Leeds United are expected to submit an offer for an “incredible” player “in the coming days”, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.

Leeds looking to upgrade defence amid Firpo uncertainty

Leeds fans will be well-aware of the importance of having a strong defence in the Premier League, given that a leaky backline was one of the main reasons for their relegation in the 2022-23 season, shipping 78 goals, the highest number in the division.

As such, Daniel Farke has set out to bolster his options at the back, identifying a number of defenders as potential signings, and there may be a particular need to bring in a new left-back, given that Junior Firpo could be heading for the exit door.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Position

Kostas Tsimikas

Liverpool

£15m

LB

Aaron Cresswell

West Ham United

£0

LB

Vladimir Coufal

West Ham United

£0

RB

Nico Elvedi

Borussia Monchengladbach

£10m

CB

Elvedi has been on the radar for quite some time, with a £10m fee being touted back in February, and there has now been a new update on Leeds’ pursuit of the defender, with Jacobs naming the Monchengladbach ace and Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies as players of interest.

The reporter said: “They definitely were interested in Davies when they were still in the Championship. Now we have to wait and see whether they move because targets can change due to promotion. Nico Elvedi is another name I hear for Leeds who can play left back or left centre back,”

“That’s one I expect them to bid for in the coming days. So the Ben Davies situation is open, but it is fair to say that Tottenham are open to offers. And if you’re open to offers, then extending the contract only helps you protect the value and bring in the most money possible.”

Leeds now "one to watch" in race for "outstanding" £25m Premier League ace

The Whites are in the running for a midfielder, who has a plethora of Premier League experience.

ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025 Elvedi could be "incredible" signing for Leeds

With Farke’s side set to return to the Premier League next season, it is important for the manager to bring in players proven at a high level, and the Swiss defender featured regularly for Monchengladbach in the 2024-25 season, making 25 Bundesliga appearances.

Former sporting director Max Eberl has also hailed the 28-year-old for his “incredible composure” in the past, which could be an important quality to have in a Farke side, given that the Leeds boss is known for playing out from the back.

The Switzerland international’s ability in possession of the ball is underlined by the fact he ranks in the 89th percentile for his pass completion rate per 90 over the past year, while also placing in the 93rd percentile for clearances, when compared to other centre-backs.

As such, Elvedi could be a perfect fit for Leeds at centre-back, and it is exciting news that a bid could be submitted in a matter of days.

Aston Villa only have a limited time to raise funds in their battle to avoid PSR sanctions, with the footballing financial deadline for 2024/2025 looming on June 30.

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Unai Emery’s side can only register a loss of around £15 million for the year just gone, according to a recent report by The Athletic, with Premier League clubs only permitted losses of around £105m over a rolling three-year period.

Villa are forecast to be over this limit as things stand, prompting NSWE to explore the possibility of selling their women’s team in a bid to comply with PSR and swerve breaches.

Emery falling just short of qualifying for the Champions League at the end of 24/25 cost them dearly both on and off the field, and there is every possibility that Villa could look to secure a big-name exit in the next two days to raise funds.

Their marquee sales of Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby to Saudi Arabia have really helped in this regard, but they could require at least one more as the PSR deadline looms.

Atletico Madrid held talks with Lucas Digne over a switch to La Liga recently, according to Football Insider, and the 52-cap Frenchman, with just one year remaining on his £120,000-per-week contract, could be a prime contender for the exit door.

Emiliano Martínez, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are other players named as potential candidates to leave, while clubs are expressing a serious interest in Villa sensation Morgan Rogers as well.

The clock is ticking for Villa to agree a significant departure, and they could be handed a chance to make some money off Kosta Nedeljkovic’s talks to join RB Leipzig permanently (Sky Germany).

However, according to journalist Wayne Veysey, Villa have also alerted representatives to their stance over selling star striker Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa tell agents they're ready to sell Ollie Watkins

Emery’s side rejected a low-ball £40 million bid from Arsenal for Watkins in January, but the Gunners haven’t followed that up with any formal approach so far this summer.

Writing for Football Insider, Veysey states Villa have told “senior agents” that they’re ready to sell Watkins by Monday, but they’re yet to find a buyer for the talismanic forward, who bagged 17 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last term.

The 29-year-old, who’ll turn 30 in December, also became the club’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer at the back end of 24/25, surpassing Gabriel Agbonlahor, but Villa have apparently made it clear they’re willing to do a deal.

Emery may not be a fan of this decision, or supporters for that matter, considering they already let Duran go earlier this year – and it would be an almighty task to replace Watkins’ influence up front.

“He deserves it completely because he is a hard worker,” said Emery about Watkins, after the ex-Brentford star broke Agbonlahor’s Premier League goalscoring record for Villa.

“He is committed with Aston Villa. His courage has been fantastic and to achieve it is very fantastic. I am so, so grateful to have a player like him.”

First-wicket pair put on 99 inside eight overs, including Hughes’ 32 off six balls

ECB Reporters Network14-Jun-2024Sussex 181 for 2 (Ward 68, Hughes 47, Simpson 45*) beat Essex 178 for 9 (Elgar 54, Pepper 51, McAndrew 3-33) by eight wicketsA masterful exhibition of stunning hitting from openers Harrison Ward and Daniel Hughes gave Sussex the platform to an eight-wicket victory with 26 balls to spare against an Essex team who had axed their Vitality Blast captain Simon Harmer.The first-wicket pair put on 99 inside eight overs – including 32 from a Daniel Sams over – as 10 sixes rained down all around the Chelmsford ground. The Australian Hughes claimed four of them in his 18-ball 47, and Ward chipped in with three in his 68 from 36.However, it was left to John Simpson to hit Luc Benkenstein for 10 off two balls in the 16th over to complete Sussex’s fourth success in five Blast matches this season.In turn, Essex, put in, failed to post the sort of score that might have been expected after Dean Elgar anchored two fifty-run stands with stand-in captain Adam Rossington and Michael Pepper. However, when Pepper was dismissed for a 26-ball 51, it precipitated a clatter of eight Essex wickets for 54 runs in 43 balls. They finished on a decidedly below-par 178 for 9.Ward and Hughes went off like trains as they hammered eight fours in 11 balls from Shane Snater and Aaron Beard. It did not stop there. After Ben Allison arrested the onslaught with just five conceded off the fourth over, Sams was dumped for 644666 in an incredible over of power hitting from Hughes. At one stage the pair had hit 50 from nine balls.Hughes had raced to 47 when he swept Matt Critchley into deep square-leg’s hands. By the halfway point, Sussex required just 50 runs more for a facile win, but they lost Ward, caught behind off Allison, the one bright spark with the ball on a dismal evening for the home team.However, the pre-match news that Harmer – who would have been playing his 100th T20 game for Essex – had been omitted from the team, rested or dropped depending on who you asked, was almost as seismic as the on-field carnage if not totally surprising: he had not taken a wicket in Essex’s first five Blast games and contributed just 17 runs with the bat.Rossington helped Elgar put on 50 for the first wicket inside six overs, though the captain’s contribution was 16 from 11 balls before he got an inside edge as he attempted to swipe Ollie Robinson out of the ground.Elgar had survived a drop at slip by Tom Alsop on nought, but while he outscored Rossington, he was comprehensively outgunned by Pepper for the second fifty stand of the innings. Pepper hammered 40 of those runs, including four sixes to different parts of the ground off the Sussex spin pair, Danny Lamb and James Coles.Pepper reached his half-century from 24 but two balls later he lofted Nathan McAndrew to backward square leg to precipitate the collapse. McAndrew struck again when his next delivery had a bemused Jordan Cox bowled.Paul Walter became a third wicket in five balls as he advanced down the wicket against Jack Carson and was stumped. Elgar reached his fifty with a straight six, but again fell almost immediately, lobbing Coles tamely to mid-on.The earlier onslaught became a distant memory as Matt Critchley swished at Coles and was bowled, Sams departed to a catch at deep square leg, giving McAndrew another wicket, and Benkenstein attempted a reverse sweep and lost his off-stump the ball after hitting Robinson for six over midwicket. Carson took a third catch in the match, dismissing Snater at deep mid-on.

Scotland opener finds the humour in run-rate rumpus ahead of Australia showdown

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2024Michael Jones has given an indication of Scotland’s relaxed state of mind as they prepare for their crucial Group B showdown in Antigua on Sunday, as he welcomed Josh Hazlewood’s suggestion that Australia might go easy on his team in a bid to engineer an early elimination for their arch-rivals England.Speaking after Australia’s emphatic victory over Namibia on Tuesday – a result that secured their progression to the Super Eights – Hazlewood had indicated that his team might be willing to “drag it out” if they got into a winning position against Scotland, in order to preserve their opponents’ net run-rate – albeit such a tactic could run the risk of a suspension for their captain, Mitchell Marsh, if Australia were deemed to have contravened Article 2.11 of the ICC’s code of conduct.Matthew Mott, England’s coach, subsequently dismissed Hazlewood’s suggestion as an example of his “very good sense of humour”, and Jones also saw the funny side of the remarks, as he joked he’d like to see David Warner open the bowling at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday.”I was watching it live actually, laughing to myself,” Jones told the Press Association, adding that he had also enjoyed the view of Tim Paine, Australia’s former Test captain, who told ESPNcricinfo’s Around The Wicket show that Australia’s players should “go on holiday … and England can pack their bags”.”I watched that interview and I watched Tim Paine when he was saying they should field half a side. I’m not particularly close to them, I don’t know any of the Australian players, but it would be good if we could have a little word and sort something out.”The rivalry between England and Australia is massive. If they want to play that way then happy days. We won’t be complaining. If they want to let David Warner open the bowling or something like that it would be pretty funny.”More realistically, however, Jones is braced for the full Australia experience when the two teams meet on Sunday, and after two impressive victories over Oman and Namibia, to go alongside a spirited display in the washout against England, he admitted he and his team-mates were relishing the prospect of testing themselves against one of the best sides in the tournament.Related

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“At the end of the day our team wants the best result we can get, but on a personal level you want to challenge yourself against the best,” he said.”To have the opportunity to bat against Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, then Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, that’s the best in the world. Those are the opportunities we crave as Scotland teams. You want to challenge yourself and see how far you go against those guys.”The Australians are renowned for being extremely diligent and extremely professional. I’m absolutely certain they will come out all guns blazing like they do for every game at every tournament.”I almost hope they do go full strength on Saturday and we can show the cricket world we’re up to the challenge. I’m absolutely certain they will come out all guns blazing like they do for every game at every tournament.”

Arsenal’s search for a new striker could still go on long into the summer transfer window, with sporting director Andrea Berta currently weighing up their best possible move.

Arsenal assessing Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres deals

As per a helpful update from the BBC, amidst some confusion over who Arsenal’s top striker target actually is, the Gunners are actively working to discover the conditions of deals for both Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig).

£50m star could now reject Arsenal move and sign new deal after talks

He also snubbed an exit last summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 4, 2025

Both strikers, fresh off the back of career-best campaigns at their current clubs, have serious credentials.

Sesko, standing at a towering 6 foot 5, boasts a fairly modest goal-record of 21 in all competitions from last season. However, the 22-year-old’s potential for growth, not to mention outstanding physical attributes like his speed and power, make him a very intriguing option for Mikel Arteta.

The Spaniard is known to be a big fan of his, and Arsenal have tried to sign Sesko on multiple occasions since last summer, so they could still make it third-time-lucky this window.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres has just concluded a sublime Primeira Liga campaign, where he guided Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years whilst scoring an incredible 54 goals in all competitions.

While Arsenal work to discover which deal would be best suited to the club, both centre-forwards are set to be “extremely expensive”, so it is vital that Arteta and Berta get this decision right.

That being said, there are suggestions that Arsenal do have other alternative targets in that position, so it isn’t exactly a straight two-horse race between Sesko and Gyokeres for the Gunners’ striker spot.

Arsenal internally discussing deal for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins – an England international and boyhood Arsenal supporter – was subject to a low-ball bid from north London in the January transfer window.

Arsenal made a £45 million offer for Watkins to test Unai Emery’s resolve, according to The Telegraph, which is nearly half of Villa’s £80 million valuation.

The north Londoners never went back in with a second offer, but a new report from The Athletic suggests that a fresh summer swoop for Watkins isn’t completely off the table, despite work going into Sesko and Gyokeres right now.

It is believed Arsenal are still internally discussing Watkins as a striker target, and while they face a major obstacle in the form of Villa, they may not run into much trouble when it comes to convincing the player himself.

Back in 2020, Watkins admitted that he dreams of a move to Arsenal one day, and now that he’s 29-years-old, time is running out to make that fantasy a reality.

“That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day,” Watkins said.

“But, you know, it’s a long shot.”

The former Brentford star helped to fire Villa to a Europa League spot with 17 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season.

His Premier League pedigree and experience at the top-level is something which should be carefully considered by Berta, with the only sticking points being his age and potential price tag.

The global player union has also established the Tim May medal for “outstanding service to the players’ association movement in cricket”

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2024

Cricket global players’ union has undergone a rebrand, with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) to now be known as the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA). The decision was made following a board meeting and 25th anniversary celebration in New York, held concurrently with the ongoing Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.WCA has also established the Tim May Medal, named after the former Australia offspinner who was the first CEO of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) and who went on to become the first full-time CEO of FICA in 2005. The medal will be awarded to “recipients who have provided outstanding service to the players’ association movement in cricket.”May himself and Richard Bevan were announced as the inaugural winners of the award. Bevan was the CEO of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, the player union for English cricketers, from 2003 to 2007.”There has never been a more important time for players to be collectively represented in their own countries, and at global level,” WCA CEO Tom Moffat said. “The vast majority of the best men’s and women’s players in the world are now affiliated to WCA, and irrespective of fragmentation in the game, the players will always be the talent and its biggest asset.”The name change to the World Cricketers’ Association reflects our desire to simply state and reflect our role in the game at global level.”In changing our name we acknowledge all of those who have contributed to and built FICA. Throughout its short history it has achieved a significant amount for players, their associations, and the game. We reflect on our first 25 years and the legacy of those who have built it, and look to the future of our game and collective player representation within it with optimism.”

Ruben Amorim will face the biggest challenge of his professional management career next season, as he looks to take Manchester United back to their former glory.

The 40-year-old was appointed back in November last year, but was unable to transform their fortunes as they finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

However, he largely had to work with the players already at his disposal, with only Patrick Dorgu arriving as a senior first-team signing back in January.

This summer presents him with the opportunity to make the additions he wants to improve the current situation at Old Trafford, handing him the best possible chance of being a success in the role.

With the transfer window now in full swing, the hierarchy have wasted no time in backing Amorim in his quest, targeting numerous players in various areas of the pitch.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Hayden Hackney has been one of the main midfield targets for United throughout the course of the summer window, with it being revealed that the club have been seen scouting him in recent weeks at the U21 Euros.

As for the attacking department, Hugo Ekitiké is a player who was of keen interest a couple of weeks ago, but a deal has gone quiet ever since his asking price of £84m was revealed.

However, the backline looks set to be the next department to be added to, with the Red Devils making progress in a deal to sign Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo, according to a report in Spain via Football365.

It states that Amorim’s side have already made an offer for the Uruguayan defender, who’s currently valued at a bargain fee of just £38m by the LaLiga giants.

They also claim that Bayern Munich and Juventus are also looking to take advantage of the fee mentioned, with Hansi Flick looking to raise sales to sign Nico Williams this window.

Why United’s £38m target would be a more important addition than Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo has been a player firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of weeks, with multiple offers being made for the Brentford talisman.

The first offer of £55m was swiftly rejected, but the second bid of £60m is still being considered, with only minor details needing to be ironed out before he can negotiate with Amorim’s side.

It’s been reported that the 25-year-old appears set to have his medical at the Red Devils next week, potentially becoming the club’s second addition of the window after Matheus Cunha.

There’s no doubt that given his tally of 20 league goals this season would improve the options at the manager’s disposal in the final third, offering him the attacking threat he’s craved in the role.

However, a move for Araujo this window would arguably be a more important one for the club, landing a star that would massively bolster another area of the pitch.

It was confirmed that Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof would be leaving the club at the end of their current contracts, leaving a lack of depth within the defensive unit.

Additions to the defence are certainly needed if the Red Devils are to make the jump, with injuries showing how light the club was even before the aforementioned duo departed.

When delving into the Uruguayan’s stats from this season, he’s demonstrated the qualities he possesses with and without the ball, handing Amorim an elite-level option in his pursuit of glory.

Araujo, who’s been labelled a “monster” by teammate Eric Garcia, completed 92% of the passes he attempted, with 3.1 per 90 being into the final third – stats that could offer the club an opportunity to play out from the back when needed.

Ronald Araujo’s stats for Barcelona in LaLiga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

12

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

92%

Passes into final third

3.1

Tackle success rate

75%

Aerial won

3.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Stats via FotMob

Without the ball, he’s been just as impressive, coming out on top of 75% of the tackles he’s entered, alongside 3.9 aerials won per 90, subsequently adding a quality option to the manager in such an area.

£38m for a 26-year-old entering the prime years of his career could prove to be an excellent signing for the Red Devils, bolstering their chances of success as a result.

Given the interest from elsewhere this summer, they will have to work tirelessly to avoid missing out on his signature, with his addition potentially proving to be more important than Mbeumo’s.

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Manchester United have joined a long list of suitors in the race to sign a new striker.

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Aston Villa are in talks over selling an “incredible” player as their deadline to raise money approaches, with NSWE having till Monday to balance the books in an effort to avoid potential PSR sanctions.

As per a recent estimation by The Athletic, Villa can only record a loss of around £15 million and stay in line with PSR for 2024/2025.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

As things stand, Unai Emery’s side are above that mark, and face the possibility of Premier League sanctions if they don’t source cash by the start of the next football financial year – which begins on July 1.

Villa are attempting to sell their women’s team right now in an effort to generate much-needed income, but if that cannot restore their PSR balance, or if they fail to agree a deal in time, then player sales are the next-best option.

Emiliano Martínez, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana and Lucas Digne are among the Villa first-teamers linked with high-profile exits before the June 30 deadline, but they’re quickly running out of time.

The club’s president of footballing operations, Monchi, is reportedly working hard to secure a significant sale ahead of the cut-off date (Football Insider), but football finance expert Dan Plumley has reassured supporters there will be a limit in terms of who they’re willing to part company with.

“I still think even with a question mark over Villa and where they’re at with PSR, it’s unlikely that they will be desperate to sell a Watkins or a Rogers as an example,” said Plumley to Football Insider.

“I think if they are going to move players on, it’s probably going to be one or two of the fringe players on the squad. I think Villa would fight hard against that is what I’m saying.

“And I think if a club’s going to look to do that, I could understand it to a degree, but I don’t see Villa trying to sell a Watkins or a Rogers quickly in the next few days for a cut-price fee.

“I think those are two players in particular that they’ll want to keep, and if someone’s going to buy those players, the premium’s going to be high.”

Instead, a far more viable option comes in the form of young right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic.

Aston Villa in talks to sell Kosta Nedeljkovic

The 19-year-old, after being used sparingly by Emery over the first half of last season, was shipped out on loan to RB Leipzig for the second part of 2024/2025, and the Bundesliga side are keen to sign him permanently.

That is according to Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who also reports that Villa are in talks with Leipzig over selling Nedeljkovic. The club possess an option to buy the Serbian for around £13 million, including add-ons, but Leipzig want to lower this cost by negotiating a new price.

Given the teenager appears out of Emery’s long-term plans, despite being called “incredible”, he’s a very viable candidate to help with Villa’s PSR situation – but Monchi won’t be willing to authorise too much of a cut-price exit.

It wouldn’t be all that controversial to claim that this season was a bit of a bust for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s men did well to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, but failing to win a domestic cup and finishing ten points off Premier League champions Liverpool was undeniably disappointing.

However, while the Gunners’ attack failed to spark this year, there were still some players who could go into the summer with their heads held high, like Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain was a force of nature in the middle of the park and was justifiably named the club’s Player of the Year for his efforts.

Fortunately, he could get even better next year, as reports have now heavily linked Arsenal to a dangerous goalscorer who’d be a dream teammate for the Englishman.

Arsenal target prolific goalscorers

As Arsenal still managed to create the best defence in the Premier League during their lacklustre campaign, it’s hardly a surprise that most of the players they have been linked with in recent weeks and months have been goalscorers.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, the most significant saga for the North Londoners so far has been around Benjamin Sesko, who scored 21 goals for RB Leipzig in 45 games this year.

Then, off the left, the primary target seems to be Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who’s scored 14 goals in 52 games for the Spanish giants.

Interestingly, the Gunners were even linked with Bryan Mbeumo, who found the back of the net 20 times in 42 games for Brentford this year, at one point this summer.

Yet, another name has now firmly reentered the picture, and when it comes to scoring goals, nobody can hold a candle to him: Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Portuguese outlet Record, as relayed by Sport Witness, the Sporting CP star is now desperate to leave the club and join Arsenal this summer.

The report has revealed that the striker has expressed his desire to the Lisbon side’s president and informed them that he would not be returning to the club this summer in an attempt to force their hand into accepting offers totalling €70m, which comes to £60m, and stands at around €5m – £4m – less than the unofficial offer the Gunners made prior, per the report.

It might be an expensive transfer for Arsenal to get over the line, but given Gyokeres’ unreal ability in front of goal, it’s one they should pursue, especially as he could be a superb teammate for Rice.

Why Gyokeres would be a dream teammate for Rice

It will come as no surprise that the number one reason Gyokeres would be a dream teammate for Rice is his utterly absurd output, but there are two reasons for this, and the first is that he’d surely help the midfielder improve his own output.

For example, in just 52 appearances for Sporting this season, totalling 4248 minutes, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, was able to score 54 goals and provide 13 assists, which comes out to an out of this world average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Just imagine a striker as devastatingly effective as the Swedish international playing ahead of the Englishman, who has himself become more of an attacking threat since becoming the team’s left-eight; he’d certainly rack up more assists than the ten he managed this year and probably even a few more goals than the nine he scored to boot.

Appearances

52

Minutes

4248′

Goals

54

Assists

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

63.40′

On top of helping his own tally, though, it would also be a serious signal of intent to bring in someone so prolific and hopefully be the difference in getting the team over the line next year, in turn putting any potential doubt that the 25-year-old could start to have to rest.

Finally, on top of the mountain of goals the former Coventry City star might bring to the Emirates, he could also allow the Englishman the space to further develop his skills as a proper out-and-out left-eight.

We say this as the Sporting star’s heatmap from this season shows that he doesn’t drop into midfield very much at all, instead preferring to spend time in and around the penalty area, which in turn should give the former Irons star space to operate in without worrying about where his striker is.

Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Gyokeres this summer, as not only could he fire the team to glory, but he could also help Rice reach another level entirely.

Arteta's own Mbeumo: Arsenal hold talks to sign £85m "generational talent"

The sensational attacker would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2025

The transfer window has only been open for nine days, but Arsenal are already embroiled in something of a saga.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko since last summer, and while he remains in Germany at the moment, things are begging to move.

Reports from late last week revealed that the Slovenian striker wants to move to the Emirates, but is he really the answer for Mikel Arteta’s side?

While that remains to be seen, the club are still on the lookout for alternatives, and now reports are linking them to someone who could be an upgrade on Sesko.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other strikers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Jonathan David and Julian Alvarez.

Transfer Focus

Due to his contract with LOSC Lille coming to an end this month, the former would be a free signing, and a great one at that, as in 49 appearances this season, he scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists.

Alvarez was equally effective this term, racking up a tally of 29 goals and seven assists in 54 appearances, but with a release clause reportedly worth £126m in his current deal, it seems unlikely that he’d be on the move this summer.

Fortunately, another striker has now entered the picture: Samuel Omorodion Aghehowa.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams currently interested in the Porto star.

The report claims that alongside the Gunners, Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and others are set to ‘battle it out’ for the 21-year-old goalscorer.

However, on top of dealing with the competition, the North Londoners will need to stump up a lot of cash, as the report has revealed that Porto want at least €75m – £63m – for their star striker and that they are in no rush to sell as he has a €100m – £84m – release clause in his current deal.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Samu’s ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be an upgrade on Sesko.

How Samu compares to Sesko

So, if Arsenal’s reported interest in Samu continues to grow, and things get to a point at which they have to choose between him and Sesko, who’d be the better signing?

Well, if we are going to compare strikers, the first port of call is their raw output, as, ultimately, that is what matters most for players in their position.

Interestingly, it’s the young Spaniard who comes out on top here, as in just 42 appearances, totalling 3175 minutes, the “inevitable” 6 foot 4 goalscorer, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, put the ball in the back of the net 25 times and provided three assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 113.39 minutes.

In comparison, the Leipzig star scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games, or every 120.66 minutes.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.51

0.40

Non-Penalty G+As

0.72

0.61

Progressive Passes

1.12

1.74

Progressive Carries

0.92

1.78

Shots

3.10

2.50

Shots on Target

1.15

1.10

Passing Accuracy

77.8%

67.6%

Expected Assists

0.09

0.06

Key Passes

0.68

0.72

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.40

0.34

Shot-Creating Actions

1.75

1.93

Goal-Creating Actions

0.36

0.34

Well, it’s more bad news for the Slovenian star, as while he does do better in some areas, such as shot-creating actions and progressive passes, he comes out second-best in the majority of relevant metrics.

For example, the Melilla-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, does far better when it comes to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while both players look to be hugely promising strikers, Samu simply does better when we look at their raw output and underlying numbers, so Arsenal should probably do what they can to bring him to the Emirates this summer, as he seems to be an upgrade on Sesko.

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