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da cassino online： As good a team as Arsenal are, there has been one key factor in their failure to get over the line in the last few years: a lack of genuine attacking threat across the whole frontline.

da bet7： Now, nobody can question the incredible talismanic abilities of Bukayo Saka, but it has to be said that down the middle and increasingly off the left, the North Londoners are lacking.

For example, despite them still being second in the Premier League, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Newcastle United have all scored more than them.

So, with that in mind, it’s not a surprise to see the team linked to an array of incredible wingers, including one who has won comparisons to the likes of Vinícius Junior and Lamine Yamal.

Arsenal transfer targets

The last few weeks have seen Arsenal linked with a whole host of incredible stars, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth taking a look at some of their other supposed targets, like Rayan Cherki and Liam Delap.

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The former could be available for around £30m this summer, so that, combined with his ability to play in multiple positions and brilliant haul of 31 goal involvements in 42 games this season, makes signing him feel like a no-brainer.

It’s a similar situation regarding Delap, as even though he’s not been quite as prolific, he’s still been able to amass an impressive tally of 12 goals and two assists in just 34 top-flight games this season, so his £30m release clause also feels too good to pass up on.

However, while both players have an immense amount of potential, Arteta and Co might be after someone already near the pinnacle of his game, someone like Rafael Leão.

Yes, according to a report from Spain last month, Arsenal are one of several teams keen on the AC Milan superstar ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, the North Londoners are not alone in their appreciation for the Portuguse superstar, as a more recent report from Caught Offside has also credited Chelsea with an interest in the winger, who they claim could be available for as little as €75m, which is about £64m.

It would be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Leão’s immense ability, one well worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Yamal and Vinicius in the past.

How Leão compares to Vinicius and Yamal

So, before we get into the other reasons why Arsenal should be going all out to sign Leão this summer, it’s worth addressing these comparisons to Vinicius and Yamal and where they come from.

Well, in this instance, they stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one.

In this instance, they have concluded that the Real Madrid star is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Milan star across all of those competitions, while the Barcelona star has been ranked as the seventh most similar in this season’s Champions League.

Leão & Vinicius

Statistics per 90

Leão

Vinicius

Expected Assists

0.24

0.25

Goals per Shot

0.13

0.12

Goals per Shot on Target

0.30

0.31

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.32

0.31

Successful Take-ons

2.85

3.06

Live Passes

31.5

33.1

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season

The best way to see how these conclusions have been reached is to look at the players’ underlying numbers and find the metrics in which they rank closely.

In the case of Vinicius, those metrics include things like expected passes, goals per shot and shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Leão& Yamal

Statistics per 90

Leão

Yamal

Expected Assists

0.23

0.20

Passing Accuracy

74.1%

74.5%

Key Passes

1.14

1.15

Successful Take-ons

4.43

4.59

Carries into the Final Third

3.64

3.44

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL Season

For the comparison with Barça’s young superstar, the metrics include things like passing accuracy, expected assists, carries into the final third, key passes, successful take-ons, and more, all per 90.

The fact the 25-year-old shares an ability to take players on and beat them with two of the best players in the game is hardly surprising, as FBref place him in the top 4% of wingers for successful take-ons in Europe’s top five leagues, and The Athletic’s Alex Barker has called him “one of the best dribblers in the world.”

Finally, away from the incredibly flattering and promising comparisons, another reason Arteta should go out and sign the former LOSC Lille star is his output.

So far this season, the Almada-born dynamo has scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 48 appearances, which works out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games – something the Gunners could really do with off the left.

Ultimately, while it wouldn’t be cheap, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Leão once the window opens, as his output and technical mastery could help propel the club to glory.

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da realsbet： A forward who was once valued at nine figures has held talks over a summer move to Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca’s side rumoured to be laying groundwork over transfers ahead of the first window on June 1.

Chelsea target quick transfer deals before Club World Cup

da betcris： The Blues will be taking part in this year’s edition of the Club World Cup, and it has been reported that Chelsea could stand to receive a hefty financial windfall if they perform well in the competition.

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BlueCo are therefore taking the CWC seriously, and they’ll have a limited window to do business and officially sign players before the tournament kicks off. From June 1 to June 10, Chelsea will be able to acquire squad upgrades ahead of the CWC, before the window then reopens from June 16 to September 1.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Reports suggest the west Londoners are fully intent on completing deals in that period, with Fabrizio Romano recently stating that Chelsea want to seal a move for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen “by the end of May”.

Chelsea are involved in an airtight battle to finish in the top five and confirm their spot in the Champions League draw for next season, and the result of this race will have a knock-on effect when it comes to their transfer plans, as confirmed by Maresca.

However, in the meantime, Chelsea remain busy with their recruitment plans as they also aim to bring in new forwards. The Stamford Bridge hierarchy wish to acquire both a new winger and a striker for Maresca, as per journalist Simon Phillips and other reliable sources, and they’re now being linked with soon-to-be out-of-contract Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane.

Leroy Sane holds talks over joining Chelsea on free deal

The £244,000-per-week Germany international was closing in on a new deal in Bavaria, but he recently changed representatives, employing super-agent Pini Zahavi.

While Sane remains open to extending his contract, Zahavi has submitted a counter-offer to their initially agreed extension – with his camp now demanding a £10m-per-year salary plus £2.5m in add-ons tied to appearances (Florian Plettenberg).

Bayern are intent on standing firm and have no intention of improving their original proposal, though, leaving the door open for Sane to potentially leave the Allianz Arena despite his excellent form over the second half of 2024/2025.

Sane is thought to be keen on a move to Chelsea as an alternative to remaining at Bayern, with journalist Graeme Bailey sharing another update to The Boot Room.

Bailey reports that Sane’s representatives have held talks over a move to Chelsea, even if he would prefer to stay at Bayern, with his contract ticking down towards expiry on June 30.

Every day that passes and no new deal is agreed, Sane’s return to the Premier League grows more likely, as the player and Vincent Kompany’s side find themselves in a stalemate.

Signing the experienced high-level forward for nothing would be a coup, especially considering he was once valued at £137 million during his time at Man City.

da betsson： West Ham United could cash in on one of their key players this summer, in order to fund a major summer rebuild, according to a report.

Hammers now seven games without win after Brighton loss

da imperador bet： Luckily for West Ham, last season’s three promoted Championship sides have found it very difficult to adapt to life in the Premier League, which means they are now mathematically safe, but it has been a season to forget.

After the 3-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, the Hammers are now seven games without a win, and they are sitting 17th in the table with just four games left to play, which indicates a major revamp of the squad could be needed.

In light of the poor results, questions are now being asked about manager Graham Potter, who admitted he was in “pain” after his side capitulated against the Seagulls, conceding two late goals to lose the game 3-2.

It remains to be seen whether Potter is given time to turn the situation around, but there could be a major rebuild regardless of which manager is in the dugout next season, although the Irons may have to cash-in on a star player to fund it.

That is according to a report from The Express, which states West Ham are now considering the sale of Lucas Paqueta to fund the overhaul of their squad this summer.

Mohammed Kudus’ departure could also be sanctioned, amid interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, who will have the opportunity to sign the Ghanaian for £85m.

As such, Paqueta and Kudus’ futures at the London Stadium appear to be up in the air, but one player who the Hammers are unwilling to sell is Jarrod Bowen, with the England international deemed to be untouchable.

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The Brazilian has been a key player for the Hammers this season, making 30 appearances in the Premier League, but he has largely been ineffective, picking up just four goals and failing to record an assist.

The attacking midfielder is without a goal contribution in his last ten outings, and he is clearly finding it difficult to rediscover his best form, having previously been lauded as “incredible” in a West Ham shirt.

That said, the whole team has fallen way short of expectations this season, and the 27-year-old may flourish in a better side, should the Irons make the correct additions to their squad this summer.

It may be a little early to cash-in on the £150k-a-week maestro, and his sale is unlikely to raise a great deal of money regardless, with recent reports suggesting Paqueta could be sold for just £20m.

da leao： Manchester United slumped to another defeat in the Premier League this season when they were beaten 4-3 by Brentford in a dramatic clash on Sunday.

da luck： The Red Devils have now lost 16 times in the top-flight this term and sit 15th in the table as it stands, winning just ten, and there is no denying that it has a dismal domestic campaign.

Ruben Amorim’s side could still win the Europa League and secure Champions League football for next season, but United will know that they need to improve their domestic form.

On the same day that Manchester United were thrashed by the Bees, Red Devils loanee Antony added another goal to his collection for Real Betis, with the stunner against Espanyol.

The Brazilian forward, who joined Real Betis on loan in the January transfer window, has now scored three goals in his last four appearances for the Spanish side, whilst his parent club continue to struggle.

Antony's impressive form on loan at Real Betis

The left-footed flop started the season with zero goals and zero assists in 12 appearances in the Premier League and the Europa League combined for Manchester United.

Antony, who produced three goals and two assists in 38 matches for the club in the 2023/24 campaign, was allowed to go out on loan in January because he had not performed well enough at the top end of the pitch over the previous 18 months.

Three goals and two assists in 50 games is not a good enough return for an attacking player who reportedly cost the club a fee of £86m from Ajax in the summer of 2022.

Perhaps the weight of that transfer fee has been too much for Antony to carry during his time at Old Trafford because his performances for Real Betis are those of a star who is playing with the weight off his shoulders.

Antony (24/25)

LaLiga

Conference League

Appearances

13

7

xG

2.66

0.76

Goals

4

3

Big chances created

8

4

Key passes per game

2.5

1.0

Assists

2

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international has made an instant impact in Spain in both LaLiga and the Conference League with his exciting performances at the top end of the pitch.

He has been directly involved in 11 goals in 20 matches, with seven goals and four assists, in those two competitions, which shows that he has provided a huge threat in the final third from a right wing position.

Despite his impressive burst of performances for Real Betis in recent months, Manchester United could find a winger who is miles better than him by landing a player they have an active interest in.

Man Utd preparing bid for Premier League star

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of the clubs that are interested in a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Arsenal are also eyeing up a possible swoop for the Cameroon international 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.

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It states that Newcastle United are also keen on the Bees sensation but his club’s valuation of up to £65m is said to make it a difficult deal for the Magpies to do this summer.

The outlet does, however, reveal that Manchester United are preparing an opening offer to sign the forward from Brentford, although it remains to be seen how much that bid will be, and that they could sell the likes of Jadon Sancho and Antony to fund a deal.

INEOS and Amorim must push to win the race for his signature, amid competition from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, because he could come in as a forward who is miles better than Antony.

Why Manchester United sign Bryan Mbeumo

Whilst Antony has caught the eye with his goals and assists for Real Betis since January, the former Ajax star remains an unproven quantity in the Premier League.

As aforementioned, the £86m signing did not provide enough quality, through goals and assists, in the top-flight during his time with Manchester United before being sent out on loan at the start of this year.

Mbeumo, on the other hand, has shown that he has the ability and the consistency to make a big impact in the Premier League, which would make him miles better than Antony has been for the club at that level.

The Brentford star, who has scored 68 goals for the club in all competitions to date in his career, has been in sensational form for the Bees in the current campaign and could be a terrific addition to Amorim’s squad.

No Manchester United player has scored more than eight goals in the Premier League this season, and no Manchester United winger has scored more than seven goals in the division, which illustrates how desperate the Portuguese coach is for an influx of attacking talent in the summer transfer window.

Bryan Mbeumo

24/25 Premier League

Appearances

35

xG

10.82

Goals

18

Big chances created

16

xA

8.84

Assists

6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brentford star has been in incredible form in the top-flight with a return of 24 goal involvements, and more than twice as many goals as any Red Devils star has managed.

Mbeumo, who was once described as “incredible” by reporter Dom Smith, has scored more goals this season than Antony has managed in his last four league campaigns combined (17) for Real Betis, Manchester United, and Ajax.

This suggests that the £65m-rated star would be miles better for United than Antony has been, or would be next season, because he carries a significantly greater goal threat and has already proven himself in the Premier League.

Therefore, INEOS must ensure that the bid they are reportedly preparing to make is enough to tempt the Bees into cashing in on their star forward, because he has the quality to be an exceptional addition to Amorim’s squad heading into the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

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da dobrowin： Tottenham Hotspur face Nottingham Forest tonight, looking to build on their tremendous victory in the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.

da fezbet： Ange Postecoglou’s side booked their place in the semi-finals, setting up a clash with Norwegian outfit Bodo Glimt, with the majority of their attention on such a fixture.

However, the Lilywhites will look to end their Premier League campaign on a high, in what has been a hugely disappointing one by their usual high standards.

They have the opportunity to dent Forest’s ambitions of securing a Champions League place, led by former boss Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked in North London after just 17 games in all competitions.

If Ange’s side are to claim all three points this evening, he will have to drop one player who’s failed to deliver when handed the opportunity from the start in recent weeks.

Why Ange should drop Johnson against Nottingham Forest

Welsh winger Brennan Johnson has failed to match his early-season form, which saw him register a goal in six consecutive games across all competitions.

The 23-year-old has only found the back of the net twice since the end of February, with his showing against Frankfurt in midweek certainly one to forget despite the victory.

He featured for 85 minutes of the contest, completing just 69% of the passes he attempted, whilst winning just two of the six duels he entered – often being dominated in the final third.

His total of just 22 touches, an average of one every 3.8 minutes, showcased his lack of impact when on the ball, needing to be replaced as a result of his poor showing.

With little to nothing left to play for other than pride in the league, Ange could take the clash with the Reds to experiment with his first-team, potentially handing a rare start to one other first-team member.

The player who Ange must start against Nottingham Forest

Injuries have massively plagued Ange throughout the majority of this season, hugely preventing any chance of rising up the table – having to often utilise players out of position.

The likes of Archie Gray and Ben Davies have often had to fill the void at the heart of the defence, with numerous forwards missing, leaving Johnson with very little competition in the process.

Wilson Odobert is just one player who’s spent an extended period on the sidelines throughout 2024/25, restricting him from making an impact after his £25m move from Burnley last summer.

The Frenchman has only featured in 14 games across all competitions, most of which have come from the substitutes bench, but it hasn’t prevented him from making a huge impact.

In one of his most recent starts for the Lilywhites, he scored twice in the Europa League triumph over AZ Alkmaar – only making one start since his impressive showing nearly six weeks ago.

Whilst he was an unused substitute in the win on Thursday night, it could be an opportunity for Postecoglou to shuffle his pack and hand the 20-year-old just his sixth league start.

He’s completed 1.8 dribbles per 90 in the league to date, whilst also registering the same amount of efforts on goal, having the attacking threat to add to the front line.

Wilson Odobert’s PL stats for Spurs (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

10

Minutes played

448

Pass accuracy

86%

Successful dribbles

1.8

Shots taken

1.8

Duels won

4.3

Touches in opposition box

5.8

Stats via FotMob

Odobert, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by Jacob Horsfall, has the drive and threat with the ball at his feet that could cause the opposition backline no end of trouble tonight.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the youngster to impress, potentially staking his claim for a starting role in the Europa League, having a massive part to play in their quest for a first trophy since 2008.

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da bet nacional： Arsenal have made an offer to sign an “unpredictable” forward who’s drawn comparisons with Man City legend Bernardo Silva, with the player and his close circle reportedly already making a decision.

Andrea Berta's plans to sign new attackers for Arsenal

da betsul： As per recent reports, the Gunners, now led by new sporting director Andrea Berta, could look to bring in a left-winger, right-winger and centre-forward as part of a potential £300 million summer spending spree (GiveMeSport).

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Berta has already held personal talks with the representatives of Spain international starlet Nico Williams, which occurred last week as one of his first acts in the job (Ed Aarons), and discussions have taken place more recently as well.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Brentford (home)

Today

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Journalist Pete O’Rourke reported on Thursday that Arsenal held “high-level” talks over a deal for Williams this week as well, but despite the 22-year-old’s reported £48 million release clause, there could still be problems when it comes to his overall package.

Other reports state that Williams wants around £250,000 per week to leave Athletic Bilbao, which would make him Arsenal’s third-highest earner behind Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, so this could still end up being a costly operation.

It is the task of Berta to scour far and wide for exciting wide options who will bolster Arsenal’s squad whilst also adhering to PSR and FFP regulations, so it is crucial Arsenal do not overspend in the market – especially if they want to strengthen other key areas.

South America has been a fruitful talent pool for the Gunners, with Gabriel Martinelli going on to be a major success following his bargain £6 million move from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019.

Arsenal scouts are reportedly aiming to replicate that success story, and they’ve got their eye on one promising young forward in particular – River Plate winger Ian Subiabre.

The 18-year-old is seen as one of Argentina’s most exciting up-and-coming forwards, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who compared him to Bernardo, also describing Subiabre as a “mobile” and “unpredictable” player with a penchant for “trickery”.

Arsenal make proposal for River Plate sensation Ian Subiabre

According to South American news outlet Soy del Millo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal have made an offer for Subiabre after glowing reports from the club’s scouts, but the exact nature of this bid is unclear.

What’s clear, however, is that River won’t let him depart for a penny less than his £26 million release clause. In any case, it appears they may have to wait for the player anyway, who’s already made a decision to remain at his current club.

The teenager’s family have been heavily involved in this, informing River of their desire for Subiabre to sign an extension despite offers from Arsenal and Chelsea.

While it was a “difficult” call for Subiabre and his close circle, it appears the priority right now is to further his development, which comes as a disappointment for Berta and co.

da realbet： One Rangers player is on course to leave Ibrox over the coming months having recently been described as “fragile”.

Rangers manager rumours as 49ers agree takeover deal in principle

da betano casino： It is promising to be a busy few months off the pitch in Glasgow, with the 49ers Enterprises agreeing a deal in principle to take charge at Ibrox. Sky Sports reported last month that talks have been ongoing for a while now and there is ‘growing confidence on all sides that it will be completed ahead of the new season’.

The 49ers will have to get straight to work as well and look ready to do so as there have been claims they are ready to back a new manager in the transfer market with a £20m+ transfer budget.

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Barry Ferguson is the current interim Rangers boss and has been impressing at times, defeating Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce in the Europa League across two legs, while also winning at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership.

Ferguson is thought to be keen on the idea of taking the Rangers manager job on a permanent basis, however, other names have been mentioned as potential targets.

Former Southampton manager Russell Martin has been linked with a move to Scotland, as has Liam Rosenior who is currently in charge of Strasbourg in France.

Rangers progressing to the semi-finals of the Europa League will only strengthen Ferguson’s case to land the job on a full-time basis, however, whoever is in charge could lose a plethora of current Gers players in the summer.

Forward Hamza Igamane is wanted by Marseille, who have made serious moves for the Morocco international. Rangers want £20m for the attacker, however, one player who could leave for free is defender Leon Balogun.

Leon Balogun on course to leave Rangers for free

According to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, Rangers are set to axe Balogun from the Ibrox books this summer.

The 36-year-old, on £8,000-a-week which equates to £416,000-a-year in Glasgow, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and O’Rourke says it is unlikely he will be offered a new deal.

Balogun returned to Rangers back in 2023, a year after leaving for QPR. Since moving back to Glasgow, he has made a further 44 appearances for the club, taking his overall tally to three figures.

Talking about Balogun recently, Derek Ferguson, brother of Barry, advised Rangers to move the defender on this summer, calling him “fragile”.

Balogun’s career Rangers stats

Games

109

Goals

3

Yellow cards

12

Red cards

3

Trophies

3

“I think he’ll be off. He’s done terrifically well since coming back in, but he’s 36 and injury-prone. He’s a good player, but is he someone Rangers should be looking to tie down? No. He’s done well across two spells, but no, it’s time for Leon to look elsewhere. Rangers will need to look for a younger version of Balogun – a player with pace, power and good in the air. Leon is just too fragile.”

da bet nacional： Turning their attention towards the summer transfer window and navigating any PSR concerns, Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race to sign a South American wonderkid.

Aston Villa facing PSR concerns

da leao： As successful as the Villans have been on the pitch, that success may well come at a price amid concerns over profit and sustainability. Those at Villa Park haven’t been afraid to spend big in recent seasons, but after making losses of more than £105m across the last three campaigns, they are in danger of breaching PSR rules, according to reports.

After Chelsea decided to sell their woman’s team to a sister company in an attempt to comply with the rules and find a loophole, Aston Villa seem to have taken note and are now looking at selling similar stakes. Whether criticised or not, it would be quite the way to avoid any punishment.

Amid such problems, meanwhile, Champions League qualification may prove to be more important than ever if Villa want to ease their concerns and avoid having to sanction frustrating sales.

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The Midlands club already sold Jhon Duran for big money during the January transfer window before welcoming Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on loan, but should look to avoid a repeat of such a departure this summer.

Whether that’s in their hands remains to be seen, however. What hasn’t helped ease their concerns is David Ornstein’s recent report that Morgan Rogers is among those attracting big admirers ahead of the summer transfer window. It’s a narrative that Aston Villa must put to bed as soon as possible before turning their focus towards signing one particular star.

Aston Villa set sights on South American talent Rayan

Whilst Aston Villa must spend wisely if they are to spend this summer, one young forward slots into the category of players they should be able to afford in the coming months and one they should do everything to avoid missing out on. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Rayan from Vasco da Gama.

The 18-year-old winger has attracted plenty of attention from interested parties in the Premier League, with Villa joined in line for his signature by Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Described as a “physical, bulldozing forward” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Rayan is still just 18 years old and a player who looks ready to complete his first move into European football.

Unai Emery rarely needs to convince players about his Aston Villa project these days, and Rayan should be no different. Like others before him, the forward would thrive under the Spaniard.

da bet7： Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign an “incredible” midfielder, and they are confident they will win the race for his signature, according to a report.

Tottenham eyeing reinforcements in multiple areas

da 888casino： Barring an unlikely triumph in the Europa League, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a season to forget for Tottenham, with it looking increasingly likely they will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Injuries no doubt haven’t helped their cause, but the fact Spurs have fallen way below expectations indicates several reinforcements may be needed in the summer, and they are eyeing players in multiple positions.

A new striker is of interest, with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison suffering their fair share of injury problems this season, and the Lilywhites are now making moves to sign Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while they are also stepping up their pursuit of Lille’s Jonathan David.

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With Cristian Romero potentially in line to leave Tottenham this summer, a new centre-back may also be required, and they are incredibly keen on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer.

Tah is not the only free agent that Tottenham are eyeing, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they are determined to sign Lille midfielder Angel Gomes, whose contract is set to expire this summer.

Spurs are pushing hard to get a deal for Gomes over the line, having been leading the race for his signature for quite some time, and they are confident they will be able to strike an agreement.

London rivals West Ham United have also been linked with a move for the 24-year-old, but widespread reports state he has turned down a move to the London Stadium.

Signing "incredible" Gomes could be shrewd business

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has made it clear Tottenham will have to be clever with how they operate in the transfer market this summer, saying: “We cannot spend what we do not have, and we will not compromise the financial stability of this club,”

“Recruitment remains a key focus, and we must ensure that we make smart purchases within our financial means.”

As such, it would be financially prudent to pursue free agents this summer, and signing Gomes could be a shrewd bit of business, given how impressive he has looked in a Lille shirt, notably impressing with his long-range passing last season.

The England international has also been lauded as “incredible” by Carlisle United midfielder Callum Whelan, indicating he could be a fantastic addition for Tottenham, who may be in need of at least one new midfielder, with Yves Bissouma’s future in doubt.

da esport bet： Will Aston Villa soon make their maiden first-team signing of the summer?

da stake casino： So far, teenager Yasin Özcan has arrived from Kasımpaşa for a reported fee of around £5.8m, albeit he was immediately loaned out to Anderlecht, while veteran goalkeeper Marco Bizot and 19-year-old winger Zépiqueno Redmond have both joined on free transfers.

Thus, right now, ahead of their Premier League opener against Newcastle United, Unai Emery will not have any high-profile new signings to showcase, but could that be about to change?

Aston Villa transfer news latest

Speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Dan Bardell notes that Aston Villa have so far been unable to spend money in this summer window due to their lack of PSR headroom, but forecasts that they will be active and “opportunistic” in the coming weeks, having to date kept their powder dry.

This was exactly the strategy that saw the Claret and Blue Army land both Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on loan in January, but the pair will need replacing, with the Englishman having joined Barcelona, while it appears unlikely that the Spaniard will return to Villa Park either.

Thus, as they target attacking reinforcements, with Alan Nixon revealing on his Patreon that Aston Villa had joined the race to sign Evann Guessand, and were willing to outbid Crystal Palace, who have long been viewed as the front-runners to secure the Ivorian’s signature.

That has since been followed up by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who revealed that the Midlands has reached a “verbal agreement” with Nice, having lodged a bid of around €30m (£26m), plus add-ons.

That comes after it was previously noted that the forward was valued at around £22m by the Ligue 1 outfit.

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So, Guessand looks set to become just the second player from Côte d’Ivoire to call Villa Park home. Jonathan Kodjia is the first, and so far only, in case you were wondering!

What Evann Guessand would bring to Aston Villa

Guessand, who is still only 24 years old, joined Nice at the age of 15, but only became an outstanding figure in les Aiglons’ first-team as recently as last season.

He spent time out on loan at Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland and then Nantes in Ligue 1, scoring five goals for la Maison Jaune, most notably bagging a stoppage-time winner against Olympiacos in the Europa League, sparking wild scenes of celebration at Stade de la Beaujoire.

He has returned to Nice for the last two seasons, very much a key figure for his boyhood club, scoring six goals in Ligue 1 in 2023/24, before bagging 12 during the most recent campaign, firing Franck Haise’s side to a top four finish and possible Champions League qualification; they face Benfica in the first leg of a qualifier this week.

The table below emphasises Guessand’s impressive form in Ligue 1 last season.

Evann Guessand Ligue 1 statistics 2024/25

Statistics

Guessand

Ligue 1 rank

Goals

12

10th

Assists

8

6th

Shots

27

10th

Goals – xG

+2.8

9th

Shot-creating actions

91

23rd

Goal-creating actions

17

8th

Attempted take-ons

103

15th

Progressive carries

87

19th

Average SofaScore rating

7.23

7th*

*among forwards only.

Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and SofaScore

The table outlines that Guessand is an all-round attacker, ranked highly when it comes to both goals and assists, but also chances created and dribbling, overperforming his expected goals figure by almost three, underlining his clinical edge.

Alex Barker of The Athletic is certainly a fan, labelling him a “real physical handful” as well as being an “agile” forward who is capable of creating “high-quality chances” too, concluding that his ability to do it all makes him “Bruno Fernandes-esque”.

Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis agrees, noting that he is a ‘good dribbler’, which is surprising given that he is 6 ft 2 in (188 cm).

Meantime, Mohamed Fathall of Breaking the Lines states that he thrives when able to ‘support a central striker’, adding that he is ‘constantly looking to take on defenders’, using his ‘intelligent movement’ to get into goal-scoring positions.

Well, this makes him the ideal strike partner for Ollie Watkins who, as documented by Ahmed Walid of The Athletic, only truly started scoring goals with impressive regularity at Aston Villa after Emery had coached him to remain within the width of the penalty area.

Watkins has reached double figures for goals in each of his five Premier League campaigns, although such consistency could be maintained if fed by the Fernandes-esque talents of Guessand, considering he created 12 ‘big chances’ in Ligue 1 last term, as per Sofascore.

For context, Manchester United’s skipper was only just ahead with 16 ‘big chances’ created in the Premier League.

With Villa’s number 11 thus able to pounce on regular, quality service, Guessand and Watkins could form a deadly attacking partnership, as Villa target a top five finish and Europa League glory in the season ahead.

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