All posts by z3u9t.icu

One of the biggest concerns emerging among the fanbase at Leeds United at the moment appears to be the lack of goal threat in the team in recent games.

The Whites have failed to score a goal from open play in the first four matches of a league season, failing to score in any of their last three games in the division.

Lucas Nmecha’s penalty in the 1-0 win over Everton on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign is the only league goal that has been scored by the Whites since they won the Championship title.

Leeds scored a whopping 62 goals to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign, with Patrick Bamford’s 17-goal haul standing out as the headliner from that attack.

Daniel Farke has to find a way to platform his attackers in a way that allows them to be as effective as Bamford was that season, because one of his forwards does have the potential to be a big threat in front of goal.

Leeds swooped to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton this summer and one of the reasons why they moved to bring him in was because he is a proven Premier League player.

Why Calvert-Lewin could be the goalscorer Leeds need

Despite his experience in the league, signing the 28-year-old centre-forward was a risky move by the Championship champions because he has not been at his best in front of goal for several years.

Per Understat, Calvert-Lewin only scored three goals from 8.85 xG in the Premier League for the Toffees in the 2024/25 campaign, which led to them deciding to allow him to depart from the club on a free transfer.

The 11-cap England international also missed 21 matches through injury in the 2024/25 and 2023/24 seasons combined, per Transfermarkt. This means that Leeds are banking on being able to help him avoid injuries in a way that he has been unable to do in recent years.

24/25

8.85

3

23/24

13.63

7

22/23

6.50

2

21/22

6.22

5

20/21

18.21

16

19/20

16.11

13

18/19

6.17

6

17/18

5.44

4

16/17

1.25

1

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin did score an eye-catching 29 goals in the Premier League between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns for the Toffees, which shows that he does have the capability to score plenty of goals in the top-flight.

It is down to Farke to find a way to get the best out of the striker, though, and down to the player to take his chances when they come to build his own confidence back up.

If Leeds can get Calvert-Lewin firing at his best, then they could have their next version of Bamford from the 2020/21 season to fire them to safety in the Premier League.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

To help the former England international, Farke could revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation that served him so well in the Championship. The Whites scored 95 goals in 46 matches and racked up 100 points with that formation, before switching to a 4-3-3 in the Premier League to provide more stability in midfield.

It seems to have gone too far the other way, though, with the lack of attacking threat in the team at present, which is why the manager must go back to a 4-2-3-1 and unleash Wilfried Gnonto in a lesser-seen role for him to get the best out of Calvert-Lewin.

Why Gnonto could get Calvert-Lewin firing again

The bulk of the Italy U21 international’s appearances for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign came on the left or the right flank, as he only played centrally in three of his 46 outings in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Gnonto has also started this season as a wide option in the 4-3-3 formation, starting the first three matches on the left wing, but he has yet to deliver a shot on target or a ‘big chance’ created.

The move back to a 4-2-3-1 system could help to get the best out of the Italian forward whilst also providing Calvert-Lewin with more support and more creativity around him at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the graphic above, Gnonto would slot in behind the striker with Dan James on the right and Noah Okafor on the left flank, which would mean that Leeds have three attackers supporting the forward instead of two wingers and three central midfielders who are not specialist attackers.

The reason why Farke should unleash the Italian youngster, who Statman Dave once described as “electric”, in a central position behind Calvert-Lewin is that his career statistics suggest that he is at his best playing off a number nine.

Right wing (62)

14

10

Second striker (48)

20

7

Left wing (38)

7

4

Attacking midfield (18)

4

1

Right midfield (9)

2

0

Left midfield (7)

0

1

Striker (6)

2

0

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto’s best return of goals and assists combined per appearance in his career is as a second striker, which is a role he could play in a 4-2-3-1 in the hole behind Calvert-Lewin.

The former Zurich star scored nine goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 26 starts in the Championship last season, per Sofascore, whilst playing as a winger, so imagine what he could produce as a regular starter as a second striker, which appears to get the best out of him.

Gnonto’s ability to score and create goals from central positions could benefit Calvert-Lewin in multiple ways, because the Italian’s goal threat could take some of the pressure off the striker and his creativity could provide the Englishman with the chances he needs to score.

As aforementioned, Calvert-Lewin needs plenty of chances to score and unleashing Gnonto as a second striker as part of a formation change that would improve the team’s attacking set-up could be exactly what Farke needs to do to get him firing.

Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues

A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 15, 2025

Derby County have met the £3 million asking price to sign a “real leader” who manager John Eustace has worked with before, according to a recent report.

Derby closing in on multiple signings

After avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth, Eustace and co. have been busy in the transfer market, adding five new players to the squad already. Their most expensive capture is USA youngster Patrick Agyemang, who has joined from Charlotte FC.

Derby in transfer race with Wrexham to sign 32 y/o Championship defender

There’s serious competition for his signature…

ByBrett Worthington Jul 16, 2025

The Championship side are yet to really utilise the loan market, but that could be about to change, as the Telegraph’s John Percy reports that Derby are close to signing Owen Beck on loan from Liverpool.

The Wales under-21 international is expected to undergo his medical at Derby later this week and then become their sixth signing of the summer.

The 22-year-old has already enjoyed a few loan spells in the EFL, as he joined Bolton Wanderers for the 2022/23 campaign and then Eustace’s Blackburn Rovers team for the entirety of last season.

Beck will be the third addition this summer who has worked with Eustace before moving to Derby, and the Rams could soon make it four, as they eye another defensive signing.

Derby meet £3m asking price to sign Callum Brittain

According to EFL Analysis’ Graeme Bailey, Derby have met Blackburn’s asking price to sign defender Callum Brittain.

The Lancashire side had placed a £3 million price tag on the player’s head, and while the Rams have agreed a deal in that ballpark, Middlesbrough are expected to make a new offer and match that after their initial bid was turned down. It will then presumably be up to the player to choose his next destination.

The 27-year-old has been at Ewood Park since 2022, when he joined the club from Barnsley. Brittain has been a regular in the Blackburn side since his move, playing 104 games in the Championship across three campaigns. Last season was a productive one for the versatile full-back, as he scored two goals and recorded five assists in 33 league games.

Apps

33

Starts

30

Minutes per game

81

Goals

2

Assists

5

Big chances created

8

Key passes per game

1.4

Interceptions per game

0.6

Tackles per game

1.7

Brittain was an important figure in Eustace’s former side, and the now Derby boss even reserved special praise for the defender, labelling him “one of the best full-backs in the league” and a “real leader” on and off the pitch.

Brittain’s potential arrival at Pride Park would see him compete alongside Ryan Nyambe and Kane Wilson for that right-back spot, but given his versatility, he can also cover at left-back, right midfield and even central midfield if needed.

Manchester United are now in talks with Aston Villa over the signing of one of their first-team stars, according to a recent report.

Man Utd chasing midfield reinforcements

Since the arrival of Matheus Cunha, United’s sole focus has been on securing a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroon international is a top target for Ruben Amorim, and the Red Devils are trying to secure a transfer while not paying over the odds.

Man Utd now in talks to sign £90k-p/w "real leader" who's keen on the move

The Red Devils have made an approach for a midfielder…

ByDominic Lund Jul 16, 2025

While they continue to try and find an agreement however, the Premier League side have reportedly identified another position they would like to strengthen this summer. Christian Eriksen’s departure has left a place to be filled in the middle of the park, and United have so far earmarked two options.

At the beginning of the week, Football Insider reported United are in a race with Everton to sign Wilfred Ndidi, who can leave Leicester City for a fee of only £9 million following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship.

Since then, it has now been reported that Man Utd have begun talks with the agent of Corentin Tolisso to get an understanding of whether he would be interested in a move to Old Trafford. The Frenchman is currently a star man for Lyon, but is said to be keen on leaving his home country to join the Red Devils.

Man Utd in talks with Aston Villa to sign "world-class" ace

As well as signing a new midfielder, there has been speculation that the Premier League giants could look to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, amid doubts over the form and fitness of Andre Onana. And, according to journalist Gaston Edul, Man United are now in negotiations with Aston Villa over the signing of Emi Martinez.

Edul, who Sport Witness call ‘perhaps the most prominent football journalist in Argentina’ claims United have advanced their interest but as of yet have not made an official offer to Villa, who are said to be looking to get around £40 million for the Argentine international. United are hoping to agree a deal closer to the £33 million mark.

The Red Devils are well-stocked in the goalkeeper department, as neither Onana nor Altay Bayindir have left the club as of yet, but Onana has picked up a hamstring injury that is expected to see him miss all of pre-season. The Cameroon international also made some costly mistakes last season that resulted in him being dropped in Premier League games under Amorim.

Apps

212

Goals conceded

256

Clean sheets

70

It has already been reported that Martinez, who has been dubbed “world-class” by pundit Gary Neville in the past, is open to a move to Old Trafford even if the club are not in the Champions League this season. The 32-year-old is still under contract until 2029 however, so even with the player’s openess to a move Villa will not budge easily in negotiations.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been a busy man over the previous few weeks. Not only has he led the Blues to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, but the Italian has significantly bolstered his first-team squad.

In came striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, before defender Mamadou Sarr joined the club from Strasbourg.

This was only the beginning. Since the start of last week, Maresca has secured a deal to sign forward Joao Pedro for £60m, giving Delap some competition.

Furthermore, Jamie Gittens has made the move to Stamford Bridge from Borussia Dortmund, costing Chelsea £51.5m in the process.

The revolving door at Stamford Bridge means plenty of players will be departing over the coming weeks, but it is evident that Maresca wants to overhaul his attacking options ahead of next season.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

Remarkably, he doesn’t appear to be finished with those three signings.

Despite the arrival of Estevao from Palmeiras, another of the globe’s top talents, Ethan Nwaneri, could make their way to Bridge over the next year.

Why Chelsea are looking at Ethan Nwaneri

The Arsenal sensation might be on the market next summer due to a stall in contract negotiations with the club.

Nwaneri has just one year left on his current deal with the Gunners and a new contract is yet to be agreed. Fabrizio Romano broke the news recently on X regarding Chelsea’s interest, saying:

“Chelsea have been showing interest in Ethan Nwaneri situation, only in case new deal won’t be sealed with Arsenal. Nwaneri & Arsenal, in talks over new deal while player wants game time guaranteed.”

There is no doubt that convincing Nwaneri to swap the Emirates for Stamford Bridge would be a real statement of intent by the Italian, especially considering his superstar potential.

Goals

4

2

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

1

1

Key passes per game

0.6

0.3

Successful dribbles per game

1.4

1

Last season saw the right-winger enjoy a stunning breakthrough. Across 37 matches in all competitions for the Gunners, the teenager scored nine goals and grabbed two assists.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the 18-year-old not only ranked in the top 7% for non-penalty goals (0.48) per 90, but also ranked in the top 1% for successful take-ons (3.54) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

This certainly proves how effective the youngster is when taking on opposition defenders. Combine it with the fact he is excellent in front of goal and Nwaneri would make for a stunning signing.

Why signing defenders makes more sense for Chelsea

Maresca does have a plethora of options in the final third, however. The likes of Estevao, Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Tyrique George and Cole Palmer could play out wide, while Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Pedro will be used in a central role next season.

In an ideal world, adding Nwaneri to this lineup would make Chelsea contenders for both the Premier League and Champions League, no doubt about that.

Other areas need to be bolstered, however, which indicates that a move for a Serie A defender would turn into a much better signing than the Arsenal teen.

Sarr is the only defensive signing that Maresca has made so far this summer, but the supporters will be hoping he won’t be the last.

Benfica duo Antonio Silva and Tomás Araújo have both been linked with a move to the Blues since the transfer window opened, but both potential moves have gone cold recently.

Now, it looks as though Chelsea are keen on making a move for Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini.

That’s according to Caught Offside who further report that Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the youngster, so the Blues won’t have it easy trying to lure him to the Premier League.

The report states that Scalvini could cost up to €60m (£51m), but still only 21, this could be a wonderful long-term signing by Maresca.

Transfer Focus

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

Given the need for high-quality defenders, Scalvini might just turn out to be a better recruit than Nwaneri.

What Giorgio Scalvini could bring to Chelsea

The Atalanta starlet missed the majority of last season due to suffering a cruciate ligament injury, derailing the fine progress he had made during the 2023/24 campaign.

Hailed as a “top talent” by none other than Fabrizio Romano back in 2022, Scalvini enjoyed what was a breakthrough season in Serie A that term.

Defensively, he ranked in the top 4% for interceptions, in the top 16% for aerials won and in the top 22% for tackles per 90 when compared to his peers.

It was going forward that the young centre-back really stood out among his positional peers, however.

Indeed, not only did he rank in the top 16% for shot-creating actions, but the Atalanta defender also ranked in the top 5% for successful take-ons and in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 in Serie A.

This proves that Maresca wouldn’t just be getting a solid centre-back who is able to command his backline, but one who can shine while going forward, playing in a way that is “so similar to [Declan] Rice” at Arsenal in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.

The Italian could certainly add something different to his Chelsea defence by making a move for the 21-year-old this summer, no doubt about that.

He might still be raw, but as the statistics suggest, Scalvini has demonstrated his credentials in one of the toughest leagues on the continent.

Signing Nwaneri might inject yet more dynamism into the final third and give the supporters a major jolt, but the more important signing would be that of Scalvini.

“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles” said Sir Alex Ferguson during his spell at Man United, so prioritising a move for up-and-coming defenders, rather than young attackers, might just turn Maresca’s team into serious challengers for major honours.

After Gittens: Chelsea now want to hijack Newcastle move to sign £52m star

The Blues aren’t done after Gittens.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 6, 2025

As it is every year, this summer has already been incredibly busy for Chelsea.

It feels like Enzo Maresca’s men were lifting the Conference League trophy only a week ago, but in reality, they’ve already made it to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup and have made a real splash in the transfer market.

The likes of Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo were already through the door before the team jetted off for the United States, and now Joao Pedro is set to join up with them.

However, the Blues aren’t finished yet, and now it looks like they are set to chase another Premier League star, although this potential deal could be bad news for the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace.

Chelsea to move for Premier League star

After being linked with the club, as well as some others, for several weeks, Pedro was finally officially announced as a Chelsea player yesterday afternoon.

Transfer Focus

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

The former Seagulls’ star completed his medical with the Blues out in the States, signed a seven-year deal, and reportedly cost the club a cool £60m, which is twice the fee Brighton paid for him only two years ago.

However, while it’s a lot of money, it would be hard to deny that his arrival makes the West Londoners stronger, as he was his former side’s joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League last season.

Yet, it now looks like the Pensioners are set to target another exciting player from the Premier League, someone who could be bad news for the Brazilian: Mohammed Kudus.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Chelsea are one of several clubs incredibly interested in the West Ham United star.

In fact, the report claims the West Londoners are looking to make a move to sign the Ghanaian international, who is also a serious target for London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The good news is that the Hammers are likely to accept offers below the player’s £80m release clause, with some reports from last week suggesting a fee in the region of £70m could be enough.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Kudus could be an excellent addition to Chelsea’s squad, albeit one that could spell trouble for Pedro.

Why Kudus could be trouble for Pedro

When it really comes down to it, the reason Kudus’ joining Chelsea could be bad news for Pedro is the same reason his arrival could be considered far from ideal for Delap: competition.

As things stand, the Blues now have three out-and-out centre-forwards in the former Brighton man, the former Ipswich Town ace and Nicolas Jackson.

So, when you then also take into consideration the Kudus’ ability to play up top, among other positions, that role starts to look rather crowded.

In fact, it’s not hard to see a world in which the Brazilian has a slow start to life at the Bridge and immediately begins to see himself falling down the pecking order, potentially even behind the former Ajax gem.

We say it’s not hard to imagine, as since moving to England, the “electric” talent as dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists in 65 Premier League appearances.

That means he’s averaging a goal involvement every 2.6 league games at West Ham, despite being asked to play all over, from out wide to midfielder and then also up top.

In contrast, the former Watford poacher has scored 22 goals and provided ten assists in 89 Premier League appearances, which actually comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.78 games.

Appearances

65

89

Goals

13

22

Assists

12

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.38

0.35

That’s already a little worrying, but becomes even more so when you consider he has played up top, as a striker in the vast majority of those games.

Ultimately, Chelsea have a talented player in Pedro, but if they also sign Kudus, and he starts to outscore him, the Brazilian’s role in the squad might start to shrink very early on.

Pedro will love him: Chelsea in talks to sign £60m PL "superstar"

The talented prospect could reach the next level at Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 1, 2025

Birmingham City are in the market to bolster their squad in the summer transfer window after they secured an immediate return to the Championship.

Chris Davies’ team racked up 111 points in League One in the 2024/25 campaign, winning the title, and they are now preparing for a season in the second tier.

One player the Blues have been linked with an interest in is Al-Ettifaq winger Demarai Gray, who left the club back in 2016, but he may not be a realistic option for them this summer.

Why Birmingham may not sign Demarai Gray

In a recent report for EFL Analysis, journalist Graeme Bailey explained that the forward is available for a fee of around £6m, but that his wage packet may block a move back to St. Andrew’s.

Transfer Focus

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

The reporter said: “His price has come down, but his wages are massive. We’re talking around £200k per week. It’s staggering. So, I don’t know whether he’d be willing to come back to the Championship. Obviously, we know Birmingham are not going to be paying him even a quarter of that.”

This suggests that Birmingham, whose top earner is reportedly Christoph Klarer on £22k-per-week, would not be able to fit him into their wage structure, which is why they may not sign him in the coming weeks.

The Blues should look elsewhere in the market to bolster their options out wide, and they have been linked with an interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur winger Mikey Moore on loan.

Why Birmingham should sign Mikey Moore this summer

Birmingham should swoop to sign the England youth international because he would be an even bigger signing than Gray, due to his potential to explode in the Championship.

Moore, who James Maddison described as “fearless”, has shown plenty of promising signs since he broke into the first-team at Spurs this season, providing one assist in three starts in the Premier League and impressing in the Europa League.

Appearances

5

Starts

3

xG

0.68

Goals

1

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

83%

As you can see in the table above, the 17-year-old talent caught the eye with one goal and one assist in three starts in the Europa League for Spurs, as they went on to win the competition.

Moore, who was described as a “future superstar” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has burst into the first-team after impressing at youth level with a return of 19 goals and 13 assists in 24 matches for their U18s.

The teenage sensation provided goals and assists on a regular basis for Tottenham’s academy and has started to show signs of replicating that in their first-team, albeit he has not quite hit the same level yet.

Gray, meanwhile, did not provide a single goal or assist in 24 appearances in the Pro League for Al-Ettifaq in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he would be returning to Birmingham off the back of a poor season.

This means that Moore is a more attractive option for the Blues because they would be signing a highly exciting player who is on the up and showing plenty of promise, rather than a 28-year-old winger, in Gray, who is on the decline and coming off a disappointing year.

Birmingham can land the next Auston Trusty by signing "astounding" £6m star

Birmingham City might be about to secure their next Auston Trusty if this deal were to get over the line.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 12, 2025

Therefore, the Spurs youngster would be a bigger signing for Birmingham because they could have a “future superstar” on their hands, rather than a player whose best days look to be behind him.

Derby County are preparing for another tilt at life in the second-tier following their miraculous escape from relegation under John Eustace and could now make a bold statement on the market, according to a report.

Derby look to avoid repeat scenario of close shave with relegation

Avoiding the drop is never an easy feat to achieve when the chips are down. Still, John Eustace will rightfully be heralded as a miracle worker at Pride Park following his side’s turnaround.

Speaking to Football League World, pundit Don Goodman believes Derby can avoid being drawn into a relegation battle next term now that the foundations are in place to help the Rams thrive.

He explained: “I look at the 14 games John Eustace took charge of at the end of last season – six wins and three draws, and that’s despite losing the first three games he took charge of.

“If he accrued that points total over the course of last season that would be 69 points, which would’ve actually been enough for a play-off spot for Derby, remarkably.

“He’s outstanding at organising teams and making them hard to play against and hard to beat, so those are ingredients that will see Derby County not be in a relegation battle.”

Derby County make out-of-window move for "athletic" player in free transfer

John Eustace could be set to link up with a former player at Pride Park.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 7, 2025

Inevitably, Derby will need to pull up some trees on the market to put themselves in a position of relative comfort.

Defensive duo Danny Batth and Dion Sanderson have been linked with moves to Pride Park, but there will be more in the pipeline as Eustace exhausts all avenues to put his mission into place.

Now, the Rams could turn to his former club in an attempt to pull of a statement deal that would definitely enhance their survival prospects, per recent developments.

Derby plotting move for Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis

According to EFL Analysis, Derby are in the mix to sign Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis and Eustace is said to be a big fan of his exploits after working with the 27-year-old at Ewood Park.

Predominantly a defensive midfielder, reports claim it would cost £2 million to prize him away from Lancashire. Meanwhile, Wrexham are also keen to lure him to North Wales.

Lewis Travis in all competitions – 2024/25

Appearances

39

Goals

2

Assists

1

Labelled “fantastic” by David Lowe, Travis is out of contract next summer which may increase pressure on Blackburn to sell their captain this window before his value begins to dwindle on the market.

Intriguingly, he has previously spoken out about his ‘close’ relationship with Eustace, something that may be used as an emotional string to pull on in the event of any negotiations.

Nevertheless, Derby aren’t messing about in their bid to add quality reinforcements and there is no doubt their engine room would drastically improve were Travis to land at Pride Park this summer.

Liverpool are pushing to make a series of sweeping changes to Arne Slot’s squad nice and early, thus allowing themselves to kick their feet up and bask in the sun after winning the Premier League.

It’s been a terrific season for the Reds, whose dominance in the top flight established a commanding lead before Christmas, which was held confidently across the latter half of the year.

Only after the Premier League was wrapped up did Liverpool ease their trademark intensity – and by quite a bit at that. Only two points were claimed from a possible 12 to see out the season, with the last taste of victory, a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, securing gold with plenty of room to spare.

Slot has been against heavy rotation for the majority of the campaign, but he has dished out the changes over the past month. However, Darwin Nunez was still limited to cameos, last making a league start on Boxing Day.

The Uruguayan striker is set to leave the club this summer, and rightly so. Everyone wanted it to work out, but he pales in comparison to his predecessors at number nine.

Liverpool's longing for an elite striker

Nunez has the minerals to be a world-class player, but, frankly, he’s failed to bring it all together and must be sold. Such an argument is certainly reinforced when flicking back over some of the contemporary strikers the Merseysiders have been treated to.

Luis Suarez being chief among them, with the Uruguayan, Nunez’s countryman, only surpassed by Mohamed Salah in terms of efficacy and consistency in front of goal at Liverpool, across the past several decades.

However, would it be fair to say Suarez failed to capture the fanbase’s adoration quite to the same level as Fernando Torres in his prime?

It just might. Torres signed as a Liverpool player in 2007, aged 23. The package was worth £20m, and it was widely accepted that Rafael Benitez had scored the Premier League giants a bona fide bargain.

If Liverpool could sign their next version of the Spanish World Cup winner, they may well be laughing all the way toward a successful Premier League title defence.

And they might just be in the race for such a player.

Liverpool moving to sign new Torres

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Liverpool are firmly in the race for Atletico Madrid centre-forward Julian Alvarez, who left Manchester City to play under Diego Simeone in an £82m deal last summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Liverpool have reportedly ‘sounded out a move’, but Arsenal and Barcelona are also interested, with the Gunners understood to have the lead in the race at this stage.

Los Colchoneros don’t want to sell their talisman, of course, but they would entertain offers that exceed what they paid to City one year ago. He supposedly has a £126m release clause, but this might prove a tad steep.

Why Alvarez could be Slot's own Torres

Liverpool would do anything to have a striker in the same vein as Torres back in the mix, and Alvarez truly could be that man.

This season, the “ridiculous” forward – as he’s been called by Statman Dave – has been a revelation for Atletico Madrid, scoring 29 goals and adding six assists across all competitions, including a seven-goal haul from ten matches in the Champions League.

This newfound level of potency marks progress from his days under Pep Guardiola’s wing, perhaps because he has been upgraded to a berth of greater importance.

River Plate

122

54

31

Manchester City

103

36

19

Atletico Madrid

53

29

6

Argentina

44

12

33

Journalist Roy Nemer even made the bold statement that Alvarez has been “the best forward in the world” this season, with his 29-goal return in Simeone’s Atletico team making a convincing comment on his qualities and indeed capacity to reach even higher in another system.

Slot’s system? Just imagine. Alvarez is sharpening his developing prolific sense at the front of Liverpool’s team, backed up by the likes of Salah and Florian Wirtz, with Bayer Leverkusen receiving an official proposal from the Anfield side on Monday.

There’s a real chance that Slot’s creative capacity would know no bounds with such players threading passes in toward a mobile and dynamic focal point such as Alvarez.

As per FBref, the Argentina star ranks among the top 6% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues this season for all of shot-creating actions, passes attempted and progressive carries, as well as the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons made per 90.

All told, he’s the “complete player”, as described by Marca editor Matias Wodner. And in a way, this suggests he could become Liverpool’s new version of El Nino, especially given that Liverpool would be reeling him in from Atletico Madrid.

When Torres arrived at Liverpool, his prowess was undeniable, but there was clearly room for improvement. This was perfectly enforced. Before leaving contentiously for Chelsea, the iconic striker scored 81 goals and added 19 assists across just 142 fixtures in a Liverpool shirt.

His pace, sharp movements and lethal finishing led one Steven Gerrard to describe him as the “best striker in the world” back in 2009, with something in the Anfield air eliciting the finest form of the Spain star’s career, vindicated upon a high-profile move to Stamford Bridge which stocked Torres’ trophy cabinet but failed to yield the same prolific results.

If Alvarez were to make the move to Merseyside this summer, though, you could envisage a long-term future in Slot’s squad to be sure.

The 25-year-old has already won the Premier League twice, posting 31 goal involvements across his two campaigns despite only starting 44 matches in total.

He’s the real deal, and with rumours surfacing that Atletico are interested in talking to Liverpool about the potential signing of Nunez, this might be one to keep a close eye on.

He's the new Coutinho: Liverpool set to sign "generational" star very soon

Liverpool are moving quickly to make new signings for Arne Slot’s side.

ByAngus Sinclair May 27, 2025

Sunderland supporters have been seriously put through the wringer by their side in recent memory, with League One football even on the menu back in 2019.

But, all that agony and woe surrounding the Black Cats has been finally lifted courtesy of Regis Le Bris’ heroics from the dug-out, as the Frenchman proudly brings Premier League football action back to the Stadium of Light.

The hope will be that Sunderland’s emotional 2-1 win over Sheffield United will keep Jobe Bellingham around for a little while longer, amidst interest from elite sides such as Borussia Dortmund.

But if that is to be Bellingham’s swansong moment, he delivered yet another classy display for his top-flight-bound side from the middle of the park, alongside a whole host of other standout performers.

Sunderland's best performers vs the Blades

Before looking at the other heroes in Le Bris’ camp, Bellingham stood out once again as a key part of the young and promising Sunderland side.

The in-demand number seven would only misplace six of his 55 passes when offering the Black Cats calm through the middle on such a tense stage, whilst also winning six duels to display more grit and fight than an underperforming Sydie Peck for the Blades.

Bellingham wasn’t the only star who managed to show up for the big occasion, however, as Daniel Ballard put in another imperious display defensively when winning his own sizeable duels count of 11, whilst Eliezer Mayenda also shone when levelling the proceedings as a pacey option up top.

But, the main talking point afterwards was Tommy Watson’s last-minute winner, with the homegrown Wearside product capitalising on a lax pass by Kieffer Moore to fire home a stunning effort to seal Sunderland’s progression back up to the big time.

That was one hell of a parting gift from the 19-year-old hotshot, who is set to join Brighton and Hove Albion this summer for £10m.

Indeed, Watson is perhaps the club’s next Jordan Henderson as he goes on to potentially affirm himself as a Premier League regular with the Seagulls.

Why Watson could be Sunderland's next Henderson

Amazingly, Henderson was only one year older than Watson when his big move to Liverpool occurred.

He never looked back after waving goodbye to his boyhood club either, leading to the now Ajax man going on to make 492 appearances for the Reds, alongside winning 83 England caps.

Therefore, Watson will be aiming to follow in Henderson’s footsteps as an equally talented and promising starlet through the middle – albeit one who unfortunately does their best work away from the Stadium of Light.

After all, from only 24 first-team games to date, the 19-year-old is up to three strikes with the best left till last when breaking Blades hearts. To add context, Henderson would only power home two more efforts himself donning Sunderland red and white, even from 55 more outings.

U18s

40

18

7

U21s

31

13

11

First team

24

3

0

The attacker’s blistering numbers for the Black Cats at both an U18 and U21 level also show off a prodigy ready for the bright lights of the Premier League, albeit now without his hometown side.

Still, everyone associated with Sunderland will be overjoyed that it was one of their own that got them back up to the promised land regardless of his next onward route, with Roker Report writer Andy Tomlinson handing out an 8/10 post-match rating to Watson subsequently.

There will be a concern that Watson is only getting started and will be taken to new heights on the South Coast, much like Henderson managed at Anfield.

But, whatever does happen across Watson’s lengthy career to come, he will always have this moment of magic on his resume that took his boyhood employers back up to the Premier League.

Jobe Bellingham holds positive talks to leave Sunderland before play-off final

The Black Cats are desperate to keep hold of him.

1 ByHenry Jackson May 23, 2025

Chelsea look certain to enjoy a busy summer transfer window, especially if Enzo Maresca can guide them to the Champions League next season.

While the squad is filled with quality in several areas, a lack of depth, plus a shortage of a truly world-class centre-forward has impacted the Blues at times this term.

The Stamford Bridge side have scored 63 times in the Premier League this term, a tally bettered by the likes of Brentford (ninth) and equalled by Tottenham Hotspur (17th) throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

As such, adding goals to his side will be Maresca’s main priority once the summer transfer window opens in just a couple of weeks.

Chelsea have been linked with their fair share of targets, no doubt about that, but how much will the manager be willing to spend to bolster his first-team squad?

Chelsea’s search for a new striker

One name that is on the list is Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap. Following his club’s relegation from the top flight back into the Championship, his release clause drops down to £30m, which makes him an attractive prospect.

Newcastle United and Manchester United are also keen, but is the talented Englishman a player who could spearhead a potential title challenge? That much remains to be seen.

Another target, and one with a higher ceiling than Delap, is Benjamin Sesko. Chelsea have been routinely linked with a move for the RB Leipzig frontman following his exploits on the continent.

Elsewhere, Victor Osimhen remains a target, although he could be an expensive signing should he make the move to London in the summer.

Finally, Alexander Isak is a player who has also been mentioned with regard to a move to the capital. The Newcastle striker is arguably one of the finest players in the top flight, and signing him would signal a major statement of intent.

Isak is approaching the peak years of his career. But if the Blues wish to sign a striker who is just like the Swede, but a few years younger, then they could turn to the Bundesliga.

Chelsea eyeing move for Bundesliga striker

It appears as though Maresca will stop at nothing in order to bring in someone who has a track record for scoring goals.

Transfer Focus

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

According to French news outlet RMC Sport, it is claimed that several clubs have made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike with regard to a potential move.

Chelsea are certainly in the hunt, although they face some stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool ahead of the transfer window.

Due to his strong performances that have led Frankfurt to third place in the Bundesliga, thus securing Champions League qualification, Ekitike is now valued at €100m (£85m), which represents a massive change of fortunes from just 18 months ago.

Back then, he was struggling to make inroads at PSG. Now he is one of the most desirable forwards in Europe.

He has proven his worth in a top-five league. Would a move to Chelsea help him continue his development?

Why Chelsea must sign Hugo Ekitike this summer

Nicolas Jackson has endured a campaign to forget, scoring just 12 goals all season. Marc Guiu is the only other senior centre-forward in the first-team squad and while he netted six goals and showed a lot of promise prior to injury, he isn’t at the level to lead the club’s attack consistently.

Making a move for Ekitike, therefore, is of the utmost importance to Maresca over the next few weeks, that’s for sure.

Analyst Ben Mattinson delivered some high praise on the Frenchman in March this year, saying: “A move in the summer seems inevitable and rightly so, Ekitiké is one of the best strikers out there ready to explode.”

You might say he has already exploded. Throughout the 2024/25 season, Ekitike has scored 22 goals and registered 12 assists in all competitions for Frankfurt.

He ranked sixth in the top flight for goals and assists (23) for the club, while also ranking third for shots per game (3.5) and fifth for big chances missed (16). This last stat is something that will get better with age, as his abilities in the penalty area should improve over the coming years.

Given how well he has performed in the Bundesliga, especially compared to players such as Harry Kane, Ekitike is finally looking like he will fulfil his potential.

The sky is certainly the limit. If he made the move to London, Ekitike could become Maresca’s own version of Isak, especially considering the pair of strikers share similar sorts of qualities.

Why Ekitike could be a younger version of Alexander Isak

According to WhoScored, both Isak and Ekitike like to dribble, while they can count key passes and dribbling as their main strengths. As per FBref, the Newcastle centre-forward is the fifth-most comparable player to the French sensation, across Europe’s top five leagues.

The pair have also registered similar statistics across a range of attacking metrics domestically this season, including goals and assists (23 vs 29), shots on target per 90 (1.55 vs 1.32), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.55 vs 3.07), touches in the opposition penalty area (196 vs 186) and successful take-ons (52 vs 42) for their respective teams.

Metric

Isak

Ekitike

Goals

23

15

Assists

6

8

Shots per game

2.9

3.5

Big chances missed

18

16

Goal conversion percentage

24%

13%

Key passes per game

1.6

1.3

It is evident that the two are extremely similar not only in their playing style but also in their attacking output in 2024/25.

Like Isak, the Frankfurt striker has an insatiable eye for scoring at every possible opportunity. That’s not to say he is selfish, however, as the youngster can also create opportunities for his teammates with ease, evidenced by his 12 assists across the whole season.

He might cost the club around £85m, but as someone who has the potential to get better and better as time goes on, it may turn out to be a wise investment.

Of course, securing a place in the Champions League is imperative. If so, one of the continent’s most in-demand strikers could be on their way to London.

Chelsea already have a bigger talent than Enzo Fernandez in £18m "monster"

Reports have suggested that Chelsea might lose Fernandez to Real Madrid this summer

1 ByJoe Nuttall May 22, 2025