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Liverpool won the Premier League last season. Could they repeat the trick in Arne Slot’s second season?

Though underdogs last year, with Jurgen Klopp having stepped down from his post, the Reds’ success under Slot’s wing and the sweeping changes that have been enforced across the past two months of the summer transfer window have changed the lens through which rivals view the Anfield side.

Now, the champions are ready to go again, with Mohamed Salah handed some degree of fresh offensive quality to partner him in the final third. Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike; stand up.

But more may yet be on the horizon.

Liverpool lining up another signing

Luis Diaz is set to finalise his transfer to Bayern Munich imminently, with the German Bundesliga champions having agreed a £65.5m fee with Liverpool.

Should the deal go through (and it’s certainly set to), Liverpool will need a replacement, especially as Darwin Nunez prepares to start a new chapter in his career this summer too.

Well, according to Sky Sports Switzerland, Liverpool have officially launched their bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak this week, having agreed personal terms with the Sweden striker.

Fabrizio Romano previously confirmed that Liverpool would look to advance their bid for Isak, who only wants Anfield, after cashing in on Diaz.

Newcastle might end up reluctantly cashing in, but only if their asking price, in the ballpark of £130m, is met.

Why Liverpool want Alexander Isak

Across three seasons in England with Newcastle, the 25-year-old Isak has established himself as one of the best in the business, with analyst Raj Chohan even hailing him as “the best striker in the world” for his efforts across the 2024/25 campaign.

Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions, but he is so much more than just a goalscorer. As per FBref, he also ranked among the top 16% of forwards across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90.

He’s an incredible striker, but more importantly, he’s a phenomenal player. In this way, the £120k-per-week Isak has what it takes to step up as Liverpool’s new talisman, having already been called a “world-class” player by pundit Alan Shearer.

Despite signing a new two-year deal in April, Salah is now 33 and won’t maintain his current level forever.

At times last season, it felt as if Salah single-handedly dragged Liverpool to the Premier League title, incredibly clinching 57 goal contributions across all competitions.

Isak has that star quality that could see him clutch the proverbial torch and push Liverpool forward through the coming era.

Though Isak might not be the positional heir to Salah’s throne, given that people are already talking about him, there’s every reason for Merseyside fans to start getting excited, for they have a superstar in their sights.

Having spent three years establishing himself in the English top flight, Newcastle’s focal frontman is now ready to take the next step in his career and join Slot’s squad.

And while fans will be treated to a partnership between Isak and Salah – should the striker indeed sign this summer – for the next two seasons, Slot might end up finding that he’s landed his new version of the Egyptian King in this deadly number nine.

Shades of Coutinho: Liverpool make contact to sign "complete" £30m star

Liverpool are ready to sign a new defender after Joe Gomez’s injury.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 29, 2025

Barcelona have been dealt a brutal blow with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal set to miss at least three matches through injury, sparking a war of words between manager Hansi Flick and the Spanish FA. The 18-year-old winger, already one of Europe’s most dazzling prospects, is sidelined by a stubborn groin problem that has been aggravated during international duty.

• Flick's fury over Spain's handling

  The saga erupted after Spain fielded Yamal in back-to-back fixtures against Bulgaria and Turkey despite him reporting discomfort before linking up with the squad. Flick didn’t mince his words, accusing La Roja’s coaching staff of negligence for risking the teenager’s long-term health.

  "Lamine already went to the national team in pain. He took painkillers and played with the national team in pain," Flick stated. "He had problems, and played 79 and 73 minutes. That's not looking after the players. The Spanish national team has the best players in the world, but we should be looking after the professionals. Also the young players."

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  Yamal's recovery timeline

  According toYamal will definitely sit out Barca’s Champions League curtain-raiser against Newcastle on Thursday, while La Liga clashes with Getafe and Oviedo are also expected to come too soon. The most optimistic outlook is a cameo against Real Sociedad, but the club’s medical staff insist the true target is Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on October 1, a game where Barcelona need their young talisman fully fit.

• Barca not willing to take any shortcut

  Medical sources around Camp Nou confirm that Yamal’s issue is centred on his pubic bone, an injury picked up against Levante and worsened in the bruising contest at Rayo Vallecano. The condition requires careful management and patience – push too hard, and relapse is almost guaranteed.

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  Yamal has taken to physiotherapy

  Yamal is currently undergoing daily physiotherapy sessions, tailored strengthening exercises, and specific treatment designed to speed up recovery. But the club are adamant: there will be zero risks. Away from the treatment table, Barcelona officials are now taking steps to smooth relations with the Spanish federation. Sporting director Deco is set to sit down with RFEF technical chief Aitor Karanka to establish clearer lines of communication around player fitness. The idea is to implement joint monitoring protocols and more transparency so clubs aren’t blindsided when players return in worse condition than when they left. With Yamal seen as a generational jewel, the last thing Barca want is another tug-of-war with the national side.

It is fair to say that Glasgow Rangers did not kick off the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership campaign in the way that they wanted to at Fir Park on Saturday.

The Ibrox giants faced Motherwell away from home in Russell Martin’s first league game in charge of the club, and failed to pick up all three points.

A late equaliser from Emmanuel Longelo, after captain James Tavernier had given the Gers the lead in the first half, secured a point for the home side, in a game which left the Light Blues boss seething.

Extraordinarily, Martin told some of his players to “drop their egos” and accused unnamed players of doing what they wanted to do and jogging around, rather than putting in maximum effort and listening to the instructions that they were given, in his post-match interview.

Only the Rangers boss will know exactly who he was referencing with his rather scathing comments, but anyone who watched the match will be able to identify the players who were not up to it from a quality perspective.

Why Rangers need to drop Danilo

Brazilian centre-forward Danilo was one of the Gers players who did not do enough on the pitch to suggest that he deserves to keep his place in the starting XI.

Partially due to fitness issues for Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, the former Feyenoord attacker has started all three of the club’s games this season, lining up for both legs against Panathinaikos and the draw with Motherwell.

Danilo, who scored five goals in 24 appearances in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, did not provide a single goal or assist in any of those three matches for the Gers.

Igamane and Dessers not being fully fit to start provided the 24-year-old attacker with a huge opportunity to show Martin that he has what it takes to be a key player this season, but he failed to do so.

As you can see in the table above, Danilo offered very little threat across the three matches, with just one shot on target and zero ‘big chances’ created.

After the draw with Motherwell, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd said that the Brazilian is “not working” as the sole number nine and that Dessers should start.

The Light Blues could, though, sign a new centre-forward to start over both of them, and there is one reported target who is now being told that he would be a huge success at Ibrox.

Rangers transfer target tipped to run riot at Ibrox

Rangers have been linked with an interest in signing free agent number nine Jamie Vardy, who left Leicester City when his contract expired at the end of last season.

Now, former Gers defender David Robinson has told the former England international that he would “run riot” in Glasgow if he made the move to the Scottish giants this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Robinson told Ibrox News: “I think he would run riot in Scotland, to be honest. I think the whole club, it would change everything.

“He’s still got the pace about him. No offence to the other teams in Scotland, he would cause them so many problems because he plays on the shoulder and runs in behind. If Rangers played a little more direct with Vardy, he would make that difference.”

It remains to be seen whether or not the experienced marksman wants to make the move to Ibrox, but he could come in as a big upgrade on Danilo if he does.

Why Rangers should sign Jamie Vardy

As Robinson said, Vardy is still an incredibly mobile player who will cause defenders constant problems with his running and his physicality, as shown by his performances in the Premier League last year.

Extraordinarily, the 38-year-old star plundered nine goals and four assists in the English top-flight for Leicester, despite playing in a side that were relegated from the division.

The former Premier League champion started 35 times and showcased his physical qualities by winning 48% of his ground duels and 48% of his aerial battles for the Foxes.

Meanwhile, Danilo lost 61% of his ground duels and 71% of his aerial duels across 23 appearances in the Premiership for Rangers in the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that he is a liability to the team out of possession.

As you can see in the table above, Vardy has held his own in duels in both the Championship and the Premier League over the past two seasons, despite his age, which suggests that he would be a big upgrade on Danilo in terms of what the striker offers to the team as a physical presence.

The English icon could also come in at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Danilo because of the goal threat that he can provide in the number nine position.

Vardy has scored 27 league goals in the last two seasons. Meanwhile, the Brazilian attacker has scored nine goals in the Premiership for Rangers in that time.

These statistics suggest that the 38-year-old marksman could be more likely to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch over the course of the season for Martin, which is why he could be a fantastic addition to the squad.

End the Aarons experiment: Rangers make contact to sign "offensive" star

Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a star who could end the Max Aarons experiment.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 1, 2025

It is now down to the club to make a move for the English star, though, and to convince him to make the switch to Ibrox to “run riot” as a big upgrade on Danilo.

As they do every year, Chelsea have really made the most of the transfer window so far.

The board have been able to shift players like Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke while bringing in a handful of seriously exciting and potentially game-changing talents.

The likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens should make them far more dangerous in attack, while Jorrel Hato looks like he could develop into a superstar defender.

Moreover, the Blues clearly want to do even more business before the window closes and have been linked with someone who could be their own Eberechi Eze.

Chelsea target their own Eze

Despite already doing so much business this summer, Chelsea appear intent on bringing in at least a few more players.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, the deal for Alejandro Garnacho seems to be moving along at a pace, and Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapié continues to be touted for a move to Stamford Bridge following Levi Colwill’s ACL injury.

However, there is an even more exciting deal the West Londoners could pull off this summer that would see them land someone who could be their own Eze.

At least that is according to a recent report by Kieran Gill, who has reaffirmed Chelsea’s interest in Xavi Simons.

More than that, though, Gill has revealed that, despite interest from Bayern Munich, the RB Leipzig star “only wants Chelsea” this summer.

While no price for the Dutchman is mentioned in the report, stories from earlier this summer claim that a fee of around £61m should be enough to tempt the German side into selling.

It would be a significant investment from Chelsea, but Simons has proven himself over the last few years and could even be their own version of Eze.

Why Simons could be Chelsea's Eze

Now, even though Simons is five years his junior, and therefore in a different phase of his career and development, there are still some key similarities he shares with Eze, such as his versatility.

For example, even though he has been described as “one of the best 10s in the world” by one analyst, and has spent plenty of time playing there, the 22-year-old dynamo is just as comfortable off the left.

In fact, the Amsterdam-born star is more versatile than the Englishman, as he can also play off the right and has even spent some time playing up top as a centre-forward.

The second similarity with the Palace star is his effectiveness when it comes to goals and assists.

In just 33 appearances for Leipzig last season, totalling 2763 minutes, the dynamic “game-changer,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, put the ball in the back of the net 11 times and then provided eight assists to boot.

That means that the former PSV Eindhoven gem maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.

Finally, just as the former QPR gem has been entertaining fans in the Premier League for a few years now, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace is the sort of player who’ll get fans on their feet.

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga last season for passes into the penalty area, through balls and carries into the final third, all per 90.

In other words, on top of his brilliant output, the Flying Dutchman is someone who will progress the game for his side, either with pinpoint accurate passes into dangerous areas, or bringing it there with a dribble.

Ultimately, while it might take him a little while to adjust to the Premier League, Simons looks like he has everything he’d need to be the next Eze, and therefore, Chelsea should be doing all they can to bring him to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea verbally agree deal for £192k-a-week star but need Nkunku to leave

It’s a case of one in, one out at Stamford Bridge.

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 16, 2025

Keylor Navas’ arrival has transformed Pumas' defense, with the veteran goalkeeper providing much-needed leadership for their backline. Since the former Real Madrid goalkeeper took over in net, Efraín Juárez’s side has surged. The Universitarios stretched their unbeaten run to seven with a 1-1 draw against Tigres, climbing to seventh in the table.

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  A top-tier signing

  Although Pumas currently sit outside Liga MX’s top five and would be facing the play-in round if the Apertura 2025 ended today, Navas’ impact between the posts gives the club plenty to celebrate. Since making his debut in Week 3, Pumas have the stingiest defense in the league, conceding only four goals across seven matches. The team hasn’t lost since his arrival.

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  Navas by the numbers

  Pumas’ rocky start, which saw them allow six goals in the first two games with young keeper Rodrigo Parra, now feels like a distant memory. Pumas' defensive resurgence is far ahead of their closest competitors, Cruz Azul and Tijuana, who have conceded seven goals each in the same span. Out of the seven matches Navas has started, Pumas has recorded three shutouts. Only Tigres surpasses them with four clean sheets, though they’ve played one extra game due to the postponed Week 1 fixture.

  Overall, Pumas have posted three wins and four draws since Navas became their starting goalkeeper, placing them solidly in the top eight. 

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  Getting praise from legends

  Pumas' legendary goalkeeper Miguel Alejandro Palacios, known as “Pikolín,” highlighted Navas’ outstanding form in Mexico.

   “He’s a great goalkeeper, a historic one. He’s arrived at the best team in Mexico, and I hope he enjoys it. Enjoy playing for Pumas, guarding that goal, and having that connection with one of the best fanbases,” Palacios told ESPN.

  Palacios made 206 league appearances for Pumas between 2003 and 2017, winning four Liga MX titles. 

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  What next for Pumas?

  will look to extend this positive streak when they visit FC Juárez on Tuesday in Week 10, with a key clash against América scheduled for the following Saturday.

Newcastle United lacked the firepower you might expect from a team without Alexander Isak’s potency on the opening day of the Premier League away at Aston Villa.

16 shots would pass Eddie Howe’s Magpies by during the 0-0 stalemate in the West Midlands, with Anthony Gordon having to line up as an out-and-out centre-forward in the absence of their Swedish star-man.

Despite the frustrating final scoreline, Howe would praise the togetherness of his Toon camp come the full-time whistle.

But, he will know, deep down, that a new striker is still a must, as the wasteful Magpies look to be closing in on a dangerous attacker to finally fill Isak’s void.

Newcastle close to signing £35m striker

It has been a bumpy transfer window of various signings that look to be wrapped up, then astonishingly falling to the wayside.

This heartbreak has regularly occurred involving the Toon’s ongoing pursuit of a fresh striker, with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap once being eyed up before Chelsea swooped in, while Benjamin Sesko was reportedly close to a Tyneside switch, before moving to Manchester United over St James’ Park.

All this agony would be swiftly swept under the carpet if Craig Hope’s recent development is to be believed, with the Daily Mail journalist stating on YouTube that he remains convinced by Yoane Wissa finally going to the Magpies next week, after being on Howe and Co’s shortlist all summer long.

Hope said: “I remain convinced he [Wissa] is going to come in next week.”

It remains to be seen how much Newcastle would have to cough up for the Congolese attacker’s services, with a price tag around the £35m mark previously being talked about.

Transfer Focus

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

Adding in Wissa, no matter the amount, feels like the correct move to make to try to get the Isak situation under more control, with the 28-year-old already a well-established threat in the Premier League, much like his soon-to-be teammate Anthony Elanga.

How Wissa can be Elanga 2.0

Before going on to cost Howe’s men a whopping £55m this summer, Elanga was a wide-eyed attacker attempting to cut his teeth in the Premier League away from his boyhood Red Devils.

After all, Isak’s fellow Scandinavian compatriot would only muster up four goals and four assists in the senior scene at Old Trafford. At the City Ground, however, he would turn into a gung-ho treat to watch, not shackled by the expectation of attempting to be the next emerging star at the Theatre of Dreams.

Under Nuno Espirito Santo’s wing, Elanga would collect 11 goals and 21 assists wearing Garibaldi Red, with Howe hopeful he can strike gold again with another attacker who has risen up the ranks at the Bees and only gotten better with time in Wissa.

Staggeringly, Wissa’s debut season in the demanding English top-flight only saw him fire home two league goals as an out-and-out centre-forward.

Yet, with some successful tweaking by Frank, who was a transformative figure for the 28-year-old – much like Elanga under Nuno’s tutelage – he would manage to explode into life as a clinical, ice-cold centre-forward, next to his trusty sidekick in Bryan Mbeumo.

By being chucked into the XI as a main striker, Wissa has managed to reach heights even he wouldn’t have anticipated when leaving FC Lorient behind in 2021, with the “amazing” attacker – as he’s been recently labelled by Frank’s replacement in Keith Andrews – just fresh off a career-best season when firing home a blistering 20 efforts from 39 contests.

With Elanga on 12 assists in all competitions last season, too, this really could be a dream match-up, as the pair attempt to be new attacking heroes for the die-hard Magpies faithful to latch onto.

There will, of course, be a lot of pressure on Wissa’s shoulders to succeed, as the Toon masses crave a dream replacement for Isak.

But, he has soared under the strain of being Brentford’s main man previously, much like Elanga should look assured over a full season on Tyneside, too, having also taken his game to that next level in Nottingham.

Newcastle now preparing £69m offer to sign "maverick" new Isak replacement

What a signing this would be for the Magpies.

By
Henry Jackson

Aug 17, 2025

Jurgen Klopp's decision to step down as Liverpool boss rocked the world of football. The resurgent Reds were top of the Premier League and still in three cup competitions when the Kop idol announced on January 26, 2004 that he would leave Anfield at the end of the season.

"I can understand that it's a shock for a lot of people at this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it," Klopp told the club's official website.

"I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything.

"But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take. It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy."

The supporters were stunned. There had been some signs of fatigue and frustration the year before but nobody had seen Klopp's imminent exit coming – not even Klopp's assistant Peter Krawietz…

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  'I understood Jurgen's explanations'

  "Jurgen called me at the time and said I should come to see him. He said that we needed to discuss something," Krawietz explains in an exclusive interview with GOAL.

  "When he told me what, I was initially surprised, but five minutes into our conversation, which ended up lasting perhaps two hours, I was no longer surprised.

  "I completely understood all of Jurgen's explanations and arguments. They were logical, consistent, and also congruent with my own thinking.

  "We had both taken a long look in the mirror, independently of each other, and in doing so, we came to the difficult conclusion: a four-week break would not be enough to face the challenges of the following season, in light of everything that this profession requires."

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  Klopp's surprise move

  In truth, it wasn't that difficult to understand why Klopp might be exhausted. After all, he was renowned for his intensity.

  Klopp was never less than 100 percent committed to the cause – whether that was at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund or Liverpool – so it was perhaps inevitable that such a relentless work ethic would eventually catch up with him.

  Nobody was in any doubt that he deserved an extended break from football either. For that very reason, though, eyebrows were raised when Klopp announced his return to the game less than six months after his final game at Anfield – and as Red Bull's head of global soccer.

  Klopp had always claimed to be a traditionalist, an old romantic disillusioned by the commercialisation of football, so his decision to accept a role within the sporting department of the energy drink manufacturer provoked accusations of hypocrisy and selling his soul.

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  'At Red Bull, Jurgen can think outside the box'

  Krawietz, though, insists that he wasn't at all surprised by the timing of Klopp's return to work or the identity of the employer.

  "I would have only been surprised if he had asked me if we wanted to join a certain club in our usual roles," he says. "But I was almost certain that wouldn't happen.

  "I always thought that he would do something completely different than before. Jurgen simply wanted a change from his coaching job.

  "He's always been a very curious person, enthusiastic about other things, and, at Red Bull, he can think outside the box, experience new things, really get involved, isn't tied to one location, and is free of the daily public relations work. It's less intensive, but just as extensive.

  "I've taken note of the criticism – but I don't understand it. I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding on the part of the fans [in Germany].

  "In England, it's perfectly normal for a club to be managed by an investor who acts as a financier and makes strategic decisions.

  "If you ask yourself why this hasn't yet taken hold in Germany, it also raises the question of how professional and commercially marketed football can be. A highly interesting discussion, but one as old as football itself.

  "But, at the end of the day, where would Jurgen have been allowed to work, what would the public have approved of? There would have been numerous critical voices even if he had – purely hypothetically – become coach at Bayern Munich or Manchester United.

  "Of course, that's not how free choice of profession works. You have to pay respect to an individual. You can't hold a public vote on what the fans would like."

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  'True champion' James Milner

  Of course, Klopp's status as a Liverpool legend has long been secure. He enjoyed a wonderful rapport with the fans – and still does.

  Winning trophies obviously helped. As well as leading the Reds to a sixth European Cup, Klopp also ended Liverpool's 30-year English title drought.

  Krawietz openly admits, though, that the management team owed so much of their success to a wonderful group of players, men of real character that created and maintained a standard of excellence at the club.

  "I don't want to put anyone above others and could probably talk about each one for an hour," Krawietz says, "but, in terms of the focus on daily life, the job, and the complete conviction with which you approach it, the shining example and the most professional of all the players I've met is James Milner.

  "He managed to align an entire team around this focus and demonstrate how to become a true champion."

Jose Mourinho has warned Chelsea he will not be feeling sentimental when he attempts to lead Benfica to victory on his highly-anticipated return to Stamford Bridge. The Special One heads back to his old stomping ground on Tuesday evening when the Portuguese giants lock horns with Enzo Maresca’s Blues in the latest round of Champions League fixtures.

• Mourinho enjoyed two trophy-laden spells as Chelsea manager

  Mourinho established himself as one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever managers across two successful periods with Chelsea. In his first spell at the club, the 62-year-old led the west Londoners to six major honours between 2004 and 2007, including two league titles and one FA Cup. And after spells with Inter and Real Madrid, Mourinho made an emotional return to Chelsea in 2013, guiding them to another league title before departing in 2015.

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  Special One plans to keep his emotions in check on Tuesday

  However while he acknowledges that Chelsea will always be “home”, Mourinho is planning to keep his emotions in check when he returns to the Stamford Bridge touchline with Benfica.

  Speaking to the media ahead of the match on Tuesday, Mourinho said: "I am feeling home. I already played here with Spurs, Manchester United and Inter. But I am not a Blue now. I am Red. And I want to win. I am expecting two teams wanting to win. Chelsea will only play for a victory, especially after losing the first game [against Bayern Munich]. We will have to defend well to win the game. Our tactical approach is to try and win the game.

  "We have Chelsea, Real Madrid and Newcastle in this competition [the Champions League]. All these games are hard. So tomorrow we have to chase the points. Our Champions League fixtures are harder than Chelsea's games.”

• Mourinho is confident he will not be jeered by Chelsea fans

  And despite his presence in the opposing dugout, Mourinho is confident his trophy-laden spells at Chelsea will ensure he will not be jeered by supporters, adding: "I don't think Chelsea fans will boo me. At least when I am on the street they ask me for selfies and pictures.”

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• Special One gives cheeky response when asked about Palmer's absence

  One man who will miss Mourinho’s return to Chelsea will be Cole Palmer as the Blues forward spends a short period on the sidelines in an attempt to overcome the groin injury which has plagued his 2025-26 season so far. And when asked what he thought about Palmer’s planned absence ahead of his return with Benfica, Mourinho issued a cheeky response.

  In quotes carried by Portuguese outlet Mourinho said following Benfica’s 2-1 Primeira Liga victory over Gil Vicente on Friday: “I'm happy [Palmer will be missing]. My Chelsea team was a winning machine, with a big investment, but a lot of ambition. Then they seemed to lose some direction, and it was tough for those who love the club. Enzo Maresca [Chelsea manager] arrived, and the puzzle is being completed piece by piece, and they won the Conference League. Now I think they have a good, good team, and if Cole Palmer isn't a problem for Chelsea [through injury], that's a big problem for me. If [Heorhiy] Sudakov or [Vangelis] Pavlidis don't play, that's a big problem for me.”

Arsenal are now set to bid for a £52m player, who is being targeted as a direct replacement for a wantaway star, according to a reporter.

Gunners keen on another defender before deadline

The Gunners have already made major improvements to their squad this summer, with Mikel Arteta mainly setting out to bolster his attacking options, although Cristhian Mosquera was also brought in as a back-up to William Saliba and Gabriel at centre-back.

However, having now gotten the deal for Eberechi Eze over the line, with Andrea Berta orchestrating a stunning hijack of Tottenham Hotspur’s deal, the north Londoners now appear to have turned their attentions towards strengthening their defence.

A late move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has been discussed, although Liverpool looks like a more likely destination, given that the Englishman has reservations about playing second fiddle to Gabriel and Saliba.

As such, Arteta’s side have now moved on to alternative targets, and another sensational hijack could be on the cards, with journalist Ben Jacobs revealing Arsenal are now “set to bid” for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.

On Monday morning, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Tottenham have made a “new proposal” for Hincapie, with discussions over personal terms underway, but the Gunners have also entered the race, and Jacobs believes the Ecuadorian “favours” a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal reach agreement to sign "explosive" attacking gem after Eze deal

The Gunners are set to sign another attacker…

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 24, 2025

Berta is targeting the 23-year-old as a replacement for Jakub Kiwior, who wants to leave this summer, with a move to FC Porto on the cards, but the Gunners may have to spend big once again, as there is a €60m (£52m) release clause in the Leverkusen star’s contract.

Hincapie could be "perfect" signing for Arsenal

Scout Ben Mattinson has previously suggested the Leverkusen defender could be the “perfect” addition to Arteta’s squad, given that he is capable of playing at both left-back and left centre-back, which makes him a similar type of player to Kiwior.

The Poland international has also featured at left-back regularly throughout his career, and he clearly impressed Arteta last season, with the Arsenal boss dubbing the 25-year-old as “exceptional.”

However, with the defender eager to leave, there is no point standing in his way, particularly considering Hincapie could be an ideal replacement, having already racked up a considerable amount of experience at Leverkusen, making 166 appearances for the German club.

While obviously not their primary objective, it would also be fantastic for Arsenal to get another one over on their north London rivals, having already hijacked the move for Eze, who enjoyed a very impressive campaign with Palace last season.

Tottenham Hotspur officially confirmed that Daniel Levy was stepping down from his role as the chairman of the club last week, after more than 24 years at the helm.

The English supremo had not long finished, what turned out to be, his final transfer window running the show in North London, months after the club lifted the Europa League trophy.

Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years by beating Manchester United in the final, but Levy still decided to move on from the manager because of the club’s poor form in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank was brought in from Brentford to replace the former Celtic boss. The Danish manager was then backed by Levy in the transfer market, with the signings of Mohammed Kudus, Randal Kolo Muani, and Xavi Simons, in particular.

It is now a matter of wait and see to judge whether or not the former Tottenham chairman’s final signings in charge of the club were a success.

On paper, though, Simons appears to be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad, as his form in Germany suggests that he could make a big impact in the Premier League.

Why Xavi Simons is an exciting signing for Spurs

The Lilywhites reportedly splashed out a fee worth up to £51m to sign the Netherlands international from RB Leipzig to bolster Frank’s attacking midfield options after James Maddison sustained an ACL injury.

Simons has yet to make his debut for the club, having signed shortly before the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth last time out, and could make his bow against West Ham United on Saturday.

The Dutch playmaker is an exciting signing for Spurs because his form for Leipzig suggests that he can add a lot of creativity to Frank’s midfield, as shown in the graphic below.

These statistics show that Simons is an attacking midfielder who is incredibly effective at breaking down opposition defences to create high-quality chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Naturally, there will be a comparison made to Maddison because the Dutch star is essentially coming in to take his role as creator-in-chief whilst the England international nurses his way back from an ACL injury.

As you can see in the table above, Simons delivered more goals and created twice as many ‘big chances’ at league level in comparison to the former Leicester and Norwich star in the 2024/25 campaign.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for him to be even more valuable to the team than Maddison if he can hit the ground running in England, but it is now down to him to adapt to the league and deliver on the pitch.

Whilst Simons, who has been signed for £51m, is a very exciting addition because of the attacking quality that he could provide, Levy may not want to be reminded that there is a player who left Spurs for nothing and is now worth even more than the Dutchman.

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Tottenham had Noni Madueke in their youth set-up and failed to keep hold of him as a teenager, which was a blunder that the now former-Spurs chief may regret.

Why Noni Madueke left Tottenham Hotspur

The left-footed forward joined the club’s academy from Crystal Palace in 2014, at the age of 12, and spent four years in the youth ranks before his exit on a free transfer in 2018.

Speaking to Sky Sports in 2023, Madueke explained: “Tottenham was a great academy and they’ve got a great development plan. I’d been offered a scholarship agreement at Tottenham but I’d seen a lot of the boys – that were good as well – just kind of get lost in the system and I just didn’t want that for me.”

This is only an inference from these quotes, but it seems like the winger did not see a clear enough pathway to the first-team, despite Harry Kane’s emergence a few years prior, and that is down to Levy and the first-team management team for not making that clear enough.

The club were unable to convince Madueke that there was a pathway for him, which led to the talented forward’s exit in 2018 on a free transfer, signing for PSV in the Netherlands to continue his development.

He scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists in 80 appearances in all competitions for PSV, per Transfermarkt, before his move to Chelsea in January 2023.

Madueke enjoyed similar success during his time at Stamford Bridge. The England international scored 20 goals and produced nine assists in 92 outings for the Blues, per Transfermarkt.

His form for Chelsea led to a move to Arsenal earlier this summer in a deal that could be worth up to £52m, £1m more than the deal that brought Simons to Spurs in the same transfer window.

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star’s value has soared exponentially since his move to PSV from Spurs on a free transfer in 2018.

Spurs had a howler, therefore, when Levy and the first-team management staff, led by Mauricio Pochettino at the time, failed to offer a clear enough pathway to convince him to continue his development at the club.

Madueke, who was described as a “maverick” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has gone on to become an England international and Premier League star who is now valued at more than £50m and slightly more than Tottenham’s star summer signing Xavi Simons.

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Levy, when looking back at his long Spurs tenure, may regret that he was unable to convince, or unable to create an environment to convince, Madueke to stay at the club back in 2018, because of what he has gone on to achieve.