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Wrexham are one of a host of EFL clubs interested in signing an “excellent” international player in the summer transfer window, according to a new claim.

Wrexham facing huge period in promotion battle

Phil Parkinson’s side find themselves right in the League One promotion mix heading into the final weeks of the season, as they look to make it an incredible three promotions in a row.

Wrexham have six games remaining in the league in 2024/25, and while they currently sit in second place behind runaway leaders Birmingham City, they only have a three-point advantage over third-place Wycombe Wanderers, who have a game in hand.

Next up for Parkinson’s men is the visit of Burton Albion on Saturday lunchtime, with their opponents languishing in 21st place and desperately battling to remain in League One for another season. A home win is a must, with Wycombe facing a trickier trip to Reading.

New signings will be needed for Wrexham this summer regardless of what league they are playing in next term, and a proven top-level player has now been linked with a move to The Racecourse Ground.

Wrexham want "excellent" Wales and Rangers star Tom Lawrence

According to an update from The Daily Mail, Wrexham are interested in signing Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence on a free transfer this summer, with the 31-year-old born there before moving to Manchester United as an eight-year-old.

The League One outfit are far from alone in expressing a willingness to snap him up, however, with the likes of West Brom, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers all mentioned, among others.

Lawrence would be an ambitious addition for Wrexham this summer, especially if they can get him for free, with his current Rangers deal expiring at the end of this season. At 31, he isn’t getting any younger, but he is still at a good age to come in and make an impact, having been lauded by David McAllum for his influence on young players at Ibrox.

“Tom was excellent around the group, sharing his experience, and we spoke before the game about that. That’s what some of these games are going to be about, when we get the odd occasion where a player, or two, drops down from the first-team squad to get important minutes.”

Tom Lawrence’s key career stats

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Derby County

185

37

25

Rangers

66

12

7

Ipswich Town

36

11

11

Blackburn Rovers

23

2

3

Yeovil Town

19

2

2

Cardiff City

14

0

1

Carlisle United

11

3

2

Rotherham United

6

1

1

Leicester City

4

0

0

Manchester United

1

0

0

Lawrence is a 23-cap Wales international, scoring three times for his country, so his pedigree is undeniable, and his versatility allows him to shine in central midfield, out wide and also as a centre forward.

Related Wrexham in League One: Latest standings, fixtures, results & key dates

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Posts ByStephan Georgiou Oct 8, 2024

The Welshman has huge experience in the EFL too, as well as making a total of 66 appearances for one of Britain’s biggest clubs in Rangers, so the idea of Wrexham signing him is hugely exciting.

Manchester United have made their first move to sign a Premier League goalkeeper to replace Andre Onana.

Man Utd ready to sell Onana amid interest from Saudi Arabia

The Red Devils’ preparations for their Europa League quarter-final first leg 2-2 against Lyon were disrupted by Nemanja Matic’s comments on Onana.

The former United midfielder hit back at Onana’s claims on Man Utd being better than Lyon, saying: “You know, I respect everyone but to say that then you need to give the answer. If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history, you need to take care what you’re talking about.

“If it was [Edwin] Van der Sar, [Peter] Schmeichel or [David] De Gea saying that, then I would question myself. But you need to have cover to say something like that.”

In the 2-2 draw, Onana had an evening to forget, making a late error in stoppage time to allow the Ligue 1 side to level things up ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford.

Onana did hit back at Matic, though, highlighting the fact he’s won trophies in Manchester, unlike the midfielder. “I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent.

“We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud. At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”

However, INEOS appear to be preparing for life without Onana at Old Trafford. Reports have claimed that Man Utd are set to sell Onana, who has interest from Saudi Arabia and is unsettled in England.

The club will therefore need a replacement ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge, and they have made a move for one specific target.

Man Utd make contact to sign Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd have now made an approach to sign Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

AC Milan are also keen on Verbruggen to potentially replace Mike Maignan, but it is the Red Devils who have made contact. Verbruggen cost Brighton €20m and it is claimed that the Seagulls would likely want double which would be €40m (£34m).

A Netherlands international, Verbruggen move to England in 2023 from Anderlecht and has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rocket from €10m to a career-high €25m.

Related £65m price drop: Man Utd and Amorim increasingly keen on "special" forward

The Red Devils are set to battle it out for a winger, whose price tag may have dropped considerably.

Posts 1 ByDominic Lund Apr 9, 2025

The 22-year-old has made 60 appearances and has kept 15 clean sheets, coming in for praise from Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler earlier this season, who said: “I really enjoy working with him because he is an unbelievable character.

“For his age he is very mature and he sees things very professionally. That is why he is a role model for everything. I think he can play a big part in the future of the club.”

By the looks of things, a move north to Manchester or to Italy with AC Milan could be one to keep an eye on for Verbruggen.

Chelsea are reportedly preparing a bid to sign a new striker target who’s been “surprising” on-lookers with his form this year, as manager Enzo Maresca and Stamford Bridge chiefs begin to make transfer plans for the summer.

Chelsea's rumoured striker targets for the summer window

Nicolas Jackson is still yet to score a single Premier League goal this calendar year, while Christopher Nkunku was left out of the matchday squad entirely for Chelsea’s last game against Fulham.

Related Chelsea join race to sign £43m forward who scored winner at Stamford Bridge

The Blues have set their sights on a Premier League forward who has “blistering pace”.

Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 22, 2025

Maresca’s shortage of prolific strikers has forced the Italian to get creative in recent weeks, with Pedro Neto even being utilised as a centre-forward in that time. Chelsea’s boss will be very eager to fix this hole in the squad ahead of his second full campaign in charge, and it is believed the west Londoners are eyeing a few top striker targets for next season.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea have the likes of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, Ipswich Town starlet Liam Delap, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké and long-term target Victor Osimhen on their radar.

Sesko is a “very serious” potential signing for Chelsea, following another excellent campaign with Leipzig in the Bundesliga, while Delap is likely to be up for grabs this summer after Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship.

The latter’s contract has a £30 million release clause tied with Ipswich’s relegation, so Delap could be a very astute option after his impressive season in an otherwise struggling team at Portman Road.

However, other elite clubs who are on the look-out for number nines will be fully aware of the 22-year-old’s exit clause too, and Sesko’s, which is rumoured to currently stand at around £62 million.

With Arsenal, Man United and Tottenham also in the market for proven forwards, according to reports, the competition will be fierce, so Chelsea may also have to think outside the box when it comes to solving their striker woes.

Chelsea preparing £43m bid for Como star Assane Diao

According to reports out of Spain, it is now claimed that Chelsea are targeting Como’s new striker, Assane Diao.

The Senegal international only just signed for Cesc Fabregas’ side in January, and has enjoyed a rip-roaring first few months of his Serie A career with eight goals from his last 15 top flight matches.

There is now a belief that Chelsea are preparing a £43m summer bid for Diao after being impressed by his excellent form at Como, with the 19-year-old “surprising” critics after a prolific start.

Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Diao, so he’s clearly turning heads in the Premier League, with journalist Antonio Mango also calling the teenage talent “ridiculous” within his first few weeks as a Como player.

Following a campaign full of moments to forget defensively, Manchester United are reportedly prioritising a summer move to sign a central defender who is now a Champions League finalist.

Man Utd's summer wishlist

At risk of sounding like a broken record given how often the Red Devils have been in this exact position in the last decade, Manchester United simply must get this summer right.

The jury is still out on Ruben Amorim, who has had the excuse that these are simply not his players in a system that requires certain profiles to thrive. But that excuse cannot be something to fall back on in the next campaign if the former Sporting Club boss is backed this summer.

If the Manchester United boss is to stand any chance of turning things around in the coming months, then a number of arrivals are needed. And that could yet include the likes of Matheus Cunha and Patrik Schick.

The former would be a particularly impressive signing following an excellent individual campaign at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Single-handedly keeping his side alive at times before Vitor Pereira arrived to turn things around, Cunha is now likely to leave the club this summer courtesy of a reported release clause worth around £63m.

Regarding Manchester United’s interest, recent reports suggest that it is the Red Devils in the driving seat for his signature in what would be a fantastic way to commence a crucial summer.

Related Man Utd could now be offered £135k-p/w star in exchange for Rasmus Hojlund

United could be about to be offered a new midfield signing to get their struggling striker off the books.

Posts ByBrett Worthington May 8, 2025

Whilst Cunha would undoubtedly provide United with an attacking solution, there would still be plenty of work to do at the other end. Alas, that’s something the Red Devils seem to be well aware of, with signing one particular target now reportedly among their top priorities.

Man Utd prioritising Bisseck move

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now prioritising a move to sign Yann Bisseck this summer and are already considering a formal proposal to sign the central defender.

A Champions League finalist after playing his part in Inter’s stunning 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, Bisseck would be an excellent addition to Amorim’s backline. Among all the goals, the defender played his part across two legs in a starting role in both the away leg and then Tuesday’s San Siro thriller.

Dubbed “dominant” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Bisseck’s experience in a back three would also hand Amorim a perfect option as he looks to solve Manchester United’s defensive problems once and for all.

Whether those at Old Trafford can convince a Champions League finalist into a summer switch to a side currently struggling in the depths of the Premier League will be the big question in the coming months, however.

The summer transfer window officially opens for business next month and Celtic have already completed their first signing, although he will not officially join until the start of July.

Kieran Tierney will re-join the Scottish giants in the summer after his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of June, which means that the Scotland international will return on a free transfer.

The former Hoops academy graduate enjoyed a terrific first spell at Parkhead, racking up 37 assists in 170 matches in all competitions before his £25m move to The Emirates in 2019.

This suggests that Brendan Rodgers is set to have a brilliant attacking left-back option at his disposal when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway later this year.

Celtic are also set to be in the market for a player to play ahead of Tierney in the left wing position after it was revealed that Jota could be on the sidelines for up to nine months with a knee injury.

That could put the Hoops on alert for a new winger in the summer transfer window because losing the Portuguese talent to a long-term injury is a big blow.

Why losing Jota is a big blow for Celtic

The Scottish Premiership champions reportedly paid a fee of £8m to bring the attacker back to Parkhead from Rennes in the January transfer window, 18 months after they sold him to Al Ittihad for £25m.

This shows that the Hoops were willing to pay big money to reunite with the exciting winger, and for good reason, after his first spell on the flanks in Glasgow.

As you can see in the graphic above, Jota was an absolute joy to watch during his time in the team under Ange Postecoglou in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns, as he delivered goals and assists on a regular basis, whilst playing on the left and the right wing.

Prior to his recent injury, the former Benfica starlet showed that kind of form again with a return of four goals and two assists in seven starts in the Premiership during the second half of this season.

The Celtic star hit the ground running on his homecoming to Glasgow, despite scoring just one goal for Rennes in the first half of the campaign, and looked set for a strong end to the season after his fast start to life back at the club.

Unfortunately, the Scottish giants will now have to deal without having Jota for the best part of a year, which is a blow because they have lost a star who has proven that he can score and assist goals on a regular basis in Scotland.

Celtic could, however, find a perfect replacement for the Portuguese gem for the start of next season by signing their latest reported transfer target.

Celtic eyeing move for English attacker

According to The Herald, Celtic are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign 23-year-old attacker Tyrhys Dolan from Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

The report claims that the Hoops are monitoring his situation with the English side, as Rodgers seemingly lines up a swoop for the talented forward.

Transfer Focus

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

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Dolan’s current contract at Ewood Park is due to expire at the end of June and this means that the Scottish giants could swoop in to land him for a compensation fee, as he came up through the youth ranks at Blackburn and they would still be entitled to a nominal fee. This is quite remarkable considering the Scottish Sun suggests that he is actually valued around the £10m mark.

The Herald adds, though, that fellow Premiership side Rangers have already made contact with the player to be informed about his situation, which shows that Celtic are not the only side interested in a swoop for the English attacker.

It is now down to the Hoops to win the race for the Championship star’s signature because he could come in as a perfect replacement for Jota for Rodgers.

Why Dolan would be a perfect Jota replacement for Celtic

Like the Portuguese forward, Dolan is a versatile right-footed winger who can play out on the right or on the left flank, which means that he can play down the line as a touchline winger on the right or on the left as an inverted winger who cuts inside to create space for an overlapping full-back.

That could make him an ideal left-winger for Tierney to play with because the English ace could drift infield onto his stronger right foot and drag the right-back, which could provide the Scottish defender with opportunities to deliver crosses in from the space that creates.

This means that the Blackburn star could be the perfect Jota replacement from a stylistic perspective, because of his ability to fulfill the tactical roles that the £8m signing could play for Rodgers.

Of course, Celtic also need a winger who has the quality to provide goals and assists at the top end of the pitch to help them win matches and trophies, and Dolan also has the potential to be that forward as well.

24/25 Championship

Tyrhys Dolan

Appearances

44

Goals

7

Conversion rate

14%

Big chances created

7

Key passes

44

Assists

6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star has delivered seven goals and six assists in the Championship this term, which is a respectable, but not outstanding, return.

It is more impressive when you consider that Blackburn rank 16th in the Championship for xG, with 51.7 xG in 46 games, which shows that they are not a front-footed team that consistently creates chances.

Celtic, meanwhile, racked up 84.0 xG in 33 matches before the split. This means that Dolan, who Tony Mowbray once hailed as scoring a “wonderful” goal, would be in a team that creates significantly more chances for their attacking players.

Therefore, the English star could add far more goals and assists to his game by playing in an attacking, dominant, side in Glasgow, which could turn his decent haul of 13 goals and assists into Jota-esque contributions over the course of a Premiership season.

Related Worth less than Scales: Rodgers must axe Celtic's "fantastic" star

Celtic must ruthlessly cash in on the defender who is worth even less than Liam Scales.

Posts ByDan Emery May 11, 2025

Therefore, Dolan could be the perfect replacement for the injured Jota as a low-cost signing, given his contract situation, who fits tactically and has the potential to be an excellent operator in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur are in ongoing talks with a “superstar” player who’s already announced that he’s set to leave his club this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy attempting to reinforce the Spurs squad early doors after an injury-ravaged campaign.

Ange Postecoglou dealt injury headache ahead of Europa League final

Whether or not Ange Postecoglou remains at N17 beyond 2024/2025 is up for debate right now, and reports suggest that the 59-year-old is highly likely to depart regardless of their success in the Europa League final next week (David Ornstein).

Related £19m "wizard" privately tempted by Tottenham move after "fresh" discussions

The Lilywhites have made contact.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 16, 2025

Statistically, Postecoglou is Spurs’ worst-ever manager of the Premier League era, having recently guided the club to their record number of defeats in a single campaign since the competition’s inception.

Their dismal number of top-flight losses this season now stands at 21, following Spurs’ 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Friday, but Postecoglou still has a chance to etch his name into the club’s history books in much more positive fashion on Wednesday.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.85

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The Lilywhites face-off against fellow strugglers Man United in a blockbuster Bilbao encounter, where Postecoglou could win Spurs their first major trophy in 17 years while simultaneously qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

However, the tactician, akin to the vast majority of this campaign, has been dealt an injury headache going into the final – with Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall all set to miss the Europa League final next week.

Postecoglou was also dealt a major Pape Sarr scare, after the Senegalese went straight down the tunnel following his substitution against Villa through injury.

Even though Postecoglou has since confirmed that he doesn’t think Sarr’s problem is too serious, the series of aforementioned injury blows highlights Tottenham’s need for reinforcements in key areas, as Spurs head into their biggest game of the season with a weakened squad.

Injury absences have debilitated Postecoglou’s options and chances of success throughout 2024/2025, and it’s made the need for Tottenham to strengthen this summer pretty evident.

Tottenham in talks with Lille striker Jonathan David

The trouble for Levy is that credible media sources report Spurs may need to operate on a sell to buy policy, with transfer funds seemingly limited.

That makes world-class free agents, like Lille star Jonathan David, all the more tempting for Tottenham’s recruitment team.

The Canada international has been free-scoring in Ligue 1 since his move there five years ago, racking up strikes in big Champions League games this season against the likes of Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Liverpool.

Earlier this week, David announced that he is set to leave Lille when his contract expires, and this has piqued interest from a host of top sides, including Spurs.

Postecoglou’s side have had some contact with the 25-year-old’s camp leading up to the summer (Graeme Bailey), but as per esteemed French newspaper L’Équipe, Tottenham are in ongoing talks with David over joining them right now.

The north Londoners, despite murmurs of advanced Napoli talks for the Brooklyn native, haven’t given up hope of striking a deal for David, with Spurs, Antonio Conte’s side, Juventus and Aston Villa all in the mix.

While David is technically a free agent, Levy could still end up forking out around £28 million for his signature when factoring in salary, various commission fees and his signing bonus (Sacha Tavolieri). That being said, his impressive goalscoring record still marks the “superstar” out as a serious bargain.

Liverpool have a huge window ahead of them this summer to build on the superb work conducted by Arne Slot during his first season in charge at Anfield.

The Dutchman claimed the Premier League title at the first time of asking, doing so with four games to spare – highlighting the excellent work he’s overseen in recent months.

However, many teams in England’s top flight are likely to bolster their ranks during the off-season to mount a charge to knock them off the perch they’ve found themselves on.

Such actions will mean that the Reds will also have to strengthen to avoid being caught and left behind by their rivals, increasing their chances of retaining their title.

It’s pivotal that Slot and the hierarchy need to bring in the right players if they are to succeed once again in 2024/25, with work already being done to land key targets.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions this summer

Various areas of the pitch appear to be in focus ahead of the summer window for Liverpool, but none more so than the attacking department, with countless names mentioned for a switch to Merseyside.

Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap have all been touted with a switch to join the club, as Slot looks to land a new talisman to provide the goods in the final third.

However, in an attempt to aid any one of the aforementioned stars in their attempts at the club, they’ve also entered the race to land Lyon star Rayan Cherki, according to French outlet L’Equipe.

The report claims that the Reds are keen on a move for the 21-year-old star, who’s registered a staggering 32 combined goals and assists in his 44 appearances across all competitions.

It also states that the French side would be willing to part ways with the forward for a fee in the region of £34m this summer, with the youngster keen on a move to the Premier League ahead of 2025/26.

Why Liverpool’s £34m target is the dream Wirtz alternative

Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder, Florian Wirtz, has emerged as a key target for Liverpool over the last couple of days, with a move to Anfield on the cards this summer.

It emerged that the German and his representatives travelled to Merseyside for talks with the club over a potential move to the club, but also face competition from Bayern Munich.

However, given his record of 30 combined goals and assists this season, it’s likely the 22-year-old could command a fee that would break their record transfer, currently standing at £85m for Darwin Núñez.

His tally represents that it would be a worthwhile deal, providing another level of creativity to the already impressive front line that fired the club to the title.

However, given the difference in fee, the hierarchy would be better off pursuing a move for Cherki, with the French star a much cheaper investment, subsequently allowing for further signings elsewhere.

It may seem like a cost-effective solution, but when comparing the pair’s respective figures from the current campaign, the Lyon talent has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas.

Cherki, who’s been labelled “generational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered more progressive passes and more passes into the final third – showcasing his creative nature with the ball at his feet.

How Rayan Cherki compares to Florian Wirtz in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Cherki

Wirtz

Games played

30

31

Goals & assists

19

22

Progressive passes

9.1

6.7

Pass accuracy

79%

78%

Passes into final third

4.3

3.6

Shot-creating actions

6.4

5.6

Take-on success

51%

49%

Aerials won

33%

20%

Stats via FBref

He’s also produced more shot-creating actions per 90, along with more take-ons completed, having the ability to produce chances for himself but also his teammates.

The youngster’s talents don’t stop there, winning more aerial battles, and registering a higher shot-on-target rate – handing the Reds an all-round threat within attacking areas.

Given the potential difference in transfer fee, the club should look to pursue a move for the Lyon star, having just as much, if not more, of an effect than Wirtz in attacking areas.

At just 21, he has the potential to explode into life on Merseyside, potentially being a bargain and a player to star under Slot for many years to come – handing them a boost in their ambitions of further success.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb May 22, 2025

Arsenal are reportedly set to kickstart a significant squad overhaul over the course of this summer transfer window, as Mikel Arteta attempts to build a Premier League-winning team after missing out on this year’s crown to Liverpool.

Andrea Berta set for busy summer at Arsenal

La Liga expert and respected journalist Guillem Balague has already shared what supporters can expect from new sporting director Andrea Berta, with the Italian already hard at work to back Arteta in the transfer market.

Related £50m star could now reject Arsenal move and sign new deal after talks

He also snubbed an exit last summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025

Berta has held extensive talks over a move for Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, and met with RB Leipzig director Marcel Schafer in London to discuss the prospect of a deal for Benjamin Sesko, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal are working to discover the conditions of deals for Sesko and Gyokeres before deciding which striker to prioritise, according to the BBC, but Berta is believed to have other key items on his agenda this summer as well.

While Martin Zubimendi’s signing is proving more complicated than first thought, with the Spain international now denying he’s set for an imminent Arsenal move, it is also rumoured that the Gunners are actively pursuing a new wide player.

“He’s been described to me by one of the decision makers, one of the ones that decided to bring him in, that he’s experienced, he’s a hard worker, and he’s very brave,” said Balague about Berta to TNT Sports.

“But basically, he’s going to have to be creative as well. Arsenal are not here with the intention of spending £200 or £300 million. They just want to be creative with what they’ve got and what they bring in.

“They’re going to have to create three or four players that go straight into the line-up. I would say a left winger, centre-forward and holding midfielder. Mikel Arteta said it’s the biggest transfer window for a long while and having Berta next to him as a partnership will definitely help.”

Jorginho set for Flamengo medical after leaving Arsenal

A new centre midfielder, which could still be Zubimendi, is especially vital considering Jorginho is leaving the Emirates, with Arsenal announcing his departure today via their retained list.

The Italy international has agreed a pre-contract deal to join Brazilian side Flamengo, and has been in talks to terminate his Arsenal contract earlier than June 30 so he can feature for his new team at the Club World Cup.

That is apparently done and dusted, with GE Globo reporting that Jorginho is set for a medical on Friday ahead of signing a three-year contract at Flamengo.

With the 33-year-old leaving, it makes the arrival of Zubimendi and a potential contract extension for Thomas Partey all the more important, otherwise Arteta risks being left very short in that area.

“I know him a lot, so for me it is nice to play with him, he knows me well,” said Kai Havertz about Jorginho in 2024.

“It makes life easy for me, he is a world-class player.”

The coming season feels like the start of a new era for Tottenham Hotspur.

The North Londoners finally ended their trophy drought under Ange Postecoglou this year, and now, with Thomas Frank at the helm, they can carry on building a team for the future.

However, to ensure the Danish coach succeeds in North London, Daniel Levy and Co must get the summer transfer window right.

That means that, on top of keeping their best players, the North Londoners need to sign those who can help them improve their Premier League form next season, and it looks like they’ve identified someone who could do just that, someone who’s been compared to Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

Tottenham transfer news

Given Spurs’ frankly terrible performances in the league and FA Cup this season, it’s hardly been a surprise to see the team linked with a host of potentially game-changing players in recent weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

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One of the names who seem to be mentioned alongside the North Londoners is Eberechi Eze, while the Brentford duo of Yoanne Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo are also unsurprising targets, given their form and connection to Frank.

However, with how sought-after those three appear to be this summer and the price of buying from the Premier League, the Lilywhites appear to be looking further afield, in the Bundesliga, for possible signings.

According to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, Tottenham are indeed interested in RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.

Jacobs claims that the club “like the player” and that a possible move to the Premier League is “one to watch” this summer.

While a potential transfer fee is not mentioned, it has been fairly widely reported earlier this month that should the Dutchman move this summer, then he’ll likely cost around £67m.

It would be a costly and likely complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Simons’ immense ability and the fact he’s won comparisons to Maddison and Kulusevski, it’s one worth fighting for.

How Simons compares to Kulu & Maddison

With Kulusevski racking up a haul of 21 goal involvements in 50 games and Maddison amassing a tally of 23 in 45, it wouldn’t be too dramatic to claim that the pair have been some of Spurs’ better players this season.

Therefore, it’s undeniably impressive and encouraging that Simons has been compared to both of them, although with that said, where have said comparisons come from?

Well, they both stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before making a list of the ten most comparable for each, and according to this list, the Englishman has been the second most similar midfielder to the Leipzig star across the last 365 days, while the Swede comes in as the seventh most similar.

Simons & Maddison

Statistics per 90

Simons

Maddison

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.48

0.50

Shots on Target

0.96

0.85

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

81.3%

Expected Assists

0.25

0.29

Key Passes

2.13

2.04

Shot-Creating Actions

4.52

4.73

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

Now, the best way to understand how these conclusions were reached is by looking at some of the underlying numbers in which the players rank closely, and in the case of the former Leicester City star, that includes things like non-penalty expected goals plus assist, passing accuracy, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

In the case of the Stockholm-born maestro, similar metrics include progressive passes received, goals per shot on target, goal-creating actions, interceptions, tackles won and more, also all per 90.

Simons & Kulusevski

Statistics per 90

Simons

Kulusevski

Progressive Passes Received

7.74

7.92

Goals per Shot on Target

0.43

0.41

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.17

0.23

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.34

Tackles Won

0.88

0.87

Interceptions

0.50

0.49

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

However, there are, unsurprisingly, other reasons why Spurs should be looking to sign the former Paris Saint-Germain gem this summer, such as his raw output.

For example, even though he was limited to just 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes this season, the 22-year-old, who one analyst proclaimed “one of the best 10s in the world”, was able to score 11 goals and provide eight assists.

That means the Amsterdam-born dynamo was able to average a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 this season, and that is the sort of productivity that could get the Lilywhites moving up the table next year.

Ultimately, while he won’t be cheap, Spurs should do what they can to sign Simons, as he’d instantly add more dynamism to the first team, and given his age, he could remain a leading figure for the next decade or so.

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Newcastle United have now tabled an offer for a “superb” international forward, with a reply given in the last 24 hours.

The Magpies had a frustrating summer in 2024, with both Eddie Howe and Paul Mitchell reportedly left disappointed by the lack of funds available.

Howe has spoken far more positively about how the current transfer window may pan out at St James’ Park, however, discussing the “different mindset” within the club.

Newcastle have reportedly opened talks with Brighton striker Joao Pedro over a summer switch to St James’ Park, and now there has been a fresh development.

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According to The Telegraph‘s Luke Edwards, Newcastle have launched an offer of around £50m for Pedro, as well as moves for Anthony Elanga and James Trafford.

The 3-cap Brazilian is seen as a strong option to provide added firepower to Howe’s attack this summer, having proven himself in the Premier League last season, but The Times have since revealed Newcastle’s bid for Pedo has been rejected.

Pedro would be a brilliant signing for Newcastle if they up their bid, bringing something different to the attack to Alexander Isak, in terms of dropping deep and linking with the midfield.

The 23-year-old has an impressive tally of 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton, as well as chipping in with 10 assists, and he should only grow as a footballer by being surrounded by top-quality players.

Pedro’s quality hasn’t been lost on Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, with the Englishman lauding aspects of his game during one performance last season.

“This for me is a brilliant centre-forward goal. The way he follows it up and he is expecting the rebound to get there. He reacts before anyone else does and then he gets his reward. His hold-up play was superb at times when he had to keep hold of the ball and bring his team-mates into play.”

It remains to be seen if Newcastle will manage to complete the signing of Pedro this summer – Brighton are understandably desperate to keep hold of him – but he is the calibre of player that the club need to bring in.

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