Sunday’s clash against Liverpool was always going to be a tough one for Arsenal from a mental perspective.

After crashing out of the Champions League at the semi-final stages, the last place they probably wanted to be was Anfield, the home of the Premier League title winners.

A guard of honour was given and Arsenal actually starting vibrantly, Bukayo Saka missing a chance from a matter of yards out. Here we go again, it’s going to be another one of those days.

Indeed, that certainly looked the case when the Gunners found themselves 2-0 down after 21 minutes. This was the perfect encapsulation of this season. Arsenal could have been two up themselves but squandered their chances and as they found in Paris on Wednesday, they were up against it.

This time, Mikel Arteta’s men rallied and put in a brilliant second-half performance to walk away from Merseyside with a point in their battle to finish inside the top four.

Arsenal's finest performers against Liverpool

While Arteta was left to bemoan some uncharacteristically lapse defending from William Saliba in the first half, shutting off for the second goal, in forward areas, there were some more encouraging signs.

Saka was his usual effervescent self, while Gabriel Martinelli was perhaps the standout player on the away side.

The Brazilian initially started the game on the left flank but a few tactical tweaks at half-time saw a renewed display, not just from Martinelli but the whole side.

Leandro Trossard moved out to the left and Martinelli moved into the centre of the pitch. A matter of minutes into the second half the two attackers combined brilliantly to get Arsenal back into the game.

The Belgian winger crossed into the box, where Arsenal’s number 11 was ready and waiting to head the ball home. In truth, that tactical tweak changed the game. Martinelli made a number of threatening runs in behind that also brought out the best from Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian has had a troubled campaign, only scoring five times, but he looked closer to his best in the second period at Anfield, playing a number of balls towards Martinelli.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Odegaard also had a vital role to play in the equaliser. Plenty of supporters have bemoaned his unwillingness to shoot from range this season but it was his fierce effort from outside the box that the second goal came from.

The captain unleashed a fizzing drive that Alisson tipped onto the post but Mikel Merino followed up well and headed the rebound into an empty net.

It was yet another crucial moment for the Spaniard who has enjoyed a fabulous back end of the season. Well, that was until he was given a red card for a late challenge on Dominik Szoboszlai, a tackle that saw him branded with a second yellow card.

Still, Merino was far from the worst player on the pitch.

Arsenal's poorest performers against Liverpool

Arsenal’s defending since Gabriel got injured certainly hasn’t been the best but one has to commend the displays of Jakub Kiwior who notably stood out in the two-legged win over Real Madrid.

That being said, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Saliba who, without Gabriel, doesn’t look quite as assured at the back.

Chalkboard

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The French titan is no doubt a fabulous player, but there have been some nervy moments for the centre-back when playing out from the back. He also switched off completely for Liverpool’s opening goal.

Despite grabbing an assist, it was largely an afternoon to forget for Trossard too, whose woes were compounded in the 78th minute when he was substituted with an apparent hamstring injury.

For Arsenal, that is not good news, particularly after Merino’s late red card. Who Arsenal will play up top against Newcastle next week is anyone’s guess.

Either way, Arteta should consider axing him from the team. Even if it’s not fully from the team, he should be axed as the main centre forward.

In the words of Arsenal writer Connor Humm, the £27m signing is a “waste of time” as a striker, not boasting the physicality to hold the ball up and perhaps also lacking the sort of runs we ultimately saw from Martinelli down the centre when they swapped positions.

Trossard vs Liverpool
Minutes played	78
Touches	61
Accurate passes	31/36 (86%)
Shots on target	1
Shots off target	1
Successful dribbles	3/5
Key passes	2
Accurate crosses	1/3
Duels won	7/13
Possession lost	16x
Stats via Sofascore.

Trossard only won seven of his 13 contested duels during the clash and failed to have a single shot on target. To make matters worse, he also lost the ball on 16 occasions. That isn’t what you need from a role that requires bringing others into play.

There was a wasteful moment that rather summed up his topsy-turvy season in the first 45 minutes. Arsenal pressed well in Liverpool’s penalty area and won the ball back. However, neither Partey nor Trossard took control of the situation and waited for each other to pick up the possession. Had either done so, it probably would have been a goal. Instead, the chance went begging.

Moments like that are why the Belgium international has frustrated supporters so often this season. There is talk of a new contract and perhaps he might deserve one. There aren’t many better squad players in Arteta’s ranks.

However, if Arsenal are going to sign one or two attackers, Trossard should be given the boot to accommodate them.

He's just like an "early Henry": Arsenal begin work to sign £85m winger

Arsenal are in the market for more firepower this summer,

By
Matt Dawson

May 11, 2025

Manchester United will desperately need to land new attacking talent this summer, as seen by their recent moves in the market, which has led to a deal for Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian has been on their radar over the last few months, but a deal seems to be edging closer after Fabrizio Romano confirmed the club had struck a deal with the fellow Premier League outfit Wolverhamtpon Wanderers.

However, further reinforcements are likely needed, especially when considering the side only registered 44 goals in their 38 league outings this campaign.

Such a tally is the fifth-lowest in the division, with all the teams within the bottom three and Everton the only teams to manage fewer, undoubtedly contributing to their lowly league standing.

Ruben Amorim has wasted no time in pursuing other options, with countless players on the Red Devils’ radar ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Striker Liam Delap has been firmly on United’s radar over the last few weeks, with his £30m relegation release clause potentially a bargain given his tally of 12 goals this campaign.

The 22-year-old has reportedly agreed personal terms over a switch to Old Trafford, looking to fend off any interest from fellow Premier League outfits Chelsea and Everton.

However, he’s not the only name on their shortlist this summer, with a move for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha now edging closer to completion. Reports on Tuesday evening noted that United have met the conditions required to prise him away from Wolves and the player has been given permission to undergo a medical.

An exciting option once that deal is done could well be Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that talks have already been held over a move for the 22-year-old Frenchman, who has registered 22 goals and 12 assists throughout 2024/25.

It also states that the Red Devils are preparing a serious offer for his signature, but it remains to be seen how much they would bid for his services given his £84m price tag.

Why United’s £84m target would be Amorim’s own Isak

Alexander Isak is a player who every side in world football must wish they had their own version of given his goalscoring exploits over the last couple of seasons.

The Swede, who currently plies his trade for Newcastle United, has registered 27 goals this campaign – 23 of which in the league, which saw him finish second in the Golden Boot race.

Over recent months, numerous teams have been interested in a move for the 25-year-old, but have been quoted a fee in the region of £150m – highlighting how impressive he’s been at St James’ Park.

Given the nature of such a fee, it’s virtually impossible that the Red Devils could fork out such a figure, which has led them to pursuing other options in the final third.

Ekitike is one player who could be the club’s own version of Isak, with the Frankfurt star comparable to the Newcastle talisman on FBref based off their respective figures and also described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Frenchman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists this season, but he’s registered more shots on target per 90 – highlighting his clinical abilities in the final third.

He’s also completed more passes than Isak, whilst completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, offering Amorim an all-round option in his attempts to take United back to their former glory.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

23

29

Progressive carries

3.3

2.7

Shots on target

1.5

1.3

Shots taken

4

3.1

Pass accuracy

76%

74%

Shot-creating actions

3.5

3

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

Ekitike’s impressive figures don’t stop there, registering more shot-creating actions, along with more progressive carries per 90 – handing the players around him the chance to bolster their own tallies.

Whilst £84m may appear to be a small fortune for the striker, it’s a deal that would hugely improve the options at the manager’s disposal heading into 2025/26.

Should he manage to get anywhere near the levels produced by Isak in the Premier League, it would be a bargain and one that could push the side one step closer to a return to European football next season.

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What once looked like it could be quite a miserable summer for Tottenham Hotspur is now one full of exciting transfer-related possibilities.

Being one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, the Lilywhites will always be able to attract top talent.

Still, following their Europa League triumph, they now have the added lure of Champions League football and the money that goes with it.

This already seems to be helping their case as well, as, based on recent reports, the North Londoners might soon have a player who’s won comparisons to Bukayo Saka.

Tottenham winger search

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking over some of the other talented wingers linked with Spurs in recent weeks and months, such as Eberechi Eze and Rayan Cherki.

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The former has spent plenty of time in the middle of the park this season but is more than capable of playing out wide, and with 25 goal involvements in 43 games this term, he’d be more than worth his £68m release clause.

Likewise, at a reported £19m, Cherki would be a steal, as in just 44 appearances for Lyon this season, he has scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists.

However, the North Londoners might be able to get an even better deal in the coming weeks.

According to a recent report from Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol and Michael Bridge, Spurs have been offered the chance to sign Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané.

The report has revealed that in light of the club’s place in next season’s UCL, they have become a far more attractive destination for the German international, who’ll be available for free in a month’s time.

It might not be the most exciting transfer possible, but Sané is a proven winger at the highest level and has even won comparisons to a player who’s terrorised Tottenham in recent years: Saka.

How Sané compares to Saka

So before getting to some of the other reasons why Spurs should be looking to bring Sané in on a free this summer, it’s important to address this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.

In this case, it comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions at last summer’s European Championships and concluded that the Arsenal star was the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Bayern ace in the entire competition.

It’s much easier to see how this conclusion was reached by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including but not limited to expected assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Sané & Saka

Statistics per 90

Sané

Saka

Expected Assists

0.09

0.11

Progressive Passes

3.04

3.57

Passing Accuracy

83.8%

83.8%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.03

3.30

Goal-Creating Actions

0.43

0.47

Successful Take-Ons

2.17

2.00

All Stats via FBref for EURO 2024

Moreover, aside from the significant statistical overlap between the two, they are also both mainly left-footed right-wingers who have benefited tremendously from the coaching of Mikel Arteta at different points in their careers.

With that said, why else should the North Londoners go out of their way to bring the former Manchester City star to the club this summer?

Well, firstly, even as his minutes have been somewhat reduced at Bayern this season, the “world-class” winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has remained a genuine attacking threat, living up to Pep Guardiola’s billing that he is one of “the best in the world playing out wide.”

For example, in 45 appearances, totalling just 2377 minutes, the 29-year-old dynamo has scored 13 goals and provided six assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 2.36 games, or more crucially, every 125.10 minutes.

Finally, the Essen-born monster is a natural winner; he lifted two Premier Leagues, two League Cups and one FA Cup at the Eithad, and then in Bavaria, he has won four Bundesliga, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

Ultimately, even if he was going to cost a modest fee, signing Sané would be the smart move to make this summer, so the fact he’s free makes bringing him to Tottenham a no-brainer – especially as he could be the club’s own Saka.

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Newcastle United have now identified “sensational” £50m+ midfielder as a major summer transfer target by Eddie Howe, according to a report.

Magpies set sights on new midfielder

The players responsible for ending Newcastle’s 70-year trophy drought have etched themselves into folklore forever, but with a Champions League campaign potentially on the horizon, Howe will feel a need to improve his squad in the summer transfer window.

The manager is relatively well-stocked in central midfield, but with doubts over the futures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, at least one new addition may be needed, and Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera has recently emerged as a target.

Herrera has often featured in a defensive role throughout his career, but there are signs the Magpies could look at bringing in a midfielder with more of an attacking mindset, having now joined the race for Manchester City’s James McAtee.

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Should Howe’s side qualify for the Champions League, it may also be wise to bring in an attacking midfielder with experience in the elite competition, and they have now set their sights on a player who has performed very well in Europe this season.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Newcastle are now keen on signing Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, with Howe clearly a big fan of the Englishman, having personally identified him as a major summer target.

Elliott has found it difficult to break into the Liverpool starting XI this season, which means a summer exit could be on the cards, but he will not come cheap, with Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly planning an offer worth in excess of £50m.

"Sensational" Elliott could ignite career at St. James' Park

The midfielder has impressed for Liverpool in the past, having been lauded as “sensational” by football writer Leanne Prescott, but he has only played a sporadic role in the Reds’ title triumph this season, making 15 Premier League appearances.

Given that the London-born maestro is now 22-years-old and yet to receive an England cap, it could well be time to leave the Reds for the good of his career, and he has proven he has what it takes to perform at the top level with his performances in the Champions League.

The former Fulham man scored three goals in five Champions League outings, most notably bagging a late winner in the first leg of his side’s round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

While game time has been hard to come by, the Liverpool ace has certainly made the most of his limited opportunities, ranking incredibly highly across a number of key metrics over the past year, when compared with his positional peers in the ‘big five’ European leagues.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.46 (99th percentile)

Assists

0.46 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

5.17 (99th percentile)

Elliott is showing signs he could go on to be a top player, but he needs regular game time to make that a reality, so a move to Newcastle could make perfect sense this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pull in the transfer market, not to mention the finances available for crucial signings, have undoubtedly been boosted by their spot in the Champions League for next season, with chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites recruitment team set for a very intriguing summer window.

Ange Postecoglou vows better Premier League finish for Spurs

Spurs confirmed their place in Europe’s most prestigious competition by reigning triumphant in the Europa League final last week, an historic night for both the club and under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou.

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Domestically, Spurs finished one place outside the relegation zone in 17th, breaking their all-time record for most Premier League defeats in a single campaign, and this has resulted in a major dilemma for Levy when it comes to deciding Postecoglou’s long-term future.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Their Europa League triumph represents a significant milestone for the north Londoners, who ended their 17-year wait for silverware and secured their first European trophy since 1984, with Postecoglou highly suggesting that he wants to stay at Tottenham during their trophy parade last week.

The final call on that won’t rest with the Australian, though, who also vowed to put Spurs in a much stronger position domestically if he’s given the chance next term.

“From my perspective, I made decisions that I felt were giving us the best chance of achieving the goal we needed to achieve this year and that has affected our league form,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Brighton on the final day.

“If people don’t want to take that into account, then there is nothing I can say to explain it any better than that.

“I came to the club and we had finished eighth. I didn’t take over a club that had finished second. They had no European football to speak of. Lost the one player who probably guarantees you European football. That was my starting point. At the end of two years, I’ve got the club a trophy it has been crying out for, Champions League football, we finished fifth last year. Either people are saying ‘last year it was a huge anomaly for us to finish fifth or this is what we deliver right.’

“I have got no doubt next year we will be in a much stronger position, challenging for the top places.”

If Postecoglou does stay for 2025/2026, there is little denying he needs to be backed in the transfer market with Tottenham’s newly-found Champions League riches this summer.

Pundit convinced Angel Gomes wants to join Tottenham

Injuries left Postecoglou hamstrung at various points over the course of 24/25, emphasising the need for Spurs to strengthen across the board.

Their greater pull could also help them to land Europe’s most coveted free agents, like England international midfielder Angel Gomes, who is set to leave Lille when his contract expires on June 30.

Tottenham have been tipped as one of the favourites to sign Gomes on a free this summer, with pundit John Wenham telling Tottenham News that he’s convinced the 24-year-old would jump at the chance to join Postecoglou’s side.

“Tottenham are going to be playing in the Champions League next season,” Wenham said.

“Therefore, when it comes to the pecking order of options Gomes has, I’m sure that Tottenham would be near the top of the list if they were to make an offer.

“I’m sure Gomes wants to come to Tottenham and live in London and play Champions League football with the current Europa League holders. As a result, I’m sure a decision will be made on that soon.”

The former Man United gem has impressed in Ligue 1 since his switch there in 2020, so much so that he was awarded his first call-ups to the Three Lions squad late last year.

He could be an astute option to reinforce Tottenham’s midfield, which was left desperately short at points last season and crippled their chances of success.

Former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has now given his thoughts on the Black Cats’ Championship promotion push, in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Black Cats seal play-off final spot after Ballard heroics

After picking up a 2-1 victory away at Coventry City in the first leg, Sunderland were in a strong position to reach the play-off final, but as ever, they didn’t do things the easy way, with the game going to extra-time after Ephron Mason-Clark’s late goal for the visitors.

However, Regis Le Bris’ side managed to get the job done in dramatic fashion, with Daniel Ballard scoring a stoppage-time equaliser, booking his side a place at Wembley against Sheffield United on May 24th.

It has been a tumultuous eight years for the Mackems since being relegated from the Premier League in 2017, spending four years trying to get out of League One, but they now have a golden opportunity to bring top flight football back to the Stadium of Light.

That is despite losing five straight matches heading into the play-offs, which was a concern for former manager Poyet. In partnership with BetBrain, the 57 year-old told Football FanCast he was impressed by their ability to bounce back from such a horror run of form.

The Uruguayan said: “Now, I’m a little bit more calm. Before the (first) Coventry game I thought ‘what is going on?’. Tremendous season, and then finishing the season in the worst way. When you talk to a psychologist, they’ll say the worst way to head into a play-off is losing five games in a row, mentally. But, in football, nothing is right or wrong, they went on and beat a very good Coventry team.

Speaking about playing in front of what was a raucous Stadium of Light crowd, he said: “I wouldn’t say there’s pressure, pressure is when you’re fighting relegation, that’s pressure,” before adding: “Wembley is always difficult but it’s always an opportunity, so I’m really looking forward to seeing if they can make it this year.”

Nothing to fear for Sunderland at Wembley

There were some justified concerns heading into the play-offs, given that Le Bris’ side had lost their previous five games on the spin, but Ballard’s late goal should give them confidence ahead of the play-off final against Sheffield United.

Having finished on 90 points, the Blades will undoubtedly be the favourites heading into the match, but there is nothing to fear for the Black Cats, considering they defeated Chris Wilder’s side 1-0 in their most recent encounter.

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By
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Le Bris took the time to praise the part the fans played on Tuesday night, saying: “The atmosphere was crazy. They helped a lot because we went through difficult moments, their energy was contagious. They were our twelfth man, really they were.”

With another trip to Wembley now pencilled in for May 24th, the fans will have an even more important role to play in just over a week’s time.

With Callum Wilson looking likely to leave, Newcastle United have reportedly made their first approach to sign an 18-goal forward and are even willing to pay a big fee to secure his signature this summer.

Callum Wilson could leave Newcastle for free

After spending five years at Newcastle, Wilson could be set to leave the club as a free agent when his current contract comes to an end next month. The experienced striker is yet to put pen to paper and left St James’ Park in tears following what is likely to be his final game for the club against Everton.

Despite his contract situation and his emotions at full-time last weekend though, Eddie Howe remained coy on Wilson’s future. The Newcastle boss told reporters: “Let’s wait and see. We will sit down with his representatives.

“I’m not sure about the thought it’s going to be huge change in the summer. There could be. I’m in a position where I don’t know what’s going to happen. You never know going into any summer with transfer activity, ins or outs you never know the numbers.”

With or without a new contract, however, it must be said that replacing Wilson would be no bad idea for the Magpies. The experienced striker has often struggled on the injury front, forcing Howe to play the likes of Anthony Gordon in the lead role of his frontline when also without Alexander Isak throughout the season.

Given that they’ve got Champions League football to offer now too, Newcastle and PIF could set their sights on some of Europe’s top talents. And whilst names such as Jonathan David have been mentioned, it could yet be another Ligue 1 talent who arrives.

Newcastle make first Kalimuendo approach

According to L’Equipe, as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle have now made their first approach to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo and are ready to pay a big substantial fee to secure the Stade Rennais forward.

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The Frenchman has enjoyed an excellent season in France, scoring 18 goals in all competitions whilst also setting up another two throughout the campaign. At 23 years old, the forward still has his best years to come and represents the type of player who would be an ideal backup for Isak.

Praised for how “dangerous” he is around the box by U23 scout Antonio Mango back in March, Kalimuendo would be ready to take the Premier League by storm if Newcastle made their move.

The Magpies already suffered in the past when attempting to balance European football with Premier League action, but the arrival of the depth provided by players like Kalimuendo would go a long way towards avoiding that problem this time around.

Just days after losing the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen, Celtic could reportedly suffer another blow in the form of an outgoing star amid interest from a European club.

Celtic suffer shock Aberdeen defeat

After taking the lead in the 39th minute through Alfie Dorrington’s own goal, it looked as though Celtic were set to secure the domestic treble that they had been desperately craving. Aberdeen didn’t give up that easily, however, and the story of own goals soon continued. This time, it was Kasper Schmeichel at the heart of the scene, with his mistake allowing the ball to find the back of his own net in the final nine minutes.

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From there, it was the underdogs with the momentum and the underdogs who eventually came out on top on penalties. Following a shock defeat, Callum McGregor revealed that his penalty miss in the shootout was the worst moment of his career.

The Celtic captain told reporters: “The worst. The worst moment I’ve ever had in football. It’s a real sore one. I’ll just need to go away and try and get over it and come back next year and be stronger.

“We didn’t do enough in the game to deserve it and then when you get to penalties it’s a bit of a lottery. The last few times we’ve come out on the right side of it and today we didn’t. It’s a real sore way to finish the season. Up until this point it’s been an amazing season. We just didn’t do enough to cap it off.”

Despite a dominant Scottish Premiership title win, Celtic will now have all eyes on making further improvements this summer. Whilst incomings will be a priority, however, their success may not come without the consequences of losing some key players in the coming months.

Fenerbahce readying move to sign Celtic star Maeda

Having already lost Kyogo Furuhashi in January, the Scottish giants could now be about to lose another key man. According to Takvim, as relayed by Sport Witness, Fenerbahce chief Mario Branco is now readying a summer move to sign Daizen Maeda. The Japanese winger has enjoyed another excellent season at Celtic Park and could now follow in the footsteps of Kyogo by departing.

Appearances

51

Goals

33

Assists

12

With 45 goal involvements in just 51 games, it’s no shock that Maeda has found himself at the centre of Brendan Rodgers’ praise. The Celtic boss told reporters earlier in the campaign: “If you are a young player coming through and want to give your honesty to the game, work, intensity and everything.

“No cheating, no nothing – even away at St Mirren, the penalty we got last week he tried to stay on his feet – he’s so honest to the game. Natural isn’t it? He’s been absolutely brilliant.”

As Rangers look to rebuild on the other side of Glasgow this summer, Maeda is not a player that Celtic will want to be losing. After watching Kyogo depart, the Japanese winger is more important than ever for the Bhoys.

With the season finally coming to a close, Tottenham Hotspur have a monumental summer ahead of them.

For example, alongside potentially replacing Ange Postecoglou, Daniel Levy and Co must go big in the transfer window to ensure the team don’t endure another Premier League campaign like this one.

On top of making sure they keep their own stars like Cristian Romero, the North Londoners need to bring in new ones to help them climb up the table and make a good account of themselves in the Champions League.

Fortunately, reports have recently linked the club to an attacker who could help them do just that, an attacker who’d be a massive upgrade on Son Heung-min.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other brilliant players who have been linked with a move to Spurs in recent weeks, like Leroy Sané and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

The former’s contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of this month and would therefore be a free signing, which could end up being an incredible deal, as in just 2377 minutes of football across 45 appearances this season, the German international scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

Simons, on the other hand, would cost the club around £67m, but even then, it would be hard to argue that’s not a fair fee, as the Flying Dutchman managed to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in 33 appearances this season.

Yet, there is another, even more impressive winger being linked with Tottenham: Bradley Barcola.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are among several Premier League clubs who are incredibly interested in the Paris Saint-Germain phenomenon.

In fact, the story has claimed that the Lilywhites, Arsenal and Manchester City have already sent scouts to watch the French international.

However, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, as while PSG do not want to sell the 22-year-old, they do value him at up to €120m, which is about £101m.

With that said, given Barcola’s immense ability and potential, this may be a deal worth breaking the bank on, especially as he’d be the perfect Son upgrade.

How Barcola compares to Son

While Barcola can and has played in other positions in the past, it’s abundantly clear that his preferred and best role is leftwing.

Therefore, depending on what else happens in the summer transfer window, one of his main competitors for game time at Spurs next season, were he to sign for them, would be Son Heung-min.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them? Well, from a raw output perspective, it’s a rather one-sided affair.

For example, the incredible Lyon-born ace, who’s “one of the best LW’s in Europe,” according to analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3643 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 91.07 minutes.

In contrast, the North Londoners captain scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 46 appearances, totalling 3189 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every other game, or one every 138.65 minutes.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers from this season? Which attacker comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the “devastating” star, as he was described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, who once again emerges victorious here, and by quite some margin at that.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.97

0.59

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.99

0.64

Progressive Passes

3.97

4.74

Progressive Carries

5.66

4.10

Shots

3.05

2.35

Shots on Target

1.57

1.02

Passing Accuracy

81.7%

78.9%

Key Passes

2.07

2.14

Shot-Creating Actions

4.17

4.99

Goal-Creating Actions

0.83

0.64

Successful Take-Ons

1.40

1.24

For example, while there are a few metrics in which the South Korean superstar is able to hold his own and actually come out ahead, it’s the UCL winner who does far better in the vast majority of relevant areas.

Ultimately, while Son has been an incredible player for Spurs for so long, Barcola is simply the better winger in practically every way, and therefore, Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 30, 2025

Ipswich Town have shown flashes of quality here and there this season in the Premier League, but that unfortunately hasn’t stopped the losses piling up next to their name.

For all the memorable victories against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, there have also been bleak defeats served up, with the Tractor Boys last tasting the unfamiliar sensation of a win way back at the start of April.

Therefore, relegation straight back down to the Championship hasn’t come as a great shock to Kieran McKenna’s men as they begin to now prepare for life without Liam Delap when readjusting to the second tier.

The latest on Delap's future at Ipswich

A lot of Ipswich’s brighter moments this season have come courtesy of the ex-Manchester City striker.

The Tractor Boys riskily went ahead with the signature of Delap last summer for £20m, which looked to be a steep amount at the time, considering he had never really gone on to make a name for himself in the senior fold at the Etihad.

But, the now potent Premier League proven attacker could move on for nearly double that amount – as his release clause stands at £30m if Ipswich were to be relegated – which would still be a bargain pick-up arguably when you take into account he has bagged a promising 12 league strikes in a relegation-doomed side.

Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Manchester United are all reportedly keen on landing the much-talked-about 22-year-old, with the Guardian even recently reporting that a £150k-per-week move has been thrust Delap’s way from Ruben Amorim’s men.

To add insult to injury, this isn’t the only demoralising sale Ipswich might well have to sign off on soon, with one of Delap’s teammates proving he’s ready to cut it in the Premier League long-term away from Portman Road.

Another important Ipswich star could leave

McKenna is a popular figure in and around the Tractor Boys, so he will be hopeful that he can keep his core group around for the tough challenge of immediately returning to the top-flight.

But, Leif Davis could soon join Delap out the exit door at the freshly relegated side, with a new report from TWTD suggesting Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest are keeping tabs on the expansive full-back ahead of the chaotic summer transfer window.

Whilst Davis hasn’t quite been at his consistent rampaging best in the big time for Ipswich, with only three assists mustered up from 31 league outings, this would be a huge hole to fill down the left flank if he were to go, considering his expertise when dropping down to the Championship.

Along the way to Ipswich clinching automatic promotion at the close of the dramatic 2023/24 campaign, the ex-Leeds United man would pick up an astounding 21 assists, with a high 2.9 key passes also averaged per league contest.

Games played

43

43

Goals scored

3

2

Assists

14

18

Touches*

62.0

65.3

Accurate passes*

25.6 (73%)

28.5 (79%)

Key passes*

3.1

2.9

Big chances created*

12

15

Total duels won*

4.5

4.0

Clean sheets

12

10

To lose this from the Tractor Boys’ attacking game back in the EFL would be disastrous, therefore, with the “sensational” full-back – as he’s been lauded in the past by football journalist Stuart Watson – arguably a harder star to replace than the prolific Delap, just for how effective he’s been at the level previously.

After all, Ipswich managed just fine without the clinical number 19 when Davis and Co. last soared into the Premier League, with Conor Chaplin, Nathan Broadhead, and many others chipping in with the strikes instead.

It will be intriguing to see if the Northern Irishman does end up relocating to the City Ground or any other pastures, therefore, with the loss of Davis, on top of Delap moving on, severely depleting Ipswich ahead of playing in the unforgiving Championship again.

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ByKelan Sarson May 22, 2025