Manchester City are still on course for Champions League qualification after one of the most unlikely comebacks you’ll see all season.

On Saturday lunchtime, the Sky Blues found themselves 2-0 down at home to Crystal Palace, with the Eagles having a third ruled out for offside, before squandering another gilt-edged opportunity, cutting Man City apart time after time with ease.

Thus, with 25 minutes on the clock, few would have forecast that the Citizens would run out 5-2 winners, as transpired.

Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick got the comeback started and then Omar Marmoush lashed home an equaliser soon after, with second-half goals from Mateo Kovačić and then youngsters James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly completing the turnaround.

So, with six games remaining, the Sky Blues remain in the hunt for a top five finish but, if they’re to make it, Pep Guardiola must give more opportunities to his “top talent” who’s showing flashes of a certain Davild Silva.

What made David Silva such a special player

David Silva arrived at Manchester City in the summer of 2010 for a reported £30m, a big fee at the time, as part of their first wave of eye-catching signings, alongside Jérôme Boateng, Yaya Touré, James Milner, Aleksandar Kolarov, Edin Džeko and Mario Balotelli.

Well, considering he now has a statue outside the Etihad, it’s fair to say Silva departed a Man City legend, with the table below outlining exactly why.

David Silva’s Manchester City career in numbers
Statistics	David Silva
Appearances	436
Goals	77
Assists	131
Premier League titles	4
FA Cups	2
EFL Cups	5
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

During Silva’s first season in Manchester, he was a key figure in the side that won the FA Cup, beating Stoke 1-0 in the final, thereby securing the club’s first piece of major silverware for 35 years.

The following season, quite famously, the Citizens pipped Manchester United to the Premier League title on the final day, and this has really proved to be just the start of their dominance over the last decade or so.

Former teammate Kyle Walker claims that Silva is the best player he’s ever played with, while ex-Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher told the Telegraph that he believes the Spaniard is Man City’s ‘best-ever player’.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, do the Sky Blues currently have a homegrown youngster breaking into the first team with a skill-set reminiscent of the great midfielder?

Man City's next David Silva

Saturday saw the aforementioned McAtee make his full-Premier League debut for Manchester City, marking the occasion with a goal from one of his 27 touches of the ball, played in behind by Ederson before rounding Dean Henderson and slotting home, before pulling off a spectacular back-flip.

The 22-year-old has been on Man City’s books since the age of 11 and that was his 31st appearance for the first team, although only seven of these have been starts, all in the Community Shield, EFL Cup or FA Cup prior to this weekend.

He did see significantly more game time during a two-season loan spell at Sheffield United, making 75 appearances for the Blades, so let’s assess why he’s being compared to Silva.

McAtee (2021-present) vs Silva (2011-2013)
Statistics	McAtee	Silva
Appearances	106	89
Minutes	5,245	6,742
Goals	21	13
Assists	9	27
Shots on target per 90	0.67	0.80
Touches	2,005	4,652
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

The table emphasises that McAtee still has a long way to go to ever reach Silva’s level, but he certainly has the potential to do so.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “top talent”, impressed by his “electric pace and acceleration” as well as his “high technical” level and “dribbling” ability. Those last few traits, combined with the youngster’s marvelous left foot and low centre of gravity, are certainly reminiscent of Silva in his pomp.

Guardiola, meantime, said on Saturday “I know how good he is…we can rely on him”, so McAtee has certainly proved he deserves more starts during the remainder of this season.

100 touches, 95% passing: Man City star is now as undroppable as Marmoush

Man City’s winter signings made the difference against Crystal Palace.

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 13, 2025

West Ham United’s Conference League-winning side of 2022/23 will go down in history at the London Stadium.

What a night it was for Hammers fans, with Jarrod Bowen becoming an instant legend of the club, scoring the winning goal to secure a late 2-1 win over Fiorentina.

West Ham supporters will surely remember the members of that team fondly for a long time. While some of them have now left the club, such as Declan Rice and Said Benrahma, several members of that squad are still playing at the London Stadium today, including matchwinner Bowen.

Another of those players still at the club is Tomas Soucek, but ahead of the summer transfer window, his future is up in the air.

The latest on Soucek's West Ham future

It does not appear as though Soucek will still be a West Ham player in five months, when the 2025/26 campaign will get underway.

The Czech Republic international is reportedly set to leave the club, according to Claret and Hugh, a reputable West Ham news source.

The Hammers-themed website spoke with a Premier League agent who said the 30-year-old ‘would like a new deal’, but at this stage, the East Londoners aren’t prepared to give him one, due to his age and the fact he has just two years left on his current contract. It is believed he could fetch upwards of £15m this summer.

It would surely be a shame for Hammers fans to say goodbye to a player who has given the club so much over the years. He’s donned the famous Claret and Blue shirt 241 times so far, scoring 40 goals and grabbing 13 assists.

He’s skippered the East London outfit at times, too, including once this season in a 3-2 win over Fulham, where he got on the scoresheet.

That goal was a classic Soucek strike, arriving into the box and getting on the end of a cross, this time with his foot, although it is often with his head.

However, the Czech star is not the only Hammers man who might be in line to leave this summer, with one high earner a player they could consider selling,

The West Ham player who should follow Soucek out of the door

There are famously two Czech players at West Ham, with Vladimir Coufal someone who has played a big part in their recent success over the years.

However, with the competition at right-back strong, and his high wages, there is every chance he could be in line to leave.

His involvement in the Premier League for the Hammers this term has decreased. Coufal has played just 18 times in the top flight, starting nine of those in total. He has not registered an assist and has actually only created one big chance, as per Sofascore.

With the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka last summer for £15m from Manchester United, and the switch to a back three, it does feel like Coufal’s role in the side has diminished, and it would surely not be surprising to see him depart.

Yet, he has been a wonderful servant for the club over the years. In total, the 32-year-old has played 176 games for the Irons, grabbing 20 assists in that time. Former club captain Rice once called him an “outstanding” player too. Sadly, he is not that anymore.

2020/21

36

3265

7

2021/22

34

2654

5

2022/23

38

3096

1

2023/24

47

4061

7

2024/25

21

1085

0

All good things must come to an end, and with the lack of involvement for Coufal in 2024/25, plus the fact he is coming towards the twilight of his career, the Hammers could well look to cash in.

He earns a sizeable amount per week too, a reported £35k to be exact. This would save West Ham money in the long term, given he earns £1.82m per year. It certainly feels like the money can be reinvested elsewhere.

Coufal has given lots to West Ham, and has been a loyal servant for the club. However, given his lack of involvement this season, and the cash the club can save on his wages, it might make sense if he was moved on at some stage soon.

Better than Soucek: Potter’s 137-touch West Ham star is now undroppable

West Ham made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League, beating limp Leicester in London.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 28, 2025

With their entire season now hinging on the Champions League, it’s obvious where Arsenal need to strengthen this summer: attack.

Mikel Arteta’s side still boast the best defence in the Premier League, and with Martin Zubimendi looking like he will be joining Declan Rice in midfield this summer, it’s evident that up top is where the Gunners are lacking.

The club must share this sentiment, as the last few months have seen a whole host of strikers touted for moves to the Emirates, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak being one of the most significant and consistent.

However, with stories suggesting he could cost up to an eye-watering £150m, it’s a move that feels out of reach, which could explain recent reports linking the North Londoners to another free-scoring forward who’d be the perfect answer to the Toon star.

Arsenal's striker search

With Arsenal clearly needing a new centre-forward this summer, it’s worth looking at some of the other names that have been linked with them recently, such as Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

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

The Slovenian international has long been touted for a move to the Emirates, but the £58m links feel that bit more substantial this time, and considering he’s already racked up 20 goals and six assists this season, he’d surely be a great addition to the squad.

Someone who wouldn’t cost the Gunners a penny in transfer fees is Jonathan David. The Canadian international’s contract with LOSC Lille comes to an end in the summer, and with an incredible track record of 96 goals and provided 24 assists in his last 181 club appearances, he’d be an unreal free agent.

However, if Arteta and Co want a genuine answer to Isak’s game-changing abilities this summer, they’ll need a statement signing of their own, which is where Viktor Gyokeres comes in.

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, the Gunners are now ready to ‘up the ante in their pursuit’ of the Swedish international.

In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners have made him their ‘main focus’ ahead of the transfer window and are set to hold talks with his representatives about a move.

It’s a move that could reportedly cost Arsenal around £70m, and while that is a lot of money, this is a deal they should be looking to conclude as soon as possible, as he might be the perfect answer to Isak.

Why Gyokeres is Arsenal's perfect answer to Isak

Okay, the first and most obvious reason Gyokeres could be the perfect answer to Isak for Arsenal is his price tag.

With him potentially costing £80m less than the Toon star, his transfer wouldn’t completely disrupt the club’s other recruitment plans for the summer, in turn allowing Arteta to sign another winger and possibly a further, up-and-coming attacker who could be slowly introduced into the side.

On top of costing far less than the former Real Sociedad star, the Sporting “powerhouse”, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, is also far sturdier and more reliable.

For example, throughout his entire career, the former Coventry City star has missed just five games for club and country, and one of those was so that he could rest.

In stark contrast, the Magpies’ talismanic marksman has missed a staggering 67 games for club and country, which, for someone who is still only 25, is more than a slight concern.

Appearances

39

48

Minutes

3054′

3858′

Goals

26

52

Assists

6

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.82

1.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

95.43′

60.28′

Finally, when it comes down to their raw output, the Stockholm-born “monster,” as dubbed by Mattinson, actually blows the Newcastle ace out of the water.

For example, in just 48 appearances, totalling 3858 minutes, he’s scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists for Sporting, which comes out at a staggering average of 1.33 goal involvements per game, or one every 60.28 minutes.

In contrast, Isak has scored 26 goals and provided six assists in 39 appearances, totalling 3054 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games, or every 95.43 minutes.

Granted, the latter is playing in a far harder league, but the sheer amount of goals scored by the former is out of this world.

Ultimately, while Gyokeres is not yet proven in the Premier League, he’s set to cost £80m less than Isak while having a far better injury record and significantly better goal involvement to game ratio.

Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign the Sporting CP star this summer, as he’s the perfect answer to the Toon titan.

Their new Sanchez: Arsenal weighing up bid for "unstoppable" £40m star

Arsenal could sign their new Alexis Sanchez this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 29, 2025

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is pushing to complete the signing of a £34m midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Wolves eye signings to look upwards next season

It has largely been a season of struggle at Molineux, but relegation from the Premier League to the Championship has been avoided following an extremely impressive spell under Pereira. The 56-year-old has worked wonders at Wolves since replacing Gary O’Neil as manager, averaging 1.75 points per game and steering his team well clear of the drop zone.

It’s now a case of Wanderers kicking on this summer and Pereira signing the right players to suit his style, and he has discussed how he hopes the summer will pan out: “I expect to go with Wolves to the next level, the next step. This is what I’m thinking about. We don’t need a lot of money, we just need to make the right decisions and have a plan. My focus is on this team and trying to get the best results possible until the end of the season. Keeping almost all of the players (is important) because we have a very good group. I want to work for another level, I want to take the next step with this club.”

Joao Felix has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Matheus Cunha if he leaves this summer, with a loan move for the Chelsea attacker mooted. The Brazilian has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, which would be a blow, as the club look to charge up the table rather than looking over their shoulder next term.

Meanwhile, Wolves have been boosted by the news that rumoured transfer target Clement Akpa could leave Auxerre this summer. The 23-year-old left-back could be seen as a replacement for Rayan Ait-Nouri, should he leave Molineux at the end of the season.

Pereira wants Wolves to sign 22 y/o Brazilian midfielder

According to a fresh claim from Coluna do Fla [via Sport Witness], Wolves are interested in signing Flamengo midfielder Evertton Araujo this summer, with Pereira leading their interest. The Wanderers boss has worked with the 22-year-old in the past at the Brazilian club and seemingly considers him a strong target, with a £34m release clause existing in his current contract.

Wolves fans could be forgiven for not knowing a huge amount about Araujo, considering he isn’t plying his trade in Europe currently, but it’s easy to see why Pereira likes him. The Brazilian has racked up 38 appearances for Flamengo to date, also enjoying plenty of success in his career, including winning the Brazilian Cup last year.

Related Exciting Cunha replacement: Wolves want to sign £45m star on loan

Wolves could lose Matheus Cunha in the summer transfer window.

Posts ByConnor Holden Apr 24, 2025

At 22, Araujo is also still very much at the beginning of his career, with his 6 foot 1 frame hopefully helping him make a seamless switch to the Premier League, handling the pace and power of it. Predominantly a defensive midfielder, he could provide strong competition for the likes of Andre and Joao Gomes, improving Pereira’s squad depth.

It was a case of the same old for Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead against the visiting Bournemouth but ended up coming away empty-handed in a match that perfectly summed up their domestic campaign.

Moreover, while he provided an assist for Declan Rice, it was another uninspiring performance from club captain Martin Odegaard, who picked up a 5/10 match rating from GOAL’s Stephen Darwin and made a mess of marking Evanilson for the winning goal.

The Norwegian’s poor form is now a serious concern, but in positive news, the club might have found a solution in a player who could get the best back out of him, a player compared to Kylian Mbappé.

Arsenal's transfer news

While the transfer target in question is someone who could get the best back out of Odegaard in the coming seasons, the club have also been credited with interest in some players who could be seen as out-and-out replacements for the midfielder, like Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

The former could reportedly be available for around £111m this summer, and while that is an outrageous sum of money, it might not be entirely unreasonable, as at just 22 years old, he has scored 16 goals and provided 13 assists in 43 games for Bayer Leverkusen this term.

Cherki, on the other hand, could cost far less at just £30m, and that does seem like a bargain considering the fact he’s already scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists in 42 games for Lyon so far this season.

However, if the Gunners want to get the best back out of their captain, they’d be better off acting on their interest in Eintrach Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké.

According to a recent report from journalist Christian Falk, as relayed by Caught Offside, Arsenal want the French forward this summer.

However, Liverpool are also said to want the free-scoring forward, and worse yet, the German side want around €100m for their star striker, which is about £85m.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his immense ability, he is one worth fighting for, especially as he’d get the best back out of Odegaard, and he’s been compared to Mbappé.

Why Ekitiké could revive Odegaard

So, before we get into the reasons why Ekitiké could revive Odegaard, it’s worth examining this comparison to Mbappé and where it comes from.

It stems from journalist Graeme Bailey, who three years ago reported that there were some in France who thought that the young forward was set to become “the new Mbappé.”

Now, it’s fair to say he hasn’t quite hit the incredible heights of the Real Madrid man, but it’s not hard to see why people would make the comparison, as the Frankfurt gem is a young, exciting and pretty free-scoring forward who, according to The Athletic’s Alex Barker, likes to “drop into wider areas” and “can create a chance for someone from absolutely nothing.”

It’s these traits that make the comparison seem more reasonable, and then when you add them to his raw output, it’s not hard to see why he could help the Gunners captain get back to his best.

For example, this season alone has seen the 22-year-old monster score 22 goals and provide 11 assists in just 46 appearances, totalling 3466 minutes of action.

Ekitiké’s 24/25

Appearances

46

Minutes

3466′

Goals

22

Assists

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

Minutes per Goal Involvement

105.03′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In other words, the sensational striker is averaging a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 105.03 minutes.

With a forward that prolific and creative starting ahead of him, the former Real Madrid wonderkid would undoubtedly see his goal and assist tallies soar.

Moreover, with the Reims-born star liking to drop back and drift out wide, opposition defenders would have to spend more time trying to cover him off and mark him in games, thus allowing the Drammen-born maestro more space to create.

Ultimately, while he wouldn’t be cheap, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Ekitiké this summer, as not only would he make the team more dangerous, but he could also help get Odegaard back to his imperious best.

Related He'd make Saliba & Gabriel unplayable: Arsenal to make bid for £25m star

Arsenal are wasting no time in making reinforcements ahead of the summer transfer window.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 5, 2025

Arsenal have been handed a boost in the race to sign a player who’s been described as “perfect” for them, with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta’s target keen on a move to the Emirates after holding talks.

Arsenal face PSG after 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace

Following their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, all eyes are now on Arsenal’s blockbuster Champions League semi-final first leg at home to PSG next week.

Arsenal hold "exploratory" talks as Berta eyes "special" £34m player

The Italian is getting to work ahead of his first summer transfer window.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

No other domestic games await the Gunners this weekend, meaning Arteta can put all of his focus into overcoming Luis Enrique’s side, who are enjoying a sensational unbeaten Ligue 1 campaign and pose a very tough test.

Arsenal will go into the contest with plenty of confidence after dismantling 15-time European champions Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the last round. However, Arteta did send a subtle warning to his players after they couldn’t get past Palace on Wednesday, criticising their poor performance.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

“I’m disappointed with the result and the performance as well,” said Arteta after Arsenal’s draw with Palace.

“I think we never got the consistency in many areas to completely dominate the game – we always had the feeling that we had the ball, we had possession, we went in front twice, but the game wasn’t grabbed, it wasn’t dominated and controlled the way that we normally do because we were below the standards in some areas. When you are not at your best, but you are two times ahead, you have to be able to see the game off, and we weren’t able to do it, especially with what happened in the second half.”

Arteta will demand a much higher level when Arsenal face one of Europe’s most in-form teams, and in a match which has the potential to make or break their whole campaign.

Arsenal handed Dean Huijsen transfer boost after update

Away from the pitch, Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta are planning for the summer window, with Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen reliably believed to be a serious target for them.

The 20-year-old’s active £50 million release clause has piqued interest from a host of elite Premier League clubs, including Arteta’s side, and it is believed that Huijsen has already held talks with Arsenal over a move.

This is backed up by talkSPORT and journalist Alex Crook, who also reports that Huijsen favours a move to Arsenal over the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham. Anfield is another preferred destination of the Spaniard’s, so Liverpool are in the race, but Crook says Huijsen has his eyes on a potential switch to Arsenal as well.

Following his move to Bournemouth from Juventus, Huijsen has proved a bargain buy after signing for just £16 million, but it now appears that it is inevitable he’ll depart the Vitality as a plethora of huge sides get ready to battle for his signature.

Football Analyst Ben Mattinson has called him the “perfect” option to rotate with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, while it is hard to argue after his excellent 2024/2025 campaign on the south coast.

While the mood following Thursday night’s Europa League win is a jubilant one around Tottenham Hotspur, there is no denying that, domestically at least, this season has been a disaster.

However, it would also be fair to say that there is a real sense of disappointment about that fact, as while injuries have certainly played their part, it feels as if many of the players have not played to their full potential, as while the table might not show it, Spurs have several seriously talented stars in their squad.

For example, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray already look like top-flight veterans, Dominic Solanke can be near-enough unplayable on his day, and in Djed Spence, the North Londoners could have an incredible all-action full-back on their hands.

However, when it comes to the club’s best player, the one other top teams would love to sign, it has to be Dejan Kulusevski, although since taking charge in 2023, Ange Postecoglou is responsible for the Lilywhites’ best signing since the Swede.

Kulusevski's Spurs career

It was in January 2022, under former manager Antonio Conte, that Kulusevski first made his way to N17 on an 18-month loan deal with an option to buy, which was exercised in June 2023, when he joined the club permanently for around £25m.

While not bad by any means, it would probably be fair to say that in his first couple of years in North London, the Stockholm-born star wasn’t particularly remarkable, racking up just 15 goals and 19 assists in 96 games across his first two-and-a-half-seasons.

However, this year has been completely different, as a positional shift, which has seen him move into the middle of the park for about half of his appearances, has seen his productivity explode.

Kulusevski’s Spurs record
Season	21/22	22/23	23/24	24/25
Appearances	20	37	39	44
Goals	5	2	8	10
Assists	8	8	3	10
Goal Involvements per Game	0.65	0.27	0.28	0.45
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, he’s scored ten goals and provided ten assists in just 44 appearances this term, and of those 20 goal involvements, 12 have come in 23 appearances in attacking and central midfield.

Moreover, even when he’s not scoring or providing an assist, the “world-class” international, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has been far more influential this year, helping spring attacks from deep and even occasionally helping stop opposition ones from starting.

In all, Kulusevski must be considered one of Spurs’ most important players, but there is another crucial first-teamer who’s undoubtedly been the club’s best signing since the Swedish superstar first made his way to North London.

Spurs' best signing since Kulusevski

While you could make the argument that the likes of Solanke, Bergvall or even Gray have been Spurs’ best signings since Kulusevski, we reckon it’s someone else entirely, someone who is undeniably crucial to Postecoglou’s gameplan: Micky van de Ven.

Yes, for our money, the North Londoners’ best signing since the Swedish international has to be the Flying Dutchman, who joined the club for around £43m from VfL Wolfsburg in August 2023, which might have seemed like a lot at the time, but now looks like a bargain.

So, what makes the Wormer-born titan so special then? Well, there are a few things, but his headline quality, and the one that makes him so important to the manager’s long-term plans, is his electric pace.

For example, it was only last season that the 24-year-old set a Premier League record for the fastest sprint when he hit an unbelievable 37.38km/h in a game against Brentford, and it’s this ability to get back at a pace no defender can match that allows the North Londoners to play such a high line when he’s fit.

In fact, we saw this in the team’s 1-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt last week, when he managed to get back and stop breakaways a couple of times in the first half.

However, on top of his “ridiculous” speed, as analyst Ben Mattinson described it, the former Wolfsburg star has a brilliant sense of when to make a tackle and has the physical strength to take on any attacker he comes up against, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to brand him “complete & dominant.”

Moreover, his underlying numbers make for some great reading, with FBref placing him in the top 1% of Premier League centre-backs for assists, the top 2% for expected assisted goals, the top 3% for ball recoveries, the top 5% for goals plus assists and carries, the top 10% for goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Van de Ven’s Scout Report
Statistic	Per 90	Percentile
Assists	0.20	Top 1%
Exp. Assisted Goals	0.12	Top 2%
Ball Recoveries	5.87	Top 3%
Goals + Assists	0.20	Top 5%
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.17	Top 5%
Carries	56.09	Top 5%
Goal-Creating Actions	0.20	Top 10%
All Stats via FBref

Ultimately, while this season has been something of a disaster, Spurs have several seriously talented players in their squad, and based on how well he’s played when fit, Van de Ven has to be the club’s best signing since Kulusevski.

New target: Spurs now racing PSG for "amazing" £40m Premier League starlet

Spurs have set their sights on an attacking midfielder, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 21, 2025

Manchester City might win the FA Cup next week, but it won’t be a consolation for the dismal season they have endured in the Premier League and Champions League.

Knocked out of the latter by Real Madrid in February, City’s title challenge was effectively over by the turn of the year.

Pep Guardiola made key signings in January, although he will be keen on adding a few more players to his squad in the summer.

Could he be set to raid the Bundesliga once again?

Man City's search for a striker

As reported earlier this week by German news outlet Bild, City have now joined the race for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké this summer.

They signed Omar Marmoush in January from the same club and it appears as though they are looking to raid them once more.

Liverpool and Arsenal have been heavily linked with the Frenchman of late, but Guardiola looks ready to make his move.

Due to the clubs chasing him, Frankfurt have placed a price tag of €100m (£85m) on his head, which might deter a few potential bids.

City have made their fair share of signings from the German top flight over the years, but it was their capture of Edin Dzeko which set the club up for their first Premier League title.

Hugo Ekitike could be City’s next Edin Dzeko

Dzeko joined City midway through the 2010/11 campaign – following his own prolific stint in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg – and enjoyed a solid first few months, scoring six times for the club.

The 2011/12 season saw the Etihad side claim their first ever Premier League crown and Dzeko netted 19 times in all competitions under Roberto Mancini.

A pure out-and-out striker, the Bosnian ended his spell at the club by scoring 72 goals across 198 matches, a more than respectable outlay. That followed the 85 goals he had scored in just 142 games during his time in Germany.

A potential German import like Dzeko, Ekitike certainly has his own qualities in front of goal. That much is known. For Frankfurt this season, he has found the back of the net on 15 occasions in the Bundesliga.

Furthermore, he has also created 12 big chances and succeeds with 1.6 dribbles per game, indicating that he offers more than just a clinical nature in front of goal.

Metric

Bundesliga

Europa League

Goals

15

4

Assists

7

3

Big chances created

12

6

Shots per game

3.5

2.2

Total duels won per game

4.2

4.3

During the formative years of his career, many expected him to go on to achieve big things, with sections of the media believing he “could be the next Mbappe” after he was linked with a move to Newcastle in 2022.

The youngster might not have hit the highs of the current Real Madrid sensation, but optimism is there that his career has been revived at Frankfurt following a disappointing spell with PSG.

Compared to his peers in the Bundesliga, Ekitike ranks in the top 9% for total shots (3.82), assists (0.29), shot-creating actions (3.52) and successful take-ons (1.9) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

Not merely content with being a pure striker, the Frenchman offers plenty in the final third. While £85m might put City off, if they can bring this price down, a move could be on the cards.

Transfer Focus

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

While Guardiola does already boast a Sergio Aguero-esque talisman in Erling Haaland, Ekitike could represent the perfect understudy – just as Dzeko was all those years ago.

Instant Marmoush upgrade: Man City targeting "world class" £85m star

Man City will be aiming to strengthen this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 10, 2025

Super-agent Pini Zahavi is keen for one of his illustrious clients to join Arsenal after previous transfer talks, with there being a preference for him to make an Emirates Stadium move if he does choose a Premier League switch.

Arsenal set to seal Martin Zubimendi deal

On Saturday morning, some extremely significant news broke from the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano.

World's "second-best" player expected to join Arsenal with groundwork done

He’d be quite the signing for Arteta.

ByEmilio Galantini May 9, 2025

After months of advanced talks, which first came to light in January (The Mail), Romano has now confirmed that Arsenal are set to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and will trigger his £51 million release clause – giving his signature ‘here we go’ to the deal.

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

The Spain international has pledged to sign a long-term contract in north London, one year after Zubimendi rejected a move to Liverpool, and he is now set to become Andrea Berta’s first signing as new sporting director.

Zubimendi’s capture is an undoubted boost for Mikel Arteta, and he will come in as a direct replacement for Jorginho after the Italy international agreed pre-contract terms on a summer move to Flamengo.

With Zubimendi’s arrival seemingly wrapped up, attention turns to who could follow the 26-year-old to N5.

Arsenal are considering the possibility of signing an alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, and they remain linked with a move for Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané.

Pini Zahavi keen on Leroy Sané joining Arsenal

The £244,000-per-week forward recently switched agents, employing Zahavi, and that has apparently thrown a spanner in the works of a potential new contract at Bayern.

It has provided some hope Arsenal can strike a free deal for Sane, with Bundesliga insider Christian Falk suggesting Zahavi is keen for his client to end up there if they opt for a Premier League transfer.

Zahavi has a preference for Sane joining Arsenal over Newcastle, as per Falk, if fresh terms with Bayern cannot be agreed.

“Pini is on the prowl. Zahavi is checking out clubs in England and there are a few,” said Falk on the Bayern Insider podcast.

“The player’s previous management had already negotiated with Arsenal, but now there’s a club that actually had its eye on Kingsley Coman, but now a player who plays a similar position, and the club is in the north.

“So, Newcastle is among the candidates being checked out. Leroy Sané actually wants to play in the Champions League, that’s his goal, that’s his aspiration.

“Newcastle is being discounted a bit, they also have great potential, of course, always with the sponsors, but I’d say if things don’t work out at Bayern, the clear focus is on England. Preferably towards London, but Newcastle is also a good alternative.”

The summer transfer window officially opens for business next month and Leeds United will know that they have to be very busy between now and the end of August.

Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, all six newly-promoted teams have been relegated from the Premier League at the first time of asking, which illustrates the difficulty of the task facing Daniel Farke and his staff.

The German head coach’s team won the Championship title with a staggering 100-point haul, but that does not mean that his team does not need to be improved upon during the summer transfer window.

In fact, the rumour mill is already spinning and one player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road ahead of the 2025/26 campaign is Newcastle United centre-forward Callum Wilson.

TalkSPORT claimed that Leeds are the frontrunners to land the former England international on a free transfer, as he could be on his way out of St. James’ Park this summer.

Why Leeds should sign Callum Wilson

Signing Wilson on a free transfer from the Magpies could be a masterstroke by the 49ers because he is a Premier League proven centre-forward who could provide the team with quality and experience in abundance.

The 33-year-old attacker has played 237 matches in the top-flight in his career to date, scoring 88 goals, and could provide the younger members of the squad with someone they can lean on when they need help adapting to the division.

24/25

1

0

23/24

9

9

22/23

21

18

21/22

16

8

20/21

23

12

19/20

32

8

18/19

29

14

17/18

23

8

16/17

16

6

15/16

9

5

As you can see in the table above, Wilson has been a prolific scorer in the Premier League during his time with Bournemouth and Newcastle when you take his starts into account.

This explains why the Magpies forward could be an excellent signing for Leeds because they would be bringing in a striker who has proven that he can find the back of the net at an impressive rate in the top-flight, potentially boosting their chances of achieving survival next season.

However, Wilson has also missed 57 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, and has missed 11 games or more through injury in seven separate seasons in the Premier League throughout his career.

This shows that the 33-year-old striker is a bit of a liability with his availability, which is why it should come as good news to supporters that Leeds are reportedly eyeing up another deal for a younger, less injury-prone, centre-forward to bolster their squad this summer.

Leeds lining up move for £4.6m striker

According to the Sunday Mirror (page 68, 18 May), Leeds United are lining up a move to sign St. Gallen striker Willem Geubbels in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites were interested in a swoop to land the French marksman in the January transfer window, but they were unable to get a deal over the line ahead of the second half of the season.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the West Yorkshire outfit are now set to revisit their interest in the 23-year-old forward as they look to bolster their squad for a Premier League campaign.

The report also reveals that the Frenchman has a release clause in his current contract with St. Gallen that would allow clubs to snap him up for a fee of £4.6m, and that could be activated at the end of the current campaign.

With this in mind, Farke should push the 49ers to strike a deal for £4.6m by activating the release clause for Geubbels because the club could strike gold by landing moves for both him and Callum Wilson in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Why Leeds should sign Willem Geubbels

The 23-year-old attacker would be a bit of a gamble of a signing for the Whites because he has not proven himself in the Premier League to date and is not currently playing in one of Europe’s major leagues, playing in Switzerland.

Geubbels did, however, play 39 games in Ligue 1 for Monaco and Nantes combined before he made the move to the Swiss side, which means that he does have some experience in a major European division.

After he scored the goal in the clip above for Monaco, the French ace was described as a “future star” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, but he was unable to live up to that hype in his home country in the next couple of years.

However, his move to St. Gallen in the 2022/23 campaign provided him with a chance to revive his career away from France, which is exactly what the forward has done.

Appearances

17

32

31

Goals

2

8

14

Key passes per game

0.2

0.9

1.4

Big chances created

1

9

7

Assists

0

5

3

As you can see in the table above, Geubbels has improved in every season he has played for the Swiss side, with more goals and more key passes per game in each campaign, which shows that Leeds would be signing a player who is on the up and improving.

The 23-year-old ace, who was described as “quick” and “powerful” by RangersJournal writer Kai Watson, has also only missed 13 matches through injury in those three seasons, which suggests that he is more likely to be available week-in-week-out than Wilson would be.

Signing both of them could be a masterstroke by the 49ers because Wilson would provide proven quality and experience in the Premier League, whilst Geubbels is a young and hungry forward with all to prove, and an impressive goalscoring record in Switzerland that continues to grow.

Therefore, Farke could end up with a good variety of options at his disposal, particularly when you throw Joel Piroe into the mix as well, to ensure that his team has enough firepower to stay in the top-flight beyond next season.

Huge Byram upgrade: Leeds make contact to sign £15m-rated star for free

Leeds United could land an upgrade on Sam Byram by signing this Premier League defender.

1 ByDan Emery May 15, 2025