Rangers could look within to Nikola Katic following the impending departure of Connor Goldson, according to Football Scotland.
The lowdown
Katic will return to Glasgow in the summer when his season-long loan at Hajduk Split reaches its end. It’s not a certainty however, because the Croatian club do have the option to sign him permanently for £3million.
Rangers turned down the opportunity to recall Katic in January, but they are set to lose a centre-back in the summer, with Goldson ‘likely to leave under freedom of contract’.
It’s worth noting that the Gers have already secured the signing of John Souttar and can also call upon the likes of Leon King, Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun.
Journalist Ross Pilcher writes that Van Bronckhorst ‘may well see a place’ for Katic after Goldson moves on.
King has ‘shown promise’, he says, but the manager may value ‘the experience’ Katic provides.
As such, the Croatian may ‘still have a role to play’ at Ibrox.
The verdict
First and foremost, should Hajduk Split be expected to activate their purchase option?
Well, he’s started 17 league games during his loan spell, having joined ahead of match-day eight, so he is valued there.
But £3m is far from small change for the club. In fact, going by Transfermarkt figures, it would far outstrip their existing transfer record of £1.8million. Given that the website only values Katic at £900,000, they may not deem it a worthwhile outlay.
That could see him come back to Rangers, for whom he’s made 59 appearances and scored a memorable goal at Parkhead.
Katic could count former boss Steven Gerrard among his admirers, judging by an exchange between the pair when he moved to Aston Villa. In reply to a farewell message from the defender, Gerrard wrote: “Love you, kid.”
And the ex-Liverpool man also hailed him as an ‘immaculate’ professional during his time at Ibrox.
In other news, Rangers’ potential Europa League windfall has been broken down.
Nottingham Forest face arguably their most pivotal game in years on Tuesday night, as they take on Scott Parker’s Bournemouth side in a clash which could well decide which of the two clubs secures that much-coveted automatic promotion spot.
Steve Cooper’s men still have it all to do with three points currently separating themselves and their second-placed opponents, although to even be in contention at this stage of the season is a testament to the work done by the former Swansea City boss since his appointment back in September.
Under his predecessor Chris Hughton, the club were going nowhere fast and even appeared set to drop into the third tier, with the City Ground outfit picking up just a solitary point from their opening seven games of the current campaign.
Now they are on the cusp of a return to the promised land that is the Premier League, with their midweek encounter potentially set to showcase plenty of fireworks as the two sides go toe-to-toe.
Ahead of that meeting, one man who the Forest boss should well turn to to make the difference is young starlet Alex Mighten, with the 20-year-old having caught the eye off the bench in the recent 5-1 thrashing of Swansea.
While it may be a brave shout to alter a winning team – particularly following such a convincing victory – the youngster’s impact as a late substitute has seemingly done enough to warrant a start, even in a game of such magnitude.
In his 14-minute cameo, the academy graduate won 100% of his ground duels and completed two successful dribbles, while also notably getting himself on the scoresheet to put late gloss on an already emphatic scoreline.
Despite appearing something of a scrappy way to grab his first Championship goal of the season, the £540k-rated speedster showed great persistence to bundle the ball past the opposition stopper, latching onto a lofted pass over the top and busting a gut to get himself ahead of the visitors’ lacklustre defence.
That impressive display saw him receive an 8.0 match rating, via SofaScore, while NottinghamPost writer Sarah Clapson awarded the American-born prospect an 8.5/10 rating in her post-match report, writing of the forward’s performance that: “He’ll have enjoyed that one! Lovely run to find the net and help boost the goal difference.”
Following that showing, the £2.5k-per-week gem also received glowing praise from his manager, with Cooper dubbing him a “real livewire” and insisting that the player has now “got to get himself in the team and kick on.”
Should he be given the chance at the Vitality Stadium, Mighten seemingly has the opportunity to ‘kick on’, with a fresh pair of legs also potentially a benefit in what was an intense climax to the campaign.
With teammate Phillip Zinckernagel not enjoying his best day out at the weekend – the on-loan Watford man winning just one of his eight duels and losing possession on five occasions – it could be an ideal opportunity for a shake-up in attack.
IN other news: Nottingham Forest set for disaster on Djed Spence…
James Hunter has now dropped another boost for Sunderland alongside Aiden McGeady before they play Morecambe in League One on Saturday afternoon.
The Lowdown: McGeady boost
Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match, Alex Neil revealed (via The Chronicle) that McGeady has made ‘good progress’ and is back training with the squad, putting him in contention for a potential return from injury.
The former Norwich City and Preston North End manager also gave updates on other players’ fitness as they aim to wrap up a play-0ff place on the final day.
The Latest: Dajaku update
Taking to Twitter, The Chronicle journalist Hunter shared an update on Dajaku, saying that he is ‘expected’ to be back on Wearside on Monday.
The Union Berlin loanee has been suffering from illness, but now it looks like he could make a swift recovery in time for the play-offs, should they get there.
The Verdict: Big boost
The fact that Dajaku could play a part in the play-offs is certainly a big boost for the Stadium of Light faithful.
On top of his four goals and three assists in the league, he has picked up one man-of-the-match award, and also ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average shots, dribbles and crosses per match (WhoScored).
Nonetheless, his creativity and flair could be the difference for the Black Cats as they look to chase promotion back up to the Championship.
In other news, find out who SAFC’s three worst players were against Rotherham United here!
Former Scotland striker Frank McAvennie has admitted concern over Leeds United’s continued Premier League status ahead of a crucial final four games.
The lowdown: Troubling times
As things stand the Whites sit 17th in the top flight with fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford to come.
Following a humbling 4-0 defeat at the hands of title-chasing Manchester City at Elland Road, Jesse Marsch’s side also lost captain Liam Cooper and influential star Stuart Dallas to injury.
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Having seemingly been somewhat out of the woods recently, Leeds now appear to be back deeply embroiled in a relegation scrap once more and McAvennie has had his say on the predicament…
The latest: McAvennie ‘worried’
Speaking to Football Insider, the ex-BBC Sport pundit has suggested that the plight and the upcoming schedule looks to be a difficult one to overcome.
“It’s a horrible run and it’s right when you don’t want it.
“This manager has no experience of this situation but it wasn’t working with Bielsa so the result would probably be the same. I mean, look at Everton and Burnley, Burnley especially are causing a lot of problems.
“I’m not sure Leeds will get anything from these games so they might go into the last two games of the season needing six points.
“I’m worried for them. I don’t want Leeds to go down because they are great to have in the Premier League but I am worried.”
The verdict: Cause for concern
There can be little doubt that the jeopardy has been extrapolated on the remaining matches from a Leeds perspective after picking up just one win from the last four league outings following an initial upturn in fortunes under Marsch.
So far this season, the Whites’ away record has outperformed the home form, which seems certain to play a large part in the survival bid. Marsch will look to transform the home displays as the American hopes to tap into the Elland Road faithful for the games against Chelsea and Brighton if it’s to be another season in the top flight for the Yorkshire club.
Regardless of what happens, the most recent injury setbacks are a microcosm of the issues faced this season and will surely see Leeds enter the transfer market in a big way this summer to avoid similar problems next term.
In other news, journalist predicts Leeds United backroom reshuffle. Find out more here!
Tottenham Hotspur have been a club known to produce elite talent over recent years, with many of them making the jump into the professional game and having a huge impact in the first-team.
Harry Kane is arguably the biggest example in recent years, as the Englishman rose through the academy setup before cementing his place as the Lilywhites’ starting centre forward.
He racked up a total of 280 goals during his decade in the first team in North London, with such a record still remaining as the best tally of any player in their club’s history.
However, it wasn’t enough to catapult the side to any Premier League glory, with Thomas Frank the latest boss try and achieve such a feat in the near future.
His chances of potential success in the role could well be boosted in the years ahead, especially if one player is able to make a jump similar to Kane during the Dane’s tenure.
Why Williams-Barnett could be the future of Spurs
Spurs fans have been given yet another youngster to be excited about in the past couple of months after the emergence of academy star Luca Williams-Barnett.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder joined the youth setup at U10 level, subsequently spending seven years in the ranks, with the last few months seeing the teenager enjoy a breakthrough.
He’s already made his first-team debut, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup against Doncaster Rovers this campaign, but it’s his numbers in the youth ranks which has caught the eye.
In his 14 appearances across all competitions, Williams-Barnett has already racked up an incredible tally of 22 goal contributions – broken down into 15 goals and seven assists.
The youngster played in the UEFA Youth League clash against Slavia Prague on Tuesday night, with the attacker registering five goals in their 9-1 triumph over the Czech outfit.
After such a showing, Frank named the teenager on the substitutes bench for the first-team for the Champions League clash last night, but he was unable to get onto the pitch.
However, at just 17, there’s no denying the future is bright for the youngster, with Williams-Barnett undoubtedly a player who could be a key asset in North London for many years to come.
The Spurs star who’s a bigger talent than Williams-Barnett
Despite the academy producing numerous top-level talents in years gone by, the hierarchy have also invested money in the transfer market to try and land players for the future.
Lucas Bergvall joined the Lilywhites last summer for a reported £8m from homeland club Djurgarden, with many expecting the teenager to originally link up with the youth team.
However, the massive injury crisis in North London during 2024/25 handed the Swede the chance to stake his claim, subsequently making 45 appearances across all competitions.
Even after Frank’s appointment, he’s remained as a key member of the squad, as seen by his tally of 19 outings – even netting his first Premier League goal against West Ham United.
Bergvall isn’t the only top young talent who could have a huge impact in the near future, with centre-back Luka Vuskovic another player who could be a first-team regular in the years ahead.
The Croatian joined in a £12m deal from Hajduk Split despite being just 16, with his move to join the Lilywhites only being confirmed during the recent summer window.
The defender, who’s now 18, has already racked up 74 senior appearances despite his tender age, with all of which to date coming away from North London.
Such numbers undoubtedly make him a bigger talent than Williams-Barnett, especially considering he’s already starring in one of Europe’s top-five leagues in 2025/26.
Vuskovic is currently spending the season on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg, which has resulted in the teenager producing some remarkable figures at both ends of the pitch.
The youngster, who’s been labelled a “freak of nature” by one analyst, has already netted twice this season – including an incredible scorpion kick effort in the recent clash with Werder Bremen.
However, his underlying stats in the defensive third are just as impressive, which highlights why he’s already a bigger talent than Lilywhites star Williams-Barnett.
Vuskovic has been a sensational option in possession this campaign, as seen by his tallies of 86% passes completed and 100% dribbles completed to date.
Games played
11
Goals scored
2
Pass accuracy
86%
Dribbles completed
100%
Duels won
7.5
Duel success rate
67%
Aerials won
5.3
Aerial success
81%
Recoveries made
4.1
Such numbers could make him the perfect ball-playing option in Frank’s system, whilst also having the potential to improve in the future given his tender age.
However, out of possession, the Croatian star has also dominated, as seen by his tally of 7.5 duels won per 90 and his 81% aerial success rate in Germany’s top-flight.
The club’s £12m investment in his signature two years ago is no doubt already appearing to be a bargain, with Vuskovic undoubtedly their long-term solution at the heart of the defence.
His immediate impact on the professional game is nothing short of phenomenal, with his recent showings for Hamburg already handing the fanbase reasons to be excited for the future.
Fewer touches than Vicario & only 9 passes: Spurs flop must now be dropped
Thomas Frank must now drop one Tottenham Hotspur player after the Slavia Prague victory.
It keeps on getting worse for West Ham United this season.
The Hammers kick-started their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sunderland last month, and instead of it being an aberration, it was, in fact, a sign of things to come.
The East Londoners have since lost the EFL Cup Second Round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers and three of their four league games.
It’s undoubtedly time for Graham Potter to be replaced, and the good news is that West Ham are being linked with a host of candidates, including one manager who could be even better than Tottenham Hotspur’s Thomas Frank.
West Ham target a new manager
West Ham have been linked with plenty of potential Potter replacements since the start of the season, with Gary O’Neil being a recent name to pop up.
Manager Focus
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The former Wolves boss would undoubtedly be an interesting appointment, and one that may help to stabilise things, but it’s hardly one that’ll get the fans excited.
Likewise, while there is certainly some romanticism surrounding the links to bring Slaven Bilic back to the club, there should be concerns over the fact that he has not managed in the top flight for five years.
Fortunately, there is another manager the Hammers are keen to hire, someone who could be better than Frank.
At least that is according to a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon, who has claimed West Ham are still keen on Nuno Espírito Santo.
In fact, Nixon goes further than that, revealing that the club are now “getting closer” to the former Nottingham Forest boss.
It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but Nuno would be worth the hassle, especially as he could be an even better manager than Frank.
How Nuno compares to Frank
So the first thing to say is that Frank is clearly a great manager, as he wouldn’t have been at Brentford for so long or got the job at Spurs if he wasn’t.
However, there are some who argue that Nuno is the superior coach, with talkSPORT’s Rory Jennings boldly stating that the former Wolves manager is simply “better than Thomas Frank.”
Now, we know that the content creator isn’t exactly the bastion of good takes, but when you take a look at the stats and achievements, he may well be right.
For example, the Portuguese manager has now overseen 184 Premier League matches during his time with Wolves, Spurs and Forest.
Of those 184 games, 72 have been wins, 45 have been draws and 67 have been losses, which gives him an average of 1.42 points per game.
Games
184
157
Wins
72
57
Draws
45
39
Losses
67
61
Points per Game
1.42
1.34
During his time in the top flight, the Danish coach has managed 157 games, of which 57 have ended in wins, 39 have been draws, and 61 have been defeats, resulting in a worse points per game average of 1.34.
Moreover, unlike with other managers, this comparison feels quite fair, as both of them brought a team up from the Championship, so it’s not like the São Tomé-born tactician has had an easier time of things.
On top of that, while the former Bees boss turned the West Londoners into a mid-table side, Nuno did even better.
During his time with the Old Gold, he took them into Europe, and then, to prove he could do it again, he took the Tricky Trees from relegation candidates to European football within a season and a half.
Ultimately, Frank is a great coach, but from their raw numbers to what we have seen them do with Premier League teams, it looks like Nuno is simply better.
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Tottenham Hotspur addressed numerous key issues throughout the summer transfer window after what was a dismal Premier League campaign in 2024/25.
The Europa League success glossed over the embarrassment suffered in England’s top-flight, but Thomas Frank was brought into the club to replace Ange Postecoglou.
The Dane has been tasked with catapulting the Lilywhites up the table, being handed over £100m worth of funds to land the additions he craved in North London.
Xavi Simons, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus were the three high-profile additions made by the 51-year-old – with the latter the most expensive at £55m.
However, all three of the additions were made for a cheaper sum than North London rivals Arsenal paid for the signature of midfielder Declan Rice back in the summer of 2023.
The suffering Declan Rice has inflicted on Spurs
The rivalry in North London has been one that has been fiercely contested in recent years – with Spurs often having the opportunity to laugh at the Gunners, given their recent respective trophy tallies.
Mikel Arteta’s side have finished second in the Premier League in each of the last three seasons, unable to end their drought despite having £110m star Rice at their disposal.
The midfielder is unbeaten in 59% of his games against the Lilywhites, with many of the Spurs faithful wishing they had a player of his quality within their own ranks.
He’s notched 16 goals and 20 assists during his two years at the Emirates – subsequently ranking him in the 80th percentile of all midfielders in England’s top-flight last campaign.
The 26-year-old also ranked in the 86th percentile for key passes per 90 (1.9) and the 95th percentile for crosses completed per 90 (5.3).
Such numbers highlight the creative threat he possesses – something which is massively lacking in a deep-lying position with Frank’s current first-team squad.
However, the hierarchy may have made a mistake in allowing one talent to depart the club, especially given his impressive numbers since departing the side in recent years.
The former Spurs star who could’ve been their own Rice
During Daniel Levy’s tenure at Spurs, the club have been known to make multiple mistakes in the transfer market – subsequently offloading players who have gone on to achieve huge things away from the club.
Giovani Lo Celso was a player with huge expectations in North London, after the Argentine joined the club from Real Betis back in the summer of 2020.
However, he only registered ten goals in over 100 appearances for the Lilywhites, a tally fewer than Rice, who’s been known to operate in a deeper position for the Gunners.
He’s since matched such a tally in just 38 outings since returning to the Spanish outfit on a permanent basis – with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also achieving similar feats in Marseille.
The Danish international joined Spurs back in the summer of 2020 from Southampton, subsequently spending four years in North London – racking up just shy of 200 appearances for the club.
The 30-year-old was a consistent presence in the first-team squad, but ultimately fell out of favour in Postecoglou’s system and joined the Ligue 1 side on a temporary basis in the summer of 2024.
Hojbjerg subsequently left permanently this window, with such a decision now appearing to be a mistake – especially after Frank’s appointment in North London.
Pierre Hojbjerg.
The Dane previously managed his compatriot at youth levels and raved about his qualities, stating that the star “could be a world-class defensive midfielder”.
It’s safe to say he’s lived up to the hype from the early days of his career, subsequently being labelled as a similar player to Arsenal star Rice, by FBref.
When comparing their respective stats from 2024/25, Hojbjerg managed to outperform the Englishman across the board, further highlighting the mistake the hierarchy made in allowing him to depart.
The Dane thrived in possession last campaign, completing more passes into the final third per 90 (7.8) and completing more of the passes he attempted (92%).
Games played
30
35
Goals & assists
6
11
Progressive passes
8.9
6.1
Pass accuracy
92%
83%
Passes into final third
7.8
4.3
Tackles won
1.5
0.8
% of tackles won
54%
41%
Interceptions made
1.4
0.8
Recoveries made
5.8
4.9
Such talents would’ve made him an excellent fit under Frank’s guidance, with the Lilywhites currently boasting the seventh-highest average possession rate in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.
However, out of possession, the former Spurs star was just as impressive, winning more of the tackles he entered (54%) whilst also making more interceptions per 90 (1.4).
The stats produced by Hojbjerg highlight the impressive box-to-box qualities he possesses, with such figures undoubtedly highlighting how much of a mistake Levy made in offloading him.
£17m for a player of his quality is nothing short of an embarrassment – with such a fee far too cheap given the levels he’s produced since his move to France.
Frank will no doubt be gutted he’s not had the chance to work with the midfielder once again, especially given his ability to outperform Rice after departing North London.
His value has fallen by £43m: Levy made big mistake signing Spurs "monster"
Daniel Levy made one of his biggest errors at Tottenham Hotspur by signing this attacker.
Manchester United are now circling to sign an “incredible” attacker, in what would be a hugely controversial deal, according to a report.
Red Devils moving swiftly in the transfer market
Matheus Cunha became Man United’s first signing of the summer last week, with Ruben Amorim getting his summer rebuild underway early doors, and the manager has no plans to stop there, as another forward could be on their way to Old Trafford soon.
There are conflicting reports about who United’s priority target is at centre-forward, but recruitment chiefs certainly have a number of potential options in mind, with it being revealed they are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Target
Current club
Potential cost
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
£29m
Benjamin Sesko
RB Leipzig
£84m
Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford
£60m
Viktor Gyokeres
Sporting CP
£67m
Any top striker is only as good as the service he receives, however, and with widespread reports linking captain Bruno Fernandes with a move to Saudi Arabia, Amorim may also be tasked with bringing in another attacking midfielder this summer.
According to a report from The Mirror, the Red Devils have a hugely controversial target in mind, as they are now circling to sign Manchester City maestro James McAtee, who could now be edging closer towards an Etihad Stadium exit.
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McAtee has been left out of Man City’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, which could spell the end of his time on the blue side of Manchester, with United believed to be keen on a surprise deal to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford.
With the 22-year-old’s contract set to expire in 2026, City may view this summer as their final opportunity to cash-in on the Englishman, and reports from elsewhere have detailed they could look to hold out for a fee in the region of £25m.
"Incredible" McAtee needs fresh start
Man City have already made the mistake of letting some exciting academy graduates leave in the past, most notably Cole Palmer, who has gone on to excel at Chelsea, and there are signs McAtee could be capable of following a similar path.
Lauded as “incredible” by former teammate Oli McBurnie, the Salford-born midfielder impressed when given the opportunity during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring seven goals in 27 outings, but unfortunately his game time was far too limited.
James McAtee
Not only is the City ace an attacking threat, but he is also clearly a well-rounded player, given that he has impressed on some key defensive metrics over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
1.96 (89th percentile)
Blocks
1.96 (99th percentile)
Should McAtee be willing to cross the Manchester divide, there are signs he would be able to kick on at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a difficult deal to get over the line, given the rivalry between the two clubs.
As PSG celebrated winning the Champions League on Saturday evening, Arsenal fans were longingly contemplating whether that would have been them had they signed a striker last summer or even over the winter.
The Gunners swept aside Real Madrid with absolute ease but came unstuck against the might of PSG, although they certainly were not disgraced in the semi-final stages.
That said, you’re not going to get very far if Mikel Merino is your striker in the semi-finals of a major European competition (sorry Mikel).
The Spaniard certainly did a good job as an emergency centre-forward, scoring six goals in 12 appearances in that position, but that cannot continue heading into 2025/26.
The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of a new striker
Andrea Berta came into this summer window needing to tick one box: sign a new striker.
Indeed, after the failed attempts of the last few windows, it’s an absolute necessity if the Gunners are going to challenge for major honours next term.
So, who are their options? Well, Benjamin Sesko appears to be the number one pick at the moment, with Fabrizio Romano revealing last week that initial talks have now started over a move to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal looked at Sesko last summer but the Slovenian decided to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig but a year later he is now set to be on the move.
If a move falls through for a second successive summer, then Berta does have an alternative up his sleeve. That’s according to reports on the continent.
Transfer Focus
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They suggest that while talks for Sesko have indeed started, there is no agreement on personal terms yet.
As a result, Arsenal’s ‘objective is to make progress on several fronts simultaneously’ so that they are not left empty-handed for another transfer window.
The alternative is Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres. The report notes that the Swedish striker has ‘already given his verbal agreement’ to join the north Londoners this summer.
While Sesko is expected to cost around £70m this summer according to Sky Sports, Gyokeres is likely to cost £67m.
How Sesko compares to Gyokeres
Alexander Isak is allegedly still Mikel Arteta’s dream target this summer but with Newcastle United having secured Champions League qualification, attaining the Swede’s signature is nigh on impossible.
As a result, their striker chase likely boils down to both Sesko and Gyokeres now, but who would be the better signing?
Well, if the club are looking for more of a project striker then the Leipzig star would be their man. Indeed, by signing Sesko, the Gunners would be gambling on his potential but he certainly has all of the raw ingredients to be a huge success in the future.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates
Here, they must take influence from Newcastle’s pursuit of Isak, or to use a more recent reference point, PSG’s transfer strategy. Buy the player before they’re a superstar, much in the way the Parisians have done with players like Desire Doue, Vitinha and Bradley Barcola. Now, they are three of the very best players in the world.
Here’s what Arsenal could achieve with Sesko’s signing. He’s not a plug-and-play forward just yet, scoring 21 times this term, but he ticks a lot of boxes.
Described as the “new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, he’s got pace, he’s got an incredibly powerful shot, he can find the net, and standing at 6 foot 5, he’s got a ridiculous leap on him. There is so much to like about the 22-year-old.
Goals
13
39
Expected Goals (xG)
9.89
30.95
Big chances missed
10
23
Assists
5
10
Successful dribbles *
1.2
1.8
Ground duels won *
2.0
4.4
Aerial duels won *
2.1
1.1
Gyokeres, on the other hand, is certainly the win-now option. He’s the most lethal centre-forward in Europe, scoring a mind-boggling 54 goals in 52 games this season. At the age of 26, he’s reaching his prime and he knows his game inside out.
Considering Arsenal need a goalscorer, they’d be silly to turn down someone of his calibre in front of goal. Described as a “ball-striking monster” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, there simply isn’t a better option on the market right now if you’re looking for out-and-out goals.
For those who doubt the quality of opposition in the Portuguese top-flight, he also scored six in eight Champions League ties, which included a hat-trick against Manchester City.
It could be vital as well that he’s already got experience of English football. He came through the ranks at Brighton and then dazzled at Coventry City, netting 22 times in 50 outings during his final campaign in the Midlands.
Since then, he’s only gone from strength to strength. No player has scored more than Gyokeres in the top ten leagues worldwide this calendar year.
On that evidence, he’d be a seriously exciting signing. Whether he’d be better than Sesko, however, we may never know.
Arteta's £45m star will be totally finished at Arsenal if Sesko signs
Arsenal are planning to sign a new centre-forward in the transfer market this summer.
Leeds United had to put out a statement to defend their captain, Ethan Ampadu, after his former partner posted a picture of their child in a Galatasaray shirt.
The Whites pointed out that they are separated and that the Wales international is sensitive to the situation, and that he did not have any responsibility for the image being published on social media.
It is a shame that this situation has created problems for Ampadu after what was a truly brilliant season from the versatile star, who is now a hugely valuable asset for the club.
Ethan Ampadu's current market value
At the time of writing (19/06/2025), the Welsh star is valued at €16m (£13.4m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the fee the Whites paid for him in the summer of 2023.
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Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Leeds reportedly paid a fee of £7m to sign the defensive midfielder from Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he is now worth almost twice as much, thanks to his form for the club in the Championship.
Ampadu has made 84 appearances in all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit in that time, helping the team to keep 35 clean sheets in the second tier.
There is a former Leeds defender, though, who is now worth even more than the Wales international, having left the club on a free transfer last year – Robin Koch.
Robin Koch's current market value
The Whites swooped to sign the German defender from Freiburg for an initial fee of £11.5m in the summer of 2020 and he went on to play 77 times for the club across three seasons at Elland Road.
After Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, Koch opted to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the 2023/24 campaign until his contract ran out in the summer of 2024.
Leeds defender Robin Koch.
This meant that the towering centre-back, once dubbed a “monster” by winger Vincenzo Grifo, left to sign for Frankfurt on a free transfer last year, and that has turned out to be an absolute bargain for the German side.
Appearances
36
30
Goals
0
3
Dribbled past per game
0.9x
0.4x
Clearances per game
4.1
6.5
Aerial duel success rate
62%
67%
Duels won per game
5.2
4.7
As you can see in the table above, Koch’s performances for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season have been far more impressive than his displays for Leeds in the Premier League were, which has led to interest from elsewhere.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg recently reported that Bayer Leverkusen are prepared to trigger his release clause, which is worth up to €20m (£16.8m), whilst Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also interested in signing him.
This shows that Koch’s value has soared since his exit from Leeds because he is now worth far more than the £11.5m that the club paid for him in 2020, and obviously more than the £0 they got back for his services in 2020.
The Whites, therefore, may rue how his situation unfoded because they were unable to extract a transfer fee from his exit, as he ran his contract down, and now he is closing in on a big-money move for even more than club captain Ampadu is worth.
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