All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has backed West Ham midfielder Declan Rice to remain at the club from next season and beyond.

The Lowdown: Fighting off interest

Although his contract at the London Stadium is not set to expire until 2025, the 23-year-old has been the subject of huge speculation in recent weeks after being linked with a move away from the Irons, with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all said to be interested in his services.

However, it was claimed by The Daily Mail just last week that the east Londoners are confident that Rice will stay with them and become the new permanent club captain, and Kenny has insisted that the England maestro will commit his future to the Hammers.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-newest-updates/” title=”West Ham newest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Rice backed to stay at West Ham

When asked about the news that the 29-cap international is likely to remain at West Ham, former Ireland goalkeeper Kenny told Football Insider:

“That’s brilliant news for West Ham. We all know how good Rice is and I think West Ham lose quite a lot when he isn’t there.

“The simple fact is, I don’t think anyone will bid what West Ham will demand for him. The club has also proved it can take Rice into Europe and compete for cups.

“So why would he leave? Can I see Man City or Man United coming in him? Probably not.

“If they make him captain then that is a huge honour and I’m not sure he turns it down to go somewhere else if that is offered.

“He owes West Ham, they have given him a career. So I think he will stay and repay that.”

The Verdict: Rice could stay for another while yet

Rice has been a great servant at the club, having first joined from Chelsea’s academy at the age of just 14. He has since gone on to make 193 senior appearances in a claret and blue shirt, scoring ten goals and providing nine assists in all competitions during that time, as per Transfermarkt.

Such form has also seen him become a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England starting XI and he has enjoyed plenty of prominence on the world stage, having reached the Euro 2020 final with the Three Lions last summer. Therefore, you can see why Kenny feels that the 23-year-old owes a lot to his club.

It has been known that Mark Noble will hang up his boots and retire at the end of the season, so it wouldn’t come as a shock to see the £67.5m-rated Rice take over captaincy duties for the long-term and continue to provide inspiration from West Ham’s midfield for another few years yet.

In other news… one West Ham star has been praised for his outstanding performance against Norwich City

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has provided an update on the future of on-loan Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the respected insider has revealed that talks are “ongoing” regarding a permanent deal for the USA international, although the player is believed to be “happy” in his current surroundings.

Asked about the 24-year-old’s future, O’Rourke revealed that: “It’s still ongoing, this one. Celtic want to get it done and I think Carter-Vickers is quite happy. He’s enjoying his time up at Celtic as well.”

The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur man joined the club on a season-long loan deal back in August, with the Scottish Premiership outfit including a buy option as part of that switch, which could be worth as much as £10m.

Celtic coup

That news would seemingly represent a major coup for the Glasgow side, with it looking as if they have managed to fend off Premier League interest in the player, as a permanent deal edges ever closer.

A recent report named the likes of Southampton, West Ham United, Everton and newly-promoted Fulham among those potential interested parties, although it looks as if Ange Postecoglou has got his man, with Carter-Vickers finally appearing to have found a settled home.

The Spurs academy graduate has failed to make a single top-flight appearance at his parent club, having been forced to endure a further six loans prior to his move to Celtic Park, although has more than shown his worth in a fine campaign north of the border.

Dubbed “immense” by pundit Chris Sutton, the 6 foot 1 centre-back has been a colossal presence in the Hoops’ backline, proving a pivotal asset in their surge towards the league title.

In his 30 league outings this season – all of which have come as starts – the Southend-born ace has kept 16 clean sheets and averaged 1.2 interceptions and 4.2 clearances per game, while also winning an impressive 72% of his aerial duels.

His average match rating of 7.34 is also the sixth-highest among the Celtic squad, with teammate Greg Taylor acknowledging that both Carter-Vickers – and teammate Carl Starfelt – have been a “huge part” of the club’s success this season.

In such an attacking side, the £2.7m-rated man copes more than adequately as the last line of defence, while he’s also no slouch at the other end of the pitch, chipping in with four league goals this season, including a vital winner in the Old Firm derby back in early April.

The all-round talent looks likely to be able to reproduce the goods next season, all it needs now is for chief executive Michael Nicholson to negotiate the deal.

IN other news, Celtic can unearth a new Giakoumakis after submitting bid for “very strong” £2.5m gem…

Tottenham Hotspur have made their first move in an attempt to bring Djed Spence to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made Florian Plettenberg, with the Sky Sports Deutschland journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that all three of Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal have submitted offers for the Middlesbrough right-back, who is currently on loan at promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest.

Plettenberg went on to state that the England U21 international is still being tracked by Bayern Munich, while it is also claimed that Boro will demand a figure of between €12m-€15m (£10m-£12.5m) in order to part with the defender this summer.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-levy-conte-paratici-thfc” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

In his post, the journalist said: “Update Spence: Selling price is €12-15m! It is said that he has got ‘five offers’. City, Arsenal & Tottenham are among the interested clubs. [Djed’s] dream is to play for MUFC one day. He is a fan! Been told there should be still loose contact with FC Bayern.”

He’s a steal

Considering just how exciting a talent Spence quite clearly is, should Fabio Paratici be able to get a deal over the line for as little as £12.5m this summer, Tottenham’s signing of the right-back would certainly appear to be something of a steal.

Indeed, over his 36 Championship appearances for Forest this season, the £2.25m-rated full-back has been a constant threat on the right flank, scoring two goals, registering four assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of one key pass, completing two dribbles and taking 0.6 shots per game.

The £4.4k-per-week defender has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.3 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.3 clearances and winning 5.9 duels per fixture.

These metrics have seen the 21-year-old average a highly impressive WhoScored match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Steve Cooper’s fourth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

Furthermore, Leicester City’s former Premier League-winning captain Wes Morgan also appeared incredibly impressed with Spence following Forest’s 4-1 win over the Foxes in the fourth round of the FA Cup, stating of the youngster:

“Spence was outstanding all afternoon, he seemed full of confidence. He probably got what he deserved today with the goal. He’s a constant threat and kept his cool right until the end.”

As such, considering his sheer amount of potential, not to mention his seamless fit into Antonio Conte’s right wing-back role, should Paratici indeed be able to land the player who Ian Wright dubbed “unbelievable” for around £12.5m this summer, it would certainly be yet another masterclass by the Italian sporting director.

AND in other news: Paratici now plotting “serious” bid for £116k-p/w Spurs target, Conte would love him

When it became clear that Liverpool would be crowned Premier League champions in Arne Slot’s first season at the club, well before the title was rubber-stamped and sealed, sporting director Richard Hughes suggested the summer transfer window would be significant.

After all, it was clear that Trent Alexander-Arnold was going to join Real Madrid at the end of his contract, and the likes of Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott and Luis Diaz were being linked with a move away. Liverpool needed a left-back.

And Liverpool have welcomed a sweeping array of new talent, shattering financial records as FSG added layers to Slot’s title-winning team.

But you’ll need no telling that the Reds have lost nine of their past 12 matches in 2025/26, thrashed in consecutive appearances at Anfield against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

The balance is all wrong, and the squad have been shorn of confidence. It’s hardly surprising that Hughes is gearing up for a return to the transfer market.

Liverpool's winter transfer plans

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher has been among those advocating for FSG to pull their purses out and sign a centre-back this January. However, Ibrahima Konate’s wretched form has seen Real Madrid cool their interest, and talks are ongoing regarding the France star’s renewal on Merseyside.

The need for an out-and-out winger is more pressing, with Diaz not replaced when sold to Bayern Munich in August.

That’s why Liverpool have set their sights on Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has been in fine fettle in the Premier League this season and is considered to be a top target on Merseyside, with his £65m release becoming active in January.

However, Hughes has compiled a list of multiple targets, and in Rafael Leao, Liverpool might even have an alternative who would prove a better pick, with stylistic similarities to the Ghana international.

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are ready to rekindle their long-standing interest in AC Milan star Leao and place a formal winter offer worth €120m (about £105m).

This would be a significant outlay for Liverpool after their summer of spending, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and Cody Gakpo has not looked convincing on the left wing.

Why Liverpool should sign Rafael Leao

Leao, 26, is among the finest wide forwards in the world.

This season, he has enjoyed a clinical start, scoring five goals and providing one assist across all competitions. In Serie A, he hasn’t been as dynamic as in recent years, though he has been championing Maximiliano Allegri’s simplistic playing style, serving as a clinical outlet in the final third.

At Liverpool, Leao would probably be utilised in a different way, with Slot requiring more width and multi-facetedness on the flank to restore balance to his ailing frontline.

Among the most clinical wingers in Serie A this season, Leao is also maintaining such athleticism and creativity in his play. Gakpo, conversely, has consistently faced criticism for being overly one-dimensional,

Goals scored

0.67

0.29

Assists

0.17

0.20

Shots taken

2.17

2.94

Pass completion (%)

75.8

71.3

Goal-creating actions

0.50

0.39

Progressive passes

3.01

3.43

Through balls

0.84

0.39

Progressive carries

3.35

4.41

Successful take-ons

0.84

1.47

Ball recoveries

2.17

3.13

Aerials won

1.17

1.86

It is curious that Gakpo has been a bit more active in duelling situations than Leao, while also running more frequently with the ball. However, this season stands as an outlier for the Portuguese winger, as far as ball-carrying metrics are concerned.

Indeed, as well as being hailed as “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leao has also been described as being “unstoppable” when on the ball by journalist Zach Lowy.

Gakpo might be running a fair bit in the Premier League this season, and his defensive metrics are impressive too, but he’s flattered to deceive in combination with left-back Milos Kerkez, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth for £40m this summer.

The Dutchman, moreover, ranks among the bottom 39% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for take-on success rate.

In and of itself, this is not an egregious tactical sin, but Gakpo’s lack of dynamism has certainly been exposed since Diaz left Liverpool, amplified even more so by the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah’s deterioration on the alternate wing.

Given that Gakpo has only posted four goals and three assists across 18 matches in all competitions this season too, it’s clear that Liverpool need to make this move – for Leao or Semenyo – and add a dimension to their frontline.

There was a feeling that Liverpool opted against signing a like-for-like Diaz replacement in the summer due to the excitement around Rio Ngumoha, who became one of the youngest scorers in Premier League history when scoring the winner at Newcastle in August, but Slot has since used the 17-year-old sparingly.

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

Also dubbed “world-class” by Mattinson, Leao’s fleet-footed and ferocious style of play is exactly what Liverpool need going forward. He fits the same mould that has been sculpted for Semenyo by the powers that be at FSG.

It’s clear that Leao, in his finest form, would nail down a starting berth at Anfield, and Hughes must now make it happen.

Better than Isak: Liverpool join race for "one of the best RWs in the world"

Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure is crumbling before him, and FSG are considering changes.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 28, 2025

Manchester United had to make some difficult decisions during the summer window and could now be set to part ways with another star on a permanent basis in the near future.

Manchester United seek to build on Premier League momentum

Admittedly, the Red Devils are going to need more consistency to trouble sides near the top of the Premier League table, but a deserved victory over Chelsea has given Ruben Amorim space to breathe.

Now, back-to-back fixtures against Brentford and Sunderland offer an opportunity for the Portuguese boss to generate some much-needed momentum at Old Trafford, especially after he held face-to-face talks about Manchester United’s trajectory with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Bruno Fernandes has been a leading light for the Red Devils, and there is an argument to say his side needs to find a level of self-sufficiency without relying on their awe-inspiring captain every week, though seeing off Enzo Maresca’s outfit has shown they can win when the pressure is on.

Amorim also needs to be applauded for his ruthless approach in the transfer market. Rasmus Hojlund, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho were among summer departures, indicating that the man in charge isn’t afraid to wield the axe when fresh ideas are needed across the squad.

Of course, some of their dealings during the window were enforced. Garnacho has experienced a taste of why the grass isn’t always greener. Still the main aim at Manchester United is building a squad capable of challenging for silverware.

Premier League manager admits star is unsettled due to Man Utd approach

The Red Devils are known to be big admirers.

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 22, 2025

Financially, that may prove tricky as the club tries to navigate PSR legislation. Sales will be necessary, and another high-profile departure could now be on the cards at Old Trafford.

Romano: Andre Onana's time is up at Old Trafford

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has delivered some telling insight on Andre Onana’s career at Manchester United after he was loaned to Trabzonspor.

Addressing his future, the renowned transfer specialist has confirmed that the Cameroon star now appears to be permanently out of the picture at Old Trafford, and there is no way back after Senne Lammens arrived from Royal Antwerp.

He stated: “My understanding is that both sides – Man Utd and Andre Onana himself – see this Man Utd chapter as almost closed. So it’s very difficult to imagine Onana staying at Man Utd beyond (next summer).

“Man Utd believe that Senne Lammens is going to be the goalkeeper for present and future, so unless something extraordinary happens, (Onana’s agreement) is a straight loan, and he might go somewhere else in the future, but it’s over between Man Utd and Onana, probably.”

Enjoying a solid start to life at Trabzonspor, the 29-year-old has featured against Fenerbahce and Gaziantep, even claiming an assist against the latter in a 1-1 draw.

Retaining a save percentage of 80% in the Super Lig, per Fotmob, it remains to be seen whether the Turkish outfit will look to deal him in permanently or whether alternative suitors will look to land the £120,000 per week earner.

Big-money transfers haven’t been alien to Manchester United over the last couple of years, with mammoth funds being splashed on numerous talents in the transfer window.

At present, the Red Devils’ £89m deal to re-sign Paul Pogba from Juventus in the summer of 2016 remains their record signing, but the club have been perilously close to breaking such a sum in recent windows.

Antony joined during the Erik ten Hag reign, moving to Old Trafford alongside the boss after spending multiple years with the Dutchman at Eredivisie outfit Ajax.

The deal for the Brazilian will go down as one of the worst in English history, scoring just 12 times in his 96 appearances in Manchester after joining the club for a staggering £86m.

The 25-year-old has since left in a £19m deal to join Spanish side Real Betis – with Ruben Amorim’s side taking a £67m loss on the investment made back in the summer of 2022.

However, there’s a new attacker at the Theatre of Dreams trying to avoid suffering a similar fate in his quest to help catapult the side back to their former glory in the near future.

United’s move to land Bryan Mbeumo this summer

After ending the 2024/25 campaign in a measly 15th place in the Premier League, huge changes were needed at United during the off-season to prevent a repeat this time around.

Amorim wasted no time in clearing the deadwood out from his first-team squad, subsequently freeing up valuable wages to land new top-level talent to transform the club’s fortunes.

Bryan Mbeumo was one of three big-money attacking reinforcements made during the summer, arriving in a package totalling £71m including potential add-ons.

The Cameroonian international scored 20 times in the Premier League for Brentford last campaign, ending the year as only one of five players to achieve such a feat in England’s top-flight.

Whilst it’s undoubtedly another expensive addition made by the hierarchy, it’s one that has injected needed top-flight experience into the current squad to aid their ambitions of rising up the table.

At 26, he will be entering his prime years at Old Trafford, also having the opportunity to make himself a fan-favourite during any attempt of domestic and continental success.

Mbeumo has already made an immediate impact in 2025/26, scoring twice in his first four outings for the Red Devils – arguably being the biggest threat currently available to Amorim within the final third.

Whilst his early form in Manchester has given supporters a newfound sense of optimism, the hierarchy could’ve saved themselves millions had they put more faith in one talent who left a couple of years ago.

The former United star who is just like Mbeumo

The Ten Hag era at United was certainly a topsy-turvy one, achieving great feats like winning the FA Cup, but also getting hammered 7-0 by rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

His recruitment in the transfer market was also extremely lacklustre, splashing big money on players who ultimately failed to cut it in the Premier League – as seen by Antony’s spell at the club.

Casemiro was another addition made during his tenure, costing a fee in the region of £70m from Real Madrid despite being 30 at the time of his switch to England.

Numerous of his outgoings also proved to be mistakes, with the decision to offload Anthony Elanga for just £15m another blunder made when he was at the helm.

The Swede came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford, going on to make 55 appearances over a three-year period – but only 26 of which came during Ten Hag’s spell in charge.

He failed to net a single goal during the 2022/23 campaign, leading to his subsequent move to Nottingham Forest that summer in a deal that catapulted him to the next level.

Elanga spent two years at the City Ground, racking up 11 goals and 21 assists in his 82 appearances – subsequently catapulting the Reds to Europe for the first time in three decades – before joining Newcastle United in a £60m deal this summer.

One of his efforts came against United last campaign, producing an incredible 85-yard solo effort which saw Nuno Espírito Santo’s side claim a 1-0 win over Amorim’s men.

As a result of his performances, he was labelled as a similar player to new addition Mbeumo by FBref, managing to outperform the £71m man in numerous key areas.

The Swede managed to post a higher shot on target accuracy rate in 2024/25 (55%), subsequently making the most of the opportunities falling his way and demonstrating his clinical nature.

His dominance over the Cameroonian is further reflected in his higher tally of key passes per 90 (1.9) and carries into the opposition box per 90 (2.7) – having the technical ability to subsequently cause the opposition havoc.

That’s an attribute that’s been outlined much through Elanga’s career, with former Red Devil Paul Parker once stating that he is like “a young Ryan Giggs” in the way he drives forward with possession.

Games played

38

38

Goals & assists

17

27

Shot on target accuracy

55%

43%

Key passes made

1.9

1.8

Progressive carries

2.7

1.9

Carries into the opposition box

2.7

1.9

Crosses completed

6.7

5.3

Fould drawn

1.7

1.1

Tallies such as 3.7 progressive carries per 90 and 6.7 crosses completed per 90 were also higher than those produced by Mbeumo – further showcasing the constant threat he possesses in attacking areas.

Given the lack of success from the United first team in recent years, the decision to allow Elanga to depart now looks to be a huge mistake – especially given his rapid development away from the Theatre of Dreams.

Undoubtedly, there’s huge excitement around Mbeumo at present, but the club may well have been better off keeping hold of the Swede instead of splashing yet more funds on a new attacker.

Man Utd talent who left the club for £0 has been outscoring Sesko & Mbeumo

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one former talent to depart Old Trafford.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

Manchester United have made a rapid start to the summer transfer window, something that was desperately needed given their lowly Premier League standing this season.

Ruben Amorim’s side ended the campaign in a measly 15th place, winning just 11 of their 38 matches, sitting a staggering 24 points off a place in the top five.

He’s already added attacker Matheus Cunha to his ranks, with a move for Bryan Mbeumo appearing to be moving in the right direction after submitting an improved offer for his services.

Whilst the pair are likely to cost over £120m between them, the hierarchy appear to be showing no signs of slowing down in the market as multiple other targets remain on their radar.

Multiple positions are set to be the subject of their investment, handing the manager the depth he needs if he is to be a success during his stint at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Dusan Vlahovic is a player who’s emerged as a key contender for the striker role at United, with Juventus set to hold talks over a swap deal which would see Jadon Sancho move in the opposite direction.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez has been another key target for the Red Devils, as the Argentine is expected to depart Aston Villa this window as they try to raise funds to satisfy the division’s PSR rules.

However, the midfield department could be about to have a new addition, with the club firmly in the race to sign Club Brugge star Ardon Jashari, according to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg.

He claims that Amorim’s side have already been in contact with the Belgian outfit over a move for the 22-year-old who’s valued at €40m (£35m) this summer.

Plettenberg also confirmed that they face a battle with Serie A side AC Milan over a move to land his signature, with the player himself keen on a move to Italy this window.

Why United’s £35m target would be perfect for Mbeumo

As previously mentioned, United submitted an improved £60m bid for Brentford star Mbeumo, still facing stiff competition from fellow top-flight side Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

However, even before the latest bid, the 25-year-old stated his desire to move to Old Trafford this summer, claiming that they are the only side he’s interested in joining during the off-season.

His tally of 20 league goals this season is evidence of the talent he possesses within the final third, handing Amorim a new dimension and the added threat he’s craved since taking the reins.

As a result of his success, he’s demanding a pretty penny should he move to the Theatre of Dreams, wanting a reported £250k-per-week, subsequently making him one of their highest-paid players.

If he is to succeed in any move, he will need to be provided with opportunities at the club, something which Jashari could do should he also join the Red Devils this summer.

The youngster, who’s been labelled “seriously talented” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has registered four assists this campaign, with his tally of 7.2 progressive passes per 90 within the top 9% of all players within the Belgian Pro League.

He’s also managed 7.3 passes per 90 into the final third, with 1.3 of which going into the opposition area, subsequently being able to hand Mbeumo the ammunition he needs to succeed next season.

Games played

25

Goals & assists

6

Pass accuracy

87%

Progressive passes

7.2

Passes into final third

7.3

Passes into oppostion box

1.3

Take-on success

61%

Carries into final third

2.2

Jashari’s talents with the ball are further reflected by his take-on success rate, which has seen him complete 61% of his efforts, often liking to drive forward and taking the ball into attacking areas.

Given his talents, £35m in today’s market would reflect excellent business by the Red Devils, with the prospect of the youngster linking up with the Cameroonian certainly one the supporters should get excited by.

However, given the interest in his signature from Italy, the hierarchy need to operate quickly to avoid missing out on such a talent, with Jashari having all the tools to thrive and improve further given his tender age.

Their own Osimhen: Man Utd start talks to sign one of Europe's "best STs"

Manchester United appear to be making strides in a deal to land a new striker for Ruben Amorim.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 25, 2025

Arsenal’s search for a striker is set to dominate headlines as we enter the first mini-summer transfer window, and it’s an area of the squad which sporting director Andrea Berta is working hard to address.

Arsenal in ongoing talks for Benjamin Sesko in search of striker

Gabriel Jesus’ ACL rupture in their FA Cup defeat to Man United, and Kai Havertz’s lengthy absence due to a hamstring injury, crippled Mikel Arteta’s options up front during the second half of 2024/2025, prompting the Spaniard to utilise Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role.

Arsenal given fresh Martin Zubimendi worry as Sociedad president speaks out

The north Londoners are reportedly closing in on a deal for him.

ByEmilio Galantini May 30, 2025

Merino performed well, but that injury crisis up front brought yet more attention to Arteta’s glaring need for a prolific centre-forward.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

A proven number nine has long been touted as the final missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw, and Berta is said to be laying the groundwork on deals to bring Arsenal’s long search for a new striker to an end this summer.

Arsenal have held talks over signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, according to some reports, and they were heavily linked with a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, until this week at least.

Now, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has entered pole position to become Arsenal’s answer to their goalscoring woes, and “concrete” talks are underway after Berta’s meeting with Leipzig director Marcel Schafer in London.

The Gunners are said to be putting their focus on a deal for Sesko, and discussions are centered around a payment structure for his £67 million release clause.

While Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims Gyokeres is still high on Arsenal’s list despite these Sesko talks, Spanish media sources claim their negotiations for the Slovenian have put an end to their chase for Sporting’s serial goalscorer.

Arsenal pull plug on Viktor Gyokeres deal after opening Sesko talks

According to reports from Spain, cited by Football 365, Arteta has now ‘ruled out’ an Arsenal move for Gyokeres, and they’ve now ‘withdrawn from the bidding’ to sign him – which could open the door for other linked sides like Man United and Barcelona.

This follows their decision to up the ante in pursuit of Sesko, so going by this update, it appears the 22-year-old is now their priority target.

Given the costs involved when it comes to a deal for Sesko, we wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal pull a U-turn on this call, especially considering that Gyokeres could leave Sporting for just £60 million.

The “quality” ex-Coventry City star is fresh off the back of an exceptional campaign, scoring 54 goals in all competitions, and there are reports in Portugal that Arsenal have already offered Gyokeres a contract, so he could just be on the back-burner for now.

“I have said this before, and I will continue to say it: he brings a lot to the team, and his teammates are aware of what he contributes, which is why they look for him during games,” said Sporting boss Rui Borges about Gyokeres.

“The collective effort also plays a role, as no one can succeed alone. Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites board have held fresh talks about Ange Postecoglou’s future after their glorious night in the Europa League on Wednesday, with their current stance on keeping or sacking the tactician emerging.

Ange Postecoglou's plea to Spurs board during victory parade

The 59-year-old became a Lilywhites hero overnight, guiding the club to their first piece of major silverware in 17 years and only European trophy since 1984.

Tottenham "dreaming" of signing £67m ex-PSG star after Europa League triumph

Spurs’ summer transfer window has suddenly become much more interesting.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025

Postecoglou came under fire for a bold statement earlier in the campaign, namely that he ‘always’ wins trophies during his second season in charge, but that message will now go down as one of the most memorable quotes in recent football history after Tottenham’s Europa League triumph.

Player

Rating

Guglielmo Vicario

7.7

Yves Bissouma

7.6

Cristian Romero

7.4

Bruno Fernandes

7.4

Destiny Udogie

7.2

Brennan Johnson also etched himself into Spurs folklore with his scrappy winner minutes before half-time, with the defensive heroics of Micky van de Ven – who made a match-saving clearance off the line – and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s vital saves proving decisive on an unforgettable night for the club.

Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro’s robust defensive displays also helped to shut out a lacklustre Man United side who simply couldn’t find any joy at all in the final third, despite their dominnace in possession.

While Postecoglou’s future at Spurs remains uncertain (David Ornstein), despite their celebrations, it is pretty clear that the manager wishes to continue his mission.

The north Londoners endured a lacklustre domestic campaign, breaking their all-time record for most Premier League defeats in a single season, but Postecoglou sent a subtle message to the board during their victory parade in London on Friday.

“I told them, and they laughed,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s open-top bus celebrations.

“I told them and they didn’t believe. And here we are. I’ll leave you with this: all the best television series, season three is better than season two.”

Postecoglou’s hint suggests the ex-Celtic boss has every intention to build upon their European success, but it remains to be seen whether Levy is on the same page.

Tottenham stance on sacking Postecoglou after fresh boardroom talks

In the wake of their triumph in Bilbao, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football Insider that high-ranking Tottenham chiefs are discussing what to do next in the managerial dugout.

According to the reporter, Levy and the Spurs board held fresh talks regarding Postecoglou after their Europa League final win, with O’Rourke sharing what their current stance is about potentially sacking him.

It is believed that, following their midweek celebrations, the club are now ’50/50′ when it comes to sticking or twisting with Postecoglou – indicating that they now have much more to think about in what has suddenly become a major conundrum.

While reports in the build-up to their clash with United indicated that Postecoglou could be sacked regardless of their Europa triumph, and that apparently remains the case, the emotion of such a momentous occasion makes this call far easier said than done in practice.

In terms of possible replacements, there are no shortage of options that have been linked in a long Tottenham managerial target list which includes the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund), Edin Terzić (free agent), Xavi (free agent) and Francesco Farioli (free agent).

In a deal that could see them replace Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly set to make a serious move to sign a want-away Premier League midfielder this summer.

Nottingham Forest clarify Marinakis outburst

Whilst Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City last weekend secured their Europa League qualification at the same time that their Champions League fate fell out of their hands, it was owner Evangelos Marinakis who stole the headlines. Marching onto the pitch at full-time, the Greek owner was seen exchanging words with manager Nuno Espirito Santo in a moment which instantly garnered criticism.

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Since then, however, the Midlands club have clarified the controversial moment – revealing that Marinakis’ frustration was directed at the medical staff who allowed Taiwo Awoniyi to continue before he came off injured not long after. The forward has now reportedly undergone the first part of urgent surgery after an abdominal injury and has been placed in an induced coma with the rest of the procedure due to be completed.

Following a moment full of emotions around a concerning injury, Marinakis also released his own statement on the matter, which read: “Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game. This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!”

The Nottingham Forest owner, like many around European football, are now simply hoping to see Awoniyi make a full recovery.

Nottingham Forest set to make serious McAtee move

Amidst the headlines away from the pitch, those at the City Ground did have Europa League qualification to appreciate last weekend and could put that to instant use in the transfer market.

According to TeamTalk editor James Marshment, Nottingham Forest are now set to make a serious move to sign James McAtee, who is reportedly looking to leave Manchester City this summer. In pole position, Forest’s move for the midfielder certainly makes sense amid rumours that Gibbs-White could be heading in the opposite direction.

What’s more, all it takes is one look at Cole Palmer and Chelsea to realise just how successful Manchester City’s academy graduates can be when given the chance to thrive. And Nottingham Forest could offer McAtee exactly that.

That’s not to say Pep Guardiola isn’t well aware of McAtee’s talents, either, having told reporters following the midfielder’s hat-trick against Salford City earlier this season: “I am so happy for him, he is a special player. A hat trick is not easy. He has an incredible sense in front of goal, he has the right tempo, he changed the rhythm to score and I am very happy for him.”