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Celtic have now submitted an opening bid for a forward who was regularly among the goals in the 2024-25 season, a report has revealed.

Hoops keen on new forward amid Maeda uncertainty

In Kyogo Furuhashi’s absence from January onwards, Daizen Maeda well and truly stepped up last season, providing 16 goals and seven assists in the Scottish Premiership, while also scoring seven goals en-route to the Scottish Cup Final.

As such, it is little wonder the Japanese forward is attracting attention from elsewhere, with Everton recently joining fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature.

Brendan Rodgers recently dropped an update on the situation, in which he confirmed the 27-year-old has remained professional, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.

As exciting as Balikwisha: Celtic contenders to sign "outstanding" star

Celtic are one of the contenders to secure a deal for a star who would be as exciting as Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 23, 2025

After being impressed by Maeda’s performance in the 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United, Rodgers said: “I don’t think there have been any developments on that, but he’s a professional and his focus is very much on here.

“Yeah, all the players, all the players had a real good focus, and I’ve always said there’s not a friendly game when you play for Celtic. There are always tests for you, but the players came through really, really well. Daizen, all the guys, they worked really well.”

However, with the forward’s future very much up in the air, Celtic have now set their sights on a new winger, namely Go Ahead Eagles’ Jakob Breum, with a report from The National revealing they have submitted an opening offer of £1.5m for his services.

However, the bid was way below Go Ahead Eagles’ asking price of £5m, meaning it was knocked back, with club director Jan Willem van Dop saying: “There has been a bid for Jakob Breum from a foreign club,

“We are so far apart there. You have to stand your ground. He may have to realise that it could be very good to stay with us at least until the winter break, just like Oliver Edvardsen.”

Breum regularly among the goals in the Eredivisie

The 21-year-old enjoyed his best campaign to date last season, amassing a total of 17 goal contributions for Go Ahead Eagles across all competitions.

As such, the versatile forward, who is capable of playing on both wings and in attacking midfield, could be an exciting signing for Celtic, although, given that the 2024-25 season was his first real eye-catching season numbers-wise, it is clear to see why they’re unwilling to pay £5m.

Consequently, it could be wise to move on to alternative targets, of which there is no shortage, with it recently being revealed the Hoops are now stepping up their pursuit of Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who has 46 goal contributions in 141 games for Royal Antwerp.

Manchester United have been extremely active within the current summer window, already addressing the need for additions in key areas of the pitch.

Bryan Mbeumo is the biggest addition made by Ruben Amorim this summer, with the Cameroonian international moving to Old Trafford in a £71m deal from Brentford.

He arrives at the club with real excitement, after managing to find the net 20 times in his 38 Premier League outings for the Bees last time around.

However, the prospect of the 25-year-old linking up with Matheus Cunha in attacking areas is certainly an exciting one, handing the side the attacking threat they’ve lacked in recent times.

Despite the two previous additions within the final third, further signings are expected between now and the end of the window, further highlighting the ambition of the current owners.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Benjamin Sesko has been one of the biggest names mentioned with a summer move to join United this summer, unsurprisingly so given his tally of 21 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.

Talks have already commenced over a move to land the 22-year-old this window, being a part of the club’s final shortlist to fill the void at the top end of the pitch.

However, he’s only one of two players currently in their sights, with Ollie Watkins another player currently being considered, according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell.

He claims that, like Sesko, the hierarchy are in constant talks with Aston Villa over a move for the 29-year-old, who’s seen as a Premier League proven option for Amorim.

The report also claims that Unai Emery doesn’t want to lose his talisman this summer after scoring 16 times in the league last campaign, subsequently placing a £60m price tag on his head.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect with Mbeumo

Mbeumo will be hoping to make his own impact at Old Trafford next season, wanting to carry over his tremendous form at Brentford that ultimately led to his big-money addition.

He’s capable of finding the back of the net on his own, but will also be able to provide others with the chances to bolster their own tallies after registering seven assists in 2024/25.

Such numbers made him the third-highest contributor in England’s top flight, highlighting the incredible talent Amorim has managed to get his hands on this window.

However, as previously mentioned, he’s unlikely to be the final addition in such an area of the pitch, potentially leading to a move for Watkins in the near future.

A deal for the Englishman could be an exciting one, but one that could allow him to thrive alongside the Cameroonian, just like he did during his own spell at Brentford.

The pair last partnered each other in the Championship back in the 2019/20 campaign, managing to register 40 league goals between them as the side fell at the final hurdle, suffering defeat in the play-off final.

Both ended the year in the top ten of the division’s top goalscoring charts, before taking different paths, which has led them to their current positions in their respective careers.

However, they could star together once again, with Watkins, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by ex-professional Stephen Warnock, able to be the recipient of Mbeumo’s impressive assist tally.

He managed to register 1.4 shots on target per 90, at an accuracy rate of 44% last season, and could be able to transform the fortunes of the side within the final third.

Watkins’ all-round ability is further reflected in his tally of 1.9 aerials won, having the ability in the air to add a new dimension to the Red Devils’ frontline throughout the upcoming campaign.

If the pair can rekindle their impressive partnership together at Old Trafford, the side will have every chance of rising up England’s top flight in Amorim’s first full campaign in charge.

It may prove to be a pricey addition, but it’s one that would provide the excitement the fanbase have lacked in attacking areas, making the Red Devils a force to be reckoned with once again.

Their very own Isak: Man Utd in concrete talks to sign "phenomenal" £80m CF

Manchester United could be about to land a star who’d be their own version of Alexander Isak.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 29, 2025

Find out the top 26 best women's players featured in EA Sports FC 26.

Standard

Standard Edition

• It's available across PC, PlayStation and Xbox
• Features over 20,000 players, 750+ teams, over 120 stadiums, and 35+ leagues
• Experience Manager Career like never before with all-new Manager Live Challenges

From

$69.99

Buy

Ultimate

Ultimate Edition

• Cover featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic recreating a photo of his younger self
•  You’ll get up to 6,000 FC Points over two months, a Season 1 Premium Pass and an additional Player Evolution slot
• Untradeable Icon Player item included

From

$89.99

Buy

+ Pre Order Bonus

Standard Edition + PO Bonus

• Pre-order by 26 September for bonus inclusions
• Bonus will include Archetype Unlock Consumable, 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches and 3 ICON Career Players
• Will also include 5-Star Coach & 5-Star Youth Scout and Manager Live Challenge Content

From

$59.99

Buy

Standard

Standard Edition

• It's available across PC, PlayStation and Xbox
• Features over 20,000 players, 750+ teams, over 120 stadiums, and 35+ leagues
• Experience Manager Career like never before with all-new Manager Live Challenges

From

$69.99

Buy

Ultimate

Ultimate Edition

• Cover featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic recreating a photo of his younger self
•  You’ll get up to 6,000 FC Points over two months, a Season 1 Premium Pass and an additional Player Evolution slot
• Untradeable Icon Player item included

From

$89.99

Buy

+ Pre Order Bonus

Standard Edition + PO Bonus

• Pre-order by 26 September for bonus inclusions
• Bonus will include Archetype Unlock Consumable, 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches and 3 ICON Career Players
• Will also include 5-Star Coach & 5-Star Youth Scout and Manager Live Challenge Content

From

$59.99

Buy

Standard

Standard Edition

• It's available across PC, PlayStation and Xbox
• Features over 20,000 players, 750+ teams, over 120 stadiums, and 35+ leagues
• Experience Manager Career like never before with all-new Manager Live Challenges

From

$69.99

Buy

Ultimate

Ultimate Edition

• Cover featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic recreating a photo of his younger self
•  You’ll get up to 6,000 FC Points over two months, a Season 1 Premium Pass and an additional Player Evolution slot
• Untradeable Icon Player item included

From

$89.99

Buy

+ Pre Order Bonus

Standard Edition + PO Bonus

• Pre-order by 26 September for bonus inclusions
• Bonus will include Archetype Unlock Consumable, 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches and 3 ICON Career Players
• Will also include 5-Star Coach & 5-Star Youth Scout and Manager Live Challenge Content

From

$59.99

Buy

With EA Sports FC 26 set to launch, attention is turning to player ratings – and women’s football is once again front and centre.

EA has revealed the top women’s players in the game, showcasing the stars with the highest overall ratings. From Champions League winners to World Cup icons, these are the athletes who stand out as the very best in FC 26.

Here, we break down the top 26 women’s players on EA Sports FC 26, giving you the full list of names to watch out for on the virtual pitch.

Read more EA Sports FC 26 news

• Complete guide to EA Sports FC 26
• Full list of new ICONS in EA Sports FC 26
• EA Sports FC 26 stadiums list

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  Alexia Putellas | OVR: 91 | POS: CM | Barcelona

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  Aitana Bonmati | OVR: 91 | POS: CM | Barcelona

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  Caroline Graham Hansen | OVR: 90 | POS: RW | Barcelona

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  Alessia Russo | OVR: 89 | POS: ST | Arsenal

Ryan Mason has undergone a lot of pre-seasons as a player.

However, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder turned West Bromwich Albion boss is now close to completing his first summer in football as a rookie manager, with all the pre-season fixtures done and dusted ahead of Championship action kicking back off.

Mason will be hoping he’s the spark from the dug-out that guides the Baggies back up to the promised land of the Premier League, with West Brom deep into their fifth straight season as a second-tier outfit when matches get back underway.

The 33-year-old has been well-backed in the transfer window, with a whopping £4.7m solely splashed out on landing the clinical Aune Heggebo from Brann, as the lavish spending looks set to potentially continue in the centre-forward department.

West Brom could go back in for £4.3m star

The proof will soon be in the pudding as to whether that amount was too steep to fork out for Heggebo.

However, his numbers playing in his native Norway do not lie, with a mightily impressive 51 goals coming his way for Brann from 146 appearances. Subsequently, Mason is now spoiled for choice up top between his new, shiny 24-year-old and West Brom’s main marksman, Josh Maja.

He could have even more options to call into action if reports from Spain are to be believed, with a new update coming to light on West Brom’s previous centre-forward target, Chris Ramos.

Indeed, Diairo De Cadiz has stated that the Cadiz attacker is generating plenty of interest this summer in his services, but there is no rush to offload him just yet.

The La Liga 2 club is waiting for an offer in the £4.3m region to consider parting ways, having had a far lower £2.1m bid from the Championship side come their way in recent times.

The hope will be that the 6-foot-3 Spaniard can go on to be Mason’s very own Salomon Rondon, with the lofty striker often a physical brute when powering home goal after goal for Cadiz, much like the imposing Venezuelan was at the Hawthorns.

How Ramos can be Mason's own Rondon

Of course, when Rondon was leading the line as a formidable centre-forward, West Brom were seen as Premier League regulars, rather than second-tier promotion material.

While the now 35-year-old was never the most clinical or the most eye-catching – with a reasonable 28 strikes coming his way from 120 Baggies outings – nobody could speak ill about his commitment to the cause, as his final season at the Hawthorns saw him win a dominant 7.7 duels on average per Premier League clash.

Ramos has shown off a similar prowess in the air for Cadiz all across his ongoing stay at his hometown club, with this powerful effort above showing off the 28-year-old’s ability to head home under pressure in a similar vein to Rondon.

Staggeringly, Ramos wasn’t too far off Rondon’s duels won total either when plying his trade in La Liga during the 2023/24 campaign, as the Spanish forward averaged a mighty 7.1 successful duels per match, even as Gaizka Garitano’s side succumbed to relegation.

West Brom do need an option up top that can throw themselves about with conviction, especially with Daryl Dike now back in the treatment room, with Ramos also a reliable source of goals for Cadiz across his last two breakout seasons, as seen in his tally of 15 strikes in all competitions.

While Ramos might struggle initially to instantly break into the first-team ranks, possessing a striker with such strong physical attributes will be an effective weapon for Mason to have up his sleeve across the long EFL season to come.

If he does go on to be a success, the Cadiz number 16 could retrace Rondon’s footsteps even more by becoming a tough, no-nonsense attacker for the West Midlands outfit in the luxurious Premier League.

Perfect for Fellows: West Brom weigh up offer for PL "huge talent"

West Bromwich Albion could soon bring in this exciting talent to partner Tom Fellows.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 4, 2025

Marseille's crunch clash with Paris Saint-Germain has been rescheduled for the same night as the Ballon d'Or ceremony after this weekend's Ligue 1 game was postponed due to heavy rainfall. PSG's Ousmane Dembele is one of the favourites to lift this year's Golden Ball but due to this fixture change, the France international may not be able to attend the prestigious event.

• Marseille vs PSG to clash with Ballon d'Or

  The Classique was set to take place on Sunday but adverse weather conditions have made that impossible. Now, the Ligue de Football Professionnel has stated this encounter will instead take place at 8pm on Monday, September 22, even though this clashes with the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris.

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• What LFP said on rescheduled clash

  The LFP tweeted on Sunday: "The Classique @OM_Officiel – @PSG_inside postponed to Monday, September 22 at 8:00 PM. Due to the severe weather conditions forecast for the Marseille region, the Olympique de Marseille-Paris Saint-Germain match, counting towards matchday 5 of @Ligue1 and scheduled for this evening, has been postponed by decision of the Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône. The match has been rescheduled for this Monday, September 22 at 8:00 PM. It will be available to follow live on @ligue1plus." 

• Dembele one of Ballon d'Or favourites

  Dembele is one of the top contenders to win this year's Ballon d'Or after the best season of his career. The former Barcelona man helped PSG win the Champions League for the first time, along with coming out on top in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. The 28-year-old, who is vying with the likes of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe for the Golden Ball, also scored 35 goals and added 16 assists, but if he wins the award, he may not have the honour of being present at the prestigious ceremony.

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  PSG to turn attention to Auxerre after Classique

  The former Borussia Dortmund star, who has two goals and as many assists this season, will hope he can win this year's Ballon d'Or and also lead PSG to a win at Marseille in this rescheduled league match. PSG will then look ahead to their next Ligue 1 outing against Auxerre on September 27.

Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has hailed manager Vincent Kompany as the "driving force" behind the club's sensational start to the season. While praising star striker Harry Kane's incredible form and humble attitude, Rummenigge credited Kompany with restoring unity at the Allianz Arena.

• Who is Bayern's driving force?

  Rummenigge has credited manager Kompany as the "driving force" behind the club's perfect start to the Bundesliga season. After winning the league title in their first season under the Belgian's leadership, Bayern have won their first five matches, scoring an incredible 22 goals while conceding just three to establish a dominant position atop the table. Speaking to the club legend lauded the impact the new coach has had in galvanising the squad at the Allianz Arena.

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• AFP
  

  Kompany hailed as 'the driving force'

  Rummenigge was effusive in his praise for the Belgian manager, who has guided Bayern to a formidable start in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League. He believes Kompany has successfully restored a crucial element to the team. "The coach, it must be said clearly, is the driving force behind it; he's doing a great job," Rummenigge stated. He added that Kompany has "re-formed the team into a unit."

• Kane praised for on and off-pitch impact

  While crediting the manager for the team's collective improvement, Rummenigge also singled out Kane for his immense contribution since arriving from Tottenham. The England captain has been in blistering form, scoring 15 goals in his first seven appearances in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League combined.

  "He's not only a great player on the pitch, but he's also a very pleasant person in his private life," Rummenigge said. "He's not an arrogant guy who doesn't sign autographs or pose for selfies. He does everything. A really nice, likeable guy, too."

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  What next for Kompany's Bayern?

  With the team firing on all cylinders, the immediate challenge for Bayern is to maintain the high standards set in the opening weeks of the season. The restored unity under Kompany will be tested by a demanding schedule of domestic and European fixtures as they look to assert their dominance in the Bundesliga and progress through the Champions League group stage. Kane's goalscoring form will be vital to sustaining their challenge on all fronts.

In a late flurry of deals, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign a Bundesliga attacker for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nottingham Forest agree Kalimuendo deal

Whilst it has been a steady summer at Forest, with their biggest deal arguably being Morgan Gibbs-White’s new contract, Nuno reiterated that there is still work that needs to be done.

The Forest boss told reporters: “Dealing with doubts is the worst thing you can have in football. We have doubts, who is going to be [here], when are they [new signings] going to come? All these things create doubts.

Deal close: £15k-p/w Nottingham Forest "miracle worker" on verge of exit

The player only joined last summer…

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 15, 2025

“Not only me but in the club. What we want is game-by-game to have as many options as possible. Europe will come after, and for sure it will be better, but for now until that happens it is a major concern.

“The owner is aware, the club is aware, everyone is aware. Everybody knows the reality. This is a lost chance that we had as a group to do it.”

It seems as though Nuno is set to get an answer to his questions and the chance to ease his doubts, however. Following his strong words, Forest have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo, whilst the likes of Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee also now look destined for the City Ground this month.

It’s a late-summer spending spree which may be far from done. Reports are now indicating that Forest have also submitted an opening bid to sign a Bundesliga talent.

Nottingham Forest submit Leweling offer

According to Sky Germany, Nottingham Forest submitted an opening bid to sign Jamie Leweling worth €25m (£22m) with add-ons.

VfB Stuttgart have rejected this first offer, and the German club reportedly have no intention of selling their star winger, but whether more interest from the Premier League changes that remains to be seen.

Those at the City Ground are seemingly willing to take a chance on Leweling despite a relatively tough season last time out. Although a hamstring injury disrupted his campaign, the German would have been disappointed to end on just four goal involvements in the Bundesliga last time out.

On paper, the 24-year-old does not have the output levels to replace Anthony Elanga, who decided to swap the Midlands for Newcastle United earlier this summer.

Nonetheless, Leweling has still earned plenty of praise in Germany. Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth told reporters: “Jamie featured in every Bundesliga match [last season], and that statistic alone shows just how important he is to the team.

“His commitment and willingness to work for the team make him a very valuable player for us. We also think that he has plenty of potential to develop further, and that’s why we decided to tie Jamie down to VfB on a long-term deal.”

Manchester United still have work to do in the transfer window and may now have the opportunity to offload another of their high earners, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd impress despite opening day defeat to Arsenal

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Ruben Amorim can take plenty of encouragement from the way his side managed to maintain an adequate level of intensity during their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

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Speaking on Match of the Day, he reiterated his belief that the Red Devils were the better team on the day, even if they ultimately came up short against Mikel Arteta’s dogged outfit in their opening Premier League encounter.

He stated: “We deserved more and we were the better team, that is clear but in the end we lost. We need to work on the things we need to improve. We need to defend set pieces. We did a lot things right.

“There are a lot of things without seeing the video that we need to work. I am really proud of my players. We were more aggressive and brave. In certain moments I think Bryan (Mbeumo) and Cunha helped a lot. We stuck to the plan even when the stadium is nervous, we continued to play the way we played and that will help us in the future.”

Altay Bayindir’s error between the sticks was all that separated both sides, so it won’t come as a surprise to hear that talks have been initiated for Manchester United to re-sign David De Gea as a potential fix to their goalkeeper situation.

His best display for Man Utd: £60m star is as undroppable as Mbeumo & Cunha

Manchester United suffered defeat in their first game of the new season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 17, 2025

However, with their move to sign Carlos Baleba stalling, outgoings have become a priority at Old Trafford, and Amorim could now have the opportunity to get rid of a star who isn’t part of his long-term plans.

Romano: Roma make contact to sign Tyrell Malacia

Taking to social media platform X, Romano has confirmed Roma have initiated contact to sign Tyrell Malacia from Manchester United to bolster their pool of left-back options. Importantly, and unlike their move for Jadon Sancho, the player is keen on the move.

Besiktas are also interested in the Red Devils’ outcast, who earns £75,000 per week at Old Trafford and is part of the infamous ‘bomb squad’ that Amorim would like to offload should appropriate interest arise.

Plagued by injury since joining under Erik ten Hag, Malacia has featured only 47 times for Manchester United and has struggled to make a lasting impact at the club.

Last term, he spent the second half of the campaign on loan at PSV Eindhoven and made 12 appearances across all competitions, and he could now be set for another exit sooner rather than later.

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Jamie Carragher has poked holes in Mikel Arteta's claims that his Arsenal side are not playing with the "handbrake" on. The Gunners rescued a point in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the weekend, a result that saw them slip five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Although Arteta has talked up his team's offensive capabilities, Carragher isn't buying what he's selling.

• Arteta hits back at 'handbrake off' criticism

  After Arsenal's stalemate with City at the weekend, pundit Gary Neville took aim at Arteta's tactics, which yielded just three shots on target from a dominant 67 per cent possession.

  The ex-Manchester United defender said on his self-titled podcast: "Does [Arteta] know how to get the players over the line throughout the season? Did the players know how to get over the line? That's the doubt I've got about Arsenal, and it isn't going to go away until someone proves me wrong. I like watching them play, but they've got to take the handbrake off."

  In response, Arsenal manager Arteta said, "How can you be so dominant against such a team if you have the handbrake on? Dominance and handbrake are two different words. Look at the players we have, starting with the most attacking 'keeper in the league by far. When I watched the game back and saw the stats, I was surprised. Because it was impossible for somebody to predict such dominance from Arsenal throughout 96 minutes. It never happened in 17 years of Pep Guardiola as a manager."

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  Carragher lays into Arteta

  Following the victory, Carragher said Arsenal "wasted" 45 minutes after not really laying a glove on City; plus, they had to rely on a stoppage-time equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli to get something from the game. Now, he is suggesting that Arteta's response doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

  He said on the podcast: "[Arteta] started with the goalkeeper, saying 'we've got the most attacking goalkeeper in the league'. Then he mentioned something about his full-backs and I thought 'that's not right', because his full-backs are centre-backs. I played in a back four under Gerard Houllier; it was four centre-backs. That's not far away from what Arsenal have got.

  "He then mentions [Martin] Zubimendi, okay, a creative player in the No. 6. He then talked about a wide player playing centre forward last season. He was almost trying to argue against it, but wasn't really making that much sense.

  "I can understand him defending himself and not listening to the pundits but I thought I hope he's not doubling down on what he's said there to his coaching staff and players. Because what he was actually saying, I'm not quite sure stacked up in proving they are a really offensive team. The team is there in front of you."

• Pressure on Arsenal to deliver Premier League title

  Few would argue that Arteta has not improved Arsenal during six years in charge, but they have spent around £1 billion ($1.33bn) on players since they last won a trophy – an FA Cup in 2020. Some believe he is copying Jose Mourinho's pragmatic blueprint to grind out wins rather than taking it to the opposition. After a hat-trick of Premier League runner-up finishes, the Spaniard is under pressure to end thissilverware drought and win the English top-flight for the first time since 2004. But with Liverpool flying high in the league, Arsenal cannot afford too many more slip-ups. 

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  Arsenal risk falling away in title race

  Arsenal sit second in the Premier League, behind Arne Slot's defending champions, and next up, they are preparing to face a foe that has bested them more often than not on their own patch.

  Newcastle United lie in wait on Sunday at St James' Park, a ground the Gunners have not had much joy at in recent years. In fact, the Magpies have won four on the bounce in all competitions at home when facing the north London team, something Arteta will want to put right this weekend.

  After that, they host Olympiacos in their second game of the league phase in the Champions League on Wednesday, before entertaining London neighbours West Ham on October 4. If Arsenal fail to win these next two league games, Liverpool could be out of sight before too long.

Newcastle United have had a summer to forget. Of course, the ongoing saga with Alexander Isak, who has gone on strike and is refusing to play, has dominated proceedings at the club, and they have still not signed their primary target, a centre-forward.

With Isak on strike and Callum Wilson no longer at the club, it has meant that Eddie Howe has needed to get creative. Anthony Gordon operated as a makeshift striker against Liverpool in Monday’s 3-2 defeat, but he was sent off for a reckless tackle on Virgil van Dijk and is therefore suspended for the foreseeable future.

With the transfer window slamming shut on Monday, there is still time for the Magpies to sign a new centre-forward.

Latest on Newcastle's transfer pursuit

All summer, it has been clear that Howe wants to add another striker to his squad. Several names have cropped up, and one of the latest is Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, whom the Magpies could make a move for.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the one player whom the North East giants have been focusing on signing of late is Brentford attacker Yoane Wissa.

According to a report from Craig Hope, the Magpies are set to hold more talks for the DR Congo international, with the “deal still alive” ahead of Monday’s deadline.

This new information has been revealed after it was reported last week that the Bees would demand a fee of £60m for the striker. With Hope confirming talks will resume, this fee has seemingly not put the Magpies off from doing a deal.

Why Wissa would be a good signing

Described as an “unbelievable” player by former manager Thomas Frank, Wissa has certainly developed a strong reputation. Last season, he shone as the Bees equalled their best-ever Premier League finish, reaching tenth.

Last season, the Bees’ number 11 scored the most goals in his Premier League career, finding the back of the net 19 times.

That eclipsed his tally from the previous season, where he bagged 12 goals, the first time he hit double figures.

Indeed, some of the numbers from Wissa’s campaign last season show just how impressive he was.

For example, the 28-year-old averaged 0.8 goals and assists and had a conversion rate of 27.54% per 90 minutes, showing just how creative and clinical he was.

With the way Wissa is going about his current transfer situation, it is easy to see how he could become the new Gordon at St James’ Park. The DR Congo star was previously not training with Brentford in an attempt to push a move through to St James’ Park.

Well, that was similar to how Gordon handled the situation of his transfer when he moved from Everton to Newcastle. It was reported back in 2023 that the England international skipped training to try and force a move through to St James’ Park, before submitting a transfer request.

Looking back on that, Magpies fans might he glad he did.

The Liverpool-born star has since gone on to make 107 appearances for the club, scoring 22 goals and assisting 23 in that time, including goals in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final over Arsenal last term.

Well, one thing is for sure: Wissa is desperate to play for Newcastle. Skipping training is not something that is done lightly, and if he does manage to force through the move, the Geordie fans in the stands at St James’ Park would surely take to him instantly.

If he can replicate what Gordon has done so far in a Newcastle shirt, then he would be even more loved by the Magpies supporters. Wissa is a player with a fantastic Premier League record already, so building upon that in the North East would be important to win fans over.

It is easy to see how Wissa can be Newcastle’s new Gorson. By missing training, he seems to want to move to the North East desperately, just like their star winger. Now all that’s left is to replicate his incredible impact on the club.

He's like Isak: Newcastle make late approach to sign £61m Wissa alternative

Newcastle continue to search for strikers as the summer transfer window enters the final week.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 25, 2025