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West Ham United could now cash in on a Hammers hero in January despite being a regular under Julen Lopetegui.

West Ham off to worrying start under Lopetegui

The Irons have won just one of their opening six Premier League games under Lopetegui, who already appears to be under some early pressure to deliver results at the London Stadium.

Most recently, West Ham travelled to Brentford, where they managed to secure a 1-1 draw after conceding in the first minute. Tomas Soucek scored to grab the visitors a point, with the Hammers just two points above the relegation zone.

Talking after the game, Lopetegui took the positives after coming away from Brentford with a point, saying: “We knew that we had a very tough match, they won both matches here against Southampton and Crystal Palace and we suffered by conceding in the first minute.

“We showed this [Brentford’s record of scoring early] to the players and it’s incredible we suffered. It’s a bad picture to concede so early. “We kept calm and I think we deserved to win the match in the second half, we showed character and commitment.

“We had three or four very clear situations to score a second goal but we didn’t manage it and we take a point. I have to keep positive. We always have to work as a team or we are weaker – I think we did this in the second half.”

West Ham officials and technical director Tim Steidten backed the manager in the transfer window, bringing in several new players and splashing the cash.

West Ham summer signings

From

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Max Kilman

Wolves

€47.5m

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds United

€29.3m

Niclas Fullkrug

Borussia Dortmund

€27m

Luis Guilherme

Palmeiras

€23m

Mohamadou Kante

Paris FC

Undisclosed

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Man Utd

€18m

Wes Foderingham

Sheffield United

Free transfer

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

Free transfer

Jean-Clair Todibo

Nice

Loan transfer

Carlos Soler

PSG

Loan transfer

As can be seen, one of those was striker Niclas Fullkrug, however, the German has missed the last four games through injury. Danny Ings and Michail Antonio have been used as a result of Fullkrug’s absence, but it looks as if the latter could be on the move in the New Year.

West Ham could now sell Michail Antonio in January

According to a new report from Football Insider, West Ham could cash in on Antonio during the January transfer window, where he will have months remaining on his £85,000-a-week contract.

The report describes Antonio as a cult hero at the club and adds that he has been a regular under Lopetegui, appearing in all but one of West Ham’s eight games this season.

However, the 34-year-old was linked with a summer exit and interest is still lingering, according to FI, with the club willing to entertain offers at the beginning of 2025. Antonio moved to West Ham in September 2015, and he has played a key role in attack during his nine-year stay, justifying his cult hero status.

Appearances

315

Goals

82

Assists

41

However, 2025 could be the right time to part ways with the Jamaica international due to his age and contract situation, making this one to watch.

It was normal service resumed for Liverpool in their opening game of the Champions League campaign, dispatching AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro.

It was a crucial result. Last weekend, the Reds were beaten in a shock Anfield loss against Nottingham Forest, with the hosts stumped by the Tricky Trees’ low block and compact defensive line.

Liverpool have steadied the ship but will now need to restore their fluency in the Premier League to ensure that they keep up with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal at the front of the pack.

Slot deserves praise for his success in instilling his footballing brand seamlessly, bringing a more control-heavy and pass-focused sheen to the red half of Merseyside. Luis Diaz is one of the players to have profited the most from the tactical tweak.

Luis Diaz is starting to improve

Diaz has been at Liverpool for a while now, signing from FC Porto for an initial £37m in January 2022. Despite his skills and wheels, the Colombian’s goal return leaves something to be desired, having posted only 27 goals and 14 assists across 103 appearances.

That’s a goal contribution rate of 0.40 per game. His predecessor on the left flank, Sadio Mane, concluded his time at Liverpool with 120 goals and 42 assists across 269 matches, which stands at a rate of 0.60 per game.

Matches (starts)

37 (32)

4 (4)

Goals

8

3

Assists

5

1

Touches*

43.8

41.0

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.9)

2.3 (1.0)

Pass completion

85%

88%

`Big chances created

5

2

Key passes*

1.8

1.8

Dribbles (completed)*

1.8

1.8

Ball recoveries*

3.4

3.5

Tackles + interceptions*

1.0

2.1

Total duels won

4.6

4.8

It’s early days but you can see that Diaz is starting to become more effective with his attacking actions. He only needs to score six goals across 34 Premier League fixtures to better last year’s tally, while he has also created two big chances from four outings so far, having mustered up just five across the entirety of last season.

Diaz has been known to ebb and flow, however, and he was pretty dismal in his performance against Forest last time out, sparking fears that his purple patch has faded away and Slot will have to now contend with a highly talented winger lacking in end product.

Cody Gakpo put in a masterful performance from the left wing at the San Siro, and with Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota both capable out on the flank, Slot will feel that he has sufficient options.

But this draws our mind back to the sale of Takumi Minamino, who never quite found his feet on Merseyside but has possibly outshone Liverpool’s South American wideman since leaving.

Why Liverpool sold Takumi Minamino

Liverpool sold Minamino to French club AS Monaco in a deal worth £15.4m last year, linking up with his new teammates in 2022, two-and-a-half years after joining Liverpool from RB Salzburg.

The Japan international had been a terrific player for the indomitable Austrian side, light on his feet and sharp in his decision-making, notably scoring and assisting apiece at Anfield in the Champions League at the start of the 2019/20 season and convincing Jurgen Klopp to make his move.

For a release clause worth just £7m, it was the kind of deal that FSG loved, moving swiftly in December 2019 to get the job done. Minamino arrived the following month.

He earned £75k per week for the Anfield side but failed to ever break into the first team with the kind of regularity that he would have hoped for, only starting five Premier League matches for Liverpool across the entirety of his stay.

He ended on a high, scoring seven goals and adding one assist across the FA Cup and Carabao Cup campaigns in his final year under Klopp’s wing, 2021/22. Liverpool went on to win both competitions and his contribution was immense in achieving this double.

But Minamino was not going to earn a regular starting berth, and when Monaco came calling with a £15m offer, it was something of a no-brainer to cash in for a healthy profit.

Takumi Minamino's performances since leaving Liverpool

Journalist Josh Bunting once said that Minamino, now 29, was “undervalued” in Klopp’s Liverpool squad, but perhaps the wealth of talent simply made it impossible for him to ever spread his wings.

Minamino has since gone from strength to strength at Monaco. He was initially branded as a “flop” by journalist Nabil Djellit after failing to impress throughout his first term, scoring only once – and claiming four assists – across just ten starts in Ligue 1.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

But he was excellent last year, notching nine goals and six assists in the division despite starting just 25 games. As per FBref, the diminutive winger ranked among the top 8% of positional peers in the French top flight for goals scored and the top 15% for assists made per 90.

He might appear to have started the current campaign off indifferent at a perfunctory glance, grabbing one goal from four games – three starts – but Minamino has also averaged 2.8 key passes per game.

Given that he has been firing at a more prolific rate while proving to be more relentless with his playmaking output, Minamino might have actually been better than Diaz over the past year or so – though if Slot has actually unlocked the full scope of the Colombian’s skillset, and last weekend’s effort was a mere blip, then that could soon change.

In any case, Minamino is a fine player and has shown since leaving that he had so much more to offer in Liverpool.

Liverpool thought they had the new Gerrard, but he left under Klopp for £0

He was once seen as a very promising talent during his time at Anfield.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 19, 2024

Following an excellent start to their campaign, Celtic are reportedly set to reward one player with a bumper new deal to put him among Brendan Rodgers' highest earners.

Celtic's perfect start

With five wins from five games and just the one goal conceded, it's fair to say that Celtic couldn't have enjoyed a much better start than the one they've managed in pursuit of retaining their Scottish Premiership crown once again. The Bhoys have even already got one over on Old Firm rivals Rangers, easing past the Gers in a convincing 3-0 victory.

Rodgers' side will now be tasked with picking up where they left off after the international break, with the return of the Champions League – and a new format at that – throwing up fresh challenges.

Celtic starlet left Parkhead for £0, now he's worth more than Matt O'Riley

The exceptional defender was let go by the Hoops at academy level.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 12, 2024

Amid that challenge, meanwhile, one player is already set to receive a reward for such a fine start to the campaign. According to Football Scotland, Celtic are now set to offer Alistair Johnston a new deal which will see him become one of the club's highest earners.

As things stand, the right-back earns a reported £17,000-a-week at Celtic, but a new deal could see him jump up to around the £30k-a-week mark with highest-earner Callum McGregor earning a reported £32k-a-week.

The pay rise is more than deserved, it must be said, Johnston has enjoyed a flying start to the campaign, starting every game in Celtic's dominant opening run and even getting a goal as well as an assist to his name in the process.

"Strong" Johnston will only get better

Since battling back from injury at the start of last season, Johnson has become more and more vital to Rodgers' title-winning side at Celtic and is only likely to continue that improvement with a new contract to match his quality. The full-back, who can also play right-midfield and centre-back proved his eye for attacking contributions in the last campaign with seven assists in all competitions and is now even showcasing his eye for goal against St. Mirren.

Earning plenty of praise from Rodgers last season, the Celtic boss said via Herald Scotland: “I remember seeing him at the World Cup. He was outstanding for Canada. I thought at the time when he arrived in January it was a really good buy for Celtic.

"He’s a talented player and you get the sense from talking to him he’s very ambitious and committed. He wants to do well. It’s just been a real shame with the injury he’s had that he’s been out. But Alistair is a really strong boy and speaking to the staff and the players, he’s really highly rated here. I’m looking forward to seeing him more.”

When the Premiership returns, there's no doubt that Johnston will be among the in-form players to watch at Celtic Park.

One Newcastle man will not be a part of Eddie Howe’s squad to take on Wolves this weekend after it emerged he had turned down the chance to leave the club in the summer, and now risks being frozen out entirely.

Difficult summer for Newcastle amid financial fair play concerns

It was not the transfer window that any at St James’ Park would have envisioned amid major concerns of breaching the Premier League’s financial fair play regulations and a failure to lure top talent to Tyneside.

The June 30th deadline to comply with FFP saw the Magpies forced into the sales of young duo Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson, fetching £65m for the pair, as Minteh joined Brighton for £30m and Anderson completed a £35m move to Nottingham Forest.

It ended speculation that the club could be forced into selling one of their established first team stars amid links between Anthony Gordon and Liverpool, as well as Alexander Isak and Arsenal. Speaking over the summer, midfielder Sean Longstaff admitted it felt as though everyone was up for sale as the Magpies rushed to raise funds.

“We’re not stupid, we’d seen all the stuff with financial fair play (FFP) and who was on the table and who wasn’t on the table. At that point, the way it seemed, everyone had their price and unfortunately for Elliot and for us, he was the one who had to go”, he told the Athletic.

Newcastle’s summer signings

Player

Fee

Odysseas Vlachodimos

€23.6m

William Osula

€11.6m

Lewis Hall

€33m

John Ruddy

Free

Lloyd Kelly

Free

But despite complying, it remained a very quiet summer for Newcastle, with Lloyd Kelly arriving on a free transfer and William Osula joining from Sheffield United, while goalkeeping duo John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos also arrived and they officially made Lewis Hall’s loan move from Chelsea permanent.

Newcastle man to be frozen out

Now, in a peculiar if predictable turn of events, The Athletic report that summer signing Odysseas Vlachodimos is set to be frozen out of the squad just months after becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in the club’s history.

The Greek shot-stopper technically arrived from Nottingham Forest for £20m as part of the deal to send Anderson to the City Ground, but his arrival was only ever a necessity to balance the books at both clubs, despite ostensibly being a separate deal from Anderson’s.

Newcastle keen on "talented" prospect whose brother just cost Spurs £30m

He could join his brother in the top flight…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 12, 2024

However, he has not been a part of any of the club’s matchday squads so far this season, and The Athletic claim that he “will not be selected for the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday”. Indeed, they add that he “has already been told he can leave St James’ Park, an opportunity he declined”.

Meanwhile, it is claimed that “the prospects of Vlachodimos playing for Newcastle any time soon are said to be almost non-existent”, which will leave him taking home £50,000 a week for the remainder of his stay on Tyneside without ever being involved in competitive action. Given the nature of the deal, it is a sad but entirely unsurprising turn of events for Greece’s no.1.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has still got breakout potential in the Premier League, journalist Dean Jones told FootballFanCast.

The forward, who spent last season on loan with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen has recently been linked with a summer switch to Nottingham Forest.

What is the latest transfer news regarding Callum Hudson-Odoi?

According to a report from the Athletic, the Chelsea wide-man has decided to leave the club this summer.

The 22-year-old has been with the club for 14 years, having joined the club at the age of eight. However, the player understands that at this point in his career, he has to be playing regular first-team football, and he most likely will not be doing that at Stamford Bridge next season.

There are a number of clubs interested in the former England youth international, with Forest and Fulham offering potential Premier League football. Another shock move could be the reunite with former Chelsea youth products Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori at AC Milan this summer.

Whilst the London club have not yet decided on the fee they want for Hudson-Odoi, the forward only has one year remaining on his deal, so this summer represents the final chance for the club to make some money off of the forward who has a €15.00m (£12.8m) market value according to Transfermarkt.

Another report states that the club may sensationally ask the player to halve his wages in order to terminate his contract and leave him free to join any club as a free agent. New manager Mauricio Pochettino doesn't see the winger being good enough to have an impact at Chelsea next season.

Journalist Jones has said that we are still yet to see the full version of Hudson-Odoi yet.

What does Dean Jones think about Callum Hudson-Odoi?

When asked about whether Hudson-Odoi to Nottingham Forest would be a good signing, Jones was full of praise for the winger, citing the potential that he has.

The transfer insider told FootballFanCast: "I still think Hudson-Odoi has got breakout potential in this league. I mean, we've obviously seen him before, but I don't think we've seen the full version of him over a long enough period to know exactly what he would be capable of.

He's still so young, this is a player that should really be playing Champions League football right now. If he had fulfilled his potential and not had injuries."

Should Hudson-Odoi head to Nottingham Forest?

A move to Nottingham Forest could be the perfect move for Hudson-Odoi to get his career back on track.

The Premier League side finished 16th last campaign, but received many plaudits for their front-footed style of play, with players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson, and Taiwo Awoniyi thriving under manager Steve Cooper.

The winger has previously worked under Cooper on the international level with the England Under 17's, where Hudson-Odoi won the under-17 World Cup in the summer of 2017, featuring as part of a squad that included names such as Marc Guehi, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Angel Gomes, Emile Smith-Rowe, and current Forest star Gibbs-White.

The 22-year-old was set for stardom after breaking onto the scene under Maurizio Sarri in the 2018/19 campaign. The forward was so impressive early on in his career that German giants Bayern Munich submitted a loan offer that included the option to buy the Englishman for £70m which Chelsea rejected. However, since rupturing his Achilles Tendon, the forward has struggled to reach those heights again.

A loan move to Leverkusen was tried last season, however, one goal and one assist across 21 appearances was a very disappointing return. The forward still gave some statistical glimpses into his quality though, with his 4.71 progressive carries and 2.02 successful take-ons per 90 still impressive numbers when compared to wingers across Europe's top five leagues. There clearly is still an incredible player there, he's just waiting for the right manager and situation to showcase it.

Forest could lose Johnson to Brentford this summer according to reports, and Hudson-Odoi could be a risk worth taking to fill that void, as if he can begin to realise his potential at the City Ground, then the club may have a potential world-class player on their hands.

Aston Villa target Pau Torres is set to have his medical and complete his move to the Premier League this week, according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas.

Is Pau Torres an Aston Villa player yet?

The Spain international isn’t out of contract with the Yellow Submarines until the end of next season, but after 90min reported that he is keen to embark on a new adventure during this window, Unai Emery has been eyeing a reunion practically ever since.

Football Insider initially claimed that the Midlands outfit had made contact to enquire about a deal for the centre-back who was highlighted as a top target, and it wasn’t long before a breakthrough in negotiations after Sky Sports stated that the two parties were in advanced talks.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein most recently revealed that an agreement for the transfer of the 26-year-old had been “reached” alongside personal terms, and it sounds like he could be able to finalise the switch within the next few days.

What's the latest Villa transfer news?

Taking to Twitter on Sunday evening, Thomas confirmed that Torres will fly to England to undergo his medical tests this week to seal his move to Aston Villa. He wrote:

“Pau Torres is expected to travel to the Midlands next week to complete an initial £33m move from #Villarreal to #AstonVilla.”

Emery is not only a compatriot of Torres but he will also already know what he’s capable of having managed him during his time at Villarreal, and having been dubbed a “dream” signing for a Premier League club by content creator Ryan Haber, the centre-back would be a fantastic acquisition.

The World Cup participant averaged 4.1 clearances, 1.7 aerial wins and 1.3 tackles per game last season in La Liga, via WhoScored, so was a real rock at the heart of the backline both on and off the ground, but he equally has an eye on making a positive impact driving forward.

The 6 foot 2 titan ranked in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and the 97th percentile for successful take-ons, so he loves to push his team as high up the pitch as possible and take on his marker when playing out from the centre of defence.

Having been crowned winner of the Europa League in 2020/21, Torres will additionally know what it takes to compete and be successful on the bigger stage – which is what Aston Villa will be up against next season – so he could help to create the winning mentality needed to gain results over European opponents.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing PSV star Xavi Simons as Mikel Arteta sets his sights on bolstering his squad this summer.

The Spaniard is set to have a busy transfer window at the helm, working alongside Edu to make sufficient reinforcements to ensure the Gunners can continue their form as title challengers.

The latest link could be a marquee signing for the north Londoners, in a player that has cemented himself as a sensational rising star in Europe.

What’s the latest on Xavi Simons to Arsenal?

Arsenal were first linked to Eredivisie sensation Simons earlier this month, with news from the Netherlands stating the Gunners claimed interest in the youngster.

News reported this week has kept the links between the Dutchman and the Emirates alive, with Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur – as relayed by Sport Witness – suggesting that Arsenal have been joined in their pursuit of the 20-year-old.

CIES Football Observatory has valued the La Masia graduate at €60m (£51m).

What could Xavi Simons offer to Arsenal?

This past season was an overwhelming success for the Amsterdam-born gem, who registered 34 goal contributions in a total of 48 appearances in all competitions for PSV (via Transfermarkt).

The versatile attacker, who has featured across the frontline but primarily as a central midfielder and left-winger, has skills in abundance that could suit those at the Emirates.

Lauded as “magnificent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 20-year-old is as creative as he is threatening in front of goal, registering an average of 1.7 key passes per game in the Eredivisie, as well as creating 11 big chances.

While his eight assists and 19 league goals are extremely pleasing in themselves, the Dutchman is mostly identifiable for his playmaking abilities, with him praised as being an “intelligent” asset by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

Arsenal have seen a host of playmaking geniuses in their time; from Dennis Bergkamp to Cesc Fabregas, north London has witnessed some magic in central midfield over the years, with one name prominently astounding in the Emirates era.

Mesut Ozil was integral to the Gunners for the majority of his time in the Premier League, and particularly shone in the 2015/16 campaign that saw Arsenal finish second.

Hailed as a “genius” by former manager and Premier League legend Arsene Wenger (via beIN SPORTS), the German recorded 19 assists that season, averaging a monstrous 4.2 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

Ozil ended his time in England having recorded 59 Premier League assists in 184 appearances (via Transfermarkt), with his creative mastery forever ingrained in the club’s folklore.

Arteta could discover his answer to the former midfielder in Simons, who at just 20 years old, is showing signs that he could emulate the playmaking efficiency of the Gelsenkirchen-born gem in north London.

As per FBref, the Dutchman averaged 2.31 passes into the final third per 90 in the Eredivisie this season, as well as recording 4.82 progressive passes per 90 to flex his ability of dispatching the ball into threatening spaces.

Acting as a key creator for PSV, Simons could reinstall an essence of Ozil to the Emirates this summer, as a player that could even succeed the German's influence based upon his impeccable strengths in front of goal – which surpass those of the World Cup winner.

In his best-scoring season, the former Real Madrid ace netted eight goals in the league for Arsenal, with Simons scoring 19 in Eredivisie this term aged 20, showcasing the talent Arteta could have in his possession.

Football FanCast brings you all the key information you should know as this summer's European Under-21 Championship gets underway.

England are seeking to win the tournament for the first time in nearly 40 years, but come into the competition with a poor recent record.

When do the Under-21 Euros start and where can I watch?

The eagerly anticipated Under-21 Euros begins on Wednesday, 21st June and runs through to Saturday, 8th July.

The tournament is made up of four groups of four nations, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals, which are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 1st July and Sunday, 2nd July.

The competition also acts as a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games men's football tournament, although England cannot qualify as Great Britain are the country's Olympics team.

Unfortunately, the tournament is not being broadcast on UK TV, though all matches are available to view for free on UEFA.tv.

Where is the tournament being held?

The tournament will be co-hosted by Romania and Georgia. The latter nation will see fixtures played across three cities, with Batumi, Poti, and Tbilisi all due to host.

Romania will host the action in Cluj-Napoca and the capital city of Bucharest.

The opening match will be played in Romania, and the final will be held in Georgia at the Adjarabet Arena, Batumi.

Who are the tournament favourites?

Spain are considered the narrow favourites, with England, France and current champions Germany all expected to compete towards the latter stages of the competition.

Italy and the Netherlands are also among the predicted contenders whilst Israel and hosts Georgia are seen as the weakest nations, according to the bookmakers.

The Spaniards have been victors in three out of the last six competitions, and hold the joint record along with Italy for the most championships won.

Who is in England's group?

England are in Group C, which holds Germany, Czech Republic and Israel.

Head coach Lee Carsley will lead his side out on Thursday 22nd June, to kick off the Three Lions' opening match against the Czech Republic.

The fixture will be played at 5pm GMT (8pm local time) in Batumi, Georgia.

England fixtures, key dates and kick-off times:

Matchday 1: Czech Republic v England (22nd June, 5pm) Matchday 2: England v Israel (25th June, 5pm) Matchday 3: England v Germany (28th June, 5pm) Quarter-finals: 1st-2nd July Semi-finals: 5th July Final: 8th July (8pm) What is England's record at the tournament?

England are two-time winners of the competition, with their triumphs dating back to 1982 and 1984.

In recent years, however, the Three Lions have suffered group-stage exits in five out of the last six tournaments.

Nevertheless, Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey remains confident and notes that this squad has a different mentality.

“One thing that I will say about this group – when we’ve looked at previous groups before, and previous camps, there’s probably a different mentality,” he said.

Which players are involved?

Many fans will be familiar with Carsley's side, with several high-profile Premier League regulars named in England's 23-man squad.

Chelsea's Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke, Liverpool pair Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, Villa midfielder Ramsey, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, Manchester City forward Cole Palmer and Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe are all likely to feature.

But who else may catch the eye over the next few weeks? Here are the players who could make their name at the tournament…

Enzo Le Fée – Lorient (France)

The Lorient midfielder made 36 appearances in Ligue 1 last term, scoring six goals whilst providing five assists, helping his side achieve a top-half finish.

Lorient have set a £21.4m price tag for Le Fée, who is attracting interest from Stade Rennais, with some reports suggesting he has already chosen the club as his next destination.

The 5 foot 7 midfielder was the only player in Ligue 1 to record 100 tackles, shot-creating actions and dribbles last season.

Cameron Archer – Aston Villa (England)

Archer enjoyed a fruitful six-month loan spell at Championship side Middlesbrough last season. The 2001-born forward scored 11 goals in 17 starts for Michael Carrick's side and laid on six assists.

Archer netted four times in qualifying and is the only out-and-out striker named in England's squad, meaning he'll likely be a regular at this summer's tournament.

Similarly to Le Fée, the 21-year-old is being linked with a move away leading up to the competition, with Boro keen on bringing the forward back to the Riverside.

Zeno Debast – Anderlecht (Belgium)

The 2003-born centre-back enjoyed a breakout season for Belgian Pro League giants Anderlecht. Debast featured 49 times in all competitions, including 10 appearances in the UEFA Conference League, helping his side reach the last eight of the competition.

Standing at 6 foot 3, Debast has already been capped three times at senior level, starting in each of his three caps under Roberto Martínez.

He is the youngest member of the Belgium Under-21 setup.

Thijs Dallinga – Toulouse (Netherlands)

The towering 6 foot 2 centre-forward netted 18 times last season following a £2.1m move from Dutch second-division side Excelsior Rotterdam in 2022.

He scored a brace in the Coupe de France final to help his side win their first-ever major trophy, thrashing Nantes 5-1.

AC Milan have been linked as potential suitors for the Dutch striker, with the Rossoneri said to be a very feasible destination, but the 22-year-old's dream move is thought to be La Liga giants Barcelona.

Aston Villa are rivalling Tottenham in showing an interest in Galatasaray attacker Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, according to a new report from Italy.

Is Zaniolo on the move this summer?

The 23-year-old has has a curious career to date, in many ways, with horrendous bad luck with injuries coming his way and limiting his progress hugely. He has had a string of fitness issues down the years, including a cruciate ligament rupture, but he is still battling hard to reach his potential.

Zaniolo is currently plying his trade at Galatasarary, having joined from Roma in the January transfer window, and he has shone there, scoring five goals in 10 Turkish Super Lig appearances.

While the Italian signed a deal with the Turkish giants until the summer of 2027, a potential move to the Premier League in the upcoming window is being mooted.

That's where Villa come into play, as they look to do some massive business between now and the start of the season, in what feels like one of the most pivotal summers at the club in years.

Could Villa seal signing of Zaniolo?

According to TuttoJuve [via Sport Witness], Zaniolo is going to be "one of the key players" in the summer transfer window, when it comes to potential outgoings. Juventus are interested in making a move for him, but Villa and Spurs are also believed to be in the mix.

He has a "bigger offer on the table" from an English club, compared to Juve, and the Villans reportedly "dream of signing him" in the coming weeks and months. The £76,000-a-week winger has a €35m (£29.9m) release clause in his Galatasaray contract, so it's a case of whether clubs want to trigger it or not.

Zaniolo could be a really exciting signing by Villa this summer, having racked up 11 caps for Italy to date, scoring twice along the way. A tally of 24 goals and 18 assists for Roma also shows that he can shine in one of Europe's top leagues, and while there would be concerns about his injury problems down the years, the hope is that he is now beyond those woes.

At 23, he is still such a young player who could develop into even more of a force – Claudio Ranieri has hailed him as "decisive" – and Villa signing him would feel like a big statement of intent, as they prepare to play in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season.

Manchester United are internally discussing a move for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, as a potential alternative to Harry Kane, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

Which striker will Man United sign?

Erik ten Hag's biggest priority this summer is to bring in a new striker, and the manager has picked out a number of targets, including Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, with "concrete talks" recently being opened with the 20-year-old forward.

However, Terry Flewers adds that Harry Kane is Man United's "number 1 target", while also claiming they could look at bringing in both players, rather than settling on Hojlund, who only has limited first-team experience.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Kane signing Kane has become an "obsession" for the Red Devils, but it has recently emerged that Tottenham Hotspur may be unwilling to let him join a fellow Premier League club this summer.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, United have been told by Spurs that Kane is not for sale, so they have started to turn their attention to other targets, including the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos.

Man United initially thought that £100m may be enough to tempt Tottenham into selling the England captain, however with that move now on the rocks, they are now discussing other targets, with Ramos re-emerging as an option.

How many goals has Goncalo Ramos scored?

The Benfica star registered 27 goals in all competitions last season, with his tally of 19 in the Liga Portugal ranking him second in the entire division, and he also impressed on the international stage.

All the pressure was on the 21-year-old to perform for Portugal against Switzerland at the World Cup, after getting the nod over Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI, and he more than delivered, netting a hat-trick, while also bagging an assist.

Gary Lineker described the youngster's performance as "remarkable", while football scout Jacek Kulig has also praised him for his displays at club level since returning from Qatar, which helped Benfica win the Liga Portugal title.

Of course, Man United will be gutted to have missed out on Kane, given that he is a proven goal-scorer at Premier League level, weighing in with an impressive 30 goals in the top flight last season.

However, Ramos has proven that he could be a viable alternative, and at 21-years-old, he still has plenty of time to develop further.