All posts by n8rngtd.top

Liverpool have now joined Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign an “excellent” £42 million player, according to a new report.

Liverpool chasing teenage defender as Joe Gomez future unclear

There are a number of areas of the team that Arne Slot will want to address this summer, but none may be more important than the defence. That is because Trent Alexander-Arnold has already left, while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk are not getting any younger despite their legendary status.

Milos Kerkez is edging closer to a move to Anfield, and he is likely to replace Robertson straight away, and now the Reds have their eyes on a young central defender who could one day succeed Van Dijk.

Their own Mbappe: Liverpool make £150m star their dream target after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to make another huge move for a player during this summer’s transfer window.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 4, 2025

According to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport, via Sport Witness, Liverpool have made a concrete offer to sign Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal from Stade Rennais. It isn’t clear how much this offer is worth, but the Reds have obviously seen enough, despite the fact that the teenager hasn’t played for Stade Rennais’ first team, to make an offer. They are not alone in their pursuit, as Newcastle United have met with the player’s agent and are also interested in a deal.

This comes as Premier League bound Burnley are interested in signing Joe Gomez. Liverpool are said to be open to offers for the defender, and this has alerted the Clarets as well as teams such as Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, Leeds and Sunderland, who are all keeping a close eye on his situation. Gomez is valued at around £25 million by the Premier League champions.

Liverpool join PSG in transfer Zabarnyi race

The Reds’ decision to allow Gomez to leave may be because, according to TBR Football, Liverpool are interested in signing defender Illia Zabarnyi from AFC Bournemouth.

The Cherries have already lost Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid this summer, and Kerkez looks set to move to Anfield, but the departures may not stop there. Zabarnyi was another impressive individual for Bournemouth last season, and while the Cherries don’t want to lose him, that might be easier said than done.

L’Equipe have already reported that Zabarnyi has become a defensive priority for PSG, as Luis Enrique has been left impressed by his defensive capabilities. The French champions have made contact with Bournemouth over a move, as they want the defender in before the Club World Cup.

However, they are not alone, as now Liverpool and Chelsea have also joined the race to sign the defender, who will not be allowed to leave Bournemouth for anything less than €50 million, which is roughly £42 million.

Liverpool are huge admirers of Zabarnyi, who has been dubbed “excellent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and they are keeping an eye on his situation. The Reds’ move for Zabarnyi may depend on what happens to Gomez, but either way they will have a smooth route to negotiations, as the 47-cap Ukraine star uses the same agency as midfielder Curtis Jones.

Leeds United have now made an initial approach to sign a £17m midfielder, with talks over personal terms currently ongoing, according to Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri.

Leeds eyeing attacking midfielder amid doubts over Aaronson

It is clear that Leeds want to bring in at least one new central midfielder this summer, having now made offers for both Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra and Besiktas’ Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the 49ers were willing to bet heavily on the former, submitting a £22m bid.

The eagerness to strengthen in the engine room comes amid Paul Robinson’s suggestion that one of Daniel Farke’s midfielders may not be good enough to make the step-up to the top flight: “Leeds are going to have to replace players.

“They came out of the Premier League with a similar squad, and players in that squad weren’t good enough. To mention two: Brenden Aaronson and Junior Firpo weren’t good enough for the Premier League.”

Aaronson regularly featured in an attacking midfield role last season, but it now appears as though the Whites are keen to bring in another number 10, who could be capable of pushing for the American’s starting spot.

According to Tavolieri (via Sport Witness), Leeds have now made an initial approach to sign RSC Anderlecht’s Mario Stroeykens, who could be available for around €20m (£17m) this summer, as per reports from elsewhere.

Sky Sports: Leeds now make approach for £17m striker who's keen on PL move

The Whites have made contact to sign a 25-year-old, with bringing in a new striker now a priority.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Jun 10, 2025

Farke’s side are yet to make an offer for Stroeykens, but talks over personal terms are currently ongoing, so there is serious interest on their behalf, although there may be competition from soon-to-be Premier League rivals West Ham United.

With the attacking midfielder’s contract set to expire in 2026, the Belgian side may be forced to cash-in this summer, as they will be eager to avoid losing him on a free transfer, potentially opening the door for a move to Elland Road.

"Absolute hero" Stroeykens impressing in Belgium

The Anderlecht youngster is still only 20-years-old, but he has been impressing in the Jupiler Pro League for quite some time, with scout Jacek Kulig singling the starlet out for praise after scoring two goals as a substitute.

Since then, the Belgian has managed to kick on, collecting five goals and seven assists for Anderlecht in all competitions last season, featuring regularly as his side went on to finish in fourth place.

Stroeykens is yet to prove himself in a major European league, which may be a cause for some concern, but he is still very young, and the maestro’s performances in Belgium suggest he could soon be capable of pushing for Aaronson’s starting spot.

Manchester United are working hard to get it right in the transfer market this summer, having approached a critical juncture in INEOS’ ownership.

Things didn’t go to plan last season, with Erik ten Hag dismissed by October and his successor, Ruben Amorim, struggling to get a tune out of the suffering Red Devils, who ultimately finished 15th in the Premier League.

But with Matheus Cunha already signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, his £62.5m release clause activated, there are signs that Old Trafford will rise again.

Man Utd open talks for new striker

Cunha is a brilliant forward, but he’s not a centre-forward. The Red Devils need a partner to field as the number nine, and contacts have been made for such a striker.

Transfer Focus

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

Manchester United are looking to replace Rasmus Hojlund this summer and have set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, as per Tutto Juve, who has resurrected his career on loan at Juventus.

The 26-year-old Les Bleus star was on United’s radar – along with Tottenham Hotspur – in January after falling by the wayside in the French capital, though ultimately settled on a short-term stint in Turin.

Now, the above Italian report claims INEOS have made first contact with PSG for the versatile striker, although the same can be said for Newcastle United. Juventus, moreover, hope to purchase him permanently too.

What Kolo Muani would bring to Man Utd

Amorim is carefully piecing together a strikeforce capable of challenging for honours, capable of going punch for punch with the biggest hitters in the Premier League.

Kolo Muani on his A-game would certainly help in that regard. Leaving Eintracht Frankfurt to sign for PSG for around £76m in September 2023, the France international’s stock has since decreased, but he’s demonstrated with Juve his lingering quality, scoring ten goals and assisting three more across 21 matches in total.

With Cunha bringing his wide-ranging attacking skills to the table, Kolo Muani could find himself born again, thriving as the forward of a Premier League team chasing a return to European competition.

Sometimes, a change of scenery can help reignite the fire that has flickered out for a player. PSG proved to be the wrong career choice for the Frenchman, but a Man United project that he can lead that is showing signs of progress (on the transfer front, at least) is something he should consider pursuing.

United might find that Frankfurt’s €100m (£85m) valuation for Hugo Ekitike is a tad on the costly side, but they could snap up another of Die Adler’s star forwards in Kolo Muani, with that £76m price tag creeping down to a reported £50m if PSG sell this summer.

Once labelled a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, Kolo Muani is a dynamic and incisive striker who has found his footing once again in Italy, ranked among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Furthermore, to have finished the campaign with a scoring rate of 0.50 is pretty impressive, given his woes across the first half of the year. In fact, as per Sofascore, his eight-goal haul in the Italian top flight also saw just four big chances missed, which makes an interesting comment on his prolific instincts.

Working with Cunha, Amorim could create a truly devastating strikeforce (and that’s without even discussing the potential addition of Bryan Mbeumo), with the Brazilian forward having averaged 1.8 key passes per Premier League match last season, creating 13 big chances. He was instrumental in staving off relegation for the Old Gold.

Of course, Kolo Muani is not just restricted to sharpshooting. His silky and furnished attacking style lends itself to creative support, and Cunha would delight in this, having demonstrated an incredible scoring ability for Wolves.

This is exactly the kind of electric signing United need to make to bring them back to a respectable position. That famous Theatre of Dreams pull will need to come into play once again.

Their best signing since Bruno: £40m target now wants to join Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to make another superb signing in this summer window.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 22, 2025

How are Newcastle United going to fare next season? Around the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign, the skyrocketing ascent under Eddie Howe’s wing had been stunted by a disappointing transfer window, following failure to qualify for European football.

But United marched back into the Champions League despite the setbacks, finishing fifth in the Premier League. Moreover, Howe led his team to glory, to the Carabao Cup.

Now, the focus is on building, particularly towards a move for Anthony Elanga.

Newcastle in talks for new forward

Elanga has been the subject of a rejected £45m offer, Newcastle’s second in as many summers, and while Nottingham Forest don’t want to play ball, redoubled efforts might just seal the Sweden star’s signature.

Such a player is duly needed. Miguel Almiron’s winter flight over the pond has left Jacob Murphy somewhat isolated on the right. Elanga will add athletic quality and widen the dimensions of Howe’s frontline. So could Joao Pedro.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, as per GIVEMESPORT, Newcastle remain intent on signing Brighton & Hove Albion star Pedro, who is anticipated to leave the AMEX this summer.

Saying that, Tony Bloom isn’t likely to budge on his £60m valuation, the 23-year-old being one of the most talented rising stars in the Premier League, and eyed by Chelsea besides.

However, Newcastle have been engaged in productive talks with the south coasters and could move to the advanced stages soon. Previously, the Toon have been regarded as favourites for Pedro.

What Joao Pedro would bring to Newcastle

Newcastle plan to open contract talks with Alexander Isak as interest mounts in the world-class striker’s services. United’s £200m price tag, frustratingly, hasn’t dissuaded Liverpool and the like from keeping on Isak’s trail.

But the nine is not expected to be going anywhere this year, and Pedro would arrive offering competition and the prospect of a new attacking combination from his shadow or out on the left.

The Brazilian forward, who joined Brighton from Watford for around £30m two years ago, has symmetrically posted 30 goals and ten assists across 70 matches.

Principally a central player, Pedro is swift and purposeful on the ball, endowed with some of that Seleção style too, hailed by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard for his “magical” ability on the ball.

Elanga, too, is good on the ball, but he’s also absolutely rapid – the third fastest player in the league as it happens – and he could use his pace to latch onto the technical range that Pedro expands his team’s capacity with.

As per FBref, the Seagulls star ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 17% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90.

He also created 11 big chances in the Premier League last year, as per Sofascore, and averaged 1.1 dribbles and just shy of five duels per game.

Over at the City Ground, Elanga has coined himself “one of the fastest players in the Premier League”, and no doubt would marry such rapidity with an increased potency in Howe’s system, having impressed with six goals and 11 assists for Forest last year.

If Newcastle can strengthen their ranks with both of these Prem-proven stars, there’s no question that Howe will have the tools to fashion even greater success next year and beyond.

Dream Pedro alternative: Newcastle advancing move for £40m "goal machine"

Newcastle plan to make a series of attacking signings this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 25, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur salvaged their 2024/25 campaign when a goal from Brennan Johnson was enough to secure the Europa League against Manchester United.

Ange Postecoglou ended the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy by winning that game, securing Champions League football in the process, and was subsequently relieved of his duties.

Daniel Levy has, since, replaced the Australian head coach with former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who will now be looking to kick the team on to win even more silverware in the years to come.

The Danish manager could look to the transfer market to bolster his squad, although deals for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso have already been agreed and will be made official at the start of July.

Spurs bringing in new recruits to improve the team could help them to kick on in the Premier League, after finishing closer to relegation than the top four, but it could also mean that some members of the current squad could have to make way.

One player whose future remains up in the air is Dejan Kulusevski, who is a reported target for Italian giants AC Milan and Napoli in the summer transfer window.

Why Spurs should cash in on Dejan Kulusevski

The 25-year-old star joined the club on loan from Juventus at the start of 2022 before eventually signing on a permanent deal, and has been a solid performer over the years for Spurs.

To date, Kulusevski has racked up 25 goals and 30 assists in 146 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham, which is a very respectable return and shows that he can provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

However, the Sweden international is one of the top earners in the squad and has not delivered enough consistent quality in the final third to justify that.

As you can see in the table above, Kulusevski is one of only four players in the squad who earn more than £90k-per-week, on a weekly wage of £110k, which suggests that he should someone the team can rely on week-in-week-out.

The left-footed forward, though, has never produced more than eight goals or eight assists in a single Premier League season for Tottenham, failing to hit double digits in either type of goal contribution.

Therefore, Spurs should look to cash in on this reported interest from Napoli and Milan in order to make room for a new attacker to come in this summer, with a view to them delivering more quality, through goals and assists, in the Premier League next season.

In fact, Tottenham are already reportedly eyeing up a Bundesliga star who could come through the door as an upgrade on Kulusevski in the coming months.

Spurs eyeing deal for Bundesliga star

According to GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham Hotspur have identified RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons as one of a number of targets in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Netherlands international, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, is on the club’s radar as they consider their options in the number ten role.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Tottenham are also among a number of teams keeping tabs on Harvey Elliott’s situation at Liverpool, and are interested in Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze.

Simons represents a slightly more left-field option, as he is unproven in the Premier League, and the Dutch playmaker is said to be open to a move to the English top-flight this summer.

Leipzig failed to qualify for any European competition ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and are reportedly looking for a fee in the region of £60m to part ways with the 22-year-old talent.

Why Spurs should sign Xavi Simons

Described by one data analyst as “one of the best 10s in the world”, the Lilywhites should press ahead with a deal to sign the young attacking midfielder because he is a player who has the potential to deliver goals and assists more frequently than Kulusevski has for Spurs to date.

Simons could come in as a big upgrade on the Swedish forward in the attacking midfield and wide areas, if he can translate his form for Leipzig in the Bundesliga over to the Premier League in North London.

The Dutch starlet, who was once described as a “pocket rocket” by analyst Raj Chohan, has hit double figures for goals in each of the last three seasons for Leipzig and PSV combined, and racked up double figures for assists in two of the last three seasons.

Simons produced ten goals and 13 assists in all competitions in the 2023/24 campaign, creating 14 ‘big chances’ and averaging 2.5 key passes per game in the Bundesliga, which speaks to the kind of quality he can provide in front of goal on a regular basis.

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman’s form in the 2024/25 Bundesliga season also suggests that he has more to offer to Tottenham than Kulusevski moving forward, with more xA, more assists, more ‘big chances’ created, and more goals, despite playing seven fewer matches.

The Leipzig star is also on a reported wage of roughly £98k-per-week, per Capology, which suggests that he could arrive on similar wages to the Sweden international, unless he demands a significant pay hike to make the move.

If Spurs can bring Simons to the club on a similar wage to Kulusevski, the Dutch star’s performances for Leipzig in recent seasons suggest that he would arrive as a big upgrade on what Frank currently has to work with.

The 22-year-old maestro has the potential to provide more goals and more assists as an attacking midfielder, as a player who can finish his chances with more efficiency, whilst also creating more high-quality opportunities for his teammates.

Frank's next Mbeumo: Spurs discussing move to sign "world-class" £70m star

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for a star who could star under Thomas Frank.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 29, 2025

Therefore, Spurs should sign the £60m-rated star to bolster Frank’s squad before the summer transfer window slams shut, to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

Glasgow Rangers continued their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with a behind-closed-doors friendly clash at St. George’s Park on Saturday.

The Light Blues were held to a 1-1 draw, as Danilo scored the only goal for the Ibrox side.

There is still plenty of work left to be done before Rangers face their Champions League qualifiers later this month, not least on the transfer front.

Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama looks set to be the next player through the door. When asked about the forward’s arrival, Russell Martin said: “We’re waiting on their end to be sorted but we fully expect Gass to be our player hopefully fairly, very, very soon. We need to try and strengthen as many areas as possible.”

The 21-year-old attacker, who predominantly plays on the left flank, appears to be on the verge of joining the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Nasser Djiga, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, Max Aarons, and Lyall Cameron at Ibrox.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

Gassama is far from the finished article and supporters should not expect him to immediately be an incredible talent who is going to produce 20 goals and assists in his first season.

At the age of 21, he has plenty left to learn and plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, which means that the winger will be a long-term signing for the Gers on a permanent deal from the Owls.

However, that does not mean that Gassama will not be a useful player for Martin to call upon at Ibrox next season, because he produced a decent amount of quality in the final third in the Championship last season.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the French dynamo scored seven goals and provided one assist in 43 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, who were not competing for promotion from the division.

As you can see in the table above, he ranked well among his positional peers as a goalscorer and was unfortunate to only have one assist, as his teammates let him down with wasteful finishing.

These statistics suggest that he could be an exciting player for supporters to watch as a winger who constantly gets himself into high-quality goalscoring positions by taking plenty of touches in the opposition’s box.

Gassama will not be the only winger to arrive at Ibrox this summer, though, and the Light Blues are reportedly eyeing a forward who is even better than the Owls sensation.

Rangers battling to sign Premier League forward

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers have joined the race to land the left-footed forward, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sheffield United.

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 Wolves are looking to reinvest some of the cash that they brought in from the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, and they have identified the Eagles youngster as a target.

The Scottish Sun reveals that Rangers, who are now battling the Old Gold for the winger, would like to bring the 22-year-old star to Ibrox on a season-long loan, as they are not prepared to pay the £10m asking price for a permanent move.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Wolves will stump up the £10m required to sign Rak-Sakyi, which means that the Gers are still in the race at this moment in time.

Why Rak-Sakyi is even better than Gassama

The English forward would be an even better signing for Rangers next season than Gassama with the immediate future in mind, as he could hit the ground running as a star for the Light Blues in the coming months.

Rak-Sakyi, who was hailed as “wonderful” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, only started 22 games in the Championship for Sheffield United last term, but racked up seven goals, 3.48 xA, and two assists for the promotion-chasing Blades.

Despite his limited game time, the right-sided winger showed that he can make a big impact in front of goal, which suggests that he could thrive at Ibrox as a regular starter under Martin if he arrives in Glasgow this summer.

The £10m-rated star, who delivered 15 goals and nine assists for Charlton in the 2022/23 campaign, could offer more in the final third than Gassama at the start of next season, as he heavily outperformed the Sheffield Wednesday man in the Championship when on the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi outperformed the French whiz as a scorer, a creator, and as a dribbler in the second tier of English football, in terms of what he offered per 90.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star is more likely to offer consistent quality in front of goal as a scorer and a creator of goals for Rangers if given regular game time than Gassama is next season, given their respective performances at the same level last term.

Therefore, Rak-Sakyi could be a terrific signing for Rangers to immediately add goals and assists to the team on the right flank ahead of the Champions League qualifiers later this month.

Bad news for Souttar at Ibrox: Rangers plotting move to sign "great leader"

Having already made six summer signings, plenty more are forecast to follow at Rangers, so will they secure a deal to sign a “great leader”?

By
Ben Gray

Jul 13, 2025

It is now down to the Gers, though, to convince Palace to send the winger to Ibrox on loan for the season, despite interest from Wolves in a permanent deal for the young attacker.

Instantly turning their focus towards further incomings following Mark Travers’ arrival, Everton are now reportedly set to submit an opening bid to sign a midfield star for David Moyes.

Travers welcomes Pickford battle

Displacing Jordan Pickford at this stage of his Everton career would take some doing, but Travers has instantly welcomed the battle that lies ahead. Following an impressive loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, the shot-stopper has completed a permanent move away from Bournemouth to become Everton’s third signing of the summer.

After putting pen to paper, he told Evertontv when asked about battling Pickford for a starting role: “Jordan [Pickford] is an outstanding goalkeeper for Club and country. I’m looking forward to competing with everyone here and being a Premier League player.

“Being in this environment is huge. We’re going to push each other every day in training and whatever happens on the weekend, we’re going to be there for each other and make the most of every opportunity that comes.

“It’s always really exciting to work with a new group and being able to help the younger lads as well. I’ll give it everything. I’ll take pride in doing the right things on and off the pitch and representing this club with a lot of pride.”

Although Pickford’s place is unlikely to be at risk anytime soon, there’s no denying that Travers recorded some impressive numbers last season – even outperforming the England No.1 in certain areas. His arrival won’t steal every headline, but it will add key depth to Moyes’ side in the coming season.

The former Bournemouth man is unlikely to be the last to arrive at The Hill Dickinson Stadium, either, with another name now firmly on Everton’s summer radar.

Everton set to submit imminent Soucek bid

According to TeamTalk, Everton are now set to submit an imminent £12m bid to sign Tomas Soucek from West Ham United. Other clubs have shown interest in the midfielder this summer, but he is reportedly only interested in reuniting with former Hammers boss Moyes in Merseyside next season.

Ndiaye 2.0: Everton pushing to sign 'the 2nd best dribbler in the world'

David Moyes wants to add some more attacking quality at Everton this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 15, 2025

For just £12m, the Toffees will be hoping to reach an agreement with West Ham and welcome an experienced Premier League midfielder, who’d be the perfect replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure.

With nine goals to his name in the Premier League last season, Soucek could even provide Everton with an unexpected goalscoring boost, whilst also handing Moyes another physical presence at the heart of his side.

The Everton boss was full of praise for the 29-year-old even when he scored against the Toffees for West Ham last season, telling reporters: “Tomas Soucek is a really good goalscorer. We signed him as a goalscoring midfielder. He’s great in both boxes. He’s a top lad as well. I’m pleased for him but not for us.”

So far this summer, West Ham United have signed just three players. With just weeks left until the 2025/26 Premier League campaign gets underway, Graham Potter must act swiftly to bolster his squad.

Last season, the Irons finished 14th in the top flight, having the sixth-worst attacking record in the entire division.

As such, signing another striker or two wouldn’t go amiss this summer. The question is, who would be a perfect fit for Potter and his style at the London Stadium?

West Ham’s search for a striker

At the time of writing, Niclas Füllkrug is the only senior centre-forward available to Potter after the club released Danny Ings and Michail Antonio at the end of the season.

The Irons have been linked with Harvey Elliott recently, yet he isn’t a striker, despite scoring five goals for England U21s as they won the European Championship this summer.

According to talkSPORT, meanwhile, Callum Wilson has agreed terms with West Ham ahead of a proposed move. The 33-year-old striker is available on a free transfer after being released by Newcastle at the end of last term.

Despite his advancing years, Wilson could provide a decent option for Potter over the next 12 months and potentially beyond. He must remain fit, however.

If he does, then the Englishman could be an upgrade to Fullkrug.

Why West Ham want to sign Callum Wilson

Fullkrug joined the club last summer from Borussia Dortmund after enjoying an excellent spell in the Bundesliga.

He netted 15 times for the German side throughout 2023/24, but struggled with injuries in his debut campaign at West Ham, making just 20 appearances last season.

When he was on the pitch, the striker scored only three goals, hardly worth the £27m investment that was splashed out on him.

Wilson has endured his own injury issues, but if you compare his 2023/24 campaign in the Premier League to Fullkrug’s stats from last term, the Englishman would be a significant upgrade.

Indeed, that season, Wilson scored nine league goals and grabbed an assist for the Magpies. Fullkrug scored three times and grabbed two assists for the Irons.

Wilson also averaged more total shots (1.8 vs 0.9), scored more frequently (110 minutes vs 263 minutes) and even succeeded with more dribbles (0.7 vs 0.1) comparing their respective league campaigns.

Eddie Howe once described Wilson’s importance to Newcastle as “incredible” and it now seems as though he is set to enjoy an Indian summer in London.

Should Wilson return to full fitness, he would be a massive boost to Potter and his attempts to take West Ham back into the top half of the Premier League table, having already netted 88 times in England’s top flight. Fullkrug, by contrast, scored just 56 times in Germany’s top tier.

The signing may well be a gamble, but given Wilson won’t cost a penny in transfer fees, it couldscore 12 times in 16 meetings turn out to be a shrewd one indeed.

West Ham fans will be hoping the striker can replicate the form which saw him win nine England caps and has seen him score 12 times in 16 meetings against them. That’s a certainty.

Scouts sent: West Ham now enter race to sign £12m Richard Rios alternative

The Hammers aren’t the only club interested…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 26, 2025

Real Madrid want Franco Mastantuono to miss out on the Under 20 World Cup with Argentina, with Xabi Alonso saying he will stay with the La Liga side.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Los Blancos are determined to prevent Mastantuono from joining Argentina’s U-20 squad for the World Cup in Chile. The 18-year-old youngster only arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer after the club triggered his €45 million (£38m/$49m) release clause at River Plate, signing him on a six-year deal. Argentina’s federation have been pushing to secure his participation, but Alonso has shut the door on any chance of a call-up.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  If released, Mastantuono would miss up to seven matches for Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League. The winger is viewed as one of Madrid’s brightest long-term investments, having already been handed starts in La Liga this season. Argentina see him as a natural fit for their youth setup, but Madrid believe keeping him in Spain is vital for his development. This tug-of-war reflects a wider trend, with elite European clubs increasingly reluctant to release teenage stars for youth tournaments that clash with the senior calendar.

• WHAT XABI ALONSO SAID

  “If it’s up to us, he’ll stay with us,” Alonso told reporters ahead of the clash with Real Sociedad.

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• TELL ME MORE…

  Despite being left out of Diego Placente’s preliminary U-20 squad, Argentine newspaper suggest officials are ready to travel to Europe in a last-ditch attempt to convince the club. The Albiceleste are desperate to include the teenager, especially after he made his international debut earlier this year in Messi’s potential farewell game against Venezuela.

Russell Martin’s turbulent start as Rangers manager plunged into fresh chaos after he dragged his struggling squad into the freezing waters of Loch Lomond for a bizarre team-bonding session. Just 48 hours after another miserable defeat, this time to Hearts, the 39-year-old boss opted for swimming and hiking instead of the usual drills at the training ground.

• Sink or swim at the Ibrox

  With five Premiership games gone and not a single victory on the board, desperate times have led to desperate measures. On Monday, the under-pressure Gers boss swapped cones and footballs for hiking boots and icy dips. The squad first trekked up Conic Hill before plunging into Loch Lomond’s bone-chilling waters. Martin’s belief? A change of scenery would reset the mood and spark a response.   

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  O'Hara rips into Martin

  Rangers icon Barry Ferguson admitted he couldn’t see the point of Martin’s surprise excursion. But it was ex-Tottenham midfielder and current pundit Jamie O’Hara who unleashed the fiercest attack. Speaking on Sky Sports, he slammed: "Rangers is a massive football club and he’s getting it all wrong. He’s in disarray. If I was a player and the manager wanted us to go on something like this to Loch Lomond I'd be absolutely fuming. I’d be like, ‘Is this guy having us on?’ Why would I want to go swimming in Loch Lomond as a team-bonding session?" 

  O’Hara mocked the idea of climbing hills and braving icy waters as a way to lift spirits and instead suggested: "Give me some golf clubs or get the fishing rods out and go out on a boat for the day. That’s fair enough. But going swimming in a freezing lake? How is that a team-bonding session? That's pain. Then you want me to go and walk up a mountain? Come on. Do me a favour.  

  "You can’t tell me the lads want to be doing that. Why don't you go and have a round of golf, get some buggies out and have a laugh or a drink in the bar afterwards. But going for a hike is not an activity that you want to be involved in as a football player. Russell Martin's getting it all wrong. That’s not team-bonding, that’s making it worse. If you're organizing a team-bonding session four or five games into a season, you've got serious problems."

• Wrong man for the job

  O'Hara pulled no punches when assessing Martin’s credentials after a winless start in the Premiership and predicted that his days are numbered at Ibrox. 

  "He’s going to go. It’s just a matter of time," he said. “I was in Scotland last week and Rangers fans are absolutely fuming. They can’t stand him. What credentials did he have to get the Rangers job in the first place? All right, he did a half-decent job at Southampton – but Rangers is one of the biggest clubs in the world. 

  “It's like being the Manchester United manager. There’s constant scrutiny and you’ve got to win every week. He ain't been used to winning. When he was at Southampton, they got pumped when they came up into the Premier League. They want to play tippy-tappy football, but that’s not what Rangers need. They need winners, they need leaders, they need fight and spirit. I don't know if Russell Martin's that guy. And I just think it's a huge decision the club’s made and one they've got all wrong.” 

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  Chance against Hibs to turn it around

  With the knives out and pressure building by the day, Martin will cling to the hope that Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup tie with Hibs provides a lifeline. 

  O'Hara added: “The league's over already, right? They can't win the league. So they've got to decide what the objective is now for the season. There’s three competitions left. If he loses in the Cup to Hibs this weekend he’s definitely gone.

  “I wouldn't give them any hope in European football, the way they're playing. They're absolutely terrible. I watched one of the European qualifiers and they were absolutely awful. So forget that. Normally when I've watched them in European competitions, they're solid, they have a fight and a spirit. Everyone’s behind them in the home games, there's an atmosphere. Let me tell you, there’s no atmosphere at Rangers at the moment.”