Cole Palmer came under fire from Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as the star attacker's goal drought continues in 2025.
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Leeds United have been known to conduct shrewd business in the transfer window in recent years, signing various talents who have made a huge impact on the first team.
Raphinha was one of the players who starred at Elland Road before making the club a huge profit on their investment – subsequently boosting their FFP and PSR standing.
The Brazilian cost just £17m, scoring 17 times in 67 appearances, leaving in a £55m deal to join Catalan giants Barcelona in a move that has taken his career to the next level.
Ao Tanaka is just one example within the current first team setup, costing a bargain fee of just £3.5m – already looking to be well worth more than the fee forked out as he’s cemented himself as a regular starter in Daniel Farke’s side.
The Japanese international isn’t the only current player in the first team to have been worth every penny of their respective transfer fees.
Welsh international Ethan Ampadu has been one of the club’s best additions since returning to the Championship, playing a key role at the heart of the side.
The 24-year-old cost £7m last summer from Premier League side Chelsea, featuring in every single league outing, along with all of the play-off matches as they fell at the final hurdle against Southampton.
In 2024/25, he suffered a knee injury that has restricted him to just 14 appearances, but has wasted no time in making his mark, winning the most tackles per 90 of any player in the side.
Winger Dan James, meanwhile, cost a whopping £30m from Manchester United during their time in England’s top flight, initially looking to be a costly mistake during his first 18 months in Yorkshire.
However, the last few months he’s proved to be worth every penny, playing a huge role in Farke’s ambitions of ending the club’s stint in the Championship and returning to the promised land.
James has notched six goals and three assists in his 20 appearances to date, the second most in the Leeds outfit behind Dutch forward Joel Piroe.
January presents another opportunity for the club to strengthen the squad to aid the promotion push, including a move to sign one player who could be their version of the Welsh star.
Various attacking players have been touted with a move to join the Whites already this month, potentially partnering James within the final third for Farke’s men.
Louie Barry and Dor Turgeman have both been mentioned as potential additions since the opening of the window, but neither of the aforementioned pair have yet edged closer to a move to Yorkshire.
However, numerous other players have been touted with moves, including Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies, who could be free to leave despite their recent defensive injury crisis.
A report over the last couple of days claimed that the Whites were ‘strongly pushing’ for a move for the 31-year-old, who’s only made four appearances in the Premier League this season.
Davies, who’s previously been dubbed “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge, could link up with James – following in his footsteps by leaving a top-flight side, where he’s not first choice, before making an impact at Elland Road.
Such a move could see him link up with numerous compatriots, including James, Ampadu and Joe Rodon – having the tools to boost Farke’s promotion chances.
|
Ben Davies’ stats for Spurs in the PL (2024/25) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Games played |
4 |
|
Minutes played |
271 |
|
Pass accuracy |
91% |
|
Duels won |
10 |
|
Aerials duels won |
8 |
|
Recoveries |
11 |
|
Dribbled past |
2 |
|
Stats via FotMob |
|
Davies has averaged a pass completion rate of 91% to date, winning 2.7 aerial duels per 90, making him the perfect defensive option – capable on the ball whilst being solid defensively, two key components of the German’s philosophy.
The club may already have a plethora of key defensive options on the books, but you simply can’t turn your nose up at a player of the Welshman’s quality.
A move for the defender would inject the added quality needed for a title fight, whilst also preparing the Whites for a potential return to the Premier League next year.
Leeds scouts watching "pacey" versatile wide player during transfer window
Daniel Farke wants to strengthen his backline and Leeds have their eye on a familiar face.
1
By
Brett Worthington
Jan 13, 2025
Arsenal were 1-0 up when Kai Havertz was gifted an easy chance yards out with the goal at his mercy. For those into stats, it was a chance worth 0.77 xG. In simpler terms, he should have scored. He did not.
Here we go again, thought Arsenal fans. It was a moment that showed why the Gunners should have already brought in a new centre forward during the winter window.
That said, by the end of the game, any talk surrounding a new striker had been forgotten about. Mikel Arteta’s men had won 5-1.
It was a ridiculous scoreline for those of an Arsenal persuasion. City have been well below par this term but this was still the Premier League champions at the Emirates on Sunday. They were in the game for three-quarters of the match but were blown away in the final 30 minutes.
Erling Haaland had equalised but just 30-odd seconds later they were behind again through Thomas Partey’s deflected strike.
Myles Lewis-Skelly made it three, Havertz eventually got his goal and then Ethan Nwaneri made it two in time with a wonderful late strike.
Arsenal's best performers against Man City
Havertz will no doubt receive stick for his dire miss in the first half but he contributed in a huge way come full time.
It was the German who registered the assist for Martin Odegaard’s opener and Arsenal’s fourth, scored by the £65m man, was brilliantly taken, cutting inside and then firing past Stefan Ortega.
Declan Rice – who registered two assists – was also immense and took home Sky Sports’ Player of the Match award.
Teenager Lewis-Skelly also deserved the award, truth be told, for an immense performance.
Against Manchester City at the Etihad last year, Haaland could be heard asking who on earth the 18-year-old was. Well, he certainly knows now.
The young left-back has made an incredible impact since coming into the team and saved the best performance of his embryonic career for Sunday afternoon.
He bullied City and his goal was simply superb. Cutting inside onto his weaker right foot, he danced into the area and unleashed a shot that found the far corner via the glove of Ortega.
His celebration summed up the personality, the arrogance, the confidence of this young man. He sat on the Emirates turf and performed Haaland’s celebration. Lewis-Skelly, who? The Norwegian won’t forget him in a hurry now.
While the Hale End sensation shone, another came off the bench and demonstrated why he’s set to save Arsenal’s owners, KSE, a fair whack in the transfer window.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Ethan Nwaneri's cameo against Man City in numbers
If you thought Lewis-Skelly was special then check out Nwaneri. Aged 17, the young attacker is already establishing himself as one of the most frightening teenagers in European football and is proving why he could be the perfect understudy to the injured Bukayo Saka.
The Englishman suffered a cruel hamstring injury at the back end of 2024 and it looked as though the Gunners would need to spend in the January window. Indeed, they still do need to find a striker from somewhere.
However, the idea of signing a new winger may be parked after Nwaneri’s staggering rise to stardom in the last few months.
Minutes played
10
Touches
11
Accurate passes
4/4
Key passes
1
Crosses
2
Shots
1
Successful dribbles
2/2
Duels won
2/4
Possession lost
3x
His goal against Girona, cutting inside onto his left foot in the Champions League in midweek, was truly special and he did something similar off the bench against City.
Rice found the teen on the right and once more, he cut inside and unleashed a delicious curling effort into the far corner.
He was only given the final ten minutes but showcased in that time, and against Girona a few days ago, why he’s going to become a star very very quickly.
Saka is a huge miss to this Arsenal team but in Nwaneri, they have found a talent capable of demonstrating similar traits.
He’s comfortable at receiving the ball to feet, he can spin past a player, he’s creative and he can score goals. Arteta may not need a new winger after all…
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ByMatt Dawson Feb 2, 2025
قد يشهد سوق الانتقالات الصيفي رحيل عدد كبير من لاعبي فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، في ظل تحركات النادي لتجديد دماء كتيبة آرني سلوت.
وشهد ليفربول في وقت سابق من الصيف الجاري، رحيل ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، كويمين كيليهر، نات فيليبس، وجاريل كوانساه.
فيما تعاقد ليفربول مع كل من جيريمي فريمبونج، فلوريان فيرتز، أرمين بيتشي، فريدي وودمان، ميلوس كيركيز وهوجو إيكتيكي.
ومن المنتظر رحيل لويس دياز عن ليفربول إلى بايرن ميونخ الألماني، بعد التوصل لاتفاق بين الناديين بحسب ما ورد في تقارير الصحف، وقد غادر اللاعب معسكر فريقه بالفعل متجهًا لألمانيا.
ووفقًا لـ “ليفربول إيكو”، قد يشهد هذا الصيف رحيل لاعبين آخرين عن ليفربول، ومنهم داروين نونيز، والذي لديه عروض من عدة أندية وعلى رأسهم الهلال السعودي.
اقرأ أيضًا | رغبة اللاعب حسمتها.. ليفربول يخطف صفقة آرسنال رغم العرض الأعلى
هناك أيضًا فيدريكو كييزا والذي لم يسافر مع الفريق لمعسكره التدريبي في اليابان، حيث يعد الإيطالي خارج حسابات المدرب آرني سلوت، وهناك عدة أندية من الدوري الإيطالي مهتمة بضمه.
ومن المتوقع أيضًا رحيل بن دوك وتسعى العديد من الأندية لضمه، بما في ذلك نوتنجهام فورست، ويرى ليفربول أن قيمة اللاعب تبلغ 25 مليون جنيه إسترليني.
كما ذكر التقرير إمكانية رحيل هارفي إليوت والذي أقر بأنه سيعيد النظر في مستقبله، وهو محل اهتمام أندية وست هام يونايتد وناديه السابق فولهام، بالإضافة لنوتنجهام.
وكذلك تايلر مورتون وهو هدف لكل من ليون ووست هام، و قد يرحل إما آندي روبرتسون أو كوستاس تسيميكاس.
Plays of the day from the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan in Mirpur
Mohammad Isam27-Feb-2016The out-of-control batIndia did not have to wait too long to remove Khurram Manzoor after he survived gloving Ashish Nehra to the wicketkeeper. In the sixth over, he was sold down the river by Shoaib Malik, who, after pushing the ball towards cover, took a few steps and suddenly said no. Manzoor, in his attempt to get back to the non-striker’s end, lost control of his bat and by the time Virat Kohli struck with the direct hit, Manzoor was trying to run back without the bat in his hand.The beam from the deepRavindra Jadeja ran in from deep midwicket in the eighth over and with one swoop he collected the slowly-moving ball and rocketed it to MS Dhoni. The throw was so flat and accurate that the India captain just had to knock down the stumps. Shahid Afridi, who had made the mistake of trying for a second run against one of the quickest Indian fielders with his team in shambles already, was short by quite a distance despite the dive.The late dipAjinkya Rahane, who replaced the injured opener Shikhar Dhawan, saw Rohit Sharma fall to a sharp Mohammad Amir inswinger. Rahane had a chance to get a boundary off the first ball he faced as it was a wide down the leg side. He may have rued missing that because the next one that came his way was another late-moving inswinger that trapped him right in front. He tried to play it on the leg side but Amir’s delivery did not swing so much that it would have alluded the umpire into thinking that it was going down leg. It moved just enough and late enough to give Pakistan a perfect start while defending just 83.The last shotPakistan’s last shot at any chance to put India under more pressure was in Amir’s last over, only the seventh of the innings. But Kohli played out the over with efficiency. He struck him for two fours before keeping him at bay until the last ball, which was bowled at 141 kph. Kohli quietly played it towards point and India had averted their last threat.The gloveManzoor was on 10 when he tried to scoop Ashish Nehra. The ball took his glove on the way to Dhoni but the umpire Sharfuddoula did not agree with the long, vociferous and repeated appeals from the bowler. Replays revealed a thickish touch from Manzoor’s glove before it landed in the keeper’s gloves. Kohli expressed his anger but it wasn’t clear towards whom and later Dhoni spoke to Sharfuddoula though it wasn’t clear if he was talking about the touch of the glove or how he had taken the catch, or something else.
Sunderland fans must have been praying that the managerial appointment of Regis Le Bris last year would be the spark their beloved side needed to push back into the Championship promotion spots.
The decision to bring in a left-field option looks to be working a treat so far, with the ex-Lorient manager dreaming that a push up into the automatic promotion spaces can still be achieved as a playoff finish looks to be nailed on.
The Frenchman will also hope he can continue to utilise the transfer window to his high-flying team’s advantage, having made headlines recently for bringing in Enzo Le Fee.
Why Sunderland signed Enzo Le Fee
In an alternate reality, Le Fee could be currently lining up for Arsenal with the Gunners once linked with a move for the 24-year-old before his surprising Black Cats loan move was clinched.
In need of breathing life back into this playing days after a choppy time at parent club AS Roma, Le Fee will hope he can demonstrate his class on Wearside to steer his new team to promotion, having previously picked up eight goals and 15 assists under Le Bris’ wing at Lorient.
He certainly showed off his class in spurts during Sunderland’s recent away win at Derby County with two key passes tallied up, whilst his debut against Burnley the match prior saw him complete three successful dribbles as a stylish operator from the middle of the park.
Whilst having a player of Le Fee’s stature in the team is a big bonus – with the Frenchman’s value coming in at a weighty £15m according to Transfemarkt – Le Bris did already have a top performer in central areas of the pitch before the grand unveiling of the new number 28.
The Sunderland star who's worth as much as Le Fee
The player in question here is Sunderland captain Dan Neil who arguably slips slightly under the radar as one of the Championship club’s top assets, with Jobe Bellingham’s name often dominating conversation when it comes to potential big sales in the midfield.
Now, however, Neil could soon leave his boyhood employers for pastures new at Everton, with reports suggesting that David Moyes and Co could be prepared to offer the Black Cats in excess of £15m to land the 23-year-old.
Indeed, former Mackems boss, David Moyes, has been a keen admirer of the midfielder since working at Sunderland himself, with Neil just a wide-eyed starlet in the academy when the Scotsman was at the helm.
Since then, he has turned himself into a consistent starter in the senior fold by notching up a hefty 178 first-team appearances and counting, with the strike above against Swansea City showing off his ability to hammer a fierce effort home away from being known as a brave battler.
January 2025
£15m
May 2024
£3.7m
March 2023
£2.1m
June 2022
£674k
Year on year, Neil has seen his value drastically increase, with the 23-year-old worth just £674k when first making substantial waves in the Sunderland first team picture back in 2022.
He has since been able to establish himself as a “fantastic” talent in the eyes of many, including journalist James Copley, as a move up to the Premier League now potentially beckons.
The Black Cats will be clinging onto a crumb of comfort that Neil will want to stay put with his boyhood club to make promotion a reality though, with Neil remaining meaning Sunderland’s midfield options are stacked with some unbelievable quality for the level.
2025 winter transfer window: Every done deal from the Championship
Every winter transfer from the second tier can be found here.
ByStephan Georgiou Feb 3, 2025
As Steve O’Keefe raced his way to a six-wicket haul in Pune, India registered a record collapse
Bharath Seervi24-Feb-201711 Runs for which India lost their last seven wickets – their worst seven-wicket collapse. They went from 94 for 3 to 105 all out in a span of 48 balls. Their previous worst such collapse was seven for 18 runs in Christchurch in 1989-90.19 Steve O’Keefe took five wickets in a span of 19 balls, which is the joint-second-fewest balls to take a five-for against India. The shortest span was 16 balls by Stuart Broad at Trent Bridge in 2011. Ernie Toshack, in Brisbane in 1947-48, and Imran Khan, in Hyderabad in 1982-83, also took five wickets in 19 balls. O’Keefe finished with six wickets in 24 balls.6/35 O’Keefe’s figures – the third-best by a visiting left-arm spinner in India. The best is 7 for 49 by Hedley Verity in Chennai in 1933-34.O’Keefe’s figures are the third-best by an overseas left-arm spinner in India•ESPNcricinfo Ltd2008 The last time India were all out at home for a smaller total than their 105 in this match – 76 against South Africa in Ahmedabad. This is their third-lowest total anywhere in the last ten years.4 Number of lower all-out scores for India against Australia than this total. Their lowest against them is 58 at the Gabba in 1947-48. Their only lower total against Australia at home is 104 at the Wankhede in 2004-05.1 Instance of a team scoring the highest total of the match in the fourth innings to win in India. It was the home side against England in Chennai in 2008-09 when they won chasing 387. At stumps on the second day, Australia are leading by 298 with six wickets in hand. India haven’t lost a Test at home since 2012.60.95 Percentage of runs scored by Lokesh Rahul in the innings – 64 out of 105 – the fourth-highest by an India batsman and third-highest by any player against Australia. Highest, for India and against Australia, is 63.98% by VVS Laxman at SCG in 1999-00.92.36 Steven Smith’s average in Tests against India – the third best among 46 players with 1000-plus runs. He completed 1000 runs against India in the second innings. He has four hundreds and four fifties in 14 innings.67 Wickets for R Ashwin in this 2016-17 season – currently the second most by a bowler in any season. He is 11 wickets away from Dale Steyn’s 78 scalps in 12 matches in 2007-08.104 Number of consecutive innings across all three International formats without a duck for Virat Kohli, before Mitchell Starc got him second-ball in this match. His last duck was in an ODI in Cardiff in 2014. This was his fifth duck in Tests and first in a home Test.
Liverpool are now willing to offload a player who Arne Slot has grown frustrated with this summer.
Liverpool transfer news
The summer window may be some time away, but that’s not stopping the Reds from being linked with a host of players as they look to further strengthen their squad ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller has been mentioned as an option for Liverpool, with the 23-year-old a player who could come in and add more quality in front of the defence. He has averaged 1.5 tackles per game in the German Bundesliga across 21 appearances this season.
A new centre-back will be needed in the summer in order to ease the workload on Virgil van Dijk, with Crystal Palace and England ace Marc Guehi emerging as a rumoured option. However, he wouldn’t be available on the cheap, so the Reds would have to break the bank to snap him up.
Similarly, a left-back may also be needed by the end of the campaign, with Andy Robertson showing signs of being past his best. Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez has been among those linked with Liverpool.
Liverpool willing to sell attacking star
On the outgoing front, Liverpool could look to sell Luis Diaz in the summer transfer window, bringing an end to his three-and-a-half-year stay at the club. There are also doubts over the futures of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, with potential wholesale changes on the horizon.
According to Anfield Watch, “Slot has become frustrated with the Colombian as the season has progressed”, suggesting that he doesn’t see a long-term future for him at the club.
Diaz has been an important player for Liverpool since his switch from FC Porto in January 2022, with the winger scoring eight goals in 17 Premier League starts this season. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp heaped praise on him during their time working together:
“He’s a top player. He’s a top, top, world-level player. It’s a joy for me to work with Luís every day, and I’m more than happy that we decided to sign him in January.”
The £55,000-a-week Diaz has also struggled at times against low blocks in his new central attacking role, arguably struggling to adjust to a new position when opponents sit deep.
The Colombian’s finishing has been criticised in the past during his left-sided days, with many feeling he wasn’t ever at the level of Sadio Mane at his peak, and at 28, he isn’t getting any younger.
Liverpool racing to sign "fantastic" £67m star whose club want to cash in
He’s just completed a January move…
ByTom Cunningham Feb 8, 2025
The idea of Liverpool retaining the services of Diaz is certainly no bad thing considering what a tricky, hard-working footballer he is, but it is easy to see why Slot could be eyeing a proper centre-forward in place of him in the summer, especially as his current contract expires in 2027.
In a repeat of their deal to welcome Claudio Echeverri, Manchester City are now reportedly battling to sign another South American gem ahead of rivals Manchester United this summer.
Man City transfer news
The Citizens have their focus set on the future and have done since the January transfer window, splashing out to welcome the likes of Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Juma Bah to commence their defensive rebuild. With three future stars in their backline, City could look to pick up where they left off when the summer transfer window arrives.
Pep Guardiola’s side could certainly do with a rebuild too. The Spaniard has lost more games in a single season than he has ever done before, with his Manchester City side ravaged by injuries and simply overpowered week in, week out in what still takes some getting used to when watching a side managed by the Spaniard.
Against Real Madrid in midweek, the Premier League champions were simply a class or two below their opponents and as Liverpool prepare to arrive at The Etihad, Manchester City must hope to avoid a repeat of Wednesday’s defeat.
That said, whilst their suffering continues on the pitch, the Citizens are at least reportedly preparing to unveil the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of further reinforcements.
Man City set for transfer battle to sign teenage prodigy who may cost £15m
Man City are among the European clubs chasing the signature of a rising star.
ByBrett Worthington Feb 20, 2025
According to InterLive, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now battling to sign Franco Mastantuono ahead of rivals Manchester United this summer. The River Plate youngster reportedly has a release clause worth €40m (£33m) and has also attracted the interest of Inter Milan to create quite the race for his signature.
"Gifted" Mastuantono is one to watch
The influence of South American talents in the Premier League is there for all to see and does not look likely to come to an end any time soon. The next generation of Argentina’s best looks particularly like one to watch and Mastuantono – alongside Echeverri – is one of the rising stars at the forefront of that.
At just 17 years old, the attacking midfielder was described as “gifted” and dubbed “Argentina’s best talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson last month.
Although things are at their bleakest under Guardiola right now, Manchester City’s slumber may not last long. When the summer arrives and they once again have the chance to rebuild, a dominant side could be awoken and seek instant vengeance. Whether the likes of Mastuantono play a part in that remains to be seen, however.
Tottenham Hotspur are now seen as the main contenders to sign one Premier League forward, with a January transfer update now coming from a very reliable media source this week.
Having fell short in their pursuit of PSG outcast Randal Kolo Muani, who ended up putting pen to paper on a straight loan to Juventus instead, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is still searching for a new forward.
Tottenham and Levy could now hijack Man Utd talks to sign £30m defender
Chairman Daniel Levy has been tipped to swoop in.
1
By
Emilio Galantini
Jan 21, 2025
Tottenham were in contact with PSG over signing Kolo Muani early last week (Fabrizio Romano), and were attempting to sway him with a move to north London until the very last minute. However, Juve proved a very tempting option for the Frenchman, with Spurs now returning to the drawing board.
The Premier League strugglers, who are yet to win a single top flight game this calendar year, languish 15th in the table and have suffered defeat on 12 separate occasions in the league alone already – so the under-fire Postecoglou quite simply needs inspiration from somewhere.
Tottenham are coping with vast injuries to first-team players right now, hamstringing Postecoglou’s squad, and it is safe to say that one signing in £12.5 million goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky won’t be good enough come deadline day on February 3rd.
|
Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Leicester City (home) |
January 26 |
|
Brentford (away) |
February 2 |
|
Man United (home) |
February 16 |
|
Ipswich Town (home) |
February 22 |
|
Man City (home) |
February 26 |
The Lilywhites are reportedly working hard on getting the required, quality fresh faces through the door before time runs out. Spurs remain in the market for a new attacker who can provide an injection of direct threat, with Postecoglou recently offered Lyon star Rayan Cherki (GiveMeSport).
Tottenham are also believed to be eyeing a move for Nice’s Evan Guessand, while other reported targets are emerging as we approach the business end of January.
One player who fits the mould of a potential Spurs signing – young, homegrown and good value – is Southampton forward Tyler Dibling.
The versatile 18-year-old has been a mainstay at St. Mary’s Stadium this term, scoring four goals and assisting two others in a wide variety of attacking roles. He could suit Postecoglou down to the ground, and Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports that they’re serious contenders for Dibling’s signature.
Indeed, Tottenham are the “biggest competitors” to sign Dibling, who Plettenberg dubs a “super talent”, but face stiff competition from RB Leipzig who are pushing for his services.
He is valued at around £30 million by the Saints, according to other reports, so Spurs would still have to make a significant mid-season investment despite being current favourites.