Liverpool: Romano drops Mbappe update

Fabrizio Romano has dropped a fresh update regarding reported Liverpool transfer target Kylian Mbappe…

What’s the word?

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider delivered an update on the Frenchman’s future which will serve as a notable blow to Jurgen Klopp and co. It looks as if the 23-year-old is edging ever closer to a long-awaited switch to Real Madrid, with the Bernabeu outfit “more than confident” of striking a deal.

Delivering the latest on the hot topic that is the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s next destination, Romano revealed: “Key hours ahead for Kylian Mbappé, he’s back from Qatar for final meeting with his family and his whole camp. Real Madrid are waiting for the final steps, more than confident – still no official communication to PSG. #Mbappé Real Madrid contract has been ready for months.”

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This follows a report from Marca which suggested that the £144m-rated sensation had informed the Anfield club that he would not be moving to Merseyside, despite being flattered by their admiring glances, with Klopp himself having only recently admitted that the Reds are/were interested in a deal (albeit while appearing to rule them out due to the hefty financial package it would require).

Huge blow for Liverpool

Although making a deal for the £413k-per-week gem appeared a long shot anyway, with a move likely to have only disrupted Liverpool’s stringent wage structure, this latest update will still come as a notable blow for the quadruple chasers.

Having just witnessed Premier League title rivals Manchester City announce a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund starlet Erling Haaland this summer, the Merseysiders would likely have been keen to secure a marquee signing of their own, as they look to keep pace with Pep Guardiola’s side in the coming years.

Despite the wealth of attacking talent already on offer at Anfield, Mbappe would have represented a simply unique and frankly “unstoppable” addition – as he has been described by Carlo Ancelotti – with the 54-cap France international arguably one of the most exciting talents in world football.

Amid what has been an at times turbulent campaign at the Parcs des Princes under Mauricio Pochettino, the former Monaco starlet has been the real shining light for the Ligue 1 champions, eclipsing both Neymar and summer signing Lionel Messi throughout the campaign.

In just 45 games in all competitions this term, Mbappe has registered a staggering 36 goals and 26 assists, taking his total haul for the club to 168 goals and 87 assists in 216 matches since his mammoth £166m move back in 2017.

Just five years on from that high-profile switch, the 2018 World Cup winner is set to be available on a ‘free transfer’, with his contract set to expire at the end of June and the Parisien outfit desperately scrambling to avoid losing him for nothing.

Whether or not he departs his current club this year, it would appear that a move to Liverpool is now off the table, which is set to be a real source of frustration for Klopp and Reds fans everywhere.

In other news: Liverpool eye bid for exciting wonderkid, he could become a “scary” £127m-rated talent

Man United handed Darwin Nunez boost

Manchester United have been handed a boost over the potential signing of Benfica’s Uruguayan goal machine, Darwin Nunez.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Mirror, who state that the 22-year-old has decided that he wants a move to the Premier League.

As per the report, Nunez’s advisors have given a positive indication on where his future may lie and believe his style could be well suited to English football. And United clearly think so too, with the Old Trafford side now monitoring developments around the 22-year-old.

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There is both a positive and a negative to come out of this report though.

On one hand, Man United should not suffer any threat for the Uruguayan’s signature from the likes of Manchester City, having just agreed to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

Though, there is a potential sticking point that could make life difficult for United, and that is the lack of Champions League football for next season.

It is said that Nunez, who has a £130m buy-out clause could be prised from the clutches of Benfica for a figure of around £70m, and his reported ambition of playing Premier League football of course serves as a major boost for United.

Imagine Nunez & CR7

Whilst the lack of top European football for next season is annoying, if “Mr. Champions League” Cristiano Ronaldo can put up with it, then so can Nunez.

With Ronaldo looking as though he may stay at United for at least another year if Ten Hag confirms that he is in his plans, the partnership between Nunez and the great Portuguese forward could be unstoppable.

He may already be testing the efficiency of this system with the idea of putting both Nunez and Ronaldo up top in what would make for an unplayable strike partnership.

Having just won the Eredivisie title for the third time with Ajax, the last three games saw him deploy a 4-1-2-1-2 system and a 4-3-1-2 variation also. What’s the relevance you may ask?

The Dutchman has veered away from his usual 4-3-3 over the last three matches and has opted for two formations that utilise two strikers up-top.

With a combined domestic goals total of 44 – 26 goals for Nunez and 18 goals for Ronaldo – they could take the Premier League by storm, and with the latter’s underrated creative ability, we could well see a playmaking side to the Portuguese veteran that Nunez would most certainly benefit from.

The centre-forward has been described as a “diamond” by Steve McManaman, and indeed, that’s exactly what he’d be if he signed for United; a precious entity who can blossom next to Ronaldo.

In other news: Better than Pogba: MUFC can land dream Rice alternative in “exceptional” £50m monster 

West Ham: Brown drops Watkins claim

Journalist Paul Brown has made a claim regarding West Ham United and a potential move for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. 

The lowdown: Hammers interest

David Moyes is expected to pursue additional attacking options in the summer transfer market in order to offer support to Michail Antonio.

Despite links to a plethora of targets previously, the Irons have failed to add a recognised frontman to the London Stadium ranks and appear set to lose another option in the shape of Andriy Yarmolenko.

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Following a report from The Guardian earlier this week claiming that the Hammers were interested in the 26-year-old Watkins, one journalist has assessed the potential move…

The latest: ‘He’d fit in perfectly’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown suggested that the seven-cap England man is ideally suited to West Ham.

He said: “I can see why West Ham would want him; I think he’d fit in perfectly. You could even play Watkins and Antonio at times, either way round, one in front of the other, or switching, or in a two.

“And if they were to be in Europe next season, you’d probably need two strikers like that just subbing in for each other, even if you only played with one up top every game, so I can see the logic.”

The verdict: Spot on

Boasting impressive aerial ability for his size and capable of playing across a front three (WhoScored), Watkins – who was described as ‘outstanding’ by ex-Villa boss Dean Smith – would be a superb addition to the Hammers’ ranks and Moyes’ preferred style moreover.

So far this season, the Englishman has netted ten times and provided one assist in 31 Premier League outings, earning a 6.91 Sofascore rating in the process whilst taking 2.2 shots, winning 4.5 duels and playing 84 minutes per game on average – attributes and important durability that would be welcomed in east London.

However, one stumbling block for the Irons and indeed GSB is a £31.5million perceived market valuation and a Villa Park contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), making Watkins an expensive option for the notoriously frugal spenders.

In other news: West Ham interested in ‘ideal’ Serie A ace! Find out more here.

Newcastle: Shock Saint-Maximin claim

Transfer insider Dean Jones has made a surprising claim regarding the future of Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the respected source has suggested that the Frenchman is now surplus to requirements at St James’ Park, with his future potentially set lie away from the club: “He’s not going to be Newcastle’s star man anymore. I think he’s going to be looking for a new club. I don’t think he’ll deliver every week; I think that’s why Newcastle are ready to move on beyond him.”

That claim comes following a report from 90min that suggested the Magpies were willing to cash in on the mercurial 25-year-old, with a fee of around £50m seemingly the required asking price.

Relegation strugglers Everton have previously been credited with an interest in the £93k-per-week gem, while Wolverhampton Wanderers are another side said to be in the running for his signature.

Gutting for supporters

That news will likely come as a hammer blow to the club’s faithful, with the former Nice man having developed something of a cult status since his £16.5m arrival from the Ligue 1 outfit back in August 2019.

A popular figure on social media, the former France U21 international has also dazzled on the pitch, registering 27 goal contributions in 90 games in all competitions since his move to England.

Dubbed a “jewel” by footballing icon David Ginola, the fleet-footed speedster has so often dazzled on the Premier League stage, toying with defenders with his unquestionable skill and trickery and so often making a mockery of those who try to stop him.

As Jones alluded, there are question marks over his ability to produce the goods on a regular basis, with journalist Liam Kennedy suggesting that the at times “unplayable” wideman is not at an elite club because of his lack of “consistency”.

The £28.8m-rated winger has often been tarnished with that brush in his Newcastle career, although this season has seen him chip in with nine goals and assists in the league in total, while he also ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90 among players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

For many, following the PIF takeover last year, he appeared to be one of the players that the new owners could build a side around, yet now he looks to be one of the most significant early casualties of their tenure.

Even if his output isn’t always consistent, supporters will no doubt question the wisdom in axing a player who is simply an undisputed, crowd-pleaser.

IN other news, Newcastle plot bid to sign player with 191 PL apps, he’d be a big upgrade on Lascelles

Liverpool: O’Rourke makes transfer claim

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has delivered a promising update regarding Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window. 

The lowdown: Crest of a wave

The Reds have pulled off many impressive captures recently and Jurgen Klopp’s contract extension until 2026 was the latest in a long line of recent positives on and off the pitch at Anfield.

With three more major honours still up for grabs and a deal for Klopp already completed, all associated with Liverpool would be forgiven for not getting wrapped up in the hysteria of transfers just yet.

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However, with the summer market fast approaching and links to the likes of AS Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni already surfacing, it’s expected to be a busy one on Merseyside…

The latest: O’Rourke on Tchouameni

Amidst strong interest from elsewhere, Liverpool have suddenly emerged as the leading contenders for the 22-year-old Frenchman.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke suggested that such a capture would be indicative of the calibre of recruitment at Anfield.

“It would be another big statement signing from Liverpool if they’re able to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, he’s a really top young player already playing in the France team as well.

“Lots of clubs have been linked to him, the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, all the top clubs across Europe. So, if Liverpool were able to sneak in there and lure him to Anfield, it would be a big signing for Jurgen Klopp.”

The verdict: Flexing transfer muscles

Very rarely do Liverpool go head to head with fellow European superpowers in a transfer tussle, more often than not seeking an alternative who transpires to be the better option – see the pursuit of Timo Werner only to land a 21-goal Diogo Jota.

But, in this instance, FSG should back Klopp and indeed Julian Ward to the hilt with everything required to make Tchouameni a Red this summer.

Despite his tender years, the Frenchman is already an eight-cap senior international with 129 domestic outings under his belt, and the combative midfielder would bolster an already formidable midfield department while being young enough to improve further yet.

As for a statement signing, Liverpool’s quadruple pursuit is all the evidence required to prove that the club should be dealing at the very top table this summer.

In other news, expert highlights Liverpool’s revolutionary approach. Read more here.

INEOS can fund Elliot Anderson move by offloading Man Utd's "best player"

Manchester United’s supporters have been largely left frustrated over the last decade, with the club unable to achieve any sustained success since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

The Scotsman decided to call it a day at the end of the 2012/13 season, with the Red Devils yet to claim Premier League glory under the guidance of any other manager.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck at Old Trafford, with the hierarchy already backing him in his quest for success during his tenure in the role.

He’s already spent upwards of £220m since his appointment last November, with the majority of his spending being directed into the final third of the squad.

However, with January rapidly approaching, the board have shifted their attention to the midfield department, which has led to a whole host of players being touted for a move to join the club.

The latest on United’s move to land Elliot Anderson

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been hugely touted with various moves for a number of central midfielders to help bolster Amorim’s squad in the second half of the season.

The likes of Adam Wharton, Joao Gomes and Ederson have all been linked with moves, but none of the aforementioned talents appear to be their main target.

Such a luxury has fallen into the hands of Elliot Anderson, with the Nottingham Forest star seemingly being the Red Devils’ number one target this January.

The 23-year-old has been in remarkable form for Sean Dyche’s side this season, leading to the youngster becoming a regular starter in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

It’s been reported that Amorim’s side are willing to pay £60m for the signature of the midfielder in the upcoming window to try and solve their issue at the heart of the squad.

However, such a deal could well be rejected out of hand, with Forest wanting at least £100m for their star man, who has three and a half years left on his current deal.

Anderson also has no release clause in his current deal at the City Ground, which puts Dyche’s men in full control over negotiations when it comes down to conducting a transfer.

If Amorim’s men are to land the Englishman this window, the £100m deal would see a new club-record being paid for his signature – surpassing the £89m paid for Paul Pogba nearly a decade ago.

The player who Amorim could sell to fund the Anderson deal

£100m is a mammoth sum, even in today’s market, but Anderson’s stats from the current campaign showcase why he’s so highly-rated by his current employers.

He’s ranked top of numerous different categories across the Premier League this season, ranging from touches of the ball to possession won for his side.

His tally of 8.6 progressive passes per 90 highlights his phenomenal ball-playing ability, but it’s his work out of possession that could be the selling point to Amorim and the board.

A real ball-winner is what the club have lacked in recent times, with the Englishman’s dominance in winning the ball back seemingly what’s prompted the recent interest.

However, after splashing around £200m on new additions in the summer, it remains to be seen how much the board are willing to spend in the upcoming January window.

As a result, numerous players may have to be offloaded from the current squad, with Kobbie Mainoo just one star who could be sold by Amorim.

Such a sentence would have been absurd 12 months ago, but the midfielder has simply been unable to showcase his talents since the arrival of the 40-year-old.

In 2025/26 alone, the 20-year-old has featured just eight times in the league, but none of which have come from a starting role – restricting him to just 170 minutes of action to date.

He’s since dropped behind the experienced Casemiro in the pecking order, with the manager evidently favouring the Brazilian over the academy sensation.

However, it could get worse for Mainoo in the near future, with the Red Devils having youngsters such as Sekou Kone who could also rise above him in Amorim’s plans.

Anderson’s arrival would also do just that, potentially seeing Mainoo become surplus to requirements at Old Trafford – something which is a real travesty.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

Just a couple of years ago, he was scoring key goals in FA Cup finals and local derbies, even leading to journalist Liam Canning labelling him as the club’s “best player”.

However, it’s evident the boss doesn’t have as much faith in the player as many outsiders do, which could force the youngster to move on to reach his full potential elsewhere.

It’s likely he would still command a hefty fee should he be sold in January, with such funds potentially playing a key role in any pursuit of Anderson in the weeks ahead.

The downfall of Mainoo has been truly devastating for the fanbase to witness, especially after the joy he gave them when he breezed into the first-team setup as an 18-year-old.

However, it’s crucial the club cash in on him before his value declines further, with the board needing to make huge calls if they are to land the Forest star or keep the academy graduate happy at the club.

Joao Gomes upgrade: INEOS ready Man Utd talks for "out of this world" star

Manchester United look set to make another move for a central midfielder ahead of the January window.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

PIF sold Newcastle's next Gazza on the cheap, now he's better than Bruno

Ahead of the Premier League’s return this weekend, Newcastle United supporters are once again excited about the future. Let’s put it this way, it’s a long time since the dreary Alexander Isak saga played out in the north east.

The Magpies enjoyed back-to-back victories prior to the international break, hammering Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 in Brussels in the Champions League, before beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 at St James’ last Sunday; Bruno Guimarães and Nick Woltemade the scorers.

Next up, Eddie Howe’s team take on Brighton & Hove Albion in Sussex on Saturday, before a certain José Mourinho will bring his Benfica team to Tyneside the following Tuesday.

The Magpies undeniably boast a strong squad, but would this team be even better had they kept hold of talent who’s now giving the skipper, Bruno Guimarães, a run for his money?

Bruno Guimarães' importance to Newcastle

In the Saudi ownership-era, Newcastle United have really had two marquee players.

One is better known on Tyneside as he who must not be named, after he went on strike over the summer to force through a move to Liverpool.

Thus, the actions of Isak has only served to increase the love Geordies have for Guimarães.

Since arriving from Olympique Lyonnais for around £34m in January 2022, the Brazilian has accumulated 163 appearances in black and white stripes, scoring 24 goals and registering 27 assists.

He has been instrumental in Newcastle twice qualifying for the Champions League, as well as winning last season’s EFL Cup, their first major domestic trophy for 70 years.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live, Nigel Reo-Coker asserts that, alongside Sandro Tonalo and Joelinton, Newcastle currently boast the best midfield trio in the Premier League, with Guimarães very much central to that.

However, would this department of Howe’s team be even more formidable had they not been forced to sell a homegrown star?

When Newcastle were forced to sell their new Gazza

Back in the summer of 2024, Premier League clubs in danger of breaching PSR found a loophole involving trading players at massively inflated fees between themselves.

Chelsea, Aston Villa, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle were all involved in such moves, but the Magpies may have proved to be the biggest victims in the long run.

They were forced to sell Yankuba Minteh to Brighton for just £30m, while a swap, of sorts, was agreed with Forest.

They paid £20m for goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who played just 45 minutes for the club, while Elliot Anderson moved to the East Midlands for £35m.

Considering the Greek goalkeeper proved to be a burden more than anything else, currently on loan at Sevilla, essentially, Anderson was sold to Forest for just £15m, which now appears to be an absolute bargain.

Elliot Anderson for Nottingham Forest

His form at the City Ground led to Martin Keown describing him as a “nailed-on” starter for England at next summer’s World Cup, with Peter Crouch adding that he is a “far better player than he is given credit for”.

Anderson has started each of England’s last three matches, set to continue that streak in Latvia on Tuesday, having also started all 33 of Forest’s Premier League and Europa League fixtures since early December.

This underlines how he has become one of the first names on the team sheet for Nuno Espírito Santo and now Ange Postecoglou, as well as Thomas Tuchel, but how did his stats compare to those of Guimarães last season?

Minutes

2,742

3,282

Goals

2

5

Assists

6

6

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Chances created

1.2

1.4

Pass completion %

82%

84%

Duels contested

15.2

12.8

Tackles

3.1

2.3

Ground duel success %

49%

53%

Aerial duel success %

66%

50%

Clearances

2.3

1.1

Interceptions

1.1

0.8

Blocks

0.3

0.3

Ball recoveries

6.8

5.2

Touches

66

67

As the table documents, Anderson and Guimarães’ statistics in the Premier League last season were actually very similar across the board.

While the Brazilian scored more goals and boasts better passing numbers, the England international comes out on top for the majority of out-of-possession statistics, including duels, tackles, clearances and ball recoveries.

His form has seen an exponential increase in his valuation, with Football Transfers estimating that his current market value is around £47m, more than three times the £15m Forest paid for him.

Born in Whitley Bay, Anderson could have been Newcastle’s next Geordie sensation, had he not been sold, compared to another by Craig Hope who, speaking on talkSPORT, asserted that “there’s something of Paul Gascoigne about him”.

Gazza himself came through Newcastle’s academy before being sold to Tottenham in 1988, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented English players of all time, a key figure as the Three Lions reached the semi-finals of both Italia ’90 and Euro ’96.

Given his form for both club and country, Anderson could do something similar in North America next summer and, considering the 22-year-old’s rapid development, Newcastle must regret selling him, because just imagine how good they would be with both him and Guimarães bossing the middle of the park.

Before Dan Burn: Newcastle "leader" is the first player Wilson must ditch

This Newcastle United star, who was once called a leader by Alan Shearer, is now on borrowed time on Tyneside.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 13, 2025

Forget Isidor: "Awesome" Sunderland man could be a £30m star in the making

Back in the Premier League after a long absence, Sunderland have wasted no time in trying to establish themselves as more than just relegation candidates.

In the summer, the club spent £141.5m – the second-highest spend by a promoted side in English football history, behind only Nottingham Forest in 2022.

That money brought in Habib Diarra (Strasbourg), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Chemsdine Talbi (Club Brugge), Noah Sadiki (Union SG), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), and Nordi Mukiele (PSG).

Such investment has been rewarded early.

With three wins from their opening fixtures, Sunderland sit fifth in the Premier League, a position even their most optimistic supporters could not have imagined at this stage.

The challenge ahead is sustaining that form, particularly with a trip to Old Trafford looming this weekend.

For all the headline arrivals, though – alongside the headline makers like three-goal hero, Wilson Isidor – it is perhaps the least expected of their summer deals that is proving to be the most significant.

Sunderland's previous £30m sensation

Sunderland fans know better than most the importance of having a goalkeeper who can make the difference at both club and international level.

Their academy produced Jordan Pickford, who emerged from a series of loans to displace Vito Mannone in 2016/17.

That season, Pickford was so impressive that he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, a rare honour for a keeper.

When Sunderland were relegated at the end of that campaign, Pickford became a prized asset.

Everton swooped with a £30m deal, which remains one of the most lucrative sales in the club’s history.

Since then, Pickford has made 325 appearances for Everton, keeping 91 clean sheets, and has established himself as England’s undisputed No.1 with 78 caps, producing defining moments in penalty shootouts at the World Cup and European Championships.

That legacy of homegrown excellence set the bar high for any future Sunderland keeper.

While most of the focus has been on flashy outfield signings this summer, it is the man between the posts who is beginning to capture the same kind of acclaim Pickford once did.

Sunderland's next £30m star in the making

Signed quietly from NEC Nijmegen for £9m, Robin Roefs has been nothing short of outstanding in his first Premier League season.

The 22-year-old Dutch youth international, with ten U21 caps to his name, has played every minute of Sunderland’s campaign so far – 540 minutes in total – and already has three clean sheets to his name.

Described by Andy Sixsmith as having had an “excellent start” to life at Sunderland – while being dubbed “absolutely awesome” by Kevin Phillips – Roefs has shown maturity beyond his years.

While he was at fault for a goal conceded against Aston Villa – palming a shot into the roof of his own net – his response since then has highlighted his resilience and temperament.

Statistically, he has been elite: a save percentage of 82.5% (99th percentile), a clean sheet rate of 50% (99th percentile), and a cross-stopping percentage of 10% (91st percentile).

A direct comparison with Pickford’s current numbers underlines the scale of his start, with the pair deemed to be statistically similar players, as per FBref.

Matches Played

6

6

Saves

18

11

Clean Sheets

3

2

Penalties Saved

1

1

Last season, Roefs averaged 3.0 saves per 90 minutes, compared to Pickford’s 1.83. His save percentage of 82.6% far outstrips Pickford’s 72.2%, and he has conceded just 0.67 goals per 90 against Pickford’s 1.0.

Even in clean sheet percentage, Roefs comes out on top—50% to 33.3%.

It is no surprise, then, that Roefs has also been likened in style to Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya, as per Fbref, both keepers renowned for combining strong shot-stopping with modern distribution.

For Sunderland, having a player of that calibre between the sticks provides a foundation for their survival hopes and long-term ambitions.

Supporters may have expected their big-money forwards or high-profile midfield additions to steal the spotlight, with Isidor certainly flourishing despite the step up, but it is Robin Roefs who has been their standout.

Just as Pickford’s rise once brought Sunderland significant acclaim and financial reward, there is already a sense that Roefs could follow a similar path—both in terms of on-field impact and, in time, market value.

At only 22, Sunderland may already have unearthed their most important signing of the summer.

Not Xhaka: Sunderland's "remarkable" star looks like their best signing

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ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2025

After Kyogo: Birmingham want to sign new ST who's better than Stansfield

Birmingham City sent out a statement of intent last summer when they spent a reported fee of £15m to sign Jay Stansfield from Fulham after their relegation from the Championship.

They smashed the League One transfer record to land the England U21 international on a permanent deal, after he had spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at St. Andrew’s.

Stansfield still has a long way to go before he lives up to that huge price tag, though, after he scored 19 goals in 37 League One matches this season, including nine goals from the penalty spot.

Despite having the English forward on their books, Birmingham are also reportedly in contact with Rennes to strike a deal for Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored ten goals in 22 league games for Celtic in the first half of the season, and he is not the only striker they want to sign.

Birmingham eyeing up Bundesliga striker

According to GIVEMESPORT, the League One champions will not be satisfied by just signing Kyogo to bolster their attack, as they want another forward as well.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that Holstein Kiel centre-forward Shuto Machino has emerged as a target for the Championship side, after he caught the eye in the Bundesliga this term.

It states that the Blues want to sign the Japan international to further add to Chris Davies’ arsenal, which could include Stansfield, Kyogo, and Machino if all things go to plan before the end of the summer transfer window.

GIVEMESPORT does not reveal how much it would cost to sign the Japanese marksman, but Birmingham could land an even better striker than Stansfield by landing a deal for him in the coming weeks.

Why Birmingham should sign Shuto Machino

The Blues should push to sign the 25-year-old striker from the German team, after their relegation from the Bundesliga, because he could come in as an even better forward than the former Fulham youngster.

Whilst Stansfield is three years younger and has the potential to develop and improve in the years to come, the Japan international appears to be the superior option in the here and now for Birmingham.

Machino, who was described as a “true goalscorer” by manager Marcel Rapp, ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 11 goals in 32 Bundesliga outings, outperforming his xG of 6.43.

Stansfield, meanwhile, scored ten goals from 10.44 non-penalty xG and 19 goals from 18.32 xG overall in League One, which suggests that the Holstein Kiel forward could be more ruthless in front of goal as a finisher.

Appearances

32

37

Non-penalty goals

9

10

Big chances created

5

6

Dribble success rate

63%

35%

Ground duel success rate

44%

36%

Aerial duel success rate

39%

12%

As you can see in the table above, the Birmingham star scored one more non-penalty goal and created one more ‘big chance’, whilst playing five more matches in the third tier in England, compared to Machino’s output in the German top-flight.

Whilst playing at a higher level, the 25-year-old forward also provided more to his team out of possession by winning a much higher percentage of his physical duels, particularly in the air, which suggests that he would be an upgrade on Stansfield when it comes to duelling with centre-backs.

Overall, Machino’s qualities in and out of possession appear to place him in a better position to be a star as the main number nine for Birmingham in the Championship next season.

That could mean that Stansfield ends up playing on the left flank, where he made eight appearances this term, more often for the Blues, in order to fit Machino and Kyogo, if all goes well, into the starting XI.

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If all of these signings are completed, then Davies could have plenty of high-quality options to pick from when it comes to selecting his starting line-ups.

Chelsea open discussions over signing £86m Club World Cup sensation

Chelsea chiefs are carrying on with their ambitious transfer plans off-the-field, amid their Club World Cup campaign, with Enzo Maresca’s side now holding conversations over signing a marquee sensation who’s starring at the tournament right now.

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The Blues opened their account with a solid 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night, with Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández grabbing one goal in either half to set up what will be an interesting next clash against Flamengo on Friday.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Liam Delap also made his debut for Chelsea and notched his first assist for the club just minutes after coming off Maresca’s bench, setting up Fernandez with an excellent cross from the right-hand side for the Argentine to tap home from close range.

When it comes to how invested supporters are in the Club World Cup, that is highly debatable to say the least, considering Chelsea beat LAFC in front of a largely barren crowd in Georgia.

However, Stamford Bridge chiefs are believed to be taking the tournament very seriously indeed, with £97 million worth of prize money on offer to the victors. This hefty financial windfall would seriously boost Chelsea when it comes to avoiding the dreaded swinging axe of PSR regulations, and could allow them to invest in their summer recruitment drive with even more gusto.

Chelsea are reportedly prioritising a new winger for Maresca right now (The Guardian), with Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens at the very top of their wishlist after they saw three bids rejected before the CWC transfer deadline.

The Englishman isn’t their only wide target, though, with Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho still on Chelsea’s radar as well.

Chelsea hold discussions with Juventus over signing Kenan Yildiz

According to website Juve FC, Serie A starlet Kenan Yildiz is another transfer possibility for Maresca’s side, following his excellent 2024/2025 campaign.

Juventus' KenanYildizcelebrates

The Turkey international finished 2024/2025 as Juventus’ best-performer by average match rating in the Italian top flight (WhoScored), racking up a total of 10 goals and seven assists in 49 appearances across all competitions so far.

Yildiz is continuing his fine year in the CWC. He got on the Old Lady’s scoresheet and put in an impressive display as Juventus rounded off a routine 5-0 victory over Al Ain in their first group game, with the 20-year-old’s fine displays attracting attention from west London.

Chelsea are now said to have opened “discussions” with Juve over Yildiz, who value the Turk at around £86 million.

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While offers below this benchmark would be considered, Igor Tudor’s side are giving no consideration to selling as things stand, and there’s no indication that the player would push for this move either, despite contact being made with his close circle.

Juve are also planning to agree an extension with Yildiz that could tie him down in Turin until 2031, so Chelsea could have their work cut out for them here.