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Chelsea are through to the last 16 of the Club World Cup and remain in contention to win the tournament, but off the field, BlueCo are making plans to reinforce Enzo Maresca’s squad further ahead of his second season in charge.

Chelsea make approach for £103k-a-week Barcelona legend who Man United want

The Blues face competition from both Manchester clubs.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 24, 2025

New signing Liam Delap scored his first goal for the club during their 3-0 win over ES Tunis this morning, with their opponents failing to register a single shot on target as Tosin Adarabioyo and Tyrique George also rounded off a routine victory for the Blues.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea will now face Portuguese heavyweights Benfica in the first knockout round, and there is every possibility that Maresca’s side can go on to lift the trophy whilst securing a massive £97 million financial windfall for the club.

“The performance, for me, was good,” said Maresca after Chelsea’s win over ES Tunis.

“It was not easy and until we scored the first goal, it was difficult to break their defensive line down. We were quite patient, and when we scored the first goal, the game became a little more open and a little easier for us.

“It’s impossible not to rotate players because playing every three days in these conditions means it’s not possible for them to play every game. The ones that played were good, and we’ve given some rest to Moi, Trev, Levi, Cucu, Cole, Pedro, many players. It’s important to recover the energy and try to win the next game.”

Chelsea have been plying their trade in near unplayable weather conditions, with the American heat causing major issues for Maresca’s side and other teams competing at the CWC.

To help lighten the load, Chelsea could take advantage of a unique player registration period. From June 27 to July 3, Chelsea are allowed to add players to their CWV roster, including new signings, on the condition they haven’t already featured for another team at the tournament.

This would rule out Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who is reliably believed to be closing in on a move to Chelsea, but Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande could link up with the squad if they advance on a deal for the Ivorian.

Chelsea looking to negotiate cut-price Ousmane Diomande move

TEAMtalk reported in the last few days that Maresca is a “huge fan” of Diomande and has him near the top of Chelsea’s target list for defenders.

The 21-year-old’s contract includes a £68 million release clause too, but according to an update from CaughtOffside, the west Londoners don’t fancy paying this fee.

Indeed, it is believed that Chelsea are “looking to negotiate” a lower fee with Sporting to sign Diomande, and they reiterate how convinced Maresca is by the African defender’s quality.

They’re said to be “very” keen on signing the Primeira Liga starlet, and Sporting are open to considering a bid slightly beneath his clause. However, amid interest from Newcastle United and Real Madrid, Maresca faces stiff competition for one of his top targets.

Mohamed Salah signed a two-year contract extension in April to keep him at Liverpool for the upcoming two seasons, ensuring Arne Slot has usage of his talisman as he looks to plunder further riches after an incredible term.

Liverpool won the Premier League in their first season since Jurgen Klopp stepped down from his post, and Salah was the main man. The Egypt international, who turned 33 last week, scored 29 goals and added 18 assists en route to the title, becoming the first man to achieve 47 goal involvements in a single 38-game English top-flight campaign.

However, as he gets older, Salah could do with some cover, especially with Federico Chiesa looking to return to his Italian homeland. Thus, a new right-sided forward should be signed.

How curious that Salah might be replaced by Liverpool’s next version of Sadio Mane.

Liverpool lining up new winger

What a summer this has been for the mighty Reds already. Florian Wirtz is expected to arrive in a jaw-dropping £116m deal, joining from Bayer Leverkusen alongside Jeremie Frimpong, while Milos Kerkez is set to sign from Bournemouth too.

Who could be next? Well, it might be another English-based player according to reports.

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool have entered the race for Southampton star Tyler Dibling, who is likely to leave St. Mary’s this summer. Chelsea are also keen, however, no official talks have taken place yet.

RB Leipzig have already seen a €35m (£30m) bid rejected for the England U21 international, with relegated Saints instead holding out for something more like €60m (£51m).

With so many teams in the race, Liverpool will need to act quickly to ensure they secure the signature of a teenage prospect who has the potential to become a superstar.

Why Liverpool should sign Tyler Dibling

Described as an “unreal talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson, there’s certainly something special about Dibling’s style, with his flamboyant dribbling, fast pace and capacity to manoeuvre out from tight spaces underscoring his potential in the Premier League.

Southampton endured a miserable campaign as they crashed back into the Championship, but the 19-year-old Dibling was a breath of fresh air, dynamic and positionally flexible, while simultaneously showing an attacking instinct which could be sharpened into something deadly over the coming years.

Who knows, given he has made his name with Southampton, Dibling might even prove Liverpool’s next version of Mane, certainly boasting the elasticity and electricity of the Senegalese legend, if not yet the crisp ball-striking.

Right winger

13

1

0

Attacking midfield

7

1

2

Centre-forward

5

2

1

Right wing-back

1

0

0

Mane joined Liverpool from the southern outfit way back in 2016, in a deal worth £34m. Mane, 24 upon signing, had spent two seasons with Southampton, scoring 25 goals and laying on ten assists.

He had pace and skills and all the rest, but it was under the Anfield lights that he became a superstar, Klopp fashioning him into one of the world’s best.

Now, Dibling could do the same, but with a new man at the helm. The English youngster has even been called by former Saints Under-21 head coach Adam Asghar a “special” and “fearless” talent who “is an unbelievable ball-carrier and is always impacting games.”

He’s like a young Mane in that way, and indeed, would actually be making the move to Merseyside five years the left-sided forward’s junior, when he made the leap from Southampton.

Dibling would provide relief for Salah while proving himself useful across a range of different positions as Liverpool look to challenge for silverware across multiple fronts.

He’s the real deal, and Liverpool need to bring him over before they lose him to a divisional rival.

Their new Mo Salah: Liverpool favourites to sign "incredible" £84m striker

Liverpool are planning to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 16, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers may have to deal with interest from other clubs in his top players yet again during the summer transfer window.

The Northern Irish head coach’s plans were disrupted around this time last year when Denmark international Matt O’Riley left to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

There are now clubs reportedly interested in snapping up the club’s key players this year, as Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with an interest in Japan international Daizen Maeda.

Turkish giants Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, are also reportedly interested in a deal to sign the winger from the Scottish giants this summer.

The Japanese forward produced 16 goals and ten assists in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, and it would be a big blow for the Hoops to lose him to Spurs or Fenerbahce ahead of next season.

Celtic would have to go back into the market to bolster their options on the flanks, and Rodgers could be on the lookout for his next version of Scott Sinclair.

Why Scott Sinclair was a star for Brendan Rodgers

The English attacker played for the Northern Irish head coach at both Swansea and Celtic earlier in his career and caught the eye with his performances at the top end of the pitch.

Sinclair racked up 95 goals and 49 assists in 238 appearances for the manager at those two clubs combined, and no player, Luis Suarez and Jamie Vardy included, has scored more goals for Rodgers to date.

The former Great Britain Olympic star was particularly impressive for Celtic as a right-footed left winger who thrived as both a scorer and a creator of goals, cutting in from the left to provide a huge threat in front of goal.

19/20

2

0

0

18/19

28

9

3

17/18

30

9

10

16/17

35

21

7

As you can see in the table above, Sinclair enjoyed a hugely successful first season at Parkhead with a return of 28 goals and assists in 35 Premiership matches.

The winger signed for the club in the same summer that Rodgers made the move to Glasgow in 2016, as he joined from Premier League side Aston Villa for a reported fee of £3m.

That £3m transfer fee looks like a bargain in hindsight because he went on to deliver plenty of goals and assists for the Scottish giants as an impressive and exciting left-sided attacker for Rodgers.

He was a star for the Northern Irish head coach because he could provide consistent quality in the final third, and the Celtic boss could unearth his next version of Sinclair by signing one of the club’s current transfer targets.

Celtic identify winger as top target

According to Celts Are Here writer Mark Hendry, Celtic have identified Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha as a top target for the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Belgian forward is a target for the club because Rodgers would like to bolster his options in the wide areas, which suggests that he could be signed irrespective of any exit for Maeda.

Transfer Focus

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

Hendry’s article adds that the club have monitored the 24-year-old for some time and that he remains ‘active’ on their shortlist, as they eye a deal for the wing wizard.

The journalist states that Royal Antwerp look set to cash in on the Pro League attacker this year to avoid losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season, as his current contract with the Belgian side is due to expire in the summer of 2026. His valuation, as per Transfermarkt, currently stands at £4.6m

Celtic could, therefore, take advantage of that situation to swoop in and agree a deal for the left-sided forward, who could be Sinclair 2.0 for Rodgers at Parkhead.

Why Balikwisha could be the next Sinclair

Like the English forward, who played for Bristol Rovers this season, Balikwisha is a right-footed forward who predominantly plays off the left flank, cutting in onto his favoured foot to make things happen in the final third.

This immediately suggests that they are stylistically similar and could, therefore, fulfill a similar tactical role within Rodgers’ system, whilst starting on the left wing in his favoured 4-3-3 set-up.

Balikwisha also has the quality to make a real impact in the final third. He returned from injury during the second half of the 2024/25 campaign to deliver four goals and seven ‘big chances’ created in just 12 Pro League starts.

The Hoops target has shown that he has the potential to be a Sinclair-esque figure on the left wing if put in the right environment, as he caught the eye in limited game time.

Starts

27

12

xG

6.46

2.65

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha has consistently outperformed his xG in the Pro League since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, whilst regularly creating three chances every two games on average.

One scout, Emir, on X, claimed that the winger has the quality at the top end of the pitch to “wins games on his own”, which is backed up by the statistics above as he can score and assist goals at a good level in Belgium.

A move to Scotland to play in an incredibly dominant Celtic team could allow him to flourish, as Maeda did this season with his 26 goal involvements in the Premiership, and truly reach Sinclair’s level of goals and assists under Rodgers.

Balikwisha has also shown potential in Europe, with two goals in seven games in the Champions League in the 2023/24 campaign, which suggests that he could hit the ground running in the league phase of the competition next term for the Hoops.

Celtic can unearth Jota replacement in "phenomenal" star who's like Foden

Celtic could unearth a surprise replacement for Jota by bringing this star back to Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Jun 8, 2025

Overall, the Royal Antwerp star could be an excellent signing for Celtic due to his age, his contract situation in Belgium, and the potential he has to be Sinclair 2.0 for Rodgers as an electric winger who can score and assist goals from the left flank.

Manchester United are in desperate need of a summer clear-out.

For far too long, mediocrity has been accepted at Old Trafford, which has now led to a season from hell for the Red Devils, finishing in a dreadful 15th place in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim.

Marcus Rashford is surely a certainty to exit the building for good, having spent the latter stages of United’s bumpy campaign on loan at Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

Whilst he did breathe life back into his stuttering playing days at Villa Park, the bridges have already been burnt for the homegrown attacker in Manchester, with a new destination on the cards for the much-talked-about 27-year-old.

The latest on Rashford's future at Man United

A mightily impressive four goals and five assists donning Villa claret and blue still won’t be enough for Rashford to repair his damaged Old Trafford reputation.

Rashford’s exit route out of the building started to come into view when he was dropped for the Manchester Derby late last year by Amorim, leading to the Manchester-born number nine then finding himself rooted to the bench from that point onwards.

It’s a terribly sad ending for Rashford at his boyhood club, considering he was able to boast a hefty 215 goal contributions for United when he was a first-team regular.

But, now, it looks as if there’s no way back for the 27-year-old, with a dream move to Hansi Flick’s Barcelona reportedly in the offing.

He isn’t the only regular at the Theatre of Dreams that could soon be moved on with Amorim’s cutthroat mentality.

Not just Rashford: Man Utd star who is "like Giggs" must be axed

United supporters will be keen for a rebuild this summer, but there will be a certain tinge of sadness as to how Rashford’s journey will end, alongside Alejandro Garnacho’s potential departure.

The 20-year-old winger was previously viewed as a bright spark rising the ranks, with ex-Red Devils midfielder Paul Ince once even holding the attacker in the same high esteem as Giggs for his daring approach on the ball.

His unbelievable potential hasn’t just been all bold talk, however, with the Argentine sensation also pulling off wonder goals such as his acrobatic overhead kick against Everton.

But, despite tallying up a sturdy 48 goal contributions from 144 Old Trafford clashes away from just this moment of magic, his future at the club is up in the air after a public fall-out with Amorim saw him axed from the Europa League final.

Senior team

144

26

22

U18s

31

16

7

U21s

16

5

2

UEFA U19s

7

2

1

Chelsea and Napoli are now reportedly sniffing around for the academy product for around the £50m mark and if they do receive a bid like that, they must take it.

After all, United’s finances aren’t in the best of places and after failing to secure any European football, they will need all the cash they can get. Bruno Fernandes has been linked with a mega-money move to Saudi but understandably, Amorim would rather cash in on Garnacho. That’s wise in this instance.

Yet, Rashford showed there’s still plenty to see in the footballing world away from the Theatre of Dreams during his brief Villa excursion so they must learn their lesson from that situation.

As a result, the wantaway winger will pray he goes on to have a successful career away from the shackles of United, with Amorim desperate to stamp his authority no matter what.

Amorim's new Gyokeres: Man Utd may have to sell Bruno to land £62m star

Manchester United will have to offload some star players to try and snap up this exciting new attacker.

ByKelan Sarson May 31, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur will let Mathys Tel go back to Bayern Munich this summer if they can sign a highly-rated forward, according to a report this week, with Spurs holding a “concrete” interest heading into the first summer window on June 1.

Tottenham's option to buy Mathys Tel may be renegotiated

After a mixed first season at Spurs for Tel, with the Frenchman bagging just three goals and an assist in 20 total appearances so far, there are suggestions that chairman Daniel Levy will seek to bring his costs down.

Club now prepared to sell £50m star to Tottenham amid Jobe Bellingham plan

A deal is there to be done for Daniel Levy.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 29, 2025

The Lilywhites have an option to buy Tel permanently for around £42 million, which was negotiated when Spurs signed the versatile attacker on loan in January, but Levy apparently wants to renegotiate the fee needed to make him a Tottenham player next term.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

GiveMeSport and some reports from Germany indicate that Spurs will enter discussions with Bayern over a fresh deal for Tel, with the former claiming Ange Postecoglou’s side wish to bring his price down to somewhere around the £30 million mark.

The 20-year-old has displayed flashes of real promise during his time in N17, but there are arguments that Tel needs to improve his consistency and output in front of goal, so it will be intriguing to see whether Levy can whittle down Bayern’s asking price or move on to other targets.

Interestingly, credible reports this week have started linking Tottenham with another Bayern star – £242,000-per-week winger Leroy Sane – who is out of contract this summer as things stand.

Super-agent Pini Zahavi was pictured meeting with Bayern chiefs again over the prospect of a new deal, and the lengthy ongoing saga surrounding whether he’ll remain has motivated Premier League sides to consider him.

The 29-year-old has reportedly been offered to many clubs in England (Graeme Bailey), while some German media sources claim that Tottenham are currently the strongest contender to sign Sane on a Bosman deal (Sport Bild).

Tottenham unlikely to sign Mathys Tel if they seal Leroy Sane deal

The likelihood of them sealing a deal for the “dangerous” ex-Man City forward will have a knock-on effect when it comes to Tel’s future, according to Bundesliga insider Christian Falk.

Falk tells FC Bayern that, if Tottenham manage to sign Sane, they’re “unlikely” to pursue a permanent deal for Tel.

Spurs are said to hold a “concrete” interest in the former, and his agent Zahavi has a “very close” relationship with Levy, who is actively looking to find a suitable landing spot for his client if they cannot agree fresh terms with Bayern.

While Vincent Kompany’s side are attempting to restructure Sane’s initial contract offer to better suit the German, there remains a strong possibility that he chooses a move to London, especially considering his family currently reside in the English capital.

While signing a new centre forward is top of new sporting director Andrea Berta’s wishlist at Arsenal this summer, the need to strengthen in other areas of the pitch is also strong.

The Gunners have been severely hamstrung – pardon the pun – by injuries this season, notably in their forward line.

Though, there’s also been a huge degree of inconsistency, chiefly at left wing where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have scored just eight goals each in the Premier League.

So, where will Mikel Arteta and Co turn to in their bid to add an extra dose of spice to their attack?

Arsenal chasing big-money winger

For over a year now, Arsenal have been exploring a move for Spanish winger Nico Williams.

The Bilbao star dazzled at the European Championships last summer, famously scoring a goal in the final against England.

However, after no club signed him last year, interest hasn’t dampened in the young forward. He reportedly dreams of a move to Barcelona but their finances are still extremely tight. As a result, English clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea have both been interested.

If the Gunners have room for a pricier addition, perhaps AC Milan’s Rafael Leao could be their man.

Transfer Focus

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

Arsenal have been linked with a move in the past but their interest is now ramping up ahead of the summer, with Football Insider reporting that they are now ‘working on signing’ the Portuguese sensation.

One problem could be the player’s release clause which currently stands at an almighty £145m according to claims in Italy.

How Rafael Leao compares to Nico Williams

While Williams is quite clearly one of the most exciting young wingers in the game right now, there is an argument to suggest that his output needs improving.

This feels like a player simply ready to explode in a better side but the fact remains that he has only scored five times in LaLiga this term and 11 in all competitions.

If Arsenal are looking to add more goals to their side then perhaps Leao, despite a heftier price tag, would be a more exciting candidate here.

Described as a “superstar” by scout Jacek Kulig, he may have only scored one more than Williams in 2024/25, but he’s got a history for finding the net with consistent regularity, now reaching double figures in each of the last four campaigns. On that evidence, it’s no surprise to see that data analyst Ben Mattinson noted that he is “clinical off both feet.”

Goals

0.32

0.22

Assists

0.32

0.34

Shot on target %

39%

35%

Key passes

2.18

1.85

Progressive passes

3.91

2.89

Shot-creating actions

4.62

4.96

Succesful take-ons

2.53

3.21

Take-on success %

48%

40%

Progressive carries

5.27

5.52

When diving deeper into the numbers, the play style of each winger becomes clearer. They are both ‘carry-first’ attackers, driving at players and committing their full-back. This is what Arsenal need more of in the final third so that’s one box ticked.

Williams registers more take-ons but it’s actually Leao who appears to be more effective in one-on-one situations, registering a higher success rate.

Crucially, while the Milan sensation is a goalscorer, he’s also creative and in this Arsenal team he could take his assist numbers to the next level considering he actually ranks higher than Williams for key passes over the last two seasons.

Ultimately, Berta will have to be wise with how he spends the Kroenke’s cash this summer and thus, Leao may not be possible. However, if they are able to sign a striker and still raise additional funds, the 25-year-old should be the man they go for on the flanks.

Arsenal could see £59m bid accepted for "monster" upgrade on Sesko

Arsenal have been handed the chance to sign an upgrade on Benjamin Sesko.

ByMatt Dawson May 18, 2025

Liverpool are expected to act fast to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer and could now be closing in on a long-term successor, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool preparing for life without Trent Alexander-Arnold

Losing one of your best players is a difficult endeavour for any manager. Still, Arne Slot will retain optimism that Liverpool can cope without Trent Alexander-Arnold after his departure was announced after his 20 years at Anfield.

Conor Bradley will start against Arsenal and has been endorsed by the Dutchman as a long-term option at right-back, even if he stopped short of citing the Northern Ireland international as a like-for-like replacement.

He stated: “To become a very good player, you have to be available every week, and that is the first step he has to take next season. But we have confidence in Conor as a very good full-back for Liverpool.”

Undoubtedly, Liverpool will need to supplement Alexander-Arnold’s presence by finding a reliable alternative in the market, and Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento is near the top of their list following his shining displays at St James’ Park.

Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is another target for Slot, though he would occupy a central-defensive berth should a move materialise amid his £50 million release clause.

Fabrizio Romano reveals what he's heard about Liverpool signing De Bruyne

Could a shock move to Anfield materialise this summer?

ByHenry Jackson May 9, 2025

First and foremost, celebrating a title victory that has been long-awaited on the red half of Merseyside will be the immediate priority.

However, time is of the essence, and Liverpool will need to replace Alexander-Arnold sooner rather than later, given that any new arrival in his position would need a bedding-in period to acclimatise to Slot’s high-octane style of play.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has delivered a significant update regarding who his successor could be.

Romano: Jeremie Frimpong open to Liverpool move

Taking to social media platform X, Romano confirmed that Liverpool are aware of the finer details regarding Jeremie Frimpong’s release clause at Bayer Leverkusen, and he also signified the Netherlands international is open to moving to Anfield.

The stipulation is deemed to be worth between £29.5 million and £33.8 million, and the former Celtic man remains one of the Reds’ priority targets this summer.

Labelled “magnificent” by Neil Lennon, Frimpong has registered four goals and 12 assists in 47 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen this season.

Famed for his pace from deep, the 24-year-old has created 28 chances and completed 21 successful crosses on league duty, which may go some way to replacing Alexander-Arnold’s output.

Of course, the Liverpool academy graduate is a unique case, and it may take several players to mimic his impact, but Frimpong would be a good place to start if the Reds can push a deal over the line.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would reportedly approve the signing of an all-round player who Son Heung-min thinks is “incredible”, with sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners boss now having one eye on the next transfer window.

Arsenal turn attention to next season after PSG defeat

Their 3-1 Champions League semi-final loss to PSG means Arsenal no longer have any silverware to play for next season, meaning attention is continues turning further to Berta’s debut summer at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal "closer to finalising" deal for £85m star with contract semi-agreed

The Gunners have made significant progress ahead of this summer.

2 ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

The ex-Atletico Madrid chief is expected to be very busy in the coming weeks, and a major squad overhaul has already been mooted by sections of the press.

Berta could even orchestrate a summer spend worth up to £300 million on seven signings across the squad, according to GiveMeSport, and it is highly anticipated that forwards will arrive at Arsenal among them.

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have seriously debilitated Arteta’s forward options and exposed their lack of a potent goalscorer to lead their line, while there are also precious few options on the right-wing behind star man Bukayo Saka.

Some uncertainty also surrounds the long-term futures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who’ve been sporadically linked with potential exits from N5, so Arsenal’s forward line could be looking significantly different by the time next season commences.

Arsenal could sign a striker, left-winger and right-winger this summer (GiveMeSport), but Arsenal will only have so much money to spend on high-profile stars and competition is set to be rife for their signatures.

However, one man who could cover a lot of bases in the attacking areas, and a player they’re now believed to be interested in, comes in the form of versatile PSG ace Lee Kang-in.

A report from The Sun claimed earlier this week that Berta personally wants Lee at Arsenal, and PSG are prepared to sell the South Korea international who can play as an attacking midfielder, on the right, on the left and even as a striker when required.

Mikel Arteta would "welcome" Lee Kang-in signing at Arsenal

Berta was apparently driving a move for Lee when he was at Atlético, only for the Italian to miss out on his signature to PSG.

Following on from these claims, a Spanish media source now states that Arteta would “welcome” the signing of Lee at Arsenal as well, so it appears both the manager and sporting director are in agreement over his quality.

The 24-year-old has bagged six goals and six assists in all competitions this term, across 44 total appearances, but a fair portion of his minutes have come off the bench.

Enrique, who called Lee a “complete” player, has found real use of him as a utility man at the Parc des Princes, and judging by praise from international teammate Son, he could end up being a very useful addition for Arsenal, even if reports late last year claimed PSG could demand £51 million to let him go.

“Kang-in Lee’s talent is incredible,” Son told Sungmo Lee in 2023.

“I believe he could grow even further. We have to help him not to get too much pressure.”

Arsenal are believed to be prepared to fork out one club’s asking price for their star player, with Mikel Arteta’s side deciding to speed up their move for him recently.

Mikel Arteta "very excited" about Arsenal's next transfer window

Following the arrival of new sporting director Andrea Berta in late March, Arteta admitted that Arsenal are set for a “big” summer of business.

Top target: Arsenal and Berta in talks to seal early deal for £60m striker

The Gunners have a new top target at striker, and negotiations are ongoing to convince him to move to the Emirates Stadium.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 22, 2025

According to recent reports, Arsenal could spend up to £300 million on as many as seven major signings, after missing out on this year’s Premier League title to Liverpool by some distance, with Arteta claiming he is “excited” by the prospect of Berta’s debut transfer window.

Crystal Palace (home)

Today

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

“It’s going to be a big one (summer) and we are very excited about it.

“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary.

“But it’s a big summer for many things because first of all we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team.”

Arsenal are targeting a prolific new striker as one key item on their agenda, with injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus exposing Arteta’s serious lack of options in that area of the Gunners squad.

A number of interesting names have been linked since Berta’s appointment, but Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres is consistently being mentioned as a potential signing above all.

The Sweden international’s phenomenal haul of 47 goals and 11 assists in all competitions is turning heads at the Emirates Stadium, and Gyokeres is rumoured to be a top target for Arsenal in their pursuit of a number nine.

Arsenal ready to pay £56m asking price for Viktor Gyokeres

According to a Spanish report, as cited by Football 365, another update has come to light on Arsenal’s serious interest in the former Coventry City star.

As per their information, Arsenal are prepared to pay Sporting’s “demand” of £56 million for Gyokeres after accelerating their move for the Scandinavian “in recent weeks”, with Arteta’s side viewing the “star striker” as an ideal signing to take them up to another level.

£56 million seems like a bargain for a prolific star of Gyokeres’ ilk, but previous reports have also claimed that Sporting are ready to let him go for less than his initial £86 million release clause.

The 26-year-old could end up being one of the best buys of the summer after two incredible seasons in the Primeira Liga, and Gyokeres may be the proven scorer who Arteta has been crying out for.

2025 is likely to be a big year of change at Tottenham Hotspur.

Manager Ange Postecoglou himself admits that the ‘general sentiment’ is that he’ll be sacked, even if Spurs win the Europa League, set to face Bodø/Glimt in the semi-finals, after ousting Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

So, with the club currently 15th in the Premier League table, Daniel Levy could be searching for a new manager come the summer, while the first-team squad may require a mass rebuild too.

So, do Tottenham lead the chase to sign a highly-rated youngster?

Tottenham's teenaged transfer target

According to a report by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are one of many top European clubs ‘tracking’ Gambian ‘sensation’ Gibril Sima, with Levy said to be ‘ready to pay big’ get a deal over the line.

Considering the 17-year-old plays for Gambian Dutch Lions FC in his native country, very little is known about him, but Pete O’Rourke describes him as “the next big talent to emerge from Gambia”, adding that both Internazionale and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in securing his signature.

A report by Ebrima KB Sonko of Gambiana praises Sima’s ‘standout performances’, labelling him a ‘highly-rated young talent’, while also noting that he has signed a two-year contract extension with his club, thereby protecting his transfer value.

Transfer Focus

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So, could he be on his way to North London this summer?

Tottenham's transfer strategy

As outlined by Jay Harris of the Athletic, Tottenham’s transfer strategy last summer was clear; sign young players, as the table below illustrates.

Lucas Bergvall

19

£8.5m

43

Archie Gray

19

£40m

40

Dominic Solanke

27

£65m

38

Wilson Odobert

20

£25m

14

Yang Min-hyeok

18

£3m

Zero

Antonín Kinský

22

£12.5m

8

Kevin Danso

26

£21m*

8

Mathys Tel

19

£60m*

12

*loan with an obligation to buy included

As the table presents, of the eight players Spurs have recruited throughout this season, six are aged 22 or under, with Dominic Solanke the oldest at 27.

This though, is nothing new, and Sima’s potential arrival, coming in from a lower level with very little known about him, is reminiscent of a recent Spurs legend.

Dele Alli signed for Tottenham in January 2015 from Milton Keynes Dons for a reported fee of £5m, still only 18 years old at the time, having made just 88 senior appearances at League One level, scoring 24 goals and providing ten assists for MK.

Well, fair to say this was money well spent, considering Dele would go on to make 269 appearances for Spurs, registering 67 goals and 59 assists, a key member of the Spurs side that regularly finished in the top four and reached a Champions League Final.

Even after his powers began to wane, then-manager José Mourinho described Dele as “very, very important for Tottenham”, having become the youngest Englishman to score 50 Premier League goals, as noted by Charlie Eccleshare, Tom Worville and Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic.

In his prime, Dele was comparable to the best Premier League midfielders of all time, simply now seeking to resurrect his career in Italy, having joined Serie A side Como in January.

Nevertheless, Dele proves that a club can find a gem in the transfer market at a low fee and turn them into a star; given that Tottenham might not be in European competition next season, this has to be the strategy, and Sima seemingly fits the bill.

As another young rising star – having even earned comparisons to Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, as per O’Rourke – it certainly bodes well for the impact that the Gambian make, should he be plucked from obscurity.

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