West Ham United have reportedly agreed personal terms to sign a £20m midfielder and are in talks with his club over a deal.
West Ham start summer business with move for Celtic striker Cummings
The Hammers endured a difficult 2024/25 Premier League season after splashing the cash last summer, with Julen Lopetegui being sacked at the beginning of the New Year and former technical director Tim Steiden departing shortly after.
Max Kilman
Wolves
€47.5m
Crysencio Summerville
Leeds United
€29.3m
Niclas Fullkrug
Borussia Dortmund
€27m
Luis Guilherme
Palmeiras
€23m
Mohamadou Kante
Paris FC
Undisclosed
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Man Utd
€18m
Wes Foderingham
Sheffield United
Free transfer
Guido Rodriguez
Real Betis
Free transfer
Jean-Clair Todibo
Nice
Loan transfer
Carlos Soler
PSG
Loan transfer
Evan Ferguson
Brighton
Loan transfer
Graham Potter arrived and saw out the new season with the Irons, and he’ll soon be preparing for his first full season at the London Stadium, looking to put his own stamp on things in the transfer market.
West Ham have already sealed their first summer signing, with Celtic forward Daniel Cummings set to move to London.
Daniel Cummings for Celtic
Talented 19-year-old striker Cummings is out of contract at Celtic Park in the summer and has already agreed terms and undergone a medical with the Hammers, with Fabrizio Romano saying it is a “done deal”.
Cummings has been free-scoring for the Hoops in their youth sides and was even given a Champions League appearance by Brendan Rodgers in the 24/25 campaign, so seems to be a star in the making and will officially arrive on July 1st.
Approach made: West Ham now in contact to sign "incredible" £20m defender
The Hammers have come forward for a centre-back, who they are now seriously interested in signing.
ByDominic Lund May 25, 2025
After the Scotland youth international, West Ham now look to be targeting more experienced additions to the squad, with a new midfielder being worked on.
West Ham agree personal terms with £20m Raphael Onyedika
According to journalist Sebastian Vidal, relayed by GiveMeSport, West Ham have agreed personal terms with Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika.
Described as a potential “major signing” for the Irons by Vidal, talks are also underway with Club Brugge over agreeing a fee for Onyedika, thought to be worth around £20m.
A Nigeria international, Onyedika is attracted by the idea of playing in England but is still under contract with Club Brugge until 2027 after signing for the Belgian giants from FC Midtjylland in 2022.
Primarily a defensive midfielder, the 24-year-old can also play as a box-to-box central midfielder or even give cover as a centre-back, so would provide Potter with plenty of versatility, should a deal go through.
Onyedika even has Champions League experience with his current employers, scoring in the competition against Man City in 24/25, and by the looks of things, a move to West Ham is one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.
Crystal Palace now have Europa League football to look forward to next season, and already the club are planning for the summer as they eye up a move to sign a “superb” Bundesliga midfielder, according to a recent report.
Wharton’s Crystal Palace future in doubt despite FA Cup win
Adam Wharton has been a standout performer since his arrival in SE25, and his performances have caught the attention of teams at home and abroad. Despite missing a large chunk of this season through a groin injury, Wharton has played 20 times in the Premier League and was a huge part of the Eagles’ FA Cup glory.
Heading into the summer transfer window, he is now very much a wanted man, as teams start to circle with significant interest. Last week, it was reported that Man United boss Ruben Amorim is personally driving the Red Devils’ move to sign Wharton. It’s claimed that United are in the strongest position to sign the Englishman this summer, but they are not the only team chasing the midfielder.
Crystal Palace join Man Utd in race to sign £19m ace who could replace Eze
Crystal Palace are among the Premier League teams chasing a player who is leaving his club this summer.
ByBrett Worthington May 19, 2025
Newcastle United have also been heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old, while Arsenal are said to have joined the race to sign Wharton, as they plan to close the gap at the top of the table.
Liverpool are also interested in Wharton, and it’s been reported that they are planning to make a £60 million bid to sign the Palace man. However, given the Eagles have qualified for the Europa League, their stance has tightened, and it’s been claimed they wouldn’t consider any bid less than £80 million.
Crystal Palace eyeing move to sign "superb" £15m+ midfielder
And while the hope will of course be to convince the England starlet to stay put, according to Sky Germany, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Nadiem Amiri from Bundesliga side Mainz 05, making plans to buff up their midfield ranks just in case.
Sky Germany report that Amiri’s exit from Mainz is a possibility this summer, as Palace, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing the midfielder, as well as teams in Serie A.
The 28-year-old was asked about his future after Mainz’s final game of the season over the weekend against Bayer Leverkusen, which they drew 2-2, and the German didn’t give much away: “Go on holiday now; then we’ll see.”
Apps
30
Goals
7
Expected goals
5.47
Assists
5
Shots per game
2.1
Key passes per game
2.1
Interceptions per game
0.5
Tackles per game
1.7
Amiri, who has been dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, with this report claiming he could cost between 18 and 20 million euros, which is roughly £15-16 million.
The midfielder, who can operate as a number ten or more defensively, is under contract until 2028, and the fact that Mainz have qualified for Europe next season will toughen their stance, given Amiri has been an important player this season with seven goals and five assists in 30 Bundesliga games.
Managers coming and going is very much a part of life in football, and with the managerial merry-go-round in full swing, the number of dugout changes in the 2024/25 season grew right up to the end of the campaign.
Premier League bosses like Russell Martin and Sean Dyche could not avoid the dreaded axe, while the Championship saw the likes of Wayne Rooney given their marching orders after dismal campaigns from the dugout.
Firings were rife throughout the rest of the EFL too, as clubs scrambled to avoid failure by making drastic changes.
We have the full list of dismissals here, with nearly 50 managers leaving their posts during the season.
All 20 Premier League managers' salaries (lowest to highest)
How much each Premier League gaffer earns.
ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025
#
Manager
Club left
Date
Time in charge
Ryan Lowe
Preston
12th August
2 years, 249 days
Neil Critchley
Blackpool
21st August
1 year, 90 days
Paul Simpson
Carlisle
31st August
2 years, 189 days
Steven Schumacher
Stoke
16th September
272 days
Erol Bulut
Cardiff
22nd September
1 year, 111 days
Mark Robinson
Burton Albion
23rd October
141 days
Mark Kennedy
Swindon
25th October
149 days
Erik ten Hag
Man Utd
28th October
2 years, 158 days
Paul Hurst
Shrewsbury
3rd November
284 days
Mark Robins
Coventry
7th November
7 years, 246 days
Steve Cooper
Leicester
24th November
157 days
Tim Walter
Hull
27th November
180 days
Jon Brady
Northampton
5th December
3 years, 299 days
Neil Harris
Millwall
10th December
293 days
Gary O’Neil
Wolves
15th December
1 year, 128 days
Des Buckingham
Oxford
15th December
1 year, 29 days
Russell Martin
Southampton
15th December
1 year, 177 days
Matt Taylor
Bristol Rovers
16th December
1 year, 15 days
Charlie Adam
Fleetwood
22nd December
357 days
Narcis Pelach
Stoke
27th December
100 days
Wayne Rooney
Plymouth
31st December
220 days
Mark Bonner
Gillingham
5th January
243 days
Julen Lopetegui
West Ham
8th January
230 days
Rob Edwards
Luton
9th January
2 years, 53 days
Sean Dyche
Everton
9th January
1 year, 345 days
Stephen Clemence
Barrow
19th January
233 days
Ian Evatt
Bolton
22nd January
4 years, 205 days
Mike Williamson
Carlisle
3rd February
137 days
Paul Warne
Derby
7th February
2 years, 138 days
Garry Monk
Cambridge
16th February
349 days
Luke Williams
Swansea
17th February
1 year, 43 days
Nigel Adkins
Tranmere
25th February
1 year, 115 days
Shaun Maloney
Wigan
2nd March
2 years, 33 days
Scott Lindsey
MK Dons
2nd March
158 days
Michael Duff
Huddersfield
9th March
299 days
Darrell Clarke
Barnsley
12th March
293 days
Rob Elliot
Crawley
19th March
169 days
Steve Evans
Rotherham
30th March
347 days
Ivan Juric
Southampton
7th April
105 days
Omer Riza
Cardiff
19th April
209 days
Tony Mowbray
West Brom
21st April
93 days
Johannes Hoff Thorup
Norwich
22nd April
327 days
Nelson Jardim
Newport
24th April
282 days
Inigo Calderon
Bristol Rovers
4th May
129 days
Tom Cleverley
Watford
6th May
1 year, 12 days
1 Ryan Lowe (Preston North End) Left: 12th August
Championship side Preston North End parted ways with head coach Ryan Lowe after just one league game this season.
Following the Lilywhites’ 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United, Lowe asked to leave the club, telling Preston’s board he wanted “a change”. The defeat to the Blades was Preston’s sixth on the bounce, with Lowe’s side having lost their final five games of the previous season – a run of form that saw them fade out of the play-off race.
2 Neil Critchley (Blackpool) Sacked: 21st August
Blackpool sacked manager Neil Critchley after they began their 2024/25 League One campaign with back-to-back defeats against Crawley Town and Stockport County.
The 45-year-old had previously guided Blackpool to the Championship by way of the play-offs in 2021, and returned to Bloomfield Road in May 2023 after spells with Aston Villa and QPR. However, he was unable to recapture the magic of two years prior, with the Seasiders finishing the 2023/24 campaign in eighth.
3 Paul Simpson (Carlisle United) Sacked: 31st August
Paul Simpson was let go by Carlisle United following a 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers back in August. The defeat was their third from four league matches this season, having been relegated to League Two under Simpson’s tenure last year.
“Everyone at the club would like to thank Paul and his staff for their efforts,” Carlisle said in a statement.
4 Steven Schumacher (Stoke City) Sacked: 16th September
Stoke City sacked Steven Schumacher after the Potters lost three of their first five games of the campaign. The final straw came by way of a 1-0 loss to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
Schumacher’s tenure as Stoke boss lasted just nine months in total, with the 40-year-old having left Plymouth Argyle to take the job in December 2023.
Two days after sacking Schumacher, Stoke appointed Norwich City coach Narcis Pelach as their new manager on a three-year contract.
5 Erol Bulut (Cardiff City) Sacked: 22nd September
Cardiff City were rock bottom of the Championship when they fired head coach Erol Bulut in mid-September.
The Bluebirds had picked up just one point from six games and scored one goal – their worst start to a season in 94 years. Bulut’s final game was a 2-0 home defeat against Leeds United. He has since been replaced by Omer Riza, who remains in interim charge heading into December.
6 Mark Robinson (Burton Albion) Sacked: 23rd October
Mark Robinson was relieved of his duties at Burton Albion following a run of seven successive defeats in all competitions.
“We feel we have reached a point where a change is necessary to improve the team’s results,” sporting director Bendik Hareide said at the time.
Robinson, 58, is the third Burton manager in three seasons to have been given the axe before Christmas, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dino Maamria.
7 Mark Kennedy (Swindon Town) Sacked: 25th October
Swindon Town sacked head coach Mark Kennedy after less than five months in charge following a 2-1 defeat at Salford. Kennedy won just 3 of his 15 games in charge of the Robins, who were 22nd in League Two at the time of his departure.
Just hours after Kennedy’s sacking, Swindon appointed former Bristol Rovers, QPR and Blackpool manager Ian Holloway as their new head coach.
8 Erik ten Hag (Manchester United) Sacked: 28th October
Erik ten Hag
By far and away the most high-profile sacking of the season, Erik ten Hag was let go by Manchester United following a disastrous start to the season. The Dutchman’s final game was a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United, which left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening nine games.
Though he guided United to two trophies during his two-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has been dubbed the club’s worst-ever manager. Ruben Amorim has since stepped in as his replacement.
9 Paul Hurst (Shrewsbury Town) Sacked: 3rd November
Shrewsbury Town parted ways with head coach Paul Hurst after a run of just 1 win in 12 games in all competitions, leaving them second from bottom in League One. Assistant boss Chris Doig was also let go.
Hurst and Doig were in their second spell at the club, having previously led the Shrews to the League One play-off final in 2018.
“Everyone at the football club is hugely disappointed their second spell hasn’t worked out and we find ourselves in our current position,” Shrewsbury said in a statement.
10 Mark Robins (Coventry City) Sacked: 7th November
Coventry City fired boss Mark Robins after a run of just 4 wins in 14 Championship games this season. Robins, 54, had been in charge of the Sky Blues for 2,803 days, making him the English Football League’s longest-serving manager at the time.
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard has been appointed as Robins’ successor on a two-and-a-half-year deal, replacing interim boss Rhys Carr.
The 8 longest-serving managers in the Premier League & EFL
Manchester United now appear to have one foot in the Europa League final after claiming a 3-0 triumph over Athletic Club in the semi-final first leg away from home.
Bruno Fernandes’ double and Casemiro’s header secured the triumph for Ruben Amorim’s side ahead of next week’s return leg at Old Trafford – needing to hold on to secure their place in the final.
Should the Red Devils reach such a stage, it would be a superb achievement, especially considering the side was on the brink of elimination with a handful of minutes to go against Lyon in the previous round.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
It’s the perfect opportunity for the manager to claim his first trophy in the role after taking the reins back in November, potentially securing a place in the Champions League as a result.
Numerous players produced performances to remember in Spain last night, playing a huge role in the success which led them to a three-goal advantage after 90 minutes.
United’s star performers against Athletic Club
As previously mentioned, captain Fernandes managed to get himself on the scoresheet twice, taking his goal tally to 19 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.
However, his underlying stats from the win were just as impressive, making 12 passes into the final third, along with three chances created – enabling other players the opportunity to impress in attacking areas.
Manuel Ugarte was another player who starred in Bilbao last night, registering two assists for Casemiro and Fernandes – offering a presence at both ends of the pitch for Amorim.
He also managed to win 100% of the tackles he entered, along with five recoveries and five ground duels won – highlighting his impressive showing in Spain once more.
However, despite the performances of the aforementioned duo, one other Red Devils talent failed to deliver, putting his position within the side at huge risk with the summer rapidly approaching.
The United dud who’s becoming the new Van de Beek
Midfielder Donny van de Beek joined United in the summer of 2020, looking to be a key player in the side’s ambitions of returning to former glory.
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.
However, the Dutchman, who cost a remarkable £40m, would make just 62 appearances during his four years at Old Trafford, with injuries also preventing him from being a regular.
He would depart the club in the summer of 2024, joining Spanish side Girona for just £500k, seeing the side lose 99% of their investment, highlighting how poor their business has been in recent years.
Amorim may have unearthed another version of the midfielder in the form of Mason Mount, who has massively failed to deliver since his £60m move from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
Like Van de Beek, injuries have hampered his progress, making just 41 appearances in the last two seasons, but also failing to deliver when fit – as seen in his showing against Athletic Club last night.
He was brought on with 25 minutes remaining, but could only muster a total of 23 touches, completing a tally of just 12 passes – unable to have the desired impact.
Mount also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles or his attempted crosses, losing possession seven times – looking wasteful when having the ball at his feet.
Minutes played
25
Touches
23
Passes completed
12/16 (75%)
Dribbles completed
0/1 (0%)
Crosses completed
0/1 (0%)
Possession lost
7x
Fouls committed
1
The 26-year-old picked up a booking to top off his showing off the bench, before being handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst – highlighting his lack of impact off the bench.
Throughout this season, Mount has been unable to make an impact, especially since Amorim’s arrival, often being injured but also unable to provide the goods when fit – as seen with his cameo last night.
Given his decline, the club desperately need to sell him this summer, avoiding a repeat of Van de Beek and losing a whole load of money on their investment, with any funds allowing the manager to make the changes he desires.
97% passing: 8/10 Man Utd star is now as undroppable as Bruno & Casemiro
Man Utd romped to a superb 3-0 win on the road on Thursday evening in the Europa League…
It doesn’t take a footballing genius to work out what Arsenal need this summer.
Mikel Arteta’s side failed to get over the line in the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season, and while they sit just one place off Liverpool, they’ve scored 14 goals fewer.
Now, part of that is undoubtedly down to injuries, but it’s incredibly evident that the Gunners need a new striker once the transfer window opens, and the board seem to agree.
However, while Alexander Isak remains the dream signing for so many fans, his potentially £150m price tag makes the idea of him moving to the Emirates seem practically impossible.
Fortunately, recent reports have linked the North Londoners with someone who could be an ideal alternative.
Arsenal's striker search
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth reviewing a couple of the other striker targets linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Daizen Maeda.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former could move to N5 for around £70m, and while that would make him one of the Gunners’ most expensive signings ever, he’d probably be worth it as, in just 48 games this season, he’s racked up 52 goals and 12 assists.
The latter could be available for just £25m, which might also prove to be an absolute steal, as in just 47 first-team appearances for Celtic this season, the Japanese international has scored 33 goals and provided 11 assists.
Daizen Maeda
However, Arteta and Co might want someone with more experience of football in a top-five league, which could explain the links to Ollie Watkins.
Yes, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal are ‘planning to reignite their bid to sign’ the Aston Villa star.
The report has revealed that even though the Claret and Blue rejected a £50m offer from the Gunners in the January window, he’s back on the club’s shortlist ahead of the summer.
It’s unclear how much he’d cost, but with more time for Villa to find a replacement, it might not be far off Arsenal’s original offer, making him an incredibly appealing Isak alternative.
Why Watkins would be a great Isak alternative
Okay, so the first thing to say is that in an ideal world, Arsenal would just go out and sign Isak, but that feels incredibly unlikely to happen and points to the first significant advantage to signing Watkins over him: the price.
Ollie Watkins celebrates with Morgan Rogers for Aston Villa.
For example, if the reports are to be believed, then the Villa ace could cost as much as £100m less than the Swedish international, which in turn would allow the Gunners to splash the cash on several other first-team players, like Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi and others.
Moreover, even though he’d cost a third as much as the Toon ace, it does not mean he’d be a third as good.
For example, in 50 appearances this season, totalling 3054 minutes, the Englishman, whom podcaster Rohan Jivan described as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe,” has scored 16 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 111.75 minutes.
In contrast, the former Real Sociedad star has scored 26 goals and provided six assists in 39 appearances, totalling 3054 minutes, which comes out to a slightly better average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games, or every 95.43 minutes.
Finally, Arteta needs players he can rely on next season, and when it comes to fitness, the former Exeter City star is far more reliable than his potential competitor.
For example, he’s missed just three games for club and country across his entire career, whereas the Swede has already missed 67, and he’s only 25 years old.
24/25
43 days
3
9
23/24
56 days
2
12
22/23
107 days
1
18
21/22
28 days
2
5
18/19
66 days
5
15
17/18
33 days
1
8
16/17
4 days
1
0
With Isak unattainable this season, Arsenal would do well to sign Watkins as an alternative, as on top of costing up to £100m less, he’d be far more reliable.
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Wednesday evening is a huge night for Liverpool football club, with the side having the opportunity to claim the Premier League title without even kicking a single ball.
Arne Slot will claim the trophy if second-placed Arsenal fall to a defeat against Crystal Palace at the Emirates, subsequently securing the Reds’ second league triumph in five years.
It would be a superb achievement for the Dutchman after taking the reins from Jürgen Klopp in the summer, producing a seamless transition which has played a huge role in their success.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
However, when the title is in the bag, attention will certainly turn towards the summer, with additions and departures needed if the side are to sustain the success they’ve endured in recent months.
One area of the pitch in particular has been subject to huge attention, with key signings needed in such a department to take Slot’s side to the next level in 2025/26.
The latest on Liverpool’s pursuit of new attackers this summer
Over the last couple of days, news emerged that Liverpool are set to sell striker Darwin Núñez this summer, just a couple of years after his big-money move to Anfield.
Any funds generated will likely hand the club a decent chunk to splash on a new talisman, with Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké just one name touted with a move to Merseyside.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
However, despite their interest, the Bundesliga side undoubtedly don’t want to lose their star man, subsequently hiking his price tag to a staggering €100m (£85m).
Such a decision could see the hierarchy return to the drawing board and go back in for fellow target Alexander Isak after previously registering interest in his services.
According to Ben Jacobs via GIVEMESPORT, the Reds are set to make a bid for the Swede this window, but won’t be stumping up the Magpies’ £150m asking price.
Why Liverpool’s top target would be a huge upgrade on Diogo Jota
Striker Diogo Jota cost the club a fee in the region of £45m back in the summer of 2020, looking to inject added quality within the final third under former boss Klopp.
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota
The Portuguese international has been a phenomenal addition, registering 65 goals in his 178 appearances for the Reds on Merseyside – but has endured a decline in recent months.
The 28-year-old has only scored six league goals in 2024/25, starting just 13 matches, with injuries starting to hamper his progress and restricting him from playing a key role.
Such a record could see the hierarchy cash in on his services along with Nunez, further handing Slot with the added cash to make key additions in the final third.
As a result, the club could fork out a huge sum for Isak, with the current Newcastle star undoubtedly offering the Reds a huge upgrade on Jota ahead of 2025/26.
When comparing their respective figures from the Premier League this time around, it’s evident how much of a phenomenal addition he would be, adding a different dimension to the club’s star-studded attack.
Isak, who Anthony Gordon admitted is the “best striker in Europe”, has massively outscored Jota, whilst also posting a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – highlighting his clinical nature within the final third.
Games played
30
22
Goals scored
21
6
Shot-on-target accuracy
41%
30%
Shots on target per 90
1.5
1.1
Pass accuracy
75%
70%
Successful dribbles
1.6
0.9
Dribble success
50%
38%
He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst achieving a higher dribble success rate, offering Slot a more all-round presence at the top end of the pitch.
Given his form on Tyneside this campaign, it’s likely that competition will be fierce for his signature, but it’s crucial that the board back the manager to help him land one of their key targets.
Whilst a deal would likely cost upwards of £100m, it certainly would be money well spent, with the Swedish international arguably the final piece of the attacking puzzle after Mohamed Salah’s contract extension in recent weeks.
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Leeds United’s Saturday lunchtime couldn’t have gone any better, with the Whites recording a priceless victory in the ongoing automatic promotion tussle in the Championship against Preston North End, whilst one of their rivals for the top two spots succumbed to a third straight defeat in the league.
That was Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United who shockingly fell to a late defeat at bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle, with Leeds’ emotions very different at the final whistle away from the dour mood in Devon from the away stands.
The picture above encapsulates the mixture of both relief and jubliance inside Elland Road when the full-time whistle was sounded, with Manor Solomon standing out throughout as a top performer after gifting his promotion-chasing side the lead after just four minutes.
Solomon's performance in numbers vs Preston
With Daniel James confirmed to be out of the lunchtime clash when the lineup filtered through, Solomon must have been even more aware that he could be a hero for his team down the flanks, away from the energetic Welshman.
He instantly threw himself into the contest and was rewarded with a stunning early effort, with the Tottenham Hotspur loanee managing to curl this delightful effort past the opposition goalkeeper after the Whites’ patient passing approach paid off.
Preston would instantly fight back with an equaliser, but thankfully, the Championship’s table-toppers had more than enough in their system to get over the line and win, with Solomon a lively customer across the frantic 90 minutes.
Indeed, the 25-year-old winger would also turn provider when assisting Jayden Bogle’s winning goal, with the Spurs loan ace further completing four accurate crosses to try and make Leeds’ slim victory more comprehensive.
Whilst the attacking players in Daniel Farke’s ranks do often steal the plaudits with breathtaking displays of quality, there was also a resilient side to Leeds on show against Paul Heckingbottom’s visitors, with this defender a colossus throughout.
The 8/10 Leeds star who has become undroppable
It could be argued that the centre-back star in question was even better than Solomon across the full duration of the bumpy 90 minutes, with the 6 foot 4 titan having to remain alert throughout, away from his attacking teammate stealing the show early on.
Joe Rodon would come away from this nervy encounter with his head firmly held high, considering the Welsh enforcer would trudge off the Elland Road turf at the close of the contest with all but one of his seven duels won, among other standout numbers.
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
59
Accurate passes
47/51 (92%)
Key passes
1
Shots
2
Clearances
4
Tackles
1
Total duels won
6/7
Looking at the table above, it’s clear Rodon was a man in control throughout his near-faultless 90 minutes, with the ex-Swansea City man only misplacing four of his 51 passes on the day.
Whilst he followed a worried trend of Leeds being wasteful in front of goal with two chances spurned of his own, Rodon would still rightly be praised post-match, leading to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth dishing out a high 8/10 rating to the dominant number six, labelling his forceful showing as simply ‘no-nonsense’.
Already undroppable before this tense fixture – considering Farke has started him in every Championship game this season to date – his importance to the cause has only been heightened now off the back the unfortunate backdrop of his usual centre-back comrade, Pascal Struijk, being ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
Rodon will hope more authoritative performances defensively, such as this one against the Lilywhites, leads to more invaluable victories coming his side’s way, with just one misstep in the automatic promotion race in the Championship proving to be very costly.
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Leeds United must wish they never sold this defensive star now.
Tottenham Hotspur’s recruitment in recent years has left something to be desired, and though this is a squad of heroes who conquered the Europa League before the summer, domestic form has been cemented at a lower-than-expected level for a while now, and that needs to change.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, with £55m summer recruit Mohammed Kudus among the most exciting players in Thomas Frank’s Lilywhites outfit.
The Ghanaian winger hasn’t been perfect, but he’s certainly underlined his credentials as a difference-maker under Frank’s wing, with his five assists in the Premier League this season a joint-divisional best.
That statistic juxtaposes with Tottenham’s creative struggles this season, and it adds substance to the emerging rumours that Tottenham plan to sign an even more exciting winger to help elevate Frank’s project down N17.
Spurs leading race for new winger
Tottenham are anticipated to be busy over the coming transfer windows, with improvements needed across a range of areas. However, there’s no denying Frank’s frontline have been blunter than expected, and that must be a priority.
Kudus has been a terrific addition, but wingers like Brennan Johnson and Xavi Simons are flattering to deceive. Perhaps this is why ENIC Group are aiming for the stars.
Indeed, according to Spanish sources, Tottenham are leading the race for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, and that’s despite growing interest from the Premier League’s heavyweights.
Rodrygo, 24, is also attracting interest from Liverpool, and though Real are open to selling the Brazilian talent, they would expect to bank something in the ballpark of £70m.
Why Rodrygo would succeed at Spurs
Rodrygo is currently embroiled in a crisis of confidence. He has gone 30 La Liga matches without a goal, and has been pushed out to the fringes of Xabi Alonso’s squad.
But let’s not forget that this is a truly special player, praised for his “world-class” quality by former Los Blancos teammate Luka Modric, and the depth of his technical quality goes far beyond that of Kudus, who is devastating on the ball but lacks clarity and output.
Goals scored
0.32
0.14
Assists
0.24
0.23
Shots taken
2.94
1.89
Shot-creating actions
4.65
3.41
Touches (att pen)
6.64
3.78
Pass completion (%)
85.4
78.8
Progressive passes
4.37
2.59
Progressive carries
6.00
3.44
Successful take-ons
2.38
3.05
Ball recoveries
3.77
5.44
Though Kudus has enjoyed a fine start to his career in north London, he doesn’t match Rodrygo’s breadth of skill. The Madrid man is one of the best forwards in the world, after all, and his recent drop-off does not negate that fact.
Crisper on the ball, more progressive with his passing and more active in dribbling forward himself, Rodrygo might not have Kudus’ same snappy speed, but that’s not to say that he isn’t a dynamic physical force in his own right.
Moreover, he has so often been shunted out onto the right flank in Madrid over the past several years, lower down the pecking order than the likes of Vincius Junior and Kylian Mbappe. The right-footed Rodrygo is at his best, his most prolific, when playing off the left.
Now, he has been reduced to a truly bit-part role, only afforded three league starts under Alonso’s management this term.
It feels like Rodrygo’s departure from the Santiago Bernabeu is a matter of when, not if, and while there are a multitude of high-profile suitors looking to excavate him from the hole he has fallen into, Tottenham have put in the hard yards for some time now, and Frank’s project would promise him a leading role.
Then it would be up to Rodrygo to prove that he is the real deal. On the basis of the evidence already, he is at that, and this would see him take on a more influential role than someone like Kudus down N17.
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Liverpool suffered yet another defeat, their eighth in 11 games across all competitions, as the troubles continue to mount at Anfield. Arne Slot’s side were thrashed 3-0 at the hands of Nottingham Forest, who have now won away to the Reds in two consecutive seasons.
It was a dire performance once again from the Merseysiders, who looked short of any sort of creative ideas and weak at the back. The first goal came from a corner again, with Murillo peeling away into space and picking up a loose ball, which he fired past the returning Alisson to put Forest 1-0 up.
The East Midlands outfit thought they had a second, but Igor Jesus saw his goal disallowed for a contentious handball. Their second came seconds into the second half, with right-back Nicolo Savona ghosting into the penalty box and hammering home from ten yards or so.
Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White capped off a wonderful day out for his side in the 78th minute. After brilliant play from Omari Hutchinson, he saw his shot saved by Alisson. However, the Brazilian could only palm it into the path of Gibbs-White, who clinically finished to seal the win.
It was another poor showing from the Reds, with Alexander Isak struggling once again.
Alexander Isak’s stats vs. Forest
The start of Isak’s Liverpool career has been very stop-start. He’s missed six games in total, for various reasons, and hasn’t played in the Premier League since the 19th of October.
His return to top-flight action against Forest was disappointing.
The Sweden international, who is still searching for his first Premier League goal in Red, was hooked by Slot after just 68 minutes, with his side still searching for two goals to bring them back into the game.
Indeed, his numbers reflect just how poor a performance it was from Isak. He managed just 15 touches, losing possession seven times, and only had one shot, which accumulated an expected goals tally of 0.13xG.
Touches
15
Number of times ball lost
7
Passes completed
6
Duels won
0/7
Shots
1
Expected goals
0.13xG
One person who was critical of the Liverpool number nine was Goal journalist Stephen Darwin. He gave the Swede a 2/10 for his performance at Anfield, pointing out that he ‘wasn’t even close to breaking his duck’ when it comes to Premier League goals.
However, the blame cannot solely lie with the striker, who didn’t necessarily get the service he needed.
Two players who struggled to get the ball to Isak
One of the key things that Darwin stressed in his review of Isak’s performance was the fact that he ‘hardly had a kick’ of the ball. Of course, 15 touches makes for poor reading, but you still have to provide the ball for your centre-forward.
Two of the players who struggled with exactly that were wingers Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. Generally speaking, it was not the worst performance, with Salah creating three chances and Gakpo one, although they were sloppy in possession, losing the ball a combined 53 times.
However, it was their service to the Reds centre-forward which was inadequate at best. According to Stats Zone, the Liverpool number ten passes to Isak just three times, and Dutch international Gakpo twice.
That is certainly not the level of service he needs to help him start finding his best form in front of goal. Perhaps it is due to the clash of profiles. Both Salah and Gakpo are inside forwards who like to cut inside, entering similar areas to those Isak operates in.
Alternatively, the problem could simply be a lack of time spent on the pitch with their new teammate. Isak has missed such a large portion of the season that it simply might take some time for the trio to gel.
Regardless, it is a problem Slot must fix quickly. The Reds’ form is a huge concern, as they slip further down the Premier League table. The Dutchman must get his big-money striker and first-choice wingers firing, as they look to rectify this poor form.
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Leeds United have lost three of their last four matches in the Premier League and will be hoping to head into the international break off the back of a positive result.
The Whites travel away from Elland Road to take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, after they were beaten 3-0 by Brighton last time out in the division.
Daniel Farke’s side have failed to score in four of their five away matches in the Premier League so far this season, and they need more than just Noah Okafor to step up in the final third.
Why Leeds United need another Noah Okafor
The £18m signing from AC Milan has provided a spark at the top end of the pitch this season, with two goals and one ‘big chance’ created in six league starts, per Sofascore.
Okafor, who completed five dribbles against Brighton, scored an excellent goal in the club’s only away win in the Premier League so far this season, utilising his pace, composure, and quality to find the back of the net against Wolves.
The Switzerland international is the club’s joint-top scorer in the league, alongside Joe Rodon, and the top scorer from open play, which speaks to how important he is to Farke’s side at this moment in time.
However, the fact that no other forward in the squad has produced more than one goal in the Premier League so far this season is a cause for concern moving forward, as it suggests that the manager does not have many reliable options in the final third.
Fakre could, though, unearth his next version of Okafor by finally unleashing the rarely-seen Wilfried Gnonto as a starter against Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Why Leeds should unleash Wilfried Gnonto
The Italy U21 international returned from a calf injury ahead of the clash with Brighton, per the manager, but he was not included in the matchday squad for that game, which means that he has not featured in a game since the 1-0 loss to Fulham in the middle of September.
Gnonto has only played four times in the Premier League so far this season, per Sofascore, and this means that the rarely-seen star has not had too many opportunities to prove that he can make a positive impact in the top-flight.
The Italian winger’s form in the Championship in the 2024/25 campaign suggests that there is more to come from him than the zero goals and zero assists that he has managed so far this term.
xG
8.22
Top 7%
Goals
9
Top 9%
Shots on target
29
Top 7%
xA
3.74
Top 22%
Chances created
46
Top 13%
Assists
6
Top 13%
As you can see in the table above, Gnonto ranked among the best wingers in the second tier when it came to scoring and assisting goals last season, despite only starting 26 of his 43 appearances in the league.
The 22-year-old talent, who was once described as “explosive” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has the potential to be an Okafor-esque player for the Whites if he can finally carry his output over to the Premier League.
When the Whites were last in the top-flight, Gnonto produced two goals and four assists in 14 starts as a teenage winger, per Sofascore, which shows that he can make an impact at that level when he is at his best.
It is now down to Farke to help him hit those heights again by finally unleashing him on the right wing now that he is fit and available for selection, because the youngster is an electric winger who can be a difference-maker like Okafor if Leeds can get him firing.
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