All posts by z3u9t.icu

The last couple of years have seen Tottenham Hotspur start to spend some serious cash to aid their pursuit of being competitive in the Premier League and Europe.

Such spending has already seen success being brought to North London, with Ange Postecoglou the beneficiary last campaign – subsequently leading the club to Europa League glory.

However, Thomas Frank will be the next boss to try and take the Lilywhites to the next level after taking the reins in the summer following the Aussie’s dismissal.

The Dane was handed an immediate £110m to make the changes he desired to the first-team to enable him to take the club to the next level under his guidance.

Despite the spending, throwing money left, right and centre doesn’t equal success, with numerous of the club’s former additions failing to live up to the hype they arrived with.

Ranking Spurs’ worst signings in the last five years

As part of the Spurs hierarchy’s big-spending in recent years, they broke their transfer record last summer, after forking out a staggering £65m for the signature of striker Dominic Solanke.

Such a move generated huge excitement, as the Englishman was seen as the replacement for Harry Kane after his own move to Bayern Munich 12 months prior.

However, the deal now appears to be somewhat of a waste, with the 28-year-old massively struggling with injuries – subsequently only featuring for 31 minutes of league action this campaign.

Sergio Reguilon is another player who cost a pretty penny in recent years, with the board paying £30m for his signature to prise him away from Real Madrid in the summer of 2020.

The left-back was seen as a long-term solution to the woes in such an area, but the move was a disaster, with the Spaniard only featuring a total of 73 times over his five years at the club.

He was released during the summer transfer just gone, further highlighting how disappointing his spell in the Premier League was – which firmly places him as one of the Lilywhites’ worst additions.

However, Brazilian striker Richarlison is arguably one of their worst signings in recent years, especially considering he was bought for an eye-watering £60m.

He’s been Frank’s starting number nine this season, but he’s failed to reflect the faith shown in him – subsequently scoring just once in the last 12 outings.

The biggest sign of his failure is his goalscoring tally, with the 28-year-old netting just 23 goals for the Lilywhites – a tally five times lower than that of former fan-favourite Kane.

The Spurs talent who can end Richarlison’s time in North London

As previously mentioned, Richarlison has massively struggled with the expectations placed upon him by the Spurs fanbase after his transfer to the club back in 2022.

His recent outings for the Lilywhites highlight his lack of positive impact within the final third, with his struggles going way beyond his lack of goals at present.

The former Everton man has only achieved a total of 58 touches of the ball in the last five outings across all competitions – with former striker Kane achieving a tally of 69 alone in his last Bundesliga outing.

Richarlison will certainly be on borrowed time in North London over the next couple of months, especially when Solanke inevitably returns from his recent injury setback.

However, the pair could have added competition for places from January onwards, as teenage striker Mason Melia joins the club from Irish outfit St Patrick’s Athletic.

The 18-year-old agreed to join the Lilywhites back in February, but has to wait another couple of months to link up with Frank’s men, given the rules around U18 additions.

His £1.6m transfer, a record for a player from the Irish top division, could well prove to be a bargain if he continues his impressive development during his time in North London.

Melia made his debut for his boyhood club back in 2023 at the age of just 16 and has since cemented his place within the first-team ranks – subsequently amassing a total of 93 appearances.

He’s also racked up a total of 22 goals within that period, a record that has led to one youth analyst labelling the Irish teenager as “a star in the making”.

Padraig Amond (37)

13

Mason Melia (18)

12

Michael Duffy (31)

11

Owen Elding (19)

10

Moses Dyer (28)

10

Tom Lonergan (21)

9

Liam Boyce (34)

8

Rory Gaffney (35)

8

Ademipo Odubeko (22)

8

This season has been the youngster’s best to date, scoring 12 times and registering three assists in his 33 appearances – with the former of the two stats putting him second in the goalscoring charts.

There’s no disputing the staff at Spurs will have to manage his progress in the years ahead, whilst Frank has to manage his minutes to help aid the progress he’s made in his homeland.

However, one thing that is certain is that Melia is a star who possesses a huge heap of potential and could play a vital role in the Lilywhites’ chance of success in the future.

His arrival could spell the end for Richarlison in North London, which could see the hierarchy cash in on his services and hand Melia the first-team action he needs to continue his development.

Spurs star was as big a problem as Richarlison, now he looks undroppable

Tottenham Hotspur have found a new top-level talent despite drawing 0-0 with Monaco in the Champions League.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2025

Newcastle United are in the race to hijack Bayern Munich’s transfer for a £22.5m attacker in the final days of the transfer window.

Newcastle working to sign forwards with Isak still on strike

Following a Premier League defeat to Liverpool, Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak remains on strike as he looks to push through a move to Anfield.

Despite the intervention of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Isak still wants to sign for the Reds, with Newcastle holding out for £150m after rejecting an opening offer worth £110m.

A PIF delegation, along with co-owner Jamie Reuben, met Isak at his home on Monday before the 3-2 loss to Liverpool, however, there wasn’t much progress in regards to getting the forward back involved with the first-team squad.

PIF and those behind the scenes at St James’ Park now need to bring in attackers of their own before agreeing to sell Isak in a record deal, with Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen a top target for the Magpies.

Newcastle have now had two offers turned down for the Norwegian, and elsewhere Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has also been heavily linked with a transfer.

Strand Larsen and Wissa aren’t the only two Premier League targets for Newcastle, though, in what promises to be a chaotic end to the transfer window on Tyneside.

Newcastle in race for Bayern target Nicolas Jackson

Newcastle are in the race to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea despite a loan bid having been received for the striker from Bayern Munich, according to the PA news agency.

The 24-year-old, who cost the Blues £22.5m from Villarreal, has been told he can leave Stamford Bridge before Monday. The Blues favour a permanent transfer ahead of next week’s deadline, but the only bid so far has come from the Bundesliga champions for a season-long arrangement.

Newcastle want a resolution to Isak’s future before moving for Jackson, who does not have a future at Chelsea following the arrivals of strikers Joao Pedro from Brighton and Liam Delap from Ipswich.

Chelsea need to offload Jackson and Christopher Nkunku in order to move forward with moves for RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons – who favours a move to west London – and Manchester United’s unwanted winger Alejandro Garnacho.

New Guimaraes: PIF exploring late bid to sign £42m "monster" for Newcastle

Newcastle are prioritising a new striker, but are still considering a move for a centre-midfielder.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 27, 2025

Jackson has been the Blues’ main striker for the last two seasons but endured an almost five-month goal drought in the league between December and May last season. However, he has scored two goals against the Magpies in the past, both in Premier League wins for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

With attackers desperately needed at St James’ Park before Monday, Jackson looks like one to watch for Newcastle.

Fulham are now looking to sign a “dangerous” Premier League forward, who is keen on a move to Craven Cottage this summer, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Cottagers keen on new forward amid Atalanta's Muniz pursuit

Last week, it was revealed that Rodrigo Muniz has emerged as a major target for Atalanta, with Fabrizio Romano stating the Italian club are now confident they will be able to get a deal over the line.

However, a more recent update suggests that Atalanta are prepared to walk away from a deal if the Cottagers don’t lower their £50m asking price, with the Serie A side delivering a 48-hour ultimatum.

As such, it remains to be seen whether the 24-year-old exits Craven Cottage this summer, but the west Londoners are pressing ahead with deals for new attackers regardless, and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Kevin is among the potential targets.

However, the Donetsk star is not the only winger on the shortlist, with a report from Sky Sports revealing Fulham are still looking to sign Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, who spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Craven Cottage.

Nelson missed the last six months of the season due to a seriously hamstring issue, but crucially, he is keen on a return to west London this summer, and a number of options are on the table.

A loan deal with an obligation to buy is highlighted as one possibility, although the forward’s wage demands could be reasonably high, given that he is known to pocket a whopping £100k-a-week at the Emirates Stadium.

"Dangerous" Nelson needs to leave Arsenal this summer

The 25-year-old unquestionably needs to leave the Gunners this summer, considering he was shipped out on loan last season, and is now likely to be even further down the pecking order following the recent arrival of Noni Madueke.

There are also some signs the London-born winger could be an exciting addition to Marco Silva’s squad, with scout Ben Mattinson once saying: “Nelson as always has looked so dangerous. You can’t give him space because he’s always decisive creating chances for himself or others.”

Fulham now open talks to sign "outstanding" £20m forward with 123 PL goals

The Cottagers are in negotiations over a deal for an attacker.

1 ByDominic Lund Aug 6, 2025

That said, even prior to the winger sustaining a hamstring injury, he didn’t exactly make a major impact for the Cottagers last season, chipping in with just two goal contributions in 11 Premier League outings.

As such, a move for an alternative target could be a good idea, and Fulham have a number of options on the shortlist, including Kevin, who amassed ten league goal contributions last season, and experienced Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling.

Newcastle United supporters are waiting to see who could replace Alexander Isak at St James’ Park. Still, Eddie Howe is also interested in filling the void left by Callum Wilson’s departure and may now be making progress on that front.

Newcastle United consult several striking options amid Isak uncertainty

Alexander Isak continues to push for a move to Liverpool, leaving Howe searching for a replacement figure to replicate his excellent goalscoring exploits should the Sweden international depart the North East this summer.

Joining the striker merry-go-round, Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson is wanted by Newcastle after news that the Magpies have missed out on RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United despite their best efforts.

His peculiar red card offence at St James’ Park would signal a suspension period upon joining. Still, AC Milan could offer the Senegal international another high-profile alternative destination to Stamford Bridge.

Per David Ornstein, the Magpies could move for Porto’s Samu Aghehowa and he is high up on the list of potential candidates to take on their striking vacancy.

Brentford’s Yoann Wissa is another prolific forward being targeted by Newcastle, and reports suggest £35 million could be enough to seal a deal, albeit the Bees may opt to play hardball before offloading their star man to a Premier League rival.

Surprisingly, the DR Congo international could be paired with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who may be less at the forefront in the West Midlands following Evann Guessand’s transfer to Unai Emery’s men.

Newcastle open talks to sign "fantastic" midfielder who's keen on SJP move

Eddie Howe has already approved…

3 ByTom Cunningham Aug 7, 2025

There are plenty of spinning plates in the window and stories constantly breaking as the days draw closer to the end of market activity, offering encouragement to the Magpies that plenty of time is still there to recruit key targets.

While Isak’s future is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, Howe may be about to take a step closer in the hunt for a Wilson replacement.

Newcastle eyeing surprise move for Michail Antonio

According to Dave OCKOP, Newcastle are plotting a move to sign striker Michail Antonio after he left West Ham United upon the expiration of his contract, making it a one-in-one-out on the free agent transfers.

The Jamaica international was involved in a car crash late last year and has since fully recovered from the incident. However, the Hammers weren’t able to tie him down despite the offer of a new deal at the London Stadium, creating a scenario where he could head to the North East.

Labelled “brilliant” by Jake Humphrey, Antonio registered 83 goals and 42 assists in 323 appearances for West Ham across all competitions, with 68 of his strikes coming in the Premier League.

Now set for a new challenge, the 35-year-old could be a financially advantageous short-term option to bolster Newcastle’s forward line, though it may be counterproductive to bring in someone at the twilight stage of their career at the expense of William Osula.

It’s hardly been a summer transfer window to write home about for West Ham United supporters so far.

The main talking point still hanging in the air is the disappointing £55m sale of Mohammed Kudus to arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, with the recent free transfer purchase of Kyle Walker-Peters from Southampton at least offering a slight ray of positivity amidst a gloomy window to date.

There will surely be a desire on the part of Graham Potter to push on with more signings, as the list of strikers being linked with a move to the London Stadium increases.

West Ham considering move for £26m forward

Indeed, it does appear as if the Irons are hunting down reinforcements up top.

Transfer Focus

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

One target in this department is FC Metz hotshot Idrissa Gueye, who is a far cry from the other name constantly circling in Callum Wilson – a player who has reportedly even agreed personal terms with the Hammers.

The 18-year-old hotshot is an up-and-coming talent in France, contrasted with the ageing 33-year-old now searching for a fresh club as a declining free agent.

West Ham might well meet in the middle, instead, with another centre-forward target in the form of Cagliari star Roberto Piccoli, with Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari taking to X recently to reveal that the Hammers are considering a move for the €30m (£26m) attacker.

He might well be a better option to go after than settling for the ex-AFC Bournemouth veteran, with Piccoli just fresh off a goal-laden season in Serie A, whilst Wilson faded into the background on Tyneside.

How Piccoli compares to Wilson

Wilson hadn’t always found himself stuck on the periphery at St James’ Park, however.

At one point in time, the Coventry-born marksman was Newcastle’s leading man – before Alexander Isak stormed onto the scene – with a hefty 35 of his Premier League collection of 88 strikes coming for the Toon.

Unfortunately for Wilson, only nine of those efforts have fallen across his last two seasons, and whilst the 33-year-old’s game has noticeably waned for Eddie Howe’s Magpies, Piccoli was coming into his own for his employers in Italy.

Last campaign, the Cagliari number 91 would play a key role in his lowly Serie A side beating the drop, with ten goals being powered home from 37 games.

Games played

37

Goals scored

10

Assists

1

Shots*

2.6

Big chances missed

26

Total duels won*

5.2

In a Hammers environment where he has the likes of Jarrod Bowen to bounce off, he could well live up to his “prolific” billing even more, as he was once labelled by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Of course, Piccoli isn’t the finished article – as seen in his glaring 26 big chances missed last season in Serie A action – but his aggressiveness to throw himself into duels, which saw him 5.2 duels on average across that same span, should stand him in good stead for the challenges ahead, away from just being viewed as a promising, centre-forward figure with room to grow and develop.

On the flip side, Wilson has been deep in the twilight of his playing days for some time now.

Worryingly, Jamie Carragher way back in 2023 had highlighted that the Premier League regular had just “not been the same” amid concerns about his sluggish displays for the Magpies. Wilson himself has even been critical of his drop-off in form, too, having noted the 2024/25 season as being “one of my worst.”

That has now culminated in him drawing consistent blanks, with West Ham far better placed to go after the services of Piccoli, over hoping that the 33-year-old reaches his peak again.

Perfect Paqueta replacement: West Ham target move for "exquisite" £34m star

With Lucas Paquetá likely to leave West Ham United this summer, the Irons are interested in sign an “exquisite” talent who once cost as much as £32m.

Jul 30, 2025

One cannot often learn much from pre-season results, but Everton’s need for reinforcements has certainly been crystallised.

On Saturday, the Toffees were demolished 3-0 by Bournemouth at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, outplayed and outclassed throughout.

Before travelling to the US, the Blues had also lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers and been held to a 1-1 draw by Accrington Stanley, which isn’t really generating excitement ahead of the grand opening of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Speaking to the Men in Blazers Podcast, manager David Moyes asserted that he needs “nine or ten” new players before the season begins, so are Everton about to secure the signature of a “magnificent prospect”?

Everton's search for attacking quality

So far this summer, there’s been a bit of a clear-out at Everton.

Goodison stalwarts Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré are the most high-profile players to have departed, but Ashley Young, Mason Holgate, Asmir Begović, and João Virgínia have all also been released.

In their place, Mark Travers will be the new back-up goalkeeper, while centre-forward Thierno Barry has arrived from Villarreal for £27m, and is the service the 6 foot 5 in (196cm) striker will receive about to exponentially increase in quality?

Well, according to a report by Patrick Boyland and Matt Woosnam of the Athletic, Everton are “in talks” with Lyon as they seek to sign winger Malick Fofana.

Despite having been spared relegation to Ligue 2 following an appeal, Olympique Lyonnais are still in a huge amount of debt, so are currently in the midst of a fire sale; Rayan Cherki, Lucas Perri, Alexandre Lacazette and Thiago Almada are amongst those who’ve departed already.

With that in mind, Alan Myers claims that les Gones value Fofana, who has three years remaining on his contract, at around £43m including add-ons, amid talk that there is “strong interest” from the Toffees in the player.

So, could the 20-year-old soon swap Décines-Charpieu for Merseyside?

How Malick Fofana will improve Everton

Fofana began his career at Gent, scoring just five goals in 64 senior appearances for the Buffalos, but doing enough to capture the attention of Lyon, who signed him for around £15m as recently as January 2024.

Since making the move to France, his career has really taken off, bagging 15 goals and seven assists for les Gones, earning widespread praise.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “magnificent winger prospect”, while Astorre S. Cerebróne of Breaking the Lines believes he has ‘huge potential’, impressed by his ‘technical qualities’ and ‘directness’.

Elsewhere, Fintan O’Reilly of Total Football Analysis agrees, highlighting his ‘strong attacking contributions’, concluding that, given Lyon’s financial turmoil, he would represent a massive bargain in the transfer market.

In terms of Everton, Iliman Ndiaye was their top-scorer last season with nine goals, while Beto was the only other player to bag more than four.

Like Fofana, the Senegalese international arrived from Ligue 1 just 12 months ago, joining from Olympique de Marseille for a reported fee of £16.9m.

If Fofana is equally as productive and impactful as Ndiaye, Evertonians would almost certainly be satisfied, so let’s assess how the two wide players compare to one another.

Appearances

41

46

Minutes

2,280

2,476

Goals

11

4

Assists

6

5

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

1.5

1.6

Shots on target

1.3

0.6

Shots on target %

84.09%

37.98%

Chances created

1.5

0.8

Take-on success %

42.28%

57.94%

% of touches in the box

14%

10%

Average Sofascore rating

7.24

6.82

As the table outlines, in Ligue 1 and the Europa League, Fofana comes out on top for pretty much every metric included; Ndiaye boasted better figures in terms of shots per 90 as well as successful take-ons.

Nevertheless, Fofana’s numbers in terms of shots on target ratio, chances created and pure goals and assists are very eye-catching, underlining that his signing would represent a massive coup for Everton, one that they badly need with the start of the season fast approaching.

Better signing than McGinn: Everton hold advantage in race for £34m “engine”

Everton targeting a former Premier League star in statement of intent

1 ByWill Miller Jul 25, 2025

Looking to deal Crystal Palace a major blow, AC Milan are now reportedly taking initial steps towards signing a Selhurst Park star this summer.

Crystal Palace could still lose Eze

Whilst they have at least managed to sign Walter Benitez and Borna Sosa, it’s fair to say that Crystal Palace have endured a frustrating summer so far. And things could yet get worse for those in South London. Rumours are continuing to arrive regarding Eberechi Eze’s future and reports suggest that both Chelsea and Arsenal have set their sights on the talented attacker.

His exit wouldn’t be the only bad news that Palace have received this summer, either. The Eagles were recently dealt a harsh blow when UEFA confirmed their relegation from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League after John Textor’s involvement with Lyon and Palace broke multi-club ownership rules.

Steve Parish has since had his say on the matter, confirming that Palace will be appealing UEFA’s decision: “We are still fighting. There’s an appeal process, so we go to CAS which is the court for arbitration and, you know, we’re very hopeful. We think we’ve got great legal arguments.

“We don’t think this is the right decision by any means. We know unequivocally that John didn’t have decisive influence over the club. We know we proved that beyond all reasonable doubt, because it’s a fact.”

Crystal Palace eyeing move to sign "talented" £26m ace who may replace Eze

The Eagles are already preparing for the worst.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 16, 2025

Whether UEFA’s decision will play a part in players’ immediate futures remains to be seen, but it looks as though AC Milan are willing to put that theory to the test this summer.

AC Milan make first moves in Mateta race

Whilst there will be plenty of concern about Eze’s future, another one of Oliver Glasner’s key players could yet be heading for the exit door. According to L’Equipe, AC Milan are now making initial moves to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is open to completing a summer switch to the Italian giants.

As things stand, however, the Frenchman’s valuation remains a major obstacle and potential saving grace for Crystal Palace. The Italians have reportedly been put off by Crystal Palace’s asking price, which stands at over €30m (£26m).

Alas, the Eagles’ demand should not be a surprise to Milan or any other interested parties. The £50,000-a-week forward enjoyed another excellent campaign last time out – scoring 17 goals in all competitions – and earned high praise from Glasner.

The Crystal Palace manager told reporters: “We don’t always talk because he knows what we demand of him. With his two goals today, he is amazing in the box.

“He has the feeling that a number nine must have in the box. He makes so many runs where he doesn’t get the ball. You need to suffer as a striker because you make so many runs where you don’t get the ball. He gets the reward and it decides the game for us.”

The transfer window is really heating up at Rangers.

On Wednesday, the Light Blues signed not one but two new players, with Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez both arriving, the latter for a reported fee of £3.5m.

So, with the start of Champions League qualifying now less than three weeks away, Russell Martin’s mass overhaul of the squad he has inherited continues, with more new signings seemingly set to follow soon.

Rangers looking to bolster their back line

This Rangers squad requires a lot of surgery this summer, and this is no more so the case than in defence.

Transfer Focus

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

Leon Balogun has departed, joining Aris Limassol on a free transfer, while Robin Pröpper appears set to return to FC Twente too.

Meanwhile, Max Aarons has arrived on loan from Bournemouth, with Fernandez now signing too, but Martin is certainly still seeking to improve his defensive options.

Well, as reported by Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Rangers are “in talks” with Wolverhampton Wanderers as they aim to sign Nasser Djiga on a season-long loan.

This would be a straight loan, with no option or obligation to buy, for the Burkina Faso international, who only joined Wolves from Crvena zvezda for a reported fee of £10m as recently as February.

The 22 year old made just six appearances in old gold following his arrival, his sole Premier League start coming at Crystal Palace in May, when Vítor Pereira made wholesale changes, with David Irvine of the Glasgow Times noting that Wolves are keen on this loan move to Ibrox so that he can ‘gain experience’ of British football.

Thus, could Djiga be a transformational addition for Rangers?

How Nasser Djiga will improve Rangers

The young defender is certainly highly-rated, described by Serbian Football Scout as a “duel monster” who reads the game well, but is also capable of a “last-ditch tackle” when required.

Nasser Djiga

Meantime, writer Kai Watson believes he is the “ideal” centre-back for Martin’s possession-oriented style, labelling him a “strong passer” who possesses a “good understanding” of defensive play.

Before moving to Wolves, he caught the eye representing Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, helping them dump out Bodø/Glimt in the play-off round, before also enjoying league phase victories over Stuttgart and Young Boys, so let’s take a look at his statistics.

Minutes

720

1st

Completed passes

322

1st

Progressive passes

33

4th

Pass completion %

89.4%

3rd

Tackles

10

5th

% of dribblers tackled

100%

1st

Interceptions

4

5th

Blocks

7

4th

Clearances

27

2nd

Ball recoveries

28

4th

Touches

433

3rd

As the table outlines, Djiga ranks very highly in the Champions League for all statistics included, when compared to his former teammates, doing so at a very high level, considering Crvena zvezda came up against Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Benfica, PSV, Monaco and others during the league phase.

The centre-back’s defensive metrics are universally impressive but, more notably, so are his in-possession statistics, which will make him the perfect fit for a Martin team.

So, why will he be a more impactful signing than Aarons?

Well, in short, it’s due to what Rangers really need.

Aarons has presumably joined Rangers to play regularly, having seen just 338 minutes of action last season at Bournemouth and then Valencia, which raises serious question marks over current right-back and captain James Tavernier’s future.

Meantime, the Light Blues are desperate for central defensive reinforcements, with John Souttar and new arrival Fernandez currently the only options available to face Panathinaikos in a pivotal Champions League qualifier in just 19 days’ time.

So, while Djiga is clearly a high-potential player, he is also one that Rangers desperately require, making him a welcome and much-needed addition for Martin.

Ibrox's dream Igamane replacement: Rangers working to sign £5m striker

Rangers are eyeing up a move to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Hamza Igamane.

ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is tasked with signing a new number nine to lead Mikel Arteta’s next assault on the Premier League title, but which target would be most succesful for the Gunners?

Renowned for his methodical approach to squad building during his years with Atletico Madrid, new Arsenal transfer guru Berta has a different task at the Emirates – put the finishing touches on a sqaud teetering on the brink of the ultimate success.

To do so, the Italian simply must get his choice right in the striker market this summer, with injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz decimating the Gunners’ title chances in 2024/25.

£140m signings start alongside Zubimendi: AI predicts Arsenal's 2025/26 line-up

It could be a productive transfer market for the Gunners.

4 ByCharlie Smith Jun 28, 2025

With that in mind, we’ve asked AI tool Grok to predict which of Berta’s targets would score the most goals in an Arsenal shirt next season, assuming they all stay fit and play a reasonable amount of minutes.

3 Benjamin Sesko – 15-20 Premier League goals

The latest update on Arsenal’s interest in RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko is an extremely positive one, with Berta reportedly locked in talks over a deal which could even go over the Slovenian’s £70m release clause. The player himself is said to be very keen on the move, and Grok’s prediction for his debut campaign in North London might explain why.

AI predicts Sesko’s “6 foot 5 frame, pace and aerial ability” would create a lethal combination with Arsenal’s chance creators, particularly Bukayo Saka’s left-footed crosses after cutting in from his role on the right wing.

However, while it predicts Sesko could cross the 25-goal mark in all competitions, he rates below the other options due to his “history of missing big chances in the Bundesliga”.

2 Viktor Gyokeres – 20-25 Premier League goals

Gyokeres’ links to Arsenal have taken many twists and turns, with the latest update revealing the Sporting CP superstar has actually threatened the Portuguese club that he will go public about his situation if they do not find a solution with his sutiors.

The Swede’s price has been a point of much controversy, with rumours of a broken gentleman’s agreement leading to Sporting demanding £68m for his signature.

AI predicts the former Coventry man, now bang in his prime at the age of 27, will score more than Sesko and could even reach 35 in all competitions owing to his “physicality, direct style, and ruthless finishing”, which would help him adapt quickly despite never playing in the English top flight.

1 Alexander Isak – 22-25 Premier League goals

Finally, Grok predicts Newcastle United star Alexander Isak would be the best option from a pure goals standpoint, setting the same ceiling as his countryman Gyokeres but with a higher floor of 22, perhaps thanks to his experience in the Premier League already.

Starts

17

27

34

Goals

10

21

23

Assists

1

2

6

Shots per game

2.3

2.6

2.9

Dribbles per game

1.5

1.4

1.2

Interestingly, the only major statistic which has declinded throughout the 25 year-old’s time in England is his dribbling, indicating the elevation in his movement and football IQ to put himself in better positions to finish Newcastle’s attacks, rather than help start them.

Recent reports claims Arsenal may move on from their interest in Isak, but Grok suggests his “elite finishing” would create a lethal combination in Arteta’s system, reaching around 33 goals in all competitions, assuming he is rested in certain domestic cup matches.

It only closed last week, but the transfer window is open for the second time this week, and it looks like it’ll be a hectic one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are undoubtedly one of the best in the country, but with a third second-placed finish in the Premier League in as many years this season, it’s clear that they are lacking something their competition are not: goals.

The North Londoners produced the best defence in the league last season, but Liverpool and Manchester City scored more goals than them.

So, while some new wide talent wouldn’t go amiss, it’s evident that Arsenal need a new goalscoring number nine, and while Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with the club, another striker now reportedly wants the move.

Arsenal's striker search

Gyokeres has been touted for a move to Arsenal for some time now, with the first reports linking the Swede to the club emerging as far back as last summer and then reappearing here and there during the winter window.

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Yet, the reports seemed to gather momentum once more over the last few weeks, with stories even suggesting that the North Londoners were set to launch a bid for the former Coventry City gem.

However, with it now clear that Sporting CP do not intend to let him leave for £59m, as he and his agent believed they would, the Gunners could turn their attention to more attainable alternatives, such as Ollie Watkins.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Mirror, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Aston Villa superstar from earlier this year.

The report claims that the former Exeter City gem remains on their list of targets and that the player himself is incredibly keen on joining his boyhood team.

A potential price tag is not mentioned in the story, but according to other reports from late last week, the Englishman could cost up to £40m, which may well be a bargain and help make the case for him being a brilliant alternative to Gyokeres.

Why Watkins would be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres

Now, while the potential price differential is already one massive reason why Watkins would be a great alternative to Gyokeres, there are others, such as their respective experience.

For example, while the Swedish international has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine this season and has been able to rack up a staggering tally of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, he has almost no experience of playing in a top-level competition.

In fact, while he has played eight games in the Champions League and nine in the Europa League, the former Coventry City star has never played in a traditional top-five league, and currently, according to research from Opta Analyst, the Portuguese top-flight is only the 11th strongest in the world, behind the likes of the Belgian Pro League and Championship.

Moreover, if that wasn’t enough to cast some judgment over the 27-year-old’s numbers, then perhaps the fact that 11 of the 18 teams in that competition are considered to be of a League One level will.

In contrast, the “world-class” Englishman, as dubbed by journalist Jack Grimse, has been plying his trade in the toughest competition in world football for five years now and has consistently been a dangerous outlet for the Claret and Blue.

Appearances

53

54

Minutes

4323′

3578′

Goals

27

17

Assists

15

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.79

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvement

102.92′

115.41′

For example, the Torquay-born monster was able to rack up a tally of 42 goal involvements in 53 games last season and then was able to amass 31 in 54 games this year, which is the sort of output that could fire the Gunners to glory.

Furthermore, while the 29-year-old’s record in the Premier League means that fans know what to expect from him, it also means that there should be little to no adaptation period for him, meaning he could come in, hit the ground running and supercharge the North Londoners attack, whereas the Sporting star could take months to get used to playing in the league.

Ultimately, a combination of his price, track record, and experience playing in the Premier League all make Watkins an ideal alternative to Gyokeres this summer.

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