Crystal Palace look set to fend off interest in academy star David Obou by securing his services to a three-year professional deal, according to The Daily Mail.
The Lowdown: Obou profiled
Obou joined Palace’s academy in January 2021 and has seemingly caught the eye at international level, along with the attention of several clubs.
The 16-year-old, who can play on either flank or in a central attacking midfield role, is being tracked by France and has been invited to play for England at youth level.
He has already turned out for Palace’s under-18s, and it looks as if he will remain with the Eagles when he turns 17 in November.
The Latest: Obou set to sign new Palace deal
The Daily Mail’s David Kent shared a story on Monday evening, suggesting that Palace will fend off interest from Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven to secure Obou to a three-year professional contract.
They described it as a boost for Palace, with the club agreeing on terms for a professional deal to kick in when he turns 17 later this year.
The Verdict: Good news for Palace
Obou clearly has plenty of potential, judging by the two European clubs being keen on his services, so Palace landing the teenager on a permanent professional deal can only be good news for Patrick Vieira.
The Eagles have a number of exciting attacking youngsters coming through, including Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and David Omilabu, who both penned professional deals last year, and Obou looks set to follow in their footsteps.
The next step for the 16-year-old could be to establish himself in the club’s under-23s over the coming years, with a view to eventually breaking through into Vieira’s first-team setup.
In other news: Journo says Palace are now ‘in talks’ with ‘effortless’ £19.8m-rated maestro.
Aston Villa will be looking to sell French midfielder Morgan Sanson in the summer transfer window as Steven Gerrard aims to rejig his playing squad.
What’s the word?
According to former Villa striker Kevin Phillips, who was speaking to Football Insider, the 27-year-old midfielder will “definitely” leave the side in the upcoming summer transfer window, while suggesting that the manager will be “desperate” to sell him.
The club will reportedly accept bids around the £10m mark as they aim to cut their losses on the Frenchman.
Gerrard is desperate to sell
Gerrard is having a mixed spell at Villa so far since his arrival from Rangers in mid-November. A solid start was disrupted by a tough period over Christmas and New year, and while relegation was never really a threat, the former England captain will want to stamp his authority on the side ahead of an important campaign.
The manager will be desperate to sell Sanson, especially if a bid is going to be made on Philippe Coutinho and funds will need to be raised.
Unfortunately, it just hasn’t worked out for the midfielder at Villa Park since his arrival from Marseille in January 2021.
He has only featured in 21 matches for Villa during this underwhelming stint and after an injury in September, Dean Smith labelled it a “frustrating” time for the Frenchman.
During that time, he has only ever started six league games and has consistently underperformed, achieving a WhoScored average match rating of just 6.34 this term.
Gerrard and the club’s ownership, NSWE, will be hoping to cut their losses and gather the majority of the £16m transfer fee back that was spent on the player as the manager decides whether to plot a bid for loan star Coutinho.
With Villa’s most important transfer window fast approaching, recruitment will need to be spot on if Gerrard aims to push the side into the European spots next season and justify the decision to hire him in the first place.
If he has a slow start, then the board might have a decision to make.
AND in other news, “Gerrard really keen..“: Preece drops exciting Villa transfer claim, Lange must pounce
Chris Waugh has claimed that Matt Targett was given a ‘torrid time’ by Luis Diaz as Newcastle United lost 1-0 at home to Liverpool in the Premier League.
The Lowdown: Not to be
It was just not to be for Eddie Howe and his team as Jurgen Klopp’s side took another big leap towards securing the top-flight title at St. James’ Park.
Naby Keita rounded goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the first half after James Milner appeared to have fouled Fabian Schar, but replays showed that he in fact won the ball.
The Latest: Waugh reacts
Taking to Twitter, The Athletic journalist Waugh claimed that Targett was given a ‘torrid time’ in particular by Diaz.
The Reds winger was a thorn in his side all game, winning eight of his duels in total, while he also recorded five successful dribbles, four shots on goal and two key passes (SofaScore).
The Verdict: Not his best
It was certainly one of those afternoons for Targett, who was not at his best despite an excellent start to life on Tyneside.
The Aston Villa loanee lost out on four of his duels, was dribbled past twice, and failed to record any dribbles, key passes or crosses, giving the ball away 12 times in total (SofaScore).
However, he will not be coming up against players of the quality of Diaz every week, and so should just put this performance behind him and concentrate on the next game.
In other news, find out what big NUFC injury update has now emerged here!
The football never stops, and Liverpool are back in action on Saturday evening as they take on Brentford at the Gtech, desperate to end their three-match losing streak in the division.
Arne Slot knew the gravity of his side’s situation as the Reds travelled to Eintracht Frankfurt having lost four on the bounce, including their previous European tie against Galatasaray in Istanbul. The 5-1 scoreline offered a glimpse of the attacking success yet to come after a summer of sweeping changes.
To slip once again on domestic soil is unthinkable; defeat would leave Slot’s title defence in tatters.
And with that in mind, could keeping Mohamed Salah on the bench be the solution for the trip to the capital?
Why Slot could bench Salah again
For so long, Salah has been an unstoppable force in the final third for Liverpool. One of the deadliest goalscorers and most prolific creators in Premier League history, last year was his year as he made it a title-winning first term for Slot.
The 33-year-old, however, has toiled this season, scoring one penalty goal in the top flight since netting on the opening day. Moreover, the overall quality of his performances have left much to be desired.
We must also acknowledge the human element. The passing of Diogo Jota this summer will have had an indescribable effect on his Liverpool teammates, and Salah has bravely displayed outward emotion in the months since the summer.
The Egyptian King will score goals once again for his club; Slot has no doubt about that.
But keeping him benched for now might not be a bad thing. Liverpool produced their most fluent attacking performance against Die Roten, and Salah squandered a great chance late on when he could have played Florian Wirtz in for his first goal.
Goals
0.77
0.25
Assists
0.48
0.25
Shots taken
3.23
1.77
Shot-creating actions
4.51
2.65
Touches (att pen)
9.50
5.30
Pass completion (%)
70.6
69.0
Progressive passes
3.84
3.28
Progressive carries
4.14
3.16
Successful take-ons
1.55
0.13
Ball recoveries
2.70
3.16
Should Salah make his mark as a substitute once again, Slot may well opt to field the same formation as he did in Germany. However, rotation is important, and there’s someone waiting in the wings who would love to make their first Premier League start of the season.
Liverpool's Salah solution
On Wednesday evening, Slot fielded Wirtz in a roaming right-sided role. It bore dividends for the German, who racked up two assists and connected play and directed the flow of the attack. It was a promising performance from one of Europe’s most talented stars.
Energy. Liverpool took on their opponents, and Sofascore record that they won 61% of the ground battles during the second half. A large part of this was Federico Chiesa’s energy and enthusiasm, replacing the injured Alexander Isak at the interval and clocking 5.1km. Moreover, he created two chances.
The Italian was bleakly on the fringes last year, impeded by injuries and neglected by Slot. But now he is resurgent, playing an increasingly important role for the Merseysiders.
It was Chiesa whose goal sealed victory against Bournemouth in August, and the 27-year-old netted again during that defeat at Selhurst Park. He provided both assists in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton and another last week, when Manchester United won at Anfield.
With Isak a doubt for Saturday’s clash, Hugo Ekitike is primed to star as Liverpool’s sole striker. Thus, Chiesa could be placed down the right, running and creating and arcing inwards. He does, after all, have a natural reserve of energy, with Liverpool analyst Sajad Iqbal saying the Italian “presses like a monster”.
Brentford are a resilient and hard-working outfit, and though Salah has a match-winning moment in his locker, utilising Chiesa’s athleticism might be the order of the day. If the need for goals is great enough come the eleventh hour, a refreshed Salah’s introduction could prove the difference-maker.
Liverpool have signed a Salah-type player who's got the "pace of Torres"
Liverpool are watching before their eyes the birth of a superstar.
The managerial saga surrounding Rangers has been a mess at Ibrox, not just during their hunt for a new head coach but during Russell Martin’s ill-fated stint in Glasgow.
The former defender was relieved of his duties just hours after Rangers’ final game before the international break and the Gers hierarchy have been rather stressfully and frantically trying to find a replacement.
At first, it looked like Steven Gerrard would head back to Scotland. That move ultimately did not come to fruition. Next on the list was Danny Rohl, but he rejected advances.
So, the top brass at Rangers focused on Kevin Muscat instead. Currently with Shanghai Port, he had made it clear he was not willing to move before the Chinese Super League season had finished.
Yet, he was the clear frontrunner and was all set to take on the reins until things collapsed on Sunday.
Consequently, the Ibrox outfit headed back towards Rohl and thankfully, this time around they avoided any late twists. He was officially unveiled on Monday afternoon.
What does the future hold for them under the German? We’ve predicted what his starting lineup could look like, and there may be one or two new additions too.
1 GK – Jack Butland
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland
Last season, during Barry Ferguson’s mixed interim tenure, he actually dropped previously undisputed first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland, favouring Liam Kelly, who started both legs of the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club in April.
This season though, Butland has very much been restored as first-choice, starting 17 of the 18 fixtures, the League Cup win over third-tier Alloa the sole exception.
The highlight of his campaign, so far, has been saving a penalty from former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu against Genk, even if the Gers did lose that game anyway.
Butland has certainly been busy so far this season, particularly in the eight European ties, underling his quality, giving Rohl no reason to make a change.
2 RB – James Tavernier
He may divide opinion, but James Tavernier is a bona fide Rangers legend and, whatever supporters may say about him, he remains an integral figure in this team.
Already this season, the right-back has scored five goals across all competitions, netting four of the eight they have bagged in the Premiership.
Last Saturday, the club captain took his tally to 531 appearances and 135 goals for the club, still a pivotal figure in this team, at both ends of the pitch.
The 33-year-old was controversially left on the bench by Martin for crucial Champions League qualifiers against Viktoria Plzeň and Club Brugge, but he has since reiterated that he is undroppable.
3 CB – John Souttar
John Souttar
On paper, Rangers do actually have the makings of a solid centre-back pairing, not that they’re showing it very much this season.
Everyone connected with Scottish football has to be pleased to see John Souttar doing well given the injury misery he has endured, rupturing both anterior cruciate ligaments during his time at Hearts.
Last season, the 29-year-old managed to stay fit, accumulating 40 appearances, the most he’d ever managed in a campaign, so continues to be a solid contributor for both club and country, and should remain first-choice under Rohl.
4 CB – Derek Cornelius
Many of Rangers’ summer signings have been, to put it politely, underwhelming, underlined by the fact few feature in this dream XI.
However, one signing who, in the long run, will prove to be an excellent addition is Derek Cornelius.
After arriving on deadline day, before even making his debut in light blue, he gave Rangers supporters an amuse bouche of what he is capable of by scoring a sumptuous free-kick for Canada against Wales in Swansea.
Cornelius arrived from Ligue 1 giants Olympique de Marseille, following one season at Stade Vélodrome, having become something of a globe trotter, even at just 27 years old, having already played in Germany, Serbia, Canada, Greece, Sweden, France and now Scotland.
Since his debut against Hearts, Cornelius has started every match, instantaneously establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, and he should very much remain that going forward.
5 LB – Max Aarons
If we’re being truthful, there is no dream solution to Rangers’ left-back conundrum.
Jayden Meghoma has started pretty much every match since arriving on loan from Brentford, but the 19-year-old has appeared out of his depth, really underlining his inexperience.
So, for now, Max Aarons would be the most solid solution, having filled in at left-back both during his career in general and this season.
In truth though, this’ll surely be one of the positions any manager seeks to strengthen come January.
6 CDM – Pierre Ekwah: new signing
According to a recent report, Rangers and Celtic are both interested in signing Pierre Ekwah.
The 23-year-old can play at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, and will certainly want to be on the move come January.
He spent last season on loan at Saint-Étienne from Sunderland, with les Verts making the move permanent for £5m over the summer, but this came after they had been relegated to Ligue 2.
Thus, reports claim that Ekwah has refused to play in France’s second-tier, thereby yet to feature at all this season, leaving him in the proverbial wilderness.
Highly rated from his time in Chelsea and West Ham’s academy, he may prove to be available at a cut-price and would represent an upgrade on someone like Joe Rothwell.
7 CM – Mohamed Diomandé
Ahead of the start of the new season, big things were expected of Mohamed Diomandé, who has so far endured something of a campaign to forget, albeit he’s not the only one.
The 23-year-old was sent off against Genk on the opening night of the Europa League, and his absence was felt as they were beaten 2-1 by Sturm Graz a week later.
He also sat out Saturday’s draw with Dundee United due to injury, but has certainly shown his quality in the past, so they’ll want him back in the line-up as soon as possible, possibly at the expense of Thelo Aasgaard.
8 CM – Nicolas Raskin
Likely to be World Cup-bound, Nicolas Raskin, has started four of Belgium’s last six qualifiers, including each of the last three, starting alongside Kevin De Bruyne, who isn’t bad, is he?
Despite this, Russell Martin decided he was surplus to requirements, leaving him out of four matches, not even on the bench for home games against Celtic and Hearts, with supporters choosing to side with Raskin, which is when the anti-Martin protests really ramped up.
Setting all that aside, the Belgian is clearly Rangers’ most talented player, named the club’s player of the year last season, so the new manager has to make him a central figure.
9 RW – Bobby Clark: new signing
It was actually reported earlier this week that Celtic were set to sign Bobby Clark from RB Salzburg for £6m, only for Brendan Rodgers to very much shut down those rumours. So, could the former Liverpool midfielder end up on the other side of Glasgow?
The 20-year-old, who made his senior debut at Liverpool, is currently on loan at Derby County, after a forgettable spell in Austria.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout describes him as a “roaming playmaker” who possesses “amazing technical quality” and can operate anywhere behind a striker, which sounds like exactly the type of player this Rangers team is lacking, does it not?
The fact he’s also been described as “the new Gazza” should also help convince those of a Rangers persuasion of his natural talent. He looks a fine replacement for Oliver Antman on the right flank.
10 LW – Djeidi Gassama
If only one Rangers player has shown glimpses of genuine quality this season, it has to be Djeidi Gassama.
After arriving from Sheffield Wednesday where he was managed by Rohl, he announced himself in style, scoring four goals in his first four appearances for the club, on target home and away against Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying, before also bagging a double against Viktoria Plzeň in the following round.
The Frenchman has only scored once since, this also in Europe against Sturm Graz just before the international break, but is clearly a talented player that this current Rangers set-up is failing to get the best out of.
Rangers have not re-approached Steven Gerrard despite rumours of new rounds of talks taking place in recent days.
It emerged on Saturday night that the former Gers boss had removed himself from the race to become successor to Russell Martin, who was sacked after just 17 games in charge of the Govan club.
However, several bookmakers on Wednesday showed that Gerrard, who won the title with Rangers in 2021, was back among the favourites for the post.
No new talks between Gerrard and Rangers
PA news agency understands that there has been no new talks between the two parties.
Former Rangers defender Kevin Muscat and ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl are two of the front runners for the job.
Muscat, who has reportedly had had talks with the Govan club, has guided Shanghai Port to top spot in the Chinese Super League, two points clear with four games left. Their domestic season ends on November 22.
Speculation abounds that the Govan club are lining up Neil McCann for an interim period in charge until his former Gers team-mate is free to come to Glasgow.
The 52-year-old won a domestic treble with Rangers in 2003 in his only season at Ibrox and as a manager he has won titles in Australia, Japan and China with Melbourne Victory, Yokohama F Marinos and Shanghai Port.
Rohl, 36, reportedly impressed the Rangers hierarchy during talks last week, but rightly or wrongly, may well be considered by scarred and sceptical Gers supporters to be another version of Martin.
Previously an assistant manager at RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and the Germany national team, Rohl had steered Wednesday out of relegation trouble in the Sky Bet Championship in 2023/24.
The German led The Owls to a 12th-place league finish in his only full season as a manager before leaving the troubled Yorkshire club in July.
Other names on the bookmakers’ lists include former Manchester United player and boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Hearts boss Derek McInnes, ex-Chelsea and West Ham boss Graham Potter and former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil.
Rangers return from the international break with a home game against Dundee United on Saturday. The Light Blues are eighth in the table after seven fixtures, 11 points behind leaders Hearts and nine behind Celtic.
Tottenham Hotspur are a side that have fallen below the expectations set for them in the Premier League in recent years, as seen by their standings last campaign.
The Lilywhites ended the year in a measly 17th position, only one place above the relegation zone and becoming the first side to survive in the division after losing 22 matches.
As a result, Ange Postecoglou lost his job, with Thomas Frank the man tasked with building on their European triumph and transforming their league form.
The Dane has already wasted no time in the role in North London, targeting countless players who could help improve the current situation at the club.
Whilst no first team additions have yet been agreed, work has been conducted behind the scenes, in an attempt to catapult the side to added success in 2025/26.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
Mohammed Kudus has been a player firmly on their radar in recent days, even making a £50m offer for the West Ham United star, but the offer was swiftly rejected.
The Ghanaian was said to be wanting a move to join Frank’s men this window and The Athletic’s David Ornstein has since revealed that a £55m total agreement has now been struck for the 24-year-old.
However, despite the interest in the former Ajax star, moves have been made elsewhere, with Southampton star Tyler Dibling once again in their sights, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
He claims that the Lilywhites have made an approach for the 19-year-old star, despite suffering relegation back to the Championship with the Saints last season.
He also claims that Nottingham Forest and West Ham are other teams keeping tabs on the teenage star, who could be available for around £55m this summer.
Why Spurs’ £55m target could be a bigger talent than Kudus
Over the last couple of months, Spurs have showcased the attacking threat they possess, registering 64 goals in their 38 league outings last season.
Brennan Johnson ended the year as the club’s top scorer, notching 18 goals across all competitions, including in the Europa League final, subsequently ending the club’s 17-year drought.
Other players such as Dominic Solanke and James Maddison also managed to achieve double figures, highlighting the strength in depth currently at Frank’s disposal.
However, such depth clearly isn’t enough, especially considering the rumours around moves for Kudus and Dibling over the last couple of weeks.
Both would represent impressive options for the Dane, but given the nature of the fees touted for each player’s signature, it is crucial they land the right one during the off-season.
When comparing their respective stats from the Premier League last time out, the Saints’ youngster managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, despite the relegation – highlighting why he’d be a better addition.
Dibling, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Ivan Juric, managed to register a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate, whilst matching the Hammers star for goals per shot on target – showcasing the clinical edge he possesses.
Games played
33
32
Goals & assists
2
8
Shot on target accuracy
32%
28%
Goal per shot on target
0.2
0.2
Progressive passes
3.1
2.7
Passes into final third
1.9
1.6
Carries into final third
2.4
2
Fouls won
2.4
2.2
He also managed to register more progressive passes per 90, and more passes into the final third, subsequently having the tools to provide some of the aforementioned talents with added opportunities in front of goal.
The teenager’s dominance doesn’t end there, producing a higher tally of carries into the final third, whilst also drawing more fouls – showcasing the threat he poses to the opposition at any given time.
Whilst £55m may appear to be a huge risk for such a young talent, he’s already showcased he can thrive despite featuring for a side who fell well below the expectations set in 2024/25.
There’s no denying that Kudus would also represent an excellent pickup, but ultimately, Dibling has already outperformed him and has the tools to rapidly develop further, given his tender age.
Spurs eyeing "immense" £40m Kudus alternative who'd be their own Rodrygo
Manchester United have already completed one of the signings of the summer transfer window to date, with Matheus Cunha joining in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Brazilian was a man in extreme demand, beating the likes of Nottingham Forest and Arsenal to his signature despite the lack of European football next campaign.
He will certainly hand boss Ruben Amorim a new dimension within the final third, subsequently being able to operate in either a centre-forward role or as a number 10.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
Cunha thrived at Molineux this season, scoring 15 goals and registering six assists, a tally that would’ve seen him end the year with the most Premier League contributions in the Red Devils squad.
However, despite the big-money addition, more activity is expected in the coming months, with countless top-level talents still on the hierarchy’s radar.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Victor Osimhen has been a player who has been firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of windows, with this summer no different, but a deal appears unlikely this window given his hefty wage demands.
Christopher Nkunku is another player who has been of keen interest over the last few weeks, as the Red Devils have made contact with his representatives over a move to Old Trafford.
However, another name has emerged as a key target, with Sporting CP talisman Viktor Gyokeres once again being mentioned with a switch, according to The Mirror.
They claim Amorim’s side are in pole position to land the Swede, after a change of heart which has seen him be open to a move after previously turning down the Red Devils’ interest.
The report also states that he’s desperate for a move after scoring 54 goals in just 52 outings this campaign, leading to a £68m price tag being mooted for his signature.
Why Gyokeres would be a bigger talent than Mbeumo & Cunha for United
As previously mentioned, Cunha has become United’s first big-money addition of the window, but Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo appears to be the next to join the club after the progress made this week.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
The Red Devils submitted a bid in the region of £60m for the 25-year-old forward, with the two sides appearing to be edging closer to agreeing on a fee.
A deal should be a formality when the fee is agreed, with the Cameroonian already agreeing personal terms over a £250k-per-week deal at the Theatre of Dreams.
Such a deal would be another excellent one for the club, adding another 20 league goals to Cunha’s tally of 15, with the pair only scoring nine fewer than the whole side managed throughout 2024/25.
However, a deal for Gyokeres would see Amorim’s side land an even bigger talent, considering the Swede’s sensational goal return in the top-flight of Portuguese football.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokereskisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal
He’s outscored the pair alone, whilst also massively outperforming the aforementioned duo when delving into his underlying stats from the recent campaign.
Gyokeres, who’s been labelled a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has achieved a better shot-on-target accuracy rate, demonstrating the clinical nature he possesses.
Games played
33
38
33
Goals scored
39
20
15
Shot on target accuracy
52%
43%
40%
Progressive carries
4.3
3.4
3.8
Key passes
2
1.8
1.9
Take-on success
48%
46%
44%
Carries into opposition box
3.1
1.9
2.8
Aerials won
51%
31%
31%
He’s also registered more progressive carries and more carries into the opposition box, showcasing the threat he carries when having the ball at his feet.
The Swede has further demonstrated his impressive all-round ability, completing more key passes per 90, and having the tools to provide others with opportunities in the final third.
It would be another huge addition from the hierarchy this summer, but it shows they mean business in taking the club back to their former glory in the near future.
The prospect of Cunha, Mbeumo and Gyokeres linking up together is one the fanbase should be extremely excited by, handing Amorim the added attacking threat he’s craved since taking the reins.
He's better than Gyokeres: Wilcox plots Man Utd move for £150m talisman
Manchester United have joined a long list of suitors in the race to sign a new striker.
The South American market seems to be at the heart of Nottingham Forest’s plans this summer, and they have now reportedly made their first move to sign yet another talent after Cuiabano, Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha.
Nottingham Forest focusing on South American incomings
Perhaps hoping to find a star who could reach the same level as the likes of Murillo, Nottingham Forest’s focus has been set on welcoming South American talents this summer. Already, they’ve reportedly reached an agreement to complete a triple swoop for Botafogo stars Jesus, Cunha and Cuiabano and, if reports are anything to go by, they’re not stopping there.
As well as the aforementioned trio, Nottingham Forest have also reportedly received the green light to sign Romulo Cardoso from Goztepe this summer. The impressive striker scored 17 goals in Turkey last season and could now be on his way to the Premier League as a result.
With Jesus already on his way, the arrival of Romulo would instantly add depth to Nuno Espirito Santo’s frontline and potentially even create quite the partnership between the two countrymen.
Romulo Cardoso in action for Club Athletico Paranense.
The striker position will certainly be up for grabs sooner rather than later too, given that Chris Wood is 33 years old and likely to move past the peak of his powers in the coming years.
Even after Romulo, however, it looks as though Nottingham Forest’s search for South American talent will continue. As the Midlands club set their sights on qualifying for European football for a second season on the bounce, Marinakis is clearly keen to ensure that his side’s place in the top half comes as an expectation and not a major shock.
Nottingham Forest make first Kaio Jorge approach
According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now made their first approach to sign Kaio Jorge from Cruzeiro, who are demanding as much as €30m (£25m) to sell their striker this summer.
The 23-year-old could be the third Brazilian striker that Forest have signed by the time the Premier League season gets underway, with adding fresh faces to Espirito Santo’s frontline a clear priority. Whether they are willing to splash out £25m to sign Jorge when they already have Jesus and have the green light to sign Romulo is the big question, however.
It’s clear to see why Cruzeiro value Jorge so highly, though. The 23-year-old has enjoyed an excellent campaign in Brazil – scoring 10 goals – and has done more than enough to secure a European move.
Nottingham Forest join race for £85m star who’s starred at Club World Cup
He’s a man in demand…
ByTom Cunningham Jun 18, 2025
Meanwhile, although negotiations with Cruzeiro may prove to be tough, Nottingham Forest could enjoy a far easier task when negotiating personal terms with Jorge thanks to the fact that he is represented by the same agent as Midlands-bound Cunha.
Will Newcastle United be busy in this transfer window?
The Magpies snuck into the Champions League places on the final day of the Premier League season, thankful that Manchester United beat Aston Villa simultaneously, given that Eddie Howe’s side suffered a shock home defeat at the hands of Everton.
So, as the Toon Army prepare for a second Champions League campaign in just three seasons, they’re forecast to spend big this summer, with a new winger near the top of their agenda.
Newcastle chasing a new wide-attacker
The Toon are on the prowl to add Premier League-proven players to their squad this summer with reports over the last week or so signalling that they have made an enquiry for Brighton’s Joao Pedro.
Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, one of the fastest players in the top-flight this season, is also on their radar, but perhaps they could seal a better signing than both of those players.
According to a report by Caught Offside, Newcastle are ‘keen’ to sign Justin Kluivert this summer, who they claim is valued at around £50m by Bournemouth, with Manchester United also noted as ‘long-time admirers’.
The 26-year-old scored 13 goals across all competitions for the Cherries this season, the most he has ever managed in a single campaign across his entire senior career, most memorably bagging a hat-trick at St James’ Park back in January.
Manager Andoni Iraola labelled his performance that day as “amazing”, while Kluivert’s form earned him a recall to the Dutch national team, starting against Bosnia in Zenica last November, thereby earning a first Netherlands cap for over six years.
So now, could Justin follow in the footsteps of his father Patrick by moving to Tyneside?
How Justin Kluivert compares to Bryan Mbeumo
As noted by Lee Ryder of the Chronicle back in January, Newcastle’s dream wide-attacking signing this summer is Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo but, according to David Ornstein of the Athletic, the Cameroonian ‘has decided he wants to join Manchester United’, with the Bees holding out for his £60m valuation.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
Following Thomas Frank’s appointment as the new Tottenham manager, Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport now believes that Spurs are ‘interested’ in securing Mbeumo’s signature but, either way, it appears unlikely that Newcastle will land their first-choice target.
So, would Kluivert be the ideal alternative for the Magpies?
Well, safe to say both these wingers really impressed in the Premier League this season, so let’s assess how they compared to each other.
Appearances
34
38
Minutes
2,356
3,417
Goals
12
20
Assists
6
8
Shots per 90
2.19
2.08
Shots on target %
40.4%
43%
Shot-creating actions
3.88
3.80
Big chances missed
6
9
Take-on success %
41.4%
46.8%
Touches per 90
42
47
As the table outlines, Mbeumo did score more goals and register more assists this season, albeit the Cameroonian did finish top of the goals – xG metric in this season’s Premier League, which may suggest his productivity is not sustainable.
Meantime, Kluivert registered more shots and more shot-creating actions on a per-90 basis, while his other statistics are comparable across the board, including shots on target percentage and touches per-90, while missing fewer Opta-defined big chances.
Bournemouth's JustinKluivertcelebrates scoring a goal
He was also praised for his ‘unplayable’ displays for the Cherries this season, having taken his game to a new level.
Thus, while Mbeumo may be Newcastle’s dream target, Kluivert would appear to be a very exciting alternative.
So, as Howe seeks to bolster his squad, hoping that the Magpies will be able to compete in both the Premier League and Champions League concurrently during the next campaign, Kluivert would certainly add quality to their forward line.
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