All posts by z3u9t.icu

In recent years, Leeds United have seen a whole host of exciting, raw gems from the Thorp Arch academy structure explode into life in the senior set-up.

While he has gone on to have an up-and-down career since exiting the Whites, Kalvin Phillips’ name has to be mentioned when looking back at academy starlets coming good at Elland Road, with the Leeds-born midfielder going on to collect 14 goals and 13 assists in the first-team picture at his boyhood side. Safe to say, Marcelo Bielsa turned him into an elite talent.

Archie Gray is also another glaring example of the conveyor belt approach in West Yorkshire working wonders.

Daniel Farke and Co only had the adaptable teenager in the first team ranks for one season before he was poached by a Premier League outfit.

Gray's insane rise at Leeds

Despite having such a long-standing reputation for giving up-and-coming youngsters first-team minutes when ready, no homegrown starlets were present on Farke’s bench for the recent trip to Fulham.

Gray was also nowhere to be found in the Tottenham Hotspur lineup, either, against West Ham United later that Saturday, with a major concern now that the 19-year-old could be Phillips 2.0; another expensive failure in the Premier League when leaving the comforts of West Yorkshire behind.

With hindsight now firmly on side, Gray might well have been better placed to stay put at Leeds for the foreseeable, instead of sealing a £30m move to North London.

Still, those at Leeds no doubt loved every minute of the teenage sensation’s career in the first-team mix at Leeds, even if promotion failed to be secured, with the England U21 regular turning quickly into a starter week in, week out for Farke.

Indeed, Gray left having tallied up 52 appearances in the first-team ranks from just one season, with the 6-foot-2 wonderkid’s ability to line up as a central midfielder or as a full-back, making him a dependable figure, even at such a young age.

Losing the versatility of Gray, therefore, would have hurt Leeds as much as both Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter vacating the building did, with the teenager even being lauded as “elite” from his very early days in West Yorkshire by the iconic Bielsa.

Still, losing Gray for that aforementioned £30m won’t hurt too much anymore as Leeds now find themselves in the same division as their ex-academy product.

Yet, they wouldn’t say no to having a fresh version of the 19-year-old, with another academy sensation now aiming to make the grade required to break into the senior ranks very soon.

The next version of Archie Gray at Leeds

Amazingly, while their former number 22 is no longer around, there is still a lingering Gray family connection at Elland Road.

Indeed, Harry Gray – who is the brother of the £30m star – is now being tipped to reach some incredible heights in West Yorkshire, having already netted four goals in Premier League 2 action this season.

Staggeringly, this isn’t the only narrative that “runs in the family” – as analyst Ben Mattinson has quipped – with Charlie Cresswell’s sibling in Alfie Cresswell making similar waves in the U21 set-up, with a route up to the first-team not looking like the most daring next step for the 18-year-old already.

With two goals next to his name in Premier League 2 action, many looking in might well anticipate that Cresswell is a player who regularly lines up in the forward areas.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, when assessing the various positions he can slot into, the argument that he could be the next Gray-style talent undoubtedly strengthens.

CB

26

0 + 3

DM

18

5 + 1

RB

6

0 + 1

CM

2

0

RM

1

0

Looking at the table above, Cresswell has routinely switched between playing in the middle of the park and as a right-back for the U18s and U21s.

Coincidentally, those are the two main positions Gray used to fill under Farke’s tutelage, with Gray even taking on a centre-back role at Spurs on occasion, like the 18-year-old’s main preference.

Therefore, the hope will be that Cresswell can go on to be a similarly standout success story like the Spurs number 14, as the next generation at Leeds aim to make significant strides to be remembered like Phillips and others before them.

Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues

A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 15, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank identified a “superstar” as a priority target after Randal Kolo-Muani, with a late approach being made on deadline day.

Spurs tried to sign another forward after Kolo-Muani

In one of the surprise moves of deadline day, Spurs got Kolo-Muani through the door, with the Frenchman joining on a straight loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain.

Frank has since explained why he decided to bring in the PSG forward, who has predominantly featured at striker throughout his career to date, rather than signing a new winger.

The Tottenham manager said: “He’s a good age, in the prime of his career, has good qualities that will suit both us and the Premier League,”

“He gives us a different option in the final third, being able to play out wide and through the middle. Randal is a quality player who has proven himself over a number of years, playing for big teams in the Champions League and also with good experience for the France national team.”

However, while Frank was clearly delighted to get Kolo-Muani through the door, the Dane identified another forward as a priority target in the final hours of the transfer window.

That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states the manager was eyeing Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman as his top target, but Tottenham were ultimately unable to come to an agreement with the Italian club.

It is revealed that Spurs wanted to sign Lookman on a straight loan, rather than forking out the £43m it would’ve taken to get a deal over the line, meaning they have now missed out on his signature.

With the forward’s proposed move to Bayern Munich also falling through, he could be set to remain at Atalanta until January, at which point the Lilywhites may have the opportunity to make another approach, given that he is well-known to have fallen out with his club.

"Superstar" Lookman could've been quality signing for Spurs

Tottenham were clearly reluctant to splash the cash on deadline day, having also signed Kolo Muani on a straight loan deal, which includes no option or obligation to buy, and they may have missed out on a top player.

Sold for £6.7m: Spurs must regret selling star who's outscoring Kolo Muani

After Tottenham signed Randal Kolo Muani on deadline day for a €5m loan fee, should Spurs regret selling a striker who has outscored the Frenchman?

1 Sep 2, 2025

Lauded as a “superstar” by 90min’s Sean Walsh, the 27-year-old has taken his career to new heights since arriving in the Serie A, picking up a very impressive 52 goals and 25 assists in 118 appearances for the Italian club.

As such, the Nigeria international may now be ready to test himself in the Premier League once again, despite not setting the world alight during previous stints with Fulham, Leicester City and Everton.

Lookman in England

Appearances

Goals

Everton

48

4

Fulham

35

4

Leicester City

42

8

Manchester United’s devoted fanbase anticipates further arrivals this summer after Matheus Cunha joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £62.5m deal over a month ago.

Such anticipation is wearing thin, though, with it also being over a month since Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo intimated his desire to join Ruben Amorim’s squad this summer. Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, demonstrating strong interest, were rejected in favour of Old Trafford.

But that one’s still dragging on, albeit with progress expected in the coming days. Of equal concern, though, is the fact that a group of players, omitted from Amorim’s training sessions, all remain on the books, having yet to find new clubs; these are: Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia.

After such an abject 2024/25 campaign, the Premier League giants are looking to return to the fore, but in order to achieve this, they will need to make several more impactful moves to ensure last year’s 15th-place finish fades away.

Man United's transfer plans

While the club’s outgoings indeed form a significant part of Amorim’s summer business, technical director Jason Wilcox will need to add some depth and, more importantly, quality to the ranks.

Bruno Fernandes’ decision to reject the riches of the Saudi Pro League in favour of continuing his talismanic journey at the Theatre of Dreams is such a galvanising factor going forward, but he needs a striker to channel his creativity and more mettle beside him.

With Viktor Gyokeres on the cusp of signing for Arsenal, Amorim will need to look elsewhere if he wants a number nine to replace Rasmus Hojlund.

Well, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one to keep an eye on there, with recent contacts having been established.

Central midfield has also been a point of concern for INEOS, especially now that Christian Eriksen has departed at the end of his contract.

Names such as Wilfred Ndidi and Juventus’ Douglas Luiz have been bandied about, but there’s another who might be the perfect man to join the likes of Fernandes in the centre and complete United’s engine room.

Man Utd open talks for new midfielder

As per Caught Offside, Man United have been locked in talks with Bayern Munich for the potential transfer of their tough-tackling midfielder Joao Palhinha, who only joined from Fulham in a £42m deal one year ago.

The Portugal international, 30, is no longer in Vincent Kompany’s plans, so United might be able to secure this former Premier League star for a cut-price fee, with a €35m (£30m) figure touted.

Having made initial enquiries earlier in the summer Jason Wilcox and Co have maintained communications with the Bundesliga champions and are well placed to beat off competition from Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham and West Ham United.

Why Man Utd want Joao Palhinha

Palhinha is a seasoned midfielder with 68 Premier League appearances to his name. Many players have more, of course, but the former Fulham star was hailed as a “defensive monster” by data analyst Marcus Bring for his efforts while at Craven Cottage.

His tenacious approach is exactly what United need to complete their midfield, especially with Casemiro, 33, edging closer to the twilight years of his career.

And given that Palhinha has proven himself in England’s top flight before, he could be the right signing to bring in, so Fernandes can continue to thrive in the centre of the park, having dropped deeper than before at times last season.

That wasn’t to the skipper’s detriment: he scored eight goals and supplied seven assists across 20 outings when in a deeper-lying capacity last term, and with a range of attacking additions anticipated, this could become the new norm for the 30-year-old.

Manuel Ugarte is a part of Amorim’s squad, but his up-and-down maiden year in England calls for competition to ease his burden. Palhinha can perform this role, instilling the controlled combativeness to free up Bruno’s creative flair.

And it’s not like the United superstar wouldn’t return the favour, for he has made quite the name for himself in England for the completeness of his performances, having averaged 2.3 tackles and 4.8 successful duels per top-flight match last term, as per Sofascore.

However, imagine the added emphasis that could be placed on the true core of his skill set, his playmaking, if a reliable six in Palhinha was placed next to him, utterly relentless in winning the ball back, as we saw across his two Premier League campaigns.

1.

Joao Palhinha

Fulham

152

2.

Joao Gomes

Wolves

128

3.

Vinicius Souza

Sheffield Utd

125

4.

Emerson Palmieri

West Ham

106

5.

Tyrick Mitchell

Crystal Palace

105

Palhinha’s 148 tackles across the 2022/23 also saw him take the top spot with that one, and there’s truly a sense that United would hit the jackpot by bringing him back to English football.

His big-money move to Bayern hasn’t gone to plan, only starting six Bundesliga fixtures over the past year, but an unfortunate muscular tear sustained in November disrupted his fluency, playing into the struggles.

Ultimately, Palhinha would be a credit to Amorim’s system, bringing a new kind of energy to the middle of the park while instilling a sense of experience alongside his compatriot Fernandes.

Whether Man United manage to win the race remains to be seen, but Palhinha would be open to the move and Bayern are looking to sell. When the protracted pursuit of Mbeumo is wrapped up, perhaps we’ll see this one swiftly enter the closing stages.

More important than Gyokeres: Man Utd submit bid to sign "incredible" star

Manchester United are continuing their work behind the scenes to strengthen the squad this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 14, 2025

Despite finishing as low as 15th in the Premier League last season and missing out on every European competition, Manchester United’s exciting summer transfer window could be set to continue amid reports that one target has made a shock U-turn.

Mbeumo set to undergo Man Utd medical

After submitting an offer in excess of £60m, Manchester United have taken a vital step closer to signing Mbeumo, who is now reportedly scheduled to undergo a medical at the club as early as next week. The Brentford forward, like Cunha, is a transformative signing for Ruben Amorim’s frontline which was often found wanting last season.

Ahead of the biggest move of his career yet, Mbeumo has already received the backing of Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who spoke about the impact that both he and Cunha could make at Old Trafford.

He told Sky Sports: “[Man United] need players who are going to come in and hit the ground running. United has become a very difficult place for new signings to operate in the last ten years.

“Cunha and Mbeumo have obviously got Premier League experience. They’ve got plenty of games under their belt. [English football] is not new to them and actually they are the right type.

INEOS exploring blockbuster £85m deal to sign Mbappe-level star for Man Utd

He’d be a bigger signing than Mbeumo.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

“When I watch Manchester United wide players, they have to be able to get from box-to-box quickly. They have to be able to run, to travel with and without the ball. Mbeumo and, to be fair Cunha, can do that.”

Whilst the new attacking duo is no doubt impressive, INEOS may not be done there with incomings amid reports that one of their top targets has made a shock transfer U-turn.

Gyokeres now wants Man Utd move instead of Arsenal

In what could prove to be an almighty mistake, Arsenal’s increasing interest for Benjamin Sesko has re-opened the door for INEOS to make their best move yet at Old Trafford.

The Gunners have been chasing both strikers for weeks, laying groundwork and weighing their options, but according to The Mirror, INEOS and Manchester United are in contact to sign Viktor Gyokeres and the Swede now believes that a move to the Red Devils is his best option this summer.

The Swede’s departure from Sporting has become somewhat inevitable after his public spat with the Portuguese club and United should take full advantage of the forward’s desire to reunite with former boss Amorim.

The disagreement came to the fore when Sporting president Frederico Varandas accused Gyokeres’ agent of falsely claiming that there had been a gentleman’s agreement to sell the star striker for around £59m this summer. Instead, the Portuguese club have reportedly priced the Swede at as much as £86m – a price that his camp believe is too high to ensure a move in the coming months.

In today’s market though, Sporting may argue that a player who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season is worth every penny of that £86m fee. Whether Manchester United share that sentiment and sign a player who Sporting boss Rui Borges dubbed “phenomenal” remains to be seen, however.

Leeds United are reportedly waiting for an “excellent” player to make a decision over his future, as they look to snap him up during the summer transfer window.

Leeds need to be "clever" this summer

The Whites are back in the Premier League after a couple of years away, so supporters will naturally be desperate to see top-quality players head to Elland Road.

Leeds cannot simply spend huge amounts of money and be reckless, however, and journalist Adam Pope has said he expects the club to be “clever” this summer more than anything.

“He has looked at what everybody can spend in the Premier League and he mentioned Leeds might be looking at £100m to spend at the top end. This doesn’t really go that far because they had two years in the Championship so this year of the three-year cycle they can afford to lose £61m.

“You can’t spend wildly so people who are talking about what the owners are putting into Rangers and what they’re not putting into Leeds – there are limits. £100m doesn’t sound a right lot so they have to be cute, they have to be clever.”

Leeds continue to be linked with some exciting players, though, including Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, who could make a big difference at the heart of the Whites’ defence. Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has also been linked with a switch to Elland Road, coming in as an upgrade on Illan Meslier.

Leeds ready to move for "excellent" defender

According to The Express, Leeds remain interested in signing Millwall centre-back Japhet Tanganga, but they are waiting for him to make a decision about his future. He has a £1.2m release clause that can be triggered this summer, which they are ‘ready’ to meet once he picks his destination.

The Whites are far from the only club in the mix to sign the 26-year-old, however, with fellow Premier League clubs Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Burnley all mentioned as options and also waiting to pounce.

Tanganga could be a shrewd acquisition by Leeds ahead of next season, having initially burst onto the scene at Tottenham during his emerging years.

He has since gone on to shine for Millwall, becoming a key figure in defence and 40 starts in the Championship last season, as well as being hailed by Alex Neil for his performances in 2024/25.

“He’s the ultimate professional, Japh. After the game, he’s pretty much nearly always the last to leave. Him and Wes [Harding] go through the ritual that they’ve got in terms of recovery, the minute the game’s ended. He prepares as well as anybody. His performances throughout the games have been excellent. Hence the reason why he’s clean swept the player of the year awards.”

Wolves now in transfer race with Leeds to sign "future star" for £8.5m

Wolves are among the teams keen on signing an exciting young forward.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 12, 2025

Tanganga could immediately bolster the squad depth at Daniel Farke’s disposal this summer, and his best years are still ahead of him, meaning he could grow into a real force at Elland Road.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a crucial summer transfer window after deciding to appoint Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement, and many areas of the squad could be reinforced.

Tottenham transfer plans after appointing Thomas Frank

The Dane will become Spurs’ new man in the dugout ahead of next season, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that an agreement has been reached for Frank to join Tottenham after Daniel Levy’s decision to sack Postecoglou.

Tottenham: Frank already urging Levy to sign "immense" £100k-a-week talent

The Dane is now set to replace Ange Postecoglou.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 10, 2025

Frank is an adept choice to step into Postecoglou’s shoes, mainly due to his proven efficiency operating on a shoe-string budget and working under a data-driven recruitment model at Brentford, which will undoubtedly have been a major attraction for Levy.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

However, there are some questions surrounding his suitability when taking into account his lack of trophy-winning or Champions League experience.

Frank will need all the help he can get over the coming months as Spurs look to reinforce a squad which was blighted by repeated injuries last season, with the 51-year-old already said to be having a say in the club’s recruitment drive.

Frank has reportedly recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Levy as a potential signing this summer, following a report from Sky Sports that a new midfielder and forward is seen as the priority for them before deadline day on September 1.

However, star defender Cristian Romero could also leave Spurs, with Atlético Madrid expressing a serious interest in the Argentine.

If the 27-year-old does quit Tottenham, the north Londoners, and especially Frank, would need a like-for-like replacement.

Tottenham made an ambitious £70 million bid for England defender Marc Guehi in January, and reports suggest the Palace star remains on their radar for this summer as he fast approaches the final 12 months of his contract.

Tottenham offered Bayern Munich defender Min-jae Kim

However, according to The Boot Room, an intriguing transfer opportunity has emerged in the form of £195,000-per-week Bayern Munich defender Kim min-Jae.

They report that Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Kim, alongside other Premier League sides, with Bayern willing to entertain selling the South Korea international, who could cost around £42 million.

The 28-year-old was a mainstay under Vincent Kompany last season, but Jonathan Tah’s arrival in Bavaria and Dayot Upamecano’s talks over a new deal mean Kim could now leave the club.

Interestingly, ex-Lilywhites boss Jose Mourinho was desperate for Levy to sign the centre-half during his tenure in charge at Spurs, revealing in 2023 that he held extensive talks to make it happen.

“I can tell you a story about one of their players,” said Mourinho about his failed pursuit of Kim at Spurs.

“I spoke to him on FaceTime and wanted to buy him at Tottenham, but Tottenham didn’t help me.

“The player cost ten million, Tottenham offered five. A deal could be done for seven or eight, but at that time Tottenham couldn’t spend money. I spoke to the lad two or three times via FaceTime, he really wanted to come, but he couldn’t come. And now he’s that ‘rubbish’ defender who plays there, Kim.”

Yet again in his glorious Manchester City reign, Pep Guardiola is overseeing a rebuild. Following a largely underwhelming 2024/25 campaign, it is a case of out with the old and in with the new.

Indeed, having previously phased out the likes of Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero in the past, the Catalan coach is now repeating the process in relation to his treble-winning side of 2023.

The great Kevin De Bruyne is on his way to Napoli by all accounts, while Kyle Walker – fresh from his own sojourn to Serie A – is expected to seal a permanent exit this summer, after eight years at the Etihad.

With doubts also emerging over the futures of Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish, among others, there could well be a fresh feel to the Citizens next season, having already begun the overhaul with four new additions in January.

That quartet appear to be just the start of things, if recent reports are anything to go by, with the Premier League giants seemingly closing in on a first move of the window, amid the imminent arrival of Tijjani Reijnders.

Latest on Man City's transfer search

While the search to replace that man De Bruyne has dominated talk in recent weeks – amid interest in the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and the Liverpool-bound, Florian Wirtz – a further priority also lies in finding a suitable partner for Rodri in that number eight berth.

Transfer Focus

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

The Manchester outfit did only recently fork out £50m for the signing of Nico Gonzalez from Porto, albeit with the Spaniard seemingly deemed as a replacement rather than a partner for his compatriot, having been dubbed a “mini-Rodri” by Guardiola.

With that in mind, sporting director Hugo Viana has turned his attention elsewhere in the bid to bolster those midfield ranks even further, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealing that City have a “verbal agreement in place” for AC Milan star, Reijnders.

The signing of the 26-year-old – for what is expected to be a package of around €70m (£59m) – could well be followed by the capture of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, with Romano also outlining that personal terms have been agreed with the playmaker.

The suggestion is that City will lodge a bid “in the next hours” amid their desire to get the deal done, amid rival interest from Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, with prior reports indicating that Cherki could be available for as little as £25m.

Why Cherki would be a good signing

It may go against the Guardiola grain to be signing a “maverick” talent like the Lyon starlet, as hailed by pundit Rio Ferdinand, although the Citizens are in need of a fresh creative source, in the wake of De Bruyne’s imminent exit.

With the aforementioned Grealish – and England teammate, Phil Foden – providing just 11 goals and assists between them in the Premier League last season, the onus is on finding a suitable supplier for main man, Erling Haaland.

In many ways, Guardiola’s side are still seeking to find a suitable successor to Riyad Mahrez in the forward line, with one-time Leicester City hero having racked up 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 games prior to his 2023 exit, a return that included 28 goal involvements in all competitions during his final season.

Described as a player who can “change the game” by his manager, the now 34-year-old was simply a genius during his time in English football, possessing a wand of a left foot and an ability to create something out of nothing down that right flank.

Those are traits which the veteran no doubt shares with young Cherki, with the France U21 international – who qualifies to play for Algeria, like Mahrez – also a creative weapon. Equally, like Mahrez too, the left-footer is comfortable operating down the right flank or in a number ten berth.

Hailed as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, Cherki is fresh off the back of a campaign that ended with a remarkable haul of 32 goals and assists from just 44 games, including 19 goals and assists in Ligue 1.

Such form in France’s top-flight saw the 21-year-old notably create 22 big chances and average 2.5 key passes per game, during his 30 league outings, as per Sofascore, having also averaged 1.6 successful dribbles as a sign of his breathtaking ability to beat his man.

Non-penalty goals

0.35

0.19

Assists

0.49

0.47

Shot-creating actions

6.44

5.44

Passes attempted

60.63

54.66

Pass completion

78.5%

82.2%

Progressive passes

9.08

3.56

Progressive carries

4.67

3.66

Successful take-ons

2.12

1.17

Touches in opposition box

5.82

5.16

Progressive passes received

8.11

11.34

When comparing his recent heroics with Mahrez’s final Premier League campaign, it is easy to see their statistical and stylistic likeness too, with the pair both ranking highly for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, indicating their unique ability to generate opportunities in the final third.

That desire to make things happen is also evident with regard to the ‘passes attempted’ metric, with that knack for conjuring a moment of magic seemingly needed to help replace the likes of the “predictable” Grealish, as described by Gary Neville.

With Mahrez having repeatedly delivered the goods for City in previous years, Guardiola could now find his heir apparent by plucking Cherki from Lyon.

"World-class" star now pushing to join Man City quickly; £59m+ offer needed

There has been a development in Man City’s pursuit of a key target…

ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers require a major summer rebuild?

Wolves were in the relegation zone when Vítor Pereira was appointed in December, but he managed to win ten of his 22 Premier League fixtures in charge, including leading the club to their first six-match winning streak in the top division since October 1970.

This saw the Old Gold finish 16th, 17 points clear of the drop zone, but, with many of their key assets coveted by other clubs, it is set to be a busy summer at Molineux.

That has all started with Matheus Cunha’s departure.

Why Matheus Cunha was a wanted man

On Sunday afternoon, it was officially announced that Cunha had joined Manchester United, the Red Devils paying his reported £62.5m release clause.

This is obviously a blow for Wolves because, as Matt Furniss of Opta’s the Analyst outlines, he has been Wolves’ ‘most influential player’ across the last two seasons, describing Cunha as a ‘revelation’ and praising his consistent ability to over-perform his xG statistics.

Meantime, Steve Madeley of the Athletic notes that the Brazilian has undoubtedly been ‘Wolves’ player of the season’, adding that very rarely is an entire campaign linked ‘so intrinsically to one player’, with Cunha always the main character, ‘for better and worse’.

Since making him move from Atlético Madrid permanent for £44m two summers ago, Cunha has scored 31 goals in 72 appearances for the club, numbers that are going to be difficult for anyone to replicate.

However, is a current member of the Wolverhampton Wanderers squad primed and ready to become the main man?

Wolves' unsung hero ready to step-up after Cunha

When Wolves signed Jørgen Strand Larsen last summer from Celta Vigo, initially on loan but with a £23m obligation to buy, there was very little fanfare, it is fair to say.

Thus, the Norwegian striker certainly surpassed all expectations, scoring 14 Premier League goals, meaning only nine players across the entire division managed more.

The Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer praised Strand Larsen’s performance during a vital 2-1 victory at Ipswich in April, saying “his hold-up play was excellent… his touch and his control were superb”, adding “I actually think they’ve looked a better team” without Cunha during his four-match suspension.

Meantime, manager Pereira described his form as “fantastic”, adding “he helped the team” a lot.

Nevertheless, the key question remains: does Strand Larsen have the quality to be Wolves’ main man for goals now that Cunha has departed?

Well, let’s compare the duo in an attempt to answer this question.

Appearances

35

33

Minutes

2,603

2,603

Goals

14

15

Assists

4

6

Shots

54

110

Shots on target %

61.1%

40%

Goals – xG

+3.7

+6.4

Big chances missed

13

2

Big chances created

6

13

Shot-creating actions

42

132

Goal-creating actions

6

16

Aerial duels won

67

13

Touches per 90

26

54

% of touches in opposition box

15%

8%

As the table outlines, Cunha’s statistics are largely more impressive, which shouldn’t be too surprising, given that he’s the one who has just earned a big-money move to Manchester United.

However, what the table also crystallises is the fact that they are very different types of centre-forward.

Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst labelled Strand Larsen a ‘fox in the box’, documenting how he is a classic target man whose ‘presence alone keeps centre-backs occupied’, an assertion that is supported by the data, with 15% of his touches coming in the opposition penalty area, nearly double the ratio of Cunha.

While the Brazilian ranked second in the Premier League this season for non-penalty goals – xG, his teammate was not too far behind, sat seventh for the same metric.

Strand Larsen also ranked sixth for aerial duels won amongst strikers, albeit his big chances missed tally of 13 leaves room for improvement.

Nevertheless, still only 25 years old, the Norwegian has all the attributes to be a successful centre-forward in this league, so is well-equipped to fill the massive void vacated by the outgoing Cunha.

Romano: Wolves make approach to sign "highly rated" gem wanted in Europe

The Old Gold are making moves for the future…

BySean Markus Clifford May 30, 2025

Fair to say, a busy summer awaits for Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs are currently down in 17th place in the Premier League table, thereby on course for their lowest finish since being relegated in 1977, suffering a 20th league defeat of the season at Villa Park on Friday night.

Of course, Ange Postecoglou team could capture the club’s first silverware in 17 years and secure a spot in next season’s Champions League with victory over Manchester United in Wednesday’s Europa League Final at San Mamés; what a key game that’ll be for both.

Regardless of the outcome in Bilbao, supporters will demand a busy summer window from Daniel Levy, so are Spurs favourites to sign a highly-rated Ligue 1 star?

Djed Spence's up and down Spurs career

Djed Spence joined Tottenham from Middlesbrough for a reported fee of £12.5m, that could rise to £20m, in 2022, but fair to say he did not make an immediate impact.

Then-manager Antonio Conte described him as a “club signing”, which Spence himself admitted this “shattered my confidence”, shipped out on loan to Stade Rennais, Leeds United, and then Genoa.

It took 881 days for Spence to make his Premier League debut for Tottenham, this coming against Southampton in December, before quickly establishing himself as a key figure, with Postecoglou praising his performances as “outstanding”.

Nevertheless, he is no longer in Postecoglou’s first-choice lineup, not starting any of the four Europa League quarter-final or semi-final ties, so could Spurs target a Spence upgrade?

Spurs could sign Spence upgrade

According to a recent report by Danny Rust and Dean Jones of Give Me Sport, Tottenham are ‘at the front of the queue’ to sign Monaco defender Vanderson, who is valued at £30m.

The 23-year-old joined les Monégasques from Grêmio for a reported fee of around £9m in January 2022, instantaneously establishing himself as a first-team regular, making 124 appearances for the club to date.

Writer Moby Haque labels him as “versatile”, while Luke Entwistle from Get French Football News describes the Brazilian as ‘well-balanced’ and ‘very competent’, impressed by his ‘positioning, intense pressing and strong tackling’.

Meantime, Chris Beaumont from Total Football Analysis believes he is a high-quality youngster, and Tom Beattie of Yahoo Sports says Vanderson is ‘characterised by his strong defensive prowess’, so let’s see how he compares to Spence.

Appearances

33

40

Minutes

2,410

3,075

Goals

2

2

Assists

3

5

Big chances created

3

7

Pass completion %

83.5%

76.8%

Shot-creating actions

35

79

Goal-creating actions

5

14

Tackles

52

99

Interceptions

29

58

Clearances

83

88

Blocks

31

54

Ball recoveries

124

199

% of aerial duels won

59.5%

47.5%

Touches per 90

59

68

Average Sofascore rating

6.96

7.09

As the table outlines, Vanderson’s statistics are almost unanimously more impressive than Spence’s, both in terms of creating chances and defending; his ball recovery number specifically stands out, ranked 18th in Ligue 1 and 33rd in this season’s Champions League for this metric.

Thus, Vanderson would surely be an excellent addition for Spurs, although they may require a victory over Man United on Wednesday to attract him to North London.

£25m striker's reps contact Tottenham as club now decide to sell him

They’ve reached out to the Lilywhites.

ByEmilio Galantini May 16, 2025

Before the Ange Postecoglou era, the permanent manager of Tottenham Hotspur was none other than Antonio Conte.

Now, it would be fair to say that for all of his success with other teams, the Italian icon didn’t fare too well in North London, as while he secured Champions League football for the club in his first season, he didn’t even make it to the end of his second one in charge.

The former Chelsea boss was infamous for playing a pragmatic, boarding-on-tedious style of football that couldn’t be any more different to the one Spurs try to play today.

However, while it didn’t quite work out for Conte, he did leave the club with a points per game average of 1.78 and now looks on track to win Serie A with Napoli, so recent news linking the Lilywhites with another manager who could easily be compared to the 55-year-old should excite fans.

Tottenham's manager search

Before getting to the manager in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other managers linked with the Tottenham job in recent weeks, like Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

Manager Focus

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The former has done an exemplary job in West London, taking the Bees from a Championship side and turning them into one of the most entertaining sides in the Premier League, who still score goals for fun, even in the absence of former star striker Ivan Toney.

In a similar vein, Iraola took charge of the Cherries when they looked destined to return to the second tier last season and has transformed them into a team now fighting for a place in Europe next year.

However, a club like Spurs requires someone who can do more than improve the fortunes of smaller teams, which helps to explain their interest in Simone Inzaghi.

According to reports from Italy, the idea of the Italian coach moving to North London in the summer is ‘gaining traction’ and could soon develop ‘into something concrete.’

The report claims that a combination of a Premier League salary and his project at Inter coming to an end could convince the talented manager to move to N17 at the end of the season.

While it could be a challenging deal to get over the line, Spurs must do all they can to secure Inzaghi’s services. Not only would he be a monumental upgrade on Postecoglou, but he could be a more successful Conte 2.0.

How Inzaghi compares to Postecoglou

Okay, so before we compare Inzaghi to Postecoglou, why could his arrival be described as Conte 2.0?

Well, simply put, he’d be joining Tottenham from Inter Milan, a fellow Italian and, crucially, while he’s not quite as defensively minded as the former Spurs boss, he can be just as pragmatic.

Moreover, and this is one of the big advantages he has over Ange, the 49-year-old is a proven winner in a top-five league, having led Lazio to the Coppa Italia in 18/19 and then winning another two with Inter Milan, as well as leading them to the Scudetto last season.

In contrast, all the Australian’s successes have come in smaller leagues, be that in Scotland, Japan or Australia, and while that is not meant to demean his achievements, it is undeniable that the pressure to succeed in those leagues is far less intense than it is here or in Italy, for example.

Moreover, when we compare the two managers’ records at their current sides, it’s abundantly clear who is doing the better job.

Games

212

96

Wins

138

45

Draws

40

14

Losses

34

37

Points per Game

2.14

1.55

For example, since taking the job at the San Siro, the “phenomenal” Italian, as dubbed by Felipe Salvador Caicedo, has overseen 138 wins, 40 draws and 34 losses, which comes out to an average of 2.14 points per game.

In contrast, the former Celtic boss has overseen 45 wins, 14 draws and 37 losses since taking charge of the North Londoners, which comes out to a rather paltry 1.55 points per game.

Ultimately, Inzaghi has shown himself to be tactically flexible, has won major trophies and has far more experience in a top-five league than Postecoglou, so if Spurs can hire him this summer, they should.

Amazing upgrade on Solanke: Spurs ready to pay £30m for "remarkable" CF

The experienced marksman could be just what Spurs need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 6, 2025