Liverpool are considering a move for a “sensational” attacking midfielder this summer, and he is now keen to hold talks about a move to Anfield, according to a report.
Reds eyeing Wirtz alternatives as race heats up
Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz could well be on the move this summer, and it is looking like the transfer saga could be one of the most talked-about of the summer, with a number of Europe’s top clubs lining up for the German.
Bayern Munich and Manchester City have also expressed an interest in Wirtz, although there have been suggestions that Pep Guardiola’s side have now cooled their interest, amid concerns a deal could be too expensive.
The Reds are pushing hard to sign the 22-year-old, but there are also some alternative options in mind, with River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons among the potential options, and Arne Slot is believed to be driving the deal for his compatriot.
Sky Sports: Liverpool may sell "amazing" £50m player after transfer twist
He played in the 3-2 defeat away to Brighton on Monday night.
ByHenry Jackson May 20, 2025
A report from TEAMtalk has now provided a new update on Liverpool’s interest in Simons, stating they are considering a move for the attacking midfielder as a potential alternative to Wirtz, and there is a feeling he could be open to heading to Anfield.
The Leipzig star is keen to hold talks over joining the Reds, and he could be a more affordable option than the Leverkusen man, as the asking price is expected to be around £60m.
Leipzig are open to selling the Dutchman this summer, should they receive a suitable fee, which will come as welcome news to Slot, who is known to be an admirer of the 22-year-old’s technical quality and maturity.
Van Dijk lauds "very talented" Simons
Slot is not the only key Liverpool figure who is a big fan of the “sensational” Netherlands international, with Virgil van Dijk also taking the time to praise him last year, saying: “He is a very talented player who has so much to give,”
“He can still be so much better than he is already but he has a good mentality, so I am not worried that won’t happen. I am confident in him.”
The Amsterdam-born attacker’s quality is underlined by his output in Germany during the 2024-25 campaign, regularly chipping in with goals and assists despite a disappointing season for Leipzig, who finished seventh in the Bundesliga.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Bundesliga
25
10
7
DFB-Pokal
3
1
1
Wirtz outperformed his Bundesliga rival numbers-wise, collecting six more assists, but it was recently suggested that a deal for the Germany international could amount to €300m (£253m) all-in, potentially making him unattainable for the Reds.
At just £60m, Simons has proven he could be a fantastic alternative to Wirtz, so it is promising news that he is keen on talks about a move to Anfield.
The window might not be officially open yet, but silly season is in full swing, and Arsenal look set for a busy one.
Earlier today, it was revealed that Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is just a medical away from officially joining the Gunners, and it feels like he won’t be the last international to join from La Liga.
For example, for well over a year now, Mikel Arteta’s side have been heavily linked with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, and then, over the last month or so, links to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have appeared everywhere.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
And now, another exciting attacker, someone who has been compared to both aforementioned wingers, has been touted for a move to the Emirates this summer.
Arsenal's winger search
Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other wide talents linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Antoine Semenyo and Rafael Leao.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former could be attainable for a fee of around £70m, and while that’s a lot of money, he is a Premier League-proven star who has amassed an impressive enough tally of 20 goal involvements in 42 games for Bournemouth this year.
On the other hand, Leao could cost as much as £145m thanks to the release clause in his current contract, but he too has enjoyed a brilliant personal campaign this season, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in 50 games for AC Milan.
AC Milan's RafaelLeaobefore the match
However, while both players would be exciting additions to the team, another name has now entered the fray: Takefusa Kubo.
According to a recent report from Spanish newspaper AS, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal are now interested in signing the Real Sociedad star.
In fact, the report claims that the Gunners and Premier League rivals Liverpool have already made contact with the Japanese international, who has a release clause worth €60m – £50m – in his current contract.
While it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should persevere with it, especially as Kubo has won comparisons to both Williams and Rodrygo.
How Kubo compares to Williams & Rodrygo
Before we get into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Kubo this summer, it’s worth examining these comparisons to Williams and Rodrygo, as, after all, they are some of the most exciting wingers around at the moment.
Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo
Well, in this instance, it all stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in La Liga and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one.
In this instance, it concluded that the Spaniard is the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Japanese star this season, while the Brazilian comes in eighth.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.31
0.35
0.32
Progressive Carries
5.04
5.32
5.28
Expected Assists
0.14
0.19
0.20
Goals per Shot
0.12
0.09
0.11
Clearances
0.49
0.41
0.42
Carries into the Penalty Area
2.16
2.61
2.34
Aerial Duels Win %
36.7%
39.3%
30.4%
We can better understand how this conclusion has been reached by looking at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, expected assists, clearances, progressive carries, goals per shot and more, all per 90.
On top of his similarities to the two sensational wingers and his tally of seven goals and four assists this season, another argument for why the Gunners should sign the “dangerous” international, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is his individual underlying numbers.
For example, FBref places him in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goal-creating actions from take-ons and passes blocked, the top 5% for shot-creating actions stemming from a defensive action, the top 7% for successful take-ons, the top 8% for fouls drawn and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while he might not be at the top of many transfer wishlists, Kubo would be an exceptional addition to Arsenal’s right-sided attacking options and someone who could get even better as the team continues to progress.
£45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again
The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.
Derby County are now plotting a summer move for a record-breaking defender, whose contract is set to expire next month, according to a report.
Derby looking to kick on after final-day survival
After securing promotion back to the Championship in the 2023-24 campaign, Derby’s main aim last season was always likely to be avoiding the drop, and they just about managed to get the job done.
A goalless draw against Stoke City on the final day ensured the Rams will remain in the second tier for another season, with manager John Eustace taking the time to praise his players’ efforts after avoiding an instant return to League one.
“What a fantastic effort from everyone connected with the football club. The players have been outstanding every day in training they have dedicated themselves to getting to this moment and I couldn’t be any more proud of them.”
After securing their Championship status, however, Eustace’s side will be looking to kick on next season, and plans are being made for the summer, with the manager recently confirming he would like to sign loanee Nat Phillips on a permanent basis.
Alongside the centre-back, Derby could also look to make an addition at left-back, with a report from Football League World revealing they are now plotting a move for Charlton Athletic’s Thierry Small, whose contract is set to expire next month.
As such, Small could be available for a low fee, with compensation required seeing as the defender is just 20-years-old, although his current employers are still hopeful of keeping hold of him, should they secure promotion via the League One play-offs.
There is widespread interest in the youngster, with the Rams joined by Championship rivals Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Millwall and Oxford United in the race for his signature, having caught the eye in the third tier this season.
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The second tier has had its fair share of mega-money deals.
ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025 Small could be "fantastic" long-term signing
Back in 2021, the left-back broke Jose Baxter’s record by becoming Everton’s youngest-ever player, and while he didn’t manage to kick on by becoming a regular starter for the Blues, there are signs he could be capable of reaching the Premier League.
The full-back has been a vital player for promotion-chasing Charlton this season, making 39 appearances in League 1, and he has proven himself to be useful on the front foot, picking up two goals and three assists.
Not only that, but Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes the starlet has “bags of potential”, while manager Nathan Jones has described him as a “fantastic athlete”, perhaps in part due to his pace.
Small’s performances in the third tier this season indicate he could be more than capable of making the step-up to the Championship soon, so it is promising news that Derby are now plotting a summer move.
An “unbelievable” Wolves player is now “increasingly likely” to leave the club at the end of the season, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.
Wolves nearly safe after impressive run under Pereira
After a season largely full of struggles in the Premier League, Wanderers are now one of the in-form teams in the division under the impressive reign of Vitor Pereira.
Wolves have won their last four matches in the league, including last weekend’s 4-2 victory at home to Tottenham, and they are now 14 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of 18th-place Ipswich Town. This means they are almost mathematically safe, preserving their top-flight status for at least another year.
New signings will be needed for Wanderers this summer, but it is exit rumours that are doing the rounds currently, with Fabio Silva’s time at the club set to come to an end. The Portuguese is currently on loan at Las Palmas and doesn’t seem to have a future at Molineux.
Wolves’ star player Matheus Cunha has also continually been linked with a move away from the club once this season comes to an end, with Arsenal among the top clubs who are thought to be eyeing him up.
"Unbelievable" Wolves youngster expected to leave
Now, speaking to Molineux News, Bailey claimed that Tommy Doyle looks “increasingly likely” to leave Wolves in the summer transfer window.
“It seems Doyle is increasingly likely to go. There’s a lot of Championship interest in him, we’re going to see a fair few Championship players go, so there’s plenty of opportunities for quite a few teams [to sign him]. He’ll find a club, he’ll be alright, it’s just he’s not particularly suited to Vitor Pereira’s system, that’s just how it is. I think the player is accepting that and that will facilitate his exit.”
The £10,000-a-week Doyle has struggled to be a key man for Wolves this season, starting only three matches in the Premier League, so an exit does make sense, despite Gary O’Neil once saying of him: “The sub that I have got to credit; Tommy Doyle because once we brought him on, he brought us some unbelievable quality with his passing and we managed to maximise this four vs three in this instance.”
Pereira appears to have made it clear that he doesn’t see the 23-year-old as an important part of his plans moving forward, leaving him out of the Spurs game and admitting: “I need to see competition in training – I need to see levels. Next game I will see.”
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Doyle isn’t out of contract until the summer of 2028, meaning they could demand good money for him this summer, and it feels like the right time to sell.
Who is the greatest player in Liverpool’s modern history? Certainly, if we’re talking about post-millenial brilliance, Steven Gerrard sits at the top of the tree.
Gerrard might be the greatest player in the Merseysiders’ history anyway, utterly incredible and synonymous with the city’s beating red heart.
However, we’re looking at Liverpool’s resurgence over the past decade, here, when Jurgen Klopp saved a team from drowning and turned it back toward the light.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bows out
So many superstars have graced Anfield’s pitch since the former German manager was appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ successor, but it’s hard to argue against Virgil van Dijk being the cream of the crop.
Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's hero
When Liverpool paid Premier League rivals Southampton a £75m sum to take their prized centre-back in January 2018, many opposing fans chuckled at such an obscene figure for a defender.
But it’s difficult to say that Liverpool and their Dutch skipper haven’t had the last laugh, with Van Dijk transforming the Reds’ shaky backline and leading them to glory, winning all the biggest honours, coming within a whisker of Lionel Messi on the Ballon d’Or podium in his prime and immortalising his name as the leader of Liverpool in their finest period in modern times.
The 33-year-old is no longer a bright new voice in the Premier League but he’s still matchless in defence, so important this season as Arne Slot’s side surprised everyone and assumed a commanding lead at the top of the table – 11 points clear with seven games to go.
Matches (starts)
31 (31)
Goals
1
Assists
1
Clean sheets
13
Pass completion
92%
Key passes*
0.3
Dribble success
60%
Ball recoveries*
3.1
Tackles + interceptions*
2.7
Clearances*
5.1
Total duels (won)*
4.7 (67%)
And he’s not done yet. Van Dijk has completed 313 appearances for Liverpool and won the full gamut, and though his lucrative contract is into its eleventh hour, he’s recently allayed fans’ concerns by confirming that talks are ongoing regarding a renewal.
This will be crucial for the Anfield side as it steers into the second year of Slot’s project, giving the Netherlands icon another year (or two) to drive the stake of his legacy even deeper into the rich Liverpool soil.
To be fair, you’d have to say that Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s best signing in a long, long time. The Egyptian joined the club from AS Roma for just £34m and has gone on to claim legendary status.
However, his arrival preceded the skipper’s. He was followed from the Serie A by another though, and it is he who stands proud as Liverpool’s standout signing.
Liverpool's best signing after Van Dijk
You’ve probably already guessed who it is. While Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and co have reshaped Liverpool’s midfield and charged the club’s charge toward the Premier League title this season, it’s not them.
While Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz and and Cody Gakpo have been instrumental in Liverpool’s success in recent years, it’s Alisson Becker between the sticks who has been the life-juice since arriving in the early knockings of Klopp’s still-standing (even if he’s gone) dynasty.
Alisson Becker.
Liverpool paid a world-record £67m fee – for a goalkeeper – to secure Alisson’s signature, but it still feels like something of a bargain. Quite simply, the Brazil international’s positional rivals all pale in comparison.
Slot has been more than happy to chip in about his keeper’s calibre, hailing his “world-class” saves. He’s the best of the best, with his stunning display at the Parc des Princes in February the perfect illustration of his lofty skills.
Making nine stunning saves and preventing an xG total of 2.26 goals, as per Sofascore, the South American called it “the performance of my life” as Liverpool somehow survived a ceaseless onslaught and emerged victorious – they lost the return leg, of course, but Alisson still put in a good shift.
First-leg match-winner, Harvey Elliott, also called his towering teammate “the best in the world” – and it’s a fair claim indeed.
It’s not just this season that the 32-year-old’s been in fine fettle, as you surely know. Back in May 2023, Klopp declared that his shot-stopping star had been the club’s “most consistent player” through a testing year.
Alisson
In fact, injuries aside, Alisson is rarely in the firing line for poor performances, with his leadership, command and shot-saving prowess all converging to present a player who is truly the complete package.
The fact that Alisson, who arrived at Liverpool way back when, remains Liverpool’s best signing since Van Dijk was brought into Klopp’s squad six months earlier makes a telling comment on the issues behind recruitment over recent years.
Liverpool'sAlissonBecker during the warm up before the match
It also details a pretty firm assessment regarding the Reds’ absolutely staggering longevity, not really making the sweeping changes of their divisional rivals over the past eight years or so.
Liverpool have done well to prudently tie Giorgi Mamardashvili down, but whether he’ll reach the same incredible heights as the Brazilian is another question entirely.
The Georgian keeper is set to join from Valencia this summer in a deal worth £29m, but the 24-year-old is sure to spend some time serving as Alisson’s understudy, replacing Caoimhin Kelleher as the able deputy leaves in search of a first-choice spot.
Alisson’s place is at Anfield for the foreseeable, but he’s about to enter the penultimate year of his contract and could leave for a transfer fee in one year’s time or maybe see his £150k-per-week deal out to its end.
In any case, the 6 foot 4 sensation is one of Liverpool’s finest modern players, so important, so influential, over the years. There’s a firm case to be made that all who have walked through the gates since have failed to outstrip him.
Better than Diaz & Gakpo: "Perfect" £62m star wants to sign for Liverpool
Arne Slot is hoping to make a range of signings this summer to improve Liverpool’s starting 11.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has his side on course to win a domestic treble and they could be set to strengthen their hand by offering one of their stars a bumper new deal at Parkhead, per reports.
Celtic's main summer priorities begin to emerge
Everyone has an off-day, and it is fair to say Celtic endured one in their Scottish Premiership defeat to Rangers before the international break, albeit they had several key figures unavailable for selection.
However, it did serve as a valuable reminder not to rest on their laurels. As such, it appears Brendan Rodgers has started to make inroads on potential summer signings.
Brendan Rodgers
According to reports, Celtic are eyeing a surprise move for Liverpool outcast Wataru Endo, though the Japan international also has interest from Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and AC Milan.
Continuing the theme of prospective additions, the Bhoys have Augsburg’s Elvis Rexhbecaj and former defender Kristoffer Ajer on their shortlist. The former has previously worked alongside Arne Engels in the engine room, which may throw up a compelling scenario as Rodgers aims to maximise the compatibility of his existing pool.
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From an internal standpoint, Celtic could have a fight on their hands to retain star assets. Reo Hatate and Nicolas Kuhn are bound to attract admirers, while Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston’s solidity within the backline is something the Bhoys will be reticent to lose before next season’s Champions League qualifiers.
Looking to protect the club from losing premium talent, Rodgers has now detailed discussions over a new deal for one of his most impressive performers this term.
Brendan Rodgers wants new Daizen Maeda contract at Celtic
Speaking in his pre-match press conference before the Bhoys took on Heart of Midlothian, Rodgers revealed that Celtic want to tie Daizen Maeda down to a new contract following his excellent run of form and he has spoken to Dermot Desmond about the potential scope for his renewal.
He stated: “Absolutely, if there is that possibility to do that. I’ve spoken with Dermot (Desmond) and the club and spoken with the player. Hopefully in the future that is something that can be done.
Celtic’s next fixtures in all competitions before Scottish Premiership split
St Johnstone (A)
Scottish Premiership
Kilmarnock (H)
Scottish Premiership
St Johnstone
Scottish Cup semi-final
“He’s been absolutely brilliant for us this season. Wherever he’s played, however he’s played, he’s had an amazing season. So of course you would love to tie up one of your best players.”
In the form of his life, Maeda has registered 30 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances this campaign. Considering that his career tally sits at the 112 mark, that goes some way to showing how prolific he has been in green and white of late.
Adam Idah has failed to break the Japan international’s hold on a starting slot through the middle, which is a testament to his work in the centre-forward role since Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure.
Taking proactive steps, Celtic will hope they can secure his future on a new long-term agreement to ward off advances from suitors once the window opens.
Having joined Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, Aston Villa have now reportedly joined the Spanish giants in pursuit of a 17-year-old midfielder who’s already featured on Europe’s biggest stage.
Aston Villa set to battle Real Madrid for teenage midfielder
It wasn’t too long ago that goal-line technology was playing a part in Aston Villa’s Premier League survival. Five years on from that controversial moment, however, they’re no longer simply maintaining their top flight status, they’re also keeping hold of their place in the Champions League after thrashing Club Brugge in the last 16.
Setting up a mouth-watering tie, the Villans will now square off against one of Unai Emery’s former clubs in Paris Saint-Germain, before facing Arsenal or Real Madrid if they defy the odds by defeating the French champions.
Away from the action, meanwhile, those in the Midlands are also set to do battle against some of Europe’s best. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa are now racing Real Madrid to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from LOSC Lille this summer.
Aston Villa's "world-class" star is already becoming Emery's new Duran
Aston Villa may have already found their next Duran with this “world-class” ace
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The central midfielder is still just 17 years old, but was handed a start against Borussia Dortmund in Lille’s last 16 second-leg. Ultimately, the teenager found himself on the losing side, but the fact that he was given the nod at such a young age highlights just how talented he is.
That talent was always going to attract the likes of Madrid and Aston Villa though, potentially leaving Bouaddi with a decision to make this summer. Whether that ends in a trip to the Midlands remains to be seen, however.
"Immense" Bouaddi would be an upgrade on McGinn
At just 17 years old, Bouaddi is one of Europe’s most promising stars and could emerge to already offer Emery an upgrade on John McGinn. Off the ball, the young Frenchman is particularly impressive, using his 6’1 frame to his advantage whilst also showing off his technical ability in possession – something Villa would have seen for themselves after sending their scouts.
Minutes
1,018
1,777
Progressive Passes
2.92
4.21
Tackles Won
2.57
0.91
Ball Recoveries
4.96
4.21
Whilst it’s difficult to upgrade on the energy McGinn provides Villa, Bouaddi can do exactly that, winning more duels and tackles at a higher success rate, and should only get even stronger as edges closer and closer to the peak of his powers.
Described as a “superb” player and one with “immense physical potential” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Aston Villa should sign Bouaddi before his price skyrockets beyond their range.
Lille's AyyoubBouaddicelebrates with teammates after the match
Up against Real Madrid in the race to sign the French sensation, those in the Midlands can use the lure of the Premier League and Emery’s project in an attempt to land an impressive coup this summer.
Aston Villa are now weighing up a move to sign a free-scoring striker this summer as they look to add more firepower to their ranks in the wake of Jhon Duran’s exit, it has been reported, with the Villans one of two Premier League clubs showing an interest.
Aston Villa's striker problems
Forwards dominated Aston Villa’s transfer window discussions in January, with a series of changes across Unai Emery’s frontline taking place over the course of the window.
The Midlands side are currently eighth in the Premier League, five points outside the Champions League qualification spots, and have looked to add more goals to their side for the second half of the season.
They agreed a deal to sign Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund early in the window, in a permanent deal that was balanced out by Jaden Philogene’s departure to Ipswich Town.
Then, their focus turned to loans and after failing with a move for Joao Felix, they ultimately ended the window having brought in Marcus Rashford and Marcos Asensio for the remainder of the campaign, with the club having a £40m option to buy on Rashford should he impress after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
However, they did lose Duran, with the Colombian forward joining Al-Nassr in a blockbuster deal, while Ollie Watkins had interest from Arsenal though no deal materialised.
The upshot of their January window is that they now have no obvious alternative to Watkins; all of Rashford, Asensio and Malen can play centrally but the trio all prefer to play in the wide areas, with none a natural number nine.
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It means that one will likely be needed in the summer, especially if Watkins continues to attract attention.
Aston Villa monitoring Serie A sensation
Now, a report from Italy [via Sport Witness] has revealed that Emery and Villa are one of a pair of Premier League sides monitoring Moise Kean as he continues to excel with Fiorentina.
The forward, who was once on the books of Everton, moved to Florence from Juventus in the summer and has taken to life in purple like a duck to water. He has found the net 15 times already this campaign, including an audacious flick from a free kick against Genoa.
He was hailed as “remarkable” by CBS reporter Marco Messina, who added that “his hold up play is so good” as he continues to find the back of the net with staggering regularity.
That form has made clubs sit up and take notice, and it is reported that Villa have “concrete” interest in signing the 24-year-old, who is believed to have a £43m release clause in his contract in Florence that becomes active this summer.
Domestic League only
Ollie Watkins
Moise Kean
Appearances
24
22
Starts
20
21
Goals
10
15
Assists
5
2
Minutes per goal involvement
110
108
Tottenham are also said to be challenging for his signature, with the two Premier League sides both evaluating what could potentially be a bargain signing in a summer where strikers are expected to be at a premium.
Kean could well be an excellent pick up despite his early struggles in the Premier League with Everton, with the striker finally appearing to be delivering on his immense potential.
Celtic got their second Fabrizio Romano ‘here we go!’ of the summer transfer window when he provided the latest on their pursuit of Benjamin Nygren on Saturday night.
The Italian journalist has confirmed that the Scottish Premiership champions are on the verge of completing a deal to sign the Sweden international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
Nygren is set to sign for the club on a five-year contract and will link up with his new teammates in pre-season in the coming weeks, ahead of competing for a place on the right wing next season.
The 23-year-old talent scored 15 goals in 30 appearances in the Superliga during the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that the Hoops have landed a bargain with the fee that Romano has reported.
That is because Nygren’s contract with FC Nordsjælland was due to expire at the end of this year, forcing the Danish side to cash in before they lost him for nothing in January.
Whilst this looks set to be a shrewd piece of business, Celtic have shown that they are willing to push the boat out for signings, as shown by their move for Arne Engels last year.
Celtic hit the jackpot with Arne Engels
The Hoops smashed their transfer record to sign the Belgium international from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg in the summer of 2024 for a reported fee of £11m.
It overtook the previous record of £9m that was paid to sign Odsonne Edouard on a permanent deal from Paris Saint-Germain. It showed that the board were ready to seriously back Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market.
Given the money involved in the move, signing Engels for a fee of £11m was a gamble by the Scottish giants, but it is one that paid off big time for them.
xAG
0.25
Top 7%
Assists
0.37
Top 6%
Shot-creating actions
3.11
Top 29%
Key passes
2.24
Top 6%
Percentage of dribblers tackled
71.4%
Top 9%
Tackles made
2.49
Top 28%
Passes blocked
1.12
Top 27%
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian maestro provided plenty of quality in the Champions League, as he ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of key creative and defensive metrics.
Engels also ended the season with a haul of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions from a central midfield position, which shows that he has been a big threat for the Hoops as both scorer and a creator of goals.
Celtic hit the jackpot with the midfielder because he hit the ground running at Parkhead to become an instant star, and they could repeat that trick with another record purchase this summer.
Celtic learn asking price for Sondre Orjasaeter
According to Norwegian outlet TV Sport 2, as relayed by the Glasgow Times, Celtic will have to splash out a fee of £11m to sign Sondre Orjasaeter from Sarpsborg before the end of the summer transfer window.
This means that they would have to make him their joint-record signing alongside Engels by splashing out a fee that they have never paid more than for any other player.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report, however, adds that Dutch giants PSV are currently leading the race to sign the Norway U21 international, and that French side Lille are also eyeing him up, which means that there is plenty of competition for his signature.
It was reported earlier this month that the Hoops had opened talks with Sarpsborg to sign Orjasaeter to bolster their options on the left flank, but there has been no further update on those discussions to date.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
They now know that a record fee of £11m will be required to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks, and they could repeat their Engels masterclass by going through with a move.
Why Sondre Orjasaeter could be Arne Engels 2.0
As aforementioned, Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Belgian star because he immediately became a key performer in the middle of the park for Rodgers.
At the age of 21, Engels is also still a young player with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, and could yet be sold for a profit in the future.
Arne Engels
Orjasaeter is a 21-year-old talent with similar potential, based on his performances for Sarpsborg. He has shown that the quality is there for him to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch, particularly as a creator.
It was confirmed in May that Jota is set to be out for up to nine months with a knee injury, which means that the left-wing spot where the Norwegian star operates is set to be vacant at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Appearances
28
7
Goals
5
1
Big chances missed
5
2
Big chances created
12
7
Key passes per game
1.9
2.0
Assists
5
2
Dribbles completed per game
2.4
2.7
As you can see in the table above, Orjasaeter is a player with the quality to fill the hole that has been left by Jota’s injury, as he has been in impressive form for Sarpsborg since the start of the 2024 campaign.
The 21-year-old star, who was described as a “playmaker” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has created 19 ‘big chances’ in his last 35 Eliteserien matches, which shows that the wing wizard is an incredibly creative forward.
For reference, Alistair Johnston’s haul of 15 ‘big chances’ created was the most of any Celtic player in the club’s 38-game Premiership season, suggesting that Orjasaeter could be a standout creative threat for Rodgers next term and beyond.
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That suggests that the potential is there for the Norwegian star to be an Engels repeat for the Hoops as a record £11m signing who could instantly become a key player for the club, whilst still having plenty of years left ahead to develop and improve.
Leeds United have been given a sobering reminder of the step up in quality from the Championship to the Premier League by watching some recent transfer sagas unfold.
Liverpool officially confirmed the permanent signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee that could rise to a British-record £116m on Friday.
Florian Wirtz
Whereas, the Whites have never spent more than £35.5m to sign a player. Their current record stands at the £35.5m they paid to sign Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim at the start of 2023.
Rutter scored eight goals and provided 18 assists in 66 matches for the West Yorkshire outfit before he completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer.
Leeds are in the market to sign a central midfielder to bolster their squad this summer, amid interest in Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika.
They have been shown how much the top midfielders in the Premier League go for, though, as Arsenal are set to sign Martin Zubimendi from Spanish side Real Sociedad for a reported fee of £56m.
Leeds United's current midfield options
At this moment in time, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Ao Tanaka are Daniel Farke’s only senior central midfield options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, after Joe Rothwell returned to Bournemouth and Josuha Guilavogui was released at the end of his contract.
Ampadu has often been utilised as a centre-back option by the German head coach, which could leave Gruev and Tanaka as the two midfielders in his 4-2-3-1 system if the Wales international slots into the back four.
There are question marks over whether those two midfielders have the physicality to compete week-in-week-out in a relegation scrap in the Premier League, however, due to their form in the past.
Prior to their respective moves to Elland Road, both Gruev and Tanaka played in Germany, in the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga, and showed signs that they may not be able to handle the step up in physicality to the Premier League.
Appearances
31
30
Pass accuracy
87%
89%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.1
2.0
Ground duel success rate
53%
49%
Aerial duel success rate
43%
49%
As you can see in the table above, they both left a bit to be desired physically in the top two divisions in Germany, particularly when it came to competing in aerial battles.
This may be why the Whites are keen to add more physicality to their midfield by bringing in a new option in that area of the park, and they are now reportedly interested in a new target in that position.
Leeds eyeing deal for Ligue 1 enforcer
According to GIVEMESPORT, Leeds United are lining up a deal to sign Stade de Reims defensive midfielder Valentin Atangana during the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Whites have set their sights on the talented 19-year-old enforcer, whose team were relegated to the second division in France this season.
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GIVEMESPORT adds that the Championship champions are keen to do their business as early as possible, and that the French starlet has emerged as one of the options on their radar in their pursuit of a new central midfielder.
The outlet states that the Whites are keen to win the race to secure his services this summer after they were made aware that he is set to be available in the market because of Reims’ relegation to Ligue 2.
It also forwards a suggestion that the player could be available for a bargain price of around £9m, as Reims look to rake in money after dropping out of Ligue 1.
The report also claims that Leeds are now weighing up whether or not to enter negotiations over a deal to bring the teenage talent to West Yorkshire before the end of the window.
Why Leeds should sign Valentin Atangana
The Whites should approach Reims to do a deal for the 19-year-old star because he could arrive as Farke’s own version of Zubimendi, who is set to join Arsenal for £56m, to bolster the physicality in his midfield.
As per FBref, the Spain international is one of the most similar players to Atangana based on their respective statistics in Ligue 1 and LaLiga over the past 365 days.
As you can see in the chart above, they both excel in fairly similar areas of the game, particularly defensively, with a similar success rate in tackles and aerial battles.
Zubimendi ended the LaLiga season with a ground duel success rate of 56% and an aerial battle success rate of 62%, whilst Atangana won 53% of his ground duels and 58% of his aerial battles in Ligue 1 for Reims.
The France U19 international, who was hailed as “exceptional” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, caught the eye in the French top-flight from a defensive perspective, despite his team being relegated.
He was playing in a poor team, hence their relegation, but still showcased his physicality and quality. A great example is his performance against PSG in the Coupe de France final, as he won seven of his nine duels and completed all three of his dribbles against the likes of Joao Neves and Vitinha, but his side lost 3-0.
Clearances
2.02
Top 19%
Aerial duels won
1.48
Top 8%
Percentage of dribblers tackled
73.7%
Top 2%
Challenges lost
0.32
Top 2%
Shots blocked
0.47
Top 14%
Interceptions
1.17
Top 33%
Dispossessed
0.73
Top 23%
As you can see in the table above, Atangana ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of key defensive metrics in Ligue 1, particularly when it came to winning aerial duels and holding off opposition players.
He rarely allowed dribblers to get past him, as shown by his success rate in tackles and how few challenges he lost, and was rarely dispossessed by opposition midfielders, which speaks to his strength in possession.
The teenage talent could, therefore, be Farke’s own version of Zubimendi as a defensive midfielder who has shown that he can be reliable in physical contests and secure in possession under pressure in one of Europe’s top leagues.
To sign a 19-year-old talent who has already proven his quality in the French top-flight, and is comparable to £56m-rated Zubimendi, for just £9m could be a shrewd move by Leeds, and one they must pursue in the coming weeks.
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