All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

It’s only a month away now until Premier League action finally returns to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland fans have been waiting for this moment to arrive all summer, and with the amount of whirlwind business that has taken place off the pitch this off-season, with high-profile additions galore, it must be hard for the Black Cats faithful not to feel excited at the moment, yet impatient in equal measure.

The latest jaw-dropping arrival was Simon Adingra from Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Premier League-ready attacker joining up with Regis Le Bris’ camp for £18m.

More cash will surely be splashed between now and the opening match of the campaign versus West Ham United, as Le Bris and Co. begin to hunt down some new defensive bodies to strengthen even more.

Sunderland firming up interest in £24m star

In particular, the Black Cats will be looking to add some reinforcements in the heart of defence based on recurring rumours.

Transfer Focus

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

The likes of Duje Caleta-Car, Joe Gomez, and Charlie Cresswell have all been tipped to join the Stadium of Light ranks this summer in this department, with reports even going as far as to suggest that Cresswell could be purchased for around the £18m mark.

However, there is a fresh target has now emerged in this area of the pitch in the form of Bologna titan Jhon Lucumi, with Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio suggesting that the newly promoted side is showing an interest in the imposing Colombian.

That has been followed up by a report from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, with the respected insider revealing that the Black Cats are ready to make an official bid, having been in contact over the last 24 hours or so.

With a reported release clause coming into play at around the £24m region, it will be intriguing to see what Sunderland are willing to fork out to snap up the 6-foot-2 defender shortly, with Lucumi arguably an even bigger talent than the up-and-coming Cresswell.

Why Lucumi is an even bigger talent than Cresswell

Whilst the former Leeds United man is the talk of the town at the moment after a breakout Toulouse campaign and an imperious Euros tournament, he is still a relatively inexperienced figure in the grand scheme of things.

Indeed, when adding up the 22-year-old’s career appearances to date, 39 of his 101 overall clashes have come about in the U21 ranks at Elland Road, with just one meaningful senior season under his belt in a top division in Ligue 1, which came about just last campaign.

Games played

32

31

Goals scored

0

3

Assists

1

1

Touches*

73.2

63.3

Accurate passes*

57.9 (92%)

41.2 (83%)

Ball recoveries*

5.5

3.3

Total duels won*

3.9

4.9

Clean sheets

10

9

On the flip side, the Bologna number 26 has been a mainstay in Serie A for some time now – with a high 94 Italian top-flight contests next to his name – and as can be seen glancing at the table above, his powers haven’t waned whatsoever as a dominant and assured presence in the backline of Vincenzo Italiano’s side.

If anything, he actually managed to trump Cresswell in many different areas of their respective defensive games last season, with Lucumi having been noted for his “ice-cold composure” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Indeed, he averaged more accurate passes per league clash than the Preston-born centre-back, on top of tirelessly registering more ball recoveries as an energetic body at the back.

Further hailed as being “ridiculously impressive” by Mattinson, it does feel as if Lucumi would be better placed to go in and make an impact on the Sunderland side immediately than Cresswell, considering he also excelled in the Champions League last campaign when battling against the likes of Aston Villa with 4.6 total duels won on average in Europe’s elite competition.

Cresswell will undoubtedly find himself back in the English game at some stage, having been rashly discarded by Leeds.

But, in the here and now, Sunderland should attempt to push the boat out more to land the Colombian, as more and more cash is thrown around to help boost the Black Cats’ survival chances.

Better than Diarra: Sunderland racing PL clubs to sign £9m "genius"

Sunderland are now in the race to pick up this brilliant £9m gem.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 14, 2025

Southampton are building for a campaign back in the Championship and could now be about to make a transfer statement ahead of the new season, according to reports.

Will Still begins to lay down authority at Southampton

Despite suffering relegation in acrimonious circumstances last term, Southampton appear to be heading back in the right direction after appointing Will Still to lead them forward.

The former RC Lens coach has added Paul Trollope to his staff as an assistant, which is something Rickie Lambert believes can have a major impact behind the scenes in the Saints’ quest for promotion.

He explained: “Trolls has bought me twice, at Bristol Rovers and at Cardiff. He’s an excellent manager. I went to see him and Rob Edwards at Luton to see how they were working together there. Honest to god, the way they worked together was one of the best I’ve seen.

“Trolls as a person is one of the best. His sessions are brilliant, his knowledge about the game…he’s an excellent addition to Southampton.”

In the field of recruitment, Southampton have turned their attention to Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, and their interest could intensify if Aaron Ramsdale’s relegation release clause is activated this summer.

Southampton and Still want to sign new £4m+ forward with 11 goals in 24/25

The Saints are looking for a swift return to the Premier League.

BySean Markus Clifford May 30, 2025

Finances could be available for Saints to spend over the next couple of months. Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been the subject of a rejected £19 million bid from Porto, and he may be a candidate to bring in funds for Still to ignite a rebuild on the South Coast.

Paul Onuachu is moving to Trabzonspor after an uninspiring spell at St Mary’s. His departure may now have paved the way for an exciting new arrival, per recent developments.

Southampton agree deal to sign Damion Downs

According to Sky Sports journalist Marc McAdam, Southampton have agreed a deal to sign FC Koln striker Damion Downs and the ‘finer details’ of his move to the South Coast club will be ironed out after the United States international returns from the Gold Cup.

Believed to be coming in for £6.8 million, he will likely take Onuachu’s place in the squad ahead of the new campaign. He is set to be involved in the Gold Cup final against Mexico on Monday, 7th July.

Earning plaudits after a return of 11 goals and six assists in 32 appearances across all competitions for FC Koln, the Werneck-born man also managed to direct 25 of his 60 shots on target in Bundesliga.2.

Fresh faces are needed for Southampton to gain the hunger needed for a tilt at promotion back to the top-flight, and Downs is someone who could now have a big part to play under Still’s guidance.

A “fantastic” Sunderland player looks to be closing in on a summer exit from the club, with “positive” discussions reportedly taking place over his future.

Who could Sunderland sign back in the Premier League?

The Black Cats are preparing for life back in the Premier League, following their memorable promotion to the Championship, with plenty of players being mentioned as potential signings.

Dynamo Kiev striker Vladyslav Vanat is reportedly seen as a top target for Sunderland, who are believed to be leading the race to snap him up in the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old scored 17 goals in the league last season, outlining his pedigree as an exciting target.

Meanwhile, Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez has also been backed to join the Black Cats this summer, although he appears to have poured cold water on the rumour in a recent Instagram post, saying:

“10 years ago as a kid moving from south east London to Liverpool, I couldn’t even imagine looking this far into the future. Looking back now I’m full of gratitude & take so much pride in being a part of this club and city.No denying the challenges along the way, but embracing them to grow as both a player and a person is something I’ve always tried to do & I’m grateful for all the support in trying to do that.It’s been a blessing to be a part of the different dressing rooms and getting to create such special memories over the years with so many great players & staff. I felt it was important to share my thanks to you all for the support throughout the years, it’s always meant the world and I will never take it for granted. A decade in red… and still hungry to keep going.”

Sunderland in "positive" discussions over exit for 22 y/o

Now, according to Hibernian head coach David Gray, talks over Sunderland midfielder Nectarios Triantis sealing a permanent move there are going positively currently, following a loan stint at the Scottish club last season.

“He is another one who had a fantastic season. You seen how much he improved last year, playing week-in, week out. His parent club have just got promoted to the Premier League and their are conversations going on. Clearly he was a big part of what we done last year and it is a position that we are going to need to fill. There is conversations going on there that are positive at the minute but you always need to be proactive and making sure that you are trying to get your work in as early as you can.”

Since then, The Northern Echo have reported that talks are at an advanced stage over a permanent exit for Triantis.

This summer feels like the right time for Triantis to leave Sunderland, considering he hasn’t been an important part of Regis Le Bris’ plans at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland hold 'formal' talks and now lead the race to sign £21m star

The Black Cats are ready to strike on the market.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 20, 2025

The 22-year-old Australian has made just five appearances for the Black Cats since arriving in the summer of 2023, and receiving funds for him instead of losing him on a free transfer in 2027 makes perfect sense.

Glasgow Rangers boss Russell Martin knows that he needs to bolster his attacking options before the end of the summer transfer window, which officially re-opened on Monday.

The Light Blues boss could be about to lose first-choice number nine Cyriel Dessers, who has reportedly agreed a contract with Greek outfit AEK Athens, with talks ongoing to agree a fee.

Whilst a transfer is not yet complete, the Scottish giants have to be prepared for the possibility of being without the Nigeria international in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

Dessers scored 18 goals in 35 matches in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 season, but also missed 21 ‘big chances’, and they will have to find a striker to replace those goals if this move to Athens goes through.

He is not the only attacking player who will have to be replaced this summer, though, because the Gers have already lost Vaclav Cerny, who has returned to Wolfsburg after his loan deal came to an end.

Why Rangers need to replace Vaclav Cerny

The Czechia international was a huge player for Rangers in the 2024/25 campaign, after joining on loan from the Bundesliga outfit, and will need to be replaced because he provided a huge threat in front of goal.

Cerny ended the season with a haul of 18 goals and nine assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Gers, which shows that he offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the right flank.

The left-footed star, who liked to cut inside onto his favoured foot from the right wing, produced 12 goals and four assists in 33 outings in the Premiership for Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson combined.

Cerny also caught the eye in the Europa League for Rangers, as they made it to the last eight of the tournament, with goals and assists on the European stage.

xG

4.26

Top 3%

xG on target

4.29

Top 3%

Goals

6

Top 2%

Shots on target

15

Top 1%

Assists

2

Top 23%

xA

0.93

Top 39%

Chances created

14

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, the Wolfsburg loanee was among the top-performing wingers in the Europa League this season, both as a scorer and a creator.

These statistics illustrate why it is so important for the Scottish giants to sign a replacement for the Czechia international to bolster Martin’s options out wide.

The Gers need a winger who can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, and a fresh report suggests that they are on course to sign one.

Rangers set to sign new winger

According to TEAMtalk, Rangers are close to agreeing a deal to sign Kwame Poku from Peterborough United when his contract expires at the end of this month.

The Ghana international’s current deal with the League One outfit is due to expire in time for him to sign for a new team at the start of July, and this means that the Gers can snap him up for a compensation fee.

Transfer Focus

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

TEAMtalk adds that Rangers believe that they have won the race to sign the left-footed forward, who is now poised to become one of Martin’s first signings as the new head coach at Ibrox.

The outlet adds that the Premiership giants are set to beat off competition from teams in the English Championship and from abroad to bring the talented winger to Glasgow this summer.

It states that Birmingham, who have been promoted to the Championship, have been pushing hard to land the wing wizard, but it is Rangers who are now closing in on his signature.

What Kwame Poku could bring to Rangers

If the Light Blues get this transfer over the line, as this report suggests that they will do, then the club could have their next version of Cerny on their hands.

Like the Czechia international, Poku is a right-sided attacker who likes to cut inside onto his favoured left foot to deliver goals and assists in the final third on a regular basis.

The 23-year-old star, who former boss Darren Ferguson lauded as an “unplayable” winger at times, racked up 11 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in the third tier in England in the 2023/24 campaign.

That was an impressive return for the young winger, given that he almost hit 20 goal contributions in total, but the whiz improved his output in the 2024/25 season for the Posh, as Poku proved that he can be relied upon to make a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

xG

6.01

Top 11%

xG on target

7.74

Top 7%

Goals

12

Top 2%

Assists

8

Top 3%

xA

5.17

Top 7%

Chances created

33

Top 19%

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers target hit that 20-goal contribution mark this season in League One with 12 goals and eight assists.

This means that he scored as many goals as Cerny and provided four more assists than the Wolfsburg loanee did at league level this term, which suggests that the potential is there for him to offer even more in front of goal.

They appear to offer a similar goal threat but Poku could be more creative on the right wing, which would also make him a dream signing for whoever comes in to replace Dessers this summer.

Of course, the Peterborough star is unproven in the Premiership at this moment in time. However, his form down south is incredibly promising and, for a compensation fee, he appears to be an ideal signing to perfectly replace Cerny with a similar type of player on the right flank.

Goldson 2.0: Rangers initiate talks to sign Propper upgrade for Martin

Could Rangers sign the next Connor Goldson by snapping up a “highly intelligent” centre-back?

ByBen Gray Jun 15, 2025

Norwich City have now reached a £2.1 million agreement to complete their fifth signing of this summer, according to a recent report.

Canaries active early in the summer window

It has been a busy few weeks for the Canaries since their 2024/25 Championship campaign came to an end. Not only have Norwich brought a new manager in, in the form of Liam Manning, but they have also made four new additions in the short time the transfer window has been open.

Nottingham Forest submit bid to sign "brilliant" £13m ace from Norwich

Nottingham Forest have now made an official bid to sign a player from the Championship.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 12, 2025

Midfielder Jacob Wright became Norwich’s first signing of the summer, as he joined the club on a permanent basis from Manchester City. He was then followed by goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw, who has joined from Plymouth Argyle. Defender Harry Darling joined the Canaries early this week, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal after rejecting a contract offer from Swansea City.

Norwich have since added a fourth signing this week, as they have announced the arrival of another goalkeeper in the form of Louie Moulden. Moulden joins the club on a free transfer after his contract at Crystal Palace expired, and he has signed a two-year deal at Carrow Road. Moulden is “buzzing” to be at Norwich and is “looking forward to getting started”.

He told Norwich’s media team: “Buzzing to be here, really happy. Obviously, it’s a huge club with great fans. And I’m really looking forward to getting started now.

“I want to show my quality to the manager, push the other goalkeepers and see where that takes us.”

Norwich reach £2.1m agreement to complete 5th signing this summer

It could be three signings in a week for the Canaries, as according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Norwich have reached an agreement with Ajax to sign defender Jakov Medic.

Medic had the option of many Championship clubs this summer, but his preferred destination was Carrow Road. The report states that the Canaries have agreed a 2.5 million euro (£2.1m) fee plus bonuses and a percentage of a resale should Medic leave Norwich.

The 26-year-old has been at Ajax since August 2023, when he joined the club from FC St. Pauli. He spent the 2023/24 campaign with the Dutch side but played just six games in the Eredivisie, as well as three games in the Europa League. His game time with his parent club didn’t improve last term, and he was sent out on loan to German side VfL Bochum, where he played 23 times in the Bundesliga.

Apps

23

Starts

17

Goals

1

Touches per game

45.0

Passing accuracy per game

30.1 (88%)

Interceptions per game

1.0

Tackles per game

0.6

Balls recovered per game

3.3

Clearances per game

4.9

Medic, who is a centre-back by trade but can also operate in a defensive midfield role, will join Darling as a defensive signing this summer. The Canaries already have the likes of Shane Duffy, Ruairi McConville and Jose Córdoba as centre-back options, but it is likely Medic and Darling could form a partnership now at the heart of Norwich’s defence.

Leeds United are reportedly in pole position to sign a £20m+ attacker who Chelsea wanted to sign last year.

Leeds on the search for attacking additions in Premier League

The Whites are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window following promotion to the Premier League, despite the 49ers promising a busy market.

Talking after their Championship title win, chairman Paraag Marathe said that the club would “spend to be competitive in the Premier League”.

Joe Rodon

Tottenham

£10m

Largie Ramazani

Almeria

£10.5m

Jayden Bogle

Sheffield United

£5m

Ao Tanaka

Fortuna Dusseldorf

£2.95m

Isaac Schmidt

FC St Gallen

£2.5m

Alex Cairns

Salford

Undisclosed

Joshua Guilavogui

N/A

Free

Manor Solomon

Tottenham

Loan

Joe Rothwell

Bournemouth

Loan

Daniel Farke and those behind the scenes at Elland Road have a lot to do before 2025/26 season, and attacking additions are required in Yorkshire.

A new number 10 is wanted with Emiliano Buendia, Gus Hamer and Gabriel Sara all linked with moves to Leeds in recent weeks, whereas it remains to be seen if winger Manor Solomon will return on a permanent basis from Tottenham.

Leeds make contact to sign free agent star who scored 23 goals this season

The Whites are looking for some attacking flair after claiming promotion to the top-flight.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 2, 2025

When it comes to a new striker, Leeds have had their reservations over Championship Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe and the experienced Patrick Bamford, leading to rumours of a new centre-forwards arriving.

Forwards with Premier League experience such as Callum Wilson and Jamie Vardy have been mooted as targets, and there has been a new Leeds update on another attacking addition.

Leeds in pole position to sign £20m+ Christantus Uche

According to reports from SER journalist Jose David Palacio, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds are in pole position to sign Getafe attacker Christantus Uche.

The La Liga ace is looking to leave his current employers, and alongside the Whites, Brentford are also at the front of the queue for Uche, who has a £21m release clause in his current contract.

The Nigeria international is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also drop deeper as a central midfielder or turn out slightly further forward as a second striker. At the age of 22, Uche has a career-high €8m Transfermarkt valuation and has been catching the eye over the last 12 months, with Chelsea making contact over a deal last year.

As can be seen, Uche, who actually doesn’t have a weak foot, has had quite the rise in recent years, playing amateur football at the age of 19, but by the looks of things, a move to the Premier League with Leeds could now be on the cards.

Liverpool are considering a move for a “sensational” attacking midfielder this summer, and he is now keen to hold talks about a move to Anfield, according to a report.

Reds eyeing Wirtz alternatives as race heats up

Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz could well be on the move this summer, and it is looking like the transfer saga could be one of the most talked-about of the summer, with a number of Europe’s top clubs lining up for the German.

Bayern Munich and Manchester City have also expressed an interest in Wirtz, although there have been suggestions that Pep Guardiola’s side have now cooled their interest, amid concerns a deal could be too expensive.

The Reds are pushing hard to sign the 22-year-old, but there are also some alternative options in mind, with River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons among the potential options, and Arne Slot is believed to be driving the deal for his compatriot.

Sky Sports: Liverpool may sell "amazing" £50m player after transfer twist

He played in the 3-2 defeat away to Brighton on Monday night.

ByHenry Jackson May 20, 2025

A report from TEAMtalk has now provided a new update on Liverpool’s interest in Simons, stating they are considering a move for the attacking midfielder as a potential alternative to Wirtz, and there is a feeling he could be open to heading to Anfield.

The Leipzig star is keen to hold talks over joining the Reds, and he could be a more affordable option than the Leverkusen man, as the asking price is expected to be around £60m.

Leipzig are open to selling the Dutchman this summer, should they receive a suitable fee, which will come as welcome news to Slot, who is known to be an admirer of the 22-year-old’s technical quality and maturity.

Van Dijk lauds "very talented" Simons

Slot is not the only key Liverpool figure who is a big fan of the “sensational” Netherlands international, with Virgil van Dijk also taking the time to praise him last year, saying: “He is a very talented player who has so much to give,”

“He can still be so much better than he is already but he has a good mentality, so I am not worried that won’t happen. I am confident in him.”

The Amsterdam-born attacker’s quality is underlined by his output in Germany during the 2024-25 campaign, regularly chipping in with goals and assists despite a disappointing season for Leipzig, who finished seventh in the Bundesliga.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

25

10

7

DFB-Pokal

3

1

1

Wirtz outperformed his Bundesliga rival numbers-wise, collecting six more assists, but it was recently suggested that a deal for the Germany international could amount to €300m (£253m) all-in, potentially making him unattainable for the Reds.

At just £60m, Simons has proven he could be a fantastic alternative to Wirtz, so it is promising news that he is keen on talks about a move to Anfield.

When it comes to the biggest stars of Arsenal’s Emirates era, one name will come to mind for most: Mesut Özil.

The German international joined the Gunners in a shock £42.4m move from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day 2013, in a moment that every fan who was around at the time will still remember as if it was yesterday.

The mercurial midfielder might have left the club under a bit of cloud, but for most of his time in the capital, he was simply superb and managed to rack up a tally of 44 goals and 77 assists in 254 appearances.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking the club to another international superstar who could have a similar impact to Ozil in North London.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other stars linked with Arsenal who could be game-changing acquisitions, like Viktor Gyokeres and Morgan Rogers.

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 could reportedly cost around £63m, and it’s not hard to see how he could change the Gunners’ fortunes next year, as in just 50 appearances this season, he’s scored 52 goals and provided 13 assists.

Likewise, with 14 goals and 14 assists in 52 appearances for Aston Villa this season, Rogers looks like he’d be more than worth the £100m price tag reportedly on his head.

However, there is another superstar attacker whose impact on the North Londoners could more closely mirror Ozil’s: Rodrygo.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, Real Madrid are “willing to let Rodrygo go” this summer, and this has put Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool on alert, with them all regarding this as a real “market opportunity.”

However, just because he’s available to sign doesn’t mean it’ll be a cheap transfer to get over the line, with reports from earlier this week claiming that he could cost £85m.

It’s safe to say this is a deal that may well have legs. Even the Athletic have joined in on the party, suggesting Arteta is a huge fan of the tricky winger.

With all that said, Arsenal should still do all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer, as he’d add so much to their attack and could have a similar impact to Ozil all those years ago.

Rodrygo's similarities to Ozil

Okay, so we aren’t saying that Rodrgyo is even remotely similar to Ozil as a player in his playstyle, but were this deal to go through this summer, then it would be undeniably reminiscent of the German’s 12 years ago.

For example, when the midfield maestro moved to the Emirates in 2013, it was the biggest statement that the Gunners had made in the market for a very long time, and should they secure the Brazilian in the coming months, you’d be able to say the same thing.

Secondly, it would be another case of the North Londoners taking advantage of Real moving on one of their biggest superstars, and at the same age as well, with the World Cup winner being just 24 when he left the Bernabeu.

Finally, and this is important, the Osasco-born dynamo has the raw talent and ability to go on and be just as influential as Ozil was during his time at the Emirates.

For example, since the start of last season, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has scored 31 goals and provided 19 assists in 102 appearances, totalling 7,067 minutes.

Appearances

52

50

Minutes

3777′

3290′

Goals

18

13

Assists

9

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.51

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

139.88′

143.04′

That means the 24-year-old has maintained an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 141.34 minutes across two years of football at the very highest level.

Finally, the “big game player” as Dougie Critchley described him, also knows how to get himself and his team across the finishing line in the biggest competitions, and as such, has won two Champions Leagues, three La Ligas, the Club World Cup, the Copa del Rey and others.

Ultimately, Rodrygo is one of the very best wingers in world football, and if Arsenal can secure his services this summer, he’d be following in Ozil’s footsteps and could go on to be just as influential in North London as the German was.

Arsenal could break transfer record for a more exciting star than Gyokeres

The incredible talent would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 15, 2025

Liverpool are already set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, and they may have to brace for the departure of another key player, with the Spanish side lining up another move.

Trent set to join Real Madrid

The Reds will be delighted to have managed to tie down Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah to new contracts, but Trent has now confirmed his decision to leave on a free transfer this summer, with the right-back expected to join Real Madrid.

There have been widespread reports suggesting the Spanish side could even look to get a deal done early by paying around £850k, as they are eager to have the right-back available in time for this summer’s Club World Cup, which is set to start on June 14th.

With the 26-year-old set to move on this summer, Arne Slot’s side have now stepped up their pursuit of a replacement, and they are set to make an offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, who could be available for the relatively low fee of just £30m – £34m.

Dream Kerkez alternative: Liverpool plot move for "incredible" £50m star

Liverpool could forget about Milos Kerkez with a summer deal for another left-back.

ByEthan Lamb May 7, 2025

However, Alexander-Arnold is not the only Liverpool defender Madrid are keen on, with a report from Spain suggesting the La Liga side are now looking at snapping up Ibrahima Konate, whose contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.

Madrid are not planning to make a move anytime soon, but they will look to make an approach closer to Konate’s contract expiry date, with the Reds at risk of losing yet another defender on a free transfer to the Spanish heavyweights.

Arsenal’s William Saliba and AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen are also named as targets for Madrid, however, so Slot will be hoping they choose to pursue a different centre-back this summer, rather than waiting for the 25-year-old to become available.

"Incredible" Konate would be huge loss for Slot

Slot has done a fantastic job to secure the Premier League title in his first season, and the French defender has been one of the players integral to Liverpool’s success, making 39 appearances in all competitions, having continued his fantastic partnership with Van Dijk.

The Frenchman has been a consistent performer for the Reds, even managing to average more tackles and blocks per game than Van Dijk in the Premier League, so it will be a worry that Madrid have now expressed an interest.

However, the Spanish side have a number of options on the shortlist, and Liverpool still have time to tie the £70k-a-week defender down to a new contract, with Madrid not planning to make an approach in the near future.

Chelsea are set to have a busy summer on the pitch, even with the Premier League season almost at its conclusion.

Indeed, they are taking part in the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the United States of America, with the first game on the 16th of June against Mexican side Club Leon.

Thus, they might be looking to make some early transfers. The 2025 summer window opens for ten days at the start of June, to allow teams competing in the Club World Cup the chance to strengthen their squad beforehand.

It might well be in the Blues’ interest to sign someone in that short window, and they have actually been linked with one attacker who could even move at the start of June.

Chelsea looking to sign a new striker

It may not seem surprising that Chelsea want a new striker this summer, given they are the sixth biggest underachiever for expected goals in the Premier League, as per Understat.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, the man who could help solve those issues is Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy.

According to recent reports from Spain this week, Chelsea are one of the sides who ‘have already initiated’ a move for Guirassy this summer. There is thought to be a ‘real possibility of leaving Germany’ for the striker in the coming months.

However, the West Londoners are surely going to face stern competition for Gurassy’s signature. Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus are also interested in signing the striker, who has a £60m release clause in his contract, should anyone want to bring him in.

Why Guirassy would be a good signing

It has been an incredible season for Guirassy in 2024/25, who has excelled leaps and bounds in a Dortmund side that has struggled overall. He has 29 goals and five assists in 41 games played so far this term.

There is certainly a case to be made that the striker has done his best work in the Champions League. He’s scored an incredible 13 goals in 14 games, notching up four assists alongside those strikes.

It is perhaps not too difficult to pinpoint the best performance from the Guinean striker in Europe’s premier club competition. He scored a hat-trick in the quarter-final against Barcelona, which proved to be in vain as his side got eliminated 5-3 on aggregate. However, it was still an mightily strong performance to grab a 3-1 home win on the night.

Perhaps Guirassy could provide the goals that Nicolas Jackson has struggled to score at times in 2024/25. The Chelsea striker is talented but perhaps a little inconsistent, with nine goals and five assists in 29 games in all competitions.

When comparing the goal-to-game ratio of Jackson and Guirassy, there is a clear difference. The Dortmund number nine is currently scoring 0.7 goals per game this term, whereas Chelsea’s main man up front averages just 0.3, a stark contrast.

Indeed, one thing the “unstoppable” Dortmund star, as scout Antonio Mango once described him, has on his side is experience.

At 29 years of age, the Dortmund sensation has plenty more years in professional football than the Chelsea number 15, who is just 23 years of age. With that being said, there is still a difference in how clinical they are in front of goal.

Interestingly, a statistical comparison via FBref can be drawn between Guirassy and former Blues striker Kai Havertz, now an Arsenal player.

He scored 32 goals for the club over three years, including a winner in the Champions League final in 2021.

As for the numerical comparison between the two, there are several areas where the pair are similar. For example, Guirassy averages 0.50 goals per shot on target compared to Havertz’s 0.43 goals per shot on target each game and they link up play in a similarly strong way, with only 0.10 difference in the number of key passes they supply per 90 minutes.

Goals per shot on target

0.5

0.43

Expected goals

0.72xG

0.46xG

Key passes

0.88

0.78

Shot-creating actions

1.84

2.01

Goal-creating actions

0.28

0.15

It is hard to see a reason why Gurassy wouldn’t succeed at Stamford Bridge. The Dortmund star is deadly in front of goal, as the numbers show, and in that sense would be an upgrade on Jackson.

Chelsea fans will surely hope he can replicate what Havertz did in that famous Blue shirt. They probably wouldn’t say no to a Champions League final winner, a competition in which he has serious pedigree already.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025