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For some very young Sunderland supporters, next season could be the first time they’ve ever seen their side compete in the luxuries of the Premier League.

It has been nearly a decade since the Black Cats called the top-flight their footballing home, with the Wearside outfit even falling all the way down to League One at one disastrous stage after their relegation from the big time in 2017.

Now, however, after an unbelievable playoff final success at Wembley against Sheffield United, Regis Le Bris’ men are back on the map.

They won’t want to merely make up the numbers next season, though, and be known as relegation fodder, with a statement move on the table to bring back Jordan Henderson just one early indicator of how ambitious they are willing to be in the chaotic transfer market.

Sunderland's ongoing pursuit of Henderson

Henderson’s potential emotional return to Wearside is the talk of the town at the moment around the Stadium of Light as various rumours filter through about the current Ajax midfielder’s near future.

Football Insider have recently reported that a spectacular reunion deal could soon be on the cards, with the likes of journalist Ben Jacobs also weighing in by revealing on X that the newly promoted side are considering an approach.

Of course, this would be an ideal move for Sunderland as they try to consolidate themselves as a Premier League-ready outfit again, considering the former Liverpool captain has managed to amass 433 top-flight appearances across his esteemed playing days to date.

But, at 34 years of age, it would be unfair for Le Bris and Co. to expect Henderson to come in and not look a little rusty.

Therefore, whilst it would be a stunning coup to pull off with a Sunderland-born star dramatically returning home, landing this attacking menace could well be viewed as an even bigger accomplishment considering he’s still causing Premier League defenders havoc to this day.

One Sunderland return would be a bigger coup than Henderson

Amazingly, this other deal churned out by the rumour mill sees the Black Cats linked with another memorable ex-player.

Much like Henderson’s spell, Amad Diallo’s loan stint at the Stadium of Light was fleeting but hard to forget, with the Ivorian nearly firing Sunderland up to the Premier League during his solitary campaign under Tony Mowbray’s guidance.

He could finally return now – as per a report by African outlet 225 Foot earlier this week – with his expertise of the Premier League on the books of Manchester United making it very likely that he would add to his Black Cats tally of 14 goals and four assists if a statement reunion occurred.

Amad finally being able to nail down a starting spot at Old Trafford could make this deal an unrealistic one to get over the line. That said, a recent report from TEAMTalk did suggest that United could be tempted to part ways with their explosive winger if the price was right, amidst financial concerns at the Theatre of Dreams.

It’s clear from the table above why United would be so hesitant to part ways with their attacking “wizard” – as he’s been previously lauded by journalist James Copley – with Amad just fresh off his career best tally at the Red Devils of 20 goal contributions from 43 clashes, even as the ship keeps sinking in Manchester.

Yet, if Sunderland were to offer a tempting bid around Amad’s £40m Football Transfers valuation, the out-of-sorts giants could be more drawn to the idea of selling, with a top-drawer performer at the level then on the Black Cats’ roster.

The story of Henderson’s Sunderland return after so long away would make that a fantastic deal to sign off on, but whilst the 34-year-old’s best days in the challenging league are likely behind him, the tricky 22-year-old could get even better with time.

Sunderland can replace Bellingham with academy "diamond" who's like Watson

Sunderland might not need to splash the cash to win themselves a Jobe Bellingham replacement.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 27, 2025

As they close in on signing Florian Wirtz, Liverpool have also reportedly opened preliminary talks to sign an impressive La Liga winger who has a release clause worth £50m.

Florian Wirtz to Liverpool update

To say that Liverpool mean business would be quite an understatement. With their Premier League crown in hand, the Reds have not hesitated to flex their royal status in the transfer market, shocking Bayern Munich and Manchester City by stealing pole position to sign Wirtz this summer.

Jumping ahead of City to potentially land their dream Kevin De Bruyne replacement and leaving Bayern scrambling for options as they miss out on a Bundesliga star in a rare moment, Liverpool’s move to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star is likely to go down as the biggest of the summer.

The news that Wirtz only wants Liverpool will particularly be music to Michael Edwards’ ears. Despite being the most successful club in English football history, Liverpool haven’t always won the battle to sign Europe’s top stars, with the likes of Jude Bellingham joining Real Madrid and the Reds never really in the race to sign Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

This summer, the notion that Liverpool can’t attract the top names seems to have shifted. By signing Wirtz, those at Anfield will be welcoming a Haaland-level addition rather than a player they need to mould into a star themselves. And that could make all the difference in their attempts to defend their Premier League crown next season.

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Liverpool are looking to finish their shopping nice and early this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 29, 2025

What’s more, even after Wirtz, Liverpool may not be done on the transfer front in the final third. Reports are now also suggesting that they’ve set their sights on an impressive La Liga winger.

Liverpool open preliminary talks to sign £50m Kubo

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have now opened preliminary talks for Takefusa Kubo after Wirtz and could yet sign the Real Sociedad winger. Once again, however, any deal will not come cheap. The Japan international reportedly has a release clause worth as much as €60m (£50m), despite enduring a difficult season at Sociedad.

Whether Liverpool decide to trigger that release clause is the big question. After scoring seven goals and creating another five in the last campaign, many expected Kubo to push on and improve on those numbers this season. That didn’t prove to be the case, though, with the winger once again hitting seven goals and creating one fewer with four assists.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described Kubo’s start to the 2023/24 campaign as “fantastic” as he scored three goals in four games, but since then the 23-year-old has struggled to rediscover such clinical form.

If Liverpool are to replace Mohamed Salah when his contract comes to an end in two years, then they may need a player who is consistently involved in more than 12 goals a season.

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

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

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

Why Birmingham may not sign Demarai Gray

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

Transfer Focus

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

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

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

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

Why Birmingham should sign Mikey Moore this summer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 12, 2025

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

Nottingham Forest are now in talks to sign a “superb” AC Milan midfielder, but the Italian giants want £21 million for his signature, according to a new report.

Nottingham Forest chasing multiple transfer targets

The Reds have already agreed a deal worth £33 million that will see them sign Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano from Brazilian side Botafogo, two of whom scored in their side’s FIFA Club World Cup opener on Sunday.

But the Premier League side don’t want to stop there, as they look to continue their rise in the top flight as well as compete in the UEFA Conference League next season.

Nottingham Forest make bid to sign £34m "goalscorer" alongside Igor Jesus

Chris Wood could have some serious competition at the City Ground.

1

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 15, 2025

Forest will be hoping Chris Wood can continue his fine form into next season, and while they are adding Jesus to their forward line options, the Reds are also looking to sign another striker. According to a report from Africa Foot, Forest have now placed a bid to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford. Nuno Santo’s side have accelerated their transfer efforts, and they are now ready to meet Brentford’s demands, which is around the £34 million mark.

It’s also been reported that Newcastle United have once again made contact with the Reds over signing Anthony Elanga.

The Magpies wanted the Sweden international 12 months ago, and that interest has not disappeared. So, given the uncertainty surrounding Elanga, Forest are assessing a move for Man City’s Oscar Bobb.

The City youngster could be made available for a loan this summer, and he may be seen as a good replacement for Elanga.

Nottingham Forest in talks with AC Milan

But Bobb is not their only option when it comes to replacing Elanga, as according to TEAMtalk, Forest have now held talks with AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers over a possible transfer to the City Ground.

The report claims that the Reds have been in contact with Saelemaekers’ representatives for over a year now, and they now consider the winger as a strong transfer target this summer.

However, there is somewhat of a sticking point when it comes to his transfer valuation, as Forest value the player at around the £17 million mark, but AC Milan are looking more for £21 million, meaning there is a £4 million gap as it stands.

Meanwhile, new Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has yet to make a decision on the player’s future, as he wants to assess everyone in pre-season.

The 25-year-old, who has been dubbed “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig, spent last season on loan at Roma. The Belgium international played 23 Serie A games, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in the process. His move to Roma came after he played 30 games for Milan in Serie A during the 2023/24 season.

Saelemaekers is under contract until 2027 at Milan, so if Allegri does decide the player isn’t in his plans, then he will likely be sold this summer, which is good news for Forest. They will of course hope his arrival at the City Ground would see him compete alongside Elanga for a starting spot, not be a replacement for the Swedish sensation.

Leeds United made their second signing of the summer transfer window on Monday evening when they officially confirmed the arrival of Jaka Bijol from Serie A side Udinese.

The central defender is now set to compete with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Pascal Struijk, and Joe Rodon for a place in the starting XI in the Premier League next season.

Daniel Farke is also in the market to add another number nine to his squad, having already brought in Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Wolfsburg.

Football Insider claims that Leeds are interested in a deal to sign Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz, but the Cottagers are confident of keeping hold of the Brazilian frontman.

The report adds that the Whites have already had an offer of £32m rejected by the fellow Premier League team, and that the London-based side are prepared to price the Championship champions out of a move for the striker.

This latest update suggests that the Fulham marksman will not be making his way to Elland Road this summer, but what could he have brought to the team?

What Rodrigo Muniz could bring to Leeds

If Leeds can turn it around to sign him, the 24-year-old attacker would join the Whites to provide Farke with a Premier League-proven number nine who has shown that he can score goals at that level.

In the last two seasons, Muniz has racked up 17 top-flight goals for the Cottagers, which shows that he knows how to find the back of the net in the top division in England.

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian forward also outperformed his xG in both of those seasons, showing that he is also a reliable and clinical finisher.

However, creativity is not his strong suit. A return of two assists in two seasons, and a peak of 0.7 key passes per game, does not suggest that he would create many high-quality opportunities for his teammates.

Muniz would, though, offer physicality in the number nine position. He won 52% of his duels and won 2.2 aerial battles per game in the Premier League this season, which shows that he can hold his own against top-flight defenders.

Whilst there are clearly a lot of strong qualities that the Fulham star could bring to West Yorkshire, Leeds are now reportedly pursuing a striker who could be an even better signing.

Leeds pursuing deal for Serie A star

According to Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds United are expected to make another bid to sign Nikola Krstovic from Lecce in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Championship champions have already had an offer of £19.7m rejected by the Italian side for the Montenegrin centre-forward, but they are now plotting another attempt to snap him up.

Transfer Focus

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

It also reveals that AS Roma are interested in signing the 25-year-old marksman, and that they would be prepared to offer a player in exchange for him, although they have yet to make an official bid.

Meanwhile, the print edition of Corriere dello Sport, via MOTLeedsNews, reports that Lecce value the forward at a fee of around £26m, and claims that Leeds are ready to pay big money to get a deal done for the striker.

It now remains to be seen whether or not their second offer for the Montenegro international will be enough to tempt the Italian team to part ways with the attacker.

Why Leeds should sign Nikola Krstovic

The Premier League new boys should push to sign the Lecce number nine before the end of the summer transfer window because he would be an even better signing than Muniz.

Krstovic would be considerably cheaper if the latest reports are to be believed, with Lecce valuing him at £26m compared to the significantly more than £32m that Fulham want for Muniz in order to price Leeds out of a deal.

This means that it could be more financially viable for the Whites to pursue the Montenegro international, which would also free up more funds to be spent on other areas of the squad as they look to build a team that can compete in the Premier League.

Krstovic, as shown in the clips above, is a versatile goalscorer who has shown that he can find the back of the net in a variety of ways, with either foot, from close or long range, and with his head.

The Lecce sensation, who was dubbed “integral” by former boss Roberto D’Aversa, has proven that he can score goals in a major European league, netting 18 Serie A goals in the last two seasons combined.

As you can see in the table above, Krstovic outperformed Muniz at league level in the 2024/25 campaign, with three more goals and four more assists, whilst also winning more duels per game.

The Montenegro international’s ability to generate high-quality opportunities for himself is one of his most impressive attributes, as he has accrued 24.80 xG in two seasons in the Serie A, compared to the Fulham man’s tally of 15.32 in two Premier League campaigns.

This could suggest that Krstovic is better at getting himself into goalscoring situations, which could be particularly useful in a season that Leeds are expected to be battling relegation in.

Overall, the Lecce star could be a better signing than Muniz for the Whites as the striker may be able to offer more goals and assists in the top-flight, whilst being a cheaper addition to the squad.

Best signing since Raphinha: Leeds close to landing "exceptional" £21m star

Leeds United are closing in on a deal for a star who would be their best signing since Raphinha.

1

By
Dan Emery

Jun 23, 2025

The supporters of Tottenham Hotspur will undoubtedly have a sense of excitement building among the fanbase, as they start a new era in the 2025/26 campaign.

Thomas Frank is set to lead the side in North London, hoping to build on the Europa League triumph they achieved at the end of the previous season.

Many may have seen the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou as harsh given the European success, but his side’s lack of quality in the Premier League led to his departure.

The Dane will be looking to avoid suffering a similar fate, needing to strike a balance between success in the league whilst also being competitive in the Champions League.

However, if the new boss is to be a success during his maiden campaign in the role, he will undoubtedly need backing from the hierarchy within the transfer window.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

In the last couple of days, Spurs have made their opening offer to West Ham United for the potential signing of talented forward Mohammed Kudus – but their bid was immediately rejected.

However, they’re set to make another offer in the coming days, with the new boss wanting to accelerate a deal for the Ghanaian attacker this window.

Despite the move for the 24-year-old, another Premier League forward has emerged on their shortlist in recent days in Rodrigo Muniz, according to Brazilian outlet BolaVIP.

They claim that a £32m bid has been made for the Fulham striker after he scored eight times in England’s top flight throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

It also states that the Lilywhites will face stiff competition from Leeds United, after the newly promoted side made an offer for his services earlier this window.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s answer to Haaland

Erling Haaland is a player who’s constantly tormented countless backlines within the Premier League, scoring endless goals for Manchester City over the last few years.

The Norwegian moved to the Etihad back in the summer of 2022 and has since scored 124 times in his 146 appearances – a simply staggering record in the modern day.

He’s registered four goals in his six appearances against the Lilywhites, often causing the club countless issues, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing they had their own version of the forward.

However, talents like Haaland don’t come around very often, and if they do, they will likely cost a small fortune – especially given the money in the current climate.

They could be about to land their own version of the talisman with Muniz this summer, with the Brazilian labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref.

Whilst he’s undoubtedly been massively outscored throughout 2024/25, he’s managed to outperform Haaland in numerous key areas, showcasing what an excellent addition he’d be to Frank’s side this summer.

Muniz, who’s been labelled as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” by teammate Willian, has registered a better goal per shot on target rate – demonstrating his clinical edge in front of goal.

He’s also registered more progressive passes per 90, with more passes completed into the final third, having the ability to provide others around him with chances in attacking areas.

The Fulham star has also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also winning more aerial duels, offering Frank an all-round option at the top end of the pitch that he will likely desire.

It’s unclear if Marco Silva’s side will accept the latest offer for Muniz’s signature, but it’s evident that, from the stats produced, he would be an excellent option for Spurs.

If he can replicate the levels produced by Haaland over the last couple of seasons, it would be a superb signing and one that could catapult the club up the table next campaign.

Better signing than Mbeumo: Spurs make enquiry for "world-class" £20m star

Tottenham Hotspur have wasted no time making moves within the summer transfer market.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 5, 2025

Sunderland confirmed their latest addition of the summer transfer window on Thursday when they unveiled Simon Adingra as a new player for Regis Le Bris.

The Ivorian forward, who has scored eight Premier League goals in the last two seasons, is a right-footed winger who can operate on either flank and will provide competition at the top end of the pitch.

Adingra joins Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Habib Diallo, Reinildo, and Enzo Le Fee in making the move to the Stadium of Light ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

There is more still to come from the Black Cats before the deadline at the start of September, though, as they are reportedly eyeing another new forward option.

Sunderland pushing to sign new winger

Despite having just signed Adingra and Talbi in the last few days, Le Bris and his recruitment team are hoping to bring in another wide option to improve the team.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Calcio Mercato, Sunderland are pushing to sign French winger Armand Lauriente from Italian side Sassuolo in the summer window.

The report claims that the Black Cats are continuing to put pressure on the Serie A outfit to strike a deal for the 26-year-old forward, whilst Sassuolo are eyeing up Canada international Tajon Buchanan as a possible replacement for him.

It has previously been reported that it will take a fee of around £17m to secure a transfer for the French whiz, who has also attracted interest from Roma and Marseille.

Why Sunderland should sign Lauriente

The Black Cats are right to be pushing to sign the Sassuolo star this summer because he is an exciting attacker who could be an even better signing than Adingra for the club.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Lauriente fired his side to promotion from the Serie B with an outstanding haul of 18 goals and five assists in 33 appearances from the left flank, which shows that he made a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

Before last season, the 26-year-old star showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator in the Serie A in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons for Sassuolo.

As you can see in the table above, the French whiz produced more quality in front of goal in those two seasons than Adingra provided in his two Premier League campaigns with Brighton before his move to the Stadium of Light.

Lauriente, who was previously hailed for his “amazing” free-kick for Lorient in 2021 by talent Jacek Kulig, could provide more to the team next season than the Ivorian youngster, as a winger who has proven that he can make a huge impact in the final third in a major European league.

Sunderland should sign the winger in the hope that his electric form in the Serie B propels him on to offer even more quality at the top level than he did in the Serie A in the past.

The statistics suggest that he has more potential to make an immediate impact on the pitch in the Premier League, due to his form in the top two tiers in Italy, than Adingra next term, which is why the club should push to bring him to the club this summer.

Adingra & Lauriente's dream CF: Sunderland have big interest in £21m "icon"

Sunderland are still in the race to sign this exciting attacker who could well be Armand Lauriente and Simon Adingra’s dream partner up top.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 9, 2025

Although West Ham United haven’t done lots of transfer business this summer, there have been a couple of significant moves in and out of the club. In terms of the major outgoing, Mohammed Kudus departed the club, joining London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The Hammers sold him for £55m, and made a healthy profit.

As for the incoming, that has come in the form of highly rated Senegalese left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf. The 20-year-old joined the club from Czech outfit Slavia Prague, in a deal worth a reported £19m. It is an important addition for the Hammers, with stalwart Aaron Cresswell recently departing the club.

The Hammers will not stop at the signing of Diouf, it seems. They are strongly linked with someone at the other end of the pitch.

West Ham’s next transfer move

Graham Potter’s side have certainly had a busy start to the 2025 summer transfer window, and the money is now there to spend from the Kudus sale. After successfully bringing Diouf to the club, the next target is now firmly in their sights.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a recent report from The Standard, West Ham ‘are interested in signing’ Sassuolo centre-forward Andrea Pinamonti. They are one of the sides said to have ‘enquired’ about his availability, although ‘talks are at an early stage’ at this point.

However, the Hammers may not be the only London club making a move for the 26-year-old. Brentford, who have gone through a transitional summer after losing Thomas Frank, are also considering a deal for the striker.

No fee has yet been reported, but Football Transfers value him at around £13m, which could be a bargain.

Why Pinamonti would be a good signing

Once a highly rated youngster and something of a journeyman in Italian football, Pinamonti has played for Serie A giants Inter. After spending the last couple of seasons at Sassuolo, he spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Genoa, where he impressed.

The 26-year-old, who was once a Scudetto winner with Inter, made 37 appearances during his most recent season as a Genoa player. In that time, he bagged 11 goals and grabbed one assist, with all but one of those contributions coming in the Italian top flight.

Going back to the previously used word journeyman, Pinamonti certainly comes under that category. He has played for five different Italian top-flight clubs, and has exactly 50 goals to his name in 212 appearances. That included this stunning effort for Genoa this season.

Perhaps this deal has shades of the one West Ham made a couple of years ago to sign Gianluca Scamacca, given he is an Italian striker joining from a Serie A side.

The 26-year-old was only a Hammers player for one season, scoring eight times in 27 games.

Things didn’t really work out for the Italian international at the London Stadium, although it seemed like a case of right player, wrong time.

West Ham striker Michail Antonio confirmed this theory on the Filthy Fellas podcast, explaining that he is a “quality player” but he could “not play the way the manager wants to play”, referring to David Moyes.

It has not been an easy time for the striker after leaving East London, either. He flourished in his first season with Atalanta, scoring 19 goals and grabbing eight assists in 44 games. However, he missed the entirety of 2024/25 with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Perhaps Pinamonti could be the second coming of Scamacca. The stats from this season compared to the former Hammers star in his final campaign before joining the club are fairly similar.

According to Squawka, the 2024/25 Genoa loanee scored 0.4 goals and won 2.8 aerial duels per 90 minutes. In comparison, Scamacca bagged 0.7 goals and won 2.2 aerial duels each game in the season before he moved to London.

The 26-year-old Sassuolo star is a “complete forward”, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig. He has been around the block and knows where the back of the net is. If he brings as much talent as Scamacca did and gels with the squad, this could be a genius move.

As Antonio said, Scamacca was not a bad player, far from it. Should the move for Pinamonti go through, he could be the second coming of the former Hammers striker, but he will hope to surpass his goal tally.

Dream Kudus replacement: West Ham open talks to sign "special" £30m star

West Ham United can soften the blow of Mohammed Kudus leaving by signing this £30m star.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 15, 2025

Ex-USMNT ace Brad Friedel says a star in America's second tier was "better than Harry Kane", with caution being urged when it comes to Cavan Sullivan.

• Record-breaking teenager in MLS
• Caution being urged with Sullivan
• Adu a famous tale of unfilled talent

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Excitement has continued to build around teenage wonderkid Sullivan since he made history as the youngest MLS debutant in July 2024. He was aged just 14 years and 293 days at the time, with a place in the history books being snatched from former prodigy Freddy Adu.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Adu has been used as a cautionary tale down to the years when it comes to unfilled potential, as he was billed as the next Pele after making his own breakthrough at 14. He went on to endure a nomadic career at club level, but did earn 17 caps for the United States.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Sullivan will be hoping to fare better than that, but there are many stories to be found of shining lights that burned out before illuminating the big time – with there tales of that variety to be told around the world.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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• WHAT FRIEDEL SAID

  Friedel, speaking with the online casino authority Casino.org, told GOAL when asked about the habit of writing exciting youngsters off if they ultimately become anything less than superstars: "Correct, and it’s wrong to think that way.

  "I’ve sat in the Premier League at Tottenham in the academy when deciding between two or three players to take up to the next age group at 13, 14, 15. Sometimes what you’re choosing between is so strange. At one stage, Cameron Lancaster was, in a lot of people’s eyes, better than Harry Kane. And he was, by the way. He had terrible injuries. You are choosing at such young ages. Harry has become this world icon and Cam, unfortunately, could have done really well. He had some terrible knee issues.

  "You just don’t know what’s going to happen at young ages. When you build someone up too much and they don’t score 25 goals, 25 assists every season, everyone’s thinking that they can’t play."

Celtic legend Chris Sutton has raised concerns regarding the lack of transfer activity at Parkhead as the Hoops prepare to kick off their Scottish Premiership campaign on Sunday.

The Bhoys cruised to their 55th top flight title last season, leading rivals Rangers by a wide margin for practically the entire season, but it’s fair to say their summer hasn’t been quite such smooth sailing.

Star winger Nicolas Kuhn has left Glasgow to join Serie A side Como, along with experienced leadership figure Greg Taylor, who joined Greek side PAOK on a free transfer, although Kieran Tierney’s return should go some way to filling that void.

While the Hoops’ model has long been to develop and sell players like Kuhn before replacing them with cheaper, younger assets, the fact they are yet to make a marquee signing just days away from the beginning of the season is certainly a concern.

Sutton: Celtic need signings before Champions League qualifiers

Celtic will play the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on August 19-20, coming after league matches against St Mirren and Aberdeen and a cup clash with Falkirk, and Sutton believes Brendan Rodgers will be disappointed with the lack of business.

“If you look at the squad going into the season, it’s still a little bit light,” Sutton said in quotes shared by the Press Association.

“Brendan Rodgers, everything I’ve seen him hint and say, he feels the same. The fact that Brendan talked about ambition, he is always quite calculated in what he says and the words that he uses. I think that’s a little warning shot across the bows to say ‘we need to bring players in’.

Celtic's major signings so far: in pictures

“It’s fair to say the squad aren’t as strong right now as they were at the end of last season, and that’s not ideal. But there’s still plenty of time left in the transfer window.

“If you look back at last season, Celtic won the league in the first half of the campaign. They won 16 of their first 18 games, set off like a house on fire and there was real momentum going into the season from pre-season. It doesn’t quite feel like that at the moment.

“And they didn’t have the burden of the Champions League qualifiers last season and we know how enormous they are for the club.

“Celtic have been in this position before where they are signing players when the Champions League qualifiers have already begun. That’s not ideal.

“You want players in so you can work with them, so they get the idea of the way that the team works. You don’t want them learning on the job when the Champions League has started and then missing out. We know how massive these games are. If you’re slightly off it, then you can get beat.”

He continued: “I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s never easy for Celtic and Rangers in the market they are in. We know what Celtic’s model is in terms of bringing players in.

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“We will find out at the end of next month whether Celtic have done enough. It’s OK for pundits to say ‘the board need to do more’ but at the end of next month if Celtic bring another few players in of quality which is going to lift the squad, all well and good.

“If not, then clearly people are going ask questions about why they are weaker now than they were at the end of last season.”