It’s been an unusual season for Arsenal this year.

On the domestic front, injuries and some lacklustre form in periods have cost them any real chance of lifting the Premier League title at the third time of asking.

However, in Europe, there is now a real feeling that Mikel Arteta’s side could go all the way in the Champions League after dismantling Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final earlier this week.

Yet, as well as the team played on Tuesday, there was still one starter who was a little underwhelming and even received a 6/10 match rating from the Express’ Charlie Parker-Turner: Martin Odegaard.

It’s been a campaign to forget for the Gunners’ captain and two-time Player of the Season, but based on recent reports, the club could sign someone in the summer who may well get him back to his very best next season.

Arsenal transfer news

Surprisingly, given their immense record at the back and need for attacking reinforcements, one of the players most recently touted for a move to the Emirates this summer has been Dean Huijsen.

Transfer Focus

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

The Bournemouth star, whom FBref has places in the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions and the top 2% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists per 90, reportedly has a £50m release clause in his contract.

However, fans shouldn’t worry as the North Londoners also seem hell-bent on signing a new striker as well, with Benjamin Sesko reportedly still on their list of targets, per David Ornstein.

Yet it appears that another striker from the continent has now jumped ahead of the Slovenian on the Gunners’ list of transfer targets, someone who could get Odegaard back to his best: Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Portuguese outlet A Bola, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Sporting CP star.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Premier League side have now prepared an offer for the player, who could leave the Lisbon outfit for anything from €70m – £61m – to €100m – £87m.

So, it would require an extraordinary amount of money to sign Gyokeres this summer, but given his immense ability, it would be worth it, especially as he could get the best out of Odegaard again.

Why Gyokeres would revive Odegaard

So, it’s no secret that Odegaard has struggled somewhat this season. Compared to his 23 goal involvements in 48 games last year, he currently has just 13 in 35 games.

So, with that said, how would Gyokeres help him get back to his best, if not beyond it? Well, the simple answer is his output.

Since moving to Portugal in the summer of 2023, the former Coventry City star has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine, and even when Ruben Amorim left earlier this season, he’s continued to be simply unstoppable.

Appearances

94

Minutes

7689′

Goals

87

Assists

26

Goal Involvements per Match

1.20

Minutes per Goal Involvement

68.04′

For example, since the start of last season, the “ball-striking monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored a simply staggering 87 goals and provided 26 assists in 94 appearances, totalling 7689 minutes.

In other words, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, has maintained an average of 1.2 goal involvements every game, or one every 68.04 minutes, since moving to Lisbon.

Moreover, he’s also been incredible in Europe’s top competition, the Champions League, and has a tally of six goals in just eight appearances, including a hat trick against Manchester City.

So, just imagine a striker as deadly and powerful as the Swede starting ahead of Odegaard next season, the Norwegian’s assist numbers would go through the roof.

Moreover, if the Gunners had a more clinical frontline this year, he’d already have more, as, according to Understat, his four league assists this term have come from an expected assists figure of 6.16.

Ultimately, Odegaard is an incredibly talented player who has not enjoyed a particularly good season, but with someone like Gyokeres in the team next year, he could bounce back and remind everyone why he’s the club’s captain.

White repeat: Arsenal in the leading pack to sign "dominant" £50m phenom

The sensational talent would make Arsenal’s squad so much better.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 11, 2025

David Moyes is keen to make a series of rousing signings at Everton as he leads his squad toward a new home at Bramley-Moore.

Having succeeded in guiding Everton away from the relegation rabble and indeed settle into a 14th-placed Premier League spot with just three fixtures left before the summer, the Scottish manager has struck a tuneful chord with the Merseysiders once again, 12 years after relinquishing his seat in the dugout to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The 62-year-old reunited with his former protégé, Wayne Rooney, at the Theatre of Dreams, and while things went awry, he’d love to have such a player in his current Toffees brood.

He may not be a forward, but Everton do appear to have set their sights on a Premier League legend ahead of the market.

Everton chasing Premier League legend

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, John Stones’ future at Manchester City is “far from certain,” and Everton are keen on bringing their former prospect back onto Merseyside.

Transfer Focus

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

He told the publication: “If he [Stones] does indeed hit the open market, I believe that Everton would be open to the prospect. Stones is settled in the North West so it could be an option. But we have to see the plans new City sporting director Hugo Viana puts into practice, but the defence is a major area they want to work on.”

Stones left Goodison Park to join Pep Guardiola’s fledgling project in a £47.5m move back in August 2016, and he’s since become one of the most decorated Englishmen of his generation.

Though the dynamic defender has offers from the Saudi Pro League, he may feel he has more to offer European football, and Everton’s new chapter could entice him to retrace his once-walked path.

Why Everton should sign John Stones

Like Rooney did eight years ago, Stones could return from a successful career in Manchester to make an impact at his former Merseyside outfit as he approaches the later stage of his career.

Crucially, Stones still has enough quality to help Everton climb toward the upper levels of the Premier League, maybe even knocking on the door of European competition.

Stones went on to play 95 times for Everton before City came calling. He was described by Three Lions teammate Ezri Konsa as being “world-class” last year but always carried the seeds of such ability at Everton.

An astute deal for Stones wouldn’t come without its caveats. Stones might be one of the most accomplished defenders of modern times, but he’s been reduced to a bit-part role in Pep Guardiola’s team over the past several years, with incessent injury blows limiting him to just 18 top-flight starts across the past two seasons.

24/25

11 (6)

2

0

23/24

16 (12)

1

0

22/23

23 (21)

2

2

21/22

14 (12)

1

0

20/21

22 (22)

4

0

19/20

16 (12)

0

0

18/19

24 (20)

0

0

17/18

18 (16)

0

0

16/17

27 (23)

0

0

However, the 30-year-old is one of the most gifted defenders kicking a ball today and would add a dimension to Moyes’ unit. If Everton retain Jarrad Branthwaite’s services this summer, a continued partnership of him and James Tarkowski would reduce the weight of Stones’ responsibility.

Thrusting him into the Bramley Moore project with the expectation of week-in, week-out starts would surely see him sink like a… stone, but as with Rooney, if he’s managed correctly, it would prove to be a boost that could result in the collection of several invaluable points come season’s end.

Rooney was, of course, brought onto the professional scene by Moyes. The versatile forward posted 59 goal contributions across 116 matches under the manager.

After scoring that goal against Arsenal in his breakout campaign, the teenager was clearly destined for greatness, and after achieving that at Old Trafford, Rooney returned to his boyhood club in the twilight of his career and scored ten goals during the 2017/18 term before moving over the pond.

Stones could repeat that feat. He’s still a brilliant performer when fit and Moyes has demonstrated through the right-back placement of Jake O’Brien that he’s willing to field his stars in unconventional roles, something Stones would surely relish given his multi-facetedness.

With the £80k-per-week Michael Keane among those nearing the end of their contract this summer, making a shrewd move for an experienced head in Stones, with the perfect mentality too, could prove a huge success as Moyes looks to really get his vision up and running.

The next Bergkamp: Arsenal weigh up move for "one of the greatest CMs ever"

Arsenal could sign one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever players this summer.

ByMatt Dawson May 4, 2025

Everton manager David Moyes has now personally requested the signing of an “excellent” midfielder this summer, according to a journalist.

Toffees in need of summer rebuild

There has been a major improvement in performances since Moyes returned to Goodison Park, and the manager has achieved his main aim of avoiding relegation from the Premier League ahead of the move to Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.

However, the Toffees have made a habit of drawing far too many games, meaning they have now won just one of their last ten matches, most recently slipping up against already-relegated Ipswich Town in the penultimate match at Goodison Park.

Moyes’ side raced into a two-goal lead against the Tractor Boys, but the visitors fought back to earn a point on the road, which underlined the need to bring in new reinforcements in the summer transfer window.

The next Barkley: Everton considering move for "unbelievable" £15m star

David Moyes is looking to overhaul his Everton squad this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 2, 2025

Targets have been identified in several key areas, including striker, with the Merseysiders now leading the race for Jamie Vardy, while the Friedkin Group are also ready to back Moyes by making a move for Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer.

Everton are interested in bringing in a new midfielder from elsewhere, but they also need to secure the future of Carlos Alcaraz, who has shown some promising signs since arriving on loan from Flamengo back in January.

According to journalist Bruno Lemos (via Sport Witness), Moyes has now personally requested for the Friedkin Group to sign Alcaraz on a permanent basis this summer, regardless of whether the mandatory clause to sign the midfielder for €18m (£15m) is triggered.

There are conflicting reports as to how many games Alcaraz will have to feature in for the Toffees to be obligated to sign him permanently, but Moyes wants a deal done either way, having seemingly been left by his performances in the second half of the campaign.

"Excellent" Alcaraz has earned permanent move

Upon arrival at Goodison Park, the 22-year-old was described as an “excellent ball carrier who can add real quality to our attack” by sporting director Kevin Thelwell, and he has since gone on to put in some impressive performances for Moyes’ side.

The attacking midfielder has featured 13 times in the Premier League, picking up one goal and two assists, most recently setting up Beto’s opening goal in the 2-2 draw against Ipswich at the weekend.

Not only does the Argentine contribute going forward, but he is also more than willing to pitch in defensively, ranking highly across some key defensive metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

1.60 (80th percentile)

Interceptions

0.99 (99th percentile)

Clearances

1.35 (95th percentile)

Alcaraz has proven he is well worth snapping up on a permanent basis this summer, so it is no surprise that Moyes has made it clear he wants club chiefs to get a deal over the line.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is in the market for a potential new manager this summer, with Ange Postecoglou likely to leave after a disappointing season.

Ange Postecoglou facing Spurs exit regardless of Europa League

News sources across the British media, including Mirror journalist John Cross and The Telegraph’s Matt Law, have heard from their sources that Spurs could part company with Postecoglou, even if they win the Europa League.

Tottenham now "ready to sell" £50m-plus star and replace him with 24 y/o

Spurs are hatching a plan to reshape the squad.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

It would be quite a feat for the Australian to clinch Tottenham’s first piece of silverware in 17 years amid a campaign blighted by injuries, protests from supporters and potentially their worst ever Premier League season to date.

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

The Lilywhites face this year’s fairy-tale overachievers Bodo/Glimt in the Europa semi-finals, a side nobody expected to get this far, and Postecoglou’s men are the overwhelming favourites to reach this year’s final in Bilbao.

However, even in the event that Postecoglou keeps good on his promise by winning a major trophy during his second season in charge, something he confidently predicted right at the start of 2024/2025, Spurs’ torrid domestic form and lack of backing from fans could mean he still parts company.

Levy has the likes of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Brentford’s Thomas Frank on Spurs’ managerial shortlist to replace Postecoglou, according to reports,

Further abroad, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has previously shared news of Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi attracting admirers from within Spurs, but it will be very hard for Levy to prise the Nerazzurri boss away from Italy.

The dissatisfaction around N17 right now after this tepid campaign has caused tensions in the stands to reach boiling point, so Levy and ENIC are under real pressure to get this next appointment right, make smart investments into the squad and turn Tottenham’s fortunes around.

Tottenham now eyeing Burnley manager Scott Parker

As per The Mail and journalist Mike Keegan, a new name is now on Tottenham’s growing list of linked head coaches – Burnley boss Scott Parker.

The former Lilywhites and England midfielder amassed 63 appearances for Spurs during his playing days, and has since gone on to enjoy some successful stints during his managerial career – guiding both Fulham and Burnley to Premier League promotion.

Bar a failed stint at Jupiler Pro League side Club Brugge, the 44-year-old has showcased some promise in his early career as a tactician, and it is believed Tottenham are fans of Parker as a manager.

He’s also attracted praise from his peers, with Man City boss Pep Guardiola branding him one of English football’s new “innovative” coaches back in 2021, while former Tottenham left-back Ryan Sessegnon called Parker a “top coach” when he was linked with the hot seat four years ago.

“He’s a top guy, top man and a top coach. He’s just an all-round great guy,” explained Sessegnon.

“He obviously has a philosophy of play and sticks to it and all the players are buying into that. Recently, it hasn’t been so good for them in terms of results, but I think the performances and effort is still there.”

After a disappointing season, Manchester City are preparing to spend big in the summer.

Back in January, the Sky Blues spent a reported £180m, that’s more than all other 19 Premier League clubs combined, recruiting five players, namely Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah.

However, it appears as though this certainly won’t preclude the Citizens from spending big in the summer too.

So, does Pep Guardiola have his eye on a “world class” winger who some are labelling a potential Ballon d’Or contender?

Manchester City's first-choice winger target

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City have made Barcelona winger Raphinha their ‘priority target’ this summer, with Guardiola identifying him as their ‘ideal solution’ on the left-wing, while Chelsea and Al-Hilal are also interested.

The Brazilian, who joined Barça from Leeds United for £49m in July 2022, has been absolutely on fire this season, scoring 30 goals and registering 22 assists across all competitions.

In the Champions League specifically, the 28-year-old has equalled Lionel Messi’s tournament record for most goal involvements in a single season, requiring one more against Internazionale, or perhaps in the final itself, to surpass it.

This form has not gone unnoticed, with analyst Ben Mattinson labelling Raphinha a “world-class player”, while Julia Ranney of the Athletic notes that he is amongst the ‘top contenders’ to win the Ballon d’Or, actually currently the bookies’ favourite to do so.

So, he certainly will not come cheap but, given Barça’s ongoing, well-documented financial issues, perhaps a huge offer could tempt them to cash in.

Jack Grealish's Manchester City future

Guardiola is expected to oversee a major squad overhaul this summer; Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker are already confirmed departures, but many more are expected to follow, with Jack Grealish amongst those in the shop window.

This is the England international’s fourth season in Manchester and has been his least productive, as the table below outlines.

Jack Grealish season-by-season statistics
Statistics	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25
Appearances	39	50	36	30
Minutes	2,730	3,487	2,114	1,449
Goals	6	5	3	3
Minutes per goal	455	697	705	483
Assists	4	11	3	5
Starts	31	41	26	15
% of matches unused	33%	18%	39%	41%
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, Grealish has endured a second successive miserable season at the Etihad, a key cog in the machine during the treble-winning campaign, but very much a peripheral figure more recently.

Earlier this season, Grealish went 392 days without a club goal in any competition, ending this barren streak by converting a spot-kick during an 8-0 demolition of Salford, an unused substitute for Manchester City’s last two Premier League matches, as well as nine of the last 15 fixtures he has been available for.

Richard Jolly of the Independent believes Grealish has gone from being ‘one of the most exciting attacking players in world football’ to now a player ‘who is neither exciting nor attacking’, hence why he is widely expected to be moved on this summer.

So, it probably goes without saying that Raphinha would be a major upgrade on the left wing, but let’s lay out the numbers to emphasise this assertion.

Jack Grealish vs Raphinha 2024/25 comparison
Statistics	Grealish	Raphinha
Appearances	30	49
Minutes	1,449	3,952
Goals	3	30
Assists	5	23
Goals – xG	+0.1	+5.2
Shots	31	161
Shots on target %	32.3%	39.1%
Take-on success %	37.8%	48.1%
Progressive carries	92	125
Shot-creating actions	65	212
Goals-creating actions	3	32
Touches per 90	38	51
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com

Unsurprisingly, Raphinha – who Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley described as “Europe’s best player in 2024/25” – comes out on top for every single metric we could find when compared to Grealish this season.

Thus, if the Sky Blues were able to lure the Brazilian back to England, it would be a major coup, and could be the statement signing they require to reinstate themselves as title favourites again.

Imagine him & Doku: Man City chasing one of the world's "most talented LBs"

Manchester City are seeking to sign “one of the most talented left-backs in world football”, who could form a brilliant partnership with Jérémy Doku.

By
Ben Gray

Apr 24, 2025

After a middling season in which they ended up finishing fifth in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur decided to splash the cash on a new centre-forward.

Daniel Levy and Co went out and spent a club-record £65m on then-Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke, who had just racked up a haul of 25 goal involvements in all competition.

Now, while the Englishman has not been poor this year, his eight goals in 25 league games is a far cry from the often inhuman exploits of Harry Kane that fans were so used to seeing in campaigns prior.

So, with that in mind, it’s not surprising that we have seen reports in the last couple of months linking the North Londoners to another striker ahead of this summer, including one who’s won comparisons to the club’s all-time top scorer.

Spurs' striker search

Before getting to the free-scoring dynamo in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other marksmen linked with Spurs in recent weeks, like Liam Delap and Daizen Maeda.

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 reportedly has a £30m release clause in his current deal, and considering he’s scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 34 Premier League games for a terrible Ipswich Town side, he could prove to be a very savvy signing.

Likewise, while the latter is playing north of the border, he’s been nothing short of spectacular this season, racking up a simply unreal tally of 45 goal involvements in 48 games, and once again, with a relatively modest price tag of £25m, he may be too good a deal to miss out on.

However, Daniel Levy and Co might be after more of a sure bet to lead the line next year, which would explain some of the links we have seen to Jonathan David in recent weeks.

If the North Londoners do act on this supposed interest, then the good news is that the Canadian international wouldn’t cost them a penny in transfer fees, as his contract with LOSC Lille is set to expire at the end of the season.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get done, but David is certainly someone Spurs should be doing all they can to sign, especially as he’s won comparisons to Kane.

How David compares to Kane

Before getting into some of the other reasons why David could be looked at as a young Kane, it’s worth examining where this comparison has come from.

Well, in this case, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the seventh most similar forward to the Lille gem.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, progressive carries, goals per shot and shot on target key and live passes, carries and more, all per 90.

David & Kane

Statistics per 90

David

Kane

Progressive Carries

1.28

1.12

Goals per Shot

0.17

0.15

Goals per Shot on Target

0.37

0.36

Key Passes

1.28

1.31

Live Passes

22.3

23.5

Carries

17.9

19.6

Ball Recoveries

2.26

2.27

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

Furthermore, while we wouldn’t want to suggest that the Canadian international is as good as the Lilywhites legend – very few players in world football are – he has shown a level of consistency up top that mirrors the 31-year-old’s.

For example, since the start of 21/22, the New York-born monster, whom journalist Tony Marinaro dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world,” has scored 96 goals and provided 25 assists in just 182 club appearances.

What makes that continued level of output that much more impressive is that it’s come in a traditional top-five league, whereas some of the other aforementioned strikers linked with a move to Tottenham have thrived in comparatively weaker leagues.

Finally, as the England captain did in N17, the “mind-blowing” goalscorer, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has shown a surprising level of loyalty to Les Dogues, as, thanks to his consistently brilliant numbers season on season, he probably could have left earlier than this year but did not.

Ultimately, everything from his underlying numbers and raw output to his commitment to the cause reminds us of a younger Kane, and should Spurs want to supercharge their attack next season, they’ll do what they can to sign David in the summer.

Related Conte 2.0: Spurs looking at hiring "phenomenal" Postecoglou upgrade

The vastly experienced manager would be an incredible hire for Spurs.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2025

Chelsea are now eyeing a summer move for a “composed” defender, with manager Enzo Maresca believed to be a keen admirer, according to a report.

Blues eyeing centre-back amid latest Disasi update

Axel Disasi has spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa, and it looks as though the 27-year-old could be heading for a permanent exit at the end of the season, with the Villans now opening talks over a summer deal.

Maresca’s side have been faring well in their pursuit of the Champions League without Disasi, and they are now just one win away from securing qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, with the crucial trip to Nottingham Forest pencilled in for next weekend.

As such, it could make sense to sanction the Frenchman’s departure, but Maresca may be keen on bringing in a top-level replacement, should his side return to the Champions League, with FA Cup-winning captain Marc Guehi among the potential targets.

After leading his Crystal Palace side to FA Cup glory, Guehi is likely to have no shortage of interest this summer, but the 24-year-old is not the only English centre-back of interest to the west Londoners.

According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, Chelsea are now interested in signing Leicester City defender Ben Nelson, who caught the eye with his impressive performances for Oxford United in the Championship last season.

£172k-per-week star keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League race

He’d want the move to Stamford Bridge no strings attached.

13 ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025

The Blues have been keen on Nelson for quite some time, having also considered a move back in the January transfer window, and their interest seems like it stems from their manager, with Maresca believed to be an admirer.

The Italian has previously described his former player as “ideal”, while also adding: “He’s quick. He can play right or left – it’s perfect.”

"Composed" Nelson destined for the top

Not only is Maresca a big fan of the Leicester ace, but he also impressed teammate Peter Kioso during his time with the U’s, with the fellow defender saying: “Nels has come in and done what he’s needed to do. Credit to him, he’s still a young lad and I feel like he’ll go to the very top in football, just from his mentality and how he reads the game, and how composed he is.”

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

£60m

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid

Unknown

David Hancko

Feyenoord

£42m

Ousmane Diomande

Sporting CP

£68m

The 21-year-old missed large parts of the campaign with injury problems, but he remained a key player when fit, making 17 appearances for Oxford in the Championship, featuring at centre-back on every occasion.

Having put in some solid performances in the second tier at a young age, the £5k-a-week defender may soon be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, but Chelsea should also make sure to bring in a more experienced centre-back, having identified a number of targets.

Leeds United are said to be interested in completing the signing of a “brilliant” Celtic player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Leeds eyeing signings amid title push

The Whites have secured promotion back to the Premier League, following a scintillating run of form in the Championship that included a 4-0 win at home to Bristol City on Monday evening.

Daniel Farke’s Leeds side know that victory away to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday will seal the title, too, with their superior goal difference over Burnley meaning the Clarets’ result at home to Millwall will ultimately be meaningless.

Amid all the promotion positivity at Elland Road, the club continue to work on new signings for when the Whites are back in the top flight, with Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone mentioned as a potential upgrade to Illan Meslier and Manor Solomon expected to join permanently.

Bournemouth full-back Max Aarons is another rumoured target for Leeds ahead of next season, with the Englishman spending the second half of the current campaign on loan at Valencia, and possibly not having a long-term future with the Cherries.

Leeds keen on signing "brilliant" attacker

According to an update from The Boot Room‘s Graeme Bailey, Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda is a summer target for Leeds, as they look to strengthen in the final third. He is valued at £25m.

It is claimed that the Whites have “watched” the Japanese star in action, but they are far from alone in that respect, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brentford, Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham all getting a mention.

Maeda would be an interesting option for Leeds, possessing blistering pace and end product, having scored 62 goals in 154 appearances for Celtic, as well as registering 27 assists. The 27-year-old is also a five-time league champion, winning four Scottish Premiership titles with the Hoops and one with Matsumoto Yamaga in his homeland, and Brendan Rodgers is a big admirer.

“He’s been absolutely brilliant wherever he’s played, however he’s played, he’s had an amazing season. He earns every penny and we feel as a club he deserves more. He doesn’t give away much, other than saying he’s very happy.”

The step up from the Scottish Premiership to the Premier League is huge, so there would be a risk element in Leeds making a move for Maeda, but the level of interest in him from some of the biggest clubs in the country suggests many believe he is good enough to make the jump.

A sensational Meslier upgrade: PL player wants to join Leeds this summer

Leeds United could be about to land a star who can allow Daniel Farke to forget about Illan Meslier.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 1, 2025

Still only 27, the 23-cap and four-goal Japan international is at a great age to come in and be a key man for several years – he also knows Ao Tanaka well from international duty and he could help him settle – so it is a deal the Whites should look to strike.

Over the years, the Chelsea fanbase has been blessed to witness countless strikers who have catapulted them to various levels of success in the Premier League.

Didier Drogba is arguably the club’s best-ever talisman, registering over 100 goals for the Blues over two separate spells at Stamford Bridge, including the equaliser in their Champions League triumph back in 2012.

The Ivorian cemented himself in the club’s history forever with such a moment, with his move from Marseille back in 2004 undoubtedly going down as one of the best in their history.

However, in the present day, the Blues lack that focal point at the top end of the pitch, with Enzo Maresca unable to rely on Nicolas Jackson, as seen in the defeat against Newcastle United last weekend.

As a result, groundwork has already been laid for possible additions, with the centre-forward positions likely to be the number one priority for the hierarchy.

The latest in Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Over the last couple of weeks, Chelsea have been linked with a move for a whole host of attackers, as Maresca looks to make his mark on the current first-team squad.

Liam Delap has been the main name mentioned, with Lille talisman Jonathan David also on their shortlist, with his contract at the Ligue 1 outfit set to expire at the end of June.

However, despite the links with the aforementioned duo, another name has been thrown into the mix, in the form of RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, according to TEAMtalk.

Their report claims that the Blues have already been in talks with the player’s agents over a move for the 21-year-old, who’s managed to net 21 goals across all competitions throughout 2024/25.

It also states that the hierarchy in West London view the Slovenian international as the ‘perfect transfer target’ and an upgrade on the currently suspended Jackson.

Why Chelsea’s latest target would be an upgrade on Osimhen

Despite the links to Leipzig’s Sesko in recent days, another name has emerged as a potential target, in the form of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who looks set to leave the Serie A side this summer.

The Nigerian is currently spending the year on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray after dropping down the pecking order after the appointment of former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte last summer.

His record of 24 goals in just 28 league games this campaign would undoubtedly add a different dimension to the Blues’ attack, handing Maresca the goal threat he desires.

However, any deal for the 26-year-old would set the hierarchy back £60m, with multiple other Premier League clubs also in the race for his signature this summer.

As a result, Maresca’s men would be better to prioritise a move for Sesko this summer, with the forward being a better option for the side based on the stats he’s produced to date.

The Leipzig star, who’s been labelled the “next Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to post a higher shot on target accuracy rate – highlighting his clinical ability in the final third.

He’s also managed to complete more passes per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, handing Maresca an all-round threat within attacking areas – something which current option Jackson has struggled to do as of late.

Games played

32

28

Goals & assists

18

29

Shot-on-target accuracy

46%

45%

Passes completed

23

14

Successful take-ons

1.5

0.9

Aerials won

64%

60%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.1

The biggest asset Sesko possesses is his aerial ability, winning more of the aerials he’s entered, allowing the club to improve on their current record, which has seen them achieve just a 22% successful cross accuracy this campaign.

Both players would undoubtedly hand the club added reinforcements in their quest for Premier League glory, allowing one of them to emulate the success endured by Drogba at the Bridge.

However, if they are to reach the next level under Maresca, Sesko is the man they should target, with his figures making him a better fit and solving their current striker woes in West London.

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Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on signing a £100k-a-week striker who’s scored 57 Premier League goals, having identified him as their ideal target, according to a report.

Spurs set to pursue new striker this summer

Dominic Solanke returned to the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon, with the Englishman ending his seven-game drought in the Premier League, but Liverpool ultimately came out on top in a dominant performance at Anfield, securing the title with a 5-1 victory.

While Solanke may have found the back of the net against Liverpool, he hasn’t exactly been prolific in the Premier League this season, netting eight goals, and it is now looking increasingly likely that Spurs will attempt to bring in a new striker this summer.

Ange Postecoglou’s side are in a good position to win the race for Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond, while they are also looking to sign Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel on a permanent basis, and they will have the opportunity to do so for a fee of £43m.

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According to a report from Spain, however, Tottenham are also keen to sign a striker who has a plethora of Premier League experience, having identified Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the ideal option to bolster their frontline.

Spurs are closely monitoring Calvert-Lewin’s situation at Goodison Park, with the striker’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, which means he will be available on a free transfer.

The Englishman’s availability without a transfer fee is attractive to Spurs, who are looking to bolster their attacking options without spending a significant sum of money, and his refusal to sign a new deal up to this point suggests he is likely to be available this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Bodo/Glimt (h)

May 1st

West Ham United (a)

May 4th

Bodo/Glimt (a)

May 8th

Crystal Palace (h)

May 11th

Aston Villa (a)

May 18th

"Outstanding" Calvert-Lewin could be solid rotation option

The Everton marksman has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years, scoring 57 goals in the competition during his time with the Toffees, while also receiving high praise from The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, who lauded him as “outstanding”.

As such, the 28-year-old could be a decent rotation option for Spurs, and his availability on a free transfer is an added bonus, but there are doubts over whether the 11-time England international is capable of taking Ange’s attack to the next level.

Injuries have been a real problem for the £100k-a-week striker throughout his career, and they have continued to hold him back this season, missing the last 12 games due to a hamstring issue.

The last time Calvert-Lewin was on the scoresheet was against Tottenham back in January, bagging a goal and an assist in his side’s 3-2 victory, but constant injury problems mean the Sheffield-born forward can’t be relied upon as a consistent source of goals.