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Leeds United are currently sat at the top of the Championship table during the last international break of the 2024/25 campaign, as they inch closer to promotion back to the Premier League.

The Whites missed out via the play-offs last season, losing to Southampton 1-0 at Wembley in the final, and will hope to go up automatically instead of having to rely on the post-season matches.

Earning promotion to the Premier League is only the first step, though, as Daniel Farke will then have to build a squad that is capable of avoiding instant relegation – something that he did not manage in two attempts with Norwich City.

This is why it is important that the 49ers provide the German head coach with all the ammunition he needs, and we have had a look at the dream Premier League starting XI that the board could build for Farke in the summer transfer window…

1 GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Illan Meslier has been the number one for Leeds in recent seasons but he has not done enough to suggest that the club should rely on him as their number one next season.

The Frenchman has conceded a staggering 34.4 more goals than expected, based on post-shot xG, in his league career at Elland Road, which suggests that he has woefully underperformed as a shot-stopper.

Caoimhin Kelleher, who has been linked with a move to Leeds next season, has conceded 3.0 fewer than expected during his Premier League career as Liverpool’s number two, suggesting that he could come in as a far superior shot-stopper to bolster the team’s hopes of survival.

2 RB – Jayden Bogle

Jayden Bogle, who joined from Sheffield United last summer, has started all 36 of his appearances for Leeds in the Championship this season and could remain the first-choice right-back option next term.

3 CB – Nico Elvedi

Leeds were reportedly interested in a deal to sign Farke’s former Borussia Monchengladbach star Nico Elvedi in the January transfer window, but failed to get a move over the line as the Swiss star wants to play top-flight football.

The Whites could convince him to make the switch to Elland Road in the summer if they secure promotion to the Premier League, and he could compete with Joe Rodon for a starting berth.

Appearances

19

38

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.9

1.5

Clearances per game

5.8

4.5

Ground duel success rate

76%

66%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

57%

Fouls per game

0.4

0.7

As you can see in the table above, Elvedi has outperformed Rodon as an out-and-out defender in a bigger league, suggesting that he could come in to provide a solid presence at the heart of the backline.

4 CB – Pascal Struijk

Dutch defender Pascal Struijk could retain his place as a regular starter on the left side of the defence, both because of his leadership qualities – having captained the team on many occasions – and the fact that he is naturally left-footed and can comfortably play out from the back on that side.

5 LB – Hugo Bueno

TEAMtalk recently reported that Junior Firpo is ‘increasingly likely’ to leave when his contract expires in the summer, which will leave a hole to fill at left-back.

It was reported earlier this month that Leeds have their eye on Feyenoord defender Hugo Bueno, who is on loan from Wolves, as a possible replacement for Firpo.

Bueno has created four ‘big chances’ and registered three assists in 12 Eredivisie starts for Feyenoord this term, and could provide an attacking threat down the left flank for Leeds in the top-flight.

6 CM – Ao Tanaka

Ao Tanaka has been a revelation for Leeds in the middle of the park in the Championship, averaging 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and a pass accuracy of 90%, and could be given a chance to showcase his quality in the Premier League.

7 CM – Ethan Ampadu

Ethan Ampadu, who started all 49 matches including the play-offs in the league last term, is the club captain and Farke could want his skipper in the engine room alongside Tanaka in the 2025/26 campaign – whether that is in the top-flight or the Championship.

8 RW – Jonathan Rowe

The Telegraph reported last summer that Leeds wanted to make a £7m bid for Norwich City forward Jonathan Rowe, but he ultimately joined Marseille on loan with an obligation to make it permanent for £17m this summer.

It was recently reported, however, that he has fallen down the pecking order in France and that Marseille are looking to instantly offload him in the summer, which would open the door for Leeds to return with another attempt to sign him.

Rowe scored 12 goals from just 5.36 xG in the Championship last term, whilst Dan James has scored ten goals from 9.22 xG this season, and he could be a ruthless finisher for the Whites in the top-flight if Farke can get the best out of him.

9 CAM – Wilfried Gnonto

Brenden Aaronson has been the go-to option in the number ten position for Leeds this season but his performances against the top sides suggest that he would struggle badly in the Premier League.

West Brom (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

West Brom (H)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, he has failed to make an impact against any of the top six sides in his ten appearances against them, whilst Wilfried Gnonto has previously shown quality in the top-flight.

The Italian gem, who came on as the number ten against QPR last weekend, produced two goals and four assists in 14 starts in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

10 LW – Manor Solomon

Manor Solomon is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the winger, who has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in the league this term, permanently.

Celtic returned from the last international break of the season with a bang as they secured a 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership.

The Hoops had to bounce back from their 3-2 defeat to Rangers in front of their home supporters before the break, and that is what they did with a comfortable win on Saturday.

Daizen Maeda scored two goals, slotting through in a one-on-one and tapping in from close range, to send the Bhoys on their way to the win in the first-half.

Those two strikes have taken the Japan international’s tally for the season to 30 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, as he has emerged as a consistent scoring threat for the club.

The 27-year-old attacker, who scored the first and third goals on the day, was not the only forward who got his name on the scoresheet, though, as Jota also found the back of the net.

Celtic’s Portuguese sensation was the first to react to Maeda hitting the post to sweep the ball in for the team’s second, continuing his fairytale return to Parkhead.

Why Jota has been an excellent signing for Celtic

The Scottish giants reportedly paid a fee of £8m to sign the winger from Ligue 1 side Rennes in the January transfer window, 18 months on from his £25m move to Al Ittihad from Glasgow.

Because he had already played two seasons for Celtic in the past under Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers knew that the club were bringing in a proven talent at Premiership level.

As the graphic above illustrates, the Portugal international has the quality to terrorise opposition defences in the Scottish top-flight due to his ability to both score and assist goals consistently from either the left or the right flank.

Since his return to Parkhead, Jota has racked up four goals, three ‘big chances’ created, and two assists in just five starts and eight total appearances in the division.

Goals

0.84

Top 1%

xG

0.58

Top 4%

xG on target

0.86

Top 1%

Shots on target

1.67

Top 1%

Assists

0.42

Top 12%

Chances created

2.09

Top 22%

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old sensation ranks incredibly highly against his positional peers when it comes to scoring goals, making the most of his xG, and creating chances for his teammates at the top end of the pitch.

These statistics suggest that Jota has, therefore, been one of the best wingers in the league, and arguably the best goalscoring winger, since his return to the club for £8m in the winter window.

Despite his sensational form for the Scottish giants in the last couple of months, the former Benfica man still does not crack the top five most valuable players at Parkhead.

Celtic's most valuable players

According to Transfermarkt, Jota is currently valued at £7.5m, just £500k short of the actual fee that Celtic reportedly paid for him at the start of the year, and that places him seventh within the squad.

This means that the Portuguese wizard does not sit in the top five most valuable players at the club, despite his phenomenal form, as the likes of Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda are currently more valuable than him.

Cameron Carter-Vickers

£11.7m

Nicolas Kuhn

£10m

Arne Engels

£10m

Daizen Maeda

£9.2m

Reo Hatate

£9.2m

Alistair Johnston

£8.4m

Jota

£7.5m

Auston Trusty

£6.3m

Callum McGregor

£5.4m

Greg Taylor

£5.4m

As you can see in the table above, Jota ranks seventh overall and USA international Cameron Carter-Vickers is sat at the top with a value of £11.7m.

The Scottish giants have built a squad that is full of highly-valued stars, hence why the Portuguese forward ranks so lowly despite his quality, as they have hit the jackpot with several fantastic signings.

One star they struck gold by signing during Postecoglou’s tenure in the dugout in Glasgow has been right-back Alistair Johnston, whose value has soared since his initial move to the club.

Alistair Johnston's soaring market value

The Canada international was reportedly signed from CF Montreal for a fee of £3m in the January transfer window at the start of 2023, shortly before Josip Juranovic moved to Union Berlin later that month.

He was tasked with replacing the Croatia international, who had scored one goal and provided one assist in ten league matches during the first half of the season, and hit the ground running with one goal, one assist, and five ‘big chances’ created in 14 appearances in the Premiership.

In the words of Rodgers, Johnston has been an “inspiration”, following that up with 11 ‘big chances’ created and five assists in 32 league outings for the Scottish giants in his first full season at the club.

In the current campaign, the 26-year-old star has created 13 ‘big chances’, scored four goals, and registered seven assists in 27 games, as he has continued to prove that he is a huge attacking threat from the right-back position for the Hoops.

The Celtic dynamo’s fantastic performances on the pitch over the last two-and-a-bit-years have led to his market value soaring by more than £5m, to the point where he is now worth even more than star winger Jota.

Jan 2023

£3m reported fee

June 2023

£5.8m

November 2023

£6.3m

March 2024

£6.7m

May 2024

£7.1m

December 2024

£7.5m

March 2025

£8.4m

As you can see in the table above, Johnston’s market value has steadily increased throughout his time in Glasgow, which illustrates how he has continually impressed and progressed at Parkhead.

At the time of writing, he is valued at £8.4m – £5.4m more than the £3m that the club reportedly paid for him – and £900k more than Jota is worth, as well as £400k more than the reported fee that was paid to Rennes for him in January.

This shows that the Premiership champions hit the jackpot when they swooped to sign him from the MLS at the start of 2023, as he has become a trusted figure at the back for the Hoops whilst also growing in value to establish himself as one of the most valuable players in the squad.

As good as Maeda: Star who won 89% duels has revived his Celtic career

The Celtic star was as good as Daizen Maeda in the win over Hearts at Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Mar 30, 2025

The Bhoys will now be hoping that Johnston can continue to progress to either go on and become a long-serving club icon or to be sold for a significant profit in the future.

Arsenal have wasted no time in drawing up plans for the summer transfer window, looking to finally end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta has done a superb job of transforming the squad during his near five-year spell in charge, but more work needs to be done to take them to the summit of the division.

Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as a huge target for the upcoming window, with new sporting director Andrea Berta making an immediate impact in pursuing a move for his signature.

Given his goalscoring record, which has seen him score 86 times in his 93 outings in the last two seasons, it’s understandable that the Gunners are pursuing a striker to bolster their forward line.

Should he move to North London in the summer, he could be joined by another player who’s been a constant target, with a new update emerging on his potential move to the club.

Arsenal make contact to land £51m talent

According to Sun Sport, Arsenal’s director Berta has already been in contact with the representatives of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi ahead of a summer move to the Emirates.

It was reported in January that a deal was on the verge of being agreed for this upcoming window, but no news has emerged since – with this the latest update on any transfer.

The Spanish international has made 29 LaLiga appearances this campaign, featuring in all but one of their league outings, showcasing his importance and quality.

The report claims that the hierarchy are still “working hard” on a deal to land the 26-year-old this summer, with the £51m release clause not thought to be an issue.

Any move for Zubimendi could provide added quality to the middle of Arteta’s side, allowing one player to return to his former best after his recent slump in form.

Why Zubimendi could decide Odegaard at Arsenal

Midfielder Martin Odegaard has been a player so often tasked with providing the goods for Arsenal in attacking areas but ultimately has struggled to deliver in recent months.

The Norwegian had a long injury layoff with an ankle issue but hasn’t been the same player since his return – leading to huge amounts of criticism in the process.

He’s also featured in more of a deeper role, taking away his best qualities with his intricate passing able to create chances for attackers within the final third.

Zubimendi, who’s a defensive midfielder, could be able to sit in front of the backline should he move in the coming months, freeing up Odegaard to go and create carnage further up the field.

The Spaniard, who’s been labelled “superb” by the Spanish Football Podcast, has excelled out of possession, having the quality to be the ball-winning talent the side have been crying out for.

He’s won 1.3 tackles per 90 to date, along with 5.4 duels won – coming out on top of the latter on 60% of the occasions he’s entered a battle with an opposition player.

Games played

29

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

85%

Tackles won

1.3

Duels won

5.4

Duel success rate

60%

Dribbles completed

70%

However, he’s also got the passing ability to aid Odegaard in higher areas, registering an 85% pass completion rate, along with a 70% dribble success rate.

Whilst the club would have to fork out a pretty penny to secure his signature this summer, it’s evident that Zubimendi would be a player who could certainly increase the club’s title credentials.

As for Odegaard, he’s been an influential player in various title battles, with Arteta needing him to return to top form if they are to go one better next season – with the Sociedad star having a huge say in his fortunes if a deal is completed.

Better than Trossard: Arsenal ace who won 14 duels is hitting "cult status"

He’s been one of the bright sparks at the Emirates in recent weeks.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 6, 2025

The Premier League trophy will be ribboned in red this year, with Arne Slot almost certain to lift the title in the first season of his tenure at Liverpool.

After a summer of frustration in the transfer market, failing to convince Martin Zubimendi to part with Real Sociedad and make the move to England, Liverpool have charged through the 2024/25 campaign with such consistency and coherence that they perch comfortably ahead at the summit.

The players fell short last season, lost in the fogs of the final stretch and falling early in a three-horse Premier League title race. However, Slot’s tactical vision has been a breath of fresh air, one which has cleared the pathway toward gold.

Who saw it coming? Few at all. Maybe a certain German manager was thinking that he’d led a group of players as far as they could go within his decade-stretching project.

Klopp's early clearout

Jurgen Klopp. Leader of men. Rouser of footballers. Builder of exciting projects. But also ruthless when he wanted to be, during his time as Liverpool manager.

That larger-than-life, grinning visage became synonymous with Anfield’s rise from the rubble over the past decade, but Klopp, for all his bubbly demeanour, acted mercilessly in cutting away the rot after replacing Brendan Rodgers in 2015.

Long-serving stars Joe Allen and Martin Skrtel were sold in the summer of 2016, Klopp wasting no time after his opening half-season, which saw Liverpool reach the Europa League final and lose against Sevilla.

But these players were recognised to be getting on and lacking the level of quality required. The sale of Christian Benteke carried more animosity.

Liverpool signed Benteke from Aston Villa, where he was beloved for his powerful focal presence and reliable scoring touch, for £32.5m in July 2015, one year after Luis Suarez left and took Rodgers’ hopes with him. He spent mere months on Merseyside before Klopp’s appointment.

The Belgian was hardly terrible, finishing his sole campaign in red with a modest return of ten goals and six assists across 42 matches in all competitions, but he lacked the technical ability of the likes of Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge, ahead in the pecking order and more vibrant in their football.

He fell out of favour in the months under Klopp’s wing, even remarking that the German boss ignored him, continuing to state he found it hard to understand.

Klopp ultimately knew what he wanted and acted with intent, ignoring the fact Liverpool had spent a significant sum on the striker only one year before. It’s impressive that the Reds recouped much of their outlay in August 2016, when Crystal Palace swooped in and paid £27m to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Back to the present, Slot is expected to go into the upcoming transfer window swinging, and the Dutchman appears to be taking a leaf from his predecessor’s books as he and sporting director Richard Hughes prepare to cash in on Liverpool’s new version of Benteke.

Liverpool's new version of Benteke

Unlike Klopp, Slot is stomping toward silverware in his maiden year as Liverpool’s head coach. And it’s a Premier League gold medal at that.

It’s remarkable that he’s reached such heights after a summer (and winter) of such nominal first-team investment. Slot’s resourcefulness and Klopp’s success in rebuilding his team before departing truly are two sides of the same shiny coin.

But now is the time for change, and Liverpool need to get busy this summer if Slot’s tenure is to be remembered as a dynasty, and not a flash in the pan.

That’s why selling Darwin Nunez has to be one of the priorities this summer. The Uruguay international, 25, has fallen heavily by the wayside at Anfield, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to get back up.

24/25

42 (17)

7

7

23/24

54 (33)

18

15

22/23

42 (26)

15

4

While his numbers aren’t shambolic, they don’t reflect the club-record £85m transfer fee paid in a positive light, nor do they tell the full tale of a player who has routinely frustrated due to profligacy in front of goal and a lack of nous in critical moments.

Slot’s unwillingness to start him mirrors Klopp’s hesitance in unleashing Benteke, who started each of Liverpool’s opening six Premier League fixtures in 2015/16, before Rodgers departed, but only seven across 23 appearances thereafter, with Klopp at the helm.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano is among the journalists who have confirmed Liverpool are expecting to sell the £140k-per-week Nunez this summer after a deal to join Al-Nassr in January fell through.

Klopp shipped Benteke out after his first stretch as the Anfield chief and now Slot is going to repeat the trick. Sadio Mane effectively replaced the hulking striker in 2016, albeit in a different position, and then Mohamed Salah followed one year later.

Selling Benteke was essential to the purchase of Southampton’s winger, however, and freeing room and resources with Nunez’s departure falls into the same boat, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.

Neither Benteke nor Nunez have played their part at Liverpool uselessly, but it’s clear that in both cases an upgrade could be scored, and given the competitive nature of the Premier League and Slot’s triumph this term, it’s important that FSG don’t rest on their laurels.

Slot, like Klopp, comes across really well but serves his role with a solemn undertow of ruthlessness that will serve Liverpool well as a whole but leave the likes of Nunez forced to find a new employer.

Just as with Benteke, way back when.

Imagine him & Van Dijk: Liverpool lead race for 'world's most in demand CB'

Liverpool are looking to sign one of football’s biggest talents this summer to partner Virgil van Dijk

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 17, 2025

With Everton now mathematically safe from relegation under David Moyes, you would be forgiven from a Toffees perspective to start peaking at the upcoming transfer window, away from merely focusing on May’s upcoming Premier League action.

A new era at Bramley Moore to come could see the Merseysiders enter into a promising, fresh period, with some deadwood allowed to leave in the form of Michael Keane and other out-of-contract personnel, away from just adding in new signings.

One target reportedly on Everton’s agenda was former striker hero Richarlison, but the dramatic move has now been rubbished by the Scotsman in the Goodison Park dugout.

Still, if rumours are to be believed elsewhere that Beto could be on the move, a switch for the Brazilian might well come back up down the line.

Everton's reported interest in Richarlison

Whilst Moyes was dismissive of the potential of a reunion deal, he was still complimentary of the “really good” attacker, meaning the door hasn’t been fully shut.

The South American menace would fire home an impressive 53 strikes for the Toffees from 152 total appearances, before his career fell to the wayside somewhat when moving onto Tottenham Hotspur.

Therefore, with Everton perhaps waving goodbye to striker stalwart Dominic Calvert-Lewin too, a move to bring back such a former potent ace isn’t the wildest suggestion.

But, the Richarlison that terrorised defences at Anfield once upon a time isn’t quite where the Brazilian is right now, with Everton undoubtedly winning when it comes to the £60m deal to offload the 28-year-old, considering he has just a paltry 20 goals for Spurs from 80 often injury-plagued contests.

Consequently – according to Football Transfers – the Spurs number nine’s value now sits at a far lower £22.5m. Amazingly, one top performer back at Goodison Park is now worth more than Richarlison’s updated price-tag, proving his initial £20m valuation to be worthwhile.

The "magic" Everton star now worth more than Richarlison

Everton don’t quite have a red-hot centre-forward like Richarlison currently at their disposal who is hogging the limelight, with the Toffees two top scorers in league action this season that of Iliman N’Diaye and Beto, with the pair on seven and eight goals respectively.

Dwight McNeil does follow just behind on four strikes to play his part, but the ex-Burnley winger’s continued excellence on Merseyside for many a season now has seen his transfer value sensationally soar above Richarlison’s.

After all, the previous weekend in the Premier League saw McNeil return back to the Everton starting XI with a bang, with this sumptuous long-range effort helping his side clinch a 2-2 draw versus Ipswich Town.

But, what usually gets the Everton masses out of their seats is the “magic” – as he was once lauded by football journalist Joe Thomas – forward’s ability to set up a teammate with a golden opportunity, seen in his seven league assists this campaign so far which bumps up his assist count overall to a sizeable 17 from just over a century of appearances.

Matches played

101

Goals scored

15

Assists

17

Value when joining

£20m

Value now

£22.8m

Price increase

£2.8m

He has been held back this season by injury problems, but that hasn’t stopped his price tag from soaring up to £22.8m regardless, representing a £2.8m increase from when he first entered the building back in 2022.

Whilst McNeil is more of a winger option than his South American counterpart, he could be a better attacking option for the Toffees right now than Richarlison, considering the Spurs flop has just four goals in league action this season, like McNeil, despite being a primary centre-forward.

Moreover, any move for their former number seven would feel redundant if Beto does stay put, with the Portuguese attacker on eight for the campaign himself.

McNeil will just hope next season can be an injury-free one on his end away from any new faces entering, meaning he could become an even more influential figure for the Toffees in their brand new stadium.

He's perfect for Delap: Everton open talks to sign "unbelievable" star

Everton have wasted no time in moving for summer targets, already putting in the work to land one star.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 8, 2025

Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is now targeting a marquee Premier League forward for Mikel Arteta, as his talks for Real Madrid star Rodrygo hit a snag.

Arsenal open talks for Rodrygo in chase for quality new winger

Last week, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg broke news that Arsenal had opened talks over a move for Rodrygo, with Berta in hot pursuit of a quality new winger who can provide them with even more goals and assists.

Club tell "popular" young forward they want to ship him back to Arsenal

A return to north London for him now beckons.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025

Rodrygo shot to the “very top” of Berta’s list of transfer targets in that regard, but it is still seen as a pretty difficult deal to pull off for a multitude of reasons.

The 24-year-old, who’s bagged 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions over 50 total appearances this season, is also on around £202,000-per-week at Real. This would make Rodrygo one of Arsenal’s highest-paid players on a wage bill which is already pretty significant, with the Gunners’ annual payroll already totalling around £170 million.

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

If you also factor in his £68 million rumoured price tag, a move for Rodrygo suddenly becomes a costly operation, and Arsenal need to set aside their summer funds carefully as they also target a prolific striker.

Taking all of this into account, it’s actually little surprise that negotiations are now stumbling, as reported by Plettenberg this week.

Arsenal eye Kaoru Mitoma as Rodrygo talks stall

Writing via X, the Sky journalist claims that Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma has now been identified as an alternative to the Real winger, with a move for Rodrygo proving complex as talks stall.

As Arsenal become faced with the very real possibility of having to give up on their “dream signing”, as per Plettenberg, Mitoma could prove to be a tempting option in place of Rodrygo.

The Japan star has scored 11 goals and bagged a further four assists in total throughout 24/25, enjoying yet another productive season at the Amex, but he won’t exactly be much cheaper than Rodrygo.

Reports suggest Mitoma could cost as much as £80 million to prise away from the south coast, with Brighton known to be stern negotiators when it comes to selling their star players.

The 27-year-old won’t be a signing for the ultra-long-term either as he fast approaches his prime, so this is a move which Berta will need to consider very carefully.

The closest Tottenham Hotspur have come to winning the Premier League in generations was under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine’s best team may have ended up being less successful than Ange Postecoglou’s current side – trophy-wise, anyway – but it was stacked with some outrageously talented players.

The likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and a young Son Heung-min will always get the plaudits from those outside of the fanbase, and understandably so, but the Lilywhites faithful know full well that Mousa Dembélé was just as important to that side.

The Belgian was an utterly superb central midfielder, so supporters should be excited about recent reports linking the team to a youngster who has shades of the retired monster about him.

Spurs midfield targets

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other central midfielders who have been touted for moves to Spurs in recent weeks, like Quinten Timber and Angel Gomes.

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 is the brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber, the captain of Feyenoord, reportedly worth £25m and could be an ideal addition to the squad, as he’s capable of playing in attacking, central and defensive midfield.

Likewise, Gomes could be a sensational signing as, thanks to his contract with LOSC Lille expiring this month, he’ll be available for nothing, and at just 24 years old, he already has experience of national team football, the Champions League and top-flight football in both Portugal, France and England.

Yet, neither one of these internationals could really be described as having shades of Dembélé to them, unlike Adam Wharton.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Crystal Palace star is now a serious target for the North Londoners.

The report has revealed that the club are ‘prioritizing a central midfield’ signing this season, and the young Englishman ‘figures highly on their shortlist.’

However, it won’t be an easy deal to get done, as the Eagles are after upwards of £60m for the midfield maestro, but even then, with his ability and potential, that may be a fee worth paying for Spurs, especially as he could emulate parts of Dembélé’s game.

How Wharton compares to Dembélé

So, before the pitchforks and torches come out, it’s important to state that we are not saying that Wharton is currently as good a player as Dembélé was during his pomp at Spurs, as that would just be silly.

However, given the fact that he’s still just 21 years old and will be until midway through next season, it’s not that out there to suggest he could reach that level in time, especially as there are some similarities between the pair.

The first, and perhaps most significant, is the fact that the Palace gem very rarely loses the ball.

In fact, according to FBref, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by members of the media, sits in the bottom 40% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for the frequency he is dispossessed, coming in at just 0.89 times per 90, or, in other words, less than once a game.

A great example of this was in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, as, on top of winning duels, making tackles and playing a number of excellent passes, he was also able to hold onto the ball brilliantly despite the immense amount of pressure Pep Guardiola’s side tried to exert on him.

This ability to keep the ball was one of the Belgian’s most impressive, and it seems like the young Englishman has it in spades.

Then there are the more surface-level comparisons, such as both players coming from a London club – Fulham in Dembélé’s case – and the fact that they could and can play in either central or defensive midfield.

Appearances

51

43

Minutes

3571′

3011′

Goals

4

0

Assists

5

5

Ultimately, while it’s a lot of money, Spurs should do what they can to sign Wharton this summer, as he looks like he has the raw abilities and ceiling to become the club’s next Dembélé.

Eriksen 2.0: Spurs looking to sign "extraordinary" £25m Sarr upgrade

The young leader could be just what Spurs are after.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

Sunderland are in the mix to complete the signing of one of Europe’s most sought-after young players, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Sunderland to use Bellingham money for new signings

The Black Cats have been dealt the rather predictable blow of losing Jobe Bellingham this summer, with the teenager off to Borussia Dortmund, copying the career path of his brother, Jude Bellingham.

While not having the midfielder in their ranks in the Premier League next season is a big blow, Sunderland will at least receive around £30m+ for him, which can be spent on new signings who can aid Regis Le Bris’ side’s battling to avoid a speedy return to the Championship.

Manchester City youngster Charlie Gray has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Bellingham ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the 19-year-old struggling with opportunities at the Etihad. He is predominantly a defensive midfielder, but he can take up more attacking roles, too.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham has been linked with a return to the Stadium of Light this summer, with the 27-year-old now an experienced head who should still remain at his peak for the foreseeable future.

Sunderland battling Newcastle for young star

According to On The Minute, Sunderland have joined the race to sign Djurgarden defender Keita Kosugi in the summer window, with rivals Newcastle also among those in the mix to snap him up for around £8m.

The report says that the 19-year-old is considered “one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe”, highlighting his potential, and the Black Cats are trying to snap him up, along with Nottingham Forest, Celtic, Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta.

Kosugi may not yet be known to British football fans, but his long-term potential makes him such an exciting option for Sunderland, who need to find the right blend of youth and experience when the new Premier League campaign gets underway in August.

The teenage left-back won 10 caps for Japan’s Under-17s during his younger days, and he has already made 45 appearances for Djurgarden, scoring five goals and registering two assists in that time. Meanwhile, video scout Elijah Michiels has described him as “excellent”.

Kosugi can come in and provide competition for Dennis Cirkin at left-back straight away, starting off as a squad player who hopefully matures into a key man as time passes.

He is already more experienced than his age arguably suggests, coming up against Chelsea in the semi-finals of UEFA Europa Conference League, and if he reaches his possible ceiling, Sunderland could have an absolute gem of a signing on their hands.

Sunderland plot swoop to sign Man City gem who may replace Bellingham

The Black Cats are planning for the worst.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 9, 2025

Le Bris has shown faith in youth already, from Bellingham to Chris Rigg, and if he believes Kosugi is good enough to feature regularly from the off, he should be trusted.

All Leeds United fans will be crossing their fingers now that the Whites can maintain a Premier League position for the foreseeable.

Daniel Farke’s side do jump back up the unforgiving league dripping with confidence, having just lifted the Championship title with a colossal 100 points, but the West Yorkshire outfit will be very aware of how challenging the step up can be.

The Whites unfortunately tasted the bitterness of relegation at the close of their dire 2022-23 season, with another relegation also on their record way back in 2004 when Mark Viduka was still leading the line.

To avoid a hat-trick of slip-ups, Leeds will now be in the market for a whole host of players to enhance their options in the Premier League, with this defensive target one body who could really boost Farke’s side.

Leeds now ready to sign £1.2m defender

As per a report in the Express journalist Charlie Gordon, Leeds are readying a move for Millwall star Japhet Tanganga with his transfer valuation all the way down at a meagre £1.2m.

This is the case as Tanganga has a release clause around this slim amount for all Premier League clubs, which has alerted Farke’s men back to his services, who would be more than happy to fork out this reasonable fee. However, they are not alone in their advances.

As is revealed above, Crystal Palace view the ex-Tottenham Hotspur defender as a cost-effective possible replacement for Marc Guehi, with both Sunderland and Burnley also keen on Tanganga’s services after their own jubilant promotion stories.

If Leeds were to win the services of the cheap 26-year-old, they could be about to land their next Ethan Ampadu, with Ampadu now viewed as a successful bargain in his own right after repairing his career in the EFL.

How Tanganga could be Ampadu 2.0

Ampadu would join the Elland Road ranks for around the £7m mark in the summer of 2023, having failed to ever make an impression at Chelsea.

The Welshman won’t be plagued with any lingering disappointment in the here and now as to how his Stamford Bridge tale ended, however, with the 24-year-old going on to be a key part of Farke’s camp. Last season saw Ampadu notch up a formidable 16 clean sheets from 29 league appearances, on top of looking ice-cold with the ball at his feet with a 90% pass accuracy averaged per clash.

Tanganga will hope he can be as pivotal to Leeds’ defence if he relocates from the Den to West Yorkshire shortly, with the 6-foot defender also having to get over the dismay of walking away from Spurs, much like Ampadu at Chelsea, to be the imposing option at the back he is today.

He will already be known to Leeds fans for this poked finish he managed against Farke’s champions last season, but away from silencing the Whites masses in this instance, he could soon be cheered in the same manner as Ampadu for his similarly classy yet dominant performances.

Games played

40

Goals scored

2

Assists

0

Touches*

49

Accurate passes*

26 (78%)

Tackles*

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.8

Clearances*

5.4

Total duels won*

5.8

Clean sheets

14

As can be seen glancing at the table above, the Hackney-born target operates in a very similar vein to Ampadu, with Tanganga an equally capable performer on the ball when looking at his passing statistics, on top of his ability to rise valiantly into duels with 5.8 won on average. To add context, his Welsh counterpart won less at 5.1 on average, even as promotion was sealed.

The former Spurs youth product was even hailed as ‘magnificent’ by Premier League icon Alan Shearer when starring for the North London titans previously, with Tanganga actually already boasting 27 top-flight appearances on his career resume.

Pundit Carlton Palmer also claimed that the defender is “capable of playing in the Premier League” because of his “tremendous recovery pace”.

He could well be a perfect fit in West Yorkshire, therefore, as Farke’s men continue to hunt down Premier League-ready talents.

Better than Bijol: Leeds targeting "best CB outside the top five leagues"

Leeds United can forget about Jaka Bijol with a move for another star defender.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 14, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is very keen to land one of his transfer targets before July 23, with a report this week sharing exactly why and lifting the lid on their plans to submit a new bid for the player.

He's more exciting than Zubimendi: Arsenal looking to sign £70m "superstar"

Arsenal could make an even more exciting signing than Martin Zubimendi.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2025

The Gunners will confirm their first signing of the summer very soon.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi travelled to London last week as he finalised a switch to Arsenal and put the finishing touches on his contract, while fellow Spaniard and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is also poised to join Arteta after being deemed surplus by Chelsea.

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

Both men are set to be followed by a striker too, but debate still surrounds who that might be.

Arsenal have been working on deals for both RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, as per numerous reports, including the BBC, but there is a growing belief among some media outlets that the latter is currently in pole position to join Arteta’s side.

“Sporting are going to play hardball, there’s been a fallout between Gyokeres and the club because his agent has suggested that they had a gentleman’s agreement he could leave for £60million, I think they’re looking for nearer £80m,” said talkSPORT’s Alex Crook last week.

“Arsenal are juggling both him and Benjamin Sesko, they’ve opened talks with Leipzig as well but at the moment, I would say Gyokeres looks the more likely.”

Reports in Portugal have claimed that Arsenal saw a £55 million bid rejected for Gyokeres turned down recently. However, they’re expected to go back in with another offer closer to Sporting’s valuation.

Arsenal prepare new Viktor Gyokeres bid as Mikel Arteta pushes

As per another Portuguese source, the newspaper Correio de Manha, Arsenal are “prepared to make another offer” for Gyokeres, with Arteta pushing to sign the prolific 27-year-old in time for their pre-season tour of Asia – which kicks off in Singapore against AC Milan on July 23.

So, in short, if Arsenal decide to go all in for the Sweden international over Sesko, Arteta is keen for Gyokeres to be signed within the next month, and it isn’t exactly hard to see why Coventry City’s ex-star is high on the Gunners’ transfer shortlist.

He spearheaded Rui Borges’ side to their first domestic double in two decades with an outstanding 54 goals in all competitions last season, but they face stiff competition from Man United.

Gyokeres would prefer Arsenal ahead of a move to Old Trafford, as confirmed by the likes of Fabrizio Romano, but he still hasn’t completely snubbed United either.

“Gyökeres would be open to Manchester United. There has been no formal rejection, but a deal to date has also never been at an advanced stage, despite suggestions,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on X in the last 10 days.

“United have not made any formal approach to Sporting. Swedish striker one of several striker options discussed for #MUFC. Gyökeres believes he’ll still be allowed to leave Sporting for €70m.”