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Leeds United officially confirmed their latest arrival of the summer transfer window on Friday with the unveiling of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their new centre-forward.

The former England international became a free agent last month when his contract at Everton expired, which has allowed the Whites to snap him up on a free transfer.

Calvert-Lewin has put pen to paper on a three-year contract at Elland Road, which means that he will be committed to the club even if they suffer relegation at the first time of asking.

The former Toffees marksman is set to compete with Joel Pirore and Lukas Nmecha for a place in the starting line-up, and could make his debut against his former club at Elland Road in the Premier League on Monday.

Daniel Farke has ‘lost’ two number nine options this summer, though, as he told Patrick Bamford that the veteran forward would not be a part of his plans, whilst Mateo Joseph is out on loan at Mallorca.

Despite bringing Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin in, Leeds may need to dip back into the market to sign another centre-forward before the end of the window.

Why Leeds need to sign another striker

It is no secret that the Whites will need to score plenty of goals this season to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation from the Premier League, which makes the striker position particularly important.

However, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha do not seem primed to arrive as prolific number nine options who are going to deliver consistent performances in front of goal in the top-flight, based on their form for their previous clubs.

Nmecha, for example, scored just seven goals in the Bundesliga in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Transfermarkt, and missed 47 matches through injury in that time.

These statistics do not suggest that the former Wolfsburg man is likely to be Farke’s own Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak in the Premier League this season, as he struggled for goals and fitness in the last couple of campaigns.

As you can see in the table above, though, Calvert-Lewin also appears unlikely to be a prolific scorer for Leeds when you consider his output in front of goal and his disappointing finishing in recent years.

The English striker has underperformed against his xG in all nine of his seasons in the Premier League to date, and has not scored more than seven goals in a league campaign for four years.

Whilst he has scored some impressive goals, as shown in the clips above, Calvert-Lewin may not be the prolific scorer that the Whites may need to stay in the top-flight.

Leeds eyeing deal for Bundesliga striker

Supporters should, therefore, be pleased to read that the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly eyeing up another option in that area of the pitch.

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 Kicker, Leeds United are lining up a potential move to sign Stuttgart centre-forward Ermedin Demirovic to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

The report claims that the Whites have a ‘desire’ to buy the 27-year-old marksman, despite the fact that they only signed Calvert-Lewin this week.

It adds that the Bosnia international is not happy with his current role at Stuttgart. Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav are said to be ahead of him in the pecking order, which could lead to him pursuing a move away before the window slams shut.

Kicker also reveals that it will take a fee in the region of £35m to persuade Stuttgart to part ways with the striker, and it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are willing to pay that much to bring him to Elland Road.

Why Leeds should sign Demirovic

As aforementioned, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha, whilst they may prove to be huge successes at Elland Road, have not done enough in recent seasons to suggest that they will carry a significant goal threat for Farke.

This is why Leeds should be pushing to seal a deal for their latest transfer target, because he is an experienced, yet not over-the-hill, striker who could be the talismanic goalscorer they need to avoid the drop.

The former Augsburg marksman, who was dubbed a “special” talent by Stuttgart director Fabian Wohlgemuth, has an incredibly impressive fitness record in his career, with just two matches missed through injury according to Transfermarkt.

This suggests that Farke would be able to rely on him to play week-in-week-out, thanks to his durability, and the same cannot be said for the two other centre-forward arrivals this summer, as aforementioned.

Demirovic, most importantly, has proven himself to be a fantastic goalscorer in the German top-flight, and could provide a clinical presence in front of goal for the Whites.

As you can see in the table above, the Bosnian attacker has scored 30 goals and provided ten assists in the last seasons in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart and Augsburg combined.

Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin, who has also missed 83 games through injury in this time, has only scored 15 goals in the last four Premier League seasons combined for Everton, per Transfermarkt, which suggests that Demirovic is way more prolific in front of goal, to put it lightly.

The £35m-rated star has also shown that he can finish chances at an efficient rate, outperforming his xG in both of those Bundesliga seasons, whilst the Englishman has consistently struggled to tuck away the high-quality chances that have been created for him.

Therefore, Demirovic could come in as an instant upgrade on Calvert-Lewin because he has a better fitness record, a significantly better goal record, and is a far more clinical finisher, having proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.

He’s Gnonto 2.0: Leeds exploring move to sign "electric" £13m forward

Leeds are not done signing attackers this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 15, 2025

This is why Leeds should be working to bring Demirovic over from Stuttgart before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of next month, as he can offer way more to the team than Calvert-Lewin as the starting number nine.

Winning run comes to an end despite fifties from Maia Bouchier and Freya Kemp

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay25-Jul-2025Alice Davidson-Richards produced a game-changing fifty as Surrey ended Hampshire’s winning streak in a rain-curtailed Metrobank Women’s One Day Cup clash in Guildford.Freya Kemp’s 58 and Maia Bouchier’s 51 gave Hampshire a platform for a big score, but wickets at regular intervals, including three for Phoebe Franklin, restricted the visitors to 278.Surrey initially struggled to build regular partnerships but Davidson-Richards capitalised on a lengthy rain delay and smashed 62 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for Surrey.Having been sent in to bat, Hampshire got off to a positive start as openers Bouchier and Rhianna Southby capitalised on some erratic bowling from the Surrey quicks before Southby chopped on for 27.Bouchier anchored Hampshire’s innings well as she marshalled her side past 100 but then mistimed a flick straight to midwicket to fall for 51 as the run rate slowed.Surrey were sharp in the field throughout, as Ryana MacDonald-Gay produced two diving stops before substitute fielder Alexa Stonehouse took a reflex catch at midwicket to dismiss Georgia Adams as Hampshire slumped to 131 for 4.Abi Norgrove joined Kemp to bring about a revival and the two increased the tempo, cruising beyond 200 with a blend of big hitting and well-placed strokes before Norgrove was dismissed for 40.Kemp breezed past 50 and rotated the strike effectively with Nancy Harman until she was run out by Alice Monaghan for 58 attempting to take two on the boundary rider’s throw. But a flurry of wickets prevented Hampshire from fully attacking during the death overs and Surrey restricted the visitors to 278 all out.As dark clouds loomed over Guildford, Hampshire used the conditions to dismiss Kira Chathli early on for a duck but Bryony Smith and Alice Capsey counterattacked to make the most of the powerplay.The pair raced to 46 for 1 after seven overs before a brief shower forced the players off. Immediately after the resumption, Smith was dismissed for 24, having driven Perry straight to cover.Surrey began to settle once more but Freya Davies returned to the Hampshire attack and took the crucial wicket of Capsey for 47 thanks to Bouchier’s juggling take at midwicket.Hampshire continued to turn the screw as Ava Lee and Perry dismissed Paige Scholfield and Grace Harris, leaving the hosts 123 for 5 after 21 overs.Davidson-Richards and Danni Wyatt-Hodge kept the run rate manageable as they put together a meaningful partnership to steer Surrey to the drinks break.The rain showers that had persisted throughout the innings finally got too heavy, forcing the players off with Surrey 19 runs behind the DLS par score.After a lengthy delay, Surrey were set a revised target of 63 off 29 balls and their hopes looked over when Wyatt-Hodge holed out to cover. But Davidson-Richards and Monaghan took up the mantle, smashing a barrage of boundaries to chase down the target with two balls to spare.

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks to sign Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, as widely reported, and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has a price in mind.

Fabrizio Romano was among the reliable media outlets to confirm Spurs’ negotiations for Eze in a separate deal to their pursuit of Man City winger Savinho, with supporters now poised for a potentially exciting end to the transfer window.

“Understand Tottenham are also back in talks for Eberechi Eze in separate deal from Savinho,” wrote Romano on X.

“Spurs trying again for Eze while they work on Savinho, following Maddison injury and Son exit. Eze keen but deal depends on Palace as release clause expired.”

Interestingly, other reliable media sources differ with Romano about Eze’s £68 million release clause.

According to both talkSPORT and Standard Sport, the buy-out currently remains active and won’t expire until this Friday – potentially giving Levy and co a window of opportunity to trigger it and make Eze a Spurs player.

In a further bit of good news for Thomas Frank, who is in dire need of another creative attacking player after James Maddison’s ACL rupture, Eze is reportedly becoming open to joining Tottenham before the transfer deadline on September 1.

It is important to note that Frank’s side face stiff competition from north London rivals Arsenal, who have been in pursuit of the 27-year-old for well over a month after holding consistent talks with his representatives (Fabrizio Romano).

However, Arsenal currently have to make sales first (The Telegraph), and that may be stopping them from making a formal bid for Eze.

Their hesitancy could hand Spurs an advantage in the race for Eze, especially considering Levy and technical director Johan Lange were ready to splash £60 million on Nottingham Forest’s number 10, Morgan Gibbs-White, over a month ago.

The price Tottenham want to pay for Eberechi Eze

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Tottenham have a minimum valuation for the England international and an ideal price they’re willing to pay, as Levy looks to strike a deal quickly.

Taking to X, Jacobs reports that Levy wants to pay a similar fee to their deal for winger Mohammed Kudus – around £55 million.

That being said, Palace have been clear in their demands to sell their star attacking asset.

Given Tottenham’s glaring need for another forward option, after losing Son Heung-min to LAFC, Maddison to injury and being forced to deal with Dejan Kulusevski’s continued absence, it is imperative that Levy pulls no punches here.

Eze appears set to cost a similar price to what they were more than prepared to pay for Gibbs-White, so the Lilywhites clearly have the necessary funds to meet Palace’s valuation.

He’d be worth every penny, too, having averaged more shots, key passes and successful take-ons per 90 than any other Palace player in the Premier League last term – all whilst racking up 14 goals and a further 11 assists in all competitions.

Eze can also play on the left-wing when required, and you can make a serious case that he’s exactly who Frank is crying out for.

Cape Verde have officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup, becoming the second-smallest nation ever to punch their ticket into the iconic quadrennial tournament. The African nation, which has a population of just 524,000, beat Eswatini 3-0 on Monday to seal their progression to the finals next summer, which will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

• Cape Verde punch their ticket

  In one of the most incredible stories of World Cup qualifying, the tiny island nation, which is off the west coast of Africa, have confirmed their progression to next summer's tournament. Managed by Pedro Leitão Brito, known as Bubista, Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 on Monday, in a game that was watched by almost the entire nation; the national government allowed all workers a half-day, meaning they could pack into the stadium, and crowd around televisions, to watch on. They subsequently become the second-smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. Iceland remain the smallest after playing at the 2018 tournament, failing to progress from the group stage.

  Goals from Dailon Rocha Livramento and Willy Semedo had Cape Verdeans dancing in the stands, before Stopira added a third in injury time to seal a joyous victory, with the president in attendance. 

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• A minnow in the ocean

  Cape Verde, known as the Blue Sharks, sit 70th in the current FIFA world rankings, notably behind the likes of Burkina Faso, the United Arab Emirates, Albania, and North Macedonia. Nevertheless, they will play at the World Cup for the first time in their history. They have finished top of Group D in African qualifying, finishing four points ahead of regular continental heavyweights Cameroon, who simultaneously drew 0-0 with Angola on Monday. The Blue Sharks tied 3-3 with Libya last week in a game that could have sealed qualification, but managed to get over the line this time. 

  Roberto Lopes said: "Traditionally, it's been difficult to qualify for the World Cup, especially in Africa where you had to finish first [in your group] to have a chance. This time, if you finish first, you're in. The motivation to be first and hold on to that has been crucial."

• Bebe to play at a major tournament?!

  Perhaps Cape Verde's most famous player is the former Manchester United forward Bebe. The 35-year-old played (not much!) for the Red Devils between 2010 and 2012, with a total of seven first-team appearances for the club. He is now on the books at UD Ibiza in the Spanish third division, making 24 appearances and scoring eight goals for the club in total. He will hope a final career swansong comes, although his last call-up was back in November 2024. Logan Costa is the only player in the Cape Verde squad who plays in Europe's top five leagues, doing so for Villarreal. 

  There have been two other first-time qualifiers thus far for the expanded 2026 tournament, which will feature 48 teams: Uzbekistan and Jordan are also going to be World Cup debutants. Cape Verde join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Ghana in sealing an African qualifying spot for next year's finals, with three more nations set to join them. Cameroon, Africa's major heavyweights, now face the jeopardy of another round, meaning their qualification is up in the air, as they will first have to navigate the CAF play-offs before entering an inter-continental play-off. 

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  Party in the streets of Praia

  It is fair to say that most Cabo Verdean residents, in the capital Praia and elsewhere, will not be going to bed until the wee hours of the morning as they celebrate an all-time achievement from their football heroes. It remains to be seen if they can make an impact at the tournament itself, but they will aim to, at the very least, compete amongst the very best. Potential clashes with the likes of Brazil, Argentina, England and France will have mouths watering in the African nation, as they bid to pull off some major scalps. There is no harm in dreaming, after all. 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has issued a worrying update on Declan Rice after he was forced off during the 2-1 victory over London rivals West Ham. Rice was forced off in the 79th minute of the match at the Emirates and will now be assessed by Gunners medical staff.

• Rice shone against Hammers

  A goal in each half from Rice and Bukayo Saka secured a 2-0 victory for Arsenal over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium, a win which sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table after seven matches. The home side dominated proceedings, with Rice scoring against his former club in the 38th minute, tucking home a rebound after Eberechi Eze's shot was saved by Alphonse Areola. Arsenal's dominance was further reflected in the match statistics, including their possession advantage, which was double the visitors'. Saka doubled Arsenal's lead midway through the second-half, converting a penalty after Jurrien Timber was fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf. The penalty marked Saka's 100th Premier League goal involvement in his 200th appearance. 

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  Injury woes mar comfortable win

  The only concerns for Arsenal were injury to Odegaard, who was forced off in the first half after a knee-on-knee collision and Rice, who asked to be substituted. Despite the injury, the victory saw Mikel Arteta celebrate his 300th game in charge of Arsenal with a comfortable win against a West Ham side that struggled to create opportunities and sit second-bottom of the table.

• Arteta reveals double-concern

  After the match, Arteta spoke about the circumstances surrounding Rice's substitution, he said: "Well, he's not alright because he asked me to come off, so that's a shame. So, he had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we'll have to assess him and see how he is." And there were worries for his captain Odegaard, too: "I think he had a clash knee-to-knee, and immediately he was uncomfortable, I just spoke to him, he's not positive about it, he's got a brace on. We'll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very unlucky with that either.

  "We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other, the shoulder twice and then this injury. So we have to wait and see the extent of that injury. We will find solutions but obviously our captain is a player who gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attack. Let's wait and hopefully it's not that bad."

  In terms of his side's win, he added: "The last two games have been very special. Newcastle, because we had a history there, a lot of scars and a lot of learnings to take, we put that right. Then we had West Ham, losing two games at home in the previous two seasons. I told them it was a big opportunity, we’ve had very difficult fixtures since the start of the season, and some very bad injuries as well not helping. Still, the team is performing, playing well, winning today with absolute dominance and without conceding a goal. So, good to get to the international break in this spirit."

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  Will England rest Rice?

  Rice has been a central figure for England, featuring prominently in their runs to the Euro 2020 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. He captained England for the first time in March 2024 and was ever-present in their Euro 2024 campaign, where they finished as runners-up. His performances have consistently drawn praise, cementing his reputation as a world-class midfielder. But Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel may be tempted to rest Rice, with England on the verge of qualifying for next year’s World Cup. They need a maximum of five more points from their remaining three games, a win in their next qualifier away to Latvia on October 14, followed by a win at home against Serbia on November 13, would guarantee qualification by winning Group K. But, if England defeat Latvia and Serbia fail to beat Albania on October 11, England would also secure qualification.

Esmae MacGegor takes 3 for 19 but Essex succumb in final over

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Jul-2025Amanda-Jade Wellington played a match-winning innings under pressure as Somerset beat Essex by four wickets at Taunton’s Cooper Associates Ground to register their first win of the Vitality Blast T20 campaign in their tenth game.The Australian international raised 29 from 23 balls, struck four fours and shared in a crucial stand of 45 off 29 balls for the fourth wicket with Fran Wilson, who contributed 41, as the home side chased down a victory target of 156 with three balls to spare.Esmae MacGregor claimed 3 for 19 to keep Essex in the hunt, but Wellington and Alex Griffiths, required to score 16 runs off the final 17 balls, held their nerve to carry the cider county to their first win of the season at headquarters.Returning from England A duty, Jodi Grewcock top-scored with 45 from 34 balls and shared in a stand of 58 for the third wicket with Cordelia Griffith, who contributed 31, as Essex posted 155 for 5 after being put into bat. The pick of the Somerset bowlers, Wellington returned figures of 1 for 25 from four overs.Deputising for the injured Sophie Luff, stand-in Somerset captain Niamh Holland won the toss, inserted the opposition and watched her bowlers reduce the visitors to 30 for 2 in 4.1 overs. Lauren Winfield-Hill plundered three boundaries in moving effortlessly to 19 from 14 balls, only to be cut down in her pomp by an Olivia Barnes delivery that pinned her in the crease. Three balls later, fellow opener Grace Scrivens followed the former England batter back to the pavilion after pulling a shortish ball from Erin Vukusic to midwicket for 6.Charged with the task of repairing the damage, Griffith and Grewcock advanced the score to 40 for 2 at the end of the powerplay and 66 for 2 at the halfway stage, despite finding boundaries hard to come by. The 50 partnership occupied 45 balls and Griffith, having raised 31 from 29 balls, was beginning to accelerate when she attempted to pull Mollie Robbins to the deep midwicket boundary and succeeded only in finding Griffiths with the score 88 for 3.That was the cue for Grewcock to take centre stage, the England A batter opening her shoulders to harvest three successive fours in an over from Barnes as the fielding side came under real pressure for the first time. Grewcock had made 45 from 34 balls and was eyeing a half-century when she gave the charge to Wellington’s legspin and holed out to Vukusic at long-on.
Essex were 115 for 4 in the 16th over with work still to do as Jo Gardner joined Maddie Penna in the middle. These two staged a useful stand of 40 from 27 balls, Australian Penna scoring 21 at a run a ball and the forthright Gardner 22 from 12 deliveries, to hoist Essex to a competitive total.Somerset required the reassurance of a good start and Bex Odgers and Holland provided exactly that, adding 41 in five overs before the former blotted her copybook and top-edged to short third for 20 off the bowling of Eva Gray. Holland had also scored 20 when she surrendered her wicket in similar fashion next over, skying a catch behind off MacGregor as the home side slipped to 41 for 2.Buoyed by her half-century against Hampshire last time out, Wilson hit the ground running as Somerset passed 50 in the seventh, while debutant Ruby Davis calmed any nerves by straight-hitting Gray for four as the third-wicket partnership began to profit. These two added 46 in 36 balls and were threatening to take the contest by the scruff of the neck when Davis, having raised 19 from 16 balls, attempted to reverse sweep MacGregor and was adjudged lbw with the score 87 for 3 in the 12th.Wellington drove Grewcock down the ground and pulled Sophia Smale for four to serve notice of her intentions, but Abtaha Maqsood and MacGregor kept things tight to push the asking rate above eight. Somerset’s fourth wicket pair took 15 off the 15th, bowled by Smale, at which point they required 35 off the last five.Victory looked to be a formality, only for Wilson to dance down the wicket and lose off stump to MacGregor with 24 needed off 22 balls. Wellington then hit Scrivens to long-on in the final over, but Griffiths and Chloe Skelton saw the job through.

Manchester City may yet make some more first-team signings this summer, but Pep Guardiola will first push some of the flotsam out of the door.

The likes of Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips seemingly have no future of substance within the Etihad Stadium first-team, and will surely take their leave before the end of the month.

The Citizens have also rejected an offer from Nottingham Forest for James McAtee, though the Tricky Trees are expected to return.

Guardiola enjoys working with smaller squads; he’s been vocal on that matter. However, the Spanish tactician might be convinced to add one talented Premier League talent to his ranks before the market slams shut.

Man City considering Prem star

Manchester City’s interest in Morgan Gibbs-White this summer suggests that Pep would be interested in adding some robust technical quality to his midfield.

Exciting French talent Rayan Cherki arrived from Lyon earlier in the summer for £34m, but the 21-year-old isn’t a player who can shuffle between offensive and deeper-lying zones with the greatest ease, his exciting qualities best served toward the attacking third of the field.

That one appears to be dead in the water, but that’s not to say City wouldn’t push ahead with another deal, should Grealish and McAtee both leave.

Indeed, according to Globo Esporte in Brazil, Man City have revived their interest in West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta after the playmaker was exonerated in his high-profile spot-fixing case, which scuppered his £80m move to the club two years ago.

The 27-year-old is not priced in the sale towering ballpark anymore, with the Hammers seeking no more than £60m for his sale this summer.

What Lucas Paqueta would bring to Man City

Once hailed as a “magician” of a midfielder by reporter Robbie Mustoe, Paqueta joined West Ham from Lyon for a club-record £51m fee in 2021.

He’s since played 120 times for the Londoners, scoring 18 goals and providing 14 assists. The Brazil international played the assist into Jarrod Bowen’s path to win the Conference League in 2022.

Paqueta’s contentious reputation following the events of recent years, partnered with the fact that his departure wouldn’t carry the same poignancy for those of an Irons persuasion as with two years ago, could lead him to become Man City’s own version of Eric Cantona, whose finest days as a footballer were found on the red side of Manchester.

Cantona is considered one of the most notorious and talented players to have competed in the Premier League, joining the Red Devils from Leeds United for just north of £1m in 1992.

Though the move was met with fury from the Whites fanbase, it was maybe an astute piece of business given that he was a turbulent part of the squad.

Hailed as being “the catalyst that really galvanised the team for the next 25 years” at Man United by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Frenchman was the real deal, posting 145 goal contributions from 185 matches in the nineties.

Could the £150k-per-week Paqueta have a similarly talismanic effect on this City side? They are hardly in disarray, but perhaps in need of some added inspiration and creative flair across the coming terms to reinstate this outfit as the indomitable force at the pinnacle.

Paqueta is confident and mature at 27. Likewise, Cantona was in the senior stage of his professional career when he made his big move, at 26 years old.

Paqueta lacks the same invincibility he might have felt when he wrapped up the 2023/24 season under David Moyes’ wing, having stumbled and fallen to the wayside over the past year.

But he’s now picked himself back up, absolved of wrongdoing in his recently closed court case. It means that Paqueta can focus solely on his football across the next few years of his prime, and where better to see those terms out than at Man City?

He remains one of the most talented and well-rounded midfielders in the Premier League, and a player who City could utilise to restore some of their former strength over the coming year – he’s proven in England’s top flight, as was Cantona, after all.

Perhaps Paqueta lacked fluency and focus last season, but he didn’t endure a drastic drop-off, retaining the core elements of his skill set, which Pep could surely bring back to the fore. At his best, the one-time Flamengo man is Cantona-esque, with a certain Paul Scholes having even made that comparison:

As per FBref, Paqueta ranked among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 3% for tackles, and the top 3% for ball recoveries per 90, highlighting the wide breadth of skill and style that would be woven into the City fold.

Ultimately, Man City have so much quality in their ranks, and they would enrich that quality further still by signing Paqueta. However, Guardiola would also add a player with a combative mindset whose signature comes attached with more than a measure of controversy.

But, with Kevin De Bruyne having departed at the end of his contract, this might be a fantastic move to make for City as they gear up to reclaim their Premier League title.

After all, Paqueta was profiled comprehensively two years ago, and he could be a fantastic addition to a team in transition.

Bigger English talent than Trafford: Man City still pursuing £50m sensation

Man City are hoping to sign more players after Trafford

1

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 31, 2025

Could a few new signings lift the mood of West Ham United supporters?

So far, Hammers fans have not been too pleased with their side’s summer business, most notably selling star attacker Mohammed Kudus to fierce London rivals Tottenham for a reported fee of £55m.

Meantime, having won only five of 19 matches in charge following his appointment in January, Graham Potter immediately begins the new season as a man under pressure.

On the pitch in pre-season, his team were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in their Premier League Summer Series opener in East Rutherford, before defeating Everton 2-1 in Chicago on Wednesday; Lucas Paquetá and Niclas Füllkrug were on target in Illinois.

So, ahead of the conclusion of their US tour on Sunday, taking on Bournemouth at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, will West Ham supporters have another new signing to be excited about?

West Ham searching for new signings

This weekend, West Ham unveiled their third new signing of the summer, announcing the arrival of Callum Wilson on a free transfer from Newcastle.

The 33-year-old England international has scored more career goals against the Irons than any other club, which might have been part of the attraction.

So, having bolstered their attacking options, will they now turn their attention to the other end of the pitch?

Well, according to a report by The Sun, West Ham have agreed personal terms with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, amid interest from Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley.

The outlet adds that the clubs are keen to get a deal over the line as quickly as possible, and this latest update has given them an advantage over their rivals in the race to sign the shot-stopper.

Transfer Focus

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

Elsewhere, Ben Jacobs of Give Me Sport notes that Leicester City value their goalkeeper at £35m, but have already signed a potential replacement, following Asmir Begović’s arrival from Everton, seemingly preparing for his departure.

Dharmesh Sheth and Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports News add that West Ham’s new goalkeeper coach Casper Ankergren is pushing to make the move happen, having previously worked with Hermansen at Brøndby, so could the Dane soon swap the East Midlands for East London?

How Mads Hermansen would improve West Ham

It is little surprise that West Ham are in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer.

40-year-old Łukasz Fabiański has been released as a free agent, while neither he nor Alphonse Areola, who remains at the club, were particularly impressive last season, as the table below documents.

As the table emphasises, neither of West Ham’s two goalkeepers stood out last season, with the now-departed Fabiański actually ranked higher for a few key metrics.

So, would Hermansen represent a clear upgrade?

Well, his most eye-catching performance of last season came against Arsenal in September, making 13 saves, the most by any goalkeeper in a Premier League fixture since David de Gea, also against Arsenal, in December 2017, as noted by James Benge of CBS.

After this match, analyst Ben Mattinson praised his “unreal performance”, while Rob Tanner of the Athletic labeled him a ‘a safe pair of hands’ who is also capable of ‘contributing hugely with the ball at his feet’.

So, let’s assess his own Premier League statistics from last season.

While many of Hermansen’s statistics last season may not all leap off the page, it is worth noting that he was playing for an absolutely hopeless Leicester side, with his post-shot xG – goals conceded figure of +1.4 the most interesting number, underlining his excellent shot-stopping ability.

So, why would the Dane be a better signing than Wilson?

Well, the veteran striker accumulated a mere 458 minutes on the pitch last season due to various injury issues, so while his quality isn’t in question, Wilson has never been reliable in terms of fitness and availability.

He also isn’t guaranteed to start, given that Füllkrug and talisman Jarrod Bowen have seemingly formed a decent partnership during pre-season.

Hermansen, on the other hand, would surely arrive as the undisputed number one from day one, given Areola’s decline, and would represent a massive upgrade on what Potter already has at his disposal.

West Ham submit "formal bid" to sign "phenomenal" Brazilian wanted by Everton

The Hammers are working on another reinforcement.

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 2, 2025

Joao Felix’s move to Al-Nassr offers a unique opportunity for the Portuguese forward to focus solely on football, his new coach says.

• Felix joined Al-Nassr despite links to Benfica
• Coach admits forward is currently below his potential 
• Says lack of distractions will help him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Felix, who recently completed a permanent move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr from Chelsea, is poised to benefit from the distraction-free lifestyle in Saudi Arabia, according to Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus. Jesus highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s absence of nightlife and alcohol creates an environment where Felix “just has to play” without other outlets or distractions, which could help the forward reach his potential. Jesus noted that although Felix does not drink or party, the lack of other distractions will allow him to focus solely on football. However, Jesus admitted that Felix is currently at a “much lower level” than what his talent demands and needs to improve under the club's guidance. The Portuguese forward, 25, joins a star-studded Al-Nassr squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo and recently showed flashes of brilliance.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Felix’s move to Saudi Arabia represents a fresh start after challenging spells at Chelsea and AC Milan, where he failed to make a significant impact. His transfer to Al-Nassr reportedly cost the club an initial €30 million (£26m/$35m) plus €20m (£17m/$23m) in add-ons. Ronaldo has dismissed rumours that he was instrumental in convincing Felix to join Al-Nassr, while Jesus sees a promising partnership developing between the compatriots, which could benefit the Portuguese national team in future tournaments like the 2026 World Cup.

• WHAT JORGE JESUS SAID

  Speaking on Ronaldo and Felix's relationship, Jesus revealed: "Although they already know each other, they're getting closer and closer. They play off each other. Félix is much better than in other games, physically, positionally, technically. We're all here looking for our place to be a strong team."

  He added: "As I said recently, he didn't steal from anyone. What did I say to him that made him come? As you said, I didn't steal from anyone. He wasn't a Benfica player, he was a Chelsea player. He was on the transfer market, so he could come to Al-Nassr, he could go to another team, depending on the conditions they offered him. I believe in his football; he has characteristics that fit my offensive approach. Last year, I wanted to take him to Al-Hilal, but he chose not to go; he chose to go to Chelsea. And this year, I invited him, practically when I signed, no, but I assumed he would coach Al-Nassr. I invited him right away, and then it was only after a month or so that he was able to go. And thank goodness, because I think he made the right choice, because he's in a country where you either play or you don't play. What do I mean by this? There's no other option; you just have to play; there's nothing else. There 's nothing else. Saudi Arabia is a country where there's no alcohol, nor does he drink alcohol. There's no nightlife, not that he goes out at night either. There are no other distractions. There are no distractions, he goes to Saudi Arabia, he only has one option: to play and rest and be with friends and family. There's no other option."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JOAO FELIX?

  Felix will look to raise his fitness and performance levels under Jesus’s management during the preseason and the upcoming Saudi Pro League campaign. His immediate challenge is to secure a starting role alongside Ronaldo and other star players. Al-Nassr’s squad is actively strengthening, with the club reportedly finalising new signings such as defender Inigo Martinez to bolster their defence. Felix’s progress will be closely monitored as Al-Nassr aims to challenge for domestic titles and make an impact in continental competitions. 

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