Leicester City are building for a tilt at promotion from the EFL Championship and have identified a talented winger to strengthen their cause, according to a report.
Leicester City claim late victory over Sheffield Wednesday
Sunday’s late kick-off produced a clash between two of the more troubled clubs in the English second-tier of late, and the Foxes finally managed to give their fans something to shout about courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at the King Power Stadium.
After Jan Vestergaard and Wout Faes cancelled out Nathaniel Chalobah’s opening strike, Marti Cifuentes lavished praise on Leicester’s never-say-die attitude that saw them begin the campaign with three points despite a summer dominated by off-field problems.
Queens Park Rangers manager MartiCifuentesreacts
He stated, citing tactical tweaks that he deployed: “There were some messages, some more tactical in terms of positioning and how we wanted to build up. We adjusted things in terms of how we attacked.
“They took the lead and we predicted them to be deeper. That means we had to create different situations for our attackers. Second, it’s important as a team to have this mentality. Here in this club you know very well about ‘Foxes Never Quit’. We need to chase the result, we need to chase the victory until the last second of the game.”
Nevertheless, Mads Hermansen’s move to West Ham has led Leicester to target Illan Meslier between the sticks. The Denmark international won’t be the only face to depart the East Midlands before the window closes.
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The Foxes could land an experienced midfield performer…
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Bilal El Khannouss could move from Leicester to Tottenham Hotspur after James Maddison suffered an ACL injury, indicating that Cifuentes will need to act if the Morocco international leaves a void to be filled, something that could now be addressed if reports are to be believed.
Leicester City enter race to sign Sebastian Tounetki
According to Transferfeed, Leicester City are interested in Hammarby winger Sebastian Tounekti, who is tied down to the Swedish outfit on a contract that runs until the summer of 2029.
Born in Norway, he represents Tunisia at international level and has registered two goals and five assists in 20 appearances across all competitions in 2025, in line with the alternative March to November schedule adopted in Scandinavia.
Sebastien Tounekti’s key statistics in 2024/25 – Allsvenskan (Fotmob)
Chances created
20
Successful dribbles
39
Shots on target
9
Touches in opposition box
136
Tackles won
13
Nevertheless, he is said to be happy in Sweden at this moment in time with his full focus on helping Hammarby to claim the league title, albeit it remains to be seen if Leicester will take their interest to the next level by submitting an official approach.
Finding gems in untapped markets may be key for the Foxes to add quality despite the looming threat of a points deduction. Either way, they will hope to sell the vision that success can still be achieved at the King Power Stadium regardless of circumstance.
It seems that Everton are looking to completely overhaul their attack this summer. David Moyes’ side have lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who departed the club after his contract expired. French under-21 striker Thierno Barry signed as his replacement.
Indeed, Moyes will no doubt be hoping for more consistency in front of goal. The Toffees were one of the Premier League’s lowest scorers last season, with Understat detailing that they managed just 42 goals. That was better than just three sides in the top flight, all of whom were the relegated trio last season.
Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin is replaced by Beto.
However, an increase in goals will not only come from the strikers, but those playing in behind them, too. That is perhaps why the Toffees are heavily linked with a new attacking midfielder, too.
Everton target new attacking midfielder
It is clear to see that Moyes wants more goals from his attack. Barry is a statement signing for the present and future, and Charly Alcaraz, who made his loan move from Flamengo permanent, is also a clear sign.
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Now, Everton are seemingly plotting a move for Manchester City and England international Jack Grealish. According to The i Paper, the Toffees manager is ‘a huge admirer’ of the former Aston Villa star, with the club ‘ready to make a pitch’ to the 29-year-old.
However, they are by no means the only side in for Grealish. West Ham United are one of the Premier League sides who will rival Everton for his signature, with Serie A winners Napoli also in the conversation.
Grealish was valued at £40m earlier in the summer, but the Merseysiders may only want a loan move for the England star.
Why Grealish would be a good signing
There is no doubt that the last 12 months or so have been tough for Grealish. He has not had any level of consistent game time at the Etihad Stadium, and did not make City’s Club World Cup squad over the last month or so.
Manchester City's JackGrealishon the substitutes bench
In the 2024/25 campaign, Grealish played just 32 games for Pep Guardiola’s side. In that time, he scored three goals and managed five assists. In 2025, the attacker played just seven games in the Premier League, featuring for more than half an hour once in that time.
Yet, let’s not forget the contribution Grealish has made overall in his 190 Premier League appearances so far. He is a three-time champion and has 27 goals and 31 assists. In the 2020/21 campaign, he contributed 18 goals and assists in 26 games for Villa.
If Everton manage to pull this signing off and bring Grealish to the Blue half of Merseyside, he could be their new James Rodriguez.
The Colombian was described as “an intelligent, top player” by legendary manager Claudio Ranieri, and was sensational in a Toffees shirt.
James-Rodriguez-celebrating
He only played 26 games for the club in the 2020/21 season, but had a huge impact. Rodriguez bagged six goals and created nine across all competitions, bringing creative flair to their side from the number 10 role.
That is certainly the impact Grealish would love to replicate. Described as a “special” player by former Arsenal player Paul Merson, he could bring the same game-changing ability to the Hill Dickinson Stadium that Rodriguez showed at Goodison Park.
The stats via Squawka from the 2020/21 campaign show just how similar the pair are. For example, Grealish averaged 0.8 goals and assists and created an average of 3.3 chances per 90 minutes. In comparison, the Colombian averaged 0.7 goal involvements and created 2.1 chances each game.
Goals and assists
0.8
0.7
Chances created
3.3
2.1
Forward passes
13
12.2
Take-ons completed
2.7
1.8
Touches
65.2
72.6
Ball recoveries
5.2
6.3
If Grealish can replicate the form he showed in his final season at Villa Park, he can surely be the second coming of Rodriguez. The creative impact he possesses and the ability to drive his team forward is certainly similar to the former Toffees star.
Man City's Jack Grealish warming up with Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji.
This is, in many ways, a risk-free deal for Everton. Signing a player with the talent of Grealish on loan could be a smart move, especially if he can replicate what Rodriguez did for the club all those years ago.
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Tottenham Hotspur continued their pre-season preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with an interesting split of two games on the same day against Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers.
The Lilywhites failed to win either match, with a mix of first-team and youth players, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the Hatters and a 2-2 draw by the Choir Boys.
New signing Mohammed Kudus, who arrived from Premier League rivals West Ham United earlier this summer, played in the goalless draw with Luton, failing to help his team break the deadlock.
One player who was not in action in either of the matches, though, was centre-forward Dominic Solanke, as the club confirmed that he has suffered a minor ankle injury.
The England international is the club’s only senior, natural, number nine option, and he missed 14 games through injury in the 2024/25 campaign, which may leave Spurs wary of going into next season with him as their only natural striker to call upon.
Why Spurs need to sign a new centre-forward
The Lilywhites should be in the market to sign another goalscorer because the team seriously lacked a consistent scorer in the Premier League last term, as evidenced by Brennan Johnson ending the year as the top scorer with 11 goals.
Dominic Solanke celebrates for Tottenham
Solanke’s fitness issues are a concern, because of the 14 games he missed last term and the ankle injury he has already sustained in pre-season, but his performances when fit have also been concerning.
The 27-year-old centre-forward did not enjoy a particularly impressive debut season with Spurs in front of goal, as the former Bournemouth attacker failed to hit double digits for goals in the Premier League.
Solanke ended the season with a return of 16 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for the Lilywhites, but he underperformed against his xG of 16.55 and only nine of those goals came in the top-flight.
The English marksman scored nine goals from 10.97 xG in the Premier League and five goals from 5.58 xG in the Europa League for Spurs, which shows that he was wasteful in front of goal.
Appearances
27
xG
10.97
Goals
9
Minutes per goal
245
Big chances missed
12
xA
1.15
Assists
3
As you can see in the table above, the ex-Cherries attacker missed too many ‘big chances’ in the top-flight and was not a reliable goalscoring presence for Ange Postecoglou.
It now remains to be seen whether or not he can step up his game to be the consistent goalscorer that Thomas Frank needs to push the team up the table next season.
That is why the club must sign a new number nine option to bolster their squad, and they are reportedly looking at a forward who would be a big upgrade on Solanke.
Spurs exploring deal for prolific striker
According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs exploring the possibility of a deal for Al Hilal centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The report claims that Premier League sides Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Spurs are all keen on a possible swoop for the Serbia international during the summer transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that Tottenham want to add new players to their forward line this summer because of Richarlison and Heung-min Son’s declining form, and that they view Mitrovic as a player who can be a viable alternative to Solanke next season.
CaughtOffside adds that Al Hilal are looking for a fee in the region of around €30m (£26m) in order to sanction a summer transfer for the prolific centre-forward.
However, it remains to be seen whether Spurs, Newcastle, or Manchester United are prepared to pay the £26m that is needed to secure his services in the coming weeks.
Why Spurs should sign Mitrovic
The Lilywhites should push to win the race for the experienced number nine before the end of the summer transfer window, because he would come in as a big upgrade on Solanke for Frank.
As aforementioned, the current Spurs number nine has struggled to score goals on a regular basis and has been a wasteful finisher in the Premier League, but that is unlikely to be the case for Mitrovic in North London.
The 30-year-old star, formerly of Fulham, has racked up a staggering 68 goals and 15 assists in 79 appearances for Al Hilal since his move from the Cottagers in 2023.
He also produced a phenomenal return of 111 goals in 206 games for Fulham during his time in England, which shows that he is also a proven and consistent goalscorer in English football.
Mitrovic, who was described as an “absolute monster” by Saudi Arabian news journalist Matt Monaghan, is an experienced and proven goalscorer who could come in to offer far more than Solanke in front of goal in the Premier League next season.
Appearances
28
23
xG
26.60
17.41
Goals
28
19
xG on target
26.26
22.12
xA
2.48
1.33
Assists
5
2
As you can see in the table above, the Serbian marksman has scored 47 goals in two seasons in the Saudi Pro League, outperforming his xG in both of those campaigns.
These statistics show that he is an incredibly efficient forward who can consistently put away the high-quality chances that are created for him, or created by his own movement and play in possession.
Mitrovic also scored 14 goals in 23 starts in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign with Fulham before his move to Saudi Arabia, which shows that he can also be an effective number nine in the English top-flight.
With question marks over Solanke’s ability to be the starting number nine that Spurs need to kick on next season, due to his lacklustre finishing and underwhelming goal return, signing the Al Hilal star for £26m is a move that could make a lot of sense this summer.
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Mitrovic could come in as a huge upgrade on the England international, if he can translate his form in Saudi Arabia over to the Premier League, as he has the potential to offer significantly more to the team in front of goal.
West Ham United have now agreed a deal to sign a “powerful” player for a fee of £19m plus add-ons, who is set to become their first new summer signing, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Hammers in need of major summer rebuild
West Ham fell below their usual standards in the 2024-25 campaign, finishing in 14th place, while the recent departure of Mohammed Kudus only exacerbates the need for Graham Potter to make a number of additions to his squad this summer.
There have been suggestions that Kudus’ departure, which raised £55m, could help fund the rebuild, with Potter in need of younger players, having fielded the oldest average starting XI in the Premier League last season.
However, like many clubs, it has become difficult for the Irons to abide by PSR rules, especially now they are having to go without European football, which could make it difficult to bring in a new striker, goalkeeper, central midfielder and left-back.
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That said, it appears as though they are now very close to strengthening one of those positions, with Romano recently taking to X to reveal that a deal has been agreed to sign Slavia Prague left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The Hammers have recently submitted an improved offer of €22m (£19m) plus add-ons, which has been accepted by the Czech club, and Diouf has been given permission to travel to London for his medical.
The defender has been a key target for quite some time, as revealed by ExWHUEmployee, who said: “We have been targeting the player for a while as we exclusively revealed and he ticks a number of boxes. He has a physical presence, he has pace, he is only 20 years of age and his career can only progress further from this point. This is the sort of value for money that West Ham have been looking for.”
"Powerful" Diouf could be solid signing for the Hammers
Not only does ExWHUEmployee believe the youngster can kick on at the London Stadium, but he has also received high praise from U23 scout Antonio Mango, who once described the full-back as a “powerful dribbler”.
El Hadji Malick Diouf playing for Senegal against England.
West Ham certainly need to bring in a left-back this summer, given Aaron Cresswell’s departure, and the starlet already has a great deal of experience at first-team level, having made 50 senior appearances for Slavia Prague.
The Senegalese defender is particularly impressive from an attacking point of view, having collected nine goals and four assists during that time, courtesy of often playing in a slightly more advanced role.
Diouf could be a solid signing for the Hammers, and barring any late hiccups, it appears as though he is set to become their first signing of the summer.
Chelsea secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup following an extra-time victory over Benfica at the weekend.
Reece James looked like he had powered the Blues into the next round, but a penalty from Ángel Di María sent the clash into an extra 30 minutes.
The game was suspended for a couple of hours, just minutes from the final whistle, due to a storm threat, but Chelsea finally won the clash 4-1.
It may have taken 4 hours and 39 minutes, but Enzo Maresca’s side now face off against PSG for a spot in the semi-final.
Despite the focus being on the tournament and progressing as far as possible, the manager is still keen on bolstering his squad via the transfer market.
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Reports coming from the Athletic claim that the Blues have reached an agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion regarding a move for Joao Pedro.
Brighton forward Joao Pedro
The proposed deal looks set to be in excess of £50m and the Brazilian has agreed personal terms with the club.
With a medical booked in early for next week, it appears as though Maresca is closing in on signing another key target. Just what will Pedro offer the Blues?
Why Chelsea want to sign Joao Pedro
Maresca is looking to sell both Christopher Nkunku and João Félix this summer, with both players struggling for regular gametime last season.
Nkunku may have scored against Benfica, but with clubs such as Manchester United showing some interest in the Frenchman, it looks as though he might be sold.
Felix played just 20 times for Maresca last season, scoring seven times, but the Portuguese star spent the second half of the campaign out on loan at AC Milan.
Pedro’s arrival suggests one, or perhaps both, will soon be departing Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks.
Transfer Focus
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The Brighton star is versatile, being able to operate as a centre-forward, second striker or even out wide on the left flank.
Last term, he typically operated in an advanced role centrally, scoring ten goals for the Seagulls and registering seven assists, proving he is adept in front of goal and at creating opportunities for his teammates.
Such were his performances, the 23-year-old ranks highly among his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues.
Indeed, not only does the forward rank in the top 12% for assists (0.28) per 90, but he also ranks in the top 10% for shot-creating actions (3.33) and successful take-ons (1.34) per 90.
Brighton striker Joao Pedro
Furthermore, Pedro’s ability to get the ball into dangerous areas is evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes (3.6) and in the top 3% for progressive carries (3.05) per 90, indicating that he will offer a lot of attacking qualities for the Blues next term.
It won’t be the only area of the squad that the Italian will be keen on strengthening, however, especially with the added demands of Champions League football next term.
As such, it’s certainly worth Chelsea bringing in a defender or two this summer.
Chelsea's search for a defender
Last season, the club conceded a total of 59 goals across all competitions from 57 matches, and this record will be something Maresca aims to improve next term.
Over the same period, Chelsea scored 120 goals. This suggests that bolstering the defence is surely a bigger priority than adding to the forward line, notably Joao Pedro.
It looks as though the Blues are keen on a defender who played against them just last weekend – Antonio Silva.
Antonio Silva for Benfica.
Journalist Simon Phillips stated via his Substack that the Blues have been impressed with the youngster, saying:
“Chelsea have tried and made approaches and checks on a number of potential new centre back names this summer so far and still have more to look at and in to. Chelsea have been scouting Antonio Silva of Benfica all season and already have him added to our transfer shortlist alongside his team mate, Tomas Araujo.
“But Chelsea are looking for an out and out centre back and attentions have again turned to the 21-year-old Portuguese international who has just two-years remaining on his contract.”
The centre-back is valued at €32m (£27m) according to Transfermarkt, but Benfica will be looking for a much higher fee than that to sanction a sale considering his release clause stands at around £87m.
Given their defensive issues last term, Silva would be a better signing than Pedro, that’s for sure.
Why Chelsea must sign Antonio Silva
The 21-year-old played over 40 times last season, including all four games at the Club World Cup for Benfica.
At the tournament, Silva averaged a 92% pass success rate, while winning a staggering 80% of his total duels contested, made 2.3 tackles per game and lost possession just 4.3 times per match in the States.
These performances have attracted plenty of attention, and there is no doubt that Silva is only going to get better and better.
Accurate passes
52.3
Tackles
1.5
Total duels won
4.5
Possession lost
7.7
Clearances
4.3
Balls recovered
4
After he burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old with a goal against Juventus in the Champions League back in 2022, Jamie Carragher claimed the defender was “going to be a superstar” and his upwards trajectory certainly suggests so.
When compared to his peers in the Champions League last season, Silva ranked in the top 1% for clearances (7.7) per 90, while also ranking in the top 16% for aerials won (2.36) and in the top 9% for touches in the defensive penalty area (12.91) per 90.
An impressive array of statistics indeed, and considering his ceiling is extraordinarily high, Maresca must make signing Silva a key priority this summer.
Pedro will certainly add plenty of dynamism to the club’s attacking department, but it is at the heart of the defence where the real improvements are required given the problems Maresca’s men suffered last term.
As such, spending whatever it takes to bring Silva from Benfica to the Premier League must be the next move BlueCo are planning.
If he lands his signature, Silva will almost certainly be a better signing than Pedro.
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Tottenham Hotspur have taken a risk this summer in sacking Ange Postecoglou, especially after the Aussie ended their 17-year wait for any form of silverware.
The responsibility has subsequently fallen into the hands of Thomas Frank, who was appointed as the new boss on a three-year contract, with the hierarchy forking out £10m for his signature from Brentford.
The Dane will likely be under huge pressure to make a fast start to his tenure, needing to get results on the board and help the club rise up the Premier League table.
Their lowly league standing was what subsequently cost Ange his job in North London, with Frank wanting to avoid such a repeat, which could see his job on the line in the near future.
However, if he is to have the best possible chance of replicating the Aussie, he will need additions, with owner Daniel Levy needing to provide him with the options he craves.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer
Xavi Simons is a star who has set Europe alight this season, registering 11 goals for RB Leipzig this season, with Spurs open to making a move for his signature this window.
He’s not the only player in their sights, with Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo also under consideration ahead of a potential deal over the coming weeks.
Antoine Semenyo scores for Bournemouth
However, another name has emerged on their shortlist in recent times, with Brighton and Hove Albion talisman Joao Pedro a firm target for Frank, according to Spurs Web.
They claim that internal talks have been held in North London over a deal for the Brazilian forward, who’s set to leave the AMEX after scoring 10 Premier League goals this season.
It also states that the 23-year-old could be available for around £70m this summer, but face tough competition from Newcastle United and Chelsea for his signature.
Why Spurs’ £70m target could become Frank’s next Mbeumo
During Frank’s reign as Brentford boss, he took the club from the Championship and made them an established top-flight outfit, developing many talents in the process.
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after the match
Forward Bryan Mbeumo is just one example, joining from French side Troyes back in 2019, before developing into a leading Premier League star in recent months.
The Cameroonian international managed to score 20 times for the Bees in 2024/25, the most he’s registered in a single season, leading to interest from the Lilywhites and Manchester United.
It appears as though he will move to Old Trafford this window after informing Frank’s side that he’s only interested in a switch to join the Red Devils this window.
Such a decision could see Pedro become a key option for the club in the transfer window, potentially being the Dane’s new version of Mbeumo in North London.
Brighton forward Joao Pedro
The Brazilian has been labelled a similar player to the 25-year-old by FBref, managing to outperform him in numerous key areas throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
Pedro, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Ryan Adsett, has posted a better goal and assist per 90 record, handing Frank the added attacking threat he will need in North London.
Games played
27
38
Goals & assists
16
27
Goals & assists (per 90)
0.74
0.71
Pass accuracy
73%
66%
Passes into final third
1.9
1.6
Take-ons completed
1.4
1.3
Fouls won
2.1
1.1
Aerials won
49%
31%
Alongside his goalscoring record, the Brighton star has also completed more passes into the final third and registered a better pass accuracy rate – able to hand out chances to those around him in the final third.
He’s also won more aerial battles and completed a higher tally of take-ons, handing an all-round and versatile option to the manager in his quest for success with the Lilywhites.
£70m may appear to be a hefty price tag for the Brazilian, but it’s a competitive fee for a player who’s been just as impressive as Mbeumo this campaign.
If he can replicate such talents for the Lilywhites next season, he has all the tools to become a fan favourite and play a huge part in the new era at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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West Ham United find themselves ready to move on from the dissapointment of last campaign under Graham Potter and have now turned their attention to an England cap also desires by their rivals, according to a report.
West Ham look to kickstart slow transfer window
Without putting too fine a point on it, the Hammers have endured a slow transfer window so far as they weigh up what direction to go down at the London Stadium. Despite a lack of notable links, former scout Mick Brown has detailed that West Ham are set to make a ‘formal approach’ for Rangers striker Hamza Igamane following his debut campaign in Scotland.
He stated: “West Ham are about make a formal move for Igamane. They’ve had scouts up there watching him and he’s one of the names on their radar.
“But I’m told they’re not convinced he’s ready to make the step up to the Premier League. He’s looked impressive for Rangers at times, but he’s playing in a side which finished 17 points short of Celtic, so it’s a difficult one to judge.”
Talks have also been held between the Hammers and Adama Bojang, so there is a clear appetite there for Graham Potter to add attacking reinforcements.
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However, the forward line won’t be the only place strengthened by those in the corridors of power. Vladimir Coufal has left West Ham on a free transfer, signalling that a right-back will be on the agenda to replace the experienced Czechia international.
With that in mind, the Londoners could now look to beat one of their city rivals in pursuit of a defender who has been capped by England and is available for free.
West Ham line up Kyle Walker-Peters move
According to CaughtOffside, West Ham have positioned themselves to sign Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters, though he is also attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
The 28-year-old has been identified by Thomas Frank as a sensible signing and Spurs are front of the queue, but the Hammers are ‘closely monitoring’ his situation and could launch a counter to any attempts from their London rivals to win the race for his signature.
Kyle Walker-Peters’ Premier League campaign in numbers (Fotmob)
Chances created
24
Successful dribbles
38
Recoveries
135
Duels won
145
Fouls won
52
Intriguingly, the former Spurs man has featured in a variety of different positions this campaign, including both flanks, either full-back berth and even as a central defender.
His availability on a free transfer is majorly appealing to top-flight clubs alongside Walker-Peters’ homegrown status, though he has the monopoly of choosing his next destination and will likely take his time to do so.
Labelled “brilliant” by Russell Martin, Everton were also in the running before they opted to sign Kenny Tete on a free transfer from Fulham.
Attracting a significant level of interest, Walker-Peters, who earns £20,000 a week at St Mary’s, is an intriguing proposition on the market this summer and whoever lands him will be laying claim to a wealth of experience and quality.
Leeds United now face Burnley in a transfer battle to sign a Premier League level defender on a free transfer this summer, according to a new report.
Leeds eyeing more transfers after Nmecha deal
The Whites confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window on Sunday afternoon, as Lukas Nmecha agreed to join Leeds once his contract at Wolfsburg expires at the end of the month.
The attacking midfielder is a player who is likely to be an important figure in Farke’s team this season, but the club are not resting with just his arrival, as they are already working on more additions.
As reported by Africa Foot, Leeds have made contact with Manchester City over signing Juma Bah on a loan deal. The 19-year-old joined the Blues back in January but spent the rest of the campaign on loan at RC Lens. He now looks set for another temporary move away, with Leeds and Southampton fighting for his signature.
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Meanwhile, defender Jaka Bijol has agreed terms over a move to Elland Road this summer and a deal appears to be nearing completion. He is not the only defender on the club’s radar, as a report from Football Insider states that Alex Moreno is also interested in a move to Leeds this summer. The 32-year-old could be available for £5 million, as the Whites are in the market for a new left-back.
Leeds face Burnley in Keane battle
The list of potential new defenders to sign doesn’t stop there, as according to the Liverpool Echo, Leeds are among the teams interested in signing Michael Keane from Everton.
Everton defender Michael Keane
Keane, who has been at Goodison Park since July 2017, is out of contract at the end of this month, and while he remains in talks over a new contract, he is looking more likely to leave. That has alerted Leeds, who, along with Burnley and Sheffield United, are keen on swooping in and securing the defender on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old, who has been dubbed “immense” in the past by Harry Redknapp, has fallen down the pecking order at Everton in recent seasons. Keane went from playing 32 games in the Premier League during the 2021/22 season to playing just 12, 9 and 14 times in the last 3 campaigns.
Apps
230
Goals
16
Assists
10
Keane could be a viable option for the Whites to provide more depth behind Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, and there aren’t many free signings on the market who provide such a wealth of top flight experience.
Manchester United have opened talks over the signing of a “fantastic” player, who is now a prime target, and they are making significant moves to get a deal done, according to a report.
Man Utd's summer rebuild now underway
The Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to have a mass clear-out this summer, and the manager’s rebuild has now commenced, with Matheus Cunha becoming the first player to sign on the dotted line.
However, in order to re-shape his squad more significantly, Amorim may have to sanction some departures, and the manager was seen visibly laughing when questioned about Alejandro Garnacho’s future, amid widespread links to other clubs.
Andre Onana is another player who could be in the firing line, having failed to adapt to life in the Premier League, with Lyon’s Nemanja Matic famously dubbing him “one of the worst keepers in Manchester United history” back in April.
As such, United have been looking at replacements for Onana, and they are now stepping up their pursuit of AS Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, opening talks over a deal for the 25-year-old in the past week.
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That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states the Red Devils are now making significant moves to sign Svilar, who could be a low-cost replacement for Onana, with Roma likely to hold out for a fee of around £21m – £25m.
AS Roma'sMileSvilar
The Serbian would be keen on a move to Old Trafford, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United and AS Monaco all monitoring the goalkeeper’s situation in Italy.
"Fantastic" Svilar now prime target for Man Utd
The Belgium-born shot-stopper is said to have been identified as a prime target for Man United this summer, and it is clear to see why, having averaged a very impressive save percentage and clean sheet percentage over the past year, when compared to other goalkeepers.
Mile Svilar Statistics
Average per 90
Save percentage
77.9% (94th percentile)
Goals against
0.96 (92nd percentile)
Clean sheet percentage
38% (86th percentile)
Not only that, but former manager Claudio Ranieri lauded the Serbia international for his performances during the 2024-25 campaign, saying: “Mile is having a fantastic season.
“When a goalkeeper is not very busy and is suddenly called into action, showing readiness at all times like Mile does, then it means that he is truly a great goalkeeper.”
It is clear that Onana will need to be replaced this summer, having performed very poorly over the past year, and Svilar could be a savvy signing at just £21m, freeing up funds to strengthen other areas of the squad.
It seems like Chelsea will try and sign a new winger in the summer transfer window. With Jadon Sancho potentially returning to Manchester United, if they decide not to buy him permanently, they could well need reinforcements in wide areas.
Enzo Maresca’s current crop of wide men are certainly not uninspiring. Aside from Sancho, those permanently at the club include the likes of Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke.
Those two wingers have six and 11 goals to their names across all competitions, respectively, this season. In recent weeks, Tyrique George has broken through, and Cole Palmer now plays a more central role.
However, they could well look to sign an additional player in wide areas, and are seemingly plotting an ambitious move this summer.
The latest on Chelsea’s pursuit of a winger
Chelsea have been linked with a number of options should they try and sign a new winger this summer. One of those players is another Red Devils star, Alejandro Garnacho. News broke on Thursday, courtesy of talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, that Chelsea are ‘interested’ in the 20-year-old.
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Alternatives are also seemingly being considered, as the Blues could well be set to target Real Madrid star Rodrygo, according to Caught Offside. The report suggests the West London outfit are ‘stepping up their pursuit’ of the Brazilian forward this summer.
According to the article, Chelsea are the side who ‘are currently leading the race’ to sign the Los Blancos superstar, but they are not the only team in the hunt.
Their Premier League rivals, Manchester City ‘are keeping a close eye on the situation’ and could also make a move. Whichever side win the race, Madrid could command a huge fee of £101m.
Why Rodrygo would be a good signing
Make no mistake about it, Chelsea would be signing a global superstar if they manage to bring Rodrygo to Stamford Bridge. Described as “terrifyingly good” by Sam Tighe, a football journalist and broadcaster, he has been fantastic for Madrid once again this term.
It has been a productive season again for the Brazilian this season. Across all competitions for the La Liga giants, he has found the back of the net 14 times and provided a further ten goals for his teammates in 51 games.
In fact, the 24-year-old’s underlying numbers from this season from Sofascore reinforce the fact that he has played well. For example, he has averaged 2.1 key passes and 2.1 successful dribbles in those 51 appearances this season.
Key passes
78
2.1
Big chances created
10
0.3
Dribbles completed
77
2.1
Tackles and interceptions
71
1.9
Expected goal involvements
12.12xGI
0.32xGI
If there is one competition that the winger thrives in, it is the Champions League. Rodrygo has a strong record in the competition, with 39 goals and assists in 64 games. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig rightly pointed out that he “loves the UCL”.
It is a competition that Chelsea are hoping to be in next term, and they will hope Rodrygo can turn up on the biggest stage again.
Should the West London side bring Rodrygo to the club, he could be the second coming of Diego Costa. Not in the sense of how he was as a player, of course, given the former Atletico Madrid star was a striker and Rodrygo is a winger.
Instead, the similarities between the two are the fact that they are both Brazil-born, high-profile La Liga stars, who were expensive, too. Sky Sports reported that the then-25-year-old striker cost Chelsea £32m, which in today’s money, according to The Transfer Index, would be £61.5m, a steep fee indeed.
Diego Costa
Costa was sensational for the Blues. The Spain international, who has not yet retired but is currently without a club, scored 59 goals and registered 21 assists in 120 games.
Across three Premier League seasons, they won two titles, and Costa scored 20 league goals in both of those.
If Rodrygo can have anywhere near the impact at Chelsea that Costa managed, then it would be an excellent piece of business. Of course, the fee is expensive, but to acquire a player of his talent, you have to pay that kind of money.
Costa joined the Blues from La Liga and became a club legend, taking the West Londoners to astronomical heights. They will surely want Rodrygo to do the exact same thing if he moves to Stamford Bridge.
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