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Newcastle United have splashed the cash under PIF in recent years, welcoming a number of European stars to St James’ Park. The spending spree has also worked, with the Magpies qualifying for the Champions League back in 2023 and again in 2025, while also winning the EFL Cup.

Football FanCast takes a look at the most expensive transfers of all time for Newcastle.

Newcastle United’s most expensive signings of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Nick Woltemade

£69m

Stuttgart

2025

2

Alexander Isak

£60m

Real Sociedad

2022

=3

Sandro Tonali

£55m

AC Milan

2023

=3

Anthony Elanga

£55m

Nottingham Forest

2025

=3

Yoane Wissa

£55m

Brentford

2025

6

Anthony Gordon

£45m

Everton

2023

7

Jacob Ramsey

£43m

Aston Villa

2025

=8

Joelinton

£40m

Hoffenheim

2019

=8

Bruno Guimaraes

£40m

Lyon

2022

10

Harvey Barnes

£38m

Leicester City

2023

=11

Sven Botman

£32m

Lille

2022

=11

Tino Livramento

£32m

Southampton

2023

13

Malick Thiaw

£30m

AC Milan

2025

14

Lewis Hall

£28m

Chelsea

2024

=15

Chris Wood

£25m

Burnley

2022

=15

Joe Willock

£25m

Arsenal

2022

17

Miguel Almiron

£21m

Atlanta United

2019

=18

Callum Wilson

£20m

Bournemouth

2020

=18

Odysseas Vlachodimos

£20m

Nottingham Forest

2024

20

Michael Owen

£17m

Real Madrid

2005

Detailed look at Newcastle's 10 most expensive signings… 10 Harvey Barnes £38m from Leicester City

Winger Harvey Barnes was a long-term target for the Magpies, who eventually signed him from Leicester City for £38m after the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League in 2023.

Barnes had a brilliant individual campaign but couldn’t keep the club in the top-flight, instead signing a five-year St James’ Park deal. The Englishman arrived at the club with plenty of Premier League experience during his time with Leicester and has gone on to star in black and white.

9 Bruno Guimaraes £40m from Lyon

What a signing. Sky Sports has Bruno Guimaraes’ fee at £40m in January 2022, and he was so good in his initial six month-spell that Newcastle could have sold him for double that last summer, with reports suggesting champions Manchester City could have been plotting a player-plus-cash deal to bring the midfielder to the Etihad Stadium.

Instead, they held onto the Brazilian, and that was certainly the right move. Bruno looks like one of the best midfielders in the Premier League right now and Newcastle will do well to find a better signing anytime soon.

8 Joelinton £40m from Hoffenheim

Joelinton arrived for a club-record fee from Hoffenheim as the answer to Newcastle’s goalscoring woes in the summer of 2019. The £40m they paid, per The Guardian, always looked strange as the Brazilian had only scored seven times the previous season, while the most he’d ever managed was eight.

Thus, many joked about Joelinton during his early days on Tyneside, and it appeared Newcastle had made the wrong transfer as he finished his first campaign with two goals. However, it turned out they were just using him in the wrong position. After switching to a midfield role, the player looked transformed and now that £40m fee looks like a very good deal.

7 Jacob Ramsey £43m from Aston Villa

Jacob Ramsey

6 Anthony Gordon £45m from Everton

Sky Sports say Newcastle paid £45m for Anthony Gordon, which sounded like a lot at the time. However, the winger has now justified that fee and is one of the first names on the teamsheet.

In fact, Gordon’s displays during his first full season with the Magpies resulted in him being linked with a move away from the club. Instead of leaving, though, the Englishman signed a fresh long-term Newcastle deal towards the end of 2024.

5 Yoane Wissa £55m from Brentford

On what was a dramatic deadline day in the summer of 2025, Yoane Wissa signed for Newcastle with 30 seconds to spare before the window slammed shut.

A long-term Newcastle target, Wissa pushed for a move to the Magpies from Brentford, costing £55m and taking the number 9 shirt at St James’ Park.

4 Anthony Elanga £55m from Nottingham Forest

Newcastle’s early summer signing in 2025 was Anthony Elanga, who cost £55m after an impressive few years at Nottingham Forest.

The pacey right-winger contributed to four goals in five games against the Magpies for Nottingham Forest, which may have caught PIF’s eye.

3 Sandro Tonali £55m from AC Milan

Sandro Tonali arrived in a high-profile transfer from AC Milan in 2023, however, months after Newcastle splashed the cash, the Italy international was suspended for ten months following illegal betting charges.

The midfielder returned in 2024, and since then, Magpies supporters have seen why the club were willing to spend £55m on his signature, with Tonali a regular in the starting lineup.

2 Alexander Isak £60m from Real Soceidad

The arrival of Alexander Isak was a coup for Newcastle and a true statement that they wanted to sit at the top table. The Swedish striker was one of the top young strikers on the planet and few questioned the £60m fee in 2022, as reported by the BBC.

However, the summer of 2025 changed everything between Isak and Newcastle, with the forward going on strike, looking to sign for Liverpool. He got his wish, with the Magpies recieveing a British record £125m fee for Isak from Liverpool.

1 Nick Woltemade £69m from Stuttgart

Prior to Isak’s departure, Newcastle broke their transfer record by signing young German forward Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart.

After starring at the U21 European Championships, Woltemade was linked with the likes of Bayern Munich but instead moved to St James’ Park in a deal worth £69m.

This season, Leeds United have the tough task of surviving in the Premier League as a newly promoted side. It has not been done in the previous two campaigns, with all six sides coming up from the Championship going straight back down.

Of course, the Whites are back in the top flight for the first time since 2022/23. The previous season, they stayed up by the skin of their teeth, largely thanks to their iconic winger Raphinha.

His penalty away to Brentford on the final day of the season helped them to a 2-1 win to keep them in the Premier League.

Daniel Farke won’t have the Brazilian at his disposal this season, but Leeds are linked with another exciting attacker.

Leeds' plans after signing Noah Okafor

It has been a busy summer already for Leeds, with nine new faces through the door, the latest of which has seen Noah Okafor arrive for a reported figure of £17m.

However, it does not seem like their transfer dealings will stop there.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Leeds Live, the Whites have a ‘hope of hijacking’ Crystal Palace’s deal to sign Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester City. He is a player Leeds have already held talks to sign this summer.

It seemed like the deal was off for Farke’s side, with El Khannouss choosing to go to Selhurst Park. Yet, Oliver Glasner’s side are not ‘fully committed’ to the move and have ‘temporarily halted’ talks, which could give Leeds a chance to pull the deal off.

If so, they’d surely have to match the £32m fee Palace are set to pay the Foxes.

Why El Khannouss would be a good signing

Without doubt, Leeds and the other promoted sides this season have a bit of a mountain to climb in order to stay in the Premier League.

Yet, signing a “magician” like the Moroccan star, as football scout Antonio Mango called him, would go a long way to helping stay in the division.

Despite a tough year for Leicester in 2024/25, El Khannouss was one of their standout players.

In 37 games across all competitions, he scored three goals and assisted six. This season, he has started on fire, with two assists in the Championship in as many games.

As well as impressing in the Premier League, the 21-year-old has also shone for Morocco. He starred in their third-place finish at the 2024 Olympic Games, scoring and assisting three times and creating ten chances along the way, as per Sofascore.

Well, just from those numbers, it is easy to see how El Khannouss could be Leeds’ most exciting signing since Raphinha.

Ex-teammates at Elland Road have waxed lyrical about the Brazilian, too, with Dan James calling him a “magician”, exactly the way Mango described the potential new Leeds signing.

His time for the Yorkshire outfit was short but sweet. The now-Barcelona forward, who shone last season under Hansi Flick, played 67 games in that famous white shirt.

In that time, he scored 17 times and assisted 12, with the most famous strike surely that final-day penalty at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Leeds fans would love for the Moroccan star to have the same impact as Raphinha in their survival campaign of 2021/22.

That season, the Brazilian averaged 2.01 key passes and 2.75 progressive carries each game. In comparison, last term for the Foxes, El Khannouss played an average of 1.74 key passes and averaged 3.02 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

Key passes

1.74

2.01

Progressive passes

5.29

4.14

Goal-creating actions

0.29

0.31

Progressive carries

3.02

2.75

Ball recoveries

3.80

5.12

It is easy to see why El Kahnnouss would be Leeds’ best signing since Raphinha. Not only does he have similar creative numbers to the Brazilian, but he has also been given similar high praise in his short career so far.

For a fee in the region of £32m, the Moroccan star could revolutionise this Leeds team and bring back some of the magic Raphinha added at Elland Road.

Better than Nmecha: Leeds now competing to sign "powerful" new striker

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1 ByDan Emery Aug 20, 2025

حذر خورخي فالدانو، أسطورة نادي ريال مدريد، المدرب تشابي ألونسو عقب خسارة الفريق الملكي يوم السبت الماضي أمام أتلتيكو مدريد في ديربي العامة الإسبانية.

أتلتيكو مدريد حقق مفاجأة كبيرة وتمكن من اكتساح نظيره ريال مدريد بخمسة أهداف مقابل هدفين يوم السبت الماضي، وذلك في قمة منافسات الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

وتعتبر هذه هي الهزيمة الأولى التي يتعرض لها ريال مدريد خلال هذا الموسم، حيث تراجع الميرنجي إلى المركز الثاني في ترتيب الدوري الإسباني بفارق نقطة عن برشلونة.

وتصدر برشلونة ترتيب الدوري الإسباني، بعدما فاز على ريال سوسيداد بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد على ملعب مونتوجويك.

اقرأ أيضًا .. باردجي بعد تخطي ريال سوسيداد: متحمسون لما هو قادم.. ودرو: لم أصدق مشاركتي أساسيًا

ويرى فالدانو في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا”، أن الخسارة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد ناقوس خطر لريال مدريد، مضيفًا في الوقت ذاته أن هناك بوادر تحسن على مستوى الميرنجي هذا الموسم مع ألونسو.

وقال فالدانو: “في ديربي مدريد الليلة الماضية، عاد ذلك الوحش إلى الحياة وأتلتيكو مدريد كان رائعًأ، لعنة الخسارة من برشلونة بفارق أربع أهداف حصلت من جديد يوم السبت”.

وأضاف فالدانو في حديثه: “صحيح أنها عملية مستمرة وأن المدرب الجديد تشابي ألونسو قد وصل، إنه يعمل بشكل جيد وبدا أن هناك بوادر تحسن، لكن الضربة التي تلقاها من أتلتيكو مدريد تجبرنا على مراجعة المشروع، هي ناقوس خطر حقًا”.

وأوضح: “انتهى الأمر بأتلتيكو مدريد بالسيطرة على ريال مدريد بطريقة لم نشهدها منذ فترة طويلة”.

وأردف: “لم يلعب ريال مدريد بنفس قوة أتلتيكو مدريد. في الدقائق الأولى لعب ريال مدريد بلا إيقاع يذكر ولعب أتلتيكو في المساحات المفتوحة بشراسة كبيرة”.

وتابع: ”فاز أتلتيكو بالمباراة بوضوح من الضغط الذي مارسه على ريال مدريد، كل تمريرة عرضية كانت مشكلة حقيقية لريال مدريد”.

واختتم فالدانو: “ومع ذلك، فإن لمسة واحدة رائعة وبدقة وسرعة هائلتين بين جولر ومبابي جعلتنا نعود في النتيجة، ثم تقدم ريال مدريد بهجمة رائعة من فينيسيوس وهذا ما جعلني أشعر في الشوط الثاني أنه إذا تمكن ريال مدريد من اللعب بشكل أفضل، فسيتمكن من الفوز بالمباراة”.

As Everton get their pre-season underway, The Friedkin Group are reportedly preparing a £35m proposal to welcome another key reinforcement for David Moyes and his side.

Everton commence Hill Dickinson era

A new era is officially underway at Everton after they squared off against Port Vale in their first-ever game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. In many ways it was, of course, an insignificant game. But it will have its place in history and so will Carlos Alcaraz for scoring the first-ever goal for Everton men’s at their impressive new ground.

After sealing a 2-1 victory against their latest pre-season opponents, Everton will now travel to the USA to take part in the Premier League Summer Series. It’s there that they will square off against Bournemouth, West Ham United and Manchester United in three tough tests to hand them a glimpse of what could be to come next season.

It’s not just pre-season that those in Merseyside should be concerning themselves with between now and next season, however. There’s also still plenty of work to be done on the transfer front.

Friedkin reportedly want to splash out as much as £150m this summer, having already welcomed Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Alcaraz to kick things off.

Eyeing a replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure, as well as another midfielder, plus a new right-back and right-winger, Everton have already reportedly set their sights on the likes of Douglas Luiz and James McAtee.

The latter would be a particularly impressive signing, given how he still starred for Manchester City last season even in the face of little game time. The last time that City sold such a prospect, it was Chelsea who benefited and Cole Palmer who thrived. Now, the Toffees could be next in line.

Before then, though, Friedkin are seemingly planning to turn their focus towards an impressive La Liga star.

Everton preparing Takefusa Kubo offer

According to reports in Spain, Everton are now preparing a formal €40m (£35m) offer to sign Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad this summer. The Japan international has enjoyed a standout spell at Sociedad at times in the last three years, having swapped Real Madrid for the chance to become the star that he is today in 2022.

He's a dream for Barry: Everton open talks to sign £50m "superstar"

Everton initiate talks to sign LaLiga star in bold bid to strengthen attack

By
Will Miller

Jul 23, 2025

Now, the Premier League could be calling and Everton could yet make an impressive statement. Once a Liverpool target, Kubo may come back to haunt those at Anfield at the opposite end of Merseyside next season.

Previously dubbed “amazing” for his form by scout Jacek Kulig, Kubo is still just 24 years old and still has plenty more to come. There’s no doubt that he’d also be an instant upgrade on Jack Harrison.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Kubo	Harrison
Minutes	2,372	2,076
Goals	5	1
Assists	0	0
Key Passes	45	33

Alongside Barry, Kubo’s arrival would continue the much-needed attacking changes taking place at Everton this summer, as they step into a new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Liverpool aren’t messing about this summer, pulling in high-level signings from every which way. However, this is not so much scattergun spending as the product of calculated, expeditious planning.

Florian Wirtz, for example, was brought in from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, the British record, after Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause was activated. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez has since finalised his move to Merseyside.

While Wirtz is the cream of the crop, heralded as a “generational talent” by Bundesliga commentator Dan O’Hagan, Liverpool still need a striker, especially as uncertainty around Luis Diaz’s future continues to rumble on.

Why Liverpool need a striker

Arne Slot led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season without a focal frontman. Well, without an in-form central striker, at least. Such were Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez’s woes that Diaz was redefined as a false nine, almost exclusively used on the left wing by Jurgen Klopp.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

18

Luis Diaz

36

13

7

Cody Gakpo

35

10

5

Diogo Jota

26

6

4

Darwin Nunez

30

5

3

Federico Chiesa

6

–

1

So then, it seems pretty justified that Slot wants a new centre-forward, especially as Nunez is currently in the process of signing for Napoli, a move that’s definitely not done yet.

And with Diaz also facing rumours of a summer exit, FSG are perhaps going to need to dip into the coffers once again. Slot’s Colombian star, who is 28, is frustrated that Liverpool are prepared to run his contract down, expiring in two years, instead of cashing in or discussing a renewal, and would consider leaving as Barcelona and Saudi Arabian suitors circle.

We all know Alexander Isak is the glinting jewel in the eyes of Liverpool’s overlords, but Newcastle United aren’t really willing to part with their star man, pricing him at an exorbitant £200m.

Luckily, Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, knows his stuff and has already earmarked an exciting alternative.

Liverpool eyeing Isak alternative

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are interested in signing Benjamin Sesko this summer, having done their due diligence on the RB Leipzig striker.

Newcastle are ready to make Isak the highest-paid player in their history, so it makes sense that Hughes has turned toward Sesko.

The Slovenian star is only 22 but has made waves in the Bundesliga over the past couple of years. It must be said that Arsenal are leading the race, with Sesko valued between £68-85m, but Liverpool may yet shift the odds by tabling an official offer.

Why Liverpool want Benjamin Sesko

Sesko isn’t the only striker on Liverpool’s radar. In fact, Bailey’s above-mentioned report reveals an interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres too, but the 27-year-old Sweden international would be the wrong choice for FSG to make.

Now, Sesko is still loading on the striking scene, but he’s already revealed himself to be a sensation in the making in Germany, hailed as a ball-striking “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson after scoring 39 goals and adding eight assists across 81 Leipzig appearances.

Athletic, powerful and rangy, Sesko has all the properties to become a superstar on Premier League shores, even dubbed “the new Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

RB Leipzig

24/25

45

21

RB Leipzig

23/24

42

18

RB Salzburg

22/23

41

18

RB Salzburg

20/21

37

11

RB Salzburg

20/21

1

0

FC Liefering

20/21

29

21

FC Liefering

19/20

15

1

Manchester City’s goalscoring talisman needs no introduction, and if Liverpool could get their hands on their own version, Slot would move one step closer to defending his Premier League title.

It might seem that Gyokeres would be the better pick for the Merseysiders; he’s scored 97 goals across 102 matches for Sporting, after all.

However, this isn’t so. Liverpool, let’s not forget, signed Nunez after his 34-goal campaign with Portuguese giants Benfica in 2021/22, and for a towering £64m fee (the full £85m payment has not been reached).

Nunez’s prolific streak over on Iberian territory hasn’t translated to life in the Premier League, where life is tougher, the opponents stronger, the pace faster. A maverick though he is, Nunez has struggled to bring it all together, not just profligate but prone to drifting through games.

The 6 foot 4 Sesko might not be the finished article, but he’s definitely got more about him from an athletic standpoint, ranked among the top 11% of centre-forwards across Europe last season for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Of course, to discredit Gyokeres’ qualities simply because he walks the same ground as Nunez before him would make a feeble argument, but he’s 27 and has yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s big five leagues, whereas Sesko has demonstrated his qualities in Germany, scoring incredible strikes such as this one against Bayern Munich.

Furthermore, Sesko only failed to convert ten big chances in the Bundesliga last term, as per Sofascore, scoring 13 times. This illustrates a natural-born goalscoring prowess, of course, but also composure and the level-headedness required to hit the ground running in the Premier League. Gyokeres, for comparison, missed 23 big chances over in Portugal.

With a Haaland-esque style of play and several years of invaluable experience cutting his teeth in Germany’s top flight, Sesko is ready to make the leap over to England and start expanding his potential on the European stage.

While Sesko is raw, an uncut gem, he’s a jewel all the same, and one who would arrive at an Anfield side both fronted by an elite coach in Slot and thick with incredible creative players such as Wirtz and Mohamed Salah.

Gordon upgrade: Liverpool open first talks to sign "generational" £85m star

Liverpool might need to replace the sought-after Luis Diaz in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 27, 2025

Scottish boss Russell Martin has plenty of things to deal with early on in his tenure as Glasgow Rangers’ new head coach ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The former Southampton manager has to build a squad that can challenge for the Scottish Premiership title, and has already had Lyall Cameron added to his midfield options.

However, Martin will also have to deal with the prospect of some of his best players moving on from Ibrox if teams come in with big-money offers for them during the summer transfer window.

Fiorentina and Marseille are reportedly keen on Nicolas Raskin, who is valued at £20m by the 49ers, and up to six English teams are said to be eyeing up Mohamed Diomande ahead of a possible swoop for his services.

The Light Blues are no stranger to cashing in on their top talents over the years, though, as players have moved on from Glasgow to pursue other options in Europe many times in recent seasons.

One deal that the Scottish giants hit the jackpot with, though, was the sale of Joe Aribo to then-Premier League side Southampton in the summer of 2022.

Why Rangers hit the jackpot with Joe Aribo

The Nigeria international was a terrific player for Rangers during his time at Ibrox, having spent three years at the club after joining from Charlton in the summer of 2019.

Aribo racked up 26 goals and 25 assists in 149 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues in those three seasons, and his final goal contribution was a goal in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The left-footed star’s form for Rangers attracted attention from down south and he sealed a move to then-Premier League outfit Southampton in the summer of 2022.

A reported fee of £10m was agreed between the two clubs for the attacking midfielder, who was reportedly being eyed up by other teams in the English top-flight, and that has turned out to be a brilliant deal for the Gers.

Date	Market valuation
July 2022	Reported £10m deal
November 2022	£12.8m
June 2023	£9.4m
October 2023	£6.8m
December 2023	£5.1m
May 2024	£4.2m
December 2024 – present	£5.1m
Valuations via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Aribo’s value has plummeted down to just £5.1m, as per Transfermarkt, in the three years since the midfield star decided to move on from Ibrox.

The 28-year-old, who has scored nine goals and provided one assist in 109 games for Southampton, has not kicked on during his spell in England, which suggests that the Gers hit gold with the deal they got for him in 2022.

Rangers could repeat that masterclass this summer amid speculation that another one of their forwards could leave the club in the coming weeks.

Rangers striker set to move on from Ibrox

According to Soccernet.ng, Cyriel Dessers is poised to complete a permanent exit from Rangers before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Nigeria international is ‘set’ to sign for Greek giants AEK Athens, after he ‘set sights’ on a move away from Ibrox ahead of next season.

Transfer Focus

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

Soccernet.ng adds that the striker has already verbally agreed to sign for the Greek team and has mapped out a £30k-per-week contract to sign if the transfer goes through this summer.

The outlet reveals that the two teams still need to come to an agreement on a transfer fee for the player before a deal can be finalised, and it does not mention how much money it would take to get it done.

However, The Scottish Sun recently reported that the Gers are holding out for a fee of around £5m for the striker, who they paid £4.5m to Cremonese for in 2023.

If the Light Blues can agree a £5m deal to sell Dessers to AEK Athens, who Soccernet.ng claims is set to join them, then it could be an Aribo repeat.

Why Dessers could be an Aribo repeat

The 30-year-old number nine could follow in Aribo’s footsteps as another star performer who could decrease in value after leaving the Scottish giants.

His value has already dropped from £4.2m at the time of his Ibrox arrival to £3.4m at the time of writing (19/06/2025), as per Transfermarkt, which immediately suggests that a fee of £5m would be a great deal for Rangers.

That is in spite of a very respectable goalscoring return of 51 strikes in 109 matches for the Light Blues in all competitions over the past two seasons.

His value at AEK Athens, should a transfer go through this summer, could fall even further on Transfermarkt, despite a potential fee of £5m, because he may not have the chance to score as many goals.

The Greek side finished fourth in the Super League and only scored 48 goals, whilst Rangers finished second in the Premiership and scored 80 goals.

Cyriel Dessers (European comps + Premiership)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	47	46
Goals	21	18
Shots	110	103
Shots on target	52	51
Big chances missed	29	31
Assists	6	4
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Nigerian striker missed a staggering 60 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership, Europa League, and Champions League combined in his first two seasons at Ibrox.

Dessers, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed is “awkward” to play against due to his physicality, scored a decent number of goals for Rangers because he was in a team that was constantly creating chances for him, as evidenced by how many huge opportunities he spurned.

Therefore, he may struggle to have the same impact in an AEK Athens team that did not create or score anywhere near as much as Rangers did in the 2024/25 campaign, which could expose his wasteful finishing in a side that does not create loads of ‘big chances’.

This means that Dessers’ output in front of goal could diminish as a result of signing for the Greek side, which is why his value could also plummet as a result of the move, particularly now that the striker is also in his 30s and heading into his latter years.

He's Vaclav Cerny 2.0: Rangers are now set to sign "unplayable" star

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By
Dan Emery

Jun 16, 2025

Selling the experienced forward to Athens for £5m, if a deal can be agreed at that price, could be an Aribo repeat for Rangers as another player whose value could plummet after leaving.

Liverpool lost their second away game in a row at the AMEX, Arne Slot’s side letting a 2-1 lead slip against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League ahead of this weekend’s final fixture, eventually losing 3-2.

Ah well. Liverpool will lift the trophy at Anfield on Sunday, having dominated the season with a dynamic boss in Slot, whose coaching and presence have seen him defy the odds to succeed Jurgen Klopp in the hot seat.

Mohamed Salah had another tough time at the office, missing a sitter, but the Reds flattered to deceive in defence and Jarell Quansah will surely be frustrated with another struggle to make an impression for his coach.

Jarell Quansah's struggles for Liverpool

In keeping with his luckless campaign, Quansah was adjudged to have played match-winner Jack Hinshelwood onside in the late stage, though his overall efforts proved something of a mixed bag, only winning one of three ground duels but making a whopping ten clearances, as per Sofascore.

After a storming breakthrough season for Klopp last year, instrumental in winning the Carabao Cup and restoring Champions League pedigree, Quansah has plateaued out.

He started Liverpool’s opener against Ipswich Town last August but was hooked at half-time, with the debuting gaffer stating he was unhappy with his side’s lack of success in the duel and felt compelled to change things up.

Quansah didn’t start a top-flight fixture again until December, a 3-3 draw at St. James’ Park. His two starting berths since have come before defeat.

Potential suitors will no doubt have taken note of the 22-year-old’s performance on the south coast, with Football Insider publishing a claim that Slot is open to letting him leave on loan.

Though previous reports suggest Newcastle United would be interested in signing Quansah for a transfer fee, Liverpool do feel the young defender’s long-term future is at Anfield, with his “monster” performances, as claimed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, last season drawing plaudits.

But if Liverpool sign a centre-back this summer, it might be a prudent option for him to take, however, another member of the backline may well be facing a permanent sale.

Liverpool must now sell Kostas Tsimikas

If this is the end, Tsimikas will leave Liverpool with a Premier League winner’s medal around his neck, having also whipped in the corner for Virgil van Dijk’s last-gasp Carabao Cup-winning goal last season.

Kostas Tsimikas – Premier League Career by Season
Season	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
24/25	13 (4)	0	1
23/24	13 (8)	0	3
22/23	20 (9)	0	4
21/22	13 (9)	0	2
20/21	2 (0)	0	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

Playing his 115th game for Liverpool since joining from Olympiakos in a £12m deal four years ago, Tsimikas may well have started his last game for the club, with Andy Robertson likely to play from the outset on the final fixture of the season against Crystal Palace.

The 29-year-old applied himself well enough defensively, winning three of five ground duels and making two tackles, as per Sofascore, but a lack of athleticism was exposed as he was dribbled past twice while also failing to offer meaningful creative support, failing to make a key pass and missing with all three cross attempts.

Football Insider also learned at the start of the month that FSG are open to selling the veteran at the end of the season. Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott remarked it’s “so funny to watch” Tsimikas in action at points, though fans likely wouldn’t see the amusement if he was still on the books next season, and a younger upgrade was not brought in.

It wasn’t actually the worst display in the world, with The Liverpool Echo handing the Greek full-back a 6/10 match rating and writing: ‘Did well to deny Welbeck a free header for what should have been an equaliser. Was unable to add much going forward.’

But Liverpool’s interest in Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez has been widely reported in recent days, with Fabrizio Romano stating that “talks are advancing.”

Kerkez is an up-and-coming talent whose potential could see him take his predecessor’s torch and become a real asset over the coming years for Slot, with Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley hailing his “absolutely exceptional” displays.

Robertson, 31, is one year away from reaching the end of his contract, but has started 28 Premier League matches this season and has spoken of his desire to extend his stay at Anfield.

Though he’s been a dependable servant for Liverpool, the £75k-per-week Tsimikas will have little luck if he serves as Slot’s third-choice option next season, and must be sold.

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A reliable reporter has now revealed that Wolverhampton Wanderers could sign an unwanted Chelsea player this summer, according to a new report.

Wolves step up transfer plans as they eye a new striker

Vitor Pereira’s arrival at Molineux has been a breath of fresh air for the Midlands side, as he’s helped guide the club away from the relegation zone, and they now look set for a comfortable finish in the Premier League.

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It looks as though Wolves are set to lose talisman Matheus Cunha this summer, as he is closing in on a move to Manchester United. Therefore, a replacement or replacements will need to be found, and the Premier League side are wasting no time in identifying targets.

According to Caught Offside, Wolves have registered their interest in signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Everton, as he is set to leave the Toffees on a free transfer once his contract comes to an end.

But he is not the only forward on their radar, as the Midlands side are also interested in signing Jamie Vardy, once again a player who is set to become a free agent, as he’s confirmed he will be leaving Leicester City after 13 years at the club.

Chelsea’s Joao Felix is another option that is being considered, as he’s been told he can speak to interested clubs. However, the Portugal international would likely cost a large sum of money, despite his struggles in England.

Reliable reporter suggests Wolves could sign Dewsbury-Hall

Felix is not the only Chelsea player the Midlands side are looking at, as according to reporter Ben Jacobs, via Molineux News, Wolves could look to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from the Blues this summer.

Jacobs was speaking on The Wolfpack Podcast about who could be of interest to Wolves heading into the summer, and he revealed that Dewsbury-Hall could be a target.

“I think Wolves and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is going to be one to watch, from what I understand.

“Because Chelsea may be willing to sanction a sale. Dewsbury-Hall may be looking for regular game time, with a view to somehow kind of forcing himself into the England setup. Wolves could be one to watch there. I’m not aware yet of any significant out-and-out attackers who Wolves are specifically looking at.”

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s Premier League stats
Apps	71
Goals	3
Assists	5

Dewsbury-Hall, who has been dubbed “sensational” by former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, only joined Chelsea last summer in a deal worth £30 million. However, the midfielder has hardly kicked a ball at Stamford Bridge, despite being so important for Enzo Maresca with the Foxes, playing just 12 games in the Premier League, with his most minutes coming in the UEFA Conference League.

Given how far down the pecking order Dewsbury-Hall is, he is likely a player who could be moved on by the Blues this summer, as they look to recoup their money and bring in a replacement.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners recruitment team are now targeting an unsettled Brazilian this summer, following an impressive 2024/2025 campaign where he’s even donned the captain’s armband.

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Mikel Arteta has no Premier League game to prepare for this weekend, meaning all of his focus can be thrust on to their blockbuster Champions League semi-final clash against PSG on Tuesday.

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Arsenal’s recent 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the Emirates was hardly ideal preparation for their biggest game of the season, conceding a one-goal lead twice to eventually finish the game level, and Arteta admitted that his side would need to be in far better form against a side who remain unbeaten in Ligue 1.

“We haven’t been able to see the games off for many reasons, and the margins have been too small,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s 2-2 with Palace.

“Sometimes that, sometimes credit to the opposition, it’s true that we played five times with ten men. There are a lot of factors, but obviously it’s something that we’ve done much better in the past, especially when we’ve been ahead in games. Today, without really much happening, especially in the second half, we have to be able to see the game off.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games	Date
Bournemouth (home)	May 3rd
Liverpool (away)	May 11th
Newcastle United (home)	May 18th
Southampton (away)	May 25th

“We’re always looking because we know how tough it is to win football matches in the Premier League, and especially with the amount of numbers and the amount of games that we have, we’re going to have to be really good in both competitions to earn the right where we want to end up.”

Arsenal have a golden chance to make 2024/2025 one of their most memorable campaigns in history by winning their first ever Champions League title, and doing so would cement their status as a true member of the European elite.

Arsenal plan "surprise" move for Chelsea starlet Andrey Santos

It would also attract their top transfer targets, with Arsenal reportedly closing in on a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

However, despite Berta nearing a move for the Spain international, and attempting to tie down Thomas Partey, it is now believed that the north Londoners could look to launch a move for Chelsea starlet Andrey Santos.

The Brazil international has enjoyed an excellent loan spell at their sister club, Strasbourg, with manager Liam Rosenior allowing him to captain the Ligue 1 side in some matches and calling him “magnificent”.

“Andrey is going to have a magnificent career. You forget how young some of them are,” said Rosenior.

“Andrey plays like he’s 32. I call him Dunga (after Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain): he’s Brazilian, but he doesn’t play like one. He’s so smart and his stats are through the roof, in terms of scoring goals, winning duels. He’s going to have an outstanding career.”

As per CaughtOffside, Arsenal are planning a “surprise” move for Santos, with the 20-year-old “not entirely committed” to remaining at Chelsea next season.

Santos, who could be available for £42m, has dazzled in the French top flight this term, bagging 10 goals and five assists throughout all competitions. He can also play both as a holding midfielder and traditional centre-midfielder.

After the chaos and jubilation of Thursday night, Manchester United returned to their usual selves on Sunday afternoon, as the Red Devils slipped to a 15th Premier League defeat of the season at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In many ways, it was the same old story for the hosts at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim forced to watch on as his lacklustre side squandered a litany of chances, before being punished late on by a sublime Pablo Sarabia free-kick.

Indeed, on a different day, Alejandro Garnacho could well have walked away with a hat-trick of assists, having picked out both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount inside the box, while also seeing Rasmus Hojlund come agonisingly close to getting on the end of his clever pull-back.

The struggling Dane – who has scored just once in all competitions since mid-December – also failed to pick out Kobbie Mainoo when advancing into space in the second-half, with Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer subsequently stating that the “damaged” 22-year-old “isn’t ready” to be United’s starting striker.

24 goals in 88 games for the Red Devils makes for grim reading for the £64m man, with it no surprise that the addition of a new centre-forward is high on the agenda this summer – alongside the capture of Wolves talisman, Matheus Cunha.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

With all of United’s eggs now in the Europa League basket, there remains an anxious wait as to whether or not INEOS will have a Champions League budget to work with next season, with so much resting on success on the continent.

Regardless of what happens between now and the end of May, however, it does appear that the Old Trafford hierarchy are intent on adding Cunha to their ranks, with Fabrizio Romano outlining that the Red Devils are leading the race for the Brazilian’s signature.

The 25-year-old has scored 14 goals in the league this season – including against Amorim’s side on Boxing Day – with The Athletic previously outlining that he is viewed as a solution for one of the two number ten berths in the 3-4-3 set-up.

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That same report had indicated that Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, is being considered as a potential upgrade at centre-forward, although the Englishman is evidently not the only candidate, as revealed by Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

As Luckhurst has noted, United have remained in contact with the agent of RB Leipzig sensation, Benjamin Sesko, having previously missed out on the Slovenian superstar back in the summer of 2022.

The interest in the 6 foot 5 striker – who has a £58m release clause in his current deal – appears to extend even further back than that, with prior reports outlining that the Red Devils rejected the chance to sign him for just £2.5m from NK Domzale as a teenager back in 2019.

This summer could then finally see the 21-year-old arrive at the Theatre of Dreams, with Sesko potentially set to represent the perfect upgrade on both Hojlund and Delap.

How Man Utd could upgrade their centre-forward ranks

For all United’s success in Europe – as they currently remain unbeaten in the Europa League – the fact of the matter is they have been simply abject domestically, having found themselves just two points above 17th-placed West Ham United.

A key issue has been the club’s woes at the top end of the pitch after scoring just 38 times in 33 top-flight games – almost half of what champions-elect Liverpool have recorded at the summit (75).

With Hojlund and the now stricken Joshua Zirkzee scoring just six league goals between them, the need of a new number nine is bordering on desperation – enter, Sesko.

Described as a “monster” of a striker by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 41-cap international has enjoyed another fine campaign in Germany, netting 20 times in 41 games in all competitions, including four goals in eight Champions League appearances.

Including his time at sister club Red Bull Salzburg, Sesko has now scored 12 league goals or more in each of his last three seasons. The 22-year-old Delap, for instance, has only broken into double figures for the first time in 2024/25, in what is his first campaign in a top-tier league.

Games (starts)

29 (27)

32 (29)

Goals

12

12

Big chances missed

10

10

Goal frequency

182mins

198mins

Assists

5

2

Big chances created

5

3

Key passes*

0.6

0.6

Pass accuracy*

67%

62%

Successful dribbles*

1.3

1.2

Aerial duels won*

56%

45%

As indicated in the table above, it is the Leipzig star who comes out on top too across a string of attacking and defensive metrics, showcasing just why United have been wise to maintain contact with his representatives in recent years.

A player with “incredible potential” – in the words of Jurgen Klopp – what particularly stands out is Sesko’s venomous shooting ability, having already chalked up a stunning catalogue of long-range, pinpoint efforts in his career thus far.

While there may be fears over enduring something of a Hojlund repeat, considering the potential price tag and age of the Slovenian hero, Sesko – unlike the current United man and Delap – has proven himself at the elite level over a number of seasons now.

He would represent the high-potential talent that Amorim and co are craving, who can make an instant impact.

For the third campaign in a row, the Red Devils look set to dip into the market for a new number nine – they simply can’t afford to get it wrong again…

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