Some of the most exciting young players on the planet are set to be on show in the U.S. this summer

The much-discussed Club World Cup is now just days away from getting underway in the United States, and while the competition will see established superstars such as Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi face off, it also offers the opportunity for some of the best young players on the planet to strut their stuff on the global stage.

It's not unusual for previously little-known teenagers to become a household names the world over thanks to their performances during a summer tournament, and while the Club World Cup isn't yet at the level of its international counterpart given the expanded format is only making its debut in 2025, there will still be plenty of eyes watching out for the next superstars of the game to emerge.

But who are those who need to be on your radar ahead of Saturday's kick-off in Miami? GOAL breaks down the top 10 NXGN-aged (born in 2006 or later) starlets to keep track of over the next month…

AFPEstevao Willian (Palmeiras)

Fans outside of South America have likely seen the umpteen viral clips of Estevao Willian in action for Palmeiras over the past 12 months, but the Club World Cup will offer many their first chance to watch the most exciting Brazilian talent since Neymar play a match in full.

Having already agreed to join Chelsea for a fee of £56m ($71m) this summer, it wasn't initially known whether Estevao would represent the Blues or his boyhood team at this tournament. However, the decision was made for the 18-year-old to use the Club World Cup as a farewell to Palmeiras, for whom he has already scored 26 goals in 78 competitive appearances.

A fleet-footed forward who was nicknamed 'Messinho' as he came through the ranks in Sao Paulo due to his similarities in style to the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Estevao will come up against the legendary Argentine and Inter Miami in the group stages as he aims to show the world just why everyone at Stamford Bridge is so keen to get him to west London ahead of next season.

AdvertisementAFPFranco Mastantuono (River Plate)

Real Madrid fans, meanwhile, will be licking their lips at the prospect of catching their newest teenage signing from South America in action during this tournament. Franco Mastantuono has been turning heads for over a year with his performances for River Plate, and he will bid farewell to his boyhood club this summer after a deal was agreed for him to move to the Spanish capital after the Club World Cup.

Madrid are set to pay €40m (£33m/$45m) to sign Mastantuono after pushing themselves ahead of Paris Saint-Germain to the front of the queue for the 17-year-old midfielder. The youngest goal-scorer in River's storied history, Mastantuono has taken his game to new levels in 2025, with his superb free-kick goal against Boca Juniors in the Superclasico an illustration of both his talent and confidence on the biggest stage.

He has also just become the youngest player to ever make their debut in a competitive match for Argentina, and this summer promises to be a real coming-out party for one of the very best teenage players on the planet.

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowGetty Images SportIan Subiabre (River Plate)

River aren't finished when it comes to producing young stars, though. The same academy that has recently nurtured Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Claudio Echeverri and Mastantuono has plenty more where they came from, with Ian Subiabre set to be the next teenager to take the Monumental by storm.

The 18-year-old, who can play either as a winger or central striker, has started to earn regular opportunities with the River first team, while Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been credited with interest in signing Subiabre. Given the success of some of his predecessors, don't be shocked if he becomes a household name in the not-too-distant future.

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Alvaro Montoro (Botafogo)

While River possess the most-talked about Argentine academy right now, the work being done at Velez Sarsfield shouldn't be ignored. World Cup winner Thiago Almada is the pick of a number of high-quality youngsters who have emerged from the current Primera Division champions' youth sector over the past decade or so, and there is a suggestion that Alvaro Montoro could be the pick of the lot.

Likened to Andres Iniesta as he came through the ranks at Velez, Montoro scored three goals in five Copa Libertadores games this season before he was snapped up by the reigning South American champions, Botafogo, ahead of their appearance at the Club World Cup.

As such, given he is so new to the Brazilian side's squad, Montoro might have to be patient for opportunities during the tournament. However, if the 18-year-old attacking midfielder does see the pitch in the U.S., he will be keen to show just why Borussia Dortmund, among others, were so keen to bring him to Europe before Botafogo swept in.

Nat Sciver-Brunt dominant with bat and ball in crushing win

ECB Reporters Network04-Jun-2023

Nat Sciver-Brunt was in belligerent mood once again•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The Blaze maintained their 100% record in the Charlotte Edwards Cup as a crushing defeat of Sunrisers saw them clinch a direct route to the final at Worcester next Saturday with England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt starring with bat and ball at a sun-drenched Trent Bridge.Sciver-Brunt smashed 58 from 30 balls and took 2 for 16 as winless Sunrisers were bowled out for 114 in reply to the Blaze’s 198 for 6, giving the east midlands side a bonus-point victory to make their position as group leaders unassailable, meaning they avoid the semi-final eliminator at Finals Day.England team-mates Sarah Glenn, with 43 not out from 29 balls and two wickets for just nine runs from her legbreaks, and Tammy Beaumont (41 from 30) delivered as well, with overseas player Nadine de Klerk boosting her tally to 13 as the competition’s leading wicket-taker, the South African taking 2 for 10 from three overs, strike bowler Sophie Munro grabbing 2 for 18.Eva Gray, Kate Coppack and Abtaha Maqsood picked up two wickets each for the Sunrisers, for whom England Under-19 captain Grace Scrivens top-scored with 20.Opting to bat first, the Blaze lost Sarah Bryce – Friday’s matchwinner against Northern Diamonds with 67 from 43 balls – for effectively a first-ball duck after she inside-edged Gray on to her stumps, having watched two leg-side deliveries called as wides. Otherwise, the powerplay could hardly have been more one-sided as Beaumont and Sciver-Brunt peppered a fully-extended Trent Bridge boundary as first on the card in a double-header ahead of Notts Outlaws’ meeting Lancashire Lightning.They powered the Blaze to 77 for 1 from the opening six overs, a team record not only under their new identity but as Lightning and Loughborough Lightning too.Sciver-Brunt completed her second Blaze half-century and looked in the mood for more as she and Beaumont added 102 in 53 balls for the second wicket, but after sweeping Maqsood’s legspin for her first six, perished attempting a repeat, finding deep square leg, Blaze reaching halfway at 112 for 2.A fine over from Coppack then changed the tone of the innings as the right-arm seamer had Beaumont leg before sweeping and dismissed Marie Kelly by the same method as the right-hander swung across the line for a second-ball duck. It took three lean overs before Glenn rediscovered the tempo with three boundaries in the same Jo Gardner over as the Blaze moved to 149 for 4 from 15.Maqsood picked up a second wicket as Georgie Boyce was stumped but Glenn, who survived difficult chances on 29 and 40 on the way a career-best score in this format, added 35 in 21 balls with de Klerk before the South African top-edged Gray to mid-off, helping Blaze post the third-highest total in the competition this season.It put Sunrisers under scoreboard pressure from the start and though 46 runs in the powerplay was respectable they came at a cost of three important wickets as Mady Villiers chipped Glenn’s legspin straight to mid-off, Alice Macleod was pinned in front by Sciver-Brunt and South African Dane Van Niekerk top-edged to cover in the same over.At 64 for 4, southeast regional side Sunrisers were well behind the required rate at the halfway stage and seen Amara Carr depart to Glenn as skipper Kirstie Gordon took a good catch running round from midwicket.Three wickets in the space of five balls hastened the inevitable Blaze win as Florence Miller was run out at the non-striker’s end before de Klerk took two in three balls to remove Gardner leg before and Scrivens, the England Under-19 captain, who batted nicely before skying one to midwicket.Grace Ballinger had Gray caught at short fine leg before Coppack and Kelly Castle held things up, adding 28 in a little under five overs before Munro bowled both in the final over.

وجّه النجم النرويجي إرلينج هالاند، مهاجم مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي، رسالة تهنئة إلى نادي الهلال السعودي، بعد فوز الأخير بنتيجة 4-3 في مواجهة مثيرة جمعت الفريقين ضمن دور الـ16 من بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

وكتب هالاند عبر حسابه الرسمي على منصة “إكس”: “لم تسر الأمور كما أردنا هذه المرة. تهانينا للهلال وأتمنى لهم التوفيق فيما هو قادم”.

جاءت هذه الرسالة في أعقاب الأداء القوي الذي قدمه زعيم آسيا خلال المباراة، والتي شهدت تنافسًا حادًا حتى الدقائق الأخيرة، حيث تمكّن الهلال من إقصاء بطل أوروبا في واحدة من أبرز مفاجآت المونديال.

طالع أيضًا | الهلال السعودي يفقد لاعبه حتى نهاية كأس العالم للأندية

الهلال حسم التأهل بعد نهاية الوقت الأصلي بالتعادل 2-2، قبل أن يسجل هدفين في الأشواط الإضافية مقابل هدف وحيد للسيتي، ليضمن “الزعيم” بطاقة العبور إلى الدور ربع النهائي.

ويستعد الهلال لملاقاة فلومينينسي البرازيلي يوم الجمعة المقبل، 5 يوليو، في مباراة منتظرة تُقام عند الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.

On a day where as many as 15 wickets fell in Alur, West Zone drove themselves into a commanding position by stumps on day two of the Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone.Having been bowled out for 220 – they added just four to their overnight 214 for 8 – West stormed back courtesy Arzan Nagwaswalla. The Gujarat fast bowler picked up 5 for 74, his sixth first-class five-for, to skittle Central for just 128.Rinku Singh, whose omission from India’s T20I squad for West Indies became a raging debate among fans on Wednesday night, top-scored with 48, while Dhruv Jurel, his Uttar Pradesh state mate, scored 46. Both players were among Nagwaswalla’s victims as West pocketed a 92-run lead.West then consolidated their position courtesy a 95-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav, before Central had some respite in the last half hour. Saurabh Kumar, who had earlier in the innings accounted for Priyank Panchal, dismissed Suryakumar after he’d made a robust 58 as he chipped one straight to short extra cover.As he did in the first innings, Pujara battled hard and lent solidity to the innings. He will hope to build on his unbeaten 50 on day three along with Sarfaraz Khan, who will be keen to make amends for his first-innings duck.Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz’s Mumbai team-mate, however, couldn’t impress as he fell for a 26-ball 25 to go along with his 26 in the first innings. Shaw was cleaned up by Yash Thakur*, shouldering arms to one that decked back in sharply.Jayant Yadav picked up three wickets to keep South Zone to 195•PTI

On a see-saw day at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where rain and bad light had the players indoors for much of the afternoon, North Zone kept themselves in the game after their bowling unit combined to skittle South Zone for 195.Vaibhav Arora and Jayant Yadav picked up three wickets apiece as South Zone collapsed on either side of a 110-run stand between top-scorer Mayank Agarwal and Tilak Varma, who on Wednesday celebrated his maiden call-up to India’s T20I squad.Agarwal struck a 115-ball 76 and was the first wicket to fall. Washington Sundar, who managed just 12, fell soon. Varma’s wicket in the next over turned the tide. R Sai Kishore hit 21 to narrow the deficit, before Arora picked up two of the last three wickets to help North Zone secure a three-run lead.South Zone struck twice before Ankit Kalsi and first-innings top scorer Prabhsimran Singh ensured no further damage as North ended on 51 for 2, effectively 54 ahead with two full days remaining.0900GMT The report had erronously stated Shaw getting out to Yash Thakur twice in the match. This has been corrected.

There have not been many positives this season for Glasgow Rangers. The Ibrox side won’t win any domestic silverware, trailing their arch-rivals by 16 points in the Premiership title race, also being knocked out of the Scottish and League Cups.

Barry Ferguson did mastermind a 3-1 victory over Fenerbahce in the Europa League first leg of their last-16 clash, but even the most optimistic Rangers supporter will feel glory in Europe is beyond them.

Vaclav Cerny has been a hit since joining the club on loan from Wolfsburg, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, although finances will likely prevent the Gers from securing his signature on a permanent basis.

Hamza Igamane has also been another bright spark for the club. Costing just £1.7m from Moroccan side AS FAR last summer, the 22-year-old has since netted 13 goals in all competitions, despite this season being the first outside his native Africa.

One of the most underrated players since he returned to the starting XI in October has been Nico Raskin.

The Belgian has missed only two games between September and the time of writing, establishing himself as a key member of the team.

How Nico Raskin has grown in importance at Ibrox

Against Celtic at the start of the year, Raskin was given the captaincy due to James Tavernier missing the game through injury.

During the 3-0 victory, Raskin provided an assist while also making two key passes, creating a big chance and winning 60% of his ground duels throughout the game.

He controlled the midfield, making four interceptions and three tackles which nullified Celtic and contributed to the stunning Old Firm win.

The midfielder has struggled with his injury problems during his first year or so at the club, but his performances this season have proved he is now indispensable to any future success at Ibrox.

Raskin may not offer too much in the final third, but in terms of providing effective support in the heart of the midfield, he has been crucial.

In the Premiership, the Belgian has averaged 3.6 tackles per game, along with averaging 7.8 ball recoveries, 1.6 interceptions and 1.4 clearances each match in the top flight.

If he continues this current form until the end of the campaign, the new manager might have to fend off interest from other clubs this summer.

Indeed, these impressive performances for the Light Blues have seen Raskin’s market value soar since joining the club.

According to Transfermarkt, the Belgian is currently worth around £5.5m and this value should only continue to rise over the coming months ahead of the summer transfer window.

He has the highest market valuation in the entire squad apart from Cerny, who will depart this summer once his loan spell ends.

Whoever comes in to take charge of the Gers ahead of the 2025/26 campaign must utilise Raskin in his desired position, as he could be an ideal choice to take over the captaincy from Tavernier, especially following his display against Celtic in January.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Having also starred in continental competition, shining against Fener last week and standing out against Spurs, he’s certainly following in the path of a Europa League hero from a few years ago.

Rangers' European hero is now worth less than Raskin

Joe Aribo may have only been at the club for three seasons, yet he developed from a raw talent to a player who scored in a major European final.

Glimpses of his talent were on show during the Gers title-winning 2020/21 campaign, where he registered 15 goal contributions – eight goals and seven assists – as the club went the entire league season undefeated.

2023/24

40

4

1

2022/23

27

2

0

2021/22

57

9

10

2020/21

43

8

7

2019/20

49

9

8

2018/19

39

10

5

2017/18

34

6

3

2016/17

22

0

7

From a personal point of view, the following season was even better. Indeed, the Nigeria international scored nine goals while chipping in with ten assists across all competitions, helping the Gers reach the 2022 Europa League final.

He opened the scoring in that match against Eintracht Frankfurt, becoming just the fourth player in the club’s history to score in a European final. Unfortunately, Rangers lost the game on penalties to the German side.

With Giovanni van Bronckhorst needing to raise some funds that summer in order to bring in the players he wanted, a few were moved on.

How Joe Aribo is playing in 2025

Calvin Bassey departed the Ibrox side in 2022, with Ajax signing him for a club-record fee after an impressive campaign.

This bolstered the coffers, but when Southampton came in for Aribo, a deal was concluded that could rise to around £10m, and it was too good to turn down, that’s for sure.

This fee proved to be a significant profit on the midfielder, although they would have a big gap to fill.

Aribo hasn’t exactly proved his worth on the south coast, however, struggling to adapt at times.

The “exceptional” gem – as so dubbed by his manager Ivan Juric recently – scored just twice for the Saints in his first season.

He helped them secure a place back in the Premier League last term, defeating Leeds United in the playoff final, but they look set to drop back down into the second tier.

Now part of a team that could end with the fewest points in Premier League history, Aribo has netted three top-flight goals. As a result, his value has decreased since making his move south of the border three years ago.

Now, according to Transfermarkt, Aribo is currently worth £5m and if he fails to perform in the Championship next term, this could drop even lower.

This valuation is even lower than Raskin’s at the time of writing, indicating that the Gers have struck gold by selling Aribo when they did, maximising the best possible transfer fee for the former Charlton Athletic midfielder.

The new manager will be aiming to bring in his own players for cheap, before making millions on them after a few years at Ibrox. That’s a certainty.

49ers must move on Rangers star who earns more than Raskin & Hagi

Rangers should move on from the reportedly highly-paid star in the summer window.

ByDan Emery Mar 10, 2025

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke sent his top scout to a place he knows well last weekend to find bargain signings ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

Leeds eye new centre-forward as Bamford nears exit door

Despite the fact that the Whites sit top of the Championship table and have scored the most goals in the division, Farke and co. are keen to strengthen their forward line this summer. Patrick Bamford, who was linked with an Elland Road exit in January, looks set to be coming to the end of his time at the club, as injuries continue to cost him regular minutes.

Leeds and 49ers want to sign new 23 y/o int'l forward likened to Mitrovic

Leeds know all too well about Aleksandar Mitrovic’s talents.

ByBarney Lane Mar 24, 2025

His potential departure would leave Leeds light, and therefore, the 49ers are already working on new arrivals. Southampton striker Cameron Archer was heavily linked with a move to the Yorkshire side in January, and he is believed to remain on their list of potential targets.

Meanwhile, according to a report from Africa Foot, the Whites are also keen on signing Almeria striker Ibrahima Kone. This would be an easy enough transfer to complete for the Championship side, as Kone has a release clause worth £8.4 million.

But the list of potential new strikers doesn’t stop there, as Leeds are also interested in signing Vladyslav Vanat from Dynamo Kyiv. However, there is a long list of teams also keen on signing Vanat, with Premier League duo West Ham and Fulham keeping a close eye on the centre-forward.

Farke sends top Leeds scout to Germany

With competition for Vanat and a near £10m price tag on Kone, Farke also has his eyes on cheaper alternatives. According to journalist Alan Nixon, relayed by Football League World, Farke sent his top Leeds scout to Germany to look for bargain deals in the final weekend before the international break.

Leeds are still on course to seal promotion to the Premier League, and the boss appears keen to get ahead of the rest and therefore wanted his scouts to watch Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 games last weekend, as he believes there are always bargains to be found in the country where he broke through in management.

The 48-year-old, who is closing in on 100 games in charge of Leeds, has managed at several levels in Germany and has shopped there before, with Ao Tanaka perhaps the biggest success story in recent times.

Swansea City

H

Luton

A

Middlesbrough

A

Preston

H

Oxford

A

Stoke

H

Bristol City

H

Plymouth

A

It is unclear if the scouts found any potential targets, but it probably won’t be the last time Farke sends his scouts on a mission in the next few weeks, as he will want all preparation to be complete should his side seal that expected promotion to England’s top tier.

It is likely the 49ers will significantly back Farke in the transfer window if they go up, but the Leeds boss will face significant pressure if the wheels come off from here.

By the time the game begins on Sunday evening, RCB will know exactly what they need to make the playoffs

Srinidhi Ramanujam20-May-20236:00

Moody: Royal Challengers should start afresh in home return

Big Picture: Make or break for RCBIt all boils down to the final four hours. After 69 games across 52 days, the last league match will decide the identity of the players fourth team in the playoffs.The spotlight is on Royal Challengers Bangalore as they return home to the Chinnaswamy to host the Gujarat Titans after nearly a month on the road. They will know exactly what they need to qualify in the top four if net run rate becomes a factor, but the simplest route is to win. If they make it, it will be their fourth successive playoff appearance.So what’s going well for RCB? They are coming into this crucial fixture off two successive wins – against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals. Their strength is their batting, having scored more than 180 in three of their last four games. More specifically, it is their top-order batting, with Faf du Plessis (702), Virat Kohli (538) and Glenn Maxwell (389) doing the bulk of the run-scoring. The dependency on their Big Three could be a crucial factor in a crunch game.Winning at the Chinnaswamy also hasn’t been straightforward for RCB this season. While several teams have struggled to maximise their home advantage, it’s 3-3 for RCB in Bengaluru this year, and 40 wins in 83 games overall.So while RCB have everything to do to qualify for the playoffs, the Titans are already through. Hardik Pandya’s team is only the second side to finish top of the table in two successive seasons, after the Mumbai Indians in 2019 and 2020. Team news: Will Titans rest players?Fast bowler Josh Little had missed a few matches to play an ODI series for Ireland against Bangladesh, but he re-joined the Titans squad on May 16. Vijay Shankar had also missed the previous game after getting hit in the nets. With Titans already through to the playoffs, the big question is whether they will rest any of their players, considering they play Qualifier 1 on May 23.Du Plessis said at the toss of their previous game against Sunrisers that one of Hasaranga and Hazlewood was missing due to a niggle without specifying who it was.The big questionVirat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have been prolific at the top for RCB•BCCIForm guideRCB WWLLW
Gujarat Titans WLWWLImpact Player strategyAnuj Rawat kept wickets for RCB instead of Dinesh Karthik in the last two matches and he is expected to do it again against Titans. Karthik or Mahipal Lomror could sub in and out for for left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed depending on whether they bat or bowl first.Royal Challengers Bangalore (probable XII): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Glenn Maxwell, 4 Mahipal Lomror, 5 , 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Anuj Rawat (wk), 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Karn Sharma, 10 Harshal Patel, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Titans had swapped Shubman Gill with fast bowler Yash Dayal in their previous game against SRH. If Little returns, Gill and Mohit Sharma could be their Impact Players depending on whether they bat or bowl first.Gujarat Titans (probable XII): 1 , 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Sai Sudharsan, 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 Abhinav Manohar/Vijay Shankar, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Josh Little, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Mohammed Shami, 12 Pitch and conditionsBengaluru has been hot and humid this week but i rained on match eve and a couple of spells of rain is likely on Sunday as well. The average first-innings total at the Chinnaswamy Stadium is 194, so expect a run-fest.Stats that matter Kohli is a beast in Bengaluru with 3106 T20s runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the most by any batter, at a strike rate of 140.82. Rashid Khan has dismissed du Plessis three times in eight T20s, and conceded only 32 runs in 45 balls. Gill has scored at 148.14 against Mohammed Siraj in the IPL, with no dismissals in six innings.

West Ham are considering a move for Aaron Ramsdale this summer after holding talks with the Southampton goalkeeper, per a new report.

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Article continues below

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• Ex-Arsenal 'keeper now at Southampton
• Relegated to Championship with Saints
• Hammers interested in stopper

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per talkSPORT, West Ham have held talks with Southampton 'keeper Ramsdale over a deal to bring him to east London. The Saints have dropped into the Championship and he is keen to stay in the Premier League as he bids to nail down a spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Southampton reportedly want around £20 million ($27m) if they are to allow Ramsdale to leave the club. He earns around £100,000-per-week, and it is unclear if the Hammers would be willing to match that. Lukasz Fabianski has departed the club, but Alphonse Areola remains their No.1.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ramsdale has won five England caps but he endured a truly terrible season with the Saints as they finished rock-bottom of the Premier League. The 27-year-old made 30 appearances and only kept three clean sheets; he conceded 66 goals in total.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ramsdale, who played 89 times for Arsenal, will hope to complete a move to a Premier League club this summer. Whether he lands at West Ham remains to be seen.

A new report has claimed that Newcastle United are among the clubs who are interested in signing an international midfielder with an “elite engine” this summer.

Newcastle plan for summer as Howe prepares for cup final

The Magpies are focusing on a massive day in their history on Sunday afternoon, as they take on Liverpool in a much-anticipated EFL Cup final. And while the players and manager are clearly putting all their efforts into winning their first piece of domestic silverware in 70 years, there are plenty of targets being linked with moves to St James’ Park already as Paul Mitchell and Co get to work off the pitch.

One individual who has been mentioned as an option for the Magpies is Liam Delap, who has been one of the few positives in a struggling Ipswich Town side this season. He has scored 10 goals in 26 Premier League appearances in 2024/25 to date, with a move to a bigger club possible this summer.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are also reportedly keen on snapping up Germany winger Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich this summer, with the club even holding talks with the player’s agents over a switch in the coming months.

Newcastle keen on signing AC Milan and USA midfielder

According to an update from MilanLive [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are keen on signing AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah at the end of the season. The Serie A giants will demand £25m for his signature and are willing to let him go, having been considered an important player last year.

Musah is a player with a high ceiling, with the 22-year-old already winning 45 caps for the USA, no doubt wanting to be a key part of his country’s World Cup chance when they co-host the tournament in 2026.

The American has made 23 Serie A appearances for Milan this term, completing 88.5% of his passes in the competition, and he has been hailed for his “elite engine” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

While Newcastle’s go-to midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton is exceptionally strong currently, having increased competition for places in that area can never be a bad thing. Musah can add quality and legs in the middle of the park, as well as being a younger alternative to those mentioned above, and there is still so much more to come from him.

Big name for £0: Newcastle now in contact with "incredible" winger's agents

He would complete their frontline…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 13, 2025

There are also doubts surrounding the future of Sean Longstaff at St James’, with Everton linked with a summer move for him, so the Milan ace could even come in as a direct replacement for the Englishman.

Incoming Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is now intent on signing a “world-class” duo in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Berta drawing up plans for the summer

Although Berta is yet to be officially announced as the Gunners’ new sporting director, there have been suggestions the Italian has already started identifying a number of potential targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 53-year-old is believed to be a huge fan of Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios, as a result of the time they spent working together at the La Liga club, while he will also try to sign Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes.

The north Londoners are now in talks over a deal for Guimaraes, with Berta ‘in love’ with the Brazilian after trying to sign him for Atlético Madrid on a number of occasions.

Better than Sesko: Arsenal in talks to sign "one of the best in the world"

Arsenal could sign one of the best forwards in the world on a free transfer.

2 ByMatt Dawson Mar 23, 2025

As such, the 27-year-old has now emerged as a key target for Arsenal, which could perhaps indicate Martin Zubimendi is no longer as high up the list, but a new report from GiveMeSport suggests otherwise.

According to the report, Berta is still intent on signing Zubimendi this summer, with the former Atlético Madrid man particularly keen on the Spaniard, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha.

Cunha provides a goal threat and creativity in attack, which makes the Brazilian a necessary addition to Mikel Arteta’s frontline, but he will not come cheap, given that he has a £62m release clause included in his contract.

Previous reports have stated Zubimendi will be a little cheaper at £51m, meaning Arsenal may have to shell out the huge sum of £113m to get the two deals over the line.

However, it is also detailed that Arteta’s side could listen to offers for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli this summer, which may boost their budget significantly.

Zubimendi and Cunha could be "world-class" additions

Cunha has shown signs of year-on-year development since signing for Wolves, having already beaten his Premier League goal tally from last season by netting 13 times in 26 appearances this term, while also providing four assists.

The Brazil international has thus been hailed as “world-class” by members of the media, and Kieran Tierney has stated Zubimendi is in the same category.

“You have world-class players like [Martín] Zubimendi, [Mikel] Merino, Brais [Méndez]. It’s not that people don’t think they’re good; it’s just that if you’re only watching the Premier League every week, it’s hard to know. They’re world class.”

As such, the duo could be fantastic signings for Arsenal this summer, but Cunha should be Arteta’s priority, given that the manager is light on out-and-out centre-forwards, and the 25-year-old has proven himself as a reliable goalscorer in the Premier League.