All posts by h79snht.top

da bet7k： Over recent years, Tottenham Hotspur have been lucky enough to have multiple top-level strikers on their books, subsequently giving the fanbase numerous incredible memories.

da realbet： Harry Kane undoubtedly tops that list, scoring 280 times for the Lilywhites – cementing himself as the highest goalscorer in their history, taking the record off the late Jimmy Greaves.

However, other players haven’t been as impressive, with Roberto Soldado struggling to produce the goods during his own stint in the first team in North London.

The Spaniard joined the club back in the summer of 2013, costing a whopping £26m – a figure that was a club record during those years under Daniel Levy.

However, he only scored 16 times in his 76 appearances for the club, leaving two years later for a measly £10m and losing £16m on their previous investment.

This summer, current boss Thomas Frank has made a move to land his own centre-forward, but the player will undoubtedly be hoping to have a similar impact to the former rather than the latter.

What Spurs can expect from Kolo Muani

In a summer transfer window littered with multiple £50m+ additions, Spurs also made various loan deals to help make an immediate improvement to the current squad.

Joao Palhinha was added to the midfield department earlier in the transfer window, joining on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

However, on deadline day, Frank’s side also clinched the signing of PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan – despite huge rumours linking him with a return to Juventus.

The 26-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at the Serie A outfit, netting 10 goals in just 22 appearances – subsequently getting his career back on track.

He joined PSG in a £76m deal back in 2023, but only scored 11 times in two seasons, before falling down the pecking order – leading to his temporary spells away from the Ligue 1 outfit.

However, he’s showcased in his recent spell in Italy that he’s capable of thriving with regular minutes, registering 70 goals in the professional game over the last five years.

The former Spurs player who’s outscored Kolo Muani

As previously mentioned, the centre-forward position has been a troubled one for Spurs since Kane departed in 2023, with record-signing Dominic Solanke struggling with his fitness since his own move in 2024.

The Lilywhites forked out £65m for his signature, but he’s only managed 16 goals for the club to date – with injuries halting his progress in North London.

The Englishman has been restricted to just 31 minutes of Premier League action so far in 2025/26, opening the door for Kolo Muani to stake his claim for a regular starting role.

However, former strikers at Spurs have also struggled to match the expectations put upon them, given the stature of the club – none more so than Vincent Janssen.

He joined the club in a £18.6m deal from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2016, with such a move generating excitement after the Dutchman ended the previous year as the Eredivisie’s top scorer.

During his first campaign in England, the striker only managed to net six goals – only two of which were in the Premier League – ultimately struggling to match the expectations he arrived with.

Janssen would subsequently be sent out on loan to Turkish side Fenerbahce, a move that would spell the end of his stint with the Lilywhites – only making three appearances upon his return to the club.

The stats & finances of Vincent Janssen’s Spurs career

Statistics

Tally

Transfer Fee

£18.6m

Wages

£2.75m

Total

£21.3m

Appearances

42

Cost per appearance

£507k

Goals

6

Cost per goal

£3.5m

Assists

4

Cost per assist

£5.3m

Goal involvements

10

Cost per goal involvement

£2.1m

Stats via Transfermarkt & Capology

Such failures in England led to former striker Gary Lineker dubbing the Dutchman as “ a poor man’s Roberto Soldado” – a damning statement given the Spaniard’s own failures in North London.

However, in recent years, the 31-year-old has recaptured his best form away from England – now plying his trade for Belgian side Royal Antwerp, helping his current employers qualify for the Champions League.

He registered 13 goals across all competitions in 2024/25, subsequently outscoring new addition Kolo Muani (12) – highlighting his impressive form after his failed stint in the Premier League.

There’s no denying that the hierarchy made the right call in allowing Janssen to depart the club, with his transfer certainly one to forget given his lack of tangible impact.

However, Kolo Muani will be hoping to not emulate his disappointing spell in North London, undoubtedly wanting to hit the ground running in the clash against West Ham United on Saturday night.

da bet vitoria： Newcastle United’s summer of transfer activity once again underlined the scale of ambition since the PIF takeover.

da mrbet： Deals for Jacob Ramsay, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale and Anthony Elanga have complemented headline-grabbing signings such as Nick Woltemade for £69m and Yoane Wissa for £55m.

Alexander Isak’s £125m move to Liverpool left a sour taste, but the overall picture was one of a club continuing to spend at the very top of the market.

That has not always been the case on Tyneside.

Before Saudi investment changed the landscape, Newcastle were known for trimming squads and selling talent to make a profit.

Promising youngsters would be moved on for financial reasons or simply slip through the cracks, only to thrive elsewhere.

This summer’s spending spree serves as a reminder of how much things have changed, but also how much has been lost.

The departure of Elliot Anderson last year remains a striking example.

Newcastle did not want to lose the academy graduate, but Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) forced their hand.

Nottingham Forest seized the opportunity, and now the Northeast club must watch a homegrown talent flourish elsewhere – much like another striker once forced to leave before truly being given a chance at St James’ Park.

Anderson's rise away from Tyneside

Anderson’s move to Forest in 2024, part of a deal that saw Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way, was emblematic of Newcastle’s recent financial gymnastics.

The midfielder represented pure profit under PSR calculations, a valuable asset when books needed balancing.

Jankuba Minteh was sold to Brighton in the same scramble, and even the sales of Isak and Anthony Gordon were considered.

At the time, it looked like a sacrifice of potential for compliance.

Yet Anderson has proven exactly why the club were so reluctant to lose him.

Last season, the 22-year-old made 37 league appearances for Forest, scoring twice and providing six assists. His form earned him a first senior England call-up, and he started against Andorra, winning the Player of the Match award.

The numbers underline his growing influence.

Last season, Anderson ranked in the 88th percentile for assists per 90 (0.19) and 77th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.07).

His ability to progress play was matched by tenacity in midfield.

He sat in the 88th percentile for tackles per 90 (3.07) and 87th percentile for clearances (2.40).

Analysts like Max Scott have even gone so far as to describe Anderson as having “a bit of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane” in his game.

It is difficult to see how he would have found the same opportunities had he remained at Newcastle.

Competing with Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton for minutes, he might have stagnated.

Instead, Forest have given him the platform to grow, and Newcastle are left to reflect on a talent that got away, not for the first time either.

Newcastle's homegrown striker regret

Anderson’s story draws inevitable comparisons to Ivan Toney, another player who slipped through Newcastle’s net.

Signed from Northampton Town in 2015 for around half a million, Toney struggled for first-team opportunities and was farmed out on loan before leaving permanently for Peterborough United in 2018.

From there, his career trajectory exploded. Toney scored 72 goals and provided 23 assists in 141 appearances for Brentford, firing them to Premier League promotion with a goal in the 2021 play-off final.

His 20-goal return in the 2022/23 season made him one of the division’s most reliable strikers, hailed as such by Thomas Frank who described him as a “monster”.

Recognition followed on the international stage. Toney made his England debut in 2023 and was part of the Euro 2024 squad, holding his nerve to score in the penalty shoot-out against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

The numbers again tell the story of a rounded, top-level forward.

During the 2022/23 season, Toney ranked in the 72nd percentile among centre-forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals (0.43 per 90), 70th percentile for progressive passes (2.41), and was outstanding aerially, sitting in the 91st percentile for aerials won (3.32 per 90).

His defensive contribution was underrated too, with strong numbers for interceptions and clearances.

Ivan Toney – 2022/23

Matches Played

33

Goals

20

Assists

4

Progressive Carries

14

Progressive Passes

79

Source: FBref

In 2024, Toney completed a £40m move to Al-Ahli, where he scored 23 goals and registered four assists in the Saudi Pro League last season.

At 29, he remains a high-level striker whose career arc must leave Newcastle wondering what might have been.

The parallels between Anderson and Toney are plain to see.

Both left St James’ Park for very different reasons, but both have gone on to prove themselves at a high level.

Each departure highlights the fine margins between financial management and footballing vision.

Newcastle’s current owners are now spending freely, with marquee signings transforming the squad.

Yet history shows that some of the biggest success stories can be those who slipped away. In Anderson, Newcastle may once again have let a future England regular leave too soon.

da 888casino： Manchester City are now one step away from completing a deal for a “phenomenal” star, as his club have recently dropped their asking price.

Man City targeting new signings after Tottenham defeat

da stake casino： After such a promising start to the campaign, winning 4-0 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Man City were brought right back down to earth on Saturday afternoon, with Tottenham Hotspur once again getting the better of them at the Etihad Stadium.

James Trafford was culpable for the second goal, with Joao Palhinha capitalising after the new City goalkeeper made a stray pass in his own area, although Pep Guardiola defended his decision to select the 22-year-old.

Pep said: “He made a good first game and I decided to continue. When I take decisions in the first part of the season – for all the players you play one or two [games] – everyone thinks: ‘OK, this is the starting lineup.’ It was just today I decided that.”

However, behind-the-scenes, there may be some doubts emerging about Trafford, given that the former Burnley man remains relatively inexperienced, and a report has revealed the Blues are closing in on a more proven goalkeeper.

According to The Mirror, Man City are now one step away from signing Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, with Guardiola’s side ready to get a deal done, as long as they can sell Ederson to Galatasaray.

Crucially, PSG have now slashed their asking price significantly, with the Italian now being allowed to leave for as little as £26m, given that he has just one year remaining on his contract with the French club.

City are expecting Galatasaray to submit a new offer for Ederson, and if a suitable fee can be agreed, they will move swiftly to finalise a deal for Donnarumma, who is keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium.

"Phenomenal" Donnarumma could be instant Trafford upgrade

While Trafford impressed in the Championship last season, keeping a whopping 29 clean sheets, the PSG goalkeeper could be an instant upgrade on the Englishman, given that he is vastly more experienced at the top level.

The 26-year-old, who has been lauded as “phenomenal” by Walid Acherchour of RMC Sport, was a lynchpin of the PSG side that won the Champions League last season, with journalist Carlo Garganese highlighting him as the star against Arsenal across both semi-final legs.

That said, the Italy international isn’t the most adept with the ball at his feet, with Trafford vastly outperforming him in touches per 90 over the past year, and a number of other key metrics.

Average per 90

James Trafford

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Save %

85.6%

67.8%

Touches

39.88

29.97

Clean sheet %

67.4%

25%

Donnarumma may not be a Guardiola-style goalkeeper, but he is proven at the highest level, and a £26m transfer fee would be a bargain.

da leao： Newcastle United’s transfer strategy this summer has been one of urgency and precision.

da dobrowin： After finishing fifth in the Premier League last season and securing a place in this year’s Champions League, the Magpies have been determined to strengthen in all departments.

The recruitment drive has already seen significant arrivals. Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale have all arrived to add competition.

The club’s ambitions to compete both domestically and in Europe are plain to see, but the 3-2 thriller defeat against Liverpool at St James’ Park served as a stark reminder of how quickly plans can be disrupted.

Midfielders Sandro Tonali and Joelinton both picked up injuries, leaving fans and management concerned about the stability of the engine room.

With Champions League fixtures looming, Newcastle suddenly face the prospect of heading into winter without two of their most trusted midfielders.

Newcastle make move for new midfielder

While speculation over Alexander Isak’s future continues to simmer in the background, the pressing priority is now midfield.

Newcastle know they cannot risk being short in the one area of the pitch that dictates both defensive resilience and attacking creativity.

The search for a solution has therefore intensified in recent weeks, and the club has now turned its attention to one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

According to reporter Jason Soutar, Newcastle United have opened talks with Manchester United over a deal for Kobbie Mainoo.

The 20-year-old midfielder is widely regarded as one of England’s brightest prospects.

The club have enquired about the conditions of a transfer, with the player thought to be open to a move away from Old Trafford.

Mainoo does not fall into the category of wantaway players currently unsettled at United – a group that includes Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia – but his long-term future under Rúben Amorim remains uncertain.

The Portuguese manager has so far preferred to use captain Bruno Fernandes in the central role, often alongside Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte, leaving Mainoo on the bench for two consecutive matches.

Reports have also linked Bayern Munich and former United boss Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen with interest, though neither club has formalised a move.

Mainoo himself is said to favour a switch abroad, but Newcastle’s offer of regular first-team football at a Champions League club may be difficult to ignore.

How Mainoo and Bruno Guimarães could transform Newcastle

The growing recognition of Mainoo’s talent only adds to the intrigue.

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has compared him to “a mix of Xavi and Busquets”, while United writer Alex Turk describes him as a future “£100m-plus footballer”.

Thus, for Newcastle, this is a chance to recruit not just a stop-gap solution, but a midfielder capable of becoming a cornerstone of their project for years to come.

The most compelling aspect of Newcastle’s pursuit is the potential partnership between Mainoo and club captain Bruno Guimarães.

Since arriving at St James’ Park, Guimarães has been the heartbeat of the team, combining defensive resilience with incisive creativity.

His influence is borne out in the numbers.

Guimaraes – Stats 2024/25

Matches Played

38

Minutes Played

3,271

Goals

5

Assists

6

Progressive Carries

64

Progressive Passes

271

Source: FBref

According to FBref, last season he ranked in the 91st percentile for progressive passes per 90 (7.29), 78th percentile for progressive carries (1.73), and 89th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.69).

Simply put, he is among the most effective deep-lying playmakers in Europe.

The difficulty for Howe has been ensuring Guimarães is not shackled by too much defensive responsibility. Injuries to key personnel have forced him to sit deeper in the past, reducing his attacking output.

This is where Mainoo’s arrival could be transformative. Despite his age, the Manchester United outcast has already shown an impressive balance between defensive steel and technical quality.

Via FBref, he ranks in the 72nd percentile compared to positionally similar players in Europe for tackles per 90 (2.44) and the 78th percentile for dribblers tackled per 90 (1.25), demonstrating his ability to break up play and protect the back line.

At the same time, his composure on the ball and eye for a forward pass give him the qualities needed to recycle possession and progress play under pressure.

A partnership with Guimarães would allow the Brazilian to push higher up the pitch, dictating attacks and creating chances, while Mainoo shields the defence and links transitions.

It is a blend that mirrors some of Europe’s most successful midfield pairings – the balance of control and creativity that every top team requires.

For Newcastle, such a signing would not only fill the immediate gap left by injuries but also send a message about their long-term ambitions.

Bringing in a player who has already started for England in a European Championship final and scored in an FA Cup victory over Manchester City demonstrates both vision and intent.

At just 20 years old, Mainoo is a talent who could grow with the club as they continue to build towards competing consistently at the highest level.

Manchester United, of course, will be wary of letting such a player leave. He is a Carrington graduate, a fan favourite, and one of the few academy products to establish himself in recent seasons.

But with Fernandes an immovable figure in Amorim’s system and Baleba on the horizon, United may face a difficult decision.

For Newcastle, timing is everything, and their pursuit of Mainoo could prove one of the defining moves of the summer window.

da mrbet： Tottenham and Arsenal are currently tussling over the signature of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, with key details now coming to light on the attention-grabbing transfer race.

Buy EPL Hospitality

Secure your matchday experience with Seat Unique.

Buy Premium Now Expand Collapse

da realsbet： Spurs boss Thomas Frank watched on as his Lilywhites side capitulated against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

From 2-0 down, the French treble winners fought back to 2-2 in the dying minutes, courtesy of goals from Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos, with PSG clinching the trophy on penalties soon afterwards.

It was a sore one to take for Frank, who heaped praise on his squad in the aftermath for what was a spirited performance against a team absolutely lavished with quality all over the pitch.

There were many positives for Tottenham to take from the clash in Udine, namely that they outplayed a star-studded PSG side for large portions of the game.

Their plucky performance was made all the more impressive considering the weakened Spurs side are still finding a way to cope without club legend Son Heung-min, who left after 10 years for LAFC nearly a fortnight ago, alongside injured star attackers James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

Frank and his Tottenham players are now immediately preparing to take on Burnley in their first Premier League game of the season on Saturday, whilst off the field, chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange attempt to secure two statement signings.

Firstly, Tottenham have opened talks with Man City over signing Savinho (Fabrizio Romano), with some reports suggesting that Pep Guardiola’s side have already rejected an opening bid for the Brazil international (Jorge Nicola).

Secondly, and in a separate move to Savinho, Tottenham are prepared to open formal negotiations with Crystal Palace over signing Eze.

If Levy and Lange have it all their own way, they could secure adept replacements for both Maddison and Son in quick succession, all whilst throwing a spanner in the works of Arsenal’s transfer plans.

What Eberechi Eze's camp have told Tottenham amid Arsenal hesitation

Their north London rivals have long been targeting Eze as a playmaker, but a key reason for their hesitation has now emerged.

According to talkSPORT, via their live blog [Thursday, 10:26], Arsenal’s wish to hand Ethan Nwaneri more minutes as a number 10 this season has prompted the Gunners to stall on a move for Eze.

As well as this, the 27-year-old’s representatives have sent a clear message to Tottenham in an invitation to move – personal terms won’t be an issue.

“Tottenham are set to make a bid for Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze, talkSPORT understands.

“Spurs view the England attacker as a No.10 and their pursuit is separate to the club’s interest in Manchester City winger Savinho as a result.

“Spurs are hoping to move quickly and have been told by Eze’s camp terms will not be a problem. Eze is open to the move, and wants to both play Champions League football and ideally stay in London.

“Arsenal also hold an interest in Eze, and a late window move can’t be discounted. However, the desire to give Ethan Nwaneri minutes at No.10 this season has led to some hesitation within the club as to whether to add another central attacker.”

This, along with other reports, strongly suggest that Spurs are currently in pole position to sign Eze, but given they were once set to sign Morgan Gibbs-White before a dramatic, unexpected U-turn, it is also wise to err on the side of caution.

Readers like you help support FootballFanCast. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

da bet vitoria： The latest twist in the Alexander Isak saga.

da winzada777： On Tuesday morning, it was widely reported that the Swede is adamant that he will never play for Newcastle United again, seeking to force through a move to Liverpool, after the Reds’ initial offer of £110m was rejected.

Even if Isak is unable to secure his move to Merseyside, Eddie Howe surely has to plan for life without his talisman and top-scorer, so have Newcastle got a new striker target in their sights?

Newcastle's United search for a striker

Already this summer, Newcastle have shown interest in plenty of forwards, only to see them choose to join Premier League rivals instead, namely João Pedro, Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

They’ve also seen a £25m bid for Yoane Wissa rejected by Brentford, while the Magpies have been offered the chance to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, but the Blues’ valuation of around £80m is proving prohibitive.

So, would they enjoy more success if they opted to shop outside the domestic market, as is the case with centre-back Malick Thiaw, arriving from AC Milan for £35m?

Well, French newspaper L’Équipe are reporting that Newcastle are “in talks” with Stade Rennais over the potential of signing striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, noting that Brentford are also interested.

They add that Kalimuendo has already turned down the chance to join newly-promoted Leeds United this summer, but les Rouge et Noirs’ manager Habib Beye, who is actually a former Newcastle player, is braced for a ‘major departure’.

Elsewhere, reports in France claim that the 23-year-old is valued at €30m (around £26m), so could he soon swap Brittany for the North East of England?

What Arnaud Kalimuendo would bring to Newcastle

Born in the Paris suburb of Suresnes, Kalimuendo joined Paris Saint-Germain academy at the age of ten, starring for les Rouge-et-Bleu’s young teams, but making just five senior appearances, totalling 167 minutes, for PSG’s senior side.

He spent two seasons on loan at Lens, scoring 21 goals in 65 appearances for les Sang et Or, before departing Paris permanently in the summer of 2022, joining Stade Rennais for €25m (around £21.5m), making him, at the time, the most expensive academy graduate sale in PSG’s history. ​​​​​​Well, this has proved to be a worthwhile investment for Rennes, with Kalimuendo bagging 40 goals and 14 assists for the club in 112 games, as per Transfermarkt. That mirrors Isak’s return at Real Sociedad, where he registered 44 goals and eight assists in 132 games for the LaLiga side.

Kalimuendo – 2024/25 Ligue 1 stats

Stat

Kalimuendo

Ligue 1 rank

Goals

17

3rd

Goals inside box

17

3rd

Shots

68

7th

Non-pen goals – xG

+3.1

8th

Big chances missed

6

35th

Average SofaScore rating

7.06

10th*

*amongst forwards who played 30+ games.

via FBref.com and Sofascore

As the table outlines, Kalimuendo scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season, a tally only bettered by Ousmane Dembélé and Mason Greenwood, with every single one of his goals scored inside the penalty area, which very much emphasises his playing style. Isak, for context, scored 17 league goals during his penultimate campaign at Sociedad.

Meantime, the 23-year-old overperformed his expected goals figure by more than three, missing only six Opta-defined big chances, a very low figure for a player who scored as many goals as he did.

For comparison, Dembélé missed 17, while Emanuel Emegha of Strasbourg led the way in Ligue 1 in that regard with a humungous 25; for what it is worth, the aforementioned Isak missed 18 in the Premier League.

His form at Roazhon Park has seen Kalimuendo represent France and numerous youth levels, winning Olympic silver on home soil last summer, scoring against New Zealand at Stade Vélodrome during that tournament, having appeared at the U21 Euros a year earlier.

All of this has led to Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelling him “prolific”, having now scored an impressive 61 senior goals before his 24th birthday.

Thus, it is clear that Kalimuendo is a high-quality talent with serious potential so, if Newcastle are able to get their hands on him for as little as £26m, perhaps those on Tyneside will be asking “Alexander who?” come the end of the window.

da bet vitoria： Tottenham are in glaring need of a new number 10 and an alternative to James Maddison after the Englishman’s fresh injury nightmare, and Thomas Frank will be ruing their missed opportunities to bring one in this summer.

da esoccer bet： Spurs’ emotional Seoul farewell to club legend Son Heung‑min soured last Sunday when Maddison was forced off on a stretcher late into their 1-1 pre-season draw with Newcastle.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The former Leicester City star – having just recovered from a knee injury which sidelined him at the end of 2024/2025 – came on in the 75th minute and lasted barely ten minutes before collapsing in agony, clutching that same knee. Frank didn’t sugarcoat it.

The Dane confirmed it was “bad” and the same knee that sidelined Maddison in May, ruling him out of Europa League final glory, with the 28-year-old now expected to face yet another lengthy lay-off in a major headache for Frank.

Maddison was poised to be the creative heartbeat of Frank’s new-look Spurs side this season – especially with Son waving goodbye to the club after 10 years and fellow chief creator, Dejan Kulusevski, also out injured.

Daniel Levy has already splashed £117 million on the signings of Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Kevin Danso and a loan deal for Joao Palhinha, but losing Maddison leaves the attack dangerously thin.

Tottenham were on the verge of signing Morgan Gibbs-White this time last month, which would’ve solved this problem.

They even scheduled a medical for the 25-year-old ahead of a £60 million move (BBC), but Nottingham Forest blocked the transfer, wrote a letter to Spurs threatening legal action and, to rub salt in the wound, tied Gibbs-White down with a club-record new deal.

Spurs are still in hot pursuit of a new playmaker, listing it as one of their chief priorities before deadline day on September 1 (Alasdair Gold), and there are a few Gibbs-White alternatives to keep aware of.

Despite RB Leipzig’s approach for Liverpool star Harvey Elliott, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook suggests that the England Under-21 sensation could emerge as a target for Spurs, while Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has also been linked with a move to N17.

Tottenham favourites to sign Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid

Another outside-the-box option could be former Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher.

While more traditionally used as a defensive anchor, the Englishman can play further forward in a traditional centre-midfield role and, more importantly, as a CAM.

According to Football Espana, Tottenham are seen as the most likely destination for Gallagher this summer, following reports that Atlético Madrid will let him go for a fee of up to £44 million.

FE report that Levy is considering a bid for the 25-year-old, so this could be one to watch as Spurs ponder offering Gallagher a route back to London after just over 12 months in the Spanish capital.

“Conor Gallagher is a hardworking player, with quality, a good presence, recovers balls, and always gives his maximum in every situation,” said Atlético boss Diego Simeone.

“He came with a lot of enthusiasm, and we need that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better.”

During his final season at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher averaged their second-highest average of key passes per 90 in the top flight behind Cole Palmer (WhoScored) – bagging nine assists in all competitions to boot.

Mauricio Pochettino used him in an attacking midfield role regularly during that time too, and Gallagher would also help to fill Spurs’ ‘locally trained’ Champions League quota.

da pinnacle： This summer has been an exciting one for Arsenal fans to watch. Gone are the days of Edu dragging things out and missing out on key targets; Andrea Berta has come in and been aggressive in the window.

da supremo： The Gunners have only played two pre-season games but have already signed six players.

That being said, the saga that revolved around new centre-forward, Viktor Gyokeres, was certainly a tiring one. That wasn’t Berta’s fault, however.

Arsenal had predominantly earmarked two strikers this window; Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. However, despite approval from most at Arsenal, Sesko’s agent priced him out of a move and the Swede was pursued instead.

The Gunners are no doubt happy with their business. This is a player who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season. Even half of that tally in 2025/26 and this will have been a successful acquisition.

But, what’s next? Well, Berta is already hard at work.

What's next for Arsenal after Gyokeres

It’s likely that for a short while, Arsenal will focus on moving players out of the club. The arrival of Gyokeres took their spending to over £200m this summer, so sales may well be necessary.

Fulham are said to be in talks to sign Reiss Nelson but there’s also interest from Crystal Palace, and that’s where Arsenal’s next deal could take them.

It’s no secret that the north Londoners are keen on signing Eberechi Eze this summer and according to journalist Ben Jacobs, they are now in talks with Palace over a move.

Up to this point, there had only been an agreement between Eze and Arsenal on personal terms.

There have been plenty of developments over the weekend, however, with Football Transfers noting that Mikel Arteta’s side have agreed to pay an initial £30m for the England international and talks are now focused around the payment structure of the remaining £38m of his release clause.

The Independent’s Miguel Delaney reports that sources close to the player believe that he will become an Arsenal player in the next few weeks, confident that a deal will get done.

The Emirates Stadium outfit are said to be Eze’s top choice this summer, but Berta and Co hope to be able to agree a fee of around £60m for his services.

Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Tomas Rosicky

During the days of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, the team was filled with technical geniuses. Not forgetting the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, the later years of the Frenchman’s tenure saw players like Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez come to the fore.

There were others too. Think Andrey Arshavin, the scorer of four goals at Anfield, Alexander Hleb and a player cut from a similar cloth, Tomas Rosicky.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of just £6.8m, he arrived as one of the most exciting young attacking midfielders on the continent.

The Czech Republic international had a fierce ball strike on him, something we saw when he cracked home his first goal but he also possessed the ability to dazzle defenders, dribbling past them with ease and explosively driving forward.

As Wenger once said: “He always makes things happen, not with individual dribbling but with individual acceleration and his passing. I think when he arrived here he was less of a tactical player and more the ‘Mozart’ from Prague – he was purely a creative, offensive player.”

Injuries really destroyed Rosicky’s career in London, ultimately meaning his numbers didn’t look particularly impressive, scoring 28 goals and supplying 23 assists. Yet, his qualities are still remembered fondly by supporters of a certain generation.

Take injuries out of the equation, and Eze has been built in a similar lab. As The Telegraph’s Sam Dean says, the Palace sensation is a “magician” and the “exact sort of player Arsenal have been missing.”

It’s hard to dispute that claim. Like Rosicky, he’s creative, he’s a goalscorer and like Wenger noted, he’s a bit of a Mozart on the ball.

Eze’s first game of pre-season showcased exactly that, nearly scoring a remarkable solo goal. A little like Rosicky, he bursts forward in possession of the ball. What happened next was audacious, nearly chipping the goalkeeper.

£68m please, Berta, that’s all it’ll take to bring this creative genius to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Arsenal have plenty of players who put fun into football. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are chief among them. Yet, what Arteta has done since arriving at Arsenal is build a team of giants.

Mikel Merino suggested that “we [Arsenal] look like a basketball team” when he first moved to the Premier League and within that, some of the technical aesthetics have been lost.

Eze’s Crystal Palace career (all comps)

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

43

14

11

2023/24

31

11

6

2022/23

40

10

4

2021/22

19

1

1

2020/21

36

3

6

Stats via Transfermarkt.

Eze, however, would bring that back to Arsenal. He was the scorer of 14 goals and the creator of 11 assists in 2024/25.

That wasn’t a one-off either. He’s hit double figures throughout the last three campaigns and is only getting better. Last season was his finest in the red and blue stripes of Palace to date.

He’s a Premier League-proven star and like Declan Rice, would surely settle into things at the club with ease.

Related He'd be better than Rodrygo: Arsenal "are looking" at signing £100m winger

Arsenal are ready to complete their summer transfer window with a big-money signing.

Posts

da 888： Chelsea have now submitted an offer for an “exceptional” Tottenham Hotspur player, who is keen to remain in the Premier League.

Caicedo impresses despite Brentford slip-up

da bet vitoria： If the Blues have serious ambitions of mounting a Premier League title charge this season, they need to be able to close out games against teams like Brentford, which is why it will be disappointing they were unable to pick up all three points on Saturday.

Fabio Carvalho’s late goal meant Enzo Maresca’s side had to settle for a draw on the road, and missed the opportunity to go top of the Premier League table at this early stage of the campaign.

While Maresca will no doubt be disappointed by the result, the Italian is likely to be happy with Moises Caicedo’s performance, with the Ecuadorian bagging the goal that put the west Londoners 2-1 up late in the second half, and impressing from a defensive point of view.

Statistic

Number completed

Tackles

4

Interceptions

4

Duels won

7

Accurate passes

62/64 (97%)

As such, there are doubts over whether Chelsea need to bring in another defensive midfielder, but according to a report from Africa Foot, they have now made an offer for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma.

Bissouma has recently suffered a knee injury, which means he will have to wait until January to leave the Blues’ bitter rivals, amid widespread interest in his signature, with Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace also lodging proposals.

Tottenham are open to sanctioning a departure, given that the Malian midfielder is well-known to have fallen out with Thomas Frank, which means a January departure could be on the cards, although they would prefer to sell him to a foreign club.

The 29-year-old, on the other hand, has made it clear that he wants to remain in the Premier League, rather than joining the likes of Chicago Fire, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe or Lyon.

"Exceptional" Bissouma would be strange signing for Chelsea

In truth, it would be strange for the Blues to launch a formal move for the Tottenham midfielder, not least because Maresca is already well-stocked in the engine room, with the likes of Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos at the manager’s disposal.

Moreover, there are also issues surrounding the Mali international’s discipline, with Frank leaving him out for the Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain and saying: “Bissouma isn’t here because of disciplinary reasons. He has been late several times, the latest one too many.”

That’s not to say the Spurs ace isn’t a talented player on his day, with Gary Lineker once describing him as “exceptional” after putting in an impressive performance against Everton.

However, there is little point in Chelsea potentially shelling out £14m on a player who would be likely to receive little game time, given Caicedo and Fernandez’s emergence as key players, with both starting all four Premier League games up to this point.

da bwin： There is just over a month to go until the transfer window slams shut, and so far, Arsenal fans have had a lot to shout about.

da spicy bet： Mikel Arteta and Co have been quick to announce the signings of Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

They aren’t finished there, though, as Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera has already been pictured in the club’s training kit, and talks for Viktor Gyokeres appear to be in the final stages.

Moreover, the Premier League runners-up have also been linked with Eberechi Eze, although, based on reports, they may now be after another international who would be an even better signing.

Arsenal target Eze upgrade

This summer hasn’t been the first time Arsenal have been linked with Eze, as you only have to look back to last summer to see stories touting the Crystal Palace star for a move back to the club that released him as a child.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

However, it would be fair to say that the stories this year have felt more concrete, with some claiming that talks had been held with the player’s camp and personal terms had been agreed upon.

However, as things stand, the links appear to have quieted down somewhat, and as far as we can tell, no agreement was reached with the South Londoners, who still want the Englishman’s full £68m release clause to sell him.

Yet, fans shouldn’t worry about missing out on a talented midfielder, as it now looks like they could turn their attention to another, someone who’d be a better signing than Eze.

At least that is according to Arsenal insider Hand of Arsenal, who revealed that the club had been in contact with Xavi Simons’ agent, Ali Barat, who has offered them the chance to sign the Dutch talent.

This news aligns with reports from earlier this month, which claimed that the Gunners are interested in the RB Leipzig star, who could be available for around £52m.

While it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, as Simons is already a brilliant player who could further improve, and someone who’d be a better acquisition than Eze.

Why Simons would be a better signing than Eze

So, the first reason Arsenal would be wise to sign Simons over Eze this summer is that, when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers, the Leipzig ace comes out on top.

It’s not even a close comparison, as in practically every relevant metric, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem comes out on top, demonstrating exactly why some in the game think he’s “one of the best 10s in the world”.

These numbers show that not only is the Dutchman a more creative force for his team, but also someone capable of contributing more when it comes to the less glamorous defensive side of things, which we know is a trait loved by Arteta.

Simons vs Eze

Statistics per 90

Simons

Eze

Non-Penalty G+As

0.67

0.52

Progressive Passes

5.86

3.37

Progressive Carries

3.56

2.40

Shots

2.09

3.48

Shots on Target

0.96

0.94

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

74.2%

Key Passes

2.13

2.01

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.51

1.35

Passes into the Final Third

3.31

1.70

Tackles Won

0.88

0.76

Shot-Creating Actions

4.52

4.69

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.35

Successful Take-Ons

1.38

2.33

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The second reason the Premier League runners-up should sign the Amsterdam-born ace is that he’s even more positionally versatile than the Eagles star, being capable of playing across the entire frontline as well as in the ten.

Finally, “superstar”, as he has been described by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also five years the Englishman’s junior, which means he has far more upside and, according to research carried out by The Athletic, could get far better as he likely won’t reach the peak of his powers until he’s 26 years old.

Ultimately, Eze and Simons are both extraordinary players and would be unreal signings for Arsenal.

However, due to his versatility, superb underlying numbers, and age, Arteta and Co. should opt for the latter if they can only get one.

Related He's a dream for Xavi Simons: Arsenal expect to sign £55m star "soon"

Arsenal could seal a dream partnership by signing Xavi Simons and this centre-forward.

Posts 1