All posts by n8rngtd.top

We are only in June, but Chelsea are wasting no time at all when it comes to the transfer window.

For example, even though the likes of Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo are already through the doors at Stamford Bridge, the Conference League Champions are still looking to make more significant additions.

That said, with the Champions League and more expectations in the Premier League to come next season, it’s not hard to understand why the West Londoners want to make sure Enzo Maresca has everything he needs.

One of the names most heavily touted for a move to Chelsea is Jamie Gittens, but interestingly, another international has now been linked with the club, someone who’d arguably be an even better signing.

Chelsea target Premier League star

Since wrapping up their prior transfer dealings, the most significant saga Chelsea have been in has been about Gittens.

Transfer Focus

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

Interestingly, the club were first linked with him back in October and then again during the winter window, but it would be fair to say that the links have seriously heated up in the last few weeks.

In fact, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed yesterday afternoon that the deal was close to being completed, while stories from late last week claimed that a fee of around £55m would be enough for Borussia Dortmund to sell.

However, while the young Englishman is undoubtedly very talented and will be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad, it now looks like the club are moving after someone from the Premier League who’d be an even better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has revealed that Chelsea are very interested in Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.

The report goes a step further, revealing that the Blues have already made contact with the Tricky Trees to find out more information about the player.

Unfortunately, one potential sticking point for a deal for the Brazilian is that Forest reportedly value him at more than €80m, which comes out to around £68m.

While that is an enormous amount of money, this might be a deal worth fighting for as Murillo has proven himself in the Premier League and could end up being a better signing than Gittens for Chelsea.

Why Murillo would be a better signing than Gittens for Chelsea

Now, the first thing to say is that both players would be good additions to Chelsea’s squad.

After all, it’s never a bad thing to sign an exciting and dynamic young winger, who’d not only scored at the Bernabeu but also managed to rack up a tally of 17 goal involvements in 49 games for a top European side at just 20 years old.

However, in the context of what the Blues actually need this summer, there are two significant reasons why Murillo would be a better signing than Gittens, the first of which relates to the club’s abundance of wingers in the squad.

As things stand, Maresca will be able to choose from ten players who are capable of playing on the wing next season – not including Mykhaylo Mudryk – so signing the Dortmund star will make it 11, which for any team is unnecessary.

That also leads us to the second reason: due to the number of attacking options at the Bridge, the Forest ace is likely to have a greater impact if he were to join.

After all, only one centre-back made 40 appearances across all competitions this season, Levi Colwill, while Tosin Adarabioyo made 38.

Moreover, when we compare the relevant underlying metrics between the former Fulham ace and the Tricky Trees star, like tackles, block interceptions and more, it becomes obvious that the “monstrous” Brazilian, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, would be a noticeable upgrade.

Murillo vs Adarabioyo
Statistics per 90	Murillo	Adarabioyo
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.07	0.07
Progressive Passes	3.25	2.68
Progressive Carries	0.62	0.32
Passing Accuracy	78.5%	91.1%
Key Passes	0.37	0.06
Passes into the Penalty Area	0.37	0.06
Shot-Creating Actions	1.24	0.96
Tackles	1.50	1.08
Blocks	1.95	0.57
Interceptions	1.02	0.70
Clearances	7.03	5.10
Ball Recoveries	4.01	2.61
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 PL Season

Ultimately, Chelsea would be smart to sign both Gittens and Murillo this summer, but when it comes to who will likely have more of an impact next year and, therefore, be the better signing, we’d have to lean heavily towards the latter.

Chelsea ready to offer £80k-p/w ace in exchange for "amazing" 17 G/A star

The Blues could have a transfer trick up their sleeve.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 24, 2025

Glasgow Rangers are closing in on yet another addition to their first-team squad this week, having already made a host of signings to bolster Russell Martin’s squad.

Max Aarons, Lyall Cameron, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Thelo Aasgaard have all already arrived to improve the manager’s options across the pitch at Ibrox.

The Scottish Premiership giants are not done there, though, as Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are eyeing up several more signings to ensure that the team is ready to compete with Celtic next season.

Sheffield Wednesday’s versatile attacker Djeidi Gassama could be the next player to arrive at Ibrox, as reporter Joe Crann claims that a deal has been agreed between the two clubs.

Rangers have already agreed personal terms with the 21-year-old forward, who came up through the Paris Saint-Germain academy, and it now seems like just a matter of time before he holds up the scarf.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

The French youngster is an exciting young talent who could bring speed, goals, and dribbles to the left flank for the Scottish giants next season.

He is still learning and developing as a player, which means that the attacker is far from the finished article, but his performances in the Championship last season suggest that Gassama could make an instant impact in the Premiership as a goal threat.

The Owls star ended the season with a return of seven goals from 5.92 xG in the second tier of English football, which shows that he offered a decent goal threat and finished the chances that he was provided with at an impressive rate.

A consistent goal threat on the left wing is exactly what Martin is in dire need of at Ibrox, given what the existing left-wing options produced in the division last season.

Rangers’ left-wing options
24/25 Premiership	Appearances	Goals
Hamza Igamane	29	11
Ianis Hagi	23	4
Tom Lawrence	15	4
Nedim Bajrami	25	2
Rabbi Matondo	6	2
Oscar Cortes	8	0
Scott Wright	2	0
Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, Hamza Igamane, who scored nine of his goals as a striker, was the only left-wing option for the Gers who managed more than four goals.

This suggests that Gassama has the potential to be the player that Rangers need if he can translate his efficient goalscoring form on the left wing for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship over to the Premiership next season.

However, the French dynamo may not be the only winger who arrives at Ibrox in the coming weeks, as Rangers are reportedly interested in another wide attacker.

Rangers make contact to sign new winger

According to Africa Foot, Rangers are interested in a deal to sign free agent winger Grady Diangana, who left West Bromwich Albion at the start of the month.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have already made contact with his camp, as they pursue a move to bring him to Ibrox to bolster their options on the flanks.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that there is plenty of interest from elsewhere, though, as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Valencia and Al Ettifaq are all also interested in signing the former West Ham United forward.

Africa Foot reveals that Diangana is intrigued by the prospect of a move to Scotland this summer and is carefully considering a switch to Ibrox to link up with Martin, who is very keen on signing a player of his profile.

It now remains to be seen what final decision the 27-year-old dynamo is going to make, with Rangers hoping that he will decide that a move to Glasgow is the best next step for him in his career.

What Grady Diangana could bring to Rangers

Diangana would be an interesting addition to the Rangers squad this summer because he did not deliver outstanding quality on the pitch for the Baggies in the 2024/25 campaign.

However, he is an incredibly versatile attacking option who can play on the left, on the right, or through the middle as an attacking midfielder, having started at least 37 games in each position in his career to date.

This means that Martin could utilise him in a plethora of roles next season, whether that’s on the wing or as an attacking midfield, which would make him a valuable depth option for the Scottish boss to call upon when needed.

Gassama, given his potential and impressive goalscoring output in the 2024/25 campaign, could come in as the first-choice option on the left flank, with Diangana providing an experienced alternative who can support the Frenchman’s developement whilst also being a quality back-up.

Grady Diangana (Championship)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	36	34
Starts	29	14
xG	5.44	3.67
Goals	7	4
Big chances created	8	5
Assists	8	3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former West Brom star did provide decent quality in the final third in the Championship in the 2023/24 season, but his form fell off last term as his contract was due to expire.

Diangana, who was once hailed as “unplayable” by pundit Michael Brown, joining Rangers for a fresh challenge could motivate him to get back to his best, potentially providing Martin with a winger who can make an impact in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

At worst, the DR Congo international will be a versatile and experienced player to support Gassama and step in as a starter when needed for the Gers.

At best, Diangana will recapture his best form and be a terrific winger for Rangers who can decide matches with goals and assists on a regular basis, leaving Martin with two brilliant left wing options to pick from next season.

Dessers upgrade at Ibrox: Rangers join race to sign "complete number 9"

Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a big upgrade on Cyriel Dessers.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 9, 2025

Tottenham have a potentially golden opportunity to sign another player after sealing a marquee deal for Mohammed Kudus, and amid the drama surrounding their Morgan Gibbs-White move, with chairman Daniel Levy thought to be prioritising a couple of more areas to reinforce.

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Spurs need to sell players due to a key UEFA rule.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 11, 2025

Spurs announced the signing of Kudus in a £55 million deal from West Ham late last night, ending the 14-year-long wait for a transfer between the clubs, and the Ghanaian cannot wait to get started.

“It feels great to be here, I’m very happy and can’t wait to start,” he said in an interview with the club’s official channels.

“I’m a very direct winger, strong, very good in taking players on and creating chances, so there is a lot of flair in my game.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.00
James Maddison	6.98
Pedro Porro	6.95
Dominic Solanke	6.84
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

“I like to entertain the fans as well. That’s what football is about – it’s putting a memory in the heads of the fans that they have when they go back home, and after the money they’ve spent to buy a ticket. Although there is also a lot of seriousness and competitiveness in the game, I still think it’s a sport I try to enjoy as much as I can and give the fans something to enjoy too. I hope fans are going to really enjoy what I’m going to bring to the team here.”

Kudus was set to be followed by Gibbs-White, following a round of quick-fire talks which accelerated in absolutely rapid fashion.

Surprise reports emerged on Thursday that the Lilywhites were suddenly in advanced negotiations for the England international right after Kudus, and it didn’t take long for Levy to make significant progress, with Spurs prepared to pay his £60 million release clause.

Tottenham were thought to be closing in on a sensational double deal worth £115 million after developments in the last 24 hours, with Levy making a serious statement whilst backing new manager Thomas Frank to the hilt.

However, after a stunning twist, Nottingham Forest are now ready to take legal action against Tottenham after alleged illegal conduct over the England international’s transfer – with the deal considered to be off, at least for now.

Forest are likely unable to put a complete halt to the signing (Rob Dorsett), but it’s now been significantly delayed.

Elsewhere, Spurs are planning to strengthen other areas of midfield, and they have their eyes on an intriguing option.

Douglas Luiz "very keen" to join Tottenham as Juventus green-light exit

According to journalist Graeme Bailey and TBR Football, £138,000-per-week Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz is being actively targeted by Spurs, following the Old Lady’s decision to green-light his exit this summer.

The Brazil international has found life difficult in Turin since his switch from Aston Villa last year, and he’s believed to be eyeing a return to the Premier League already, specifically to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Luiz is apparently “very keen” to join Tottenham and his representatives are pushing to get him that desired move, coming after Spurs allegedly held talks with them recently.

However, the former Man City man is just one of a few midfield targets being considered, as Levy apparently wants to sign a holding midfielder and new number six after their ambitious deals for Kudus and Gibbs-White.

The 27-year-old suffered from both injury problems and a subsequent lack of game time under Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor last term, but his final season at Villa Park demonstrates that he’s capable of seriously strengthening Frank’s options.

Luiz bagged 10 goals and 10 assists in 53 total appearances for Unai Emery’s side across 2023/2024, with the South American potentially coming as a dynamic replacement for Yves Bissouma in midfield, who’s attracting reported interest from Fenerbahce.

Owning a football club is one of the hardest journeys a business person can embark on. However, more recently, we have seen some of the world’s most established stars, celebrities, sportsmen and sportswomen get involved with the task themselves.

From musicians like Ed Sheeran and Stormzy, to actors such as Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, here are some of the biggest celebrity owners in football.

Will Ferrell, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas & Michael Phelps

Leeds United

One of football’s most fascinating ownership structures comes from West Yorkshire. Leeds United were taken over by 49ers Enterprises in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £170m.

49ers Enterprises Global Football Group LLC is the investment arm of the American football team San Francisco 49ers. In 2018, they purchased a 15% stake in the Championship club, which then increased to 44% in 2021. The American syndicate now has full control of the Whites, who returned to the Premier League in 2025.

The most incredible thing about the investment group is not their multi-club portfolio, but the superstar lineup of celebrities and sports personalities who have now invested in their firm.

They include actors Will Ferrell and Russell Crowe, golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, Olympic legend Michael Phelps and NBA basketball players Larry Nance Jr. and Russell Westbrook – all of whom collectively come under the blanket as Leeds United co-owners.

Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell & Mia Hamm

Los Angeles FC

Speaking of large consortiums, that’s exactly what you’ll find at Los Angeles FC in MLS.

Like his ownership of Leeds United, Will Ferrell is part of a 26-person ownership of LAFC, who joined MLS in 2018 as part of the league’s expansion and won the MLS Cup for the first time in 2022.

The club was also valued at more than $700m (£524m) in February 2020, which was a record for any Major League Soccer team.

Ferrell is a minority owner alongside Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, NBA legend Magic Johnson, former United States footballer Mia Hamm and her husband, Nomar Garciaparra, who was a baseball player for the Boston Red Sox.

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Mark Marston

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Mesut Ozil & Kate Upton

Club Necaxa

It’s not quite the consortium that Leeds or LAFC have at their disposal, but Mexican football team Club Necaxa must be credited for attracting some very well-known stars to their club in recent years.

It was reported in 2021 that former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil had joined actor Kate Upton, alongside her husband, MLB pitcher Justin Verlander and fellow Hollywood star Eva Longoria in buying around half the shares of the Liga MX franchise.

This was part of a group formed by real estate investor Al Tylis and Sam Porter, an executive at MLS club D.C. United. More recently, it was revealed that an American duo of actors had also added Necaxa to their already popular portfolio…

Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney

Wrexham AFC

You definitely haven’t heard of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney being part-owners of Necaxa in Mexico, but you will, of course, have heard of the pair’s ownership of Welsh club Wrexham AFC.

If you didn’t know already, Reynolds and McElhenney are the owners of Wrexham, after the pair bought the club for £2m in 2021.

They have since successfully guided their beloved club to the Championship, which is three steps above the National League, where the club resided when they first took over.

Through their company PR McReynolds, they have also recently added Necaxa to their portfolio. It is believed the deal also benefits Wrexham, as part of Necaxa’s ownership group purchased a 5% stake in the club, so expect to see some pre-season friendlies with Welsh and Mexican fans in attendance!

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FFC has all the latest Wrexham info as they seek promotion from League One, along with a look at the Red Dragons’ journey to where they are today.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Oct 8, 2024

Michael B. Jordan

AFC Bournemouth

You may have watched Bournemouth rock some pretty cool, commemorative-style shirts in recent years. That’s because the Cherries went into the 2024/25 campaign celebrating 125 years since the club was founded, which also caused minority shareholder and Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan to release two special kits of his own.

Jordan purchased a stake in the club as part of a minority investment group back in December 2022, alongside Bill Foley, who is a shareholder of Hibernian and owns the NHL ice hockey franchise Vegas Golden Knights.

LeBron James

Liverpool

LeBron James became a part-owner of Liverpool in 2011 when he bought a 2% stake in the club for £4.7m.

According to a recent evaluation of the club by accountancy firm KPMG, James’ investment is now worth over £37m, with the club having got itself back to the top of world football by winning the Premier League and Champions League in recent years under the now departed Jurgen Klopp.

In March 2021, it was revealed that James and business partner Maverick Carter had become the first black partners at Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owners of Liverpool.

The group, who also owns the Boston Red Rox, bought the Merseyside club in 2010 for £300m. Forbes estimated in May 2024 that Liverpool were worth £4.3bn, so it is likely that figure is even higher now.

James already had prior links with FSG, having co-produced a television show with Tom Werner, who has the second-largest stake in FSG behind owner John Henry.

Ed Sheeran

Ipswich Town

Ed Sheeran became Ipswich Town’s part-time owner in August 2024. Sheeran has held a front-of-shirt sponsor on Ipswich’s kits since 2021, and has purchased a 1.4% stake in his beloved club through Gamechanger 20 Ltd, who bought the team from Marcus Evans for £40m three years ago.

However, the club confirmed that the music superstar would not join the board of directors, though he would be awarded with his own executive box at Portman Road, which was personally designed for the 2024/25 season.

The pop star, who has 67.5m monthly listeners on Spotify, also collaborated with the club to design their Suffolk-inspired pink third kit.

Stormzy and Wilfried Zaha

AFC Croydon Athletic

Moving slightly down the leagues, AFC Croydon were bought by UK rapper Stormzy and former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha.

The club was supporter-owned from 2012 after former team Croydon Athletic struggled financially once it emerged that their owner, Mazhar Majeed, had been jailed for 32 months for his role in a match-fixing scandal.

They play at the Mayfield Stadium in Thornton Heath in the Isthmian League South East Division, which is the eighth tier of English football. Both Zaha and Stormzy grew up in the south London borough of Croydon and are part of a three-man consortium involved with buying the club.

Stormzy grew up in South Norwood, while Zaha spent his childhood on Thornton Heath. Danny Young, former head of player care at Crystal Palace, is the third man involved with buying the club. He spent almost ten years at Palace as the club’s head of kit, a player liaison officer and head of player care.

Tom Brady

Birmingham City

It was announced in August 2023 that seven-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL’s greatest-ever players, Tom Brady, would become a part-owner of Birmingham City.

Brady owns 3.3% of the club, but his shares are actually in Shelby Companies Ltd, which was the organisation used by US investment firm Knighthood Capital Management to buy the EFL club last year.

The man who spearheaded that takeover was American hedge fund manager and co-founder of Knighthood Capital Management, Tom Wagner. He bought 45.64% of Birmingham City and St Andrew’s Stadium and it is believed it was his friendly relationship with Brady that attracted the NFL icon to the club.

The pair have worked on previous projects, specifically investing in a major league pickleball team with tennis star Kim Clijsters.

David Beckham

Inter Miami

David Beckham signed for LA Galaxy in 2007 after rising to one of football’s most popular figures at Manchester United and then Real Madrid.

According to sports business expert Joe Pompliano, Beckham made over $50m (£37.4m) of income per season in MLS, which was a 155% increase from the money he made at Real Madrid. Pompliano also claimed Beckham made $800m (£600m) by the time he retired from professional football in 2013.

At LA Galaxy, Beckham’s lucrative contract also included an option to purchase an MLS expansion team at a discounted rate, and he did so with the addition of Inter Miami to his business portfolio in 2018.

Inter Miami made their debut on the pitch in March 2020 and were already the 10th-most valuable MLS franchise – valued at 24 times the original $25m expansion fee.

But that was only the beginning, as in June 2023, Lionel Messi turned down an epic offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal to join Beckham’s side following the conclusion of his contract at PSG.

Since then, the club have won their first major piece of silverware by winning the 2023 Leagues Cup title and continue to dominate viewing and financial figures in MLS, all to the pleasure of Mr Beckham himself.

Glasgow Rangers are leading the race to sign a young talent who has even been compared to Brazil superstar Neymar, with the player thought to have chosen a move to Ibrox despite a long list of suitors.

Martin expects more departures as Rangers ramp up business

Robin Propper’s time as a Gers player has reached its conclusion, with the centre-back returning to former club FC Twente after struggling to consistently impress at Ibrox.

Speaking over the weekend, manager Russell Martin admitted that there is interest in various other Rangers players, too, with plenty of outgoing business expected this summer.

While much focus is on the players who could leave Rangers in the coming weeks, new signings are also essential, and it looks as though the Scottish Premiership giants are in pole position to snap up a high level youngster.

Rangers set to win race for Mikey Moore

According to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, the Gers have won the race to sign Tottenham sensation Mikey Moore on loan despite competition from the English Championship.

Moore is such a gifted player with a big future in the game, so the idea of him spending the 2025/26 season at Rangers is a mouthwatering prospect.

Rangers: "Fearless" gem wants to move to Ibrox with Gers in negotiations

The Gers have been handed a major boost.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 28, 2025

The 17-year-old winger has an incredible 32 goal contributions (19 goals and 13 assists) in just 24 appearances for Spurs’ under-18 side, also netting once for the senior side to date and being lauded as similar to Neymar by teammate James Maddison.

“From minute 45 to 65 I thought we had Neymar on the left wing. He was brilliant. Just demanding the ball and fearless. [He has] that young, fearless mentality and you never want to take that away from him. He’s a young kid, a brilliant lad, a lovely boy. He takes in information, and he’s got bags of ability, so I’ll be there as an older player, hopefully with some wise words to help along the way.”

Martin knows that extra firepower is needed if his Rangers side are to have a chance of winning the Scottish Premiership title next season, and in Moore they would be signing an extremely talented youngster with the potential to excel on loan, no doubt wanting to prove his worth to Spurs.

The former USMNT defender has shared his assessment of Freese's status, suggesting the position remains unsettled despite recent performances

• Freese has established himself beyond penalty-saving specialist
• Current No. 1 status reflects goalkeeper depth concerns
• Competition remains open with key contenders absent from recent camp

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  U.S. icon Alexi Lalas says Matt Freese is the USMNT’s current No. 1, though he admits that “says a lot about their goalkeeping situation.” The Fox Sports analyst credited Freese for moving beyond his penalty-saving reputation while ranking him second among winners of the September international break.

  "Timing is everything. He was there this summer, made a big splash in terms of saving the penalties, went to the final," Lalas said on his podcast. “I thought he should have done better on one of the goals, certainly against South Korea. He got his shut-out [against Japan], made some good saves, and I think established himself as more than just a guy who saves penalties, which I think he kind of needed to do."

  However, Lalas emphasized the importance of timing in Freese's ascension, noting that the New York City FC goalkeeper benefited from the absence of key competitors during recent training camps.

  "He's there, it's open, there's a competition. Matt Turner, who for a long time was the incumbent, wasn't even in this camp," Lalas explained. "So I'm going to put Matt Freese at No. 2, and the only reason I wouldn't put him at No. 1 is that I'm still not convinced, as you may be, that Matt Freese is going to be the starting goalkeeper come next summer.”

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• WHAT ALEXI LALAS SAID

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT goalkeeper situation represents one of the most uncertain position battles heading into next summer's World Cup. Traditionally, a position of strength for American soccer, the current lack of a clearly established international-caliber goalkeeper reflects broader developmental concerns within the program. 

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  The goalkeeper competition will intensify in upcoming camps as Pochettino evaluates all available options ahead of competitive fixtures. The USMNT will regroup next in October for the international break where they will face Ecuador and Australia.

Manchester United have signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the towering Slovenian striker set to be the main centre-forward under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.

Sesko snubs Newcastle move for Man Utd

After already signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season, the Red Devils have also pipped Newcastle United to a big-money deal for the Bundesliga star in a transfer worth a total of €85m.

Sesko always wanted a move to Old Trafford over St James’ Park, and we could see Cunha and Mbeumo line up behind the 22-year-old as two attacking No 10’s in a 3-4-2-1 system under Amorim.

AI predicts how many goals and assists Cunha and Mbeumo will get for Man Utd in 2025/26

The pair have been backed to star at Old Trafford.

By
Charlie Smith

Jul 22, 2025

The striker has already penned a five-year deal in Manchester and will arrive in similar circumstances to Rasmus Hojlund. A young and exciting forward costing mega money, pressure will be on Sesko to perform after netting 27 times and registering six assists for Leipzig in 2024/25.

Grok, the AI tool on X, has already predicted how many goals Cunha and Mbeumo will score, and it has also forecasted how Sesko will get on in his first season in England.

AI predicts how many goals Sesko will score for Man Utd

When asked how many goals Sesko will score for the Red Devils in 2025/26, Grok gave a precise prediction.

Assuming Sesko plays 32 matches (accounting for rotation or minor injuries), he could score 13 Premier League goals if he adapts quickly and maintains his Bundesliga record in the Premier League.

In cup competitions, FA Cup and League Cup as United have no European football on offer, he could score 5 more goals, providing Amorim’s side go deep into both and play 10 games.

Sesko’s predicted 2025/26 season for Man Utd
	Premier League	FA Cup/League Cup
Games	32	10
Goals	13	5

Grok adds that ‘Sesko’s physical attributes and comparisons to Erling Haaland suggest he could outperform expectations if United’s system maximises his strengths, potentially pushing him towards 20 goals in an optimistic scenario’.

An 18-goal season in all competitions, Amorim, Man Utd and the supporters would be satisfied with that figure, considering Hojlund has scored just 15 goals in domestic competitions in the last two seasons.

Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman created history after scoring a stunning solo goal for the Gunners youth side in their 3-2 win over Wolves in Premier League 2 on Saturday. The English teenager, widely regarded as one of the finest young talents in world football, made his senior professional debut for Mikel Arteta's side during a Premier League clash against Leeds last month.

• Dowman creates history

  At the age of 15 years and 263 days, Dowman became the youngest player to score a goal in Premier League 2, a record which was previously held by Reiss Nelson, who set the mark back in 2016 at 16 years, 57 days. The Gunners wonderkid started for the U21 side for the first time and scored the equaliser in the 65th minute after Wolves took a two-goal lead. The teenager cut onto his right foot from the right side of the box before chopping back onto his left and slotted the ball home with a composed finish. Andre Harriman-Annous scored the other two goals to secure a win for the English giants.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Dowman made his senior debut in August

  After impressing Arteta during pre-season, Dowman made his senior debut for the club during a Premier League clash against Leeds United last month. In the process, he became the second-youngest player to represent the Gunners in the Premier League after Ethan Nwaneri. The 15-year-old then came off the bench in Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Liverpool.

• Max Porter hails Arsenal U21 team's efforts

  Dowman and his team-mates garnered praise from Arsenal U-21 head coach Max Poerter, who told the club's official website: "I think it was a bit of a roller coaster. We were 2-0 down and had given away two poor goals from our standards, which was obviously disappointing, but I've got to praise the group, really. The reason I say the group is because it wasn't just the ones on the pitch, it was the players that came on. Our first-team manager, Mikel, mentioned the other week about the importance of finishers. 

  "All around, from the players on the pitch and the ones that came on to finish the game, they showed huge courage, they pushed themselves physically, and in the end, we got what we deserved from the game. Even in the first half, even though we weren't as good as the second, I think there were still moments we could have scored. So, we're really delighted because I think the group, particularly the ones that played midweek, showed a huge response, which we want to keep going."

  He added: "I think this group of players are so honest, every day. They give everything, they push themselves. I think at times, we want to help them with the things needed to have careers in the game, but I can't fault them for their attitude and application. We've just got to make sure that we're consistent with that daily, because that's how you'll get performances like that, where you can go to the death and hopefully get results."

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  When are Arsenal playing next?

  A day after the youth team's triumph, Arteta's senior boys will be back in action in the Premier League as they host Manchester City in a blockbuster clash.

Lamine Yamal may have fallen short in the Ballon d’Or race against Ousmane Dembele, but Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists the setback will only fuel his hunger to claim the award in future. The teenager made history with back-to-back Kopa Trophies, while Aitana Bonmati continued her dominance by lifting a third consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or.

• Barcelona shine on awards night despite Yamal’s Ballon d’Or setback

  The Blaugrana's influence was once again felt on football’s biggest individual stage. While Dembele claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or, 18-year-old Yamal finished runner-up after already securing his second Kopa Trophy. Barca Femini midfielder Bonmati made history as just the third player to win the Golden Ball – alongside Lionel Messi and Michel Platini.

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  Laporta praises Yamal and Bonmati’s dominance

  Speaking after the ceremony, Laporta hailed the club’s success and expressed pride in Yamal’s historic achievement.

  “Nobody has two Kopa awards, I’m sure Lamine will now fight for the Ballon d’Or," he said. "There were a lot of nerves, because in the theatre there were a few people shouting ‘Ousmane, Ousmane’ and a few of us from Barca were shouting ‘Lamine, Lamine’. I’m sure this will motivate Lamine even more.”

  The Barca president was equally glowing in his praise for Bonmati, who marked another milestone in her career.

  "I'm very happy for Aitana, when she comes on stage she gives an acknowledgment that moves you. I'm delighted with Aitana, she gave an exceptional speech, she touched on everything, family, club, equality, we know that these are reasons that motivate Aitana to continue improving."

• Why this matters for Barcelona’s present and future

  For Laporta, the night was not just about trophies but also a reminder of the club’s resilience. He took the opportunity to thank supporters, pointing out their role in Barca’s resurgence.

  “I tell the fans to keep believing in Barca. Their patience with some things is admirable, and they never give up. We owe them everything," he concluded.

  Yamal’s Ballon d’Or runner-up finish, combined with Raphinha’s fifth and Pedri’s 11th place, reinforced the impression that Barcelona are nurturing a new generation capable of dominating the world stage.

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  What comes next for Barca and Yamal

  Currently sidelined through injury, Yamal will be watching from the stands as Barcelona look to build on their 3-0 victory over Getafe. Flick’s side face Real Oviedo in midweek before taking on Real Sociedad at the weekend, with a Champions League showdown against PSG looming large.

Tottenham Hotspur fans had the first opportunity to see new signing Mohammed Kudus in competitive action during the UEFA Super Cup final against PSG on Wednesday night.

The Ghanaian, who joined the Lilywhites in a £55m deal from West Ham United, featured for 79 minutes, arguably being one of the shining lights despite the penalty defeat.

At just 24, he has the ability to make an immediate and long-term impact in North London, looking to be a key player in any success endured under new boss Thomas Frank.

However, despite the big-money addition made for the former Hammers star’s signature, other key attackers are still being targeted by the Dane ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

Numerous names have been mentioned in recent days, which has seen huge progress being made in an attempt to further bolster the club’s attacking department.

Spurs preparing bid for Mohammed Kudus upgrade

Eberechi Eze has been one of the names hugely mentionedwith Spurs in recent days, even preparing a bid for the Crystal Palace star after their demotion to the Europa Conference League.

The Englishman is said to have a £60m release clause in his current deal at Selhurst Park which could make a deal a formality – potentially avoiding a repeat of the Morgan Gibbs-White saga.

However, he’s not the only Premier League star currently in their sights, with Manchester City forward Savinho a player they’re targeting, according to the Daily Mail.

Their report claims that the Lilywhites are preparing an offer to sign the 21-year-old, who only moved to the Etihad from Girona less than 12 months ago.

It’s also been reported that the Brazilian would be open to a move to join Frank’s side before the current deadline, with Pep Guardiola’s side demanding £60m to offload him this window.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a better signing than Kudus

A deal for Kudus was always going to be excellent business, but his showing against the Champions League winners has handed the fanbase another reason to be positive.

His tally of 100% crosses completed, and three chances created – the most of any player on the pitch – highlights the threat he possesses when in attacking areas.

He also holds a versatile skillset that could allow him to operate in the number ten role, off either flank or even as a centre-forward – as seen in his first competitive outing.

If he can add further goal contributions to his game, it would be a great addition, adding the quality the side have craved in forward areas in recent months.

However, despite his impressive start to life in North London, he could be trumped by Savinho, that’s if the Brazilian completes his own move to North London this summer.

He managed to notch more combined goals and assists last campaign, but his underlying stats were also just as impressive, managing to outperform Kudus in various key areas.

Savinho, who’s been dubbed “sensational” by journalist Adam Keys, achieved a better shot on target accuracy rate, subsequently being able to finish more of the chances he’s presented with in front of goal.

How Savinho & Kudus compare in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Savinho	Kudus
Games played	29	32
Goals & assists	9	8
Shot on target accuracy	38%	28%
Progressive carries	7.1	3.4
Progressive passes	3.4	2.7
Key passes made	2.4	1.1
Take-ons completed	46%	44%
Carries into the 18-yard box	3.8	1.4
Crosses completed	4.3	2.8
Passes into the 18-yard box	2.4	1.1
Stats via FBref

However, when driving with the ball, the City ace also dominated, completing more of the take-ons he attempted, with more being made into the opposition box – which would hand the side the added presence they’ve crave in the final third.

Besides scoring, the youngster has also been able to provide for others in the opposition’s defensive area, picking out a teammate from more crosses per 90 than Kudus – able to offer a more all-rounded talent for Frank in 2025/26.

After already spending £55m on the Ghanaian, there’s no denying that a £60m move for Savinho would be another mammoth investment from the board in the hunt for Premier League glory.

However, if they are to stand any chance of rising up the table and ending their years of disappointment in England’s top-flight, it’s a move that needs to be made before the September 1st deadline.

Dream Maddison replacement: Spurs chasing incredible £30m Eze alternative

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be eyeing up another Premier League star instead of Eberechi Eze.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 13, 2025