All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham Hotspur are a team with imperfections. Daniel Levy knows that, as does Ange Postecoglou. Despite losing successive Premier League matches, hampering the bid to qualify for the Champions League, Levy will still be confident that his decision to appoint Postecoglou last year was the correct one.

Fifth in the standings, Tottenham have two games in hand and only trail fourth-place Aston Villa by six points, though still face Chelsea and Liverpool away from home, also welcoming Manchester City to north London.

But should the club miss out on a spot among Europe's elite next year, the progress made under new management should not be discredited, with this developing squad boasting all the signs of a promising project still in its embryonic stage.

Postecoglou's expansive, free-flowing style of football won fans over instantaneously at the start of the campaign but inconsistencies and injuries have since marred the success that saw him become the first manager to win the Manager of the Month award in each of his first three months in the Premier League.

The latest on the never-ending injury front has seen pacy winger Timo Werner pick up a hamstring injury during Sunday's loss against the Gunners, withdrawn after 31 minutes.

Joining Spurs on loan from RB Leipzig in January – with the option to make the deal permanent for £15m – Werner has scored two goals and supplied three assists from ten starting appearances in the Premier League, remarking "I love it here" during one post-match interview.

With trips to Chelsea and Liverpool looming in the English top-flight this week, Postecoglou will likely need to shuffle the pack, with Werner starting the past five games – but who could replace him?

1 The obvious choice Brennan Johnson

Most Lilywhites supporters wanted Brennan Johnson to start over Werner against Arsenal, offering a fleet-footed style but having also found greater, richer potency in front of goal this season, especially over the past few months.

Signed from Nottingham Forest for a whopping £47.5m fee last summer, the Wales international is shaping into a very useful asset, with plenty of room for improvement but plenty of ways to enflame the ire of Tottenham's opposition.

Content creator Dan Cook – known as 'HLTCO' on X (formerly Twitter) – perhaps summed up Johnson's skill set best, saying: "Brennan Johnson is such an exciting player to watch. He’s got frightening pace and directness; constantly looking to make something happen, it must be an absolute nightmare to defend against him."

While Johnson is typically found on the right flank, his two-footedness makes him a danger wherever he is deployed and he may well be the No. 1 choice to replace his German peer at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

2 The tactical tweak Heung-min Son

Next we have Heung-min Son, whose return to the left wing wouldn't be a revelation down N17 but given that he's started out wide just twice in 2024, it would be something of a tactical tweak.

Tottenham's long-time star has been in fine fettle this season, scoring 16 goals and supplying nine assists across 30 Premier League matches and playing a pivotal part in his outfit's resurgence under new management.

Of course, with Harry Kane not directly replaced as the focal frontman at the start of Postecoglou's reign, Son is needed at centre-forward, though Richarlison is pushing for a return from the outset and his brilliant purple patch earlier in 2024 underlines his prowess as an efficient striker.

As per FBref, the Spurs skipper ranks among the top 2% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 3% for pass completion and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90.

1.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

21

2.

Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United

20

3.

Heung-min Son

Tottenham Hotspur

17

3.

Dwight McNeil

Everton

17

5.

Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

16

5.

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

16

Only Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah and Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes trump the South Korea star in big-chance creation this season and it's no joke that Son is one of the most dynamic players in the business.

He might be one of the deadliest finishers in the Premier League, but Son can throw down with the best when it comes to playmaking and controlling the flow of play.

Perhaps, playing Tottenham's best forward in his natural position to combat Werner's absence is actually the way to go – who'd have thought it?

3 The academy star Mikey Moore

The wildcard. The up-and-comer. England's most prodigious talent. That last sentence is admittedly subjective but 16-year-old Mikey Moore has now been training with the Tottenham first team and will be desperate to make his professional debut before the campaign's conclusion.

This season, the dynamic forward has been in staggering form at youth level, scoring 16 goals and providing nine assists for his teammates over just 14 outings across the U18 Premier League and the FA Youth Cup.

Described as a "superstar" by Fabrizio Romano, it's a dangerous game to heap praise too lofty on a youngster before they've even dipped their toes into the senior scene but Moore's age-belying talent makes it hard not to get giddy if you're wearing lily white.

A stunning ball-carrier with a ferocious strike and balletic movements, Moore's regular inclusion in the senior training set-up speaks of the high regard he is held in and he might just find himself unleashed in the fixtures to come, should Werner fail to make a quick recovery from his hamstring issue.

Usually placed centrally for Spurs but enjoying prolific success on the left flank for England, scoring a hat-trick against Croatia U17s last time out, Moore has the built-in athleticism and natural swagger to propel him to the front of the pack and there is now every chance that Postecoglou could decide to unleash his starlet at the season's final stage.

It might just be the start of something special…

Spurs star who dropped a 4/10 in the NLD must never start for Ange again

Tottenham’s top fours hopes were dented following defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 29, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ending their Premier League season with a whimper as they lost for the fourth time in their previous five top-flight matches.

The latest defeat looks to have ended any ambitions of securing a top-half finish during Gary O’Neil’s debut season in charge, but there have been plenty of positives.

Not only did the manager finally get the club firing in front of goal, finding the back of the net 50 times with one game to play, 19 more than last season, O’Neil has also built a solid core to his squad which he will be hoping to retain ahead of next season.

Could he be about to add to it in the coming weeks? One transfer target looks set to become available on a free transfer in a month…

What Gary O’Neil has said about Wolves' summer plans

During his pre-match press conference last week, O’Neil discussed Wolves’ current situation concerning the summer transfer window.

“I don’t think there will be money available to us if nobody leaves,” said the manager.

“If we decided not to sell a big player there may be some bits and pieces we can do. We have some players out on loan that have value and we might be able to do some bits. The club is expected – in the foreseeable future, maybe not long-term future – to be able to fund itself so we need to be able to work with that.

“Of course these things can change so I’m not committing either way, but I wouldn’t expect it to be a summer where we spend millions of the club’s own money on players.”

As such, this particular target would fit the brief perfectly.

Wolves could sign free agent from the Premier League

According to TEAMtalk, West Ham Untied have prepared a final contract offer to present to Ben Johnson with the hopes that he will remain at the club beyond this summer.

The report goes on to state that the defender looks set to snub an offer as he seeks to leave West Ham and become a free agent.

Everton, Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Rangers are all showing interest in the Englishman ahead of potentially making a move, but Wolves are a team who are also on the list.

Johnson has plenty of Premier League experience yet has failed to become a regular in the West Ham side this campaign.

That said, he could be an interesting replacement or competitor for Nelson Semedo.

Nelson Semedo’s statistics this season for Wolves

The right-back only has one year left on his current contract at Molineux, which means this summer represents the last proper chance for O’Neil to sell him in order to recoup a decent transfer fee.

The manager said he was “desperate to keep” Semedo at the Old Gold for the foreseeable last week, but moving him on while signing Johnson on a free transfer could potentially be the best thing from a financial point of view.

The defender has started 35 Premier League matches this term yet has created only two big chances while averaging just 0.7 key passes per game.

Assists

1

Key passes per game

0.7

Big chances created

2

Successful dribbles per game

1.5

Possession lost per game

14.3

Via Sofascore

He has succeeded with 1.5 dribbles per game – a success rate of 64% – but having registered just one assist in the top flight, this ability to beat his opponent out wide has certainly come in vain.

Defensively, the Portuguese defender has lost possession 14.3 times on average, while winning just 44% of his aerial duels, suggesting that helping his side when they don’t have the ball isn’t exactly his strong suit.

Semedo is a reliable option to have in the squad, but Johnson could certainly shine for Wolves if given the chance, especially judging by his statistics from his time on the pitch during the current campaign.

Why Ben Johnson could be a great signing for Wolves

The 24-year-old has been forced to play a peripheral role at West Ham during 2023/24, starting just seven matches this season in all competitions, featuring 22 times in total with David Moyes having preferred Vladimir Coufal at right-back.

Stuart Pearce dubbed Johnson “a wonderful professional to deal with and work with” back in 2021, but it is looking increasingly likely that he will be leaving the club when his current deal expires.

Despite not playing that often in the league this term, the Englishman has still managed to showcase his abilities by recovering 3.5 balls, winning 2.6 total duels and succeeding with 0.8 dribbles, all per game, all while averaging just 39 minutes per game.

Not only that, but the defender ranks highly in a few metrics when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

According to FBref, Johnson currently ranks in the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.47), the top 14% for aerials won per 90 (1.47) and the top 20% for total shots per 90 (0.98) over the previous 365 days, giving glimpses of his attributes.

While Semedo ranks slightly higher for successful take-ons per 90 (1.51), the Wolves man ranks in the bottom 30% for aerial duels won per 90 (0.65) and the bottom 61% for total shots per 90 (0.54), giving Johnson the edge with regard to these performance metrics.

Much will depend on whether there is serious interest in the former Barcelona defender this summer for O’Neil to consider selling but if a decent offer comes in, it could prove to be fairly difficult to turn down, especially as it looks like he will need to move a few players out before signing anyone for a transfer fee.

Luring someone like Johnson to the Midlands would not only allow the manager to strengthen his team but to do it without splashing a single penny on a transfer fee.

Wolves hit the jackpot with a star whose value has skyrocketed 351%

Wolves have a player in their squad who is now worth five times more than when they signed him in 2021

ByRoss Kilvington May 6, 2024

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Manchester United's summer transfer plans and the Premier League outfit look set to be busy.

Manchester United's summer plans

It has been a rough 2023/24 season for Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag's future called into question after failing to win any silverware – excluding a shock in the FA Cup final – or secure top level European football for the Red Devils going in 2024/25.

But with the 2024 summer transfer window right around the corner, new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is no doubt keen to flex his wallet and improve upon what is a weak United squad at present. At the top of the end pitch, Manchester United have reportedly launched an initial bid to lure Ivan Toney away from Brentford. It is claimed the Manchester outfit have “presented an initial offer close to €70m” to Brentford for the striker.

In midfield, meanwhile the Red Devils reportedly want to sign Benfica ace Joao Neves, as they look to offload Casemiro at the same time.

Many United fans, however, will likely argue that the main problem area for their team over the last year has been defence. The Manchester outfit have conceded 82 goals in all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign since 1976/77 (81). In turn, it makes sense for United to be targeting defensive reinforcements in the forthcoming window.

United "super busy" as Ratcliffe prepares defensive overhaul

Now, Fabrizio Romano has shared a fresh Manchester United transfer update, in which he details the club's hunt for improvements at the back. Speaking to Caught Offside, the Italian journalist explained that Man Utd have four main names on their list in the form of Jean-Clair Todibo, Antonio Silva, Jarrad Branthwaite and Gleison Bremer. He added that United are looking to sign at least one or possibly even two of the centre-backs this summer.

“Obviously this is going to have an impact on the market – United will be super busy this summer as many players will be leaving and the club also plan for many new players to join. We know United are looking for a new centre-back, maybe two," he said.

“Nothing is close now for United, despite rumours. There are things to clarify internally before moving forward with new signings. I keep mentioning Gleison Bremer, Jean-Clair Todibo, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Antonio Silva among the centre-backs they like but it’s really open still, no decision has been made.”

Gleison Bremer has been linked heavily with Man United over the last week, with reports claiming £60m would be enough to secure his services from Juventus. At the other end of the price scale, Jean-Clair Todibo is thought to be the cheapest option of the quarter, with Romano previously stating £40m could be enough to pry him away from Nice.

Antonio Silva is the youngest player on the list at 20 years of age but he has already notched 94 senior appearances for Benfica and has been labelled the 'new Ruben Dias'. As for Jarrad Branthwaite, the Red Devils are said to be willing to offer up £55m this summer to lure the left-footed stopper to Old Trafford.

With the rebuild at Elland Road already underway, it appears that the higher ups at Leeds United have made it clear who will be the focal point of next season's promotion bid.

Leeds set for mass exodus following Wembley heartbreak

After failing to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, a number of Leeds' top stars look set to depart West Yorkshire this summer.

Much of the Elland Road faithful are now resigned to the fact that Crysencio Summerville will be leaving Leeds this summer with the winger linked with a move to the Premier League. It is also likely that his left sided counterpart, Wilfred Gnonto will be eyeing up a move away from the Championship after the Italian pushed for a transfer at the start of last season.

Leeds eyeing "unbelievable" Rodon repeat this summer

Leeds United could look to replicate the success of Joe Rodon’s loan with this summer buy.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 3, 2024

With Summerville and Gnonto combining for 27 goals in the league last season, it is clear that Leeds will face a major task to replace this output if the duo are to depart. Whilst there is no doubt that the Whites will be dipping into the transfer market this summer, those at the top of Leeds are looking closer to home for their new star man.

Farke puts key man at the centre of next season's promotion bid

As first reported by Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Leeds United are set to build around Archie Gray ahead of next season's bid to return to the Premier League. The 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season with his boyhood club, featuring 52 times as Leeds came agonisingly close to promotion.

O'Rourke has stated that "Gray has long been touted as an outstanding talent behind the scenes at Thorp Arch" and that Leeds are "putting him at the centre of their plan to gain promotion back to the Premier League next season". After picking up the Championship Young Player of the Season aswell as a slew of other awards, there is no wonder why the higher ups at Elland Road view him as the future of the club.

During his maiden season, Gray has been a vital part of Farke's side. Playing as either a right back or central midfielder, the teenager has excelled everytime he has stepped on the pitch and has not let his first taste of senior football phase him in the slightest.

Whilst keeping Gray is the plan for Leeds, the 18-year-old will not be short of suitors from across Europe's elite clubs. Among the interested sides are Arsenal with reports suggesting that the offer for Gray could be too good for the Whites to turn down.

Currently commanding a wage of just £5,000 per week, Gray is under contract at Elland Road until the summer of 2028. With the England youth international unlikely to push for a move away from his boyhood side this summer, making Gray the focal point of the side may be enough to rebuff any big offers that could come in.

Arsenal have held talks with a Paris-Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid target, who also personally spoke with manager Mikel Arteta last year.

The midfielders targeted by Arsenal this summer

The north Londoners are seeking a potential replacement for Thomas Partey, with the Ghanaian widely expected to depart once the transfer window reopens on June 14.

Arsenal ready bid for £51 million Kompany target as board aim to act fast

The north Londoners are keen to beat Bayern Munich to his signature.

ByEmilio Galantini May 30, 2024

Arsenal are open to selling Partey amid interest from abroad, with the midfielder entering the final 12 months of his contract at Hale End and coming off the back of an injury-riddled season – where he mustered just 14 Premier League appearances.

Sporting director Edu Gaspar, who recently admitted he's been working on summer transfers since January (Estadao via football.london), has been linked with many Partey alternatives for the engine room.

Bukayo Saka

7.67

Declan Rice

7.38

Martin Odegaard

7.37

Kai Havertz

7.16

Gabriel Magalhaes

6.99

Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes, Everton's Amadou Onana, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz all stand out as midfielders who Arsenal are targeting this summer, according to various reports in the last few months.

Most of the aforementioned names are likely to cost a fee well in excess of £50 million to prise away from their current clubs, and around double that amount in the case of Guimaraes. With Arsenal looking to sign a prolific new striker for Arteta's forward line, Edu will have to weigh his next moves very carefully, as the north Londoners will only have so much to spend this summer.

A potential bargain could come in the form of Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana. The France international is out of contract next summer and reports claim he could cost as little as £26 million for any interested side.

Both Fofana and Arteta were spotted in conversation with one another at the Emirates last year, when Monaco played Arsenal in a friendly clash. Fabrizio Romano also claimed this week that Fofana is expected to leave Monaco this summer amid the growing clamour for his services.

"Youssouf Fofana is not even negotiating a new contract with Monaco and the expectation of those close to the player, and the expectation of Monaco is for Youssouf Fofana to leave the club this summer. So Youssouf Fofana can really leave the club," said Romano on his YouTube channel.

“What’s going to happen? There is interest from Italy, there is interest from England, there is interest from Germany, so several clubs are keeping an eye on Fofana. There is movement on him, keep an eye on this player, it could be one of the surprises of the summer transfer window.”

Arsenal hold talks with Fofana over joining this summer

As per French newspaper L'Equipe, via GFFN, Arsenal have held talks with Fofana via his representatives, but they face competition from Paris-Saint Germain and Diego Simeone's Atletico – who've done the same.

The "magnificent" 25-year-old made 32 appearances in Ligue 1 alone last term, racking up four goals and four assists for Monaco as a stalwart of their engine room.

Liverpool recovered under Jurgen Klopp last season and clinched a Champions League-qualifying place in the Premier League, also winning the Carabao Cup with a last-gasp Virgil van Dijk goal against Chelsea.

But they were a day late and a dollar short in the top-flight title race, also falling in the FA Cup and Europa League against eventual winners Manchester United and Atalanta.

Klopp's departure after nearly nine years of unforgettable football heightened expectations but, all in all, Liverpool enjoyed an excellent campaign, but now, under Arne Slot, Anfield must make further improvements to raise their game next term.

While concrete news is thin at this early stage, The Athletic's James Pearce has stated that signing a centre-back and a defensive midfielder should be among Liverpool's chief concerns this summer.

Liverpool lining up new midfielder

According to Sport Zone, Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal in principle with Atalanta hero Ederson, having scouted the Brazilian all season.

However, Pearce has quashed such claims by revealing that French sources are wide of the mark. This might come as a negative for Liverpool supporters but it does suggest that securing an upgrade on Wataru Endo is being explored.

And given that Tutto Juve have revealed this week that Liverpool pose the biggest threat to Juventus in their bid to sign Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa, who is valued at €70m (roughly £59m), it's perhaps understandable that Slot and Co are pushing for an alternative to the Atalanta man.

Why Liverpool should sign Douglas Luiz over Ederson

Liverpool completed a sharp deal in signing Endo from Stuttgart for £16m last summer, having failed rather bleakly in bids to sign Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, both of whom wound up at Chelsea.

But FSG still sanctioned a £111m outlay for Caicedo, who "has the potential to become one of the best" midfielders, according to Mauricio Pochettino. This denotes the ambition that could see a big name greeted on Merseyside.

And that signature may well belong to Luiz, who was described as "one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders" throughout the 2023/24 campaign by Villa reporter Jacob Tanswell, instrumental in Unai Emery's side's top-four finish.

The 26-year-old scored ten goals and supplied ten assists in all competitions but don't let this deceive you: the Brazil international is a first-rate holding midfielder and his attacking strength simply demonstrates how dynamic and far-reaching his skill set really is.

Ederson is also a high-class midfielder and he showcased this in Piero Gian Gasperini's team this season, but he's not "one of the best 6s", unlike Luiz, who was described as such by football content consultant Adam Gilks.

Matches played

35

36

Matches started

35

32

Goals

9

6

Assists

5

1

Pass completion

89%

84%

Big chances created

10

2

Key passes

1.5

0.5

Ball recoveries

5.3

5.2

Tackles

1.7

2.3

Duels won

4.2 (51%)

4.8 (55%)

Dribble attempts

0.7 (60%)

0.6 (55%)

While Atalanta's tough-tackling titan appears to be ahead of his countryman in pure defensive metrics, this is not a long shot and the more complete style of Luiz could work far better for a team such as Liverpool, who will focus on ball-playing dominance and fast transitions under Slot's philosophy.

Luiz can hold his own against the best at the base of the engine room but his elite passing game and creative flair make for a much better fit, and Liverpool must invest time and energy into beating Juventus and securing the signature of a top-class Premier League star, proven at the highest level of the English game.

Liverpool make first move for "excellent" £100m+ star; same agent as Nunez

Contact has been made.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 7, 2024

Arsenal have been excellent under Mikel Arteta, who has taken the Emirates from being perceived as non-contenders at times and fashioning the club into an elite category that strikes fear in opponents both domestically and on the continent.

The last two campaigns have been especially brilliant, fighting against Manchester City for the Premier League title on both occasions and raising a talented squad to an exceptional level, picking up 173 points in total.

However, a bitter by-product of entering the ascendancy is that certain sacrifices have to be made. Talented players, many homegrown, have to be sold for the greater good. This is part and parcel, but one of them might just come back to bite the Gunners.

Arsenal transfer news

It's understood that both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United have made approaches for Reiss Nelson, aged 24, while Emile Smith Rowe – 23 – has been transfer-listed for £30m and 25-year-old Eddie Nketiah may be allowed to leave after starting just once in the Premier League since December.

This is the result of the wheel of success. Heightened fear surrounding PSR rules means that cashing in on such homegrown products would be financially worthwhile. Moreover, it's unlikely that any (barring maybe Smith Rowe) would cement starring roles at the club in the future.

As per the Evening Standard, Arsenal youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry is also set to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract this summer, with offers from a range of countries overseas as teams circle around him.

However, this one could prove detrimental to Arteta's outfit, with the 19-year-old a top talent who may have the skills to become a leading figure for a rival further down the line if he fulfills his potential over the years to come.

Why Arsenal could regret letting Cozier-Duberry leave

Cozier-Duberry failed to make his professional debut for Arsenal but he was called to the bench for fixtures against Sevilla in the Champions League and Brentford in the EFL Cup. Despite an eagerness to tie him down to a fresh deal, the teenager has decided to move to a club that can offer him first-team football with regularity.

In total, Cozier-Duberry has scored 30 goals and supplied 18 assists across 83 fixtures for Arsenal's respective youth levels, improving year after year and performing excellently in the Premier League 2 last season.

Indeed, having posted nine goals and five assists from only 17 matches in the division, the England U19 international will undoubtedly have a long list of suitors eager to snap him up, with Jack Wilshere previously gushing over his qualities too.

2023/24 (U18/U21)

24

13

5

2022/23 (U18/U21)

31

12

8

2021/22 (U18/U21)

25

4

4

2020/21 (U18)

3

1

1

“Amario is very exciting and Mikel [Arteta] likes him,” said Jack Wilshere, discussing the youngster's talents in 2023. “He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, plays in the same position as him, needs to get better with his decision-making like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting.

“In some moments he’s unplayable. You give him the ball and he can make things happen. You can set up a team and have a game plan, but when you’ve got individuals like that you’ve got a chance.”

Given that competition for Saka's place on the right flank is a little thin, compounded by the likely departure of Nelson this summer, fans are understandably disgruntled, with Cozier-Duberry capable of offering relief to the Three Lions sensation.

If the teenage maestro does indeed manage to translate that natural-born skill to honed performance on the major stage, at senior level, then there's a good chance that he could leave Arsenal rueing his departure, with Cole Palmer's resounding rise at Chelsea evidence of making such a blunder.

Manchester City sold Palmer to Chelsea in a £40m plus add-ons transfer last summer, with the talented attacking midfielder pushing his way out of Pep Guardiola's side after rising through the academy levels in search of regular first-team football and a platform to showcase his abundant talents.

It's worked out, quite well indeed. A debutante campaign as a Blue saw Palmer plunder 25 goals and 15 assists across all competitions after scoring terrific goals in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup for City at the start of the campaign.

Unshackled and allowed to play his football at an outfit that has placed him at the top of the talent pool, the 22-year-old Palmer has established himself as one of the finest players in the Premier League, with no player in the division notching more direct goal contributions than his 33 last term.

Might Cozier-Duberry have taken note of Palmer's stunning success and decided to follow suit? It's a possibility but had Arteta given the youngster a smirch more investment over the past few years, giving him a few minutes here or an extra nod of encouragement there, we might be looking at a very different picture.

As it is, Cozier-Duberry is going to be heading for new turf, and Arteta will likely be hoping that he chooses to follow the interest in his signature from elsewhere, with clubs in Belgium, France, Netherlands and Germany all attentive to his decision.

However, given that he's yet to make his decision, he might be waiting for English clubs to knock on his door, with domestic regulations preventing him from holding formal discussions with Premier League competitors until July 1.

Ultimately, Arsenal have a superabundance of quality and are in good stead to fight fiercely for the Premier League and Champions League titles next year, with the likes of Saka continuing to impress as one of the country's finest.

But if Cozier-Duberry does live up to his giddying potential, playing for a rival, Gunners supporters might just shake their heads with pathos-emitting dejection, victims of their own success and architects of their own Palmer situation, leaving them feeling how Manchester City may be feeling watching the England international from afar.

Arsenal table opening bid for £34 million star after claim he wants to join

The Gunners have submitted an offer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 22, 2024

With the Arne Slot era on Merseyside set to kick off next season, FSG are in the market for a new attacking star that can take Liverpool back to the summit of the Premier League.

Reds have their heart set on Newcastle man

Whilst Liverpool have been linked with a host of new players this summer, the name that has occupied much of the headlines in recent days has been Anthony Gordon. The Newcastle winger had been floated as a potential departure from St James' Park in order to help the Toon avoid any financial sanctions.

His value has risen 1438%: Liverpool must axe £1m ace instead of Quansah

Arne Slot does not need this talent despite his value rising by 400%.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 2, 2024

The Liverpool-born winger contributed 11 goals and 10 assists as Newcastle finished seventh in the Premier League last season. Recent reports even suggested that Gordon proclaimed that he would be “over the moon” with a move to his hometown club.

Despite the obvious appetite from both Liverpool and Gordon, there has been a twist in the tale. Newcastle have recently managed to satisfy their profit and sustainability woes through the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh. This means that the Tyneside outfit are now a lot less likely to let Gordon leave this summer, forcing the Reds to identify other targets.

Liverpool considering England star as Gordon alternative

As first reported by Caught Offside, Liverpool could consider a move for Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze if they cannot get a deal for Gordon over the line this summer.

Whilst Gordon was Liverpool's top target to bolster their attack, there is no doubt that Eze would be an equal if not better alternative. The 26-year-old featured 27 times for Palace in the Premier League last season, contributing 11 goals and 4 assists. Under the management of new boss Oliver Glasner, Eze has shone as one of the league's brightest stars.

Non-penalty goals

0.44

87th percentile

Shots total

3.59

95th percentile

Successful take-ons

3.02

92nd percentile

Shot creating actions

4.82

87th percentile

Not only would Eze be able to contribute an equal output to Gordon, he would also come at a cheaper cost to Liverpool. The report by Caught Offside states that the Toon would want a fee in the region of £75million of Gordon, £15million more than the Palace man's release clause which stands at £60million.

Eze's exploits in South London have also caught the eye of Gareth Southgate with the 26-year-old earning a call-up to the Three Lions' squad for Euro 2024. Whilst Eze has managed just two appearances off the bench during the tournament, the midfielder has earned praise from his teammates, with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka naming the Palace man as someone who has impressed him: “In training, I would say probably Eberechi Eze. He has been class in training. He has impressed me the most, I would say.”

Whilst losing out on Gordon will be a big blow for Slot and Co, it is clear that there are few better alternatives out there than Eze.

If the recent rumours out of St Mary's are anything to go off, Southampton's summer window has so far seen them balance moving for established Premier League performers with some of England's most exciting young players.

Southampton swoop for a slew of new signings

The first signing of the window saw Southampton reunite with Adam Lallana, who returned to the South Coast club almost a decade after he left for Liverpool. Another ex-Saint on the club's list of targets is Danny Ings. The 31-year-old made exactly 100 appearances for the Saints across both loan and permanent spells at the club and now could return after struggling for form at West Ham.

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Young players are also a priority for the Saints with the club set to make the signing of Peterborough United star Ronnie Edwards. The 21-year-old has long been linked with a £10 million move to the South Coast this summer.

With one eye in the Saints' recruitment team looking for the next generation of stars, Southampton are now stepping up their pursuit of a talented English striker.

Saints step up pursuit of Man City striker

As first reported by Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Southampton are stepping up their interest in Man City striker Liam Delap. The outlet claims that the Premier League champions value the player at £20 million as they look to offload the 21-year-old this summer.

After Taylor Harwood-Bellis joined the Saints permanently from the Etihad outfit a couple of days ago, it is clear that the two clubs are not shy of doing business together, having also dealt together in the past for Gavin Bazunu, Samuel Edozie and Romeo Lavia.

Delap spent last season on loan at Hull City, where he scored 8 goals in 31 league appearances for the Tigers – many of the Saints' faithful will remember the young striker finding the back of the net in October 2023 as Hull lost 2-1 at home to Southampton.

The 21-year-old's time at Hull saw him excel under Liam Rosenior's possession based system. A player able to drop deep and facilitate play or run at centre backs with the ball at his feet, it is clear that Delap would be the perfect striker for if Russell Martin decides to take his current style of play into the Premier League.

A product of Derby County's academy, Delap joined Man City in 2019 and made his debut soon after, scoring in a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in the third round of the Carabao Cup. His time at the Etihad saw Delap earn praise from City's coach Pep Guardiola, who spoke highly of the striker back in 2022.

"Liam last season grew up a lot especially with Enzo Maresca helping him to develop. He is a type of striker we don’t have, a killer, typical British striker."

With City's current strike partnership of Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland young enough to keep going for the next ten years, it is clear as to why the decision has been made to let Delap leave this summer and Southampton should snatch at the opportunity to sign him.

Tottenham have looked at signing an £85 million striker for Ange Postecoglou, coming after his excellent goal tally of 28 in all competitions last season.

Spurs targeting replacement for Harry Kane this summer

One item on Spurs' list of summer agendas is to finally replace club-record goalscorer and Lilywhites legend Harry Kane, coming nearly a year after he departed for Bayern Munich in a multi-million pound deal.

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The 30-year-old has gone on to make 45 appearances in all competitions for the Bavarians thus far, scoring an incredible 44 goals and registering 12 assists in that time, and Spurs were tipped to really miss Kane's proficiency over Postecoglou's debut campaign in the dugout.

Tottenham did manage to cope well without their former superstar, though, with Postecoglou even recording the best start made by any new manager in Premier League history. The bulk of their goals came courtesy of Son Heung-min and Richarlison, who grabbed 29 between them with a further 14 assists to boot across all competitions.

Son Heung-min

7.30

James Maddison

7.17

Pedro Porro

7.05

Cristian Romero

7.04

Dejan Kulusevski

7.03

However, there are some doubts over Richarlison's suitability to lead the line going forward, despite the Brazilian's phenomenal mid-season purple patch. Reports have suggested that Tottenham are even open to selling Richarlison for the right offer, amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

A host of interesting options have been named as striker candidates on Tottenham's summer transfer wishlist. Ivan Toney is thought to be attracting Spurs interest, with the England star contributing well when called upon by Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.

The 28-year-old, who racked up 20 league goals the season before last, has entered the final 12 months of his contract – which could force Brenford to sell for a lower than desired fee.

Toney isn't the only striker linked with a move to N17, as Sky Sports detail other names they've been considering in a report this week.

Tottenham have looked at signing Lois Openda from RB Leipzig

As well as the likes of Lille striker Jonathan David, Sky claim that RB Leipzig star Lois Openda is a target for the Lilywhites as well.

Spurs are after a forward with versatility, and the 24-year-old is thought to fit the bill in this respect. Tottenham have looked at signing Openda for Postecoglou, despite other claims he could cost as much as £85 million, but it remains to be seen if they decide to formalise their interest with an offer to test Leipzig's resolve.

This isn't the first time they've been linked with Openda, who scored 28 times and provided seven assists last term, and pundit John Wenham believes he'd be an "interesting" potential replacement for Richarlison.

“I watched Openda in the Champions League a couple of times this year and I was impressed,” Wenham said to Tottenham News, “He has a real mix of pace and excellent finishing ability. He looks like someone who could also play out wide, so he would be an interesting replacement for Richarlison."