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Manchester United has been the home to countless attacking talents over recent years, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing they currently had some of their former talents in the present day.

Wayne Rooney still holds the club record for the most goals scored for the Red Devils, registering a staggering 253 goals in his 559 appearances – subsequently overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record.

The likes of Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy have all made a name for themselves at Old Trafford, with all the players undoubtedly capturing the hearts of the fanbase.

Current boss Ruben Amorim must wish he could rely upon just one of the aforementioned talents to help him in his quest to be a success during his time in charge of the club.

However, that could be about to change this summer, with the hierarchy looking to back the 40-year-old in the transfer market during the off-season.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

A striker has been high up on Amorim’s shopping list in recent weeks, unsurprisingly so, given the club’s terrible record of just 44 goals in their 38 Premier League matches last campaign.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen have all been touted with a move to Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of their signatures.

However, it appears as though that could be about to change, with Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins emerging as a key target for Amorim, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that the 29-year-old is seen as a Premier League-proven option for the Red Devils, even making an approach for his services over the last couple of days.

It also states that the hierarchy would be willing to match his current £60m asking price, allowing the England international to follow in the footsteps of one other star at the Theatre of Dreams.

Why United’s £60m target would be Amorim’s own Van Persie

Striker Robin van Persie is a player who managed to hugely impress during his time at United, leading the club to their last league triumph back in the 2012/13 campaign.

He joined the Red Devils in a £24m deal from fellow English side Arsenal, a deal that was seen as a controversial one at the time, especially from the Gunners’ point of view.

The Dutchman was entering the back end of his career upon his move, joining the club at the age of 29, but it didn’t prevent him from starring at Old Trafford.

He managed to score 58 times in his 105 appearances over a three-year period, leading the side to title glory, something which Amorim will be hoping to replicate in the near future.

If he is to achieve such a goal, he could certainly improve his chances with a move for Watkins, with the Villa star following in Van Persie’s footsteps in the North West.

He would join the club at the same age as the Dutchman, also making an immediate impact, rather than being signed as one for the future in the club’s quest for glory.

Watkins would also be handed the responsibility of providing the goods in the final third, just like Van Persie was over a decade ago, also having the tools to offer the clinical edge the Red Devils have lacked.

Games played

38

Goals & assists

24

Pass accuracy

75%

Shots on target per 90

1.4

Chances created

1.1

Aerials won

1.8

Shots taken

2.9

The Englishman, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by Statman Dave, registered 17 goals in all competitions last season, averaging 1.4 shots on target per 90 – highlighting the clinical edge he possesses.

He’s also showcased his all-round talent, completing 75% of the passes he’s attempted, creating 1.1 chances per 90, handing other forwards around him the chance to improve the situation should he move to Old Trafford.

Watkins’ tally of 1.8 aerials won showcases his ability to hold the ball up in forward areas, offering Amorim’s side that needed focal point that they have lacked in recent months.

£60m may appear to be a mammoth figure for a 29-year-old star, but he’s consistently demonstrated that he’s capable of thriving in England’s top-flight.

If he can make the immediate impact Van Persie did during his time in Manchester, it would be a phenomenal signing and one that can push Amorim’s side back in the right direction.

Better than Watkins: Wilcox in talks to sign "monster" £64m CF for Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to end their hunt for a new striker this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 3, 2025

Celtic have plenty of money in the coffers and could be set to make even more financial capital amid interest in one of their fringe men from a European outfit, according to a report.

Celtic set their stall out ahead of the new season

With Brendan Rodgers now privy to the working order of his side’s Scottish Premiership fixtures this campaign, the Irishman can get to work on laying the groundwork for another successful year at Parkhead.

Kieran Tierney has already signed on the dotted line at Parkhead. Meanwhile, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura appear primed to join Celtic amid significant progress being made on their respective situations.

Speaking ahead of the new season, Rodgers has made it clear that the Hoops will look to set their own benchmarks rather than looking across the city despite Rangers’ recent appointment of Russell Martin.

He stated: “We create our own benchmark and our own levels, and we’ve been doing that consistently now. But there’s no doubt competition makes you better in whatever sport it is, or whatever pursuit of anything that you’re trying to achieve.

“If you have competition that really narrows in the focus, we always have to keep an eye on our rivals in terms of what they do and players that they might bring in, and systems they play and tactics they use, and managers.”

Dream Jota replacement: Celtic in talks to sign "amazing" star after Nygren

With Jota sidelined for up to 9 months due to an ACL tear, Celtic are in the market for a new winger.

ByBen Gray Jun 20, 2025

Without blowing his own trumpet, the former Liverpool boss is aware that Celtic hold the monopoly in terms of recent success, in part down to the club’s financial prowess.

Now, they could be set to offload a fringe star that would add another little boost to the coffers if interest in his services is to advance.

Austria Vienna interested in landing Kwon Hyeok-kyu

According to journalist Mark Hendry on his Substack, Austria Vienna could offer Kwon Hyeok-Kyu a permanent escape route from Celtic after a loan spell at Hibernian that saw the South Korean midfielder make 22 appearances across all competitions.

The Austrian Bundesliga outfit were keen on bringing the Busan-born man to the continent at the beginning of the season, but had already reached their limit of six foreign loan players and were unable to strike a deal.

Kwon’s time in Scottish football – loan spells at St Mirren and Hibernian

Appearances

31

Goals

0

Assists

0

Previously spending time out at St Mirren, where he was labelled “dominant” by Stephen Robinson, Kwon has never made a senior appearance for Celtic after his £1 million move to the club in 2023 from Busan IPark.

Admittedly, he has suffered from the deep level of competition in the Bhoys’ engine room, though there is a feeling among many that he never really got started in Glasgow’s east end.

Having the chance to start afresh may be the best course of action for all parties, and Celtic could bring in a small windfall if he were to be sold permanently.

It wasn’t exactly a well-kept secret this summer that Birmingham City were interested in landing Peterborough United superstar Kwame Poku.

Unfortunately, the Blues’ drawn-out pursuit of the entertaining Ghanaian has seemingly gone cold now, as the likes of Russell Martin’s Rangers accelerate to the front of the queue for his coveted services instead.

This would have been a knock to Chris Davies and Co.’s confidence as they navigate up to the Championship, but it hasn’t stopped them from pressing on with other attacking targets, as the ambitious Blues look to close in on another statement addition up top.

Birmingham close in on statement reunion

As per a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon, the newly promoted outfit look to be edging ever closer to bringing former star Demarai Gray back to their ranks 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.

Much like their chase for Poku, it had been well publicised that the Blues wanted to make such a stunning reunion happen.

Now, it might well become a reality, with both Sunderland and Fiorentina, who had also been looking at signing the experienced Jamaica international in an £8m deal, left in Birmingham’s dust to seal the sublime move.

Whilst the Rangers-bound attacker had been viewed as the flavour of the month in the EFL after a sensational season on the books of Posh, landing Gray might well be an even more exciting pick-up than the 23-year-old.

Why Gray would be a more exciting signing than Poku

If Birmingham are deadly serious about going after back-to-back promotions, Gray joining will undoubtedly help them to pull off such an arduous feat, with the former Blues prodigy going on to have a lengthy career at the very top after waving St. Andrew’s goodbye in 2016.

Indeed, Gray is likely more well-known in English football now for being a Premier League regular on the books of Leicester City and Everton, than a one-time academy product emerging up the Blues ranks.

In total, the Birmingham-born forward has amassed over 200 Premier League appearances for the likes of the Foxes and the Toffees, with an impressive 19 goals and 14 assists coming his way from those contests, on top of a Premier League title astoundingly being lifted when situated at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester

169

13

14

Birmingham

78

8

4

Everton

75

12

6

Al-Ettifaq

50

4

5

Bayer Leverkusen

12

1

2

Poku might well have a certain level of freshness on his side – considering he has just tallied up a blistering 12 goals and 11 assists for Darren Ferguson’s men last campaign – but the table above really does speak for itself when judging the 28-year-old’s pedigree alone, with a season even under his belt in the Bundesliga when lining up for Bayer Leverkusen.

Moreover, whilst Poku was a breakout success for Posh last season, he has never actually bagged a goal in the Championship, despite ripping up the third-tier, with just a meagre two goal contributions next to his name at the difficult level from 20 clashes.

An “electric” attacker on his day – in the words of journalist Scott Saunders – his first major steps in the senior game did actually come in the Championship with his hometown club, notably netting a memorable hat-trick above three of the eight strikes he has managed in the division when donning Birmingham blue.

It will now be up to Gray to roll back the years on his expected return, with more Premier League appearances perhaps coming his way down the line.

Whilst Poku is the talk of the town as an up-and-coming ace, Gray has already cemented himself as a Championship-capable talent and beyond across his vast playing days, with another chapter soon to be added to his packed story when hopefully starring for Davies and Co.

Birmingham want to sign "fantastic" £8m ace who scored in St Andrew's win

He could be an excellent summer addition.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 22, 2025

Celtic completed their first signing of the summer transfer window last week when they confirmed the arrival of Kieran Tierney from Arsenal on a free transfer.

The Scotland international will officially link up with his new teammates when his deal with the Premier League giants expires at the end of this month.

Tierney is not going to be the last signing to walk through the doors at Parkhead this summer, though, as the Hoops are reportedly closing in on the signing of Sweden international Benjamin Nygren.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph claims that the club are close to agreeing a deal worth around £2m with FC Nordsjaelland to sign the right-sided attacker.

This means that the Scottish Premiership champions are set to dip into the Danish market, having raided England, France, Germany, Scotland, Belgium, and Spain.

One country the club have not done much business in since Brendan Rodgers returned to Parkhead is Japan, which is where they snapped Daizen Maeda up from.

Celtic have hit gold with Daizen Maeda

The Hoops swooped to sign the Japanese forward from J1 League outfit Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2022 on an initial loan deal, which was then made permanent that summer.

Maeda had scored 26 goals in 70 matches for Yokohama F. Marinos before his move to Scotland, but he was unproven in European football and it was a gamble by Ange Postecoglou to bring him to Glasgow.

It is one that has paid off big time for Celtic, though, as the Japan international has developed into a star at Parkhead, and could be sold for big money this summer.

The 27-year-old is coming off the back of his best season in the Premiership for the Scottish giants, having previously offered a decent threat in front of goal in the league in his first two-and-a-half years.

Appearances

16

35

28

34

Goals

6

8

6

16

Conversion rate

18%

21%

13%

28%

Big chances created

5

6

5

10

Assists

5

5

3

10

As you can see in the table above, scored more than twice as many goals and produced twice as many assists as he did in the 2023/24 campaign.

This has led to reported interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, and Leeds United, with a £25m price tag placed on his head, which shows that Celtic have hit the jackpot with Maeda, because he is now an incredibly valuable asset and star performer.

The Scottish giants have not made a signing from Japan since they made Tomoki Iwata’s loan permanent in the summer of 2023, but they are now reportedly eyeing up a new addition from the J1 League.

Celtic eyeing deal for Japanese defender

According to Celtic Way writer Stephen McGowan, Celtic are working on a deal to sign Albirex Niigata centre-back Hayato Inamura in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Hoops are interested in signing the 23-year-old defender to bolster their options at the back, as he provides versatility with his ability to play as a centre-back or as a left-back.

Transfer Focus

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

McGowan’s article adds that Nygren is ‘on the brink’ of signing for the Premiership champions, and that Fulham’s Callum Osmand and Aberdeen’s Ross Doohan are also set to join to bolster Rodgers’ options across the park.

Inamura could be another signing on top of those potential deals, in what Celtic Way journalist Ryan McGinlay described as a “surprise move” for the “versatile stopper”.

If the Hoops can get a transfer for the Japanese centre-back over the line in the coming weeks, then the 23-year-old star could be a Maeda repeat for the club.

Why Inamura could be a Maeda repeat for Celtic

As aforementioned, Celtic hit the jackpot with Maeda as they snapped him up from the J1 League and provided him with a platform to develop into a £25m-rated asset thanks to his performances in recent seasons.

The Hoops could strike gold from the J1 League one again by signing Inamura this summer, because he is an exciting young defensive talent who could come in to improve the manager’s options at the back.

Inamura is a left-footed centre-back, who can also play left-back, and this means that he would arrive at Parkhead to compete with Liam Scales and Auston Trusty for a starting berth in the team next to Cameron Carter-Vickers.

His performances in the J1 League during the 2025 campaign so far suggest that he has the potential to come in as an upgrade on Celtic’s two current options in that position.

Appearances

13

26

22

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.9

2.3

Ball recoveries*

5.4

3.9

3.3

Clearances*

5.1

4.8

4.0

Error led to shot/goal

1

1

5

Penalties committed

0

1

0

As you can see in the table above, Inamura could make more defensive interventions per game for the Hoops, with far more clearances and recoveries than the Hoops duo.

He could also be more reliable as a defender. The Japanese titan has only made one error that has led to a shot, goal, or penalty in 25 J1 League games in his career, whilst Trusty, for example, made five such errors in just 22 league outings in the 2024/25 campaign.

Therefore, Inamura could come in as an upgrade on Scales and Trusty in the left-sided centre-back position by offering more quality defensively, and fewer big errors, which also may be why the club are eyeing up a deal to bring him to Glasgow.

If he can translate his J1 League form over to the Premiership, the 23-year-old enforcer could be a regular starter next to Carter-Vickers and establish himself as a star for the Hoops, which would make him a Maeda repeat as another successful signing from the Japanese market.

He's for sale: Celtic feel they can seal bargain deal to sign PL player

Celtic are looking to improve their options in the middle of the park this summer.

ByDan Emery Jun 15, 2025

As Manchester United look to balance their books this summer amid early incomings, Al-Nassr could now reportedly offer INEOS their biggest payday of the window in pursuit of an attacking ace.

Man Utd readying summer clear-out

With Matheus Cunha already signed and Bryan Mbeumo reportedly likely to follow suit, Manchester United will have little choice but to clear some room in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

In what feels like a never-ending cycle, the Red Devils must rebuild once again and, in doing so, show the door to any unwanted stars in a ruthless summer plan.

Among those heading for the exit door is likely to be Rasmus Hojlund. The struggling striker has never truly made his mark at Old Trafford, despite costing an eye-watering £72m in 2023. Now, two years on, Inter Milan have reportedly come calling for his signature in a deal that could eventually cost around £38m.

Whether Hojlund, himself, accepts a summer departure may be another question, though. The young forward told Danish media when questioned about his Manchester United future this week: “I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United. I’m looking forward to going on a summer vacation, and then I’m fully dedicated to the project that’s underway.

“I know I can’t get much out of reading things. I know what the facts are, and that is that I have a contract with Manchester United until 2030. I expect to play there, so I’m just getting ready for some summer vacation and then hopefully a good pre-season.”

Man Utd submit bid for once-£57m ex-Man City ace who’s desperate for move

He won six Premier League titles at Manchester City.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 7, 2025

Whilst Hojlund is keen to stay put, however, the same can’t be said for another struggling Man United star, who could yet hand the Red Devils an impressive financial boost on his way out.

Al Nassr now eyeing Garnacho swoop

One player who has looked almost certain to be heading for the exit door ever since Amorim arrived is Alejandro Garnacho. In Amorim’s first Manchester derby, the Argentine found himself dropped alongside Marcus Rashford. The latter soon left on loan and went on to thrive at Aston Villa. Garnacho, however, stayed put but things have not become better in recent months.

Now, according to The Mirror, Al-Nassr could hand INEOS their biggest payday of the summer by signing Garnacho. The Saudi giants have been pursuing a move to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool, but may turn towards the £50,000-a-week winger if the Premier League champions remain reluctant to sell their South American star.

If that does prove to be the case, Amorim may well be glad to see the back of the winger after Garnacho publicly disagreed with his decision to start Mason Mount in his place in the Europa League final.

Since then, Amorim has reportedly told the young winger to find a new club in front of the rest of his teammates in a public dressing down. Unless anything dramatic happens at this stage, Garnacho’s exit is one that would be best for all parties.

The role of a goalkeeper has changed drastically since the Premier League got underway in 1992, with the majority of keepers in today’s game needing to be as good in possession as they are shot-stoppers.

Nowadays, sides build their attacks from their No.1s, but when all is said and done, who is the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history?

Ranking factors Appearances Longevity Clean sheets Personal honours What others have said about them 20 best goalkeepers in Premier League history: in pictures 20 Ben Foster Man Utd, Watford, Birmingham, West Brom

Starting the countdown is Ben Foster – the goalkeeper who has made the most saves in Premier League history with 1,248.

The Englishman never lifted a Premier League title after coming through the academy at Man Utd but was a key player for the likes of Watford, Birmingham and West Brom between 2006-2022.

Games

390

Clean sheets

92

Penalties saved

9

Saves

1,248

19 Kasper Schmeichel Man City, Leicester

Part of the historic Leicester City title-winning team in 2015/16 was Kasper Schmeichel, who was key under Claudio Ranieri at the King Power Stadium.

After coming through Man City’s academy, Schmeichel made a name for himself with the Foxes and has turned out 284 times in the Premier League. A Leicester legend, Gary Neville has hailed Schmeichel as a goalkeeper with a “huge personality”.

Games

284

Clean sheets

82

Penalties saved

7

Saves

814

Titles

1

18 Hugo Lloris Tottenham

Hugo Lloris made more than 360 top flight appearances for Tottenham between 2012-2024, becoming a Spurs legend during that time.

Called “one of the best goalkeepers in the world” alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer back in 2014 by former manager Mauricio Pochettino, Lloris was a brilliant shot-stopper and captain and was hailed as a “fantastic leader” by Harry Kane.

Games

361

Clean sheets

127

Penalties saved

5

Saves

986

17 Jens Lehmann Arsenal

Jens Lehmann made quite the impact in the Premier League with Arsenal after joining from Borussia Dortmund, playing every league game of the 2003/04 season where the Gunners went unbeaten.

He did make numerous mistakes in north London which resulted in the German being alternated with Manuel Almunia, however, he is the only shot-stopper who can say he has gone unbeaten in a whole top-flight campaign.

Games

148

Clean sheets

54

Saves

106

Titles

1

16 Thibaut Courtois Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois would only spend four seasons in the Premier League with Chelsea, but he certainly made an impact at Stamford Bridge, which led to a move to Real Madrid in 2018.

The towering Belgian won two top-flight titles with the Blues as well as the FA Cup and League Cup, while also collecting the Premier League’s Golden Glove award in 2016/17.

Still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Courtois was hailed as “different class” by iconic centre-back John Terry while at Chelsea.

Games

126

Clean sheets

48

Saves

285

Penalties saved

1

Titles

2

15 Nigel Martyn Crystal Palace, Leeds, Everton

Nigel Martyn, the first £1m transferred goalkeeper, was one of the early Premier League greats in goal, starring for Crystal Palace, Leeds and Everton between 1992-2006.

He was dubbed outstanding at Elland Road with Leeds, where more than 200 of his Premier League appearances came, and would have earned a lot more caps for England if it wasn’t for another goalkeeper on this list.

Games

372

Clean sheets

137

Assists

2

14 Tim Howard Man Utd, Everton

After playing second fiddle during the majority of his Man Utd career, Tim Howard would go on to become a Premier League star with Everton between 2006-2016. The USA icon even found the back of the net against Bolton in 2012, becoming the fourth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League.

It was his reliable shot-stopping ability that made him a top-flight great, though, with Roberto Martinez even calling Howard “faultless”.

Games

399

Clean sheets

132

Saves

992

Penalties saved

7

Goals

1

13 Mark Schwarzer Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea, Leicester

Another extremely solid goalkeeper was Mark Schwarzer, who is the only player from outside the UK to play 500 or more Premier League games.

The Australian also managed to pick up back-to-back Premier League winners medals with different clubs, something that has never been done before. Schwarzer served as second or even third choice with Leicester and Chelsea and was 43 when the Blues won the title in 2017.

In his prime, with Middlesbrough and Fulham, Schwarzer was one of the best shot-stoppers around.

Games

514

Clean sheets

152

Assists

1

Titles

2

12 Brad Friedel Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Tottenham

Continuing the trend of ‘Barclaysmen’ is Brad Friedel, who is arguably one of the first underrated goalkeepers you think of in the Premier League between 2001-2016.

Best known for his time at Blackburn and Aston Villa, Friedel is actually the current holder of the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 310 over an eight-year period and is also another keeper who has scored.

Games

450

Clean sheets

132

Saves

771

Penalties saved

6

Goals

1

11 Shay Given Blackburn, Newcastle, Man City, Aston Villa, Stoke

Shay Given played for five different Premier League clubs, but it was at St James’ Park with Newcastle where he became a top-flight legend, being named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year twice.

Some have said that Given will go down as Newcastle’s greatest ever goalkeeper, with the Irishman making more than 350 league appearances for the Magpies.

Games

450

Clean sheets

113

Assists

2

Rangers are believed to have made an offer to a trophy-laden young manager over becoming their next boss, according to a significant new update.

Rangers eyeing up and comers in manager search

Despite the transfer window rolling around, much of the Gers’ focus is still on making sure they bring in the right manager this summer, with Barry Ferguson’s spell as interim boss not expected to be made permanent at the end of the season.

There are various names who have been thrown into the hat, including former Southampton manager Russell Martin, who is looking for a new job after being relieved of his duties early in the season. While some saw his risky ball-playing style with Saints as flawed, it could go down well at Ibrox, as the Gers dominate possession in the majority of their games.

Sheffield Wednesday ace Danny Rohl has also been mentioned as a possible option for the Gers, having impressed with the Owls, coming in last season and guiding them away from the Championship relegation zone, before steering them to a 12th-place finish this time around.

Frank Lampard’s name has been discussed, too, with the Chelsea legend and his former England teammate Steven Gerrard both also in the mix to take charge ahead of next season. The former is impressing at Coventry City, preparing for their Championship playoff semi-final second leg clash with Sunderland on Tuesday.

Rangers make offer to Davide Ancelotti

According to a big claim from Corriere dello Sport, Rangers have now made an offer to Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti. The 35-year-old is said to have received multiple offers from clubs, including the Gers and Como. He is the son of Carlo Ancelotti, working alongside his father at the Santiago Bernabeu currently.

The Italian has enjoyed great success in his career so far, playing his part in coaching Bayern Munich and Madrid to a combined 12 trophy wins, including two Champions League and La Liga titles apiece with the latter. Meanwhile, his father has praised him, saying: “Davide is a competent, disciplined, professional and very calm assistant coach.

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich

2017

German Cup

Bayern Munich

2017

German Cup

Bayern Munich

2018

Champions League

Real Madrid

2022

La Liga

Real Madrid

2022

Spanish Cup

Real Madrid

2022

Club World Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Spanish Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Champions League

Real Madrid

2024

La Liga

Real Madrid

2024

Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid

2024

“He works alongside Francesco Mauri, who is very young too. Luis works with the goalkeepers, Pintus with his experience on the physical side of things. I have a young and very competent coaching team. We combine their enthusiasm with my experience well.”

Rangers have sent scouts to watch 19 y/o attacker with tiny release clause

He could be seen as one for the future for the Gers.

ByHenry Jackson May 11, 2025

Ancelotti would certainly be a gamble for Rangers, considering he hasn’t actually been a manager yet in his career, but there would be an intriguing aspect to them appointing him, considering he has coached some of the best players in the world, from Kylian Mbappe to Vinicius Junior.

Another season gone, and another second-place finish in the Premier League for Arsenal.

In their defence, Mikel Arteta’s side have had to deal with a seemingly never-ending stream of injuries this term, but even then, it’s undeniably disappointing to fail to win the title at the third time of asking.

Moreover, instead of losing to Manchester City, Liverpool comfortably beat the Gunners this time, with Mohammed Salah stepping up and taking Erling Haaland’s crown as the most dangerous attacker in the league.

1

Salah

Liverpool

37

28

2

Isak

Newcastle

33

23

3

Haaland

Man City

29

21

4

Wood

Forest

35

20

5

Mbeumo

Brentford

37

19

5

Wissa

Brentford

34

19

Unfortunately, outside of maybe Bukayo Saka, the North Londoners don’t really have a forward player capable of racking up as many goals as those two, although that could be about to change, as, based on recent reports, the club are looking to sign a goalscoring phenomenon who could be their own Haaland.

Arsenal's striker search

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other strikers who have been liked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could reportedly now cost up to £75m due to his release clause increasing, but considering he’s scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 games at just 21 years old, he may well be worth it.

Pedro’s price tag of up to £100m might not be, as while he is talented, a tally of ten goals and six assists in 27 games isn’t exactly game-breaking.

Moreover, if the club are going to sign their own Haaland, they need an unbelievably prolific striker, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Swedish striker and are now ‘prepared to make a serious effort’ to get a deal over the line.

The report has revealed that the Gunners are currently leading the race to sign the Sporting CP ace and have already offered him a long-term contract until 2030 worth up to £10m a year, or around £192k-per-week.

Moreover, the report claims that the North Londoners are hopeful of getting their man for a fee of around €70m, which is about £59m.

It will be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gyokeres’ immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Arsenal’s own Haaland.

How Gyokeres would be Arsenal's Haaland

So, if Arsenal can get ahead of the other interested parties and bring Gyokeres to the club this summer, why could he turn into their own Haaland?

Well, by their own version of the Norwegian goal machine, we simply mean an attacker who is such a tour de force up top that he becomes a talisman and someone who can be the difference between winning it all and falling short.

For example, even though he’s been injured for large parts of the season, the Manchester City star has still scored 30 goals and provided four assists, while last season, he racked up 38 goals and seven assists, while he managed an astounding 52 goals and nine assists in the Sky Blues’ treble-winning 22/23 campaign.

Now, we aren’t saying that the Sporting CP “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is going to quite hit those numbers for the North Londoners next year, but based on his performances in Portugal, he could still be a huge source of goals for them.

For example, in his first season in Lisbon, the 23-year-old “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4169 minutes, which comes out to an average of 1.16 goal involvements every game, or one every 71.87 minutes.

He has somehow been even better this season, scoring 53 goals and providing 13 assists in 51 appearances, totalling 4128 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.29 games, or every 62.54 minutes.

Add to those numbers the fact he’s also managed to score 15 goals and provided six assists in 26 national team appearances, and it’s impossible to deny the fact that he’s a striker of the highest calibre and stands every chance of having a similar impact on Arteta’s side that Haaland has had on Pep’s.

1

Gyokeres

33

39

1.18

2

Mbappe

33

29

0.88

3

Salah

37

28

0.76

4

Kane

31

26

0.84

5

Lewandowski

33

25

0.71

Therefore, while it won’t be cheap, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Gyokeres this summer, as he could be the difference between finishing second again next year and finally getting over the line.

Arsenal progressing in talks to sign £51m "mini Salah" who could rival Saka

Arsenal could sign themselves a Mini Salah this summer.

ByMatt Dawson May 19, 2025

Arsenal hold a serious belief that they’ve now signed a “world-class” player for Mikel Arteta ahead of next season, and they’re behaving like it is a done deal behind-the-scenes.

Arsenal's main transfer plans for this summer

Buoyed by the arrival of new sporting director Andrea Berta, Arteta has already admitted that Arsenal are set for a “big” summer transfer window after the Italian’s appointment.

Arsenal demand major Thomas Partey concession in talks over new deal

The Ghanaian has arguably enjoyed his best campaign at Arsenal.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 25, 2025

A host of incomings across multiple areas of the squad are anticipated ahead of what is expected to be a busy debut window for Berta, with GiveMeSport recently reporting that £300 million could be spent on seven major signings.

As per GMS, Arsenal are believed to be prioritising a new second-choice goalkeeper to replace Neto, a full-back, new midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker. Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to be sold after falling down Arteta’s pecking order.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

While Thomas Partey is in talks to extend his Arsenal contract, Jorginho remains likely to depart when his contract expires, meaning the addition of a centre-midfielder is still pretty imperative before 2025/2026.

Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard’s long-term future is uncertain, as his contract expires in 2026, with Arsenal arguably in need of another winger who can provide Arteta with a quality alternative to the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries have also emphasised the need for Arsenal to finally sign a prolific striker, so there is plenty to do for Berta. Indeed, Arteta confirmed last week that he wants Arsenal to bring more strength and depth into the squad, sending a subtle message to his director.

“Squad quality and availability. Without those two, we cannot compete in four competitions,” said Arteta on his Arsenal transfer wish.

“At this level, especially in this country, it’s impossible. The higher the quality, the higher the availability, the more chances, probability you have. After you have to do it. But the probability goes high.”

Arsenal "internally" behaving like Martin Zubimendi deal is "done"

One top target for Arsenal, as per multiple reports, is Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

They’ve been in negotiations over the Spain international’s acquisition for quite some time, with The Mail first reporting advanced pre-summer talks in January. Since then, the consensus has been that Arsenal are confident they can sign Zubimendi before June, while Marca journalist Juan Castro reported this week that an agreement appears to be struck already.

Now, the reliable David Ornstein has somewhat backed up Castro’s claim, stating that Arsenal are “internally” behaving like Zubimendi is a “done deal”.

This interesting update from a very credible source should fill supporters with confidence, as the feeling within N5 appears to be that it is inevitable the 26-year-old will finally make his long-awaited move to England, just a year after he publicly rejected Liverpool’s advances.

Called a “world-class” player by Tierney, during their time together at Sociedad, Zubimendi has been likened to Balon d’Or winner Rodri and played a key role for Spain in their Euro 2024 final triumph against England.

The La Liga mainstay is indispensable for his boyhood club, but it appears he’ll soon be waving goodbye if all goes to plan.

This summer is crucial for Ruben Amorim in his quest to return Manchester United to glory, with the upcoming window handing him his first opportunity to overhaul the squad.

The 40-year-old took the reins from Erik ten Hag back in November, but the January transfer window was no way near long enough to make the wholesale changes needed.

The showing against Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday night is evidence that he has an excellent spine of the side to build on, but is still in desperate need of investment to catapult the Red Devils up the Premier League table.

It remains to be seen how much money Amorim will have at his disposal given Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting operation, but it’s pivotal that the manager is given the funds to make his mark.

With the window just a couple of months away, rumours have already started circling, with numerous players already on the club’s radar ahead of 2025/26.

The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new striker

Over the last couple of days, it has emerged that United have made Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap their number one target to become their new talisman at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a superb first season in England’s top flight, finding the net 12 times in his 31 appearances for the relegation-threatened outfit.

However, should the Tractor Boys drop back into the Championship come the end of the season, the forward could be available for just £30m – putting Amorim and the hierarchy on red alert.

Despite the interest in Delap, the likes of Matheus Cunha and Viktor Gyokeres continue to be touted with a move to the North West, also joined by Victor Osimhen if one report is to be believed.

According to Turkish journalist Ali Naci Kucuk, the Red Devils have already made an offer to the Nigerian’s representatives of around €20m a season (£660k-per-week) to prise him away from Napoli.

Why United’s latest transfer target would be an upgrade on Hojlund

Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund arrived with huge expectations at United after the hierarchy forked out £72m for his services back in the summer of 2023.

However, his time at the club has been nothing but successful, only scoring 24 times in his 87 appearances to date, with only eight of his efforts coming in 2024/25.

He’s often shared the centre-forward role with Joshua Zirkzee this campaign, failing to nail down the starting position constantly – understandably so given his run of 21 games without a goal earlier in the season.

Such a lack of form has led to the recent rumours over a new forward arriving this summer, with Osimhen the latest player to be thrown into the mix ahead of the opening of the window.

The Nigerian, who’s currently spending the season on loan at Galatasaray, looks almost certain to leave his parent side, Napoli, in the coming months, with United desperately needing to pounce and complete a deal for his services.

When comparing his figures with Hojlund from 2024/25, the 26-year-old has massively outperformed the current Red Devils talent, with his signing taking the attacking department to the next over.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “sensational” by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has hugely outscored the Dane, whilst also notching a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – demonstrating the clinical edge he possesses in attacking areas.

Games played

33

44

Goals scored

29

8

Shot-on-target accuracy

56%

55%

Shots on target per 90

3.4

1.5

Shot-creating actions

3.8

2.8

Take-on success

60%

16%

Aerials won

4.2

1.3

Aerial success rate

64%

39%

He’s also managed to complete more of his attempted take-ons, whilst also winning more of the aerial battles he’s entered – offering the all-round presence the club have desperately craved.

Whilst the touted weekly wage offered for Osimhen’s services may seem ludicrous, his stats prove that he’s way above the levels of the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

If the former Sporting CP boss is to mastermind a revival over the summer, he needs to attract elite-level talents to transform the side, with the Nigerian certainly needing to be at the top of his shortlist.

Ugarte upgrade: Man Utd in advanced talks for "out of this world" £52m ace

Man Utd are looking to strengthen in midfield

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 17, 2025