Man Utd chiefs convinced they'll win race for "elite" number one stopper

Manchester United will want to address their goalkeeping situation before the window is closed at Old Trafford and could now be set to focus all their efforts on a talented stopper from the continent, according to a report.

Bayindir's error vs Arsenal leaves Man Utd searching for answers

Truthfully, there wasn’t much to separate Manchester United and Arsenal in their Premier League opening clash, apart from the level of goalkeeping performances on display.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils’, Arsenal’s prevalence at set-pieces earned the points for the visitors, who received a helping hand from Altay Bayindir’s failure to steer away Declan Rice’s delivery before Riccardo Calafiori pounced from close range.

Speaking on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast, David James believes the Turkish international shouldn’t have got involved with William Saliba in the lead-up to the only goal of the encounter.

He explained: “There were two issues with the goal. The first was Bayindir getting involved with William Saliba before the corner-kick was taken. Saliba ran across the front and I actually think it was a foul on Mason Mount because Saliba nearly dragged his shirt off to get in front of Bayindir.

“But by getting involved with Saliba, everyone has now got arms on each other and Bayindir is in no position to do anything decent from where he is.”

On the same day, reports emerged that Man Utd are plotting a surprise reunion with David De Gea. Meanwhile, Gianluigi Donnarumma has been considered by the Red Devils amid speculation surrounding the future of Andre Onana.

Nevertheless, there could now be another solution to their woes between the sticks as INEOS prepare to focus their attention on finalising a deal for a rising star.

Manchester United look to finalise Senne Lammens move

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United chiefs are convinced they’ll win the race to sign Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens despite interest from Inter Milan in securing his signature.

The outlet claim he only has eyes for a move to Old Trafford and they will now look to put a ‘decisive plan’ in action to land the goalkeeper. Albeit, Onana’s failure to secure a move elsewhere has impacted their overall pursuit of a new number one.

His best display for Man Utd: £60m star is as undroppable as Mbeumo & Cunha

Manchester United suffered defeat in their first game of the new season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 17, 2025

Overall, the Belgian star has kept 12 clean sheets in 64 appearances for Royal Antwerp, leading to a call-up to his senior national team back in March for their UEFA Nations League playoff matches against Ukraine.

Manchester United have kept in touch with his entourage all summer and have him on a shortlist alongside Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. Now, it appears Lammens is top priority as the Red Devils consider a late move to bolster their goalkeeping department.

Labelled “elite” by Ben Mattinson, Fotmob show the 23-year-old has retained a 73.3% save percentage this season, which may pique the interest of supporters as they cross their fingers for a new number one at Old Trafford.

Double deal: Birmingham and Brady want £43k-p/w duo; advanced talks for one

Birmingham City and minority owner Tom Brady want to seal a double deal for two players from the same cub, and they have had an offer accepted for one.

Brady wants Birmingham to keep spending to compete with Wrexham

The Blues are preparing for their immediate return to the Championship after a record-breaking League One title-winning campaign.

So far this summer, Brady, Tom Wagner and co have made 10 new signings, splashing the cash on striker Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes.

Kyogo Furuhashi

Rennes

£10m

Alfons Sampsted

FC Twente

£1.7m

Taylor Gardner-Hickman

Bristol City

£1.5m

Bright Osayi-Samuel

Fenerbahce

Free

Kanya Fujimoto

Gil Vicente

Free

Demarai Gray

Al-Ettifaq

Free

Phil Neumann

Hanover 96

Free

Tommy Doyle

Wolves

Loan

Eiran Cashin

Brighton

Loan

James Beadle

Brighton

Loan

Brady doesn’t want to stop there, though, and in recent comments relayed by PA, said Birmingham have to keep spending to complete with the likes of Wrexham and Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Now, an update has emerged on two targets who those at St Andrew’s and Chris Davies will already know well.

Birmingham want double deal for Rangers duo

According to GiveMeSport, Birmingham City are interested in bringing Rangers duo Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell back to the Midlands before the September 1 deadline.

Davies, on £27,000-a-week, played 44 times for the Blues last season on loan from Ibrox but hasn’t featured under Russell Martin so far due to an injury.

Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Dowell, who picks up £16,000-a-week, contributed to 10 goals in 23 Birmingham appearances last season and has played some part in Rangers’ pre-season.

Both players are out of contract at Ibrox in 12 months time, and according to Football Insider, Birmingham are in advanced talks over a £750,000 transfer for Davies.

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FI add that a ‘deal is expected to be finalised when Davies has recovered from a minor injury’, so Davies and Birmingham could be delighted if they managed to bring Dowell back down south as well.

GMS say that ‘Rangers are holding out for fees for a couple of players who may or may not form part of Martin’s plans’, so Birmingham and Brady may need to get the chequebook out for Dowell as well.

Berta stance on axing "sensational" Arsenal player revealed as bid made

Arsenal have now received a “formal” bid for one player as Mikel Arteta’s side look to balance their books, with sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners recruitment team making their stance crystal clear.

£25m sensation greenlights Arsenal transfer with Eze after "early" talks

He wants to join Mikel Arteta’s side alongside the England international.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 5, 2025

The Gunners maintain their serious interest in Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, according to reliable reports, but Arteta and co are equally keen to seal some outgoings before the deadline on September 1.

Arsenal have already spent well over £200 million on new signings this summer, with just £9 million raised through sales thus far.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Nuno Tavares completed a permanent move to Lazio earlier this window and Marquinhos swapped north London for Cruzeiro indefinitely, but there is still plenty of work to be done in terms of exits.

Luckily for Berta, Fulham stand to offer Arsenal the chance to offload both Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Marco Silva’s side, according to Ben Jacobs and GiveMeSport, are in advanced talks for Nelson, with an approach also made for Zinchenko – who Arsenal value at around £15 million.

Some uncertainty also surrounds the future of Jakub Kiwior.

The Poland international is behind William Saliba and Gabriel in Arteta’s pecking order, but when the latter was out through injury for an extensive period last term, Kiwior really impressed in the Brazilian’s absence.

Ipswich Town'sGeorgeHirstin action with Arsenal's Jakub Kiwior

However, while he has his uses for Arteta, Fabrizio Romano confirmed earlier this week that it is by no means certain that Kiwior will choose to stay.

Arsenal stance on Jakub Kiwior as FC Porto submit bid

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, FC Porto have made a concrete offer for Kiwior, with the Primeira Liga side looking to sign him on loan with an obligation to buy for around £23 million.

Berta’s side responded to this approach, and it was a polite no.

Their stance, as per his Foot Mercato piece, is this: Arsenal will consider a permanent sale for a larger fee, but would rather keep him for another year.

Kiwior showcasing his real talent in place of the injured Gabriel towards the end of 2024/2025 is undoubtedly playing a key role in their decision-making here. The 25-year-old is a solid back-up option, and all Premier League title-winning sides must have strength in depth to carry on performing at the highest level.

Dubbed a “sensational talent” by members of the media, if Kiwior were to leave, it would surely accelerate a potential move for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, who has emerged as a top target for Berta in recent days.

Romano: Nottingham Forest "ready" to make new bid for "fantastic" £39m ace

Nottingham Forest are now “ready” to submit a new offer for a “fantastic” forward, who is keen on a move to the City Ground, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

Forest keen on new forward after securing Gibbs-White's future

In perhaps one of the most surprising twists of the summer transfer window, Morgan Gibbs-White has now committed his long-term future to Forest, signing a new contract which will keep him at the club for the next three years.

Gibbs-White had been expected to join Tottenham Hotspur, with the north Londoners controversially triggering the £60m release clause in his contract, but the attacking midfielder is now set to remain at the City Ground.

In a recent statement, the 25-year-old revealed that Evangelos Marinakis’ ambition was one of the main reasons he decided to extend his deal.

Consequently, Nuno Espirito Santo will no longer be faced with the difficult task of finding a replacement for the England international, but he remains keen on a new forward, and there has now been an update on Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Bologna’s Dan Ndoye.

Taking to X, Romano has revealed that Forest “will bid again” for Ndoye, with a new proposal “ready”, having had their initial offer knocked back by the Italian club.

Nottingham Forest make contact to bring World Cup winner to the City Ground

The Tricky Trees want defensive reinforcements and have a World Cup winner in sight…

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The Tricky Trees are “ready to push” for the 24-year-old starting next week, having already struck an agreement on personal terms, with the Bolgona star keen on a move to the City Ground.

However, Nuno’s side may have to stump up a lot of money to get a deal over the line, with Bologna set to hold out for around £39m, and there could be competition for his signature from Napoli.

"Fantastic" Ndoye could excel at the City Ground

With Anthony Elanga moving to Newcastle United, it is clear that Nuno will need to bring in a new right-winger this summer, and the Bologna forward could be an excellent replacement for the Sweden international.

Bologna'sDanNdoyekisses the trophy as he celebrates after winning the Coppa Italia

Last season, the former FC Basel man proved himself as a reliable source of goals and assists in the Serie A, picking up eight goals and four assists in 30 matches, while he has also impressed at international level.

Indeed, the Swiss forward received high praise from manager Murat Yakin after impressing at Euro 2024, with the Switzerland boss saying: “His development is fantastic, I can see it day after day,”

“He’s young, I like having him in the team a lot with his unpredictability and his clear head.”

Gibbs-White committing his future to Forest came as welcome news, and it would be an added bonus if they were able to get a deal for Ndoye over the line too.

Wolves table £21m bid to sign "tough" ace who Man Utd have also approached

Wolverhampton Wanderers have tabled a £21 million-plus “proposal” to sign a “huge” player who is also wanted by Manchester United, according to a recent report.

Wolves continue search to find Nelson Semedo replacement

The Old Gold are still waiting to hear back from defender Nelson Semedo on whether he will continue at Molineux or not. The Portuguese international has a contract offer on the table but has yet to respond, with it being suggested that a departure is now likely.

Therefore, Wolves are assessing potential replacements, and according to a report last week, the Midlands side are interested in signing Jackson Tchatchoua from Italian side Hellas Verona. The 23-year-old is considered a versatile defender, as he can also operate as a wing-back as well as a right midfielder. However, his performances in Italy have also attracted the interest of teams such as Everton, Marseille, and Galatasaray.

Wolves open talks over deal to sign "powerful" £13m Olympic gold medallist

The Old Gold are in a strong position to win the race for a defender.

ByDominic Lund Jul 10, 2025

As well as looking at Tchatchoua, Wolves are also one of two teams interested in signing Marc Pubill from Almeria. In fact, the Premier League side are in talks over a deal to sign the defender, with Almeria looking to get around £13 million for his services. But Wolves face strong competition, as AC Milan are also working on a deal to sign Pubill.

Wolves table £21m+ bid to sign "huge" ace who Man Utd have also approached

As the Midlands side weigh up their options to improve their defence, the Ol Gold also want a new central midfielder. According to journalist Gianluigi Longari, Wolves have made a “proposal” worth €25 million (£21.6 million) to sign Richard Rios from Palmeiras, which has now been turned down.

Longari states that Rios is a priority target for AS Roma, who have also seen a bid turned down by the Brazilian side, but it isn’t clear how much they were willing to offer. As well as Roma, Nottingham Forest have also made a bid for Rios, with theirs being worth €26 million, and that again was not enough for Palmeiras.

The 25-year-old has just come off the back of many excellent performances in the Club World Cup, where Palmeiras reached the knockout stages, and while he didn’t score, Rios registered two assists in five games. Those performances have also caught the eye of Manchester United, and the Red Devils have made an approach to sign Rios, as they see the midfielder as someone who can replace Casemiro.

Apps

137

Goals

11

Assists

10

Should Wolves sign Rios, who has been dubbed a “tough” by Antonio Mango, he would join Joao Gomes, Boubacar Toure and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde as the more recognised central midfielders for the Premier League side. Rios has shown he can not only operate as a central midfielder; he can also be more defensive or offensively minded should that be required, which could be perfect for Vitor Pereira.

A Bassey repeat at Ibrox: Rangers agree deal to sign a new "sensation"

Journalist Joshua Barrie claims that Glasgow Rangers will make more signings from domestic markets, in Scotland and England, than they did last summer.

There has been some intense reaction to his claim, with some supporters citing signings like Kieran Dowell and Ben Davies, who are now surplus to requirements at Ibrox.

Rangers midfielder Kieran Dowell.

However, it is also worth acknowledging that Rangers have picked up some bargains from England, specifically, in recent years, including Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo.

Rangers set to sign Brighton youngster

The Light Blues could be on the lookout to repeat the blinders they played with both of those players, as they are closing in on a young talent from England this summer.

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 Football Insider, Rangers have agreed a deal to sign 16-year-old starlet Zebedee Lawson from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

The report claims that the Scottish Premiership giants have beaten several clubs to his signature, and that the winger, who was described as a “sensation” by journalist Pete O’Rourke, was highly-rated at the English club.

That is why Football Insider adds that this is regarded as a ‘major coup’ for the Ibrox side, and potentially for Russell Martin in the future, as they are now set to sign the teenage forward.

Rangers could now be about to repeat the masterclass they played when they snapped up Bassey from then-Premier League side Leicester City in the summer of 2020.

Lawson could be a Bassey repeat for Rangers

The Light Blues hit the jackpot with Bassey because they snapped him up for a fee of just £230k and slowly developed him to become a key first-team player before he made a big-money exit in 2022.

He only made eight Premiership appearances in his first year at Ibrox, as he settled into life as a first-team option, before the defender played 50 times in the 2021/22 campaign after Giovanni van Bronckhorst put his faith in the versatile star, who played at left-back and centre-back.

July 2020

Reported £230k fee

January 2021

£427k

June 2021

£340k

December 2021

£850k

June 2022

£8.5m

July 2022

Reported £22.7m fee

As you can see in the table above, Bassey’s value did not immediately soar, due to a lack of game time, in his first time, but it did fly up when he was a regular in the side, before his £22.7m move to Ajax in 2022.

Lawson, who is only 16, will now be looking to follow in the Nigeria international’s footsteps by ditching a midtable Premier League academy to make the move to Ibrox, as Bassey did in 2020.

Calvin Bassey

The teenage Brighton talent made a breakthrough at U18 level this season with a return of three goals and one assist in 13 matches as a right winger, despite only being 16, which may be why he is so highly-regarded at the AMEX.

This shows that he is making good progress and heading in the right direction, which is why he could be such an exciting signing, and the Gers will be hoping that the forward can continue to progress at Ibrox.

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There is no telling how he will develop in Glasgow, as not every player will soar in value as Bassey did, but Rangers have clearly identified him as a talented prospect, and hopefully he will live up to the hype and end up being a Bassey repeat for the Light Blues in the future.

A better signing than Gittens: Chelsea make approach to land £68m 'monster'

We are only in June, but Chelsea are wasting no time at all when it comes to the transfer window.

For example, even though the likes of Liam Delap, Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo are already through the doors at Stamford Bridge, the Conference League Champions are still looking to make more significant additions.

That said, with the Champions League and more expectations in the Premier League to come next season, it’s not hard to understand why the West Londoners want to make sure Enzo Maresca has everything he needs.

Chelseaplayersposefor a team group photo before the match

One of the names most heavily touted for a move to Chelsea is Jamie Gittens, but interestingly, another international has now been linked with the club, someone who’d arguably be an even better signing.

Chelsea target Premier League star

Since wrapping up their prior transfer dealings, the most significant saga Chelsea have been in has been about Gittens.

Transfer Focus

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

Interestingly, the club were first linked with him back in October and then again during the winter window, but it would be fair to say that the links have seriously heated up in the last few weeks.

In fact, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed yesterday afternoon that the deal was close to being completed, while stories from late last week claimed that a fee of around £55m would be enough for Borussia Dortmund to sell.

Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite

However, while the young Englishman is undoubtedly very talented and will be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad, it now looks like the club are moving after someone from the Premier League who’d be an even better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has revealed that Chelsea are very interested in Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.

The report goes a step further, revealing that the Blues have already made contact with the Tricky Trees to find out more information about the player.

Unfortunately, one potential sticking point for a deal for the Brazilian is that Forest reportedly value him at more than €80m, which comes out to around £68m.

While that is an enormous amount of money, this might be a deal worth fighting for as Murillo has proven himself in the Premier League and could end up being a better signing than Gittens for Chelsea.

Why Murillo would be a better signing than Gittens for Chelsea

Now, the first thing to say is that both players would be good additions to Chelsea’s squad.

After all, it’s never a bad thing to sign an exciting and dynamic young winger, who’d not only scored at the Bernabeu but also managed to rack up a tally of 17 goal involvements in 49 games for a top European side at just 20 years old.

However, in the context of what the Blues actually need this summer, there are two significant reasons why Murillo would be a better signing than Gittens, the first of which relates to the club’s abundance of wingers in the squad.

Chelsea manager EnzoMaresca

As things stand, Maresca will be able to choose from ten players who are capable of playing on the wing next season – not including Mykhaylo Mudryk – so signing the Dortmund star will make it 11, which for any team is unnecessary.

That also leads us to the second reason: due to the number of attacking options at the Bridge, the Forest ace is likely to have a greater impact if he were to join.

After all, only one centre-back made 40 appearances across all competitions this season, Levi Colwill, while Tosin Adarabioyo made 38.

Moreover, when we compare the relevant underlying metrics between the former Fulham ace and the Tricky Trees star, like tackles, block interceptions and more, it becomes obvious that the “monstrous” Brazilian, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, would be a noticeable upgrade.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.07

0.07

Progressive Passes

3.25

2.68

Progressive Carries

0.62

0.32

Passing Accuracy

78.5%

91.1%

Key Passes

0.37

0.06

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.37

0.06

Shot-Creating Actions

1.24

0.96

Tackles

1.50

1.08

Blocks

1.95

0.57

Interceptions

1.02

0.70

Clearances

7.03

5.10

Ball Recoveries

4.01

2.61

Ultimately, Chelsea would be smart to sign both Gittens and Murillo this summer, but when it comes to who will likely have more of an impact next year and, therefore, be the better signing, we’d have to lean heavily towards the latter.

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Aston Villa in talks to sign "incredible" ex-Championship star in £17m deal

Despite the Premier League’s PSR deadlines approaching, Aston Villa have now reportedly opened talks to sign a former Championship midfielder in a deal worth £17m this summer.

Aston Villa closing in on PSR deadline

As things stand, Aston Villa have five days to ensure that they comply with the PSR rules on June 30. The Midlands club are already set to sell Philippe Coutinho to Vasco da Gama, but there remain question marks over whether that will be enough to keep them within the PSR guidelines. Of course, if it’s not, then Villa face a hectic few days.

To that end, the Villans still have a number of players who could be sacrificed. Reports have suggested in recent days that the likes of Lucas Digne and even Emiliano Martinez could be among those reluctantly shown the door in a last-ditch attempt to ease their off-pitch troubles.

Emiliano Martinez in action for Argentina.

Martinez’s departure would be particularly frustrating if it is Manchester United that take full advantage. Losing one of Unai Emery’s best players would be an undeniable blow and losing that same player to a Premier League rival would only add salt to that painful wound.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire recently delivered his verdict on Villa’s PSR problems, telling Sky Sports earlier this month: “I think of the 20 Premier League clubs, Villa are the ones who we’re most concerned about.

“Last season, when they did qualify for the Champions League, for every £100 of revenue that Aston Villa brought in, they spent £91 on wages. Those players will have had contract step-ups for qualifying for the Champions League.”

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Missing out on Champions League football on the final day of last season could see Aston Villa suffer a major setback if they do not sanction at least one more sale in the coming days. If reports are anything to go by, however, their PSR problems are not standing in the way of any attempt to welcome incomings this summer.

Aston Villa make contact to sign Gabriel Sara

According to Calcio Mercato’s Santi Aouna, Aston Villa have now held talks to sign Gabriel Sara from Galatasaray and have also held separate talks over deals to sell both Digne and Martinez to the Turkish club this summer.

Although separate deals, Aston Villa and Galatasaray could work together to appease all parties involved. Those in the Midlands could get the sales they so desperately need while Galatasaray could receive part of the funding to make such deals happen through the sale of Sara to Villa Park.

The Turkish giants reportedly value their versatile midfielder at around €20m (£17m) in a deal that could finally see Sara receive his Premier League chance one year on from leaving Championship side Norwich City.

Described as “incredible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, It was during his time at Norwich that Sara impressed the most – scoring 14 goals and creating another 13 in all competitions in his final season at the club.

Frank's answer to Dembele: Spurs now eyeing £85m "ball-carrying machine"

This summer presents a new era at Tottenham Hotspur, after Thomas Frank was appointed as their new boss after agreeing a £10m compensation package with Brentford.

The Dane takes the reins from Ange Postecoglou after the Aussie was handed his marching orders by owner Daniel Levy despite ending their 17-year wait for a trophy in the Europa League final.

It presents a fresh opportunity for the club to take the next step in their ambitions of mounting a charge for the Premier League title, with Frank the next man to try his luck in North London.

However, if he is to be a success in the role, he will need new additions this summer to help him in his quest, with quality and depth needed in key areas of the pitch.

Numerous players have already emerged on their radar in recent weeks, but additions can only be made if Levy hands Frank the funds needed to change their fortunes on the pitch.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Bryan Mbeumo is a player who’s been firmly on their radar since the Dane’s appointment, potentially having a reunion with his former boss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season.

However, if they’re going to complete a deal for the 25-year-old attacker, they will have to fork out a pretty penny for his signature, with the Bees demanding £70m to part ways with him this window.

Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal

The hierarchy already appear to be making moves elsewhere, with work being done to secure a deal for Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios, according to GIVEMESPORT’s latest update.

The report states that Spurs have sent scouts to watch the Colombian international at the Club World Cup, starring in his first game against Porto – completing more dribbles than any player on the pitch.

It also claims that the 25-year-old has a £85m release clause within his current contract, with the hierarchy confident he can transfer his skillset across to England and emulate one player’s success.

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025 Why Rios could become Frank’s own version of Dembele

Not many supporters would’ve envisaged the impact Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembélé would have at Tottenham after his £15m switch from Fulham back in 2012.

Former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele.

However, such a deal would be one of the best deals in the club’s history, going on to make 250 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring on ten occasions – but it was his talent in other areas that caught the eye.

He became a monster in and out of possession, often effortlessly gliding past the opposition, and being a commanding presence that was virtually impossible to dispossess.

Dembélé also thrived out of possession, handing the club a perfect box-to-box option, with numerous former players labelling him as the best player they’ve ever featured alongside.

However, after his subsequent departure to join Guangzhou City back in January 2019, the side has often lacked that presence, something which Rios could offer Frank in North London next season.

When comparing his stats from this season to those of Dembélé at Spurs, he’s managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – highlighting why he could be the man to fill the void.

Rios, who’s been labelled “one of the best midfielders” by one Brazilian analyst, has registered more goals and assists, along with more passes into the opposition box per 90, showcasing the threat he poses when driving with the ball.

Games played

24

28

Goals & assists

7

0

Passes into opposition box

1.9

0.2

Tackles won

1.9

1.2

% of tackles won

46%

24%

Take-ons completed

3.8

3.8

Fouls won

1.8

1.3

Aerials won

56%

39%

Described as a “ball-carrying machine” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, he also matched Dembélé for take-ons completed, whilst drawing more fouls, offering a constant nuisance to opposition players, something which Frank’s side need in the middle of the mark.

The Colombian’s talents don’t end there, winning more aerials and tackles per 90, handing the side a defensive presence that has often been missing in North London, with Rios the perfect option for the Lilywhites.

Whilst he has an £85m release clause in his current deal, it’s likely the 25-year-old will be available for a significantly lower fee, with Spurs needing to pursue a move for his signature.

If he can get anywhere near the levels produced by the Belgian at the club, he would be another sensational addition and one that could fire the club up the table in 2025/26.

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Newcastle now eye deal for "world-class" 28 y/o who Barcelona want to sign

Newcastle United are believed to have turned their attention to signing a “world-class” attacking player after missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.

Newcastle suffer Mbeumo transfer blow

Mbeumo has been one of the Magpies’ leading transfer targets in recent months, with the Brentford forward considered arguably the strongest option to upgrade the right-sided attacking role.

Unfortunately, it now looks like the Cameroonian is on his way to Manchester United this summer, with the reliable David Ornstein revealing the news on Monday evening.

Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts

It is a significant setback for Eddie Howe, with Mbeumo enjoying a fantastic season for Brentford, scoring 20 goals in the Premier League and standing out as one of the best attacking players in the division.

It’s now time for Newcastle to find an alternative option to the winger and a new update suggests they are targeting a world-renowned player who looks set to be available ahead of next season.

Newcastle turn attention to Champions League winner

According to journalist Christian Falk on his website, cfbayerninsider.com, Newcastle are “interested” in signing Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman.

Barcelona are also keen on snapping up the former Paris Saint-Germain wide man, and “could move for him” if they fail to sign either Liverpool’s Luis Diaz or United’s Marcus Rashford this summer.

This comes after Fabrizio Romano took to X on Monday to claim that Coman will depart Bayern in the summer, having fallen out of favour at the Bundesliga champions.

Coman would be a signing of real intent by Newcastle, given his stature as an elite footballer, winning the Champions League in 2020 and scoring the only goal in the final victory over his old club PSG.

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Meanwhile, Germany legend Oliver Kahn has heaped praise on the Frenchman, saying: “I’m happy that King continuously developed in the past years. He’s absolutely world class and an attraction for the fans, one of the best players in the world technically in fast pace, one of the best dribblers and always a threat.”

Coman does admittedly turn 29 later this month, though, so there is a risk that Newcastle would be signing a slightly ageing player on big wages, meaning a younger alternative could be more sensible.

Bayern Munich

335

70

69

Juventus

22

1

2

Paris Saint-Germain

4

0

0

But if Howe believes the Bayern man is the best Mbeumo alternative, he needs to be trusted, having taken control of more transfer activity after the exit of sporting director Paul Mitchell.

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