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The Gunners suffered an early scare at the hands of the Hammers, but a dominant second-half performance and some inspired substitutions meant they walked away with all three points

Arsenal Women continued a stunning start to the new WSL season with a 5-1 comeback victory at West Ham United, Alessia Russo finding the net twice late on to put the gloss on an emphatic victory.

West Ham had taken an early lead after Daphne van Domselaar took her eye off Shekiera Martinez's cross from the right, dropping the ball and allowing it to bounce off her and into the net. But the Gunners would not be deterred as Frida Maanum equalised before substitute Stina Blackstenius turned the game around off the bench.

Caitlin Foord added a third on her 100th WSL appearance, before Russo scored twice late on, both assisted by £1million record signing Olivia Smith, to send out a statement to Chelsea and the rest of the the Gunners' title rivals.

Following their opening-day 4-1 victory over London City Lionesses, Arsenal undoubtedly approached this encounter with a spring in their step but were dealt an early blow after just five minutes. Goalkeeper Van Domselaar's early error gave West Ham a shock lead and left the Gunners with an early deficit to come back from.

Arsenal rallied to build their way into the game though, equalising through Maanum just beyond the 20-minute mark. After some smart hold-up play by Russo, Beth Mead played the killer through-ball and Maanum struck the ball early to deceive Megan Walsh and equalise for the visitors.

Remaining level at the break, Arsenal manager Renee Slegers took off goalscorer Maanum and replaced her with Champions League final match-winner Blackstenius. The 29-year-old made a telling impact just seven minutes after her introduction, curling home left-footed from the edge of the box with Russo involved once again with a clever back-heel into her path.

Russo would eventually get her deserved goals late on, firing home from range before rounding off the result from the spot after Smith was felled by Ines Belloumou.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Chigwell Construction Stadium…

• Getty/GOAL
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (4/10):

  Had almost the worst possible start following her glaring error after five minutes. While it didn't appear to impact the rest of her performance, West Ham created few opportunities so she had precious little to do.

  Emily Fox (6/10):

  A solid performance in both defence and attack. Confident to get on the ball and play forward from right-back.

  Katie Reid (8/10):

  The 18-year-old was starting for the second successive game and did not look out of place, continuing her confident start to life in the WSL with an assured display at the back. Always asking for the ball, Reid also looked to play progressive passes to begin attacks.

  Steph Catley (7/10):

  While the spotlight was no doubt on Reid, her central defensive partner showed all of her experience to limit West Ham's opportunities to get back into the game.

  Katie McCabe (6/10):

  Similarly to Fox, McCabe showed her athleticism to join attacks while ensuring that the home side created minimal opportunities at the other end.

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• Midfield

  Kim Little (6/10):

  A confident display controlling the midfield by the 35-year-old, who kept things ticking in a solid team performance.

  Mariona Caldentey (7/10):

  The Spain midfielder also looked at ease in the middle of the park and played her role in two of the goals, including a pin-point cross onto the head of Foord.

• Getty/GOAL
  

  Attack

  Beth Mead (7/10):

  Mead was a strong attacking threat in particularly the first half, grabbing her third assist of the new season and driving her team forward on a number of occasions. Could have got her goal in the second period but slid the ball just wide.

  Frida Maanum (7/10):

  Took her chance to equalise in the first half when the team needed it. Was withdrawn at half-time in what appeared a harsh but ultimately effective decision.

  Caitlin Foord (8/10):

  Had an emphatic finish disallowed for offside before heading home just after the hour mark. A fitting way to mark her 100th WSL appearance.

  Alessia Russo (9/10):

  Ran tirelessly for the team and secured victory with her two goals, powering into the roof of the net from outside the box then stepping up confidently from the penalty spot. Not to forget her ingenious back-heel to set up Blackstenius' goal.

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• Subs & Manager

  Stina Blackstenius (7/10):

  Was brought on to win the game and Blackstenius helped to do just that. Already two goals off the bench this season to prove the depth in the Gunners squad.

  Olivia Smith (8/10):

  The Gunners' record signing stole the headlines on the opening day but was initially rested to the bench for this one. Came on in the second half and made her contribution with two assists for Russo, including winning the late penalty.

  Taylor Hinds (N/A):

  Came on with just over ten minutes to play and helped see out a confident victory.

  Victoria Pelova (N/A):

  Also came on late on alongside Hinds.

  Lotte Wubben-Moy (N/A):

  Replaced Catley in the final few minutes of the game.

  Renee Slegers (8/10):

  Slegers made tough calls, both in terms of her starting XI and her substitutions. Most of her decisions proved to be the correct ones and Arsenal won comfortably in the end.

Arsenal are the defensive kings of the Premier League. Across the past two campaigns, Mikel Arteta’s side have shipped the fewest number of goals.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, the club’s all-powerful central defensive pairing, have even been hailed by former midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker for their journey toward the pinnacle: “They could be on their way to becoming Premier League legends in terms of the best defenders we’ve seen.”

The security that the rearguard provides has allowed technical director Andrea Berta to work on signings further upfield. The imminent arrival of centre-forward Viktor Gyokeres is evidence of that.

However, Arsenal may yet be interested in making a defensive signing.

Arsenal's remaining transfer plans

After Gyokeres completes his move to the Emirates, it appears that Arsenal will forge ahead with a deal for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, having reached initial agreements over payments.

Elsewhere, the Gunners indeed want a defender, and that’s having already completed the signing of Valencia talent Cristhian Mosquera for £13m plus add-ons.

But, according to De Telegraaf – via reports in Spain, Arteta wants more, having set his sights on Ajax defender Jorrel Hato. Indeed, the north Londoners have initiated contacts with the Dutch giants as they look to hijack Chelsea’s bid.

The Blues might be frontrunners, but nothing is set in stone. It’s felt that a bid in the region of €60m (£51m) would be enough to get the deal done.

Why Arsenal want Jorrel Hato

Hato, 19, might only be in the early stage of his senior career, but already he has established himself as one of the most exciting up-and-comers on the continent.

In fact, talent scout Jacek Kulig has declared him to be “one of the most talented CBs of his generation in Europe.”

There are few other rising centre-backs who could rival him, but Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen is certainly one of them. The Spain international, who is 20, left Bournemouth for Los Blancos in a deal worth £50m in May, having enjoyed a spectacular breakout year in the Premier League.

Last season, Huijsen was hailed by one analyst for having the making of a “world-class” centre-half, prodigiously cool and confident on the ball, strong in the tackle, commanding in the air.

Hato could emulate him, joining an Arsenal side considering a final flourish to their remarkable backline. Already, he has made 111 senior appearances for Ajax, shifting between left-back and central defence, denoting his wide-ranging technical ability.

Look, for example, at the ball-playing skills that allowed the former Cherries prospect to shine so brightly. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 6% of central defenders in the Premier League last year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, and the top 15% for progressive passes per 90.

Hato, while not so expressive on the ball, showcased his own passing prowess to a fantastic effect, ranked as he was among the top 1% of positional peers in the 2024/25 Eredivisie for pass completion, the top 15% for passes attempted and the top 5% for assists per 90.

Moreover, having completed 90% of his passes in the league, averaged 1.9 tackles and won 55% of his aerial duels across league fixtures, as per Sofascore, he’s endowed with the tenacious defensive values needed to succeed in the Premier League.

For all his high-level ability, Huijsen left something to be desired in ground duels last year, winning only 51% of his battles.

Hato’s athleticism and limitless energy levels could see him provide the perfect cover for Gabriel and Saliba, initially serving as an understudy but one who would be certain to feature prominently throughout the campaign.

Arsenal – and indeed the rest of the Premier League – failed to convince Huijsen to remain on English shores, but in Hato, Arteta could sign a similarly complete and technically sharp defender with a wide range of skills.

Worth more than Isak & Gyokeres: Arsenal struck gold on "world-class" star

Arsenal have a bigger talent than all of the high-profile names floating about due to this summer’s transfer window.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 26, 2025

The Canada international showed just why the north London side forked out £1 million for her services this summer with an outstanding Emirates bow

For a while on Saturday, London City Lionesses looked like they were about to make the sort of statement they'd have dreamed of when the Women's Super League fixtures were announced back in July. The newly-promoted side have not been shy about their ambitions for this year, setting a new world-record for a transfer fee in the women's game just two days ago, and the reasons for that internal belief were shown to the outside world when they went 1-0 up away at Arsenal, at the Emirates Stadium, in their first-ever game in the top-flight.

The Gunners, though, made their own splash in this summer's transfer window, and it was fitting, really, that it was the electricity of Olivia Smith who sparked them into life in a 4-1 comeback win.

Arsenal made Smith the first million-pound women's player back in July and she showed her new fans that she was more than fitting of such a fee here, producing a sublime solo strike to get the Gunners back on level terms midway through the first half. Renee Slegers' side had started surprisingly slowly and London City took early advantage, with Katie Reid's foul on Kosovare Asllani allowing them to go ahead from the penalty spot. However, the game changed completely once Smith found the back of the net.

From there, Arsenal looked more like Arsenal. Chances came for Smith, Victoria Pelova, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo before the latter teed up Kelly on the stroke of half-time for what was a deserved goal.

While the Gunners were unable to add to their lead, there would still be precarious moments, with Daphne van Domselaar sure to have had her heart in her mouth as Rofiat Imuran's cross drifted over her head and hit the woodwork. But Arsenal deserved to win and that they did, with Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum both scoring from the bench to ensure they started the new season with three points as they look to really challenge a dominant Chelsea for the title this time around.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…

• Getty Images
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

  Had very little to do in terms of saves. Commanded her area well, though.

  Emily Fox (7/10):

  Caused problems when she drifted into central areas, able to pick out passes that put the opponent on the back foot, and was solid at the back despite Imuran looking lively down London City's left.

  Katie Reid (7/10):

  A shame she gave away the penalty with a rash challenge because there was so much to like about her performance away from that. Showed what a good defender she is otherwise in a surprise start.

  Steph Catley (7/10):

  A solid performance in which she did very little wrong. Great on the ball, as per.

  Katie McCabe (6/10):

  Surprisingly quiet in an attacking sense but honoured her defensive duties well.

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• Getty Images
  

  Midfield

  Kim Little (7/10):

  Oozed class all afternoon, showing her wonderful intelligence in possession in particular.

  Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

  Couldn't really make her mark on the game, which was a surprise given how outstanding she has been over the last 12 months.

  Victoria Pelova (6/10):

  Made good runs and picked up good positions as she continues to work her way back to her best after an ACL injury. Unlucky not to score when she watched Kumagai clear her effort off the line.

• Getty Images
  

  Attack

  Olivia Smith (8/10):

  Arsenal's liveliest player throughout. Scored a special equaliser and always looked capable of making something else like that happen when she picked up the ball.

  Alessia Russo (8/10):

  Lacked service herself but created so much for others, showcasing that side of her game brilliantly in a fantastic display.

  Chloe Kelly (7/10):

  Grew into the game and had a few looks at goal as she did, eventually getting on the scoresheet to put Arsenal ahead.

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  Subs & Manager

  Frida Maanum (6/10):

  Wrapped things up late on with an opportunistic header, despite struggling to get really involved until that point.

  Caitlin Foord (6/10):

  Had a tough act to follow in replacing Smith but brought plenty of energy to the pitch and caused all sorts of problems down the left.

  Beth Mead (7/10):

  Didn't have long to make an impact but she sure did, providing two late assists as Arsenal wrapped up victory.

  Stina Blackstenius (6/10):

  Showcased her poaching instincts with her finish just six minutes after entering the game.

  Taylor Hinds (N/A):

  Replaced McCabe in the final minutes for her second debut at the club, having returned on a free transfer earlier this summer.

  Renee Slegers (7/10):

  Made a big call in starting Reid ahead of Wubben-Moy but, despite the penalty incident, it paid off, as the teenager was solid as a rock. Substitutions ensured her team kept their foot on the gas and made it the comfortable win they deserved.

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.

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.

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…

1

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jul 13, 2025

Celtic have been busy throughout the summer transfer window as they set about trying to improve the squad that Brendan Rodgers has to work with next season.

There has been plenty of business done already, with the likes of Benjamin Nygren, Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Callum Osmand, and Hayato Inamura all arriving at Parkhead.

However, the £1.7m that they have reportedly paid to sign Nygren is the biggest fee that has been spent, which means that they have yet to reinvest much of the reported £16.5m that Como have spent on Nicolas Kuhn.

Scottish broadcaster Hugh Keevins recently offered his thoughts on the window, writing: ‘Why don’t we just buy somebody terrific? Corporate negligence would be not re-investing the money for the betterment of the team. Celtic can’t afford to mis-manage this transfer window. They’re so good at it that if they fell out of the transfer window they’d go up.’

Last summer, Celtic made sure that they reinvested the money that they got for Matt O’Riley with a club-record deal for Arne Engels, who has turned out to be an excellent signing for the club.

Why Arne Engels has been worth the money for Celtic

The Scottish Premiership champions reportedly splashed out a club-record fee of £11m to sign the Belgium international from Bundesliga side Augsburg ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

It was a statement signing for Celtic because they were willing to spend big money to bring in a top-quality player to bolster their squad, and he proved his worth on the pitch.

The 21-year-old central midfielder ended his first season in Scottish football with a haul of 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

His £11m price tag naturally created plenty of hype around him ahead of last season, given the money involved and the prospect of his potential to deliver on the pitch, and he lived up to it.

The midfield maestro’s performances in the Champions League, as Celtic reached the play-off round, also showed that they signed a player who can perform at the very top level.

As you can see in the table above, Engels stacked up well against his positional peers in several key offensive and defensive metrics, which shows that he provided an impressive box-to-box presence in the middle of the park for the Hoops.

His overall output in front of goal and his performances in the Champions League show that he lived up to the hype as a top-class performer for Celtic, which is why there may not be too many complaints about the fee paid for him at this point.

Celtic, however, may not have to spend a record transfer fee, or any transfer fee, to secure this summer’s version of their deal to bring Engels to the club.

Instead, Brendan Rodgers could land a high-profile free agent who could arrive at Parkhead with the same level of fanfare that the move to sign the Belgian whiz was met with.

Transfer Focus

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

Earlier this month, CaughtOffside named the Hoops as one of a number of clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United, interested in a deal to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.

The former England international left Everton at the end of last month and the report claimed that he is set to demand £100k-per-week in wages, which is why it could still be an expensive deal for Celtic despite the lack of a transfer fee.

Why Calvert-Lewin could be this summer's Engels for Celtic

Snapping up the 28-year-old striker would be this summer’s Engels signing for Rodgers because it would involve committing a huge amount of money to a marquee addition, albeit in wages rather than a transfer fee.

The likes of Newcastle, who are in the Champions League, and Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, being interested in Calvert-Lewin illustrates the quality he possesses and shows why the forward would likely join Celtic to much fanfare if they were to win the race for his signature.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the experienced striker only scored three goals in 26 appearances in the Premier League for the Toffees, as he found himself on the bench behind Beto.

However, Calvert-Lewin has scored 57 goals in 279 games in the English top-flight, including a 16-goal haul in the 2020/21 season, which shows that he is a proven Premier League goalscorer who could provide huge quality in front of goal in Scottish football.

Take Adam Idah as a relevant example. The Ireland international scored one goal in 29 games for Norwich in the Premier League, yet he has plundered 21 goals in 50 outings in the Scottish Premiership.

Now imagine the kind of numbers that a proven Premier League goalscorer could put up as Celtic’s main number nine next season. It is an exciting prospect and one that could generate a lot of fanfare, should the club win the race for Calvert-Lewin.

Richarlison comparing the forward to the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo does not help to temper excitement. The Brazilian attacker once said: “He must be a nightmare to play against and he has an incredible leap on him like Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Calvert-Lewin may leap like Ronaldo but he does not appear to have the durability of the Portuguese legend, as he has suffered from too many injuries in recent seasons.

As you can see in the table above, the former England international struggled in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns in particular, but also missed 15 games last season.

This means that Celtic will have to way up the risk versus the reward in this transfer race because there is the potential for him to be a prolific, marquee, striker signing and this summer’s Engels, but there is also the risk that may not be available enough to make a significant impact.

Celtic could sign better ST than Yamada in swoop for "tireless" £9m star

Celtic could sign an even better striker than Shin Yamada by moving to bring this star to Parkhead.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 12, 2025

Given the potential upside, this is one that Rodgers should be pushing the club to get over the line if there is a realistic chance of getting it done.

Manchester United are closing in on their first signing of the upcoming summer transfer window, as Matheus Cunha is set to join on a permanent deal.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Brazil international is poised to arrive at Old Trafford for a fee of £62.5m to bolster Ruben Amorim’s options at the top end of the pitch.

Cunha is set to arrive as a proven Premier League star after his impressive performances for the Old Gold in the 2024/25 campaign, with a return of 15 goals and 13 ‘big chances’ created in the top-flight to steer them clear of relegation trouble.

The former Atletico Madrid star has shown that he can score goals at an impressive rate, whilst also creating high-quality chances for his teammates, and could hit the ground running in Manchester next term.

He also played as one of two number tens behind a central striker for Wolves, which means that he will be a perfect fit for Amorim’s attacking set-up.

United are also in the market for a new centre-forward to play ahead of Cunha, but it does not look like there is going to be a reunion between Amorim and Viktor Gyokeres.

The latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Man Utd

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, a deal for the Sweden international is ‘almost off the table’ for Manchester United in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The journalist claims that the former Coventry City star is not eyeing up a move to Old Trafford, but it is unclear if that has anything to do with the fact that the Red Devils will not be playing European football next season.

Amorim signed Gyokeres for Sporting in the summer of 2023, from the Sky Blues, and the impressive marksman scored 66 goals in 68 appearances in all competitions under the Portuguese head coach.

The news that the 26-year-old superstar is looking unlikely to return to England to sign for United this summer may come as a blow to supporters who may have been excited by the prospect.

As you can see in the table above, Gyokeres has been incredibly prolific during his time in Portugal, mostly under Amorim, with 68 goals in 66 league matches for Sporting.

However, the Manchester United head coach could find his next version of the striker if the latest update on their pursuit of a Premier League forward pans out.

Man Utd expected to sign English striker

According to The Telegraph, Manchester United are ‘widely expected’ to win the race to sign Ipswich Town centre-forward Liam Delap in the summer transfer window, and he could arrive as their second signing after Cunha.

The report claims that the Red Devils are likely to sign the England U21 international from the Tractor Boys after they were relegated from the Premier League, one year on from his move to Suffolk from Manchester City.

Transfer Focus

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

It reveals that Nottingham Forest are also interested in signing the former Hull City loanee ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but it is expected that the young marksman will opt for a move to Old Trafford instead.

Fabrizio Romano revealed earlier this month that the striker has a release clause in his Ipswich Town contract that will allow clubs to sign him for just £30m this summer, which could make him a bargain addition for United.

If Delap, as expected, ends up joining Manchester United before the end of the summer transfer window, Amorim could mould him into his new version of Gyokeres.

Why Liam Delap could be the next Viktor Gyokeres

The obvious goalscoring quality aside, one of the Swedish star’s best attributes is his physicality in the number nine position, with his running power and his raw strength to hold off opposition players.

Manager Slaven Bilic once hailed his physical qualities, saying: “He (Gyokeres) is a very strong striker, a player who can not only keep and hold the ball but he can hurt you. He can run into the channels and he’s strong.”

Delap, dubbed a “monster” by teammate Alex Palmer, is cut from the same cloth as Gyokeres as a physical, hard-working, centre-forward who does not give opposition defenders an easy afternoon.

Pundit Paul Robinson praised his physicality earlier this season, saying: “He (Delap) is a pest. He is a nuisance. He is always there on the shoulders of the centre-backs. He is making runs in the channels. He is always available. When it looks like he isn’t going to win the ball, he puts his body in between the player and the ball, somehow managing to win a free-kick or something for his team.”

The clip above illustrates the kind of raw power and pace Delap can provide in the number nine role for Manchester United, but the next step for him is to prove that he can score enough goals to fire a team to a title.

He has shown promise in that respect after an excellent year with the Tractor Boys, in spite of their relegation back down to the Championship.

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international would already come in as a big upgrade on Hojlund as a goalscorer at Premier League level, after an impressive haul of 12 goals in his debut season in the top-flight.

Manchester United are set to sign an incredibly gifted creative talent in Cunha, who could provide Delap with the chances he needs to improve his output from 12 to closer to the likes of Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland, if he can remain consistent as an effective finisher.

Man Utd's "outrageously good" flop has been better than McTominay in 24/25

INEOS must terribly regret letting this player leave Old Trafford.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 25, 2025

That could, then, complete his transformation into becoming an elite Premier League centre-forward and Amorim’s next Gyokeres, as a clinical and physical centre-forward with plenty of time ahead of him to develop even further.

Manchester United are set for a summer overhaul and plenty of movement is expected in both directions over the next few months, especially in the goalkeeping department.

Man Utd set to make Cunha first summer signing

The Premier League has proven to be an unhappy hunting ground for Ruben Amorim, and it is now abundantly clear that changes will be on the way to restructure his side ahead of next season.

Any notion of a backdoor route to Champions League football via claiming the Europa League was put to bed by Tottenham Hotspur last Wednesday, who prevailed 1-0 in Bilbao courtesy of a scrappy first-half effort from Brennan Johnson.

Andre Onana, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire could all be held culpable for the goal, albeit lapses in concentration in key moments have been a central feature in the Red Devils’ failure to string together consistent results.

Further up the field, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles in the Europa League final indicate that there will be plenty of work done to improve the spine of Amorim’s side.

Matheus Cunha is a prime target to freshen up the forward line and the Brazilian forward is set to make the move to Old Trafford from Wolves in a transfer that is expected to be worth £62.5m. The Red Devils look primed to trigger Cunha’s release clause as he looks likely to become the first summer signing ahead of Amorim’s first full season in charge.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho’s decision to demand a move to Real Madrid has let the cat among the pigeons regarding potential reinforcements.

Man Utd's "outrageously good" flop has been better than McTominay in 24/25

INEOS must terribly regret letting this player leave Old Trafford.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 25, 2025

Robust in his assessment of what may come this summer, Amorim believes his side will be able to avoid making the same mistakes once the new campaign commences.

He said: “We are going to avoid a lot of mistakes next season. Now is the time we can use all of that suffering to change things in the summer.”

Casting an eye to the window, Amorim could now be set to deliver on his promise by bringing in a high-profile figure between the sticks.

Man Utd well-placed to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are well-placed to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa if they can sell Onana during the summer window.

Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Saudi Pro League clubs are also in the mix to sign the Argentinian stopper, who could be available for between £35 million to £40 million after switching agencies.

Labelled “brilliant” by Alan Shearer, Martinez has kept 15 clean sheets in 52 appearances across all competitions this campaign, helping the Villans to put on a strong showing across several fronts.

Now, Manchester United have a task on their hands in convincing the former Arsenal man that a move to Old Trafford is the best course of action at this stage of his career. Onana leaving the club will also be crucial to making that notion a reality. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if that possibility will evolve into a done deal.

Fulham and Marco Silva are now interested in signing a “terrific” £30,000-a-week player as a possible alternative to the heavily linked Kyle Walker-Peters, according to Sky Sports.

Fulham stepping up transfer plans as they eye Walker-Peters deal

The Cottagers are still very much in the hunt for a European spot, but with only four games left in the league, they are running out of time to close the gap. Therefore, while they will want to finish the season as best as possible, attention from Silva and the club’s hierarchy may be slowly turning towards next season and what they hope to do in the summer.

Talks held: Fulham discussing move for £50m ace with 3 UCL goals this season

The Cottagers are in talks to sign a midfielder, who has caught the eye with his performances in the Champions League this season.

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By
Dominic Lund

Apr 30, 2025

It was reported last week that Fulham made contact with Juventus regarding a deal for Nicolo Savona. The Italian has emerged on Fulham’s radar, but they are not alone in the race, as several other teams from England are also keen on signing the versatile defender.

He is not the only defender on their list of targets, as according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Cottagers are keen on signing Kyle Walker-Peters once his contract at Southampton expires. The Premier League side plan to open contract talks with his agents once the campaign comes to a close.

The transfer news doesn’t stop there for Silva’s side, as while Liverpool are in talks over signing Antonee Robinson, Fulham have put forward the idea of re-signing Harvey Elliott in a partial swap deal, who looks set to leave Anfield at the end of this season. The Englishman is looking for more regular game time, and a return to Craven Cottage could be on the cards.

Fulham add Ipswich star Ben Johnson to full-back shortlist

But strengthening in defence seems to be more of a priority for Silva, as the Cottagers have their eye on a player who could be considered an alternative to Walker-Peters. According to Sky Sports, Fulham are keen on signing Ben Johnson from Ipswich Town this summer.

He is one of a number of right-backs that the club are looking at, but it is reported that Johnson doesn’t have a release clause, and given he has three years remaining on his contract, he remains a key part of Kieran McKenna’s plans.

Johnson, who has been described as “terrific” by football scout Antonio Mango, joined the Tractor Boys in the summer transfer window on a free transfer after leaving West Ham. The England under-21 international, who can also cover at centre-back and left-back, has played 22 times in the Premier League for Ipswich so far, scoring one goal and registering two assists.

McKenna is likely to want to keep hold of Johnson, who is on a weekly wage of £30,000 at Portman Road, but the offer of staying in the Premier League and playing for a team that isn’t expected to be in relegation trouble may be too good to turn down.

There are only four games left of the Premier League season for Arsenal, and while the team and fans will be focusing on the Champions League, the club will be preparing for the summer.

In fact, it was only this month that Mikel Arteta told the media that the upcoming transfer window is set to be seismic, which is undoubtedly needed considering how poorly things have gone on the domestic front.

For example, on top of silly suspensions and some truly unlucky injuries, too many players have underwhelmed this season, such as Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian might have stepped it up a bit in recent weeks, but it could be too little too late, as recent reports have linked the club to a superstar who could be the perfect upgrade.

Arsenal transfer news

With it looking set to be a mega summer for Arsenal, it’s worth going over some of the other stars who have been touted for moves to the club in recent weeks, such as Rafael Leao.

The AC Milan monster will supposedly be available for around £86m, which is probably a fair enough fee, as in 46 games this season, he’s scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists.

Another target who’d cost at least as much is Desire Doue.

Transfer Focus

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

The Paris Saint-Germain gem has been linked with several Premier League sides, including the Gunners, and it’s not hard to see why, as at just 19 years old, he has produced 25 goal involvements in 46 games this year.

However, in this instance, the player in question is someone the Gunners have already faced off against this season: Rodrygo.

According to reports from Spain, Arsenal ‘have set their sights’ on a few Real Madrid stars, including the Brazilian international.

Now, the report does say it would be a difficult deal to get done, but not impossible, although per reports from late last year, Los Blancos might demand up to £123m for their star.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given his incredible ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he could be a dream Martinelli upgrade.

How Rodrygo compares to Martinelli

So, the first thing to say is that while Rodrygo has made more appearances off the right in his career, he’s no stranger to playing off the left, and with Bukayo Saka in the squad, he’d almost certainly be tasked with playing there.

Therefore, his biggest competitor for game time would be Martinelli, but how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, in terms of raw output, it’s a comfortable win for the Real star, who Carlo Ancelotti described as one of “the best players in the world” just last year.

For example, he’s racked up 13 goals and ten assists in 49 appearances, totalling 3245 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.13 games, or every 141.08 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ number 11 has scored nine goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3068 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every three games or every 204.53 minutes.

Then, when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers, it’s another comfortable victory for the Los Blancos star.

For example, he comes out ahead in most relevant metrics, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy and key passes, shot and goal-creating actions, shots and shots on target, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while he would cost Arsenal a fortune, it’s clear that Rodrygo would be a massive upgrade on Martinelli, and therefore they should go all out to sign him.

Their next Rice: Arsenal line up move to sign Chelsea's £43m "monster"

Arsenal could sign a player from Chelsea this summer.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 25, 2025

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is pushing to complete the signing of a £34m midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Wolves eye signings to look upwards next season

It has largely been a season of struggle at Molineux, but relegation from the Premier League to the Championship has been avoided following an extremely impressive spell under Pereira. The 56-year-old has worked wonders at Wolves since replacing Gary O’Neil as manager, averaging 1.75 points per game and steering his team well clear of the drop zone.

It’s now a case of Wanderers kicking on this summer and Pereira signing the right players to suit his style, and he has discussed how he hopes the summer will pan out: “I expect to go with Wolves to the next level, the next step. This is what I’m thinking about. We don’t need a lot of money, we just need to make the right decisions and have a plan. My focus is on this team and trying to get the best results possible until the end of the season. Keeping almost all of the players (is important) because we have a very good group. I want to work for another level, I want to take the next step with this club.”

Joao Felix has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Matheus Cunha if he leaves this summer, with a loan move for the Chelsea attacker mooted. The Brazilian has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, which would be a blow, as the club look to charge up the table rather than looking over their shoulder next term.

Meanwhile, Wolves have been boosted by the news that rumoured transfer target Clement Akpa could leave Auxerre this summer. The 23-year-old left-back could be seen as a replacement for Rayan Ait-Nouri, should he leave Molineux at the end of the season.

Pereira wants Wolves to sign 22 y/o Brazilian midfielder

According to a fresh claim from Coluna do Fla [via Sport Witness], Wolves are interested in signing Flamengo midfielder Evertton Araujo this summer, with Pereira leading their interest. The Wanderers boss has worked with the 22-year-old in the past at the Brazilian club and seemingly considers him a strong target, with a £34m release clause existing in his current contract.

Wolves fans could be forgiven for not knowing a huge amount about Araujo, considering he isn’t plying his trade in Europe currently, but it’s easy to see why Pereira likes him. The Brazilian has racked up 38 appearances for Flamengo to date, also enjoying plenty of success in his career, including winning the Brazilian Cup last year.

Exciting Cunha replacement: Wolves want to sign £45m star on loan

Wolves could lose Matheus Cunha in the summer transfer window.

By
Connor Holden

Apr 24, 2025

At 22, Araujo is also still very much at the beginning of his career, with his 6 foot 1 frame hopefully helping him make a seamless switch to the Premier League, handling the pace and power of it. Predominantly a defensive midfielder, he could provide strong competition for the likes of Andre and Joao Gomes, improving Pereira’s squad depth.