Aston Villa are beginning to step up their hunt for fresh faces and have now submitted an offer for a defender viewed internally as a “top prospect” among club officials, according to David Ornstein.
Aston Villa in the market for first-team additions
Making a low-key start to the window, the Villans have brought in Yasin Ozcan, Marco Bizot, Zepiqueno Redmond, and Modou Keba Cisse to firm up their squad ahead of the new campaign.
Admittedly, most of the men in question are likely to be fringe players or developmental additions, which has only served to further supporters’ appetite for senior arrivals that will make an immediate impact on first-team affairs.
Aston Villa manager UnaiEmeryduring a lap of honour after the match
Nevertheless, new Aston Villa signing Cisse believes Unai Emery’s side are on the rise after completing a £4 million move from LASK, stating: “It is with great pride that I’ve signed for Aston Villa. I’m truly grateful for the trust the people at the club have shown in me.
“This moment marks an important step in my career, but above all, I’m aware that everything still needs to be built. Expectations will be high. Not everyone gets the chance to sign for a Premier League club.”
He is set to spend this term on loan in Austria. In other news, Aston Villa are said to be racing Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Mika Biereth in light of his excellent form at AS Monaco.
£70m star open to Aston Villa move, he's "heard good things" about Emery
The Villans have been handed a boost in their pursuit of a forward.
ByDominic Lund Jul 22, 2025
Spanish coach Emery knows what it takes to secure an impressive Premier League finish. Therefore, his mission in the Midlands will be to secure individuals who move the needle alongside buying prospects. He could now be about to combine both factors if reports are to be believed.
Aston Villa submit offer to sign Toulouse defender Jaydee Canvot
According to David Ornstein, Aston Villa have submitted an offer to sign Toulouse defender Jaydee Canvot, who is viewed as a ‘top prospect’ by the club and is also attracting interest from an array of suitors.
While their bid hasn’t yet been accepted, the Villans appear to have stepped up their initial interest in Canvot amid previous reports they are looking to fend off competition for the £17 million-rated star.
Capped eight times at Under-19 level for France, Canvot made 18 appearances in Ligue 1 last term, helping his side to record an impressive tenth-place finish.
Now, he appears to be on the move, and the Villans have put themselves well in contention to bring in the versatile youngster, who turns 19 next week and can also play in midfield, potentially offering cover across two positions.
Liverpool have reportedly had a “phone call” with the representatives of a big-money attacking player, as they look to sign a replacement for Darwin Nunez.
Slot's beautiful Jota tribute before Preston
The Reds started their pre-season with a 3-1 win away to Preston North End on Sunday afternoon, on what was an emotional occasion after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota earlier this month.
Prior to the game, Arne Slot provided some beautiful words on the Portuguese, showing exactly why he was such a perfect successor to Jurgen Klopp.
“Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened. But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not. What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota
“And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.”
Now, it is a case of Slot and his Liverpool players trying to achieve lots of success with Jota in their thoughts, and further signings may help in that respect. A new update has now emerged regarding a potential addition in the final third.
Liverpool have "phone call" with £78m Nunez replacement
According to journalist Sebastien Vidal on X, Liverpool have been in contact with a “phone call” to RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko’s agents about a £78m move to Anfield, coming in to replace the likely-to-leave Nunez, who scored against Preston.
Sesko feels like an ideal option to come in and lead the line for the Reds, considering it looks increasingly unlikely that they will be able to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
The 22-year-old is already such a prolific and dominant striker, scoring 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig, as well as 16 in 41 caps for Slovenia.
Slot's next Wirtz: Liverpool in contact to sign "the new Haaland" for £78m
Liverpool are planning to sign a new striker in the summer transfer market.
ByAngus Sinclair Jul 14, 2025
If Liverpool could sign Sesko on top of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez this summer, it would be outstanding business, with a new backup centre-back potentially the next priority after Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Leeds United have now made an approach to sign an “incredible” goalkeeper, who has been identified as a leading target alongside Lyon’s Lucas Perri, according to a report.
Leeds looking for upgrade on Illan Meslier
It has become apparent that Leeds will look to find a replacement for the error-prone Illan Meslier this summer, and journalist Luke Entwistle believes Lyon shot-stopper Perri could be a suitable option.
Entwistle said: “He’s an interesting shout for Leeds in particular. They obviously need a goalkeeper, and I’m sure they’ll be wary of having someone who can’t use their feet, and I’m not saying that he’s in that category, but he did have a few hairy moments.
“I do think he would nonetheless be an upgrade on Meslier in that regard and also in terms of his shot-stopping.”
The Brazilian goalkeeper was identified as the Whites’ number one target to replace Meslier last week, and there have been suggestions that he could be available for a fee of around £20m, given Lyon’s significant financial issues.
Leeds want to sign "amazing" attacker who was once Europa League top scorer
The Whites have identified a new transfer target to bolster their midfield options.
ByBrett Worthington Jul 14, 2025
However, the 27-year-old is not the only option on the shortlist, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing that Leeds have also identified Angers SCO goalkeeper Yahia Fofana as a leading target alongside Perri.
Fofana may be available for a lower fee than the Lyon goalkeeper, with previous reports suggesting he could cost just £8m, and the Whites have now approached Angers to discuss a potential deal.
Angers'YahiaFofanareacts
Perri remains Daniel Farke’s first-choice target, but the Ivorian goalkeeper moving to Elland Road is deemed more likely than Nick Pope, with the 33-year-old determined to stay at Newcastle United ahead of a Champions League campaign.
There is also interest in Meslier from France and Italy, with Leeds now actively trying to get the Frenchman off the books this summer, although none of the interested parties are currently in advanced talks.
"Incredible" Fofana could be solid Perri alternative
Having previously been lauded as “incredible” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango, the 24-year-old went on to have a very impressive 2024-25 campaign at Angers, with fellow scout Ben Mattinson singling him out for high praise.
With an average SofaScore rating of 7.28 in Ligue 1, the Paris-born goalkeeper was by far the best-performing Angers player last term, and his potential availability for just £8m means he would be a low-cost addition to Farke’s squad.
As such, if Perri is unattainable, Fofana could be a fantastic alternative, with the goalkeeper clearly ready to test himself in the Premier League.
Birmingham City aren’t a big fish in a small pond anymore in League One, but the Blues are still acting with plenty of swagger and confidence when it comes to summer moves in the Championship.
Birmingham have already secured the services of seven fresh faces to significantly bolster their squad for the difficult challenge of the Championship, with purchases such as Demarai Gray sticking out as the West Midlands-born winger finally returns home after a Premier League-heavy career elsewhere.
Whilst that move has obviously pulled at the heartstrings of Blues supporters, it does go without saying that the most ambitious pick-up of them all this summer has been securing Kyogo Furuhashi’s signature for a bumper £10m.
Come the end of the breakneck window, Birmingham might even be able to boast an entirely new starting lineup of players just off exciting incomings alone.
With that in mind, if Birmingham do keep up this whirlwind pace, here is what their dream squad could look like come the end of an action-packed summer.
The goalkeepers New number one in the Championship
Despite resoundingly cruising to the League One title last season with only 31 goals conceded, the step-up could see Birmingham change up their number one option in between the sticks.
Indeed, brand-new loanee James Beadle could be the fresh face that usurps last season’s trusty goalkeeper Ryan Allsop on his arrival, with Beadle just fresh off collecting nine clean sheets for Sheffield Wednesday in the challenging division.
The 20-year-old looks to be a star on the rise, having also just played his part in the England U21s lifting the U21 Euros title, with Allsop unfortunately becoming yesterday’s news, consequently.
The Birmingham-born stopper will ensure he’s a reliable back-up pair of gloves even if Beadle does take over first-team duties, with a mammoth 151 career Championship games under his belt seen as a major bonus to keep him around.
Full list of goalkeepers: James Beadle, Ryan Allsop, Bailey Peacock-Farrell
The defenders Fan favourite back for a second spell
Again, Birmingham fans will be content with the majority of defenders already positioned at the club, especially when it comes to the dominant centre-back areas.
Still, if you can enhance the personnel at your disposal for cheap, the Blues aren’t going to pass up the opportunity, with Bright Osayi-Samuel now a new option Davies can call into action in the right-back spot.
This could go down as being an inspired signing on a free transfer, with Osayi-Samuel boasting 109 Championship appearances for both Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool, before going on to enhance his craft more on the books of Fenerbahce. He could also slot into any upcoming XI as a right winger, left winger, or even as a centre-forward if needed.
He will likely battle it out with ex-Manchester United defender Ethan Laird for that right-back spot – with Laird an attacking mainstay on the right flank last season – with Taylor Gardner-Hickman also acting as another adaptable presence that can do a job in defence on the right.
Birmingham City's Ethan Laird in action with Newcastle United'sMattTargett
In the heart of defence as Christoph Klarer will aim to be a regular fixture of Davies’ lineups again, even as the quality of opposition gets trickier.
He will battle it out with Krystian Bielik and potentially Ben Davies if he returns to the club after a loan spell.
Games played
35
Goals scored
1
Assists
1
Touches*
88.6
Accurate passes*
67.9 (88%)
Ball recoveries*
3.3
Clearances*
6.2
Total duels won*
6.3
Clean sheets
20
Phil Neumann is also another option at Davies’ disposal, up a division, with the success story of Klarer coming in from Germany as an unknown entity ready to leave a lasting impression, perhaps rubbing off on the ex-Hannover defender from the get-go.
In the left-back position, it does feel as if this is a spot nailed down by Alex Cochrane, having made a colossal 53 appearances across the 2024/25 campaign. Lee Buchanan will aim to offer competition, but this is Cochrane’s spot to solidify even more, moving up a division.
Full list of right-backs: Ethan Laird, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Taylor Gardner-Hickman
Full list of centre-backs: Christoph Klarer, Phil Neumann, Krystian Bielik, Ben Davies
Full list of left-backs: Alex Cochrane, Lee Buchanan
The midfielders Tomoki Iwata joined by a new partner
Whilst Birmingham’s attacking firepower often stole the headlines last season, the Blues’ central midfield department was also a steady unit all season long.
The main central midfield pairing picked by Davies was Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-Ho, with the duo tallying up a sturdy 95 appearances in all competitions come the final ball being kicked.
Both stars consistently put in classy displays for their promotion-chasing team, with a wonderfully hit effort against Bolton Wanderers last October just one of the six league strikes Iwata would fire home for Davies’ men, whilst Seung-Ho would stylishly spray the ball about for fun from deep with eight big chances created across his 41 League One outings.
They could face competition from reported target Lewis O’Brien, on top of the already confirmed midfield addition of Tommy Doyle.
The Nottingham Forest outcast has been linked with a switch to St. Andrew’s, with his expertise in the taxing division perhaps coming in handy, having played 162 career games at this level.
Doyle would be able to offer something different away from O’Brien’s more attritional approach, with the ex-Manchester City youngster 12 goals and assists down in the taxing league, as seven of those come about during Sheffield United’s promotion-winning heroics during the 2022/23 season.
Marc Leonard will also hope some first-team chances come his way, even as the midfield department gets a slight makeover, off the back of the ex-Northampton Town man chipping in with a reasonable five assists last season.
Full list of midfielders: Tomoki Iwata, Lewis O’Brien, Paik Seung-Ho, Tommy Doyle, Marc Leonard
The forwards "Phenomenal" striker joins alongside Kyogo
Lastly, the positions that always attract the most attention are the forward areas, with Birmingham already boasting a fine selection of attackers, away from any further summer activity.
Down the right, Davies will have Willum Thur Willumsson to call upon up a division after the Icelandic forward tallied up an impressive six goals and six assists in League One, whilst Scott Wright is also available on this flank, having collected just a solitary goal in league action himself as a background figure.
Therefore, whilst the Scotsman will no doubt be a fine utility figure for Davies to have around, he might well want a bit of extra competition on the right channel still, which is where long-term target Sontje Hansen might ruffle a few feathers if he finally makes the switch to St. Andrew’s.
The outrageous solo strike seen above already shows off what Hansen’s main strengths are, with the blistering pace of the Dutchman, mixed with his respectable haul of 20 goals and assists in the Dutch top-flight for NEC Nijmegen, solidifying the notion that he could be a lively menace capable of lighting up English football very soon.
Through the middle behind the lone striker is where Jay Stansfield could reside next season – with his league goal tally of 19 last season ready to be surpassed in the Championship – owing to the amount of top-notch strikers being added to the ranks, with Kanya Fujimoto another viable option in the number ten slot, having just joined Davies’ camp from Gil Vicente in Portugal.
There’s another new face who will be looking to leave his mark, but this time down the left wing in the form of Gray.
The homegrown ace will be chomping at the bit to add his Championship career haul of eight goals and three assists when making his much-talked-about return, knowing that lots of healthy competition will also come his way with both Keshi Anderson and Emil Hansson being positioned on this flank.
The final position in attack that needs plenty of discussion dedicated to it is the lone striker spot, with £10m man Furuhashi desperate to be Birmingham’s leading man.
After all, his clinical Celtic track record does speak for itself, with Furuhashi ending his trophy-laden spell in Glasgow by powering home a mighty 85 goals.
Not even EFL veteran Alfie May can compete with that, unfortunately, as the experienced striker is under threat from sliding down the pecking order for this forthcoming season, with his career tally overall coming in at 133 strikes, which isn’t that much heftier than his Japanese counterpart’s sole goal total in Scotland.
Yet, if Birmingham really want to send out a statement, they might well consider a final hour move for Premier League regular Danny Ings, with rumours suggesting a free transfer move was on the cards.
For nothing, the Blues would be able to win a “phenomenal” goal machine – as he was once glowingly labelled by football pundit Noel Whelan – as seen in his 72 strikes right at the pinnacle of the English game.
Full list of right wingers: Willum Thor Willumsson, Scott Wright, Sontje Hansen
Full list of attacking midfielders: Jay Stansfield, Kanya Fujimoto
Full list of left wingers: Demarai Gray, Keshi Anderson, Emil Hansson
Full list of strikers: Kyogo Furuhashi, Danny Ings, Alfie May
Once worth £30m: Birmingham could sign a bigger talent than Kyogo for £0
Birmingham City will want to press on with even more summer signings as this free agent is now potentially eyed up.
Elland Road will no doubt be packed to the rafters when Everton travel across West Yorkshire for Leeds United’s hotly anticipated Premier League opener.
Plenty of new faces are likely to line up for Daniel Farke’s men to get the top-flight season underway, with Jaka Bijol aiming to impress in pre-season to seal a starting spot, alongside fellow fresh signing Lukas Nmecha.
Plenty more purchases are surely in the works ahead of Leeds bravely venturing up a league.
Leeds make £12m star a top priority target
It’s safe to say the Whites haven’t had it all their own way in the transfer window so far with key midfield target Habib Diarra heading to Sunderland instead with a club-record £30m wrapped up.
So, with that fresh blow still fresh in their mind, they could return to Ligue 1 to seal a different signing.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Indeed, as per a new report from French outlet L’Equipe, Leeds are very interested in securing the cut-price services of Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri this summer.
Lyon will be raided for all of their top assets off the back of the French giants being relegated to Ligue 2 following financial problems and the Whites have now made the Brazilian stopper a top priority target in a bid to improve their goalkeeper options up a division.
Leeds might well have an upper hand in the race to land the Brazilian if they are adamant he’s their desired man in between the sticks, with Saudi outfit Neom also keen on the 27-year-old ‘keeper amid rumours of a £12m bid potentially being put on the table.
Farke and Co. would happily fork out such an amount, with Bijol only costing £3m more to obtain from Udinese, as the newly promoted side continues to shop in Europe to land some gems.
How Perri could be Bijol 2.0
After all, this isn’t a transfer strategy that has just come from out of the blue for Leeds, with Raphinha once purchased for a mere £17m when leaving Rennes behind in 2020.
Obviously, the rest ended up being history for the Brazilian from that point on, with Bijol hopeful he can arrive on English shores and explode into life in a similar way to Raphinha by becoming a confident and assured performer in the deep-end of the Premier League.
His numbers when excelling in the Serie A indicate that he will be a hit at Elland Road, as seen in the Slovenian brute winning an imperious 4.8 duels on average last season in the Italian top-flight, on top of collecting eight clean sheets.
Therefore, landing the 26-year-old’s services for £15m might go down as a future steal if he is a rip-roaring success story in West Yorkshire, with the extra addition of Perri to the building potentially shoring up Farke and Co even more ahead of a daunting season.
Games played
33
Goals conceded
44
Clean sheets
10
Saves*
3.5
Goals conceded*
1.3
Goals prevented
+6.05
Much like Bijol, Perri was a consistent top performer in a top-five league all through last season, even as off-field turbulence threatened to derail the on-field situation, with a glowing number of +6.05 goals being prevented across his 33 league encounters.
To rubberstamp how much of an upgrade he would be, Illan Meslier’s tally in that department fell victim to -2.73 goals being prevented.
Even lauded as “the best goalkeeper in the world” by his manager Paolo Fonseca earlier this campaign, it feels like a no-brainer on Leeds’ end to try and capitalise on Lyon’s financial woes and land Perri as an upgrade on the shaky Meslier.
Of course, both of these deals could unfortunately go the other way, with the defensive duo finding their new terrain to be too extreme.
But, when assessing how well they’ve done in some tough European leagues to date, snapping up both Bijol and Perri might actually be heralded as a pair of genius deals down the line.
Leeds preparing bid to sign "powerful" captain for £12m this summer
The Whites have a midfielder in their sights this summer…
Liverpool’s attacking unit has been truly frightening this season, undoubtedly playing a massive role in their ability to claim the Premier League title in 2024/25.
Mohamed Salah was undoubtedly the shining light in such a department, netting 29 goals and registering 18 assists in his 38 outings for Arne Slot’s men.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz shared the responsibility on the left-hand side, with the aforementioned duo netting 23 goals between them in the league.
However, the one complaint was with the centre-forward position, with the Reds needing an elite-level talisman to further increase their chances of retaining their crown next time around.
With Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota both touted with moves away from Anfield, the hierarchy may have funds to play with, allowing Slot to get his hands on the star striker he greatly desires.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for a new striker this summer
Alexander Isak has been the dream option over the last couple of months for Liverpool, but his £150m asking price has scuppered any chances of landing the Swede’s signature this window.
Viktor Gyokeres is another name who’s been mentioned with a move to Merseyside, but like Isak, a deal looks unlikely after claiming he’s keen on a move to Arsenal.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
Such situations have led the Reds to other targets, with RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko the latest talent in their sights, according to journalist James Wathland.
He claims that the hierarchy have already made contact with the Slovenian’s representatives over a move to Anfield, with Arsenal also in the race for his signature.
It’s also been reported that the player himself would be keen on a move to join Slot’s side, potentially moving to the Premier League off the back of a 21-goal campaign in Germany.
Why Sesko would be a better signing than Ekitike for Liverpool
In recent days, Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké has been a man in demand, with numerous Premier League clubs registering interest in a move for the forward this summer.
Eintracht Frankfurt's HugoEkitikecelebrates
Liverpool are just one side in the race, with Manchester United and Chelsea just two of the sides battling it out for his signature during the off-season.
His tally of 22 goals across all competitions in 2024/25 makes the interest no surprise, with the Frenchman potentially able to be the number nine the Reds have been hunting for.
However, if they are to agree a move with the 22-year-old, they would have to fork out a fee in the region of £84m, potentially being a deal worth walking away from.
Should they decide to move onto other targets once more, Sesko should be their number one target to fill the void, with the striker being labelled the “new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
He possesses a very similar frame to the Norwegian, whilst also having a lethal strike, which has seen him score numerous long-range efforts during his time in Germany.
The 21-year-old is also a huge threat in the air, similar to that of the Manchester City star, with Sesko potentially being the final piece in Slot’s Liverpool puzzle.
Games played
33
Goals scored
13
Shots on target per game
1.2
Goals scored per 90
0.5
Dribbles completed
55%
Aerials won
57%
Duels won
5.1
When comparing his stats to those of Ekitike this campaign, he may have scored fewer goals, but has managed a better goal per shot on target rate – handing the club the clinical option they’ve been hunting for.
He’s also dominated aerially, winning more of the aerial duels he’s entered throughout 2024/25, with his skillset allowing for a focal point for the likes of Salah, Diaz and Gakpo to play off.
Whilst both players would likely improve the options currently at the manager’s disposal, it’s pivotal that the Reds pursue a move for Sesko over Ekitike, with his stats backing up why he’d be a more effective option.
Should he manage to follow in Haaland’s footsteps in England, it would be a bargain regardless of the price tag, handing the club the added threat in their pursuit of back-to-back league titles.
Perfect for Isak: Liverpool told £75m bid for PL star will be accepted
Liverpool may need to sign a new left-sided forward this summer.
Newcastle United swerved past PSR ramifications last summer and are now ready to make some proper investments in Eddie Howe’s team.
Though the mood was dour on Tyneside across the opening months of the 2024/25 campaign, with form at a low ebb after key targets were missed across the closing weeks of the transfer window, the Magpies ended up flying high.
Newcastle United manager EddieHowebefore the match
Liverpool were thrashed at Wembley, the 2-1 scoreline flattering the losers in the Carabao Cup final, and a Herculean effort to seal fifth in the Premier League unlocked the gates back into the Champions League.
St. James’ Park presents an attractive project, for sure, but Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo threw a spanner in the works when rejecting the Magpies’ interest due to a desire to move to Manchester United.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
Newcastle, as always, will adapt, and indeed have found the perfect alternative.
Newcastle open talks for Mbeumo alternative
Mbeumo might be out of reach, but at least Newcastle have got the funds to launch on a top right-sided forward, with Brentford demanding around £60m for their talisman.
And if The Athletic are worth their salt (they are), the Toon have been having discussions behind the scenes about signing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo as they look to complete Howe’s frontline.
Semenyo, 25, was a revelation on the south coast last season, providing a prolific and dynamic threat.
Having proven himself across two seasons in England’s top flight, the Cherries would be looking for a £70m fee if they are to cash in, and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen.
What Antoine Semenyo would bring to Newcastle
Bournemouth signed Semenyo from the Championship’s Bristol City for £10.5m in January 2023, and he’s since gone from strength to strength under Andoni Iraola’s leadership.
Antoine Semenyo in Premier League action for Bournemouth.
The aforementioned Athletic report states that while Howe is determined to add some firepower to Newcastle’s right wing, balance and multi-positionality are factors which will play into the manager’s reckoning. Semenyo, luckily, embodies such tactical principles and could be a fantastic fit.
Having been shuffled about the frontline last season, the two-footed talent has demonstrated an aptitude across different areas, always retaining a strong degree of potency.
Left winger
20
5
4
Right winger
19
6
1
Centre-forward
1
1
0
Moreover, he’s been hailed as a “workhorse” and a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, owing to an underlying tenacity that speaks of his combativeness, his desire to win.
It is for these reasons that he might prove to be an ideal Mbeumo alternative. As per FBref, Semenyo ranked among the top 5% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers last year for shots taken per 90, and his unrelenting search for goals led the data-powered site to list Mbeumo as one of his most comparable players.
Semenyo’s incremental progress over the past two years makes a telling comment on his chances of succeeding in Howe’s Newcastle system.
He has the underlying qualities to mirror those of Semenyo, who finished the campaign having scored 20 goals from 38 Premier League appearances, but also having averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.4 dribbles and 4.7 duels per game, as per Sofascore.
If Semenyo can tune that ball-striking hunger, streamline it, he might become a sensational part of a Newcastle side that just continues to exceed expectations.
Newcastle's most expensive sales of all time
A look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.
Liverpool have held back in recent transfer markets, opting against springing into the scramble for new players and instead relying on their existing stars.
It’s paid off, and handsomely at that. Aside from Federico Chiesa, who joined from Juventus for £12.5m last summer but only started once in the Premier League and is being touted for a move back to Italy, no first-teamers have arrived since August 2023, when Jurgen Klopp applied the finishing strokes to his midfield remodel.
Well, that was the case, at least, until FSG activated Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause last month, and welcomed the right-sider from Bayer Leverkusen.
Frimpong, electric-paced and positionally flexible, replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold. Elsewhere, Milos Kerkez is in talks to leave Bournemouth and shore up the left flank, while Florian Wirtz is on the verge of following Frimpong from the BayArena to Anfield.
Negotiations have maybe been a tad protracted, but this is a potential British-record signing, and still, his announcement is but a formality at this stage (famous last words).
Fans got a chance to see their potential new superstar in action last night. Germany might have lost in their Nations League semi-final tie to Portugal, but the 22-year-old proved his talent.
Florian Wirtz's performance vs Portugal
Beady-eyed detractors watched on in hopes of Wirtz struggling to make an impression on the international stage, but he scored the opener and was firmly involved in much of the contest.
Florian Wirtz scores for Germany
Clever shimmies, well-worked one-twos and indeed a desire to get at the heart of the affair, on both sides of the field, all highlighted the calibre of player Liverpool could welcome into their fold, even if he trudged home as one of the defeated.
It wasn’t a display that left nothing to be desired, however. Pitted against opposite counterparts Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, the Werkself icon was always going to be up against it.
Minutes played
90′
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots (on target)
2 (2)
Accurate passes
32/42 (76%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles
3/5
Tackles
3
Duels won
9/16
Still, he scored, showcased his technical range and indeed a defensive persistence that will serve him well under Slot’s wing. The Liverpool head coach, remember, withdrew Jarell Quansah at half-time on his debut last season following concerns over his side’s success in the duel (or, more correctly, lack thereof).
Wirtz could almost complete the puzzle, ensure Slot has the means to win more gold next year. However, Liverpool also need a striker, and may well be planning a hijack for a new nine.
Liverpool plan hijack for new Striker
RB Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this year, and thus are resigned to selling Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons, their two most profitable players.
And according to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool could be ready to compete with Arsenal for centre-forward Sesko, potentially seeking to hijack Mikel Arteta’s move.
“The biggest question mark will be over the number nine and if they can genuinely go for Alexander Isak,” Jacobs said.
“Will they drop the £100m that Frankfurt are asking for Hugo Ekitike, they could even enter the race for Benjamin Sesko even though it feels like Arsenal are more advanced on that one at the moment.”
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Gunners are “more advanced” in their pursuit, but the striker market is rather slim and Sesko, 22, has a €80m (about £67m) release clause.
That’s more affordable than the likes of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool would strike gold with Benjamin Sesko
Liverpool are undergoing a series of changes this summer, and Darwin Nunez is expected to be a part of the exodus, making way for a new striker.
Sesko’s a raw talent, his potential yet untapped, but he’s undoubtedly a star in the making, having scored 39 goals and laid on eight assists across 87 appearances for Leipzig.
The Slovenia international has even been declared “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with his incredible power, rangy frame and pace (he’s “one of the fastest players on the planet”) aligning with the Manchester City superstar, who has scored 121 goals from 142 appearances in Pep Guardiola’s team, notably winning the treble. There’s the exemplar, right there.
It would be a fool’s notion to expect a similar pathway for Sesko, but then there’s no denying he’s got all the pieces to become a top talent in the Premier League, especially so if he’s been sourced by a creative phenom in Wirtz.
Wirtz, indeed, will depart Leverkusen having won the 2023/24 Bundesliga as an invincible, winning the Player of the Season. In total, he’s notched 122 goal contributions from 197 total matches for the Werkself.
Florian Wirtz
Taking a closer look at the German playmaker’s extraordinary skill set, we see his passing and line-breaking qualities could serve chance upon chance on a silver platter for Sesko.
As per FBref, Wirtz ranked among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers this season for goal contributions, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
When not threading surgical passes through to Sesko, Wirtz would be charging forward himself, left skip, right, left, right. His slaloming style, expertly weaving past hopeless opponents, would take the heat off the central striker, allow him to get into space.
Then, the pass is played, and Liverpool are ahead once again.
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The final day of the Premier League season saw controversy and agony for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side were on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League, but ended up falling down to sixth in the table and only reaching the Europa League after a 2-0 loss away to Manchester United.
The controversial moment came with the scoreline at 0-0. Morgan Rogers, a key player for the Villans, stole the ball from Altay Bayindir’s grasp and converted home. However, the referee blew the whistle before the England international scored, meaning VAR could not intervene.
With Villa missing out on Champions League football, you may think that will stop them competing for the big signings this summer with those who did qualify. However, before the window has even opened, that does not seem to be the case.
The latest Villa transfer news
It seems like the Villans will need to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer. Recent reports suggest that Emiliano Martinez will leave the club, with former side Arsenal lining up a move if David Raya leaves North London.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
If that is the case, reports in one Spanish newspaper, via Sport Witness, suggest the Villans have placed a bid for his replacement.
That man is Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who is also wanted by La Liga giants Barcelona, as well as the Gunners and south coast outfit Bournemouth.
Espanyol's Joan Garcia makes a save
There is also interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli, who have just won their fourth Scudetto. If Villa really have made a bid, it would need to be in the region of £21m, which is thought to be his release clause.
Why Garcia would be a good signing
There is perhaps no goalkeeper who is more highly rated in Europe this season than Garcia. The 24-year-old, who was born in Sallent de Llobregat, a small town outside of Barcelona, was named in WhoScored’s La Liga team of the season.
Indeed, that was the sort of impression he left on the rest of European football this term, hence the interest from Villa and co. Garcia kept eight clean sheets in 38 La Liga appearances for Espanyol this season.
RCDEspanyol'sJoanGarciain action with FC Barcelona's Hector Fort
According to FBref, there were just six goalkeepers in La Liga who kept more clean sheets than Garcia in 2024/25. Impressively, he made the most saves with 140, and had the fifth highest save rate of 75.5%.
Goals conceded per game
1.34
14th
Saves
140
1st
Saves per game
3.68
4th
Save percentage
75.5%
5th
Clean sheets
8
=6th
A colossus between the sticks, the 24-year-old was described as a “big game player” by football analyst Ben Mattinson. Garcia certainly stood up for the count against Real Madrid in 2024/25.
At the start of September, he made ten saves in a single game, which he repeated against Real Betis days later. In the return fixture in February, he kept a clean sheet to help his side win 1-0.
If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will be hoping he can be as good as Pau Torres has been in that famous Claret and Blue shirt. The Spaniard made the move to Villa Park back in 2023 for £31.5m from LaLiga side Villarreal.
During his two-year stay at Villa Park so far, the defender has made 73 appearances, even managing to chip in with two goals and three assists, although both of those strikes came last season.
Once described as a “fantastic player” by former Man United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Torres has been excellent for Villa. That is in spite of some injuries which he has been able to bounce back from.
If Villa do bring Garcia to the club this summer, they will surely be hoping he can have as much of an impact in the West Midlands as Torres has so far, following his own switch from Spain.
He certainly brings great pedigree, and will surely be hoping to have a big part to play as they look to win the Europa League next season.
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Manchester United fell to their 15th Premier League defeat of the season earlier this afternoon, losing 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
Pablo Sarabia’s free kick just 10 minutes from time secured all three points for Vitor Pereira’s side, cementing their Premier League status for another season.
The defeat saw them achieve their highest tally of losses in a single league campaign since 1989/90, highlighting the job Ruben Amorim has on his hands this summer.
Whilst all their attention is undoubtedly on the Europa League, wins are needed to make the 2024/25 campaign look somewhat respectable after the lows they’ve endured.
Numerous players failed to deliver once more yesterday, potentially putting their starting roles at risk ahead of the crunch European clash in just over a week’s time.
Man Utd’s poor performers against Wolves
Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was rewarded for his heroics on Thursday night with a start this afternoon, but failed to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way.
The 20-year-old managed just 31 touches during the defeat, failing to complete any of the dribbles he attempted and only winning 33% of the ground duels he entered.
He wasn’t the only United star to fail to deliver, with fellow midfielder Manuel Ugarte looking tired after featuring in the majority of the outing against Lyon.
The Uruguayan only managed to win one tackle, losing possession 11 times and often looking wasteful when having the chance to find one of his teammates.
However, despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other Red Devils player once again failed to impress, with Amorim needing to make a brutal call on his future this summer.
The player who Amorim needs to axe this summer
The task of the summer rebuild was made even more obvious to Amorim this afternoon, coming back to earth with a bang after their Europa League triumph just a couple of days ago.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorim
Huge decisions are needed all over the pitch to avoid a repeat of this afternoon’s embarrassing defeat, with additions and sales needed if they are to return to their former glory.
One of the players who desperately needs selling in the coming months is striker Rasmus Hojlund, who has blown every single chance he’s had to impress under Amorim.
The Dane cost the Red Devils a staggering £72m back in the summer of 2023, but has ultimately failed to deliver this campaign, scoring eight times in his 45 outings across all competitions.
At one stage, he went 21 games without a goal, but he’s been handed the responsibility at the top end after Joshua Zirkzee’s season-ending hamstring injury.
His lack of impact was evident once again today, registering a total of just 14 touches in his 70-minute showing, leading to journalist Alex Turk labelling him as “atrocious”.
Hojlund also only completed six passes and won just two duels, often being a passenger throughout the meeting, failing to make any sort of impact, making it feel as though the side were operating with just ten men.
To top off his dismal showing, he was handed a measly 3/10 match rating by Turk, highlighting his lack of impact throughout the contest – ultimately leading to his withdrawal.
Minutes played
70
Touches
14
Passes completed
6/8
Duels won
2
Possession lost
5x
Shots taken
1
Times caught offside
1x
There’s no denying that Amorim desperately needs to strengthen the front line over the summer, with Hojlund simply not at the level of a side pushing for a return to the top four.
Whilst they will lose a small fortune on their big-money investment, parting ways with him is the only option, with any funds generated massively helping their pursuit of a new talisman ahead of 2025/26.
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