Manchester City have been dealt an injury setback ahead of their blockbuster Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid this evening.
The Lowdown: Huge night ahead…
Pep Guardiola’s are gearing up for a monumentous occasion at the Bernabeu tonight as City aim to reach a second-consecutive European Cup final for the first time in their history.
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The Sky Blues have set up a huge second leg in Spain after beating La Liga’s giants 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium last week, a match which saw many twists and turns.
City’s seven-goal thriller against Real will go down as one of the best semi-final matches since the Champions League’s inception, but that was only the first half, with Guardiola now preparing his side for another crunch clash.
In terms of team news, the Premier League champions have been boosted by defender Kyle Walker’s potential availability after a lengthy lay-off.
Meanwhile, star man Joao Cancelo is also back after missing the first leg through suspension.
The Latest: Guardiola dealt Stones setback…
However, as officially confirmed, City will be without centre-back and England international John Stones through injury as the pre-Real team news emerges.
This comes as a blow given the 27-year-old’s proven ability when called upon, as evident by his stellar performances in the Champions League this season.
The Verdict: Bad news for City?
Stones has proven his worth in Europe whenever called upon, most recently against Atletico Madrid in the last round, with journalist Henry Winter calling him ‘absolutely magnificent’.
The stellar partnership of Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias has resulted in a lack of minutes for the Three Lions ace when compared to last year, where both Stones and Dias formed a formidable 2020/2021 duo in central defence.
Having the former Everton sensation to call upon would have been a real luxury for Guardiola though, especially in case of mid-match emergences and with the possibility of tired legs in extra time, but it appears the Spaniard will be without that option for one of City’s most crucial games of the season.
In other news: £101m ‘big name’ sets his sights on joining Man City, turns to super agent for help…find out more here.
It’s not as if Everton supporters need any more reason to be downcast amid their current relegation worries, although they may well receive another kick in the teeth in the coming weeks and months regarding reported transfer target Matheus Nunes.
While the Brazil-born PortugAL international is still yet to decide on his next destination, having starred for current club Sporting Lisbon over the past few years, recent reports have suggested that he could be in line for a move to Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola previously dubbing him “one of the best in the world” due to his sparkling form.
Missing out on a player to the Premier League leaders is no major point of note in itself from a Toffees perspective, although the problem lies in the fact that they could have reportedly signed the 23-year-old last summer, as well as in January.
A report from last July suggested that there had been contact regarding a potential deal with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes, although the appointment of Rafael Benitez set the negotiations back, with the Spaniard wanting to exert his own control over transfer proceedings.
Benitez fumbled Nunes transfer
The player would reportedly have been available for a fee in the region of £20m at the time, while the club reportedly scouted him again ahead of a potential deal in the winter, although on both occasions the Merseysiders failed to make their interest concrete.
The suggestion now is that the former Estoril man will now be worth roughly €60m (£50m), with his current club having included a release clause in the contract extension that he signed back in October – after Benitez and co had missed their chance to snap him up for a fraction of that amount.
The £27m-rated star proved instrumental in helping to drag Ruben Amorim side through the Champions League group stage at the expense of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, with Nunes registering 1.2 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and two tackles per game in the tournament prior to Sporting’s exit at the hands of Man City in the round of 16.
As for Everton, despite adding Donny Van de Beek and Dele Alli to their ranks in January, Frank Lampard’s side have looked particularly light in central midfield, with the failure to add a new midfield signing last summer potentially proving costly.
In just under a year, the club have gone from a position of top-half comfort to now fighting for their Premier League lives, with it unlikely that Nunes would consider the move now even if the Toffees can avoid dropping into the Championship come the end of the season.
This has to go down as a howler from Benitez, who was already unpopular enough with the Everton fan base as it was, and this gives the supporter another reason to rage at the Spaniard.
In other news, £44m down the drain: Allardyce’s £69k-p/w disaster has rinsed Everton for 54 months
Leeds United’s quest to remain in the Premier League took a nervy twist on Saturday evening after the Yorkshire outfit were thrashed by league leaders Manchester City at Elland Road.
Jesse Marsch’s side are now sat precariously in the only survival spot above the drop zone, just five points clear of Everton, who hold two games in hand on the Whites – one of which is later this afternoon as they face Frank Lampard’s former club, Chelsea.
That gap could close in half and that’ll only prolong Lees’ relegation fears.
Of course, the Peacocks weren’t expected to see off City in any shape or form but it’s not as if the performance was encouraging whatsoever.
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The defending champions had four different goalscorers and managed triple the number of shots on target in west Yorkshire this weekend.
Rodri headed home Phil Foden’s free-kick before the England international was involved in another set-piece, with Ruben Dias flicking on for Nathan Ake to finish. Gabriel Jesus also got on the scoresheet before veteran substitute Fernandinho finished off a quartet of goals in injury time.
At left-back, Junior Firpo endured another nightmare against top-quality opposition – a recurring theme since his summer move from FC Barcelona.
He was among Leeds’ poorest-rated players by SofaScore, so it’s no wonder the American hooked him off in the 67th minute, having also received a booking just six minutes into the encounter.
And that largely summed up his night against the likes of Foden and Raheem Sterling, who certainly had his number. The Dominican Republic-born defender won only two of nine duels (22%) and was dribbled past a whopping five times, epitomising his struggles.
Against the Citizens earlier in the campaign, WhoScored graded him a 5.31, whilst he has also notched sub-6.5 displays against West Ham (5.97), Manchester United (5.87) and Tottenham Hotspur (6.06).
Once again, he’s proving that he may just not be cut out for the big time in England.
It’s not as if he contributed offensively either, failing to register a single accurate cross or provide a single key pass, also via SofaScore.
During the game, the £55k-per-week liability was slammed by Premier League commentator Andy Townsend, who described him as “woeful” and “silly” for one particularly poor moment during the first half.
As such, it was yet another disastrous outing from the summer arrival and ultimately, one that let Marsch down as he had trusted the left-back to start the contest at Elland Road on Saturday.
AND in other news, Bid planned: Leeds could unearth their new Stuart Dallas in “unbelievable” 18 y/o…
The 2024/25 campaign was truly one to forget for everyone involved with Manchester United, as the club registered their worst-ever Premier League finish.
Ruben Amorim’s side ended the year in a measly 15th position, sitting just three spots above the relegation zone, with various issues rearing their head throughout the season.
The Red Devils had a real goalscoring issue during their top-flight campaign, as seen by their measly tally of just 44 goals in their 38 outings – an average of just 1.15 per game.
However, at the other end, things were just as disappointing, as they shipped 54 goals in just 38 matches, ultimately leading to a total of 18 league defeats in 2024/25.
Many of the failures that season were directed that way of one man, with Amorim desperately needing to make the right call on his future during the recent summer window.
The stats behind Andre Onana’s failures for United in 2024/25
After David de Gea’s departure from United back in the summer of 2023, former boss Erik ten Hag decided to delve into the transfer market to bolster his ranks – landing the signature of Andre Onana.
As a result, the Dutchman decided to fork out a reported £47.2m for the Cameroonian’s signature – a deal which could go down as one of the worst in the club’s history.
Upon Amorim’s arrival last November, he decided to stick with the former Inter Milan shot-stopper between the sticks, but he was unable to match the confidence shown in him by the boss.
The 29-year-old featured 50 times across all competitions last campaign, but made nine direct errors that led to goals, many of which came in key moments.
From parried shots against Lyon to misjudging Morgan Gibbs-White’s effort against Nottingham Forest – it truly was a regular occurrence for Onana to drop numerous clangers.
His only appearance for the Red Devils this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat to League Two Grimsby Town – a game that would signal the end of his first-team place at Old Trafford.
Manchester United'sAndreOnanaduring the warm up before the match
Amorim decided to ship Onana out on loan to Turkish Super League side Trabzonspor, with the hierarchy backing him with a new goalkeeper on Deadline Day.
Man Utd have another Onana-esque liability
As a result of Onana’s departure, Senne Lammens was the man chosen to fill the void in the goalkeeping department for United, with the Belgian joining from Royal Antwerp.
At just 23, such a move may have been a daunting task to many, but the youngster has wasted no time in cementing the number one shirt as his own at Old Trafford.
He’s made six appearances for the Red Devils to date, keeping one clean sheet, but his goal prevented xG of 0.2, showcases his immediate impact between the sticks.
Lammens is also yet to register an error leading to a goal after his big-money transfer, with his arrival already solving one of the glaring issues in the squad from last season.
However, not all the new additions have slotted in as seamlessly as the goalkeeper, with full-back Patrick Dorgu unable to be as successful at Old Trafford.
The Dane arrived from Italian side Lecce back in January for a reported £30m, with such a move seeming to end the hierarchy’s hunt for a long-term left wing-back.
However, nearly a year on from his transfer, it’s evident that the 21-year-old simply isn’t at the level required and is now becoming a huge liability for Amorim’s men.
Dorgu has only started seven out of a possible 12 league games to date this campaign, with his latest showing highlighting why he’s been an inconsistent figure in 2025/26.
He featured for 58 minutes in the defeat against Everton on home soil, before being replaced by Diogo Dalot after struggling to make the desired effect at both ends.
Minutes played
58
Touches
40
Passes completed
75%
Tackles made
1
Aerials lost
100%
Crosses completed
0
Possession lost
11x
Dribbled past
1
The youngster was labelled “unreliable” by one analyst, after only winning one tackle, and losing all four of the aerial duels he entered – offering a lacklustre option out of possession.
Even with the ball, Dorgu struggled to impress, only completing 75% of his attempted passes, losing possession a staggering 11 times whilst failing to complete a single cross.
As a result, he’s massively becoming a liability under Amorim, arguably the biggest one since Onana’s lack of form for the club back in the 2024/25 season.
A solution for all parties is desperately needed before the January transfer window, with the club potentially needing to reinvest in the market to solve the problem at left wing-back.
Alongside Zirkzee: Man Utd's "waste of time" must not start again for Amorim
Ruben Amorim has a bold decision to make over the future of one Manchester United flop.
It is hard to describe the summer transfer window as anything other than a disappointment for Leeds United after they failed to make any further additions to their squad on deadline day.
Speaking ahead of the deadline, Daniel Farke said: “In defence and midfield, goalkeeper position and full-back position, we’ve done really good business. But we spoke quite open and honest about it, we would need to add some more quality up front. We need to stay awake until the last hour of this window.”
Journalist Graham Smyth added that the German head coach claimed that it would be “difficult” for the Championship champions to avoid relegation if they did not strengthen their attack in the final days of the window.
The same reporter noted after the deadline passed that the day was a “disaster” for the 49ers, who failed to back their manager with what he felt they needed to avoid relegation.
Leeds have only scored one goal, a penalty against Everton, in three Premier League matches so far, and there are big concerns over the quality of their frontline.
The Whites were linked with plenty of attackers heading into the deadline, but they were ultimately unable to land Facundo Buonanotte or Harry Wilson.
How Leeds failed Farke this summer
Leeds may well go on to achieve survival and enjoy a fantastic first season back in the Premier League, but it is worrying when the manager states outright that it will be difficult to avoid the drop without signings and the club fail to bring any players in.
The Whites were reportedly hopeful of signing Buonanotte on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in the final few days of the window, after he scored five goals on loan at Leicester City in the Premier League last season, per Sofascore.
However, Chelsea, despite their vast resources and the incredible talent they already possess in attacking areas, decided to sign the Argentine youngster on a season-long loan to compete with Estevao, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Tyrique George, Andrey Santos, Joao Pedro, and Enzo Fernandez for a starting berth in the attacking midfield positions.
After their move for Buonanotte fell through, Leeds entered into talks with Fulham over a permanent deal to sign Wales international Harry Wilson to bolster their squad.
Appearances
35
25
xG
3.38
4.21
Goals
4
6
Big chances created
5
2
Key passes per game
0.7
0.8
Assists
6
1
The left-footed star, who scored ten goals in the last two Premier League seasons combined, did not end up at Elland Road on deadline day, though, because the Cottagers pulled the plug.
Fulham reportedly had a late change of heart and decided to keep Wilson as part of their squad after a deal for Tyrique George from Chelsea fell through for them.
Ipswich Town'sLeifDavisin action with Fulham's Harry Wilson
This meant that Leeds ended the day without any reinforcements to their attack, and that they ended the window with Noah Okafor as the only attacking signing who was signed for a transfer fee.
The situation is what it is now, though, and Farke has to work with what he has to achieve what he feels is now unlikely – survival. One of the players he is tasked with getting the best out of is Wilfried Gnonto, who is currently worth more than both Buonanotte and Wilson.
Leeds have hit the jackpot with Wilfried Gnonto
The West Yorkshire outfit paid a fee of £3.8m to sign the versatile forward from Zurich back in the summer of 2022, and he is now worth significantly more than that.
Market Movers
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 targeted Buonanotte and Wilson to bolster the team in the positions that Gnonto plays for the Whites, but the Italian youngster is worth even more than both of them, per Transfermarkt.
Leeds United'sMateoJosephcelebrates with Ethan Ampadu and Wilfried Gnonto
The Chelsea loanee is valued at £17.3m and the Wales international is valued at £13m by Transfermarkt, which shows that both players are highly valued players, thanks to their respective performances in the Premier League in recent seasons.
Gnonto may still be waiting for his first goal contribution in the Premier League this season, but he is an exciting young talent who has the potential to develop into a terrific option for Farke if he can hit his stride in the top-flight.
At the age of 21, the Leeds forward still has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player, with every match in the Premier League another piece of valuable experience for him.
Gnonto, who was hailed as “electric” by Statman Dave when the Whites were last in the top-flight, has already shown plenty of signs of progression throughout his career at Elland Road, as illustrated by his soaring market value.
September 2022
£3.8m move from Zurich
March 2023
£15.8m
December 2023
£13.8m
May 2024
£13.8m
December 2024
£15.8m
May 2025
£19m
As you can see in the table above, the Italy U21 international is currently valued at around £19m by Transfermarkt, which means that he is worth even more than both Buonanotte and Wilson.
This also shows that Leeds have hit the jackpot with the 21-year-old starlet because his value has soared from £3.8m to £19m in the space of three years, suggesting that the club could make a gigantic profit on him in the future if they ever decide to cash in.
Gnonto’s next step is to show that he can deliver consistent quality and consistent all-round performances in the Premier League with Leeds this season to help them avoid the drop, and to show that the club did not need the attackers that they targeted in his position.
The Italian ace produced nine goals and six assists in 26 starts in the Championship last season, per Sofascore, and may be able to provide a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals if given the chance to start regularly in the top-flight this term.
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The forward has departed Elland Road.
ByCharlie Smith Aug 29, 2025
Irrespective of what happens this season, though, Leeds have undoubtedly hit the jackpot with Gnonto, who is an incredibly valuable asset for the club at this moment in time.
Crystal Palace are ready to embark on an adventure in the Europa Conference League and have now made an approach to bring another talented defender to Selhurst Park with Jaydee Canvot.
Crystal Palace set to sign Toulouse defender Jaydee Canvot
After qualifying for the Europa Conference League, Crystal Palace are set to sign Canvot from Toulouse and only the final documents remain before he will officially be unveiled.
Revealing the news on social media platform X, Fabrizio Romano stated: “Crystal Palace agree deal to sign French centre back Jaydee Canvot after exclusive story revealed last week. CPFC finalising documents exchange with Toulouse. Here we go.”
Jaydee Canvot in action for Toulouse against PSG.
Seeking to bolster further up the pitch, Crystal Palace could also look to strike a deal for Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson before the window closes after capturing Yeremy Pino from Villarreal.
Coming in to replace Eze, Pino said on their website: “I’m very happy to be here. It is a dream of mine to come to the Premier League, to a historic club like Crystal Palace, and I hope that I can help the team.”
Of course, speculation over Marc Guehi and a proposed move to Liverpool refuses to die down, and it remains to be seen whether anything will advance after the Eagles booked their place in the Conference League league phase after defeating Fredrikstad FK.
Crystal Palace now "enter" to hijack Wolves move for "fabulous" £17m ace
The Eagles are lining up a swoop for a new midfielder.
ByDominic Lund Aug 28, 2025
AZ Alkmaar, Dynamo Kiev, KUPS, Strasbourg, Aek Larnaca and Shelbourne await in the competition proper, offering a realistic chance of progression for the South London club as they aim to make inroads continentally.
With that in mind, Crystal Palace have made an approach for a reputable defender who could arrive on loan before the window closes, per recent reports.
Crystal Palace make late approach for Mohammed Salisu
According to Ed Aarons on X, Crystal Palace have made a loan approach to sign AS Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu to bolster their pool of options in defence.
With their pursuit of Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji still ongoing amid interest from Galatasaray and Bayer Leverkusen, it appears that the Eagles have moved the dial towards other players who could enrich their backline.
Labelled “phenomenal” by Danny Murphy, Salisu scored three times in 24 appearances across all competitions last season and won 66 duels in Ligue 1, per Fotmob.
Formerly of Southampton, the 19-cap Ghana international would arrive with Premier League experience under his belt and offers stability should Guehi leave before next Monday’s deadline.
Seemingly part of a moving sequence of events, it will be intriguing to see if their pursuit of Akanji is now abandoned, given Canvot is set to sign on at Selhurst Park.
Jadon Sancho will not stay at Chelsea beyond this season. He had a fairytale end to his career at Stamford Bridge, scoring a goal in what turned out to be his final appearance for the club, the UEFA Conference League showpiece against Real Betis, which the Blues won 4-1.
His return to Manchester United was confirmed on Tuesday morning by David Ornstein. The journalist explained that an ‘agreement could not be reached over personal terms’, meaning he will leave the club at the end of the season. Chelsea will pay £5m to the Red Devils to cancel their obligatory buy clause.
So, with Sancho leaving, it means the Blues will almost certainly need to sign a new winger. There are some options that have been linked.
Chelsea’s options to replace Sancho
In a recent report from Sky Sports, a few options that Chelsea are reportedly interested in for their new winger have been named. One of those players is Jamie Gittens, Borussia Dortmund’s English winger, who has left a strong impression in the 2024/25 season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, perhaps a better option than Gittens, also linked by Sky Sports, is Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. The 22-year-old seems available for transfer this summer, and the report suggests the Spaniard is ‘on their list’ to replace Sancho this season.
As for the price, that has been reliably reported by Ben Jacobs. He claims that Williams, who is also wanted by Arsenal this summer, is valued at £48.8m.
One stumbling block could be the fact that he is in talks for a new deal in Bilbao, although that does not rule out a move, but it could see an increase in the price.
Why Williams would be a good signing
Despite being just 22 years of age, Williams is a key player for Athletic Club. He helped his side reach the semi-final of the Europa League and finish third in La Liga, seeing them qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
In 45 appearances in the 2024/25 season across all competitions, Williams found the back of the net 11 times and grabbed a further seven assists. Of those goal involvements, ten of them came in 29 games in La Liga.
One reason why Chelsea’s interest in Williams may be piqued is his contributions in European competition. The Spain international, who was part of their Euro 2024 winning side, managed seven goals and assists in 955 minutes in the Europa League. That is the equivalent of just ten games, showing excellent consistency.
It is fair to say that the “electric” winger, as Statman Dave once called him, had a better season than both Sancho and Gittens, when looking at the goals and assists numbers involved.
Man United star Sancho managed 15 goal involvements this season, including his strike in the final against Betis.
Gittens, who is just 20 years of age, had a better season than Sancho, but was still pipped by Williams when it comes to most goal involvements. He managed 17 across all competitions for Dortmund, one less than the Spain international’s tally in 2024/25.
Several stats on FBref suggest Williams would be as good as, if not a better, addition for Chelsea. For example, he averages 5.05 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to 3.57 for Sancho and 3.7 for Gittens.
Goals and assists
0.45
0.36
0.56
Key passes
1.8
1.94
1.07
Shot-creating actions
5.05
3.57
3.7
Goal-creating actions
0.59
0.51
0.51
Progressive carries
5.32
5.2
5.74
So, there is certainly plenty of supporting evidence to suggest that Williams would be a better addition to the playing staff at Stamford Bridge than Gittens, and a better option than if they had kept Sancho.
The fee is not astronomical, although his new contract could well change that. Regardless, signing Williams could be an excellent piece of business for Chelsea this summer.
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West Bromwich Albion lost one of their key players in the January transfer window when they sold number one Alex Palmer to Ipswich for a reported £5m.
The English stopper started the first 30 matches of the Championship campaign and kept 11 clean sheets, whilst saving 74% of the shots against his goal.
Instead of dipping into the market to source a replacement for the 28-year-old star, West Brom opted to utilise Joe Wildsmith and Josh Griffiths, which did not go to plan.
Why West Brom need a new goalkeeper
Wildsmith played the first ten matches in the league after Palmer’s move to the Premier League, and conceded 0.95 more than expected based on the xG against him.
He was dropped from the side by Tony Mowbray, though, after the error for the goal above, as he failed to keep out a free-kick from Trai Hume that appeared saveable, certainly from the angle behind the goal.
Griffiths then came into the side and conceded 2.11 more goals than expected and only saved 59% of the shots against his goal in his six appearances in the Championship, conceding 1.8 goals per game on average.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
This shows that neither of them were able to replace Palmer’s quality or consistency in the second half of the season, which is why the Baggies should turn to reported transfer target Angus Gunn.
Why West Brom should sign Angus Gunn
SportsBoom recently reported that West Brom are one of a number of Championship clubs eyeing up the Scotland international after it was confirmed that he will be a free agent this summer.
The 29-year-old star is leaving boyhood club Norwich City at the end of his current contract, and the Baggies should swoop to secure a bargain signing.
Gunn, once dubbed “exceptional” by Joe Hart, would arrive as a proven Championship performer who could hit the ground running as an experienced signing, allowing him to nail down the number one position.
Appearances
30
40
34
Clean sheets
7
11
7
Save percentage
72%
69%
67%
Post-shot xG minus goals conceded
+8.2
+4.6
-3.6
Error led to goal
1
0
0
As you can see in the table above, Gunn has only made one error that directly led to a goal in his three seasons in the Championship with the Canaries since their relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign.
He has also been a net positive as a shot-stopper in that time, preventing 9.2 more goals than expected based on the post-shot xG of the shots against him, which suggests that Gunn could be an impressive operator for the Baggies if he can get back to his best after a difficult year.
The Scotland international showcased his quality against West Brom towards the end of the season, though, with this exceptional save in the clip above.
Now, Gunn could be making those kind of match-winning saves for the Baggies if the club can wrap up a bargain deal for the EFL star on a free transfer to finally replace Palmer as a quality number one option at Championship level next season.
West Brom pushing hard to sign POTY-winning defender who's "tough as nails"
The Baggies have set their sights on a full-back, who recently scooped up a Fans’ Player of the Year award.
Newcastle United are now considering a move for a £27m striker, who could be brought in to partner Alexander Isak, according to a report.
Race for Isak heating up
It is no surprise that so many clubs are keen on signing Isak this summer, given just how impressive the Swedish forward has been this season, most notably scoring against Liverpool in the EFL Cup final to help end Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a trophy.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Premier League
33
23
6
EFL Cup
6
3
0
FA Cup
2
1
0
Arsenal are now ramping up their pursuit of the striker, with a jaw-dropping £127m offer now being prepared, while he has also been identified as a dream signing for Liverpool, having left manager Arne Slot impressed at times this season.
That said, the Magpies remain in a strong negotiating position, with the 25-year-old contracted until the summer of 2028, so they may be able to retain his services beyond the end of the campaign.
Newcastle step up move for "fantastic" 28-cap star after scouting mission
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BySean Markus Clifford May 12, 2025
However, according to a report from Spain, Newcastle are now considering a move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth as a potential replacement for Isak, should their talisman move on this summer.
Alternatively, the report adds Sorloth could be brought in as a partner for the Sweden international, should Eddie Howe’s side secure a place in the Champions League, with the Tynesiders weighing up the possibility of forming a top-level attacking duo.
There is a belief that the Atletico forward would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League, and his qualities make him a good fit for Howe, who is looking for a strong and aerially dominant forward.
"Stellar" Sorloth impressing in La Liga
The Norwegian has not been at Atletico for long, arriving in a €32m (£27m) deal last summer, but he has certainly caught the eye during his debut campaign with the Spanish side, netting 21 goals in all competitions, including 17 in La Liga.
The 29-year-old didn’t manage to make the desired impact in the Champions League, with Atletico exiting the competition at the hands of Real Madrid, but the Spanish side should be encouraged by his first season in Spain.
Atletico Madrid's AlexanderSorlothcelebrates scoring their second goal
The Norway international ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to other strikers, while also placing in the 95th percentile for aerials won, showcasing the threat he poses in the air.
Lauded as “stellar” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are signs that Sorloth could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle this summer, but it seems unlikely that Atletico would be willing to cash-in, given his exploits in his first campaign with Atletico.
Liverpool might have been crowned Premier League champions are a masterful exercise in consistency under Arne Slot’s wing this season.
It’s not yet May, but Anfield has etched number 20 onto the decorated trophy wall, restoring parity with Manchester United as the most successful club in the history of England’s top division.
1.
Liverpool
20
1=
Man United
20
3.
Arsenal
13
4.
Man City
10
5.
Everton
9
It’s a remarkable feat and one which has been celebrated in front of fans (unlike the pandemic-affected 2019/20 title), Sunday’s gold-sealing win over Tottenham Hotspur marked indelibly in the minds of Reds supporters all across the globe.
The earlyness of Liverpool’s triumph has been further illustrated by the perennial emergence of the transfer circus, with bemusing rumours usually appearing at this early stage.
Indeed, with the market still a way away, surprising rumours have emerged linking Liverpool with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Surprise links to Chelsea's Cole Palmer
Just imagine, for one moment, Liverpool were to sign Palmer this summer. The England international burst emphatically onto the scene last year and fast-tracked his way to elite status.
Chelsea'sColePalmerreacts
According to Chelsea insider Simon Phillips, Liverpool have been keeping an eye on the 22-year-old recently as they weigh up a bid. While such a claim should be taken with a pinch of salt, Chelsea are facing the possibility of a second successive season without Champions League football, and Palmer may not fancy another term in the continental sphere’s second string.
A diamond among coals at Stamford Bridge, Palmer has been a revelation since joining from Manchester City in a £42.5m deal back in August 2023, crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year for 2023/24 after his stunning breakout year under Mauricio Pochettino.
However, he’s met the cold face of adversity this season, with 2025 proving most unkind to the up-and-comer so far.
Chelsea’s supreme attacking outlet has dried up like a pool in the desert over the past several months, the weekend’s action taking Palmer’s drought to 17 matches in all competitions, but last season’s success was no mere mirage.
This dynamic attacking midfielder is a joy to watch, still, even after such dreary individual results of late, boasting a considerable haul of 39 goals from 85 Chelsea matches, with 24 assists to boot.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even went as far as to claim the 22-year-old is the “best player in the Premier League” back in October, though most of a Liverpool persuasion would sternly refute that take.
That’s because Mohamed Salah still plies his trade on Merseyside, the club’s definitive jackpot signing through their most auspicious era in modern history.
Liverpool hit their biggest jackpot on Mo Salah
At this point, it’s not a bold opinion to determine Salah as one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League.
The Egypt superstar’s goal against Tottenham at the weekend, among all other things, sealed his undisputed spot in the division’s top-five scorers of all time, moving in front of Sergio Aguero.
1.
Alan Shearer
441
260
2.
Harry Kane
320
213
3.
Wayne Rooney
491
208
4.
Andy Cole
414
187
5.
Mohamed Salah
297
185
It’s not bad, it’s really not. Liverpool signed Salah from AS Roma in a £34m package back in July 2017. His reputation on English shores was that of a Chelsea reject, much like Kevin De Bruyne, in failing to prove his worth in west London.
Neither has done too badly since. Salah, all told, has scored 244 goals and laid on 113 assists across 397 appearances. That’s a contribution rate of 0.90 per game. Luis Suarez, for context, wrapped up his Liverpool career with goal involvements struck every 0.86 games.
This is the calibre of player we are talking about, not just “world-class” – as he has been described by rivals such as Roy Keane – who can do little but gawp at his output, his doggedness, but something beyond world-class, something eternal.
Liverpool might be curious about Palmer’s situation at Chelsea, but CIES Football Observatory record that the rangy ace boasts a transfer value of £116m, and would FSG be willing to fork out such a hefty sum?
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Has Palmer, having fallen off a proverbial cliff in recent months, actually proven over so many years his ability to maintain ridiculous levels – like Salah?
There’s no question that Salah is a hall-of-famer, potentially even taking one of the 11 exclusive seats that make up the greatest starting line-up in Premier League history. A contentious, insoluble debate, but one in which Salah’s case has legs aplenty.
The very fact that the 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) and laid down the expectations after falling short last season bespeaks his peerless mentality, taking the heavy responsibility on his shoulders this year and marching Liverpool toward the prized title.
To think that FSG could have sold him when Saudi suitors came a-calling back in 2023. Salah was approached by Al-Ittihad after a disappointing Liverpool campaign in 2022/23, with the affluent outfit offering a jaw-dropping £150m payment to make the forward the Saudi Pro League’s figurehead.
Credit where credit’s due, Liverpool’s owners didn’t cave in to the financial temptation, instead recognising the unmatched talent Salah brings to the table.
Now that he’s renewed his deal, Salah may well boast a similar value, should the Gulf side turn up again, but it goes to show that this right-sided star is something special, something beyond even that of Palmer, who hasn’t yet scratched the surface of the almighty level Salah has reached over many years of Anfield service.
Salah might turn 33 this summer, but who can claim he’s not as sharp as ever? Slot’s design has reenergised the veteran, allowing him to focus less on defensive duties, on covering, typically, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and instead to maximise his focal presence.
He’s done that and more. Salah is greatness. He is Liverpool’s greatest triumph of an era laden with title wins, historic moments and a closely-knit connection between those on the field and those in the stands, on their sofas, in the bars.
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