Friedkin now using Roma links to sign £26m ace for Everton in fresh twist

In a fresh transfer twist, The Friedkin Group are now reportedly working on a deal which would see Everton sign a £25m South American star with the help of AS Roma.

Calvert-Lewin confirms Everton exit

With contracts officially coming to an end around the Premier League, it’s no surprise that Everton’s transfer business has instantly shown signs of life. The Toffees are reportedly set to sign the impressive Thierno Barry and have also set their sights on a return for former loanee Jack Harrison in two deals that would reinforce their attack following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure.

The forward confirmed his departure after failing to sign a new contract in Merseyside, taking to social media to say: “The choice to move on was not simply about me, it was a decision with my family and we spent a long time considering together. We believe it’s the right moment to seek a new challenge and continue growing, but that doesn’t lessen the bond I’ll always have with Everton.

“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve shared, fighting for this club when it mattered most, scoring big goals in crucial moments, wearing the shirt with commitment and pride. My hope is that I leave with your respect, knowing I always sought to uphold the values of this great club.”

Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates scoring their first goal

Friedkin have, of course, already reacted to that news by agreeing a deal to sign Barry, but they may not be done there on the transfer front. Reports are now suggesting that the American owners want to put their Roma links to sign a £25m defender for Everton.

Friedkin now working on Wesley deal

As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, Friedkin are now working on a move to sign Wesley in a deal that would see the Flamengo defender join Everton and then head straight out on loan to Roma. The Italian club are already reportedly working on a deal for the €30m (£26m) right-back, but it’s the Toffees who could benefit in the long run.

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Friedkin own majority stakes in both clubs and are seemingly looking to hand David Moyes and his side a major boost using that ownership. Whether the American owners can pull off a complicated deal remains to be seen, however. On Wesley’s end, there’s no doubt that Everton would be getting a talented player.

A player who has had his critics, as South American football expert Nathan Joyes explained in December, Wesley is still just 21 years old and his “pacey” speed could quickly help him transform into a Premier League star.

Bigger talent than Cunha & Mbeumo: Man Utd lead the race for "monster" ST

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.

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Same agent as Jair Cunha: Nottingham Forest make approach to sign £25m star

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.

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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.

Dream Mbeumo alternative: Newcastle keen to sign "unplayable" £55m winger

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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Huge Rothwell upgrade: Leeds pushing to sign "dangerous" £19m star

Leeds United have plenty of time ahead of them to dip into the summer transfer window to bolster their options ahead of a season in the Premier League.

The Whites know that they will have to recruit well to avoid the drop in their first year back in the top-flight, as the last six sides to go up have come straight back down again.

One player who does not appear to be on his way to Elland Road this summer, however, is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan in West Yorkshire.

Journalist Graeme Bailey told The Boot Room: “I am told that Solomon still thinks he can break into the first team at Tottenham. He has gained so much confidence from his spell at Leeds and now feels fully adapted to English football. He is a very interesting option, Spurs like him and are ready to let him prove himself during pre-season.”

Solomon produced 12 goals and ten assists in the Championship this season for Leeds to help them on their way to the league title, and this update suggests that he will not be joining on a permanent basis.

The other Premier League player who was on loan at Elland Road in the 2024/25 campaign was Joe Rothwell, and the club should not be looking to bring him back.

Why Leeds should not sign Joe Rothwell

The Whites should look elsewhere in the transfer market instead of attempting to bring the English whiz back from Bournemouth, because he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League.

Rothwell arrived in West Yorkshire to provide valuable back-up in the central midfield positions for Daniel Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, and that is exactly what he did.

Appearances

36

Starts

24

Big chances created

4

Assists

4

Key passes per game

1.7

Pass accuracy

91%

As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old maestro offered a reliable presence with the ball at his feet, completing 91% of his attempted passes, and provided creativity with his ability to assist his teammates.

However, Leeds will need different attributes when they are battling against relegation from the Premier League next season, and that is why the club should avoid a deal to bring him back.

In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Rothwell lost 53% of his overall duels and 100% of his aerial battles for Bournemouth across 11 appearances, whilst being dribbled past six times in three starts.

This suggests that he does not possess the physical attributes required to thrive in the top-flight, hence why the Cherries opted to loan him to the second tier, and Leeds are now being linked with a star who would be a huge upgrade in that position.

Leeds pushing to sign Premier League star

According to reports in France, Leeds United have identified West Ham United central midfielder Tomas Soucek as a target for the summer transfer window.

The report suggests that the West Yorkshire outfit are now ‘pushing’ to bring the Czech international over to Elland Road to bolster the manager’s options in the middle of the park.

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It is said that there is a chance that the former Slavia Prague star leaves the Hammers this summer, and the Whites are looking to potentially take advantage of that.

Leeds have added the 30-year-old titan to their list of targets and are seemingly set to pursue a deal for the midfielder, given that they are ‘pushing’ for him.

West Ham's Tomas Soucek

The report further claims that the Championship champions are looking for experienced options to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and Soucek – who is valued at £19m by Football Transfers – is a player who fits the bill perfectly.

Why Leeds should sign Soucek as a Rothwell upgrade

The midfield star has racked up 194 appearances in the Premier League in his career with the Hammers so far, and 245 appearances for the club in all competitions.

This shows that Soucek is an experienced player who has proven that he can perform on a consistent basis at the top level in England, as shown by how long his career at the London Stadium has been, which is not the case for Rothwell.

Soucek is also a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, with a return of 36 goals in his top-flight career, whilst Rothwell – who is also 30 – has never scored at that level.

Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe described him as the most “dangerous” player in the box in the clip above, as he scored one of his nine Premier League goals this season against Wolves in December.

Appearances

35

xG

6.85

Goals

9

Duels won per game

5.0

Duel success rate

53%

Aerial duels won per game

2.9

Aerial duel success rate

57%

As you can see in the table above, Soucek also provides a level of physicality that Rothwell would not, as he wins duels at an efficient rate and is particularly impressive in the air.

As aforementioned, Rothwell did not win a single aerial battle in the 2023/24 season for Bournemouth in the Premier League, which shows that the West Ham star would be a major upgrade on him from an aerial perspective.

Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham

Soucek would add an imposing and physical presence to the Leeds midfield, with his ability to win duels and compete in the air, whilst the Bournemouth loanee would seemingly be a brittle option in the top-flight.

Therefore, hopefully, Leeds will win the race for the Czechia international this summer as a huge upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park, as he is a proven Premier League performer who can offer goals and physicality.

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Whereas, the Cherries outcast has not proven himself in the top-flight and does not offer enough physically to perform week-in-week-out at that level, which is why avoiding a deal for him in order to pursue Soucek would be a great move by the Whites.

Not just Nawrocki: Exciting Celtic star just made himself unsellable

Celtic played their final away game of the Scottish Premiership season on Wednesday night and secured an emphatic 5-1 victory over Aberdeen.

Brendan Rodgers named a much-changed side and got the win thanks to goals from Maik Nawrocki, Hyun-jun Yang, Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny, and Adam Idah.

It was a night for the rarely-seen Celtic players, including the likes of Viljami Sinisalo and Paulo Bernardo, and Nawrocki is certainly one of those who grasped his chance.

Why Rodgers should be impressed by Nawrocki

The Polish defender made just his third start of the Premiership campaign and caught the eye with an impressive display at the heart of the defence.

Playing on his favoured right side for the first time this term, Nawrocki completed an eye-catching 130 of his 136 attempted passes on the night and only lost possession nine times in total, as well as scoring the opener from a corner.

Defensively, the former Legia Warsaw star made five clearances, two blocks, and two interceptions to keep Aberdeen at bay, including one huge sliding block when facing a one-on-one in the box in the second half.

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Rodgers should, therefore, have been impressed by his combination of composed play in possession and stoic defensive work, but the manager should have been encouraged by Johnny Kenny’s display in the centre-forward position.

Why Johnny Kenny is now unsellable

The young marksman had not had many opportunities to impress in the second half of the season, with just six substitute appearances in the league, and his lack of game time may have led to question marks over his future heading into the summer transfer window.

However, the 21-year-old striker was finally given a chance to show his quality from the start and showed why he should be unsellable this summer for the Hoops, with a performance that shows that he can be part of the first-team squad next season.

Celtic need another number nine option to compete with Idah and Daizen Maeda, and Kenny’s showing against Aberdeen suggests that he can be that man.

Minutes

70

Shots on target

2

Goals

1

Passes completed

8/11

Duels won

3/4

Aerial duels won

3/3

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland U21 international scored with one of his two shots on target, with a well-placed header from McCowan’s cross, and showcased his physicality by winning all of his aerial duels.

Kenny scored 13 goals in 19 starts in the Irish Premier Division in 2024 on loan at Shamrock Rovers, and has now shown a glimpse of the kind of goalscoring quality he can bring to Celtic.

He is an exciting young striker with the physical qualities, as shown by his statistics against Aberdeen, and the goalscoring record to develop into a fine option for Rodgers, as proven by his performance on Wednesday.

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Therefore, the club should not look to move him on this summer, despite his general lack of game time in the last few months, and the manager should, instead, make him a regular player off the bench and occasionally from the start.

Aston Villa struck gold on "unstoppable" star whose value has risen £75m

Aston Villa made it five wins from their last six games in the Premier League when grinding out a determined 1-0 victory away at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

This win – which was clinched courtesy of Villa’s new all-time top-flight scorer Ollie Watkins – guarantees at least Conference League football for Unai Emery’s Villans next campaign.

But, the main prize of Champions League football is still very much up for grabs for the in-form outfit sat in sixth spot.

Aston Villa manager UnaiEmery

It wasn’t the prettiest performance by Villa on the South Coast, but at his crunch stage of the season, any win will do, with a big team effort needed to clinch the three points, especially after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed.

Aston Villa's best performers vs Bournemouth

Villa really had to dig deep during the last ten minutes of the clash after homegrown attacker Ramsey was shown his second yellow.

Thankfully, Emery’s visitors were already hanging onto a slim lead courtesy of the aforementioned Watkins, who once again came up trumps for the Villans in their moment of need.

The potent number 11 would find himself in the right place at the right time yet again to fire home his 75th career goal in the big time, with this effort ultimately being the difference-maker to the annoyance of Andoni Iraola’s frustrated hosts.

The Cherries just couldn’t find a breakthrough, with the likes of Emiliano Martinez having to stay very alert throughout with four saves made, alongside both Matty Cash and Lucas Digne down the flanks who won a combined 11 duels on the day.

But, it was once again Morgan Rogers who stood out in attack for Emery and Co, with the electric number 11 understandably a wanted man heading into the hectic transfer window.

Morgan Rogers' transfer value continues to soar

Rogers isn’t the only face that could soon be waving Villa Park goodbye, with Watkins – who the ex-Manchester City man set up for the winner at Bournemouth – also reportedly keen on a move away amidst interest from Arsenal.

For the 22-year-old, however, according to other reports, Chelsea and Stamford Bridge might well be his next onward destination, but off the back of a seriously impressive campaign for Emery’s men, the 6 foot 2 attacking midfielder won’t be exiting the building for cheap.

Indeed, it’s now being speculated that Villa would only consider parting ways with Rogers if a bumper £90m bid was put on the table, with the exciting forward menace arguably deep in the best form of his career at this point in time.

In all competitions this campaign, Rogers has notched up a ridiculous 14 goals and 14 assists from 52 overall games, leading to Jamie Carragher even hailing the four-time England international as an “unstoppable” force, on top of Villa thanking their lucky stars now that they won the 22-year-old for a modest £15m just last year.

Games played

68

Goals scored

17

Assists

15

Original fee

£15m

Value now

£90m

Percentage increase

500%

Emery’s side have had to exercise patience with the 22-year-old, considering he only chipped in with three goals and one assist last season after a January move, but it’s clear that he is destined for greatness now, whether that be with the Villans long-term or with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.

Further lauded as “magnificent” by scout Antonio Mango after his assist away at Bournemouth, his current employers will just pray that Rogers sees Villa as his home for the foreseeable.

Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers

But, with his value increasing by that whopping 500%, Emery and Co would be mad not to sell up, particularly if that £90m does fall into their bank account soon.

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Even better than Archie Gray: Leeds must rue selling £1m "animal"

Leeds United secured their promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking after they hammered Stoke City 6-0 last time out at Elland Road.

The Whites ran riot in West Yorkshire, including a stunning four-goal haul from Joel Piroe in the first half, and then had their promotion sealed when Sheffield United lost to Burnley later that evening.

Daniel Farke would have been delighted with the quality and composure that his team showed on a day with so much pressure on it, as it gave them an incredibly enjoyable afternoon and evening.

It also provided the German head coach with the opportunity to hand 16-year-old forward Harry Gray a first-team debut, as he played eight minutes off the bench.

He will be looking to follow in his brother’s footsteps after Archie Gray played a whopping 52 first-team matches under Farke in the 2023/24 campaign, before his summer move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs reportedly agreed a fee of £30m to sign the England U21 international from Elland Road, and he has had an interesting first season at the top level.

Archie Gray's struggles at Spurs this season

The 19-year-old talent has had plenty of exposure to first-team football under Ange Postecoglou, playing 41 times and racking up the best part of 3,000 minutes in all competitions.

From that perspective, it has been an excellent season for the teenage gem because he now has plenty of experience at the top level, in the Premier League and the Europa League, and that could be useful for his development moving forward.

However, Gray has yet to produce consistent quality on the pitch when selected, and that is the next step that he has to take before Spurs can deem the £30m they spent on his services to be worthwhile.

The former Leeds starlet will not want to fall into the trap of being known as a utility player who can play in a multitude of roles without being particularly impressive in any one position.

Appearances

23

Goals

0

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.9

Error led to shot

1

Error led to goal

1

Duel success rate

47%

As you can see in the table above, Gray has not excelled in or out of possession in the Premier League this season, offering very little at the top end of the pitch and struggling with the physicality of the league off the ball.

These statistics show that he has rarely made defensive interventions to keep teams out, and that he has created more goals for the opposition (one) through an error than he has directly created for his own team (zero).

This is not to say that, however, Gray is a flop for Spurs or that he will not go on to become a top player, because there is plenty of time left for him to develop and improve. Hopefully, his experiences and struggles this season will help him to kick on and deliver improved displays in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond, proving his worth in the process.

At this moment in time, though, the £30m Leeds raked in for the versatile star looks like good business. Whereas, there is another former Thorp Arch academy graduate whom the Whites seemingly undersold in Leif Davis.

Why Leeds United messed up with Leif Davis

The English defender, who joined the academy from Morecambe at U18 level, reportedly joined Ipswich Town on a permanent deal for a fee of at least £1m in the summer of 2022.

That came after he had only played 14 first-team matches for Leeds, as well as 15 games on loan at Bournemouth in the 2021/22 campaign, after coming up through the youth set-up, initially under Marcelo Bielsa.

Former Leeds defender Leif Davis.

Scott Parker described Davis as an “animal” during the defender’s loan spell at the Vitality Stadium, but his form for the Cherries was not good enough to prevent the Whites from selling him to Ipswich that summer.

That decision to move him to Portman Road for a fee of £1m has turned out to be a big blunder by Leeds because he has thrived in Suffolk, and is currently even better than Archie Gray.

Davis, now 25, has just been relegated back down to the Championship with Ipswich, but he did show plenty of promise with his performances in the Premier League and may have an eye on an instant return to the top-flight.

The English left-back provided 21 assists in 43 second-tier matches in the 2023/24 campaign, which showed that he was far too good to be playing at that level from a creative perspective.

Appearances

31

Goals

1

Big chances created

12

xA

4.18

Assists

2

Key passes per game

1.7

As you can see in the table above, Davis has been incredibly unfortunate in the Premier League this season because his teammates have only scored two goals from the 12 ‘big chances’ that he has created for them.

Unlike Gray, the former Leeds gem has excelled in an area of the game in the top-flight this term, as his statistics show that he has been an excellent creative outlet for the Tractor Boys and a shining light in possession in a dim campaign for them.

Whilst his defensive work is questionable, with one red card, three errors leading to shots, and two penalties committed, Davis has shown that he has the technical ability to play in the Premier League.

This is why Leeds messed up when they sold him for just £1m, because they lost an exciting talent who has shown enough potential to be a useful asset in the Premier League, even more so than Gray, who they sold for £30m, has in the current campaign.

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Leeds United could have a top star for the future in this highly rated youngster.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 27, 2025

Davis has proven that Leeds messed up by cashing in on him before he had the chance to show what he could do with regular game time at Elland Road, and it is a shame that he left before Farke had a chance to work with his creative talent, certainly at Championship level.

New target: Nottingham Forest join race for "excellent" £26m AC Milan star

Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for an “excellent” AC Milan player, who is set to leave the Italian club in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Forest stepping up summer transfer plans

Forest should be well-positioned to bring in some top-quality players this summer, given that they have a very good chance of qualifying for the Champions League, and Nuno is keen to bolster his options in a number of different areas.

The goalscoring burden has largely been on Chris Wood this season, and the Tricky Trees are eager to bring in a new striker to provide competition for the New Zealander, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin among the targets.

There appears to be a heavy focus on strengthening in attacking areas, with Marseille winger Luis Henrique also of interest, alongside Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, and there have been suggestions Jota Silva could be used as a makeweight in a deal for the Sweden international.

Contact made: Nottingham Forest make enquiry for £40m "one-man machine"

The Tricky Trees have now made a move for a midfielder, who is attracting widespread interest from across Europe.

ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025

Bringing in attacking reinforcements may be of key significance to Nuno, but the manager could also look to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, with a report from Italy revealing Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw.

Thiaw will be allowed to leave Milan this summer, and the Serie A side are set to hold out for around €25m to €30m (£22m – £26m), amid widespread interest in his signature, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Arsenal also keen.

AC Milan's MalickThiaw

The asking price shouldn’t be a problem for any of the Premier League clubs, but Bayer Leverkusen’s interest could pose an issue, with the German club already making an approach for the 23-year-old.

"Excellent" Thiaw could be success at the City Ground

The German centre-back remained on the substitutes’ bench at the beginning of the campaign, but he has since gone on to establish himself as an important player for Milan, getting on the scoresheet in a 3-1 Champions League victory against Real Madrid.

That was not the first time the 6 foot 4 colossus put in an impressive performance in the Champions League, having previously received high praise from former AC Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi for a top display against Tottenham Hotspur in February 2023.

Sacchi said: “He played an excellent game. He often found himself in one-on-one situations and did not give up an inch to the opponent.”

It has not been the best of campaigns for Milan, with the Italian side sat ninth in the Serie A, but Thiaw’s exploits in Europe indicate he could be a fantastic signing for Forest, and a fee of £22m – £26m is very reasonable for a defender of his quality.

New target: Man Utd eyeing move to sign "excellent" £15m Onana replacement

Manchester United have now joined the race to sign an “excellent” goalkeeper, who could be brought in as a replacement for Andre Onana this summer, according to a report.

Major concern over Onana's Man Utd performances

Onana was the subject of heavy criticism prior to Man United’s recent Europa League clash against Lyon, with Nemanja Matic launching a scathing attack on the goalkeeper.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old didn’t exactly manage to silence the critics at the Groupama Stadium, making a late blunder to gift Rayan Cherki an equalising goal, which means there is everything still to play for at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

After the poor display against Lyon, Onana was dropped from the squad for the trip to St. James’ Park, but Altay Bayindir didn’t exactly stake a claim for a regular starting spot, with the Red Devils succumbing to a 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United.

Man Utd and INEOS now looking to hijack Newcastle deal for £25m wide player

Man Utd have now joined their Premier League rivals in the race to sign an exciting attacker.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 14, 2025

As such, Ruben Amorim is now looking to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, and Man Utd have joined the race for Anders goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, according to a report from The Boot Room.

Fofana’s performances this season have attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Newcastle, Brentford and Nottingham Forest also making checks in recent weeks.

Angers'YahiaFofanareacts

Previous reports have detailed that the Angers shot-stopper could be available for just £15m this summer, so Amorim may not have to break the bank if he chooses to pursue a deal.

"Excellent" Fofana could be Onana upgrade

It is clear Amorim is losing faith with Onana, and it is little wonder, given that the Cameroonian’s latest blunder could be costly in United’s Europa League campaign, while Bayindir also failed to impress against Newcastle.

Fofana’s performances this season indicate he could be an upgrade for United between the sticks, having been lauded as “excellent” by members of the media after putting in a solid display against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has also praised the Ivorian, and believes the £15m fee Angers are set to hold out for “could be a bargain”.

The 24-year-old is yet to prove himself at the highest level, but his performances this season indicate he could be capable of making the step-up to a top club, and his availability for a low fee is an added bonus for United.

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