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Leeds United very much splashed the cash the last time a transfer window rolled around before a brand new Premier League adventure took off.

Indeed, before a ball was even kicked to start the memorable 2020/21 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa, the Whites had added Rodrigo to their attacking arsenal for a club-record £27m, alongside also welcoming in Raphinha before his Barcelona glory days.

This would help them finish in a spectacular ninth position that same season, with £30m-rated goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher now reportedly on their radar to try and replicate said successful spending.

Alongside Kelleher, Leeds could also be looking to the future in attempting to bring some up-and-coming starlets to Elland Road, with this potential new import from Turkey going down as the club’s next Wilfried Gnonto if all goes to plan.

Leeds holding talks to sign teen sensation

As relayed by Turkish outlet Fanatik, prior reports indicated that Leeds are keen to add Besiktas attacking star Semi Kilicisoy to their squad this summer, with Farke lodging a bid of around €12m (£10m) for his services.

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 their new information, however, the Super Lig side intend to send their teenage sensation out on loan, rather than agree to a permanent deal.

Leeds are said to be ‘open’ to an initial temporary move, although they wish to include an option to buy as part of any deal, with negotiations set to continue.

With Kilicsoy also previously on the shopping lists of Newcastle United and Aston Villa allegedly, Leeds nipping to the front of the queue here could see them secure a seriously impressive youngster who might go for way more than £10m down the line.

After all, Gnonto only cost Farke’s side £3.8m to land from Switzerland all the way back in the summer of 2022, with the rest now history when it comes to the Italian’s prowess in the Championship and beyond.

Why Kilicsoy can be Gnonto 2.0

Gnonto was once an unknown name to Whites supporters before his major switch from FC Zurich three years ago. Now, he’s one of the most beloved figures in the camp.

The punt taken to bring the then-teenage sensation to English soil has more than paid off, therefore, with Gnonto now up to 22 goals and 13 assists donning Leeds white from 118 overall clashes.

Kilicsoy will hope he can make his transition to English football look as seamless as Gnonto’s, considering he has been scoring goals in and around the Besiktas first team since the tender age of just 17.

In total, the Black Eagles prodigy has fired home 16 strikes and picked up nine assists from 84 senior games, with his ability to line up either down the wing or through the centre throughout his Besiktas education also drawing obvious similarities to his diminutive counterpart.

ST

93

44

4

LW

45

7

11

RW

9

1

0

SS

1

1

0

Indeed, a large portion of Kilicsoy’s youth goals for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men came from a striker spot when glancing at the above table.

Gnonto has also lined up here previously, away from being a trusty option down the flanks, with six senior career appearances coming his way up top, alongside also being versatile enough to slot in as a second striker presence if necessary.

Therefore, the 19-year-old starlet might well be ready to become Leeds’ next Gnonto in offering Farke another flexible body in the attacking positions.

Hailed too as a “physical monster” by football analyst Ben Mattinson for his ability to wriggle free of Super Lig defenders, Kilicsoy could also be unfazed by the rough and tumble of Premier League football to come, as the German in the Elland Road dug-out prays all these signings work out in Leeds’ mission to beat the punishing drop.

Cost less than Tanaka: Leeds want GK who keeps clean sheet every 3 games

The Whites have set their sights on a new goalkeeper, amid doubts over Illan Meslier’s form last season.

ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

There are still two Premier League games to go, but for all intents and purposes, Arsenal’s season came to an end on Wednesday night.

Moreover, while Mikel Arteta and the players still have to give their all for those two games – Champions League football hasn’t been secured yet – it’s clear the club are looking ahead to next season.

For example, just a few days after the disappointment in Paris, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano finally gave Martin Zubimendi’s long-rumoured move to Arsenal the ‘here we go’ treatment.

The details still need to be finalised, but the Spanish international is now set to join the Gunners for around £51m in the summer, and while that’s tremendously exciting, he’ll have to hit the ground running to see his valuation match that of one of his new teammates at the Emirates.

Why Arsenal want Zubimendi

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining why Arsenal are so keen to sign Zubimendi in the first place.

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Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Firstly, he helps to pad out the number six position in the squad, as while Thomas Partey is reportedly in talks with the club over a new deal, Jorginho is set to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer.

However, Arteta and Co are obviously interested in the Spanish international for far more than that, including his defensive nous.

For example, according to FBref, the “elite tempo controller,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for shots blocked and clearances, the top 7% for touches in his penalty area and percentage of aerial duels won, the top 15% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.

That’s not all, though, as on top of his defensive abilities, the “world-class” midfielder, as dubbed by former teammate Kieran Tierney, also has an abundance of experience and, more importantly, has proven himself in high-pressure games.

Appearances

333

17

Minutes

21215′

984′

Goals

10

1

Assists

9

0

Major Trophies

1

1

For example, he’s made 233 appearances for Sociedad’s first team, including 90 minutes in the club’s 2020 Copa del Rey triumph, and won 15 caps for Spain, one of which came in the second half of the European Championships final, a game La Roja beat England in.

In all, Zubimendi’s technical and defensive ability, combined with his experience of winning when the pressure is on, makes him look like the ideal midfield acquisition for Arsenal this summer, even if he’s worth millions less than one of his future teammates.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Zubimendi

While Partey and Mikel Merino have both played significant roles for Arsenal this season, neither one has a higher valuation than Zubimendi, nor should they.

Declan Rice, conversely, does, with Transfermarkt valuing him at €110m, which is about £93m, or a whopping £42m more than the Sociedad star is set to cost the Gunners.

Now, while that is undoubtedly a lot of money for a central midfielder, it would be hard to say he’s not proven himself worthy of it this year, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher describing him as the club’s “best player this season.”

While it might sound a little hyperbolic, such comments are more than backed up by the midfield monster’s statistics this year.

For example, in 50 appearances, the “monster” Englishman, as dubbed by Arsenal writer Connor Humm, has scored eight goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.77, which is undeniably impressive for someone primarily playing as an eight.

Progressive Carries

2.70

Top 5%

Corner Kicks

3.10

Top 5%

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.56

Top 6%

Crosses

4.66

Top 7%

Assists

0.21

Top 8%

Goals + Assists

0.38

Top 10%

Touches (Att Pen)

2.73

Top 10%

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.32

Top 11%

Moreover, FBref has placed him in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and corner kicks, the top 6% for carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for crosses, the top 8% for assists, the top 10% for goals plus assists and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, signing Zubimendi is incredibly exciting and shows real ambition from Arsenal, but he will have to be truly sensational in North London to see his valuation match Rice’s.

Shades of Aubameyang: Arsenal lead race to sign "mind-blowing" goal machine

The prolific marksman could be the difference-maker for Arsenal next season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 12, 2025

Liverpool have yet to officially lift the 2024/25 Premier League trophy but already sporting director Richard Hughes is looking at ways to improve Arne Slot’s side.

There’s no question that the Merseysiders have put on a season-long clinic, deserving, runaway winners. However, it’s also true that the likes of Arsenal and dethroned Manchester City will be frustrated with their respective top-flight campaigns and will be determined to come back stronger next year.

However, FSG and Anfield’s senior figures will be sure to take comfort in the manner of their triumph: winning the Premier League after bringing only Federico Chiesa into the first team – and he’s yet to even start a league fixture.

The mastery behind Slot’s genius has been in his soft and significant tactical tweaks to Jurgen Klopp’s system, also shaping existing squad players into superstars.

Ryan Gravenberch is the standout star, going from drifting prospect to the “exceptional” midfield player for the Reds, so says The Athletic’s James Pearce, but he’s not the only one.

Cody Gakpo has also been a revelation in his own right.

Cody Gakpo's season in numbers

Gakpo’s goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, expertly taken to make it 3-1 and put Liverpool within an inch of sealing the title, was his 17th of the season.

What’s telling is that that goal saw him beat last year’s 16-goal haul, and in over 600 fewer minutes at that.

Klopp utilised Gakpo’s dynamic talents in his own way, throwing him around the park like an erratic darts player across a board. This may well have proved fundamental development for the Netherlands international, but there’s no question he’s gone up a gear in a more structured role for his new coach on the attacking left flank.

Pundits Joe Cole and Peter Crouch agreed earlier in the term that the 25-year-old has “gone up a level,” and it’s exciting to think that Gakpo can ascend higher still.

Gakpo’s success this season owes largely to Slot’s tactical acumen, but there’s more still to come. The likes of Gakpo and Luis Diaz are bound to find more stable results with a high-class goalscorer in the centre.

However, Liverpool could also find another way to elevate Gakpo’s game even further, preparing to bid for one of the most talented young playmakers in the business.

Slot driving exciting Liverpool deal

As per Football Insider, Liverpool are interested in signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons this summer, with the Dutch playmaker emerging as one of FSG’s top targets.

Aged 21, Simons is one of the most exciting young talents in the world and would cost the Anfield side £60m, should they wish to advance their interest into something more solid. Manchester United are also sniffing around.

However, with Slot personally driving the deal for yet another Dutchman to join Gakpo, Gravenberch and co, it’s one to keep an eye on for sure.

Imagine Gakpo & Xavi Simons

Should Trent Alexander-Arnold leave Liverpool as expected when his contract expires this summer, Liverpool will lose one of their primary (if not the primary) creative sources.

Simons could prove to be the new playmaking hub, reorienting Liverpool’s creativity from the right channel and into the centre. Given that Simons has already forged something of a “symbiotic partnership” with his international peer, in the mind of journalist Bence Bocsak, it might prove to bear dividends.

The duo played together during their time at PSV Eindhoven, during the 2022/23 season, before Gakpo earned himself a £35m transfer to Anfield after his performances for his nation at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Ranking among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers cross Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 20% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for ball recoveries made per 90, as per FBref, Simons could certainly add some panache from the middle, bearing the athletic energy to cover for Dominik Szoboszlai too.

Looking at his statistics in the Bundesliga this season, you get a closer look at why Simons is such hot property, prolific, creative and combative in a way which would work a treat in Slot’s squad.

Matches (starts)

21 (21)

Goals

9

Assists

5

Pass completion

84%

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

2.2

Dribbles*

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

Duels won*

4.4

While Liverpool will need to sign a striker to complete the set, a player such as Simons would go a long way toward cementing a peerless level of attacking fluency at Liverpool, connecting the dots together and allowing Gakpo to continue his rise as one of the Premier League’s finest wingers.

Gakpo already ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe for non-penalty goals scored (0.52) per 90, also ranking outside the top 20% for shots taken, which effectively means he’s making the most out of the chances that fall his way.

With a playmaker like Simons, who has been dubbed a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, one he has already formed a prosperous on-field relationship with, taking a seat as the central creative force in Slot’s Liverpool project, there’s no telling how high Gakpo could reach.

Or Simons, for that matter. Having made his name known over the past several years, it’s easy to forget that the diminutive Dutch player is still so young. Given the direction Liverpool are going and the success Slot has already had with elevating his countrymen to new levels, this could be one to keep an eye on as the market looms large.

Worth as much as Huijsen: Liverpool struck gold on "special" £4m signing

Liverpool could sell this young star for a significant profit this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 30, 2025

Liverpool are now ahead of Manchester City in the race to sign a defender, and they now know £40 million will be enough to get the deal completed, according to a recent report.

Liverpool receive Huijsen boost after Van Dijk contract news

Last week Liverpool fans were delighted to see and hear the news that captain and defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk had signed a new contract at Anfield, continuing his stay at the club until 2027. The Dutchman is going to continue being at the heart of Arne Slot’s defence, but it appears as though the Liverpool boss is still looking to find his perfect partner or successor.

He's better than Huijsen: Liverpool want "one of the best CBs in the PL"

Liverpool could be about to forget a move for Dean Huijsen with a deal for another Premier League star.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 24, 2025

The Reds are among the teams keeping a close eye on Dean Huijsen from AFC Bournemouth. The Spain international has been a standout performer for the Cherries this season, and that has put him on the radar of several big teams from England and abroad. It’s also been claimed that Chelsea have held talks with Huijsen over a possible move to Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool remain in the race and received a welcome boost this week, as it’s been reported that Real Madrid may pull out of the race to sign Huijsen; that is because they are not sure if they want to sign a defender this summer, leaving the door open for Liverpool, who know Huijsen has a £50 million release clause in his contract.

Liverpool lead Man City in race to sign Premier League defender

Huijsen is not the only defender on the Reds’ transfer list, as according to Give Me Sport’s Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are leading the way when it comes to signing Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth this summer.

The report states that Kerkez, who has been with the Cherries since July 2023, is expected to leave Bournemouth this summer, as while he doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, they will allow him to leave should they receive offers worth £40 million.

This report goes on to add that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have all kept an eye on Kerkez, but none have entered into fresh talks over a transfer. City in particular “appreciate” him, but a deal there is unlikely and a move to become Andy Robertson’s successor looks more probable.

The Scotland international still has another 12 months left on his contract at Anfield, but given he is 31 and making more mistakes with each passing season, Slot is looking to the future and sees Kerkez as a player who could be his long-term successor.

Kerkez

Robertson

Apps

33

30

Goals

2

0

Progressive carries

89

57

Progressive passes

141

163

Progressive runs

161

90

Tackles (Won)

49 (26)

38 (22)

Interceptions

38

20

Clearances

100

50

Blocks

33

9

Kerkez has impressed a lot in this campaign, assisting six goals as well as grabbing two himself in 33 games, as the Cherries continue their pursuit of finishing in a European position.

The 21-year-old has started every game he’s been available for in the league this season, so were he to arrive at Liverpool, he would likely want to start immediately and relegate Robertson to a supporting role.

With how poorly this season has gone for Tottenham Hotspur, this summer is set to be a seismic one.

Regardless of whether Ange Postecoglou is still the manager, the squad needs a sizable overhaul, which means Daniel Levy and Co need to get ready to spend.

However, it’s not just incomings that could shape the squad, as reports linking Cristian Romero with an exit seem to be never-ending at present.

Fortunately, if the World Cup winner is sold, it would appear that the club have already identified someone who’d be a dream replacement.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting players Spurs have been linked with in recent weeks, such as Jobe Bellingham.

Transfer Focus

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

The Sunderland star, and younger brother of Jude Bellingham, is supposedly available for around £20m this summer, and with former professional Adrian Clarke claiming he possesses a “Dele Alli-style” in the way he plays, he could be a perfect addition to the club’s growing crop of promising youngsters.

However, the North Londoners will also need first-team quality, which would explain the resurfacing links to the £60m Eberechi Eze.

The Crystal Palace maestro has enjoyed another strong season south of the river this year and has a tally of six goals and 11 assists in 33 games.

With that said, if the stories about Romero’s potential exit are true, who’s the signing who could come in as an ideal replacement?

Well, that would be Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, as, according to a recent report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the North Londoners are one of several sides keen on the Spaniard.

In fact, alongside Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United, the Lilywhites have already made contact over the player.

However, on top of getting ahead of the pack, Levy and Co will need to stump up £50m to activate the 19-year-old’s release clause.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Huijsen’s immense ability and sky-high potential, one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a perfect Romero replacement.

Why Huisjen would be an ideal Romero replacement

So, the first thing to say is that, in an ideal world, Spurs would be able to keep hold of Romero and sign Huisjen as well, but if the former is to leave, there are a few reasons why the latter would be a perfect replacement.

The first is that he’s already the ideal blend of youth and experience, as at 19 years old, there is a good eight years until he hits the peak age for centre-backs, per research from The Athletic, but at the same time, he already has a decent amount of first-team experience.

For example, this season alone has seen him make 29 appearances for the Cherries, of which 24 have been starts, and in those, he’s scored twice and provided an assist.

Furthermore, the “phenomenal” Amsterdam-born monster, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has already won two senior caps for Spain and even started in the second leg of the Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, when you compare the teenager’s underlying numbers to Romero’s, he comes out on top in most metrics, including but not limited to actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, key passes, aerial duels won, shot-creating actions, interceptions, blocks and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.17

0.13

Non-Penalty G+As

0.14

0.07

Progressive Passes

4.42

4.01

Progressive Carries

1.49

0.85

Passing Accuracy

83.6%

89.0%

Key Passes

0.63

0.42

Shot-Creating Actions

1.68

1.19

Goal-Creating Actions

0.14

0.14

Tackles

1.49

2.25

Blocks

1.54

1.20

Interceptions

2.16

1.34

Clearances

6.88

3.38

Ball Recoveries

4.18

5.42

Aerial Duels Won

2.74

2.39

Ultimately, while Romero remains a superb defender, Huijseni is not far off him, so even if the Argentine isn’t sold this summer, Spurs should do all they can to sign the Spanish international.

4/10 Spurs star is now in real danger of becoming their next Dele

Spurs drew 1-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 11, 2025

He is the model T20 opener but the other two formats are a work in progress

Alagappan Muthu and Mohammad Isam24-Dec-2023Finn Allen hits the ball like an epiphany at 4 in the morning. So very hard.His strike rate at the end of his first full T20 season (2020-21) was 193.93. Even now, having added 86 matches to those initial 11, it’s up at 167.78.Allen and others like him can play like this only because they make a conscious effort to devalue their wicket. Their job, instead, is to make the most of every ball that comes at them. He was at the crease for a mere four overs in the opening match of the 2022 T20 World Cup and it was enough to derail the defending champions. Australia’s net run rate took such a big beating that the captain Aaron Finch admitted “their fate was out of their hands.”Related

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Days like those, however, come at a price.Allen has made only six scores of 30 or more for New Zealand in 26 innings since then. He also missed out on a place in the ODI World Cup. “It’s obviously tough,” he told ESPNcricinfo in September. “It’s something you work towards for a long time and to get that news was obviously a little bit devastating. But you just get on with it.”Looking for the most runs off every single ball became Allen’s instinct and instinct is hard to curb. It’s like trying not to laugh at a good joke. Before you know it, you’ve already done it. This is why all-format excellence is rare. You have to be three different people in one, like AB de Villiers was or Jasprit Bumrah is. Allen’s idol probably fits in that bracket as well.”I definitely looked up to Kevin Pietersen. The way it kind of started was, I moved to Wellington and I guess they just wanted me to go out there and express myself in the T20 competition and I had never really done anything like that before so I guess I surprised myself a little bit. Now its just about developing that and as I said trying to be more consistent at that for longer.”

“I’ve found it a lot tougher in ODI cricket. Bowlers bowl a bit more attackingly. If they get hurt early on, they can still come at you aggressively because they’ve got time later in the game to pull their figures back and pull it back in the team. So I guess it’s been more of a challenge of my method if anything. The mental challenge around sticking at it for longer and being able to stick to your processes for longer”Finn Allen

That will invariably involve restraint. But how much? Allen is desperate for higher honours. “For sure, you have your setbacks. People have had far tougher roads in their career so who knows. It’s almost fuel to the fire, you know [every time you aren’t picked in the team]. You take time to process it. Grieve a little bit and yeah, we’ve got a big summer coming up and hopefully I can still make some strides.”But he does not want to lose his X-factor. He is actually prepared to risk everything for it. “Something I’m working on at the moment is around consistency in my game. Trying to figure out my method to be consistent but still strike at a high strike rate, I guess. You have to be okay with failure at times and you have to I guess be thick-skinned in a way because there’s going to be peaks and troughs along the way. The highs are going to be really high and the lows can be really low.”At the end of the day, we’re entertainers, right? We’re here to put a show on for the crowd and get their money’s worth and that’s the way I want to play my cricket.”In some ways, Allen came to internationals too soon. The allure of him smashing fast bowlers at the lower levels, where he seemed proficient on both sides of the wicket and against any length on offer, was too great. New Zealand had to try him out but once he was there, he realised he had a pretty decent plan A but no real fallback; or at least none that worked the way he wanted.Finn Allen smashed 168 off 110 balls in his first game of this year’s Ford Trophy•James McCully/Auckland Cricket Association”It’s been interesting. Obviously, played a bit of List A cricket back home, figuring out my method there and then trying to replicate that on the international stage is obviously challenging.”Take just the powerplay. Allen dominates it in T20Is, because success here is measured in strike rate and since his debut, only Nicholas Pooran (160.52) has a better one than his 153.86 (min 20 innings). In ODIs, though, a batter’s worth is measured in the weight of runs he makes and the way it shapes the team’s fortunes. For that, he has to spend time at the crease. Allen has played 21 innings in ODIs so far and in 13 of them he has not been able to survive the powerplay.”I’ve found it a lot tougher in ODI cricket,” he said. “Bowlers bowl a bit more attackingly. If they get hurt early on, they can still come at you aggressively because they’ve got time later in the game to pull their figures back and pull it back in the team. So I guess it’s been more of a challenge of my method if anything. The mental challenge around sticking at it for longer and being able to stick to your processes for longer.”Allen’s entire New Zealand career – two years, nine months and five days on Christmas – has been about finding a tempo that satisfied both the game and himself. He is still searching for that balance, but once again there have been some good signs at the domestic level.Last month, in his first-ever appearance for his hometown team, Auckland, he very nearly broke their record for the highest 50-over score (174 by Colin Munro) and he did it in a match where only two others, having faced more than 10 deliveries, could keep a strike rate above 80. Eight days later, he raised another century. A career tally that was only 1421 when this season’s Ford Trophy began is already up at 1808 – a 30% increase. And here’s the cherry on top: the last three months of 2023 witnessed three of his five longest innings across formats.Say it softly but Finn Allen is hitting the ball like good coffee on a bad morning. Just the right kind of hard.

Indians dominated the latest IPL auction, while Mumbai Indians spent contrasting amounts to secure their squad

Sampath Bandarupalli14-Feb-2022Indians get the big bids
The biggest earners at the IPL auction for the 2022 season turned out to be local players, something which is unusual. The three most expensive buys this weekend – Ishan Kishan, Deepak Chahar and Shreyas Iyer – were all Indians.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe only other time that happened was in 2011, when the top seven winning bids were on Indian players only. In fact, until 2021, 13 players had earned INR 10 crore or higher bids, out of which seven were overseas players. The 2022 auction had 11 players touching the 10-crore mark, but only four were foreigners.