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In Alexander Isak’s ongoing absence from Newcastle United’s matchday squads, Anthony Gordon was tasked with leading the line for the Magpies in their Premier League opener against Aston Villa.

Manager Eddie Howe was certainly complimentary of the England international, and said he “looked very good as a centre forward” at Villa Park.

Gordon, who got 90 minutes under his belt against the Villans, managed two shots on target and completed 23 sprints, as per Sofascore. He showed great threat at running in behind and managed to get Ezri Konsa sent off when he was bearing down on goal.

Yet, as threatening as the forward looked as a striker on Sunday, it’s not his natural position. Newcastle have been linked with some true centre-forwards.

Newcastle’s latest striker target

The hunt goes on for the Magpies, as they search for a new striker to strengthen up front this summer. As has been reported this week, Goncalo Ramos is reportedly open to a move to the North East from PSG, but it remains to be seen if that deal will materialise.

Transfer Focus

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

Another alternative option could come from within the Premier League, according to TEAMTalk. Newcastle are said to be ‘exploring a move’ to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norway international striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

However, this deal will not be easy at all, with Wolves ‘thin on attacking depth’ after sales and injuries have already affected them.

Even so, ‘the door isn’t entirely shut’ for Howe’s side to sign Strand Larsen, and if the Old Gold find a replacement, a £30m deal could be on the cards this summer.

Why Strand Larsen would be a good signing

After initially moving on loan to Molineux last season from Celta Vigo, it was an impressive debut season in the West Midlands for Strand Larsen. He became a key source of goals in a Wolves team that had previously only had Matheus Cunha to inspire them in front of goal.

Last season, the 25-year-old managed to find the back of the net 14 times in 35 Premier League appearances. Some of the underlying numbers show just how well he played, averaging 0.5 goals and 1.2 shots on target per 90 minutes.

Goals

0.5

14

Shots on target

1.2

34

Key passes

0.7

21

Expected goal involvements

0.39xGI

11.32xGI

Aerial duels won

2.3

67

Described as a “target man” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the former Celta Vigo star has shown a great instinct in front of goal for the Old Gold.

This goal against Manchester City last season sums that up, with excellent movement in the penalty box to get on the end of an early cross.

The Magpies are looking for a long-term replacement for Isak, and Gordon would love to find someone with whom he can have an equally deadly partnership. As per Transfermarkt, the pair have combined for ten goals, more than any other player in Gordon’s career.

Indeed, the 2024/25 campaign was not the best of Gordon’s career, after struggling for form at the start of the season.

He scored nine goals and assisted seven in 42 games. Yet, crosses like this to Isak make him such a dangerous prospect for opponents.

It is easy to imagine a cross like that going onto Strand Larsen’s head, instead. The Norwegian star stands at six feet four inches tall, so if he gets service like that, there is every chance he can capitalise.

There are numbers to suggest Gordon excels at deliveries into the box, like the one above. Last season, he averaged 0.63 crosses into the penalty area and 2.03 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes. That placed him in the top 7% and 15% of Premier League attackers.

Gordon and Isak had a sensational partnership at St James’ Park, but with the Swede seemingly set to leave the club – or remain in exile – it could be time for a new duo to form. Strand Larsen, with his aerial dominance and penalty box instinct, could be that striker.

For just £30m, Newcastle may have found the dream Isak replacement and someone Gordon can excel with.

More potential than Wissa & Ramos: Newcastle lead race to sign £60m striker

Newcastle still need to sign two strikers before the end of the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 19, 2025

While they certainly didn’t help themselves, the biggest problem for Tottenham Hotspur last season was injuries.

Ange Postecoglou had to make do with a cobbled-together squad for much of the campaign, and when he did have his players back, they won the Europa League.

Arguably, the biggest miss for the Lilywhites was Cristian Romero, who missed 27 games before playing a pivotal role in the club’s first trophy triumph in 17 years.

The World Cup winner will undoubtedly be one of Thomas Frank’s most important players this season, and so fans should be delighted about reports linking the club to an international who has been compared to him, as well as Gabriel Magalhães.

Spurs target Romero and Gabriel hybrid

It’s been an interesting summer for Spurs so far regarding transfers, as while their pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White hasn’t borne any fruit, they’ve bought in several other potential game-changers.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, while he wasn’t cheap, Mohammed Kudus could help turn the Lilywhites into a far more dangerous side, while Joao Palhinha has the ability to make them a far tougher side to break down.

Moreover, the North Londoners appear keen on adding at least one more player to their ranks before the window slams shut, a player who has been compared to Romero and Gabriel.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Sebastien Vidal, who claims that Spurs are very interested in Ronald Araujo, who is valued at £43m.

In fact, the journalist goes further, revealing that the Lilywhites are “expected” to make their first official approach for the Barcelona star as soon as “next week.”

It could be a complicated and relatively costly transfer to get done, but Araujo has proven he’d be worth it, especially as he’s been compared to Romero and Gabriel.

How Araujo compares to Romero & Gabriel

Now, there are several quite surface-level similarities you can point to between Araujo, Gabriel and Romero, such as them all being South American defenders who play for their nations, the fact they all play for top sides in one of Europe’s top five leagues, or that none of them are the kind of defender who gets bullied off the ball easily.

However, thanks to FBref, we know that there are also some undeniable statistical similarities between them as they looked at all centre-backs across the top five leagues and, over the last 365 days, the Arsenal star comes in as the third most similar to the Barça ace, while the Spurs titan ranks as the ninth most similar.

You can gain a better understanding of how these comparisons were made by examining the underlying numbers in which the Uruguayan ranked closely to the two Premier League monsters.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.11

0.10

Passing Accuracy

91.9%

90.2%

Key Passes

0.48

0.49

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.36

0.30

Goal-Creating Actions

0.24

0.23

Interestingly, when it comes to the Gunners’ ace, the Rivera-born star doesn’t actually rank all that closely in the defensive metrics, and instead shares plenty of the Brazilian’s offensive qualities, from non-penalty expected goals to key passes and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

However, when it comes to the Lilywhites ace, the metrics include offensive and defensive statistics, such as interceptions, percentage of aerial duels won, tackles in the middle third, key passes and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.11

0.10

Interceptions

1.07

1.34

Aerial Duels Won %

62.3%

60.3%

Tackles in the Middle Third

0.60

0.51

Key Passes

0.48

0.45

Progressive Carries

0.71

0.76

With all that said, while comparisons to two of the best defenders in the world’s toughest league are certainly encouraging, there are other arguments for why the North Londoners should be all over a deal for the former Boston River star, such as his experience.

For example, despite still being just 26 years old, and therefore a year out from hitting his peak, according to research from The Athletic, the “athletic monster,” as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, has made 175 appearances for Barcelona, of which 141 have been starts, and he’s racked up a pretty good tally of ten goals and seven assists in those games.

On top of that, he has also helped the Spanish giants win two La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and two Super Cups, which makes it easy to understand why legendary centre-back Carles Puyol once described him as “one of the best defenders in the world.”

Ultimately, even though it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Spurs should be doing what they can to secure Araujo’s services, especially as he’s something of a hybrid between Romero and Gabriel.

Spurs prepared to pay £40m to sign "special" James Maddison replacement

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly not concerned by the price tag of a star who could be a dream replacement for James Maddison.

ByDan Emery Aug 11, 2025

تفاعلت جماهير كرة القدم مع فوز النجم الفرنسي عثمان ديمبلي بجائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم لعام 2025، المُقدمة من جانب مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” الشهيرة، مساء يوم الإثنين.

واستضاف مسرح “دو شاتليه” في باريس مراسم حفل مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” الشهيرة لتوزيع جوائز الأفضل في العالم لعام 2025، وعلى رأسها الكرة الذهبية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ردود أفعال جماهير ليفربول على مركز محمد صلاح في الكرة الذهبية 2025: عار مطلق وأمر إجرامي

وحصل عثمان ديمبلي، لاعب فريق باريس سان جيرمان، على جائزة الكرة الذهبية لأفضل لاعب في العالم لعام 2025، في حين اكتفى محمد صلاح بالمركز الرابع (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة من هنا).

وتفاعل مشجعو كرة القدم، عبر موقع إكس، مع إعلان فوز عثمان ديمبلي بتلك الجائزة لأول مرة في مسيرته، على النحو التالي:

“بشكل صادق، كان من المفترض أن يكون محمد صلاح هو الفائز، ديمبيلي كان رائعًا، لكنه كان جزءًا من فريق رائع، مينديز، حكيمي، دوناروما وفيتينها كانوا بنفس القدر من الأهمية لنجاحهم، بينما كان صلاح أكثر أهمية لـ ليفربول، وكان سيفوز لو كانت الجائزة معتمدة على الأداء الفردي لا على الألقاب”.

Should’ve been Salah honestly. Dembele was great but part of a great team. Mendes, Hakimi, Donnarrumma, Vitinha just as important to their success

Salah was more vital for Liverpool & would have won if the award was based on individual performance & not trophies — FC CONCEPTS (@EAFCconcepts) September 22, 2025

“سرقة!”.

Robberryyyyy!!!! — RoBLack (@roblack66) September 22, 2025

“لقد سرقوه”، واضعًا صورة لـ محمد صلاح.

They robbed him 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/EUTQUf23vx — Rizy (@Rizy_LFC) September 22, 2025

“يا لها من مزحة من الجائزة”، واضعًا صورة توضح أرقام محمد صلاح الفريدة في الموسم الماضي، حيث تفوق على الجميع.

What a joke of an award!! pic.twitter.com/LUaMmd6mnR — Tolu (@thisistolu) September 22, 2025

“لأنه لا يحمل جنسية فرنسية أو إسبانية أو أوروبية!”، قاصدًا محمد صلاح.

Because he does not hold French, Spanish, or any European nationality 😂 pic.twitter.com/8yWeqhN6UI — KingR (@IR88K) September 22, 2025

“فائزي هو (محمد صلاح)، تبًا لجائزتكم”.

My winner

Fk ur stpid award show man!!! pic.twitter.com/Yt3D2SdlIE — Elvis⁶𓅓 (@mafia3O) September 22, 2025

“كيف لـ فيتينها أن يتواجد في مركز أعلى من محمد صلاح ورافينها؟!”.

How did Vitinha finish above Salah and Raphina?? — Stacka (@LFC_Stacka) September 22, 2025

“اشرحوا لي كيف يتفوق لامين يامال على فيتينها وصلاح؟ صلاح؟ كيف؟ ماذا لعب الموسم الماضي؟!”.

Explain to me how lamine yamal is above vitinha and Salah?
Salah?????
How?????
What did he play last season?!!!! — Tåmmy (@kurothedeity) September 22, 2025

“يامال يتفوق على صلاح ومبابي، هذا أمر إجرامي، محمد صلاح يلعب في الدوري الإنجليزي ودوري أبطال أوروبا للتذكرة، أمر مضحك للغاية!”.

Yamal ahead of Salah and Mbappe is absolutely criminal. Salah playing in the Prem and CL remember. Absolute joke. — Ry the monkey hanger 🇬🇧✝️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@rythered1988) September 22, 2025

The Gunners are showcasing serious ambition this summer, having already completed a host of major signings, and Arsenal are not slowing down with just under two months to go before deadline day on September 1.

Berta to offer "emerging star" in Arsenal swap deal for near-£70m signing

The Italian really wants to bring him to N5.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 9, 2025

Arsenal confirmed the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi recently, with the Spaniards poised to be joined by Premier League stalwart Christian Norgaard, who completed his medical earlier this week (David Ornstein).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£65m

Zubimendi’s capture, in particular, was the result of a serious back and forth between Real Sociedad and Arsenal, which seemed to go on for several months, but Mikel Arteta at long last secured his new midfield star last Sunday.

“Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us,” said Arteta about Zubimendi’s arrival, in official statement.

“The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.”

After Zubimendi and Norgaard, it appears the players most likely to join Arsenal next are currently Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres or Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.

Arsenal are now in club-to-club talks with Chelsea over Madueke after agreeing personal terms (Fabrizio Romano), but supporters are clamoring for Berta to end the club’s search for a new number nine.

The Sweden international, according to various reports, is in advanced talks to join Arteta’s side after also agreeing personal terms, like Madueke, and if Berta has his way, the 27-year-old will be the man to end Arsenal’s pursuit of a prolific goalscorer.

Gyokeres’ 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting over the last two years is a massive draw for Arsenal, not least because of their trouble finding the net last season in comparison to their previous two campaigns.

Arsenal "will" sign Viktor Gyokeres after "positive" Berta talks

Understandably, updates on the 27-year-old’s potential move to north London are coming by the hour.

Football Transfers have chipped in with information of their own, sharing the timeline Arsenal supporters can expect when it comes to finalising a deal for the ex-Coventry City star.

Arsenal want to get Gyokeres over the line in time for their pre-season tour of Asia, with Arteta’s side set to take on AC Milan in Singapore on July 23. Berta has just arrived back in England after jetting out to Portugal for “positive talks” with Sporting, and FT move to reassure fans that Arsenal “will” get a deal done for Gyokeres, even if there is some light work to do on the final fee.

They’ve offered an initial £56 million, plus £4 million in add-ons, for the centre-forward – but Sporting want the £60 million to be a paid as an unconditional fixed fee.

Therefore, just £5 million separates the two sides right now, and there is an expectation that they will eventually reach a compromise, as Arsenal look to seal this deal within the next fortnight.

يشهد اليوم السبت 6-9-2025 زخمًا كرويًا كبيرًا على مستوى المنتخبات، حيث تتواصل منافسات التصفيات الإفريقية والأوروبية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026، بجانب المواجهة الودية المرتقبة لمنتخب مصر الثاني أمام نظيره التونسي، في أول ظهور له قبل خوض بطولة كأس العرب المقبلة.

ويخوض منتخب مصر الثاني، تحت قيادة حلمي طولان، مواجهة ودية أمام منتخب تونس على ملعب هيئة قناة السويس في الإسماعيلية، ضمن برنامج التحضير لبطولة كأس العرب التي ستقام في قطر ديسمبر المقبل.

وفي القارة الأوروبية، يخوض المنتخب البرتغالي بقيادة نجمه كريستيانو رونالدو اختبارًا أمام أرمينيا في الجولة الأولى من التصفيات، فيما يلتقي منتخب إنجلترا مع أندورا، وتجمع قمة أخرى بين إيرلندا والمجر.

أما في القارة السمراء، فتتجه الأنظار إلى مواجهة نيجيريا مع رواندا، ضمن منافسات التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلى المونديال.

طالع أيضًا | وسط برود ديشامب.. منتخب فرنسا يفجر غضب باريس سان جيرمان بسبب ديمبلي مواعيد مباريات اليوم السبت 6-9-2025 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات تصفيات إفريقيا لكأس العالم اليوم

نيجيريا ضد رواندا، الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة. مواعيد مباريات تصفيات أوروبا لكأس العالم اليوم

لاتفيا ضد صربيا، الساعة 4 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن نقل المباراة.

أرمينيا ضد البرتغال، الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “bein sports 2”.

إنجلترا ضد اندورا، الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “bein sports 1”.

إيرلندا ضد المجر، الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “bein sports 2”.

سان مارينو ضد البوسنة والهرسك، الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “bein sports 3”.

النمسا ضد قبرص، الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “bein sports 4”. موعد مباراة مصر وتونس اليوم

منتخب مصر الثاني ضد تونس، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sports 1”.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

A former Manchester United player was once dubbed the ‘next Cristiano Ronaldo’, but went against Sir Alex Ferguson’s advice in a move that may well have ruined his career.

Man Utd wonderkids who flopped after leaving

The Red Devils are famous for their academy, with numerous first-team stars being made in Carrington. From the Class of 92 to more recent graduates such as Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, Man Utd regularly have one of their own in a matchday squad.

Ferguson was influential to the success of many Man Utd youngsters making the grade at Old Trafford and once described how to get the best out of them.

However, some youngsters who had been tipped for greatness didn’t hit the heights at Old Trafford.

Man Utd youngsters who didn’t live up to expectations
Player	Man Utd appearances
Adnan Januzaj	63
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson	14
Ravel Morrison	3
Timothy Fosu-Mensah	30
Nick Powell	9
Scott Wootton	4
Ryan Tunnicliffe	2
Tyler Blackett	12
James Wilson	20

Not every Man Utd academy graduate to make a first-team appearance has gone on to enjoy the career of a Gary Neville, David Beckham or a Ryan Giggs, with many still playing at a lower level, and perhaps none fit the flop category better than Federico Macheda.

Van Gaal flops, Ten Hag disasters: The 10 worst Man Utd players post-Fergie

Man United have had some dreadful players since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 24, 2025

Macheda the 'next Ronaldo' who went against Ferguson at Man Utd

There were high hopes for Macheda at Old Trafford, especially after he burst onto the scene with a late winner against Aston Villa in the Premier League in 2009.

In fact, Macheda was called ‘the next Ronaldo’ in Manchester, but that goal against Villa would be as good as it got for the Italian under Ferguson.

Now coming into the twilight years of his career, Macheda left England in 2016 and has been playing his football in Italy, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.

Federico Macheda’s career in pictures

Talking back in 2017, Macheda recalled when he decided to go against Ferguson by moving to Sampdoria on loan instead of remaining in the Premier League, something he now regrets.

In 2025, Macheda is currently playing his football in Greece with Asteras Tripolis and would make just 19 Premier League appearances in total for Man Utd, a figure which could have been more if he had listened to Ferguson.

The campaign approaches its final stage, but for Liverpool, it’s all done and dusted. In the best way. Arne Slot has won the Premier League in his first season as the Anfield head coach.

Who saw this coming? Certainly not BBC Sport’s experts, for none of the 30 pundits listed Liverpool as champions in their pre-season predictions.

We should cut the analysts some slack; after all, the Reds had just lost Jurgen Klopp, and recent history tells the tale of a decline when iconic managers depart after so many successful years.

The odds were stacked against Slot’s Liverpool, but they have prevailed to clinch the club’s 20th top-flight title. So many players stepped up, but none more so than Mohamed Salah, who fulfilled a promise in putting the Merseysiders back on their perch.

And he’s ready to do it all over again.

Why Mo Salah can go again next season

Salah is surely a shoo-in for the Premier League’s Player of the Season award. Not only has he clinched the league title, but he’s done so with an absurd haul of 28 goals and 18 assists across 36 matches, with two fixtures still to go.

1 – Mohamed Salah

28

18

46

2 – Alexander Isak

23

6

29

3 – Bryan Mbeumo

18

8

26

4 – Erling Haaland

21

3

24

5 – Cole Palmer

15

9

24

Salah needs just two goal involvements from his final two games to break Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s long-held shared record for contributions in a single Premier League season (47), and those hauls were from a 42-match campaign.

But wait, he’s 33 this summer. Surely now is the time for the Egyptian king to regress, to accept the call of Father Time and take a seat on the back bench.

This is unlikely. Salah’s as hungry as ever, if not more so, with time against him. Slot has tweaked his talisman’s game to provide him with greater freedom in the final third, fewer duties from a defensive standpoint.

Salah is an elite athlete and his tactical intelligence has never been finer tuned. As per Sofascore, he’s only averaging 0.6 tackles per game this season but has seen an upswing in dribble and duel metrics. And, of course, he’s never been more prolific.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been spoken about ad nauseam this season, and at least now there’s clarity regarding his future. However, Liverpool do need to source a new creative lifeforce, and if Jeremie Frimpong is the man for the job at right-back, it won’t be him.

That’s okay, Trent is a unique kind of playmaker. But Slot still wants someone to adopt the new playmaking mantle, and FSG appear willing to grant the coach an incredible new star.

Liverpool in contact with marquee signing

You’ll likely be somewhat aware of the incipient Florian Wirtz saga, with the German playmaker looking to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Bayern Munich had been thought to hold the lead in the race but The Athletic have since reported that Manchester City and Liverpool have made contact with the 22-year-old’s representatives.

One of the most coveted talents in world football, Wirtz’s signing would send shockwaves across English and European football, should he alight at either end of the M62.

It goes without saying that he’d cost a pretty penny, £126m, in fact, according to reports.

Why Florian Wirtz is Salah's dream signing

Wirtz is only young, but after being crowned last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Year as an invincible champion, it’s fair to say he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world”, and former Leverkusen star Patrick Helmes has said exactly that.

Wirtz has plundered his way through Germany’s finest competitors in recent years, having scored 57 goals and supplied 65 assists across 190 senior appearances for Leverkusen since graduating from their youth ranks.

This season alone, he’s created 21 big chances across the Bundesliga and Champions League, as per Sofascore, having scored six goals across nine fixtures on the continent to underscore his ability to do it on the biggest stage.

This talented playmaker would replace Trent and relocalise Liverpool’s creative focus. Given that he’d be in close proximity to the inswinging Salah, he could be the perfect signing to keep the leading forward firing across the final two years of his Liverpool career.

Attacking midfield

169

48

57

Left winger

21

4

5

Right winger

17

8

5

Centre-forward

15

7

7

Central midfield

5

0

3

Wirtz’s dynamism is a wonderful thing, but he’s typically found in a roaming central role, with license to thrill.

Salah would be sure to benefit from this presence, for the Leverkusen man ranks among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Contrast Wirtz’s creativity with that of Dominik Szoboszlai, for example, and you begin to see why Liverpool are so invested. The Hungarian, tireless and tenacious as they come, has provided only 14 assists across 90 games as a Red.

He’s also made just 12 big chances across 34 Premier League fixtures this season, and with Alexander-Arnold heading out the door, the addition of a creative player of Wirtz’s ilk is only magnified.

Whether Liverpool prevail in this race will remain to be seen for the immediate future, but the fact FSG are pushing is a good thing, especially when considering the importance of keeping Salah performing at the top of his game.

Stagnancy begets decline, but Liverpool are ready to throw the kitchen sink at exciting signings for Slot’s title-winning squad.

More exciting than Frimpong: Liverpool make enquiry for "world-class" star

Liverpool could be about to make a move for a star who could be more exciting than Jeremie Frimpong.

ByEthan Lamb May 14, 2025

Despite the new owners not being situated at Ibrox just yet, Rangers’ summer rebuild starts now.

After their bitter rivals were crowned Premiership champions for the 13th time in just 14 seasons on Saturday, those from across the city have plenty of work to do over the summer to bridge that gap.

The 17-point chasm that exists at the top of the table is despite the fact Rangers have won both Old Firm derbies in 2025, 3-0 winners at Ibrox in January and 3-2 victors at Parkhead in March, with the latest Glasgow derby coming up on Sunday.

Off the field, the Light Blues could soon have new owners, Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises seemingly set to complete his 51% takeover imminently, with big summer signings promised, including the potential arrival of a “special” youngster from within the SPFL, finally filling the void vacated by the club’s best striker of the modern-era; Alfredo Morelos.

Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

Back in 2017, two days before his 21st birthday, Morelos joined Rangers from Veikkausliiga champions HJK Helsinki for a reported fee of £1.5m, and what a bargain this would prove to be.

Nicknamed el Búfalo, the Colombian striker was a key figure as the Light Blues went from a laughingstock to Premiership title winners under Steven Gerrard, as outlined by the table below.

Appearances

269

Goals

124

Assists

57

European goals

29

Goals vs Celtic

3

League titles

1

Scottish Cups

1

Red cards

8

As the table suggests, Morelos especially excelled in UEFA competition, breaking Ally McCoist’s all-time club-record for most goals scored in Europe, six of his 29 coming in 2021/22, as the Gers made it all the way to the Europa League Final.

Many supporters would argue the Colombian has never been properly replaced, but could that be about to change?

Rangers' interest in the SPFL's most in-demand striker

According to a report by The Chronicle, Rangers are ‘tracking’ Heart of Midlothian striker James Wilson, with both Celtic and Newcastle United reportedly interested too.

Matthew Lindsay of the Herald describes Wilson as a ‘gifted young striker’, claiming that Hearts fear losing him for an ‘absolute pittance’, valued at around £1m.

So who is he, and why is he in such demand?

Well, let’s take a look at his statistics to help answer this question.

Age

18

Age of debut

16

Appearances

31

Minutes

1,549

Goals

6

Assists

2

Despite only making his debut as recently as January 2024 against The Spartans, Wilson has established himself as a regular in the Hearts first team.

Indeed, he’s already scored in an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road in October before opening his European account at Tynecastle against Petrocub Hîncești in the Conference League a couple of months later.

The teenager was also sent off for a high-tackle on Dundee United’s Luca Stephenson last month, which is a very Morelos thing to do isn’t it?

In a more positive development, back in March, Wilson was handed his senior international debut by Steve Clarke against Greece during a UEFA Nations League tie at Hampden, becoming Scotland’s youngest-ever male player, breaking John Lambie’s record that had stood for a staggering 138 years.

Teammate for club and country Craig Gordon described Wilson as a “great talent” and “pretty special”, believing “he’s going to go really far”, while Hearts left-back James Penrice praised the teenager’s “brilliant season”, adding “I’m very impressed with him”.

So, it’s easy to understand why he is in such high demand.

Thus, if Rangers are able to get their hands on Wilson, could he replicate Morelos’ time at Ibrox?

Like the great Colombian, he’d be arriving as a youngster for not very much money, but potentially making a huge impact by scoring a high number of goals.

Kris Boyd 2.0: Rangers lining up move for "pretty special" SPFL talent

Rangers are eyeing up a young striker who could be the club’s new Kris Boyd.

ByDan Emery Apr 30, 2025

The Saudi Pro League is renowned for its wealth and ability to give players huge wages, but who are the most expensive signings in the competition’s history?

European football remains the dominant force in the modern game, with the likes of the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga generally possessing the best players in the world.

In recent years, the Saudi Pro League has increasingly come to the fore, offering footballers eye-watering weekly wages and tempting them away from European clubs in the process.

To some, it is a sub-standard league where players go to earn big money in the twilight of their careers, but others feel it could only continue to grow in the coming years, especially if it continues to attract some of the biggest names in the sport.

There have been plenty of big-money signings to Saudi clubs since its rise to prominence – here are the 15 most expensive to date.

Saudi Pro League: Most expensive transfers
Rank	Player	Transfer	Date	Fee (£)
1	Neymar	PSG to Al-Hilal	Aug 2023	£77.6m
2	Jhon Duran	Aston Villa to Al-Nassr	Jan 2025	£71m
3	Mateo Retegui	Atalanta to Al-Qadsiah	July 2025	£57m
4	Darwin Nunez	Liverpool to Al-Hilal	Aug 2025	£56.6m
5	Malcom	Zenit to Al-Hilal	Jul 2023	£51.4m
6	Otavio	Porto to Al-Nassr	Aug 2023	£51.1m
7	Moussa Diaby	Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad	Jul 2024	£50m
8	Ruben Neves	Wolves to Al-Hilal	Jul 2023	£47m
9	Aleksandar Mitrovic	Fulham to Al-Hilal	Aug 2023	£46m
10	Galeno	Porto to Al-Ahli	Jan 2025	£41.6m
=11	Ivan Toney	Brentford to Al-Ahli	Aug 2024	£40m
=11	Fabinho	Liverpool to Al-Ittihad	Jul 2023	£40m
12	Mohamed Simakan	RB Leipzig to Al-Nassr	Sep 2024	£37.9m
13	Sergej Milinkovic-Savic	Lazio to Al-Hilal	Jul 2023	£34m
14	Marcos Leonardo	Benfica to Al-Hilal	Sep 2024	£33.7m

15

Marcos Leonardo

Benfica to Al-Hilal (£33.7m)

Kicking off the list is Brazilian youngster Marcos Leonardo, who joined Al-Hilal from Benfica earlier this year in a deal worth a reported €40m (£33.7m).

The 21-year-old forward was previously with Santos in his homeland, but he clearly felt that a Saudi move was best for his development at this early stage in his career. Only time will tell if it is the right call, but it has been rare to see such a young footballer head there.

14

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Lazio to Al-Hilal (£34m)

For a long time, it seemed inevitable that Sergej Milinkovic-Savic would end up at one of the best teams in Europe, having stood out as such a dominant performer for Lazio, combining talent and physicality in midfield.

It came as a huge shock to see him join Al-Hilal last year in a deal reportedly worth £34m, especially as he was still only in his late 20s at that point. Will he return to Europe in the future?

13

Mohamed Simakan

RB Leipzig to Al-Nassr (£37.9m)

Mohamed Simakan made the decision to leave RB Leipzig and join Al-Nassr in September 2024, in a move worth €45m (£37.9m), linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo in the process.

Only in his mid 20s, the centre-back’s decision to move away from Europe arguably surprised some, but it is still early days, and the club’s success on the domestic and continental stages may determine whether he’ll come to regret saying goodbye to the Bundesliga.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Frenchman will certainly be looking to make an impression as he seeks a first senior international cap.

12

Fabinho

Liverpool to Al-Ittihad (£40m)

Liverpool enjoyed a glorious period in their history under Jurgen Klopp, winning plenty of trophies, and Fabinho played a massive role in the Reds’ success.

A world-class No 6 at his peak, the Brazilian’s ability started to wane in the 2022/23 season, with his body no longer allowing him to cover ground like he once did.

A Saudi move felt like the best outcome for all parties, and Fabinho moved to Al-Ittihad for a reported £40m the following summer.

11

Ivan Toney

Brentford to Al-Ahli (£40m)

Much like Milinkovic-Savic, Ivan Toney felt like a player who was only on the up at Brentford, with a move to one of the Premier League’s biggest teams often mooted.

Instead, the England international left the Bees to join Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024 in a move that surprised many, even amid his contract issues in west London.

Reports of his eventual transfer fee were mixed, but most appear to indicate Brentford received a sum of around £40m.

10

Galeno

Porto to Al-Ahli (£41.6m)

Former Porto star Galeno was one of two major signings in the January 2025 market for the Saudi Pro League, with the winger joining Al-Ahli for €50m (£41.6m).

Galeno had scored eight in 18 appearances for Porto before departing for the Middle East, and has already written his name into the history books, scoring in the AFC Champions League final against Kawasaki Frontale.

His arrival marks Al-Ahli’s most expensive signing, replacing Ivan Toney.

9

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham to Al-Hilal (£46m)

Many players who have moved to the Saudi Pro League have been individuals whose peaks have been and gone, but Aleksandar Mitrovic went there while in his prime.

He was just 28 when he opted to trade Fulham for Al-Hilal, but he is no doubt reaping the financial rewards. Mitrovic’s transfer fee was officially undisclosed, with the Cottagers indicating they had received a “club-record” fee. While it was thought to be close to £50m, a sum of £46m appears to be the most widely mentioned.

8

Ruben Neves

Wolves to Al-Hilal (£47m)

Ruben Neves’ move to Saudi Arabia has to stand out as one of the biggest surprises having grown into such a key player at Wolves, while still only being in his mid-20s.

It looked like the Portugal star had the pick of his clubs given the natural talent he possesses in midfield, but the race for his signature was won by Al-Hilal, who paid £47m for Neves’ services.

7

Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad (£50m)

It looked like Aston Villa had signed themselves a gem of a player in Moussa Diaby, with the winger catching the eye with his quality and end product during his one season at Villa Park.

His campaign did fizzle out a bit as it went on, but few would have expected to see him ditch the Midlands side for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad, with the Villans receiving around £50m in the process.

It’s hard not to feel as though the Frenchman is wasting the best years of his career in a lesser division, although the financial aspects of the move are undeniably appealing.

6

Otavio

Porto to Al-Nassr (£51.1m)

Otavio was always a highly rated figure for Porto, and became a key part of the Portugal setup before opting for a Saudi move instead of a European switch, which cost Al-Nassr €60m (£51.1m) in August 2023.

He’s not set the world alight in the Middle East, scoring just one goal and supplying five assists in 2024/25.

Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a move for an exciting winger compared to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, with Arsenal and Barcelona also in the mix.

Mohamed Salah’s struggles this season continued on Sunday afternoon, with the Egyptian largely ineffective in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat away to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has now even called for the 33-year-old to be dropped by Arne Slot, following a dramatic dropoff from last year’s title-winning brilliance.

“The guy is not giving you anything! You could look at it the other way and say: ‘He’s going to be away for two or three months so we may as well try and figure something out now. Why am I going to wait on a guy who’s giving me nothing? I need to be proactive here. I can’t just sit on my hands and let it happen and hope and pray that all of a sudden somebody waves a magic wand and he becomes the Egyptian King again.’

“I absolutely think he needs to do something and my own person opinion, I would sit him.”

Salah’s form is increasingly showing the importance of Liverpool finding a successor to him, and it looks as though Fofana could be a leading option.

Liverpool keen on signing Malick Fofana

According to Sport [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are tussling Arsenal and Barcelona for the signing of Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who has emerged as one of the most talented young attacking players in Ligue 1.

It is claimed that Barca have made contact with the 20-year-old’s agent over a potential switch, but the Reds and the Gunners are showing the “most interest” in him from the Premier League. He could cost as much £44m, with Lyon refusing to budge on their asking price.

It is easy to see why Liverpool like Fofana so much, with scout Jacek Kulig comparing him to Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr, as well as describing him as “magnificent”.

The Belgian is a left winger by trade, so he could be seen as an upgrade or long-term replacement for Cody Gakpo, but he can also shine on the opposite flank, allowing him to provide competition for Salah.

More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 10, 2025

Fofana has already bagged 17 goals and eight assists in 74 appearances for Lyon, and those numbers should only improve as he matures with his end product.

As bad as Salah: Liverpool flop who lost 100% duels vs. Man City must be on borrowed time