The representatives of Dominic Calvert-Lewin have reportedly now held talks over a potential move away from Everton in the summer.
The Lowdown: Exit bound?
Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that there is a ‘decent chance‘ that the 25-year-old will end up leaving Merseyside in the summer, with Arsenal thought to be among the clubs who are interested in his signature.
The Goodison Park outfit find themselves in a relegation battle, and if they were to go down to the Championship, then it seems inevitable that the striker would be allowed to exit.
The Latest: Talks held
As per Football Insider, a source from St James’ Park has revealed that early talks have now taken place with Calvert-Lewin’s representatives and Newcastle over a potential move to Tyneside.
The striker’s future at Everton is thought to be ‘up in the air’, even if the Toffees stay up.
The Verdict: Depends on price
Hailed as an ‘amazing’ striker by team-mate Salomon Rondon, there is no doubting Calvert-Lewin’s importance to the Toffees, having scored more than 50 goals during his time with the club so far.
However, he has been hit with injury problems this season, and Frank Lampard’s side will not want that to continue going into the 2022/23 campaign.
Nonetheless, given that he is an England international and a good age at 25, they could demand a hefty transfer fee for him, especially from the mega-rich Newcastle owners, which could then be used to reinvest in the squad.
In other news, Everton now battling Liverpool to sign £9m-rated workhorse for free this summer
Liverpool have been heavily linked to signing Aurelien Tchouameni, and now a promising update has emerged on the chances of the Monaco midfielder moving to Merseyside this summer.
What’s the latest?
French TV presenter and journalist Gregoire Margotton has given an update on the current speculation surrounding a move for Tchouameni to the Premier League at the end of the season.
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Margotton tweeted out to his 340k followers two images, one of Tchouameni and one of Anfield accompanied with the following quotes:
“I hear the immense talent on the left could move into the legendary house [Anfield] on the right shortly. Joy. Congratulations. Happiness.”
Xabi Alonso 2.0
The signing of the £50m star who was hailed a “monster” by France U21 boss Sylvain Ripoll would be a major coup for Liverpool, with Manchester United and Arsenal both reportedly interested in securing the youngster’s signature in the upcoming transfer window.
With Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner all well into their 30s at this point, it would be a cunning idea for Jurgen Klopp to add some young blood in the more central and defensive midfield roles in the team, with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot already offering youth into the more advanced midfield roles in the team.
Tchouameni has been making impressive strides in Ligue 1 and could emulate a similar role and progress at a similar level to Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso if the deal can get done to bring him to Anfield.
Just like Alonso, the 22-year-old is most effective in a central midfield role with both outstanding defensive and pressing attributes that have seen him become an absolute nuisance for his opponents at Monaco.
According to One Versus One, Tchouameni ranks number one for pass interceptions and has made the fourth most tackles in the opponent’s half, and the fifth most tackles in his own half in the entirety of the French top-flight. That’s accompanied by an impressive three goals and one assist in 37 appearances.
Ultimately, it is looking likely that FSG and the Liverpool manager will be able to beat off the competition to sign the Monaco star this summer and can become an extremely exciting prospect for the club and supporters next season.
AND in other news: FA Cup final blow: Liverpool rocked by “massive problem” that’ll leave Klopp gutted
Sunderland have the chance to finally make their way into the Championship and out of League One as the play-offs are set to begin in the coming days.
Having played 46 games in the league so far this season, the Black Cats have won 24, drawn 12 and lost ten, scoring 79 goals and conceding 53 in the process.
One player that has been a particularly prominent figure for the Wearside club this season is defender Callum Doyle.
Since arriving at the Stadium of Light back in the previous summer transfer window on loan from Manchester City’s U23 side, the centre-back has made 41 appearances across all competitions.
After only missing two league games between the start of the season and March, the 18-year-old has only made three appearances since then.
Despite this lack of regular action in recent weeks, the teenager has still shown what a capable player he is at such a young age and why the club should try and sign him on a permanent deal in the summer.
With the highest number of interceptions (48) to his name in the squad, Doyle also has the second-highest number of tackles (40) under his belt behind Carl Winchester (63).
This shows just how much of a talented defender the £3.4k-per-week gem is off the ball.
In terms of his work on the ball, the youngster has also shown his effectiveness on the pitch by racking up a higher average of passes per game (47.1) than any other Sunderland player to start more than eight league games.
Back in August, the Englishman was on the end of some high praise from journalist James Copley who said that “if you could build the perfect centre-back in a laboratory, the end result would look a lot like Callum Doyle.”
Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that bringing the City youth prospect has been a solid move from the Black Cats.
Moving forward, with the summer transfer window on the horizon, whether the club end up moving into the Championship or staying in League One, they should definitely make an approach to the Premier League club to try and see if they would be willing to allow Doyle to leave on a permanent basis and continue his journey with the Black Cats.
Should the Wearside club secure his signature on a permanent deal in the summer, it would surely blow fans at the Stadium of Light away when you consider his performances and enormous potential in the game.
In other news: Neil must finally unleash SAFC’s rarely seen 19y/o prodigy who’s got a “bright future”
Reliable reporter Alasdair Gold has some bad news for Tottenham Hotspur supporters ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester City this afternoon…
What’s the latest?
With Sergio Reguilon and Matt Doherty ruled out of the encounter through injury, the football.london journalist believes that Emerson Royal will continue at right wing-back in what would be an unpopular decision from manager Antonio Conte.
In a pre-game piece for the website, Gold hinted at some disappointing early team news for the Lilywhites, he wrote:
‘Although the least popular decision with the fans, Conte could continue with Emerson on the right in the knowledge that Leicester are unlikely to sit back as Brighton and Brentford did which will give Kulusevski more space to impress if he is positioned further up the pitch.’
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Bad news
Indeed, it’s a claim that hasn’t gone down too well with the Lilywhites faithful with some urging Conte to consider a U23 player instead of the Brazilian right-back and others suggesting that the Italian won’t change his ways.
Emerson has struggled massively since his £26m summer move from FC Barcelona, so it’s no wonder many around N17 are worried by the prospect of the 23-year-old going up against Harvey Barnes, Ademola Lookman, and James Maddison and co.
His performances under both Nuno Santo and now Conte have drawn plenty of criticism.
Speaking to Football Insider earlier in the season, pundit Noel Whelan described him as “shocking” and “terrible”, whilst former Spurs centre-back Jonathan Woodgate isn’t surprised to see the club linked with an alternative in the form of Djed Spence.
“If you play in La Liga like Emerson Royal has, balls don’t really go into the box that much to the back post.
“You don’t need to do that much defending. In the Premier League, it happens week in, week out.
“I’ve watched [both] Emerson Royal and Djed Spence for Nottingham Forest, and Spence looks a different level, compared to him,” he told BBC 5 Live.
42% of the Foxes’ attacks come down the Brazilian’s flank, so if Conte does indeed trust him to start, it could well be a very long afternoon for the home faithful at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon.
It’s unlikely that many will be pleased with Gold’s suggestion, that’s for sure.
AND in other news, Spurs now plot bid for “devastating” £40m prodigy, he’d be a “game-changer” for Conte…
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will be relishing his first opportunity to bring in his own players when the January transfer window opens for business next month.
The German manager joined after the summer window closed and has only been able to work with the squad that was put together by previous managers and sporting directors.
With five wins and two draws in seven matches in the Scottish Premiership so far, it is exciting to think about what Rohl could achieve with signings that he has a chance to have a say in.
Rangers pushing to sign Premiership star
After a host of signings from England in the summer, the Light Blues are reportedly looking closer to home to bolster the manager’s options in midfield.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to FootballTransfers, Glasgow Rangers are ‘pushing’ to reach an agreement to sign Kilmarnock central midfielder David Watson in the January transfer window.
The Scotland U21 international’s contract with Killie is due to expire at the end of the season, and the Gers are looking to take advantage of that situation to make him the first signing of the Rohl era.
It adds that Kilmarnock are open to a sale in January, to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer, but it remains to be seen how much they will demand for his services.
FootballTransfers reveals that the 20-year-old starlet has been identified as the club’s top target for the January window, but they will face competition from Lazio and Celtic, which means that this will not be an easy deal for Rangers to get over the line in the coming weeks.
Why Rangers should sign David Watson
With Mohamed Diomande heading off to the African Cup of Nations later this month, Watson could arrive at Ibrox at the start of January as an upgrade on the Ivorian talent.
Rangers will, of course, be without Diomande until the end of his country’s run in the tournament, which could provide a new signing like the Kilmarnock star to come in and take his place in the team before he returns.
Based on their respective performances in the Scottish Premiership this season, Watson would be likely to step into the side and offer more than the left-footed star has for Rangers so far.
Described by Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson as a “box-crashing, goalscoring midfielder that works hard on both ends”, the Kilmarnock star has scored three goals and created two ‘big chances’ for Kilmarnock in the Premiership, per Sofascore, whilst Diomande has only scored one goal and created one ‘big chance’ for his team in that time.
This suggests that Watson, on current form, could offer more of a threat at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues if he arrives in January to take a place in Rohl’s midfield, as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the middle of the park.
Appearances
12
16
Goals
1
3
Big chances created
1
2
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
3.1
Duels won per game
2.9
5.7
Ground duel success rate
45%
50%
Aerial duel success rate
31%
41%
As you can see in the table above, the Scottish talent has also provided more quality than Diomande out of possession in the league this season, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the ground and in the air, whilst making more defensive interceptions per game.
Analyst John Walker claimed that Watson had “blown up the league” last year, and the same is true this season with his impressive performances in the middle of the park as a 20-year-old star.
The Killie central midfielder has significantly outperformed Diomande, who was the subject of a £6.5m bid from Besiktas in the summer, and has shown that he can deliver consistent displays in the division.
Watson, who scored four goals in 23 league starts in the 2024/25 campaign, is a proven Premiership performer who could arrive at Ibrox to hit the ground running in January, which is exactly what they need when signing a player midway through the season.
Rangers dud was as "rotten" as Miovski, now he's Rohl's most improved player
This Glasgow Rangers flop who looked as bad as Bojan Miovski is now Danny Rohl’s most improved performer.
ByDan Emery Dec 8, 2025
With Diomande set to jet away to the African Cup of Nations, signing the Scottish star to come in as an upgrade on him at the start of the January transfer window could be a shrewd move by the club and a dream first signing for Rohl.
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has largely impressed under Thomas Frank and throughout his time in north London, so much so that he’s now attracting serious rumoured interest from Real Madrid.
Real Madrid turn to Tottenham star Micky van de Ven as 2026 target
The Dutchman, signed from Wolfsburg during the very start of Ange Postecoglou’s era in charge, formed an absolutely stellar partnership with Cristian Romero over his first two seasons.
Romero was reportedly on Real’s shortlist of targets before the Argentine committed his future to N17 by penning a brand-new £195,000-per-week contract, which made him Spurs’ joint-highest earner alongside summer signing Xavi Simons.
Van de Ven and Romero once starred in Postecoglou’s high line, which was a key reason for Tottenham’s success and qualification for the Europa League in 2023/2024.
Micky van de Ven
7.4/10
Djed Spence
7.3/10
Rodrigo Bentancur
7.3/10
Mohammed Kudus
7.2/10
Santiago Mourino
7.1/10
via WhoScored
Last season, Tottenham conceded just 20 goals in the 18 games they started together, with the duo’s injury problems throughout 24/25 seriously crippling Spurs.
With Romero tied down and van de Ven continuing to impress this season, it is believed that Real are now eyeing a move for the latter as Xabi Alonso looks to bolster his central defensive options in 2026.
Tottenham are reportedly ready to double van de Ven’s wages in an attempt to keep him out of their clutches, with Chelsea also believed to be interested in the ex-Bundesliga star amid Enzo Maresca’s hunt for new centre-backs (Graeme Bailey).
Losing the pacey, powerful and commanding centre-half would be a major blow for Frank, and journalist Dean Jones has sent a warning to Tottenham about Real’s interest.
Tottenham sent Micky van de Ven a warning amid head-turning Real Madrid plan
Speaking to TEAMtalk, Jones reports that Real are planning to “turn people’s heads” with a statement defensive signing, and despite Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate being Alonso’s main target, an alternative move for van de Ven cannot be ruled out.
Commenting on Real’s “interesting” van de Ven links, he’s “heard” that this could be one to watch.
Defenders of his calibre, age and ability are few and far between.
Van de Ven’s recovery speed is arguably his biggest asset. Time and again, he bailed Spurs out with last-ditch tackles or blistering sprints to snuff out counter-attacks during Postecoglou’s reign, and he’s been equally imperative for Frank.
talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara went as far to say that Romero and van de Ven are the best centre-back partnership in the world right now, and either player would stroll into Alonso’s starting eleven at the Bernabeu.
Manchester City are leading the race for a “world-class” star, and they are now prepared to explore a deal in the January transfer window.
Man City looking at signing new forward after slow start
Man City’s opening match was full of promise, picking up an impressive 4-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but they have since gone on to lose their last two matches, and Rodri was very critical of the performance in the 2-1 loss at Brighton.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner said: “Some of the mistakes we are making are kids’ mistakes; you are not concentrating and paying attention. The reality is that we have to raise the level if we want to compete.”
Pep Guardiola initially attempted to ‘raise the level’ by overhauling his squad during the summer transfer window, although there were very few additions in forward areas, with the now injured Rayan Cherki the only outright attacker to move to the Etihad Stadium.
That is despite City being heavily linked with a new winger, and at one stage they were preparing an offer for Rodrygo, but the Brazilian ultimately ended up remaining at Real Madrid.
However, there has now been a new update on Man City’s pursuit of Rodrygo, with a report from Caught Offside revealing they are leading the race for the 24-year-old’s signature. It is claimed that the forward is seen as a “perfect fit” and a “key piece” in City’s fluid attacking system.
During the summer transfer window, Arsenal were informed that Madrid would be prepared to listen to offers of around €80m (£69m), which suggests it may take a similar amount to get a deal done this winter, with City now willing to explore a January move.
More rounded than Isak & Haaland: Man City must rue losing 'world's best CF'
Manchester City must regret selling a centre-forward sensation who could rival Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak
ByWill Miller Sep 6, 2025
Interestingly, Madrid are open to cashing-in on the Brazil international this summer, which may be music to Pep’s ears, given that the 54-year-old is known to be a long-term admirer.
"World-class" Rodrygo could take Man City's attack to next level
Oscar Bobb has made a decent start to the season, scoring at the Club World Cup, before going on to pick up an assist against Wolves on the opening day, but the Norwegian is still yet to truly establish himself at the top level.
As such, Pep may be keen to bring in a more proven winger this winter, and the Real Madrid forward is now a seasoned Brazil international, scoring seven goals in 33 appearances for his country, while also picking up 119 goal contributions in 272 outings for his current employers.
Journalist Kyle Bonn has previously praised the former Santos man for his ability to put away chances, which is evidenced by the fact he has averaged 0.35 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, despite being expected to score 0.21 per 90.
Rodrygo could take Man City’s attack to the next level, so it is exciting news that they have now moved into pole position in the race for his signature.
One club are willing to sell their star midfielder to Tottenham Hotspur this summer and plan to replace him with Sunderland ace Jobe Bellingham, according to an intriguing report this week.
Tottenham target midfielder after 2024/2025 injury crisis
Ange Postecoglou was left desperately short of options in numerous areas throughout 2024/2025, which undoubtedly played a key role in their lowly 17th-placed finish and record number of Premier League defeats.
Salah-like forward considers joining Tottenham as contract expires in 2025
Spurs have an opportunity to strike a bargain deal.
ByEmilio Galantini May 28, 2025
Injuries threatened to dampen their Europa League final success as well, particularly in midfield, with Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison both forced to sit out of their eventual 1-0 win over Man United in Bilbao.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Star midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has suffered fairly frequent lay-offs over the last two campaigns as well, and the South American’s presence is always missed when unavailable.
Postecoglou or any new manager is also facing the looming threat of AFCON midway through 2025/2026, with both Pape Sarr (Senegal) and Yves Bissouma (Mali) set to compete at the tournament in Morocco.
The Lilywhites face being left very short in the middle through a combination of possible injuries and international obligations, leaving little surprise that chairman Daniel Levy reportedly has his eyes on new options.
Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is a reported target for Tottenham, with the England international recently confirming that he’s set to quit his club this summer after his contract expires.
“After four unforgettable years at LOSC Lille, it’s time for me to say goodbye,” he said.
“This club has been more than just a team – it’s been a family, a home, and a place that has shaped me both on and off the pitch. Like any journey, there were ups and downs, highs and lows, but I’m truly grateful to my team-mates and the fans for sticking with me throughout.”
Gomes’ availability at zero transfer cost makes him a prime candidate to reinforce Spurs’ midfield, but he’s by no means their only target.
Eintracht Frankfurt prepared to sell Larsson to Tottenham
According to GiveMeSport, Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson is on their radar as well, following his very productive campaign with the Bundesliga side.
GMS report that Eintracht are “prepared” to sell Larsson to Tottenham, if Levy pays the required £50 million to secure his signature, and Dino Toppmoller’s side are targeting Sunderland’s Bellingham as a replacement for the 20-year-old.
RB Leipzig'sXaviSimonsin action with Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Larsson
However, while the door is described as open for Spurs to move ahead with negotiations, the £50m asking price could still prove to be a sticking point, despite the riches acquired from qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The Sweden international could be considered an elite midfield technician, having registered an 87.4% passing accuracy in the Bundesliga this season (WhoScored), and he’s even been compared to Balon d’Or winner Rodri by some.
His “skillfulness” and “close control” also has shades of Man City legend Kevin de Bruyne, as per the Bundesliga website, so Spurs risk missing out on a potentially world-class talent.
Despite winning the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign, Liverpool are incredibly active in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster their squad.
The window officially opened for business on Sunday and the club have already confirmed Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong as their first signing of the year.
He has come through the door as the direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has completed a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup.
Liverpool are also reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, as David Ornstein has claimed that the Germany international is keen to make the move to Anfield.
The 22-year-old star delivered 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen during the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that the Reds could be bringing in an influential figure at the top end of the pitch.
These new signings coming in could provide added competition for the existing stars at Anfield, and one player who may need to be on his toes is Ibrahima Konate.
Why Ibrahima Konate could be concerned this summer
The France international started 30 of his 31 appearances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, as the main partner for Virgil van Dijk at the back.
However, it did not always look like that was going to be the case for the former RB Leipzig star. Last summer, Football Insider reported that Arne Slot was not convinced by the centre-back, due to his performances on the pitch and in training, as well as his injury record.
Ibrahima Konate warming up for Liverpool
That was seemingly backed up by the Dutch head coach’s decision to go with Jarrel Quansah next to van Dijk ahead of Konate on the opening day against Ipswich Town. However, the English youngster endured a difficult half against Liam Delap and was replaced by the French titan at half-time.
Konate then went on to be a regular starter in the Premier League, despite those early concerns about his place in the side, but there were still moments that could throw his long-term future into doubt.
Appearances
31
Starts
30
Ground duel success rate
61%
Aerial duel success rate
71%
Error led to shot
2
Error led to goal
1
As you can see in the table above, the French colossus was largely dominant in duels on the deck and in the air, but was also no stranger to making a mistake at the back.
Errors crept into his performances, with three errors leading to shots or goals for the opposition, in the Premier League, and that is why the club’s reported interest in a new central defender could leave him concerned this summer.
Liverpool eyeing deal for new centre-back
According to Football Insider, the path has been cleared for Liverpool to pursue a deal to sign RB Leipzig central defender Castello Lukeba in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
The report claims that the German side’s seventh-placed finish in the Bundesliga, which means that they will not be playing European football next season, has cleared the path for the Reds to swoop in for the centre-back, making them one of the favourites to secure his signature.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that the French star has a release clause of £74m in his contract with Leipzig, and that Liverpool are on high alert after his team failed to qualify for Europe.
The report adds, however, that the Premier League giants will attempt to use the situation to negotiate a lower fee for the 22-year-old titan, which means that they could sign him for less than the £74m release clause.
Konate could, now, be concerned by this news because another centre-back arriving at Anfield this summer could create competition for his place that could see him drop out of the starting XI on a regular basis.
If Liverpool can get a deal over the line for Lukeba in the coming weeks or months, Slot could have a centre-back on his hands who has the potential to be an upgrade on his current partner for van Dijk.
Why Castello Lukeba could replace Ibrahima Konate
Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as the “perfect” left centre-back slash left-back hybrid, which could mean that he could move over to the left side of the pairing with the captain on the right in order to replace Konate.
The Leipzig star’s reliability, first and foremost, is what may attract Slot to him. In 103 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga for Lyon and Leipzig combined, the 22-year-old star has not made a single error that has directly led to a goal for the opposition.
On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that Mattinson has also referred to him as “one of the best defensive prospects in world football” and one of “the best U21 centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues.”
In comparison, Konate has made five errors leading to goals in just 82 appearances in the Premier League, which suggests that he is nowhere near as reliable as Lukeba in that sense.
This means that Slot could rely on the £74m-rated star more to deliver consistent performances without making critical mistakes that create chances for the opposition.
Appearances
31
23
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.8
2.0
Dribbled past per game
0.3x
0.3x
Ground duel success rate
61%
65%
Aerial duel success rate
71%
65%
Error led to shot
2
0
Error led to goal
1
0
As you can see in the table above, Lukeba also made slightly more tackles and interceptions per game on average at league level this season, whilst also winning a higher percentage of his ground duels.
Konate appears to have the edge over him when it comes to winning aerial duels, although the Leipzig star is not weak in that respect, but overall, the Liverpool defender comes out second-best.
These statistics indicate that the Reds number five should be concerned about his place in the starting XI if Lukeba walks through the door, because the young titan has the qualities to displace him next season.
Slot could improve his team by signing the French star to provide a more reliable presence at the heart of the defence in comparison to Konate, due to his lack of errors in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, which is why this could be an excellent addition for the club.
He's like Wirtz: Liverpool can axe Diaz by signing 'England's best winger'
Liverpool face the summer sale of one of their most important players.
If Arsenal needed any more motivation to get over the finishing line next season, Tottenham Hotspur have just provided them with it.
With second place in the Premier League now practically secured, the board and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta can turn their attention to the summer transfer window and the hunt for a new striker.
Two of the strikers most heavily linked with a move to the Emirates over the last few months have been Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, although, with the former lacking experience in a top-five league and the latter potentially costing upwards of £150m, other options have also been floated.
In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta and Co are now interested in an ideal Gyokeres alternative who has won comparisons to the Toon star.
Arsenal's striker search
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other strikers who have been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, like Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap.
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 has enjoyed another impressive season with RB Leipzig, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists in 45 games, although such a rate of return has reportedly seen his release clause increase to around £75m.
Delap, on the other hand, has a release clause worth just £30m in his current contract, although, with 12 goals and two assists to his name in 36 Premier League games this season, he’d represent more of a gamble.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapapplauds fans after the match
Moreover, if Arteta and Co really want someone who’d be a genuine alternative to Gyokeres, they’d have to be a proven goalscorer, such as Julián Alvarez.
According to a recent report from journalist Matías Palacios via the Spanish football program El Chiringuito, Arsenal are one of several teams very interested in the Atletico Madrid star.
In fact, the journalist claims that the Gunners, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all “want” the Argentine this summer and that “meetings with the interested clubs will begin” next week.
A potential price tag for the striker is not mentioned, but as he cost the La Liga giants around £82m only last summer, we wouldn’t be surprised to see his valuation hit nine figures, especially as the CIES Football Observatory price him at €125m, which is about £105m.
With that said, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Alvarez, as not only could he be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres, but he’s also won comparisons to Isak.
How Alvarez compares Isak
So, before we look at some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Alvarez this summer, we should examine this comparison to Isak and where it comes from.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and concluded that the Swede is the tenth most similar forward to the Argentine across the last 365 days.
We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including, but not limited to, expected assisted goals, progressive carries, shots on target and goals per shot, key passes, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.
Expected Assisted Goals
0.17
0.15
Progressive Carries
2.79
2.77
Shots on Target
1.23
1.32
Goals per Shot
0.19
0.21
Passing Accuracy
74.6%
74.7%
Key Passes
1.45
1.39
Goal-Creating Actions
0.45
0.47
On top of the clear statistical similarities, the former Manchester City star has also scored a similar number of goals as the Newcastle ace this season.
For example, in 53 appearances, the “world-class” forward, as dubbed by City content creator It’s LB, has scored 29 goals and provided six assists.
In comparison, the former Real Sociedad star has scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 41 games for the Magpies this term.
Finally, on top of the goals and similarities to one of the best strikers in the world, the Gunners should seriously consider signing Alveraz because he’s a proven winner, having won the treble with City in the 22/23 season.
Therefore, whatever it costs, Arsenal should look to bring the World Cup winner to N5 this summer, even if that means not signing Gyokeres.
Viktor Gyokeres' message to close circle amid Arsenal agreement claims