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Chelsea need to balance the books with player sales, in light of their estimated £140 million summer transfer expenditure so far, not to mention pressure from UEFA with regard to FFP.

The Blues are set to receive a bucket-load of prize money from reaching the final of the Club World Cup, having earned a reported £80 million in total from their six games at the tournament so far, but the sheer amount of deadwood on Enzo Maresca’s books needs trimming.

"World-class" player reaches gentleman's agreement to leave Chelsea

He can depart for an obtainable fee.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 9, 2025

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys and Marcus Bettinelli all departed Stamford Bridge recently and brought in around £19 million, but there are a host of other players in line to depart the west London club.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku and Djordje Petrovic could all reportedly leave Chelsea too, but BlueCo face an almighty task to find all the aforementioned men new homes before deadline day on September 1.

Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Madueke, and ESPN report that they could agree a £43 million deal with Chelsea by the end of this week, so as things stand, it appears that transfer could be closest to completion.

Petrovic is also attracting a lot of interest after reaching a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that he can leave Chelsea for £25 million.

The writing has been on the wall for a lot of the previously named Chelsea men for quite some time, but striker Nicolas Jackson could now join them out the door, especially after the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Jackson is “no longer” unsellable, according to multiple reports, and it shows just how quickly things can change in football. The Senegal international was branded one of Maresca’s “most important” players by pundit Joe Cole in May, but Jackson now finds himself in an increasingly precarious situation.

Nicolas Jackson could leave Chelsea in Barcelona loan deal

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona could offer the African a new temporary landing spot.

While talks between the Catalans and Maresca’s side are yet to take place, Barca have apparently “set their sights” on signing Jackson from Chelsea, amid a belief that the 24-year-old would fit perfectly into Hansi Flick’s system.

Chelsea are also said to be open to letting Jackson depart for the Camp Nou on an initial loan deal, on the condition he’s guaranteed game time, so Barca’s hierarchy are closely monitoring the ex-Villarreal gem ahead of a potential swoop.

If Barca do entertain the possibility of signing him permanently in future, perhaps at the end of his loan if he does well enough, then Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea have placed a £52 million price tag on his head – so Barca know exactly what it will take.

If Liverpool aren’t already favourites to retain their Premier League title after signing Florian Wirtz for a British record transfer fee of £116m, then they certainly would be if they signed Alexander Isak.

Plenty of teams around the globe have dreamed of bringing the Swede to their club and the Anfield outfit could well make that a reality this summer.

Boy, what a signing this would be. Isak scored 27 goals in all competitions last term. He netted 23 in the Premier League. The only man with more was Liverpool hero, Mo Salah.

So, the Newcastle United forward is a pretty special talent and it’s understandable that the Toon have no desire to let him depart St James’ Park this summer.

Still, Liverpool are trying and they’re willing to put a lot of money on the table to bring him further south to Merseyside.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

While Liverpool have dreamt of signing Isak all summer long, they haven’t made their intentions clear until this week.

Indeed, the Athletic’s David Ornstein dropped a seismic piece of news earlier in the week that the league winners have made an approach, but no formal offer just yet, to sign Isak. The Magpies have reiterated that he is not for sale, that’s despite Liverpool suggesting they are willing to pay around £120m for his services.

That being said, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has suggested that “every player has their price” and Newcastle could be brought to the negotiating table if a £150m bid is made.

Transfer Focus

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

Whether the Reds have what it takes to put that sort of money out there after breaking their transfer record once this summer already remains to be seen.

With such money involved, a move does feel unlikely. It’s why they are courting alternatives.

Liverpool's two best Isak alternatives

The main striker on the radar of the recruitment team at the moment is Hugo Ekitike. However, like the Isak situation, it’s a tricky situation. That’s because Newcastle are embroiled in this saga as well.

News broke at the beginning of the week that Newcastle are working on a deal to sign the Frenchman from Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. Yet, he’s also a player that Liverpool like.

Ornstein again revealed on Wednesday that the Merseysiders have made contact with the Bundesliga club regarding a move.

Fabrizio Romano has already indicated that if Newcastle don’t sell Isak then they will aim to steal the Toon’s number one target away from them. Well, the wheels are in motion on that move already, with Romano revealing on Thursday that a bid has now been submitted to sign the Frankfurt striker.

Liverpool have other players on their radar, perhaps most notably Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. The most exciting name is Julian Alvarez.

A report from Spain earlier in the window indicated that Liverpool were prepared to pay around £142m for the Atletico Madrid forward and now Anfield Watch reporter Bence Bocsak has revealed that the Argentine is still on their ‘radar’.

He suggests that Alvarez is a ‘dream option’, but like Isak, it’s unlikely Atleti will sanction a sale just one year after bringing him to Spain from Manchester City.

How Alvarez compares to Isak and Ekitike

Isak would be a remarkable coup for Liverpool if they could get a deal over the line. He’s one of the best strikers around the globe and has proven over the last two campaigns that he can score goals at a regular rate in the Premier League.

Ekitike, by comparison, clearly has lots of potential. He’s already been described as “the next Mbappe” in some quarters but rather like Darwin Nunez, he’s a raw talent, someone who still needs to refine his game.

What’s Alvarez like? Well, he’s proven, not just on the continent now with Atleti but also in the Premier League, where he won trophy after trophy with Manchester City.

He’s also the complete package, cut from a similar cloth as Roberto Firmino. This is not just a goalscorer. He’s a creator, a facilitator, and someone who could thrive just as Firmino did with the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo either side. Dare we say, it could even be with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo to one side? Liverpool are currently leading the race for the Brazilian, according to reports, but that’s a story for another day.

Described as a “monster” by Argentine journalist Pablo Gonzalez and remarkably as “the best forward in the world” by reporter Roy Nemer, he ended his debut campaign in the Spanish capital having scored 29 goals, two more than Isak, and he also registered eight assists.

Let’s also cast your mind back to his final term at the Eithad. During 2023/24, he was prolific in front of goal, bagging 19 goals and registering 14 assists. This is a player who does a lot of things right.

Analysing the numbers deeper across the last two seasons, we get a sense for what Isak and Alvarez do well, but primarily from the metrics assessed, where the Argentine superstar thrives in comparison.

The Swede is clearly more prolific per 90 minutes as far as goals are concerned but Alvarez offers the ability to create, registering more key passes, progressive passes and producing an extra shot-creating action every 90 minutes.

That means that even if he doesn’t score quite as many goals, he’s remaining a big threat in the final third and would provide that Firmino-like ability to make things happen in Slot’s attack.

Isak is the dream but here us out, Alvarez has his perks too. His overall game is certainly better, that’s for sure.

He's better than Ekitike: Liverpool chasing "monster" £60m Isak alternative

Liverpool are looking to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer window.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 15, 2025

Granit Xhaka is now officially a Sunderland player.

It had been the talk of the town on Wearside for some time, with the deal having a will he won’t he quality to it, but the Black Cats have managed to successfully pull off the statement move by securing the former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder’s services for £17m.

Well-versed in what it takes to be a success in the Premier League, too, this really does feel like a coup on the end of the Black Cats to land such a recognised top-flight performer.

They aren’t done here, however, when it comes to raiding the Bundesliga for some exciting talents, as another midfielder remains on their shopping list from Germany.

Sunderland in race to sign £26m sensation

The Premier League newcomers have been casting their net all across Europe this summer to date, with Habib Diarra joining Regis Le Bris’ camp from Strasbourg for a whopping £30m, on top of Noah Sadiki leaving Belgium behind for the challenge of the English game.

Up next, it looks as if Sunderland are going to win themselves a brand-new goalkeeper from the Netherlands, with reports suggesting that NEC Nijmegen stopper Robin Roefs will link up with Xhaka and Co. very soon for around the £11.5m mark.

Then, their attentions might well shift back to Leverkusen, with journalist Julien Laurens revealing via X that Le Bris’ side have now entered the race for Amine Adli’s signature, alongside fellow top-flight outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It would reportedly cost the Black Cats in the region of £26m to land Adli, who is also believed to be prioritising a move to England, over sticking it out at Erik ten Hag’s men.

Over time, Adli could even go on to establish himself as a bigger talent than Simon Adingra at the Stadium of Light, as Le Bris’ options down either flank grow more plentiful by the day.

How Adli could become a bigger talent than Adingra

Adingra is up and running in Sunderland red and white, having fired home a strike against Hull City last time out in a pre-season runout.

The expectation will be that he can instantly take the Premier League by storm after gaining these valuable minutes in pre-season, having already tallied up eight strikes in the relentless division from 60 outings for ex-employers Brighton and Hove Albion.

However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the 23-year-old on the South Coast, with Adingra only averaging 40 minutes of Premier League action on average last season, as he tumbled down the pecking order under Fabian Hurzeler.

Whilst Adli has also suffered from minimal first-team opportunities at the BayArena – with only six Bundesliga starts coming his way last campaign – his numbers have never really stalled, as the English top-flight now opens up as a daring next step for the Moroccan forward.

Despite Xabi Alonso utilising him far less last season, Adli would still manage to reach the same number of goals and assists Adingra registered at Brighton in one fewer clash, on top of also boasting 47 goal contributions full stop for Leverkusen from 142 contests. Adingra, on the contrary, only collected 17 for the Seagulls, albeit from 68 fewer clashes.

Therefore, with that wealth of experience on his side, which has also seen him tally up four goals and four assists in the Europa League previously, the “electric” winger – as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – could well get the starting nudge by Le Bris to line up down the left over the Ivorian.

Once also lauded for possessing an “outstanding” pass by ex-Leverkusen teammate Mousa Diaby, Adli could further be the spark that gets more out of the Sunderland bodies around him, as his new potential side attempts to make survival look comfortable, as opposed to an all-consuming chore.

Le Bris' next Rigg: Sunderland strongly pursuing £38m “soldier” after Xhaka

Sunderland could sign their second coming of Chris Rigg by snapping up this exciting youngster.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 29, 2025

Fermin Lopez turned down the chance to join Chelsea after he reportedly had encouraging talks with coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco.

• Chelsea submitted bid for Fermin Lopez
• Lopez considered move but ultimately chose to stay
• Midfielder willing to fight for position at Barca

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 22-year-old Andalusian midfielder rejected a move to the Premier League as he reiterated his love for Barcelona and showcased his determination to make it to the starting lineup. This was despite coach Flick telling him it would be rather difficult to guarantee him playing minutes. According to , it was of Lopez's own accord and Chelsea's unwillingness to match Barca's price tag that ultimately led the player to continue with the Blaugrana.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reportedly, when the bid from Chelsea first arrived, the Barca midfielder re-evaluated his position in the team as he opened up to Flick about not being played enough even though he showcased his skills in the prior season. Flick agreed but still couldn't guarantee him regular playing time, considering the star-laden squad. However, Flick conveyed to him that he counted on him and wanted him to stay. Lopez then spoke with Deco, who clarified that should an offer matching their €90 million (£78m/$105m) price tag arrive, they wouldn't hinder his sale. Eventually, the 22-year-old opted to stay with Barca, going against his camp's wishes.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In an interview after the summer transfer saga, Lopez opened up about how he spoke with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo and Raphinha about Chelsea's interest in him. Upon hearing this news, his teammates asked him to stay at Barca and were very supportive, which he appreciated. The La Masia academy product further revealed that Barca has always been his priority and making it to the first team is his dream.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LOPEZ?

  Lopez is back from the international break and will be joining Flick's side for a hectic stretch of their seasonal campaign, with fixtures against Villarreal, Newcastle, and Getafe all in a week's time. With Gavi's and Frenkie de Jong's injuries, Lopez can hope for more minutes on the pitch.

Turning towards an imminent Chuba Akpom alternative, Birmingham City’s move to sign an impressive Bundesliga striker is now reportedly “considered a done deal”.

Latest on Chuba Akpom

Ahead of Friday’s meeting between Ipswich Town and Birmingham to get the Championship campaign underway, the two clubs have been involved in a dramatic transfer chase for Akpom. The former Middlesbrough striker looked destined to complete a move to St. Andrew’s before Ipswich came calling to add a twist to the tale.

The transfer tussle is still going on, but if Akpom gets his wish then he will be off to Ipswich this summer. Whether Ajax grant their forward’s wish or simply choose the better offer is now the big question. Either way, no matter the club, Akpom looks destined to find himself on the pitch at St.Andrew’s on Friday.

Opening games rarely need added anticipation, but Akpom’s decision will certainly add fuel to the fire as newly-promoted Birmingham aim to make an instant statement against relegated Ipswich.

Looking ahead to the game, Birmingham boss Chris Davies told reporters: “We know what this place is like when it’s rocking. I have no doubt, that come 8pm on Friday night, it will be rocking, so I’m looking forward to it. Our job is to focus on our work, prepare for the game in the next few days, and then when it comes around be ready to go.”

Even if they miss out on Akpom, meanwhile, reports suggest that Birmingham may still have a fresh striker of their own to counter Ipswich’s potential transfer victory.

Ducksch to Birmingham "considered a done deal"

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Birmingham City’s move for Marvin Ducksch is now “considered a done deal” after an agreement worth €2m (£1.7m) between the Blues and Werder Bremen.

Birmingham co-owner and former NFL superstar Tom Brady reportedly played a part in talks and was pushing to welcome Ducksch ahead of Birmingham’s Championship return.

At 31 years old, the German will add some vital experience to Birmingham’s frontline alongside young forward Jay Stansfield, whilst also handing Davies a proven goalscorer at the top level.

Bigger talent than Akpom: Birmingham City plot move for "fearless" PL ace

Birmingham City could sign a bigger talent than Chuba Akpom by winning the services of this Premier League starlet.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 4, 2025

Praised as “dangerous” by Werder’s head of football, Clemens Fritz, Ducksch scored nine goals in all competitions last season whilst also creating a further 11 goals. With 20 goal contributions to see his name, it’s clear that the Blues are set to sign undeniable quality at a bargain price.

Manchester United have posted their highest ever amount of revenue for last season, despite having their worst campaign on the pitch in 51 years. On Wednesday, the Red Devils published their latest financial results, which they said show 'the enduring strength and resilience of the club' as well as the benefits of 'difficult decisions taken', namely making an extra 200 staff members redundant.

• United boast record revenue

  The Red Devils amassed total revenue of £666.5 million ($909m) for the year ended 30 June 2025. It was only a small increase (£4.7m or 0.7 percent) from the previous year, but it was enough to break the previous record. The biggest increase (by 10%) was in commercial revenue, as a result of the club's front-of-shirt sponsorship with Snapdragon, the most valuable deal of its kind in world sport, and the launch of its new ecommerce model with SCAYL.

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• Salary cuts lead to £51.5m saving

  United saved £51.5m thanks to reduced operational costs and a 14.1% fall in employee expenses. That was partly driven by the club making employees redundant, referred to as 'wider club restructuring' although the main factor was the 25% reduction in player wages as a result of the failure to qualify for the Champions League for the last two seasons.

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  Top performing club in Europe

  United are hailing one measure in particular, EBITDA of £182.8m. The acronym stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and is described as the best reflection of underlying business performance. It is the highest level of any club in European football since the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Omar Berrada praises United's financial resilience

  United's chief executive Omar Berrada said the results, which came despite finishing 15th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for any European competition, reflected United's strength as an institution. "To have generated record revenues during such a challenging year for the club demonstrates the resilience which is a hallmark of Manchester United," he said. "As we settle into the 2025-26 season, we are working hard to improve the club in all areas."

Manchester United have now identified a “strong leader” from Bayern Munich as one of their priority targets, and his agent has made contact over a potential deal, journalist Christian Falk has revealed.

Man Utd looking to sign defender alongside Baleba

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba has quickly risen to near the top of Man United’s shortlist, and they are now confident they will be able to get a deal for the Cameroonian over the line, but central midfield is not the only position in which they are keen to strengthen.

Indeed, a formal move has now been made for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, but it could be difficult for United to win the race for the Englishman, given that reigning Premier League champions Liverpool are known to be interested too.

Not Baleba: Man Utd now submit £69m offer to sign "spectacular" midfielder

The Red Devils have tabled a bid for a central midfielder.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 13, 2025

As a result, the Red Devils may be forced to move on to alternatives, and they have now identified a new priority signing, according to Falk, who recently told CFBayern that Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano is one of their key targets.

In fact, Upamecano’s agent, Moussa Sissko, has now offered a number of Premier League clubs the chance to sign his client, including Man United, as reaching an agreement on a new deal with the German club has proven to be difficult.

The 26-year-old’s current contract is set to expire next summer, which means the Bundesliga champions are at risk of losing him on a free transfer, and they are hesitant to let the negotiations drag on for too long, which could pave the way for an exit.

"Strong leader" Upamecano could be exactly what Man Utd need

United legend Roy Keane has been extremely critical of United captain Bruno Fernandes in the past, with the Irishman saying: “I would take the captaincy off him 100 per cent. I know it’s a big decision, obviously they changed the captaincy with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material.”

A lack of authority on the pitch is arguably a big reason behind the Red Devils’ demise, which means the Bayern defender could be an ideal addition to the squad, given his leadership capabilities.

After watching the Frenchman play for Bayern against Celtic in the Champions League, UEFA observer Michael O’Neill said: “He was strong defensively, won all his duels, was great in possession and a strong leader.”

The former RB Leipzig man has also performed well across some key defensive metrics over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs.

As such, the £166k-a-week star’s strong defensive showings and leadership skills could make him the ideal addition to Ruben Amorim’s backline.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has accused the Premier League of inflating the players' salaries and transfer fees. According to the 63-year-old, this affects the global market and other leagues including the Spanish top flight as well as he stressed the importance of "sustainability" across Europe's leagues.

• Premier League punching above their weight?

  The 2025 summer window saw around 12,000 international transfers, and the spending, as per FIFA, was a whopping $9.7 billion. This was 50% more than last season, with Premier League clubs alone spending $3.19 billion on high profile such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, who all joined Liverpool, and new Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko. This was more than the cumulative figure of Spain ($666m), Italy ($950m), France ($730m) and Germany ($980m), prompting Tebas to warning of a destructive outcome if such spending continues.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tebas explains his point with an example

  While speaking at the third edition of the Expansion & Marca Business Sport Forum, he said: "We always compare ourselves to the Premier League, but we should see how we are doing compared to the Bundesliga. I want to point out how the Premier League's numbers are not correct. The turnover of La Liga and the Bundesliga is very similar; we're around €4 billion in revenue. The Premier League earns not double, but 1.8 million more, but we're going to say double. The logical thing is that if La Liga spends €700 million, the Premier League would spend €1.4 billion. But in the last seven seasons, the Premier League has always spent much more than double, which is what it should have. This year, it should have spent €1.4 billion, but it spent €4 billion. Where do those €2.5 billion come from? Losses. What happens? Inflation. If you pay more than you should have spent, you'll lose. Your turnover, what happens? If someone pays much more, it inflates salaries and affects us all because the market today is global."

  He also touched on the UK government's interventions, referring to the establishment of an independent regulator, adding: "Today, the Premier League is being intervened by the government because they are worried about what is happening to English football. Last year, it lost €1.2 billion; La Liga isn't going to lose money, nor is the Bundesliga. I no longer talk about Italy and France because they are much worse off. We always go to the Premier League, but I am careful about the state of the Premier League, which has reached the point of being invested in by the government. Companies are competitive and economically sustainable. What we are doing in Spanish football is very important."

• Tebas approached UEFA

  Tebas wants to curb the Premier League's spending, and to get it incorporated, he has approached UEFA multiple times.

  "The rules need to be made much more uniform because they're different," he said. "What's allowed in the Premier League isn't allowed in Spain, and UEFA should take an interventionist stance there. We've had a few meetings with UEFA, and we'll see if we continue along those lines, which is what everyone wants, including many Premier League teams."

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  La Liga more like Bundesliga than Premier League

  La Liga introduced their economic control over the teams in 2013, after being inspired by UEFA's Financial Fair Play model. The president says comparisons to the Premier League are not helpful, preferring to put La Liga on a par with the Bundesliga instead.

It is starting to feel like it’s now or never for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta has done a brilliant job taking the Gunners from mid-table mediocrity to perennial challengers over the last five years. Still, after three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League, some are starting to lose patience.

Fortunately, the board and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta and Co are backing him this summer, and have already made several exciting signings, most notably Viktor Gyokeres.

However, with Alexander Isak looking like he might be going to reigning champions Liverpool, the North Londoners might need to find some more firepower from somewhere.

Interestingly, the club have already been linked with just the player this summer, someone who’d improve the team overall and even help Gyokeres reach the output levels of Isak.

Transfer Focus

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

Gyokeres' potential impact at Arsenal

After what felt like months of back and forth with Sporting CP, Arsenal finally got their hands on Gyokeres for around £63.5m including add-ons late last month, and while that is undoubtedly a lot of money, it’s not hard to understand why the club think he’ll be worth it.

For example, in just 52 appearances last season, the Swedish “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored a staggering 54 goals and provided 13 assists to boot.

In other words, the 27-year-old international averaged 1.28 goal involvements every game, or one every 63.40 minutes, which is nothing short of miraculous.

However, two potential problems could stifle his output in England.

The first is the simple fact that Portugal’s top-flight is far more forgiving than the Premier League, with it being ranked as just the eighth toughest in the world by Opta Analyst, coming in behind the Championship and Belgian top-flight.

The second problem is that, unlike the right-hand side, where Bukayo Saka will provide a constant stream of top-quality chances, the Gunners’ left-wing options haven’t been as effective as they needed to be over the last few years.

This is even more of a problem with the former Coventry City star, as when you look at his heat map from last season, it’s evident that, at times, he floats out to the left to interchange and collect the ball from his teammates.

However, the good news is that Arsenal could solve this problem if they go back into the market and sign an international player they were linked with earlier in the window: Morgan Rogers.

Why Rogers could help Gyokeres reach Isak level numbers

While there haven’t been any concrete links to Rogers in recent weeks, he was touted for a move to Arsenal earlier in the summer, although with a potential price tag of up to £100m.

Ignoring the potential cost of the deal for now, it would be fair to say that adding Rogers to Arteta’s current side would make them even more dangerous this season, and in particular, he could help Gyokeres reach Isak’s level of numbers.

We say this as even though he was playing for an Aston Villa side that eventually missed out on Champions League qualification last season, he was still an absolute output “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob.

For example, in 54 appearances last season, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born superstar scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists, which means he was able to average a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 155.03 minutes.

On top of being a reliable source of goals and assists, the second reason the Claret and Blue star could be the player to help supercharge Gyokeres this season is his positional versatility.

While the 23-year-old dynamo is more than comfortable playing in the midfield, as a somewhat traditional number ten, he’s just as, if not more comfortable playing off the left, which, as we’ve already mentioned, is an area of weakness for Arteta and Co.

Just imagine a winger pairing of Saka on the right and Rogers on the left; there is no way Gyokeres won’t hit the same numbers Isak did last season playing between those two.

Ultimately, it would be a costly and extremely complicated transfer to get over the line, but if Arsenal want to ensure their new number nine can match the man who may be going to Liverpool, they should do all they can to sign the Villa star.

A new Bergkamp: Arteta has spoken to £100k-p/w star about joining Arsenal

The incredible international could be a game-changer for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 13, 2025

Liverpool have confirmed that Giovanni Leoni suffered knee ligament damage when making his competitive debut for the club in a Carabao Cup clash with Southampton. The teenage defender only moved to Anfield over the summer from Parma in his native Italy. Reds boss Arne Slot has announced that the talented youngster is expected to be sidelined for "around a year".

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  Unfortunate injury suffered on Liverpool debut

  That news represents a devastating blow for Leoni, who impressed many with his performance against the Saints. Fears were, however, immediately raised when he was forced out of that contest with nine minutes left on the clock. He was clearly emotional and in pain when being carried from the field on a stretcher.

  Liverpool had high hopes for the 18-year-old after investing £26 million ($35m) in his potential, with that transfer agreement including a number of other add-ons. Leoni is an Italy U19 international with limited experience at senior level. He only made his debut for Padova at 16 years of age in 2023.

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• Why Liverpool spent £26m on Leoni

  Slot drafted him in at Anfield after seeing Jarell Quansah depart for Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool required reinforcements at the heart of their back four as club captain Virgil van Dijk is 34 years of age and a long-term successor to the Dutchman will need to be found at some point. Leoni is considered to be capable of filling that void.

  It will, however, be some time before he graces the field again. A long road to recovery is stretching out in front of him after suffering an unfortunate ACL injury. Plenty of physical and mental strength will be required from this point, but time is still on his side when it comes to making a decisive contribution with Premier League giants.

• Getty
  

  Slot reveals how long Leoni will be out for

  Confirming the news that Leoni is set for a lengthy spell on the treatment table, with it possible that he may not be seen again until the 2026-27 campaign, Liverpool manager Slot told reporters: "He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL which means he will be out around a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game, it's very hard to take the positives. There is never a positive side but you try to look at that and that is that he is still so young and he has so many years still go to after he recovers from a terrible injury."

  Slot added on the Reds having figures in their dressing room that Leoni can look to for inspiration after suffering the first serious setback of his fledgling career: "We have some examples with Virgil and Joe [Gomez] and a lot examples all over the world [of players coming back better]. It hurts more if you are closer to retirement but it's far from ideal. The surgeons and the rehab people are important but it's nice if you can do this with players around who have lived through this and they can give the right energy in the right moments. Our players have shown plenty of compassion for him and they will not stop."

  Van Dijk, who suffered his own ACL injury in October 2020, said immediately after seeing a promising team-mate laid low: "He is down because, for him, it didn't feel good immediately. Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot."

  Leoni posted on social media after it became apparent that he would be forced to take in a long rehabilitation programme: "I want to sincerely thank every single person who has shown me support in this difficult moment. It wasn't the debut I had always dreamed of, but I will give everything to be back playing in this magical stadium as soon as possible. Thank you so much!"

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• Liverpool reduced to three fit centre-backs

  Liverpool, who have made a perfect start to their Premier League and Champions League campaigns in 2025-26, now have just three fit recognised centre-halves available in the form of Van Dijk, Gomez and Ibrahima Konte. They have been able to make a change to their European squad, with Italian winger Federico Chiesa – who was initially overlooked – stepping up to take the place of fellow countryman Leoni.