Rayan has emerged as one of the most promising talents in Brazilian football and his performances haven't gone unnoticed by some of the Premier League's heavy hitters. Tottenham have now emerged as the favourites to sign the teenage forward, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa. However, it's Spurs who are the frontrunners for the 19-year-old.
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Rayan continuing to shine for Vasco
Rayan has established himself as a key man for Brazilian giants Vasco da Gama having recently bagged a brace in a 4-3 victory over Vitoria. The talented teen has now scored nine league goals this season and has been tipped to make his senior Brazil debut before long.
Vasco are reluctant to lose their prized asset but are aware of significant interest from top European sides looking to bolster their frontline. Chelsea and Liverpool have previously been linked with a move for Rayan but a recent report now suggests that Tottenham are the favourites to sign the versatile forward.
The Brazilian side believe Rayan will leave before the end of the year and according to Portuguese publication O Dia, will demand €30m (£26m) in order to come to the negotiating table. However, it's also reported that Vasco will accept €20m up front with a further €5m in add-ons.
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Spurs would face competition for Rayan
Tottenham have since emerged as frontrunners to sign Rayan from Vasco and are believed to be willing to offer the full €30m up front in order to secure his services. The north London side have been monitoring the for months now and sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old earlier this year.
Spurs, though, would face competition from a number of Premier League rivals for Rayan, with Aston Villa among those keeping tabs on the forward. Barcelona, Zenit, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have also been credited with an interest in the forward.
In a fresh twist, Vasco are also believed to be keen on extending Rayan's current contract in a bid to raise his €40m (£35m) release clause and strengthen their hold on the talented Brazilian. Journalist Jorge Nicola has reported that Vasco president Pedrinho is working to tie the player down to a new deal.
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Spurs announced cash injection on Thursday
Tottenham have money to spend in the New Year after the club injected £100m of capital into the club. Majority shareholders, the Lewis Family, are prepared to back the north London side financially as they look to witness long-term success on the field.
"We are pleased to announce that our majority shareholder, the Lewis family trust, has, through ENIC Sports & Development Holdings Ltd (“ENIC”), injected £100 million of new capital into the Club," a statement read on Tottenham's official website on Thursday.
"This equity injection will further strengthen the Club’s financial position and equip the Club’s leadership team with additional resources to continue the focus on driving long-term sporting success. This additional capital is part of the Lewis family’s ongoing commitment to the Club and its future."
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'The Lewis family are also ambitious for the future'
On the cash injection, non-executive chairman Peter Charrington said: "As I stated a few weeks ago, our focus is on stability and empowering the management team to deliver on the Club’s ambitions. I know the Lewis family are also ambitious for the future.
"Today’s capital commitment reflects that ambition and I would like to thank them for their ongoing support. We will continue to do all we can to ensure that Vinai and his team are supported in the best way possible to take this Club forward."
The injection comes after a third prospective buyer confirmed no intention to bid for the Premier League side. An American consortium led by former DJ Brooklyn Earick had previously made an informal expression of interest to buy Tottenham, which was "unequivocally rejected" by the Spurs board.
Spurs currently sit third in the Premier League, two points behind rivals Arsenal, after their 2-1 win over Leeds prior to the international break. Spurs return to domestic duties as they welcome Aston Villa next weekend.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been calling a highly-rated player in the build up to deadline day as he looks to tempt him with a Stamford Bridge move, according to an intriguing new report.
The west Londoners are prioritising a new attacker as we fast approach this year’s summer transfer cut-off, and they’ve held extensive talks for two stars in particular.
Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho is clamoring for a move to Chelsea, having already told friends that he’ll be joining Maresca’s side (talkSPORT), and personal terms are believed to be fully agreed.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons has also agreed terms with Chelsea, but the Bundesliga side and Blues are yet to shake hands on a club-to-club deal, as is also the case with Garnacho.
Chelsea-Garnacho-Maresca
If Maresca had to choose one or the other, he’d select Garnacho, as his priority is a winger, but deals for either one of the pair still centre around Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku finding new clubs.
It isn’t simply a case of Simons or Garnacho, either, as credible reports now claim that Chelsea have reached out and contacted the representatives of Barcelona star Fermin Lopez (David Ornstein).
Lopez has become a star at the Camp Nou since Hansi Flick’s arrival last year, scoring eight goals and bagging 10 assists in 46 total appearances last year as Barça went on to clinch a domestic treble.
The Spaniard has emerged as an alternative to Simons if they cannot get a deal done for him, even if the Leipzig ace is still their priority as things stand, although this could change pretty quickly (Simon Phillips).
Chelsea ready to nearly triple Fermin Lopez's salary as Enzo Maresca calls him
According to Spanish news outlet Sport, and journalist Jordi Gil, Chelsea are ready to nearly triple Lopez’s current salary if they pivot towards the 21-year-old as their top playmaker target.
Lopez earns around £99,000-per-week in Catelonia right now, but Maresca’s side would hand him a contract of around £250,000-per-week in west London – which comes as surprising, given Chelsea aren’t known to shatter their wage structure on players.
What’s more, Maresca is believed to be personally calling Lopez over a move to Chelsea, so there is serious intent from the tactician to land him, not to mention admiration.
All of this means Lopez is starting to reconsider his future after previously stating he would remain at Barca, and Chelsea are apparently prepared to offer Flick’s side around £50 million for his services.
However, they’re still some way off the mark, as the La Liga champions are demanding £60 million.
Celtic find themselves in a race against time to land a new striker, though they have now made an approach to bring in a forward on the books at a Premier League club.
Celtic fail in bid to land Anderlecht striker Kasper Dolberg
Despite making him their top target, Celtic look to have missed out on a deal for Anderlecht striker Kasper Dolberg, who is primed to complete a move to Anderlecht before the close of play.
Taking to social media platform X, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph reported that the Denmark international now has his set on a move to his former club after the Dutch giants sought assurances over his willingness to snub alternative interest.
He stated: “UPDATE: Ajax are now pressing ahead with their hijack of Kasper Dolberg’s move to Celtic after seeking assurances from the player that he would prefer a return to his old club. #AFCAjax now back in talks with Anderlecht over a permanet deal. This could leave Celtic scrambling.”
Elsewhere, the Bhoys have put forward a loan for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sayki, albeit he could end up at either Rangers, Lyon, and Leicester City, who are also keen on landing the England Under-21 international.
The timing of whether Celtic manage to land a striker or not is critical, given Irishman Adam Idah is set for a move to Swansea after completing his medical, though they have held fire on relinquishing his services until a replacement is found.
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This is exactly what Chris Davies could be after.
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Truthfully, the late part of the window for supporters has failed to deliver in terms of excitement, but that could be about to change as they hone in on a new centre-forward.
Celtic make loan approach to sign Chelsea's David Datro Fofana
According to Sky Sports reporter Joseph on X, who was mentioned earlier, Celtic have made a loan approach to try and sign Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana before tonight’s deadline.
Intriguingly, his colleague Ron Walker eluded to the fact that is ‘looks like’ the Bhoys may land his services despite suggesting that Bristol City were in the mix, potentially suggesting that a deal is further down the line than initially thought.
Despite joining Chelsea for £10.3 million in 2022, Fofana has made only four appearances for the Premier League giants and spent time out on loan at Goztepe last term, scoring twice in nine appearances before sustaining a knee injury.
Adding Union Berlin and Burnley to his other loans, the Ivory Coast international, dubbed “aggressive” by Vincent Kompany, has never really settled since joining the Blues from Molde, where he burst on to the scene after netting 24 times in 65 outings.
Celtic appear willing to offer him an olive branch at a late stage, creating a scenario where both parties benefit while Chelsea move another player off their books.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League return could not have been scripted better, with Lucas Bergvall delivering a standout debut under the lights and earning plaudits from legends of the game. Ange Postecoglou’s groundwork from last season is now paying dividends, with the teenager stepping up on Europe’s biggest stage under new boss Thomas Frank.
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Bergvall helps Spurs to UCL win on debut
Bergvall was handed his first Champions League start by Frank in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Villarreal. The teenager made an immediate impact, forcing an early own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior. Spurs rode that breakthrough to secure three points in their opening league phase match.
While Frank is the man steering Spurs now, much of the credit for Bergvall’s maturity is being directed towards Postecoglou. The Australian gave Bergvall crucial minutes last season, helping him adapt to Premier League demands. That faith laid the foundation for Tuesday’s dream debut, with Bergvall himself saying: “A dream come true. First Champions League game, at home in front of you and a win. Something I've dreamed of since I was a kid.”
Additionally, he also said on Tottenham's official channels: “Yeah, [playing in the Champions League] has been a dream since I was a young kid to play here and in front of the supporters at home, and a win could not be better.”
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Ronney praises 'fantastic' Bergvall
Wayne Rooney was among those to heap praise on the Swedish midfielder after his performance. The Manchester United legend told Amazon Prime Video: "Sometimes you forget how young he is because he played a lot of games last season, and the maturity with which he plays is fantastic."
He continued: "So he shows different sides to his game this season, last season he played a bit deeper, and to play as a number ten is not easy, it's not easy to get on the ball and be in the right positions, but I thought today he showed the different side to his game, which will only improve him in the future."
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Bergvall the shining star for Spurs' future
Tottenham will look to build momentum from their winning start as they continue their Champions League journey. Frank will hope Bergvall’s form adds creativity to his squad while keeping him grounded in a long season. With the foundation laid by Postecoglou and the guidance of Frank, Spurs may finally have a star ready to shine on Europe’s grand stage.
Newcastle United find themselves racing to sign a centre-forward and could now be set to up the ante for a star with proven Premier League experience, according to a report.
Newcastle United continue search for new strikers
Unfortunately, Manchester United have won the race to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko after a battle with the Magpies for his signature that has ended in a £74 million move to Old Trafford, subject to medical checks.
David Ornstein confirmed that Sesko won’t be joining Newcastle, but the reporter has shared some good news, revealing that Porto’s Samu Aghehowa is high on the Magpies’ radar, while Keith Downie reports that Brentford’s Yoane Wissa could be on his way to Tyneside for a fee of around £35m.
Samu Aghehowa in action for Porto.
Speculation over Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson’s departure to West Ham United has left a couple of voids to be filled in the North East, and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson could also head to Newcastle as his career trajectory takes another turn. Either way, cards may start to fall once Isak’s future is resolved amid heavy interest from Liverpool.
Newcastle open talks to sign "fantastic" midfielder who's keen on SJP move
Eddie Howe has already approved…
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Plenty of options are available to Howe with the window now coming into it’s final stretch and he may now have turned his attention to another forward who is creeping up the estimations of the Geordies’ recruitment team at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United want to sign striker loved by Alan Shearer
According to Craig Hope of The Daily Mail, Newcastle have Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jorgen Strand Larsen near the top of their shortlist as they search for a new striker.
Despite only making his move to Molineux permanent this summer for £23 million, the Magpies are impressed by his character and exploits last term for the Old Gold in the Premier League.
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s record for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
38
Goals
14
Assists
5
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer is an admirer of Strand Larsen and previously said about his performance against Ipswich Town back in April: “He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent and I thought his touch and his control were superb.”
Indeed, the Wolves star’s closest statistical match is none other than Chris Wood, as per FBRef, due to both players outperforming their expected goals and dominating aerial duels. The Denmark international directed 34 of his 54 shots taken on target in the Premier League last term and is now creeping up their list of potential options after missing out on a deal for Sesko.
Previous talk of a price-tag sitting at £65 million has been dismissed, so it remains to be seen if Newcastle can advance into pole position to bring the talented striker to St James’ Park before the end of the window.
The range of viable investors in the Hundred teams is “way broader and bigger” than anticipated ahead of Friday’s first-round deadline for bids. That is according to the ECB’s senior leadership team, who defended the Hundred’s projected valuations of overseas broadcast rights on Wednesday by insisting: “We are confident in our product”.The ECB sent investment prospectuses to around 100 interested parties last month, who were set a deadline of October 18 to register their initial interest in buying a stake in one of the eight Hundred teams. The teams are currently owned by the ECB but will become franchises run as joint-ventures with host counties (or the MCC) once the sale process is complete.The Hundred’s overseas broadcast rights are currently valued at around £2 million per year. Financial projections in the prospectuses distributed by Deloitte and the Raine Group – who are running the sales process – involve a jump to £33 million by 2030, with a year-on-year growth rate of 42%.One prospective investor, who has since withdrawn from the sales process, told ESPNcricinfo that those figures “make no sense” and had not been fully explained. “It seems like they first thought of a valuation then made up the numbers to justify it – things like the sudden and exponential growth in broadcast revenue from India and North America,” they said.Richard Gould and Richard Thompson, the ECB’s chief executive and chair respectively, are in Multan this week during England’s second Test against Pakistan, ahead of the first-round deadline. They said the board has fielded interest from a “full gamut” of potential investors and defended the projected increase in revenue from Indian broadcast rights.Related
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“We are not making an assumption that India’s men’s players will be released, because that has not been what has happened,” Gould said. “We are confident in our product, in terms of the window we occupy and the players we’ve got available. There are loads of T20 and short-format franchise competitions out there at the moment, and I don’t think they are all going to last, in truth.”Gould said that “about 100 or so” interested parties had requested access to the ECB’s “data room”, including “a lot of Indian interest” with the majority of owners of IPL and WPL franchises understood to be involved in the process. He said there has also been interest “from America, from other sports and investment houses”.He said: “We’re getting towards the end of stage one this week… at the moment, they can express an interest in all eight clubs. We’ll have a better indication over the next week or two. Thereafter, we’ll spend a month or so going through those. At the end of that process, they will be able to go and meet the county clubs and see where their relationships work best.”During that period they can have an interest in up to four teams. When we get to the crunch time, which is the next phase, they can only put their name in for two teams, and they can only win one. Clearly, we want to maximise the value, because the value the ECB holds is on behalf of the game.”Gould said there were “a few tyre-kickers” among the parties to initially register their interest, but Thompson insisted that the ECB had outstripped expectations overall. “Raine originally said they thought there’d be three to four bidders per team,” he said. “The investment base is way broader and bigger than they expected.”Vikram Banerjee, the ECB’s director of business operations, said last month that the sale process could be delayed beyond next year if the right bids do not come in. Thompson suggested that the 2025 season could be a “hybrid” model, with some teams still owned by ECB and others by private investors.”What we don’t want is to just feel bounced into selling all of them and thinking, ‘We could have got a lot more if we’d held back because that particular team wasn’t ready to go,'” he said. “The worst thing we could do would be to undersell the game and look back thinking, ‘We let some of these franchises go at prices that weren’t full market value.'”
It’s nearly a month now until Sunderland kick their Premier League season off on home turf versus West Ham United as the Black Cats’ transfer business continues at a hundred miles per hour.
Six new faces have joined the ever-expanding Stadium of Light ranks so far, with the pick of the recent bunch who have relocated to Wearside being Simon Adingra, as the Premier League-capable attacker left Brighton and Hove Albion behind for a fresh adventure up North.
Don’t be surprised if the number of exciting bodies to join the building rises into the double-digit range very soon, with more and more high-profile signings expected to be made before August arrives.
£9m star now on the Sunderland shopping list
Whilst the cash thrown around to land Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi would have caught the eye of those with connections to Sunderland, as £67m was excessively splashed, the pick up of Adingra will be the most pleasing capture to date, considering his wide knowledge of the top-flight.
Aaron Ramsdale might well add to that if he joins Regis Le Bris’ camp very soon, with new rumours seeming to suggest that the goalkeeper might be the new number one the Black Cats desire when climbing back up to the Premier League.
Salvatore Esposito for Italy vs England.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has even been allegedly on the Sunderland shopping list as well. However, the European markets will no doubt still be tapped into again as Le Bris and Co now enter the race to try and snap up Spezia gem Salvatore Esposito.
As per a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, the one-time Italy international is firmly on Sunderland’s summer radar, with the likes of Brighton, Burnley, Brentford, Everton, and Fulham all also interested in the 24-year-old after Spezia failed to win promotion to Serie A.
Valued at just £9m – as per Transfermarkt – this could well prove to be a great steal on the end of Sunderland if Esposito instantly acclimatises to the demands of the English game and shines, with the Spezia number five perhaps going to be an even better talent than the £30m-rated Diarra down the line.
How Esposito could be even better than Diarra
Of course, Diarra does have plenty of top-flight experience under his belt that will help him when trying to become an instant success on Wearside.
Indeed, the 21-year-old had amassed 94 Ligue 1 appearances for Strasbourg with a hefty tally of nine goals and ten assists also coming his way lining up for Liam Rosenior’s side.
Games played
30
34
Goals scored
4
7
Assists
5
10
Touches*
43.5
80.6
Accurate passes*
26.3 (87%)
48.8 (85%)
Big chances created
9
18
Ball recoveries*
3.0
6.3
Total duels won*
3.3
7.3
Yet, it’s very clear when looking at the above table – even if Esposito has played the majority of his career in the Italian second tier to date – that the 24-year-old definitely has a higher ceiling than the Serie B, with a ridiculous 17 goal contributions next to his name from 34 league clashes last season.
The most exciting takeaway from the table, however, will be how well-rounded Esposito’s game looks as a midfielder who is capable of dazzling crowds with that output, but he is also a talent hungry to battle away for his team’s cause, as seen in his mammoth 7.3 duels being won per game last campaign as Spezia gunned for promotion.
Diarra’s numbers do fall flat in comparison, with the former Inter Milan man even going on to win that solitary Italy call-up when he was known as a rising gem.
Therefore, the “elegant” midfielder – as he’s been lauded in the past by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – should be able to make the first-team cut under Le Bris very soon, even if the jump up in quality is disorientating at first.
Diarra could well find that transition to be even trickier, considering he has that lavish £30m price tag above his head.
Whereas, for only £9m, Esposito – who has also been labelled as a “technical genius” by football analyst Ben Mattinson – won’t have that same level of anxiety on his shoulders, with the 24-year-old hopeful he can be an immediate success story that helps Sunderland to survive.
Contact made: Sunderland prepare bid to sign £25m star who is open to move
The Black Cats are making plenty of impressive moves…
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund was mere centimetres away from netting a potentially crucial goal in last month’s Europa League final, having seen his goalbound header denied by a simply remarkable acrobatic clearance from Micky van de Ven.
The suggestion from TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist that the Dane could have done better with that attempt appeared distinctly harsh, with his colleague, Darren Fletcher, perhaps putting his best when suggesting that the 22-year-old might be the “most unlucky number nine” that the Red Devils have ever had, following his disallowed goal on the final day against Aston Villa.
Whether it is the fault of the £64m man, or due to the wider problems of the team, he simply hasn’t kicked on in a United shirt as expected, with the player who ran Galatasaray ragged in October 2023 having hardly been seen since.
Short of quality and confidence, Hojlund ended 2024/25 with just ten goals to his name in all competitions, having only netted four times in the Premier League, while missing just six ‘big chances’.
That latter statistic illustrates that the ex-Atalanta starlet isn’t necessarily wayward in front of goal, albeit the lack of opportunities created perhaps points to the lack of trust in him from his teammates – something which was said to be an issue at the tail-end of the previous campaign.
Rasmus Hojlund
Having ended the 2023/24 season as the club’s top scorer, there is a player in there somewhere. The issue is, United’s patience appears to have – rightly – worn thin.
Man Utd's search to replace Rasmus Hojlund
While Hojlund may be keen to stay and prove himself at Old Trafford, a return to Italy does appear the most likely outcome, with Champions League finalists Inter Milan reportedly ready to bring him back to Serie A.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokereskisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal
With one number nine seemingly on his way, another could be set to arrive in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, albeit with the Swede currently in a public dispute with Sporting CP over his future, amid the suggestion that the club have rowed back on their willingness to let him leave for around €70m (£59m) this summer.
Things are getting messy in Lisbon, it would seem, hence why United’s newly crowned sporting director, Jason Wilcox, must continue to consider alternatives, with TEAMtalk reporting that talks have been held between the club and the representatives of Juventus striker, Dusan Vlahovic.
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The suggestion is that the Serbian’s agents reached out to Wilcox and co in order to try and engineer move, with the 25-year-old believed to be prioritising a Premier League switch.
While the report does state that the former Fiorentina man is not deemed to be a ‘priority target’ for Ruben Amorim, the contact was said to be ‘positive’, ensuring the Premier League outfit could return to the table later down the line.
Amorim, it would seem, might have his heart set on a reunion with Gyokeres, although Vlahovic would surely be the next best thing. Oh, and he might be available for just €30m (£26m).
How Vlahovic compares to Viktor Gyokeres
The ‘definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’, with United perhaps wary of dipping into the Serie A market for a third successive summer in order to sign a new striker.
Indeed, 2023 saw Erik ten Hag plump for Hojlund, despite the then 20-year-old having scored just nine league goals for Atalanta the year prior. A year later, the Dutchman then forked out £36.5m for Joshua Zirkzee, a player who had netted just 11 times in Serie A for Bologna in 2023/24.
The result? Two goal-shy, albeit talented figures who scored just seven league goals between them for United last time out, with there certainly a fear that Vlahovic could continue the trend, having actually only scored ten Serie A goals last season – plus a further five in all competitions.
2024/25
29
10
4
2023/24
33
16
3
2022/23
27
10
2
2021/22 (Juventus)
15
7
1
2021/22 (Fiorentina)
21
17
4
2020/21
37
21
2
2019/20
30
6
1
2018/19
10
0
0
The difference is, Vlahovic’s work prior to that is reason for excitement, having scored 81 top-flight goals, across his time in Turin and Florence, since the start of 2020/21, with a further six strikes coming the year before that for his former employers.
It is for that reason that, much like Gyokeres, he has been hailed as a “goal machine” by scout Antonio Mango, with writer Emmet Gates also tipping him to be a “generational talent” in the past.
A hulking, brute of a striker at 6 foot 4, the Serbian star truly is an imposing focal point at the top end of the pitch, a trait he shares with the 6 foot 2 Gyokeres.
While the latter man may be the “hottest striker in Europe” right now, as per ESPN’s Mark Ogden, following his haul of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, the Swede certainly boasts similar traits to his Juventus counterpart.
Geny Catamo celebrating with Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting.
That is particularly seen in their ability to score out of nothing from range, with both men possessing a cannon of a stronger foot. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed Gyokeres as a “ball-striking monster”, while Sky Sports’ Nick Wright has described Vlahovic as ‘dangerous from long distance’.
Such quality is evidenced by the fact that both men have taken on free-kick duties of late, with Vlahovic scoring four between 2022/23 and 2023/24, while Gyokeres netted three in 2024/25 alone, as per Transfermarkt.
As alluded to in the case of Hojlund, United are in desperate need of a striker who can conjure up a moment of magic on their own, with neither Vlahovic nor Gyokeres particularly reliant on the service around them.
That said, both can provide that poacher’s instinct when required too, with the Juve sensation ranking in the top 10% of strikers across Europe for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref, while the former Coventry City man ranks in the top 15% in that regard.
Juventus' DusanVlahovicduring the warm up
While Vlahovic may be a left-footer, unlike Gyokeres, the pair are both a force to be reckoned with, with the Belgrade-born star’s consistency at the elite level over a number of seasons certainly to be admired.
Yes, he may not be the leading target for Amorim and Wilcox, although if prising Gyokeres from Lisbon proves too great of a task, then they may have already opened the door to the next best thing.
He'd be amazing with Ekitike: Man Utd "optimistic" of sealing deal for star
Manchester United appear to be edging closer to completing a deal for one top-level talent.
Celtic have already brought in one left-back as Greg Taylor edges closer to the exit door and could be set to recruit another if recent reports are to be believed.
Celtic star Greg Taylor set to leave after Kieran Tierney arrival
Making a start to the window that has created plenty of headlines, Celtic announced Kieran Tierney’s arrival on a free transfer from Arsenal after finding an agreement to bring the Scotland international home in January.
In light of this, long-serving defender Greg Taylor appears to be on the move to PAOK on a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. Should he depart under freedom of contract, that will leave the Bhoys in need of another left-back this summer.
The question then becomes, who could become a realistic competitor to Tierney? According to reports, Sassuolo star Josh Doig is being tracked by Celtic and may be on the move back to Scotland after starting his career at Hibernian.
There is also the prospect of a youth player such as Matthew Anderson or Mitchel Frame coming in to fill the void. If that scenario arises, B team manager Stephen McManus believes there is no better role model than Kieran Tierney at Parkhead for young stars to look up to.
He explained: “Kieran’s coming back at the age that he’s at, his full career’s ahead of him. For the national team, for us as a club, it’s tremendous.
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“It’s given everybody a real boost and for the younger lads it’s another role model that we’ve got to look up to.”
Supporters are eagerly anticipating movement on incomings and there could now be potential for Celtic to land a Scottish Premiership star if reports are to be believed.
Celtic in James Penrice scouting mission
According to The Daily Record, Celtic have ran scouting checks on Heart of Midlothian left-back James Penrice and could look to strike on the market for the former Partick Thistle man in their hunt for a competitor to lock horns with Tierney.
Although their watchful eye isn’t to be mistaken for something more, it does show that Rodgers and company are doing their due diligence on potential targets to strengthen their backline.
James Penrice in Scottish Premiership action – 2024/25 (FBRef)
Chances created
56
Successful crosses
69
Successful dribbles
21
Tackles won
48
Recoveries
116
Labelled “outstanding” by Neil Critchley, Penrice registered two goals and seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last term as Hearts narrowly missed out on a top-six finish.
Nevertheless, with Derek McInnes now at the helm, it remains to be seen whether the ex-Kilmarnock boss would be willing to part ways with one of his prize assets.
Hearts and Celtic don’t share a great deal of rapport on and off the pitch, so it would likely take a significant fee to tempt the Jambos into letting Penrice leave Tynecastle for a divisional rival.
Serie A giants Napoli and AS Roma are now both interested in signing an £80,000-a-week Nottingham Forest player this summer, according to a recent report.
Morgan Gibbs-White devastated with FA Cup semi-final defeat
It was a disappointing afternoon for the Reds on Sunday, in what has been a remarkable campaign for them. Nuno Santo’s side failed to turn up at Wembley against Manchester City, as the Blues were in control for 90 minutes and sealed their spot at another FA Cup final.
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By
Brett Worthington
Apr 27, 2025
Captain and talisman Morgan Gibbs-White was left “devastated” with his side’s defeat in the semi-final and apologised to fans, claiming he should have scored at least one of the chances he had in the game.
“It’s devastating. I feel sorry for the fans. I hold my hands up and apologise. I should have scored at least one of them chances.
“As a team, we did not start well. That is what we wanted to do. Then in the second half, we came out fighting, and we gave it absolutely everything. The support never stopped until the very last second, and we thank the fans for that because they have been so consistent with us throughout the season.
“I’m lost for words, really. I’m sad to go out like that. We gave it our everything, but we keep going. We have still got the Premier League to focus on.”
Forest now have five games remaining in the Premier League to seal their spot in next season’s Champions League. They currently sit in sixth place, two points behind third place Newcastle United, with the race firmly on between five teams.
Napoli and Roma are chasing Hudson-Odoi
Not only would Champions League football help the Reds bring in better players in the summer, but it could also help them retain some of their key men who have been so important this season and are now gaining admirers ahead of the summer transfer window opening. Indeed, according to a report from Spain, Napoli and Roma are both interested in a deal to sign Callum Hudson-Odoi from Nottingham Forest.
Both Italian teams are keen on a deal for the winger, who is under contract until the summer of 2026. The report claims that Hudson-Odoi’s speed, dribbling and ability to drive play forward make him an attractive option to reinforce their attacks.
Both Napoli and Roma see someone like Hudson-Odoi, who is on a weekly wage of £80,000 at the City Ground, as the perfect age profile to bring both experience and long-term potential, though no information is given on possible bids or fees.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 24/25 Premier League stats
Apps
28
Starts
24
Goals
5
Assists
3
But given that it is reported that Forest are already working on securing a new contract with Hudson-Odoi, who has been dubbed a “star boy” by teammate Ola Aina, and negotiations are underway, then they may not be interested in any potential sale this summer. Forest are confident that they will keep hold of the winger, but the final decision will depend on Hudson-Odoi.