Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, booking a medical for the 25-year-old this time last month ahead of a £60 million move (BBC).
However, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis blocked the transfer, threatened legal action against Spurs and surprisingly managed to convince Gibbs-White to pen a new £150,000-per-week contract instead of leaving the City Ground.
After this unprecedented transfer twist, Frank and Daniel Levy must continue navigating the market for an alternative, and Spurs-linked former Stuttgart playmaker Enzo Millot is now off the table too, following his Al-Ahli move.
Tottenham tipped to move for Liverpool star Harvey Elliott
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Liverpool star Harvey Elliott could emerge as an option for Levy before the deadline on September 1.
“The other name I’d keep an eye on when it comes to Spurs actually is Harvey Elliott at Liverpool,” Crook said.
“He’s another player that Liverpool are willing to cash in on, he had a brilliant summer leading the England Under-21s to European Championship glory.
“He won’t be cheap, I think the asking price is about £40million, maybe north of that. But obviously, they were willing to pay £60m for Gibbs-White.
“And he just strikes me, Harvey Elliott, as a very Thomas Frank-type signing.”
The homegrown and locally trained 22-year-old really did have a stunning Euro Under-21 campaign with England, grabbing goals against Spain, The Netherlands and against Germany in the final.
England's Harvey Elliott and England's Jay Stansfield celebrate after the match as Germany's RoccoReitzlooks dejected
Elliott also featured on both the right and left-hand sides under Arne Slot last season, bagging a winner against PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie last term, but struggled for consistent game time in the Premier League.
His versatility means that Elliott could even come in as a replacement for both Maddison and the departed Son, with the former Fulham youngster having just two years left on his contract – meaning there is also leverage for Levy to whittle down his asking price.
أعلنت لجنة الحكام في الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، عن طاقم تحكيم مباراة منتخب مصر ضد جيبوتي، المقرر إقامتها في شهر أكتوبر المقبل، ضمن تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر مع جيبوتي، في الجولة التاسعة من مباريات المجموعة الأولي للتصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلي نهائيات كأس العالم القادم.
وتقام مباراة منتخب مصر مع جيبوتي، يوم 8 من شهر أكتوبر المقبل، في الدار البيضاء بالمغرب، على ملعب العربي الزاولي، في تمام الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.
طالع | تصنيف فيفا لـ شهر سبتمبر 2025.. منتخب مصر يتراجع عالميًا
وتعد موقعة منتخب مصر وجيبوتي، حاسمة للفراعنة، حيث أن الفوز يؤهل منتخب مصر بشكل رسمي إلي كأس العالم بإمريكا وكندا والمكسيك دون الانتظار إلي الجولة الأخيرة أمام غينيا بيساو.
ويتصدر منتخب مصر، ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 20 نقطة، من الفوز في 6 مباريات والتعادل في مواجهتين. حكم مباراة منتخب مصر وجيبوتي في تصفيات كأس العالم
Thomas Frank will be the latest Tottenham Hotspur boss tasked with the responsibility of making the club Premier League title challengers in 2025/26, after taking the reins following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal.
Whilst only being in the role for a matter of weeks, he’s already seen the challenges he faces in the role, with the Dane already embroiled in a saga over the addition of Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White.
A deal for his signature appeared to all be in order, after the Lilywhites decided to pull the trigger and activate the £60m release clause within his deal at the City Ground.
However, this is Spurs we’re talking about, and nothing ever comes easy – resulting in a missed opportunity after the player remarkably signed a new deal, in a move spearheaded by Reds’ owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Being unable to land the star will undoubtedly leave a sour taste in the hierarchy’s mouth, but ultimately, the show goes on, with other targets now being considered to help strengthen the squad this summer.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
In an attempt to forget about the failed move for Gibbs-White, the Spurs board have since turned their attention to a potential deal for Liverpool star Harvey Elliott.
It’s been reported that the Lilywhites have made an approach to the 22-year-old’s representatives over a move to North London, with Arne Slot’s side demanding £40m for his signature.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
However, he’s not the only Englishman currently on their radar, with want-away Manchester City star Jack Grealish another name being considered, according to GIVEMESPORT.
Their report claims that enquiries have already been made for the 29-year-old forward, who joined Pep Guardiola’s side for a then-English record £100m back in the summer of 2021.
The article also goes on to state that the player himself would be keen on a move to North London this summer, subsequently leading West Ham United in the race for his signature.
A move could cost £40m if previous reports are to be believed.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be a better signing than Gibbs-White
Given the addition of Mohammed Kudus already this summer, along with the offer for Gibbs-White, it’s evident the Spurs hierarchy are targeting Premier League-proven options for Frank’s side.
The Englishman has been key in Forest’s remarkable rise in England’s top-flight, notching 15 combined goals and assists last season, subsequently securing European football for the first time in 30 years.
Such a season saw him make his senior England international debut, making £60m an excellent deal had they managed to get it over the line before Marinakis’ intervention.
However, the Premier League is a ruthless division, with other sides able to completely bypass you if you rest on your laurels – something which the Lilywhites aren’t currently guilty of.
Their disappointment will be undeniable, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise if they manage to pull off a deal for Grealish in the coming months.
There’s no denying his move to the Etihad has halted his progression; only starting seven league outings last season after falling down Guardiola’s pecking order.
However, he managed to outperform Gibbs-White in multiple key areas last season, handing Frank a proven winner and arguably a better option given his trophy collection and experience in major European competitions.
Games played
20
34
Goals & assists
2
15
Progressive carries
8.6
2.2
Progressive passes
6.5
5.2
Pass accuracy
88%
78%
Key passes made
3.1
1.6
Take-on success
45%
40%
Carries into opposition box
5.8
0.4
Crosses completed
2.5
1.4
Grealish, who has previously been dubbed a “monster” by Joe Cole, showcased his excellent ball-carrying ability last campaign, completing more progressive carries, with the vast majority being into the opposition’s box.
Such figures would massively bolster Frank’s side, as would the 29-year-old’s tally of key passes per 90, bettering Gibbs-White in such a department, able to provide a creative threat off the left or in central areas.
He also has the end product at the end of his mazy runs with the ball, completing more crosses per 90, having the talent to provide others in forward areas to improve their own goalscoring tallies.
It’s unclear whether a move for Grealish would be a temporary or permanent one this summer, but they could massively take advantage of his lack of game time with the Citizens.
Manchester City's JackGrealishon the substitutes bench
The former Villa star has showcased he’s still capable of outperforming a £60m star despite his lack of action, potentially playing a huge role in any success endured during the Frank era.
Their very own Rodrygo: Spurs preparing £28m bid to sign "Messi-esque" star
Tottenham Hotspur could forget about Rodrygo with a move for another young star.
An agent has revealed how Liverpool were able to snatch Hugo Ekitike from under the noses of Newcastle, with a £79 million ($107m) deal pushed through.
French forward appeared destined for TynesideEverything was agreed between player & clubPremier League champions made late playFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Magpies boss Eddie Howe and his opposite number at Anfield, Arne Slot, found themselves in the market for attacking firepower during the summer window. Newcastle required a No.9 after seeing Alexander Isak push for a move away from Tyneside.
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The Swede eventually ended up joining Liverpool in a record-breaking £125m ($169m) agreement, but only after the Reds had already added French frontman Ekitike to their ranks. That deal was done when it appeared as though Newcastle would resist any interest in Isak.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Magpies thought that they had won the race for Ekitike’s signature, with Manchester United also forming part of that clamour, but the highly-rated 23-year-old headed to Merseyside following a late play from Slot and Co.
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Getty Images SportWHAT AGENT SAID
Ali Barat, who was working on Ekitike's move, has told when asked if there was a deal that left him frustrated during the last window: “Hugo Ekitike. I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle. I stayed in Germany for 10 days. We agreed everything with the German club and the player, then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield.”
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wanted to hold on to “players who have a mindset to win” and those that “put the team before their personal goals and aspirations”, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka said after announcing the team’s retention list ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.LSG let go of KL Rahul, who had captained the team for the three seasons since it came into existence in 2022, following their seventh-place finish in IPL 2024. Rahul will go into the mega auction, where he is expected to be one of the biggest draws.LSG retained Nicholas Pooran for INR 21 crore, the second most expensive player retained – level with RCB’s Virat Kohli and behind only SRH’s Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore) – along with Ravi Bishnoi (INR 11 crore), Mayank Yadav (INR 11 crore), Mohsin Khan (INR 4 crore) and Ayush Badoni (INR 11 crore).Related
How Mumbai Indians kept their Fab Four for INR 75 crore
IPL 2025 retentions: Pant, Rahul head to auction; Russell retained by KKR
IPL 2025 – MI retain their big four; Klaasen retained for INR 23 crore
Pooran was an “automatic choice” as the team’s top retention and the decision to keep him took “two minutes”, Goenka said. “We had a very simple mindset to go in with players who have a mindset to win, who put the team before their personal goals and aspirations,” he added. “And we wanted to retain as much core as possible within our available purse. We had a strong bowling unit, that’s why we went with three bowlers [Bishnoi, Mayank and Mohsin] from the previous season and all Indians. Pooran was a no-brainer. Ayush has done well for us at No. 6 and No. 7.”While Rahul was LSG’s top-scorer in IPL 2024 with 520 runs at a strike rate of 136, Pooran’s 499 runs came at a strike rate of 178.Mayank made his IPL debut in 2024 but played only four matches before he was ruled out by injury. He made a strong impression in that time with his 150kph speeds and picked up two Player-of-the-Match awards.Mohsin and Bishnoi picked up only ten wickets apiece in IPL 2024, while Badoni scored only 235 runs in the lower-middle order. But with Mohsin only 26 years old, and Bishnoi and Badoni both 24, LSG view them as long-term prospects.With five players retained, including two uncapped players, at a total cost of INR 51 crore, LSG have INR 69 crore remaining to spend at the mega auction. They have one right-to-match option to use if they want to buy back one of their capped players.
Rahul, Pant, Iyer, Ashwin, Chahal, Shami, Thakur have also registered for INR 2 crore
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-2024Ben Stokes is missing from the list of 1574 players who have registered for the IPL 2025 mega auction to be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.The long list of registered players, which will be pruned by the IPL after receiving input from the franchises, contains all the marquee Indian players who were not retained by their franchises. Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer – who were captains of Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively, but were not retained – are listed at a base price of INR 2 crore, along with R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, who were both released by Rajasthan Royals.Mohammed Shami, who hasn’t played any cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup final in November last year because of various injures, is also listed at a base price of INR 2 crore after not being retained by Gujarat Titans.Related
IPL 2025 mega auction to be held on November 24, 25 in Jeddah
IPL 2025 – MI retain their big four; Klaasen retained for INR 23 crore
Indians and batters dominate retentions, and a major captaincy refresh
How Mumbai Indians kept their Fab Four for INR 75 crore
The other Indian players with the maximum base price of INR 2 crore are Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Ishan Kishan, Mukesh Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, T Natarajan, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav.Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, who was unsold in the previous auction, have registered at a base price of INR 75 lakh.Stokes had opted out of IPL 2024 as well to manage his workload and fitness. During the Hundred in August earlier this year, he had suffered a hamstring injury, which sidelined him for two months. According to the IPL rules that were revised this year, an overseas player who does not register for the mega auction will not be allowed to register for the subsequent mini auction, with exceptions only made in case of injuries and/or medical conditions confirmed by the player’s home board. This change was made to discourage players from targeting mini-auctions, where bids for marquee players are typically higher than at mega auctions.Mitchell Starc, who became the most expensive player in IPL history when he was bought for INR 24.50 crore by KKR in 2024, is back in the auction pool at a base price of INR 2 crore. Jofra Archer is also on the list at that same base price, having not played in the IPL since 2023, when he appeared in only five games for Mumbai Indians because of injury issues.ESPNcricinfo LtdEngland fast bowler James Anderson, who has not played a T20 since 2014 and never been part of the IPL, has registered for the auction at a base price of INR 1.25 crore. Anderson retired from international cricket during this English summer and took up the role of bowling coach with the England team.The long list also includes a player from Italy, Thomas Draca, who played from Brampton in the Global T20 Canada. Draca, 24, was more recently picked by MI Emirates for the upcoming season of the ILT20 in the UAE.Each franchise can build a squad of up to 25 players, which means there are 204 slots available at the auction after 46 players were retained across the ten teams from last season.Each team has a total purse of INR 120 crore to build their squads, but following the retention, Punjab Kings have the biggest purse remaining (INR 110.5 crore) to spend at the mega auction, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (INR 83 crore), Delhi Capitals (INR 73 crore), Gujarat Titans (INR 69 crore), Lucknow Super Giants (INR 69 crore) Chennai Super Kings (INR 55 crore), Kolkata Knight Riders (INR 51 crore), Mumbai Indians (INR 45 crore), Sunrisers Hyderabad (INR 45 crore), Rajasthan Royals (INR 41 crore).The IPL has allowed teams to retain up to six players this time – of which a maximum of five can be capped and a maximum of two can be uncapped. The six players can either be retained outright ahead of the auction, or can be bought back using Right-to-Match (RTM) options at the auction, or a combination of both.If a player has been bought by another franchise at the mega auction, the franchise that he was part of in IPL 2024 can step in at the end of the bidding process and buy back their player using the RTM option by matching the highest bid. After that, the franchise that made the winning bid will be given another opportunity to raise the bid to whatever amount they wish. In that case, the player’s previous team will have to match the increased bid to buy back their player.Having retained just two players, PBKS have the most RTM options (four) at the auction. RCB, who retained three players, have three while Delhi Capitals, who retained four players, have two. Five teams – MI, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, SRH and LSG – retained five players each and have just one RTM option at the auction, while RR and KKR have no RTM options.There is of course no limit on the number of players a franchise can buy back if they place the highest bids for them during regular bidding at the auction.
Leeds United are reportedly closing in on their fifth signing of the summer transfer window, as they have agreed a deal to bring Sean Longstaff to Elland Road.
The Whites have agreed a fee with Premier League rivals Newcastle United for the central midfielder, who came up through their academy, and he is now set to join Daniel Farke’s squad.
Newcastle United's SeanLongstaffarrives at the stadium before the match
Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Lukas Nmecha, and Jaka Bijol have also been added to the squad during the summer transfer window, as the Championship champions look to bolster their options across the pitch.
The last six teams to have been promoted from the second tier have all been relegated from the Premier League at the first time of asking, which illustrates just how difficult it is going to be for Leeds.
Despite that fact, it can still be easy to underestimate the gap in quality between the two divisions, because the supporters have just watched the current players winning week-in-week-out to get promoted, which can make it difficult to accept that some of them are not good enough for the step up.
Farke has to make a lot of tough decisions on his title-winners and one player who may not be able to make the step is Dutch centre-forward Joel Piroe.
Why Joel Piroe may not be good enough for the Premier League
The left-footed striker was a regular starter in the number nine position for the Whites last term, starting 36 times, and won the Championship Golden Boot.
Piroe ended the campaign with a return of 19 goals in 46 appearances in the second tier for the West Yorkshire outfit, which is why there may be a feeling among some supporters that he could be a success in the Premier League.
Behind the scenes, though, Leeds reportedly have doubts over his ability to make the step up and are not planning for him to be their first-choice number nine.
That may be because of the increased physicality in the Premier League and because the team will be fighting against relegation, defending against the ball, rather than dominating possession and winning every week.
24/25 Championship
Joel Piroe per 90
Percentile rank vs STs
Dribble success rate
31.8%
Bottom 27%
Successful dribbles
0.41
Bottom 35%
Fouls won
0.44
Bottom 9%
Duels won
2.24
Bottom 3%
Duel success rate
26.9%
Bottom 10%
Aerial duels won
0.90
Bottom 12%
Aerial duel success rate
21.4%
Bottom 17%
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, Piroe struggles badly when it comes to competing physically with opposition players, in and out of possession, which suggests that he is not suited to a relegation battle.
Joel Piroe
The Whites need a forward who offers more physicality, whether that is raw strength or speed and dynamism, which may be why they are reportedly targeting a new attacker from Turkey.
Leeds set to bid for Super Lig star
According to Aksam, Leeds United are interested in a deal to sign Besiktas centre-forward Semih Kilicsoy before the end of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Whites are set for a meeting with the Turkish giants as they prepare to make an offer of £17m to sign the attacker to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that Besiktas are open to cashing in on the 19-year-old starlet for that kind of fee, which suggests that there is a realistic chance of a deal being done for the youngster.
Aksam adds that Utrecht are also keen on a swoop for the Turkish dynamo, but both Besiktas and Kilicsoy would prefer to go through with a move to Elland Road.
It is now down to Leeds to thrash out a full agreement with the Super Lig side when they meet with them in the coming days in order to add the striker to their squad for next season.
What Semih Kilicsoy would bring to Leeds
The teenage centre-forward would come in as a potential upgrade on Piroe for Farke because he is a dynamic number nine who can offer more to the team in and out of possession as a team that may not dominate possession often.
Brad Friedal, who previously worked at Besiktas, once claimed that the 19-year-old attacker has a “structure like Sergio Aguero”, which is a comparison that makes a lot of sense when you see him play.
Besiktas forward Semih Kilicsoy.
He is not the tallest striker, at 5 foot 11, but has great upper-body strength and uses his low centre of gravity and ability on the ball to beat opposition defenders with quick movements.
In the 2024/25 Super Lig campaign, Kilicsoy won 6.56 duels, including 1.38 aerial duels, per 90 and won two fouls per 90, which shows that he competed well physically by battling with defenders, despite not being a physically imposing number nine.
The 19-year-old ace also completed 2.49 dribbles per 90 and enjoyed a dribble success rate of 57%, which suggests that he would also offer more to Leeds than Piroe in transition, by dribbling past defenders to get the team up the pitch after defending in a low block.
Kilicsoy (Super Lig)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
23
32
Starts
20
11
xG
5.59
4.31
Goals
11
3
Big chances created
4
7
Assists
4
2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Kilicsoy’s goal return diminished last season as a result of his game time being reduced by the arrival of experienced Italian striker Ciro Immobile.
His output in front of goal as a regular starter in the 2023/24 campaign, though, suggests that the potential is there for the Turkey international to be an effective forward for Farke as a starter at Elland Road.
Semih Kilicsoy for Besiktas.
The Championship champions could offer Kilicsoy the chance to play week-in-week-out in the Premier League next season, aiding his development whilst providing the team with a huge talent who could be the number nine they need.
He has the physical attributes, both as a duel-winner and as a dynamic forward who can dribble past players and move quickly in and out of possession, to offer far more than Piroe as an all-round centre-forward, whilst his form in the 2023/24 campaign suggests that he can add goals as well.
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Therefore, Leeds should be pushing hard to get a deal over the line for the right-footed marksman in the coming days, as he would be a very exciting addition to the squad.
Will Manchester City be back on top of the Premier League next season?
Last time round, Pep Guardiola’s team endured a nightmare campaign, losing 17 times across all competitions, seeing their historic sequence of four successive Premier League titles come to an end.
Manchester City manager PepGuardiolareacts
As they aim to change that, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Sverre Nypan have all been signed so far this summer, but are the Sky Blues now aiming to make a marquee addition that could restore their position of dominance?
Manchester City seeking a statement signing
Even by the usually astronomical high standards, the Premier League’s biggest clubs have been spending an enormous amount this summer already, and we’re not even into August yet, as the table below documents.
Selected Premier League club’s spending in summer 2025
Clubs
Senior players signed
Total outlay
Liverpool
5
£294m
Chelsea
8
£227m
Arsenal
6
£187m
Manchester United
2
£136m
Manchester City
5
£125m
Tottenham Hotspur
6
£124m
Please note: all information is correct at the time of publication
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table documents, all of the Premier League’s traditional heavyweights have spent big this summer, most notably Liverpool.
The reigning champions have already splurged almost £300m to sign Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké, Miloš Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili, but a report by Mark Ogden of ESPN claims they’re willing to spend as much as £165m to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle, with the Swede pushing for the move, which would be quite the statement signing.
In response, reports in Spain claim that Manchester City have ‘made an initial offer’ of £170m to Chelsea in an attempt to re-sign Cole Palmer, adding that he is valued at closer to £250m by the Blues, which would smash the world-transfer record of €222m held by Neymar.
Palmer joined the Citizens’ academy as an eight-year-old, making just 41 appearances for the first team, 28 of which came as a substitute, thereby leaving for Chelsea two summers ago for a reported fee of £42.5m, in search of more opportunities.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, from Man City’s point of view, this has turned out to be one of the great modern-day transfer market mistakes, given Palmer’s form in West London, with former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison asserting back in December that “he is the best player in the Premier League… of that there is no doubt”.
Now though, is Guardiola leading a sensational attempt to bring Palmer back to the Etihad?
How Cole Palmer's return would transform Manchester City
Just before his move to Chelsea, Palmer scored in both the FA Community Shield against Arsenal and the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla but, even so, no one could’ve forecast the impact he would make at Stamford Bridge.
As the table below outlines, few have been more productive in front of goal in the Premier League since he joined Chelsea.
Players with 40+ PL goals & assists (23/25 & 24/25)
Players
Goals
Assists
Total G + A
Mohamed Salah
47
28
75
Erling Braut Håland
49
8
57
Cole Palmer
37
19
56
Ollie Watkins
35
21
56
Alexander Isak
44
8
52
Jarrod Bowen
29
14
43
Son Heung-min
24
19
43
Bryan Mbeumo
29
13
42
Bukayo Saka
22
19
41
Matheus Cunha
27
13
40
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com
As documented, only Mohamed Salah and Erling Braut Håland have registered more goals and assists across the last two Premier League campaigns than Palmer, made all the more remarkable by the fact that just three of his goals have come since Boxing Day, emphasising his incredible form beforehand.
Worth also noting that he’s accumulated four more than the aforementioned, in-demand Isak, despite the fact the Swede is a centre-forward. In all, the Englishman has provided 57 goals and assists in 89 Premier League games, only just behind Isak’s return of 63 goal involvements in 86 outings in England’s top-flight.
Palmer was also instrumental as Chelsea won the Club World Cup earlier this month, scoring twice against Paris Saint-Germain in the final, and the Conference League, with Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian describing his second-half performance against Real Betis in Wrocław as ‘astonishing’.
Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout asserts that he is a Premier League “legend in the making”, while his manager, Enzo Maresca, described him as a “top player” who is “not normal”.
Chelsea'sColePalmercelebrates with the golden ball trophy
Selim Ben Hmida of Total Football Analysis outlines how Palmer is at his best when deployed as an ‘advanced playmaker’, given his ability to shoot from distance, create chances and drive into space.
Thus, while Isak is looking likely to be a frightening signing for Liverpool, Palmer would be a transformational acquisition for Man City, should they manage to re-sign him, given that the England international and Håland would surely form an unstoppable duo.
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Everton enter the new Premier League season with a clear priority: finding a dynamic winger capable of slotting straight into David Moyes’ starting lineup.
The club’s summer so far has been a mix of arrivals and departures as Moyes attempts to reshape the squad after a campaign that saw the team rise to mid-table after a tough start.
Already this summer, Everton have strengthened multiple positions.
Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers has arrived to act as a back-up to England No.1 Jordan Pickford, while Carlos Alcaraz’s loan from Flamengo was made permanent.
Forward Thierno Barry joins with the potential to develop into a key attacking contributor.
However, undoubtedly the most high-profile arrival is Jack Grealish, the England international acquired on loan from Manchester City, whose creativity could immediately influence games at Goodison Park.
Everton assessing Dibling alternative
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Ashley Young have all departed on free transfers after their contracts expired, leaving gaps in the squad that need addressing.
This, coupled with Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom returning to their parent clubs, leaves the wide areas somewhat thin.
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This has made Moyes’ pursuit of a new wide attacker an urgent priority, especially one capable of taking defenders on, creating scoring opportunities, and contributing goals himself.
According to BBC Reporter Giulia Bould, Everton are “now looking” at 21-year-old England U21 international Omari Hutchinson, following their unsuccessful pursuit of Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.
Hutchinson, described by Chelsea insider Felix Johnstone as a “special talent,” made 31 Premier League appearances last season, scoring three goals and registering two assists in 2,593 minutes of action.
Hutchinson moved to Ipswich on a permanent deal in 2024 for around £20m and has quickly emerged as one of the most promising young attacking talents in England, now valued at £35m by his club.
Capped ten times at U21 level, he was part of the England squad that won a second consecutive U21 European Championship in Slovakia, highlighting his pedigree on the international stage.
This interest in Hutchinson comes after Everton’s protracted and ultimately stalled negotiations with Southampton over Tyler Dibling.
The 19-year-old English winger, highly rated for his ability to take defenders on and create opportunities, has attracted attention from Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich.
Southampton’s valuation of £45m plus £5m in add-ons and a 25% sell-on clause, however, has proven prohibitive.
Southampton's TylerDiblingin action with AFC Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen
Dibling has been training away from the first team and is expected to hold talks with the club regarding his future imminently.
Hutchinson provides Everton with a potential alternative who offers many of the same attributes that made Dibling so appealing.
Comparing the two: Dibling vs Hutchinson
Versatile across multiple positions, Hutchinson combines technical ability and creativity, making him a constant threat.
Statistically, Dibling and Hutchinson offer intriguing points of comparison.
Dibling
5
2
3
Hutchinson
3
2
1
While both operate primarily as wingers, their playing profiles differ slightly.
Dibling is more defensively engaged, drawing 2.44 fouls per 90 minutes compared to Hutchinson’s 1.54 and recording more tackles in the midfield third (0.91 versus 0.56).
Southampton's Tyler Dibling celebrates scoring their first goal with Southampton'sKyleWalker-Peters
He also successfully tackles a higher percentage of dribblers (63% versus 28.7%) and blocks more shots per 90 minutes (0.24 versus 0.09).
These numbers suggest a player more willing to contribute defensively, capable of pressing and disrupting opposition attacks.
Hutchinson, in contrast, shows a slightly stronger attacking output in certain areas.
He attempts 4.77 take-ons per 90 minutes, completing 1.89, compared with Dibling’s 5.36 attempts and 2.20 successes.
While Dibling may be more aggressive in duels, Hutchinson’s dribbling style is composed and creative, often unlocking defences with skilful movement rather than sheer physicality.
He brings vision and a sharp understanding of space, traits that could complement Everton’s midfield and forward lines.
Beyond the statistics, both players offer flexibility.
Hutchinson’s ability to operate on either wing, as an inverted winger or in more central attacking roles, mirrors Dibling’s versatility and makes him a valuable asset in Moyes’ tactical system.
Everton’s desire for a winger capable of contributing immediately, both in terms of goals and creativity, makes Hutchinson a compelling alternative after the club’s inability to secure Dibling.
Ultimately, Everton appear to have identified Hutchinson as a player who combines, albeit limited Premier League experience, youth international credentials, and attacking quality within a budget-friendly framework.
Ipswich Town'sOmariHutchinsonreacts
With departures leaving the wide areas depleted, Moyes’ pursuit of a winger who can replicate Dibling’s potential impact is logical, offering the team a creative spark capable of changing games in the early stages of the season.
Everton’s opening fixture against Leeds at Elland Road offers an early opportunity for Moyes to integrate any new wide attacker and immediately benefit from a player capable of stretching defences, creating chances, and contributing directly to goals.
As the transfer window continues, Hutchinson’s arrival could signal Everton’s intent to compete more aggressively, restore attacking dynamism, and provide Moyes with the tactical options required to challenge for higher Premier League positions.
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