All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Alexander Isak’s time at St James’ Park appears to be drawing to a tense and acrimonious conclusion.

The Sweden international has refused to reintegrate with Eddie Howe’s squad after Liverpool’s summer approach, making it clear he will not play for the Magpies again.

Newcastle United’s hierarchy, unwilling to be left light in attack, have made it clear no deal will be sanctioned until a replacement is secured.

The club’s search for a new centre-forward is urgent, with the new Premier League season just days away.

Howe’s focus turns to Wolves' Jørgen Strand Larsen

Missing out on Benjamin Šeško to Manchester United was a significant blow, while Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson has been monitored following his own push for an exit from Stamford Bridge.

However, the emphasis is now firmly on another target – one who ticks the stylistic and physical boxes required to replace a forward of Isak’s calibre.

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 GIVEMESPORT, Newcastle have explored the possibility of signing Wolves forward Jørgen Strand Larsen this summer.

Larsen only joined Wolves permanently this summer following a season-long loan from Celta Vigo, in which the club triggered a £23m buy option.

He quickly became a fan favourite, finishing the season with 14 league goals – the highest ever by a Premier League debutant for Wolves, surpassing Raúl Jiménez’s 2018/19 record.

His impact was particularly telling during April, when he scored in three consecutive matches, earning a nomination for Player of the Month.

Standing at 1.93 metres, Larsen is a classic penalty-box presence but with enough technical skill to link play and occupy defenders intelligently.

His market value now sits at £65m according to reports, and Wolves have no appetite to lose him, especially in light of Matheus Cunha’s big-money move to Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Newcastle’s situation with Isak has forced them to probe possibilities that might otherwise have been shut down early.

Wolves’ resolve remains firm, but the Magpies believe Larsen’s profile is worth pursuing, especially before Saturday’s opener against Aston Villa.

How Isak compares to Strand Larsen

Both strikers began their careers in their Scandinavian homelands before taking the next step in the Netherlands — Isak with Willem II and the new target with Groningen — and both have enjoyed spells in Spain prior to their current Premier League stints.

However, it’s not just the biographical similarities that make the tag stick.

Isak

29

23

6

JLarsen

18

14

4

Both finished clinically, but Larsen actually outperformed Isak in shot accuracy, hitting the target with 61.1% of his efforts compared to the Swede’s 43.2%.

Physically, both are imposing forwards, yet stylistically, there is a clear divergence.

Isak is a more complete ball-playing forward, registering 2.71 progressive carries and 2.88 progressive passes per 90, compared to Larsen’s 0.59 and 1.01, respectively.

This reflects Isak’s tendency to drop deep or drift wide, using pace and dribbling to open up defences, whereas Larsen thrives on intelligent positioning and quick, decisive finishing inside the penalty area.

Larsen’s aerial ability and hold-up play resemble that of Chris Wood – another former Newcastle forward – hence why analyst Ben Mattinson has suggested he’s a “proper number 9”.

Crucially, he ranks in the 84th percentile for non-penalty expected goals per shot (0.19), suggesting an ability to get on the end of high-quality chances, and in the 99th percentile for shot-on-target percentage.

From Newcastle’s perspective, this profile offers a different kind of focal point — one who could complement Anthony Elanga’s pace, Yoane Wissa’s potential arrival from Brentford, and the creativity of Jacob Ramsey, who is close to joining in a £40m deal from Aston Villa.

This approach to replacing Isak suggests Howe may be seeking to evolve his side’s attacking blueprint rather than simply slot in a like-for-like clone.

Isak’s combination of dribbling, progressive passing and positional flexibility made him a unique weapon but also left Newcastle vulnerable when he became unavailable.

Larsen’s more orthodox No.9 skill set could allow Newcastle to build a more direct, penalty-box-oriented attack, especially if supply lines from wide areas are strengthened.

Time, however, is against them.

With the Isak situation unresolved and Wolves digging in over Larsen’s availability, Newcastle must decide whether to push aggressively for their chosen man or pivot once again to alternatives like Jackson.

Given the urgency before the Villa clash, the coming days could define not only their start to the season, but also the tone of Howe’s third full campaign in charge.

More important than Ramsey: Newcastle move close to signing £30m forward

Newcastle United prioritise £30m star striker signing as Alexander Isak saga continues

ByWill Miller Aug 14, 2025

Arsenal intend to remain active in the summer transfer window, even after their statement signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

He was stunning: Arsenal found their very own Eberechi Eze vs Newcastle

Do Arsenal already have their answer to Eberechi Eze?

ByMatt Dawson Jul 27, 2025

After a near-two-month-long saga, sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta welcomed the prolific centre-forward, with Arsenal finally agreeing an initial £55m deal which could be worth up to £64 million if add-ons are met.

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

Gyokeres was unveiled as a new Gunners player to a delighted Singapore crowd just before Arsenal’s 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle, and there is a possibility of him debuting against Tottenham on Thursday.

“We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the club,” said Berta in an official statement.

“Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision.

“We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in our dressing room. Welcome, Viktor!”

Gyokeres’ arrival perhaps comes as Arsenal’s most significant bit of transfer business in the last few years, with a proven goalscorer long viewed as the missing piece of Arteta’s potential title-winning jigsaw.

The 27-year-old scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, and their president Frederico Varandas seriously dug his heels in over letting Gyokeres leave the Portuguese champions.

Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, was even forced to waive his commission fee to help facilitate the transfer, and following weeks of talks, Arsenal at long last reached a full agreement last week (Fabrizio Romano).

After Gyokeres, Arsenal are believed to be targeting a number 10 to complement club captain Martin Odegaard, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze firmly on Berta’s radar as a key option.

Arsenal offered Arda Güler and Raul Asencio in Real Madrid part-exchange deal

Now, according to reports from Spain, Arteta and co have been offered a different playmaker in Turkey international Arda Güler.

Indeed, it is now believed Real Madrid are proposing Guler and defender Raul Asencio, plus £78 million, in exchange for star Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.

In what is an audacious claim from Europe, Berta is said to be “seriously considering” this part-exchange bid from Real, even if Arsenal and Saliba are currently locked in talks over a contract extension.

Guler has struggled for consistent game time at the Bernabeu overall, but did manage six goals and 11 assists by the end of 2024/2025 whilst playing every game of Real’s Club World Cup campaign under Xabi Alonso.

However, while Guler has displayed flashes of real brilliance since bursting on to the scene at Fenerbahçe, even being dubbed the ‘Turkish Messi’, losing Saliba would be far too big of a price to pay, even if Asencio would also immediately come in his stead.

After dropping out of the race to sign Hugo Ekitike, Newcastle United and Eddie Howe have now reportedly turned their focus towards an alternative option who’s more clinical than the Frenchman.

Newcastle's current striker shortlist

Whilst Ekitike did sit top of their striker shortlist before Liverpool entered the race and left them reeling, Newcastle still have a number of options that they could turn towards. The striker market is wide open. Even after watching Joao Pedro join Chelsea and Liverpool take the lead in the race for Ekitike, the likes of Victor Osimhen and Yoane Wissa remain on the market.

That said, even Howe couldn’t hide his frustration about how the transfer window has gone so far on Tyneside, telling reporters: “It was a difficult summer (to switch off) with everything going on behind the scenes.”

“Obviously losing Paul (Mitchell) and all of the dynamics changing within (the club). The Sporting Director role is such a pivotal role at the club, so there was a lot (of work) to pick up.

“There has been a lot of work, transfer wise, for very little incoming action, although we are delighted to get Anthony Elanga in, who has done very well in training so far. But a lot more work (is needed) behind the scenes in preparation for the new season.”

£50m England international now "very" open to joining Newcastle this summer

He’s got the same agent as Dan Burn…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 18, 2025

Howe’s verdict suggests that Newcastle’s work is far from over this summer. After missing out on Ekitike, all involved at St James’ Park will be desperate to ensure that their next pursuit goes off without a hitch – be it for Wissa or, as some reports have suggested is possible, Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.

At this stage, the most ideal scenario for Newcastle is welcoming a striker who is even better than Ekitike and that’s exactly what one Bundesliga alternative would offer them.

Howe personally plotting Sesko move

As reported by The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Howe is now personally plotting a move to sign Benjamin Sesko for Newcastle, having previously instructed St James’ Park chiefs to take a look at the Serbian.

The Magpies would once again have to spend big to secure his signature, with Leipzig reportedly demanding around €90m (£78m) to sell their star striker, but Sesko could prove to be worth every penny.

Starts

31

30

Goals

15

13

Assists

8

5

Expected Goals

21.6

10

Ekitike may have outscored Sesko last season, but it was the latter who proved to be the more clinical finisher – outperfoming his XG by three goals whilst the Frankfurt star underperformed significantly. That would suggest that, in a side offering him more chances, Sesko’s numbers would soar.

It should come as no surprise that the talented forward has earned previous praise from the likes of former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell, who said: “Benjamin Šeško is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player.

“He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6’4″) is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”

Kobbie Mainoo is a player who appeared to be the future of Manchester United, but his future could now be in doubt over the next couple of years.

The 2023/24 campaign was a phenomenal one for the 20-year-old, scoring crucial goals against Wolves, Liverpool and even the FA Cup final triumph over rivals Manchester City.

However, the same can’t be said for last season, only making 19 starts in the Premier League and failing to register a single goal or assist – highlighting his decline under Ruben Amorim.

As a result, he’s been linked with various moves away from Old Trafford this summer, potentially being offloaded to raise funds for any additions the manager desires.

Should he stay, it could get even worse at the Theatre of Dreams for the Englishman, potentially falling further down the pecking order given the interest elsewhere.

The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder

Douglas Luiz is a player who’s been firmly on their radar this summer, potentially available for a bargain price after only starting three Serie A matches last campaign.

He’s been subject to talks already this window, with the Italian outfit opening to allowing him to join the Red Devils in any deal which could see Jadon Sancho move to Turin.

However, he’s not the only midfielder in Italy’s top flight currently in their sights, with Atalanta star Ederson another player under consideration, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that higher-ups at Old Trafford have already held talks with the 26-year-old’s representatives over a potential deal, but it could set them back around £50m this summer.

It also states that Amorim’s side see him as one of the best options on the market for the midfield department, but it’s unclear if the player himself would be open to any move to England.

Why United’s £50m target could prove to be bad news for Mainoo

The midfield department at United already has a fair amount of quality, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro all already on the club’s books.

Given the other options, Mainoo has found minutes harder to come by, even having to feature in a false nine position at times last campaign, with the central midfield department one that’s already stacked.

Christian Eriksen was released at the end of his contract at the end of June, which raised funds and opened a gap for added minutes within the first team setup.

However, Mainoo may not be able to take advantage of the situation, especially given the recent rumours over a move to land Brazilian talent Ederson.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the most recent season, the Atalanta star has massively outperformed him in numerous key areas – potentially ending Mainoo’s time with the Red Devils should he join.

Ederson, who’s been labelled “one of the best midfielders in Seria A” by journalist Matteo Bonetti and registered more combined goals and assists, along with more shot-creating actions per 90 – highlighting the goalscoring threat he carries in front of goal.

He’s also thrived with the ball at his feet, completing more of the passes he’s attempted, with more passes into the final third per 90 – having the tools to provide those in front of him with added chances.

Games played

37

25

Goals & assists

5

0

Pass accuracy

87%

86%

Progressive passes

6.8

3.5

Passes into final third

6.1

2.7

Shot-creating actions

3.1

1.8

% of tackles won

65%

60%

Interceptions made

1.1

0.9

Carries into final third

1.8

0.9

Aerials won

60%

38%

The Brazilian’s dominance over the United youngster is further reflected out-of-possession, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst also making more interceptions per 90, hence why Italian content creator Damiano Coccia has even claimed that Ederson is “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world.”

£50m for a player of Ederson’s quality could prove to be an excellent pickup, handing the side the elite-level talent at the heart of the squad they have been crying out for.

Mainoo is a player who was once seen as the future of the football club, but his playing time could well be further limited should the Atalanta star move to Old Trafford this summer.

Wilcox preparing bid to sign Man Utd's answer to Jude Bellingham this week

Manchester United appear to be making a huge move to land a superb young talent this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 9, 2025

Glasgow Rangers are now “hopeful” of signing a £75,000-a-week Leicester City player alongside midfielder Joe Rothwell, according to a recent Ibrox transfer report.

Rangers are close to signing Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth

It has been a busy time of late for the Gers, as they finally found their successor to Philippe Clement in the form of Russell Martin and have since added their first addition, with Max Aarons joining on loan from AFC Bournemouth.

Offer made: Rangers at risk of losing another "complete" star after Igamane

Russell Martin could be dealt a second blow…

5 ByTom Cunningham Jul 1, 2025

Martin and the Gers have now returned to the Cherries to complete another signing. According to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, Rangers have agreed a deal with Bournemouth to sign Rothwell on a permanent basis, despite the fact the midfielder did have offers to move to La Liga.

It isn’t clear how much the Gers are willing to spend on the midfielder, but given he has entered the final year of his contract at Bournemouth, it is probably for a relatively low fee. The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at Leeds United, where he played 36 times in the Championship, as the Whites secured the title to seal promotion back to the Premier League.

Before his stint in Yorkshire, Rothwell spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Southampton, where he worked with Martin and helped the Saints to promotion to the Premier League. The pair are now set to work together once again, this time in Scotland.

Rangers "hopeful" of signing £75K-p/w Conor Coady

As the Gers close in on a deal for Rothwell, according to STV Sports presenter Raman Bhardwaj, Rangers remain “hopeful” they can get a deal agreed to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City.

It was reported a couple of days ago by the Daily Record that talks are ongoing between both Rangers and the Foxes over a deal for Coady. The England international is under contract at the King Power Stadium until 2026, but it isn’t clear how much Leicester are asking for to sell the defender, as they are not willing to let him leave for free.

As well as agreeing a deal with Leicester, the Gers have also got to agree personal terms with the former Everton and Wolves defender, as he reportedly earns £75,000 a week at the King Power Stadium.

Apps

22

Starts

19

Goals

1

Clean sheets

2

Interceptions per game

0.6

Tackles per game

0.6

Balls recovered per game

2.8

Ground duels won

0.7 (53%)

Aerial duels won

0.6 (37%)

Total duels won

1.3 (45%)

The Scottish giants do already have a few options at the heart of their defence, but given how far behind they were of Celtic last season, Martin obviously feels he needs more experience and leadership qualities in his defence.

Coady’s struggles at Leicester continued last season, as he only played 22 times in the Premier League, and a lot of those appearances came towards the back end of the season under Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has now left. A move to Scotland may make sense for Coady now, as he looks to continue playing at a high level as long as he can.

Looking to finally seal their second signing of the summer, INEOS have now reportedly submitted a “new” £60m+ offer for Manchester United to sign an attacking reinforcement who has been likened to Kevin De Bruyne.

INEOS keen to get Man Utd deals done by pre-season

Having already welcomed Matheus Cunha to get their summer plans off to the perfect start, Manchester United are now targeting a number of further much-needed reinforcements. And INEOS want things wrapped up fairly quickly ahead of the next campaign. According to Simon Stone of BBC Sport, Manchester United are trying to get their business done by the time that pre-season commences on 7 July.

He'd be unplayable with Cunha: Man Utd make enquiry to sign £50m "superstar"

Man United have wanted to sign this “superstar” forward for a while.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 24, 2025

That gives those at Old Trafford around two weeks to seal any further business and assemble a squad capable of instant improvement under Ruben Amorim next season. It, therefore, comes as little surprise to see the rumours already coming thick and fast as to who the Red Devils could welcome in the next fortnight.

One of the most prominent names on that front has been Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. The Argentine shot-stopper could be among those shown the door in the Midlands as Villa attempt to comply with PSR rules and Manchester United are reportedly lying in wait.

A World Cup winner and one of the more experienced Premier League goalkeepers these days, there’s no doubt that Martinez would be an instant upgrade on Onana. But he’s not the only one who could arrive in the next two weeks after INEOS reportedly submitted a new bid to sign an impressive attacking reinforcement.

Man Utd submit "new" £60m+ Mbeumo offer

According to Fabrizio Romano, INEOS have submitted a “new” £60m+ offer to sign Bryan Mbeumo for Manchester United this summer. The player is reportedly prioritising a move to Old Trafford this summer and talks are ongoing with Brentford as all parties attempt to reach an agreement for his signature.

Alongside Cunha, Mbeumo could finally transform United’s attack, which often struggled when forced to rely on the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season.

Whilst both players were struggling for the Red Devils, Cunha and Mbeumo were thriving for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford with the latter particularly standing out – scoring 20 Premier League goals.

Mbeumo earned high praise as a result and has even been likened to Manchester City legend and recent Napoli signing De Bruyne by Football Transfers.

The Brentford star won’t come cheap but all signs point towards a player who would finally live up to the hype at Old Trafford.

It’s been a jam-packed summer for Chelsea so far this year.

On top of making it through to the knockout rounds of the Club World Cup, the Blues have already been very active in the transfer window.

Enzo Maresca’s side have bought in a number of young talents to bolster the squad ahead of their return to the Champions League next season, with perhaps the most exciting so far being Liam Delap.

However, in exciting news, the club appear close to securing the services of another young star who could be an even bigger talent than the former Ipswich Town star.

Chelsea target young talents

So far this summer, Chelsea seem to be continuing their habit of targeting young, up-and-coming talents, with names like Nico Williams and Alejandro Garnacho linked with them over the last few weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

However, with the former now looking set to join Barcelona and the latter not exactly the most popular candidate, thanks to how things appear to have ended at Manchester United, the Blues have also looked at a host of other youngsters.

Fortunately, the West Londoners now appear to be closing in on one of those prospects, someone who’s arguably a bigger talent than Delap: Jamie Gittens.

Yes, according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are still pursuing the Borussia Dortmund star.

In fact, the Italian journalist has revealed that an “agreement is getting closer” as the two sides continue their talks over the player in the US.

A price is not mentioned in the update, but according to other reports from this week, it looks increasingly likely that the Englishman will cost around £55m.

It might be a lot of money for a 20-year-old, but based on his ability and potential, it could be worth it, especially as he might be a bigger talent than Delap.

How Gittens compares to Delap

So, the first thing to say is that both youngsters look destined for brilliant careers at the very top of the game, but if we had to come down on who we think is just about the bigger talent, it would be Gittens, and there are a few reasons why.

The first is that, while the former Ipswich Town gem was honing his skills in the Championship last season, the Dortmund prospect was making a name for himself in the Bundesliga and even made seven appearances in the Champions League, despite being just 19 years old.

Moreover, this season, when both players were competing in one of Europe’s top five leagues alongside other competitions, the 20-year-old prospect was, in fact, more effective for the German outfit than the 22-year-old was for the Tractor Boys.

For example, the “explosive” Reading-born winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 49 appearances, totalling 2,803 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal or assist every 164.88 minutes.

In contrast, the Winchester-born poacher scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 40 appearances, totalling 2,670 minutes, for the Suffolk side this year, which comes out to a goal involvement every 190.71 minutes.

Finally, when we examine their underlying numbers, it becomes impossible to ignore just how much better the talented winger fares than his potential new teammate.

For example, not only does he do better in the most critical attacking metrics, like non-penalty goals plus assists and key passes, but also tackles, blocks and interceptions, so he can be trusted to contribute to the dirty work while also impacting play at the sharp end of the pitch.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.56

0.42

Progressive Passes

2.13

1.04

Progressive Carries

5.74

2.12

Shots

2.64

2.29

Shots on Target

1.22

1.01

Expected Assists

0.21

0.05

Passing Accuracy

76.5%

61.3%

Key Passes

1.07

0.73

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.22

0.21

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.20

0.00

Shot-Creating Actions

3.70

2.15

Goal-Creating Actions

0.51

0.24

Tackles

1.57

0.38

Tackles Won

0.96

0.28

Blocks

0.81

0.28

Interceptions

0.51

0.07

Clearances

0.20

0.97

Successful Take-Ons

3.91

1.39

Carries into the Final Third

2.84

1.60

Carries into the Penalty Area

3.20

1.04

Ultimately, both Delap and Gittens will be excellent players for Chelsea, but as things stand, the latter appears to be a more promising talent than the 22-year-old striker.

Alongside Gittens: Chelsea ready bid for £51m "legend" who's Caicedo 2.0

Chelsea – as ever – are likely to spend big this summer on new additions…

ByRobbie Walls Jun 26, 2025

It’s all gone a bit quiet at Rangers recently, hasn’t it? Russell Martin was unveiled as the new manager a week ago but, since then, very little to report from Ibrox, with supporters eager to see a new signing or two through the door.

On Tuesday, Rangers will learn the identity of their first opponents of the Martin era, with a Champions League second round qualifier to come, a tie coming up as soon as 22/23 July.

Needing to act fast in the transfer market, could the Gers be about to make a big splash?

Rangers targeting a new midfielder

A range of youth and experience could be targeted by the new manager this summer. Jamie Vardy has already been touted with a move to Ibrox, but he’s not the only Premier League stalwart in the club’s crosshairs.

According to a report by Mick Brown of Football Insider, Rangers are ‘considering’ a move to sign midfielder Christian Eriksen this summer, believing he could ‘play an orchestrating role’.

The 33-year-old is a free agent, having left Manchester United following the expiration of his contract, but still showed his quality in a Denmark shirt this week, scoring against both Northern Ireland in Parken and then Lithuania in Odense during friendly victories for de Rød-Hvide.

So, despite his age, data analyst David O’Brien believes Eriksen is still a “world-class playmaker”, so signing him would represent a massive coup for Rangers, albeit salary could be a stumbling block, considering he was earning £150k-per-week at Manchester United, according to Capology.

Nevertheless, his arrival would get the Ibrox faithful excited, especially considering he would be reminiscent of a fans’ favourite from yesteryear.

How Eriksen could emulate Brian Laudrup at Rangers

A certain Brian Laudrup joined Rangers from Fiorentina for £2.3m in the summer of 1994, and this was certainly a solid investment, widely considered to be amongst Rangers’ greatest players of modern times, as well as one of their most ‘gifted and talented entertainers’.

Eriksen’s fellow countryman, who had won the European Championship against all odds two years earlier, played 150 times for the Light Blues, scoring 44 goals, winning three league titles, the Scottish Cup, a League Cup and was named SFWA Footballer of the Year twice, before being inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Derek Clark of the Rangers Review labels Laudrup the greatest ever player to grace Scottish football, while Craig Williams of Football Scotland outlines how the ‘special’ Denmark international is a bona fide club legend.

So, could Eriksen have a similar impact to that of his compatriot?

Well, at his best, Adam Smith of Sky Sports argued that Eriksen was the ‘Premier League’s best creative midfielder’, while Duncan Alexander of Opta’s the Analyst agrees, labelling him ‘one of the most effective attacking midfielders’ in Premier League history having racked up 81 assists in the competition’s history.

Premier League

310

55

81

Champions League

53

7

14

Europa League

55

10

14

FA & EFL Cups

41

11

12

Denmark national team

144

46

34

Having made 649 club appearances for Ajax, Tottenham, Inter, Brentford and Manchester United, Eriksen does boast serious pedigree, just as Laudrup did.

However, at 33 years old, there could be concerns that he is over the hill. Well, let’s assess his statistics from this season to find out if that is the case.

Minutes

1,737

16th

Goals

5

7th

Assists

5

5th

Goals – xG

+1

3rd

Goals per shot

0.15

4th

Progressive passes

77

9th

Key passes

47

4th

Shot-creating actions

84

6th

Goal-creating actions

12

4th

As the table outlines, despite only featuring in 31.6% of Manchester United’s total minutes this season, Eriksen was actually one of their most-impressive performers, ranking highly for goals and assists, as well as metrics relating to chance creation, passing and shooting accuracy.

Following the Red Devils’ victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season, Eriksen said about his future “we’ll see”, adding “there’s options” but nothing has been decided just yet, possibly opening the door to a move to Glasgow.

It’s certainly ambitious, but Rangers do have a history when it comes to recruiting Great Danes, and Eriksen would certainly make an impact, should he choose to make the move to Govan.

Aribo 2.0: Rangers targeting move for "unplayable" star on free transfer

As Russell Martin continue to rebuild his new Rangers squad, could he sign an “unplayable” EFL star who could be a sensational Joe Aribo repeat?

ByBen Gray Jun 11, 2025

Chelsea are leading the race for a £67m “monster”, and they are now pushing hard to get a deal over the line, according to reports.

Blues set sights on another striker after Delap

The Blues are looking to make improvements to their squad prior to the Club World Cup later this month, and they now appear to be closing in on an early deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with the signing set to be announced imminently.

However, perhaps given that Delap is still relatively inexperienced, the Blues remain keen on bringing in another striker this summer, and they continue to battle it out for the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

RB Leipzig centre-forward Benamin Sesko is another name to have regularly been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and a report from Caught Offside has now revealed that Chelsea are leading the race for the Slovenian, alongside competition from Arsenal.

Leipzig are set to hold out for a fee of €80m (£67m) for Sesko, with the Blues among the frontrunners, having identified the 22-year-old as the perfect fit for BlueCo’s long-term project, given his eye for goal and raw power.

£50m "superstar" now tells agent to inform Maresca he wants Chelsea move

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The Gunners could provide competition for the striker’s signature, however, with Mikel Arteta believed to be a fan, and sporting director Andrea Berta has already held direct talks with the German club over a potential deal.

"Monster" Sesko could be fantastic signing for Chelsea

The deal for Delap may well be edging closer to completion, but it would not be a bad idea to bring in another top striker this summer, and the Blues are now believed to be pushing hard to get a deal for the Leipzig star over the line.

With Enzo Maresca’s side set to return to the Champions League next season, the manager could do with greater strength in depth, and the Slovenia international is held in high regard by scout Ben Mattinson, who described him as a “monster”.

The 6-foot-5 forward also maintained a solid record in front of goal throughout the 2024-25 campaign, regularly finding the back of the net in all the competitions he featured in for Leipzig.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

33

13

5

Champions League

8

4

0

DFB-Pokal

4

4

1

As such, Sesko could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea this summer, as they look to build on the 2024-25 campaign and start competing for major trophies once again.

It’s been an extremely long time coming, but after eight years outside of the Premier League promised land, Sunderland are finally back.

Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats would go on to stun Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United 2-1 at Wembley courtesy of a last-gasp effort from Tommy Watson, with the tense tie looking to be going in the favour of the Blades, before a remarkable Sunderland comeback was kick-started.

Now, an exciting summer awaits the newly promoted side as they attempt to land some statement deals ahead of the challenge of top-flight football.

One deal that will go through is Enzo Le Fee joining Le Bris’ camp permanently after his standout loan stint more than helped the Wearside outfit seal a dramatic path back up to the Premier League.

Le Fee's heroics at Sunderland

Whilst the skilful Frenchman didn’t pick up a goal or an assist at Wembley, he would still prove his worth during the two semi-final clashes versus Coventry when collecting two assists.

Therefore, nobody will be up in arms about the Black Cats having to fork out £20m to land Le Fee for good, with that fee coming in as a mandatory amount to fork out if the high-flyers were to win promotion.

There will also be an expectation in the air that Le Fee can deliver when making the gigantic leap-up, considering he does have plenty of top-flight experience in his native France up his sleeve with soon-to-be ex-side Lorient, when tallying seven goals and 14 assists from 132 Ligue 1 encounters.

Moreover, despite only being 25 years of age, the entertaining number 28 is arguably one of the more senior members of Le Bris’ promotion-winning side, meaning he shouldn’t hopefully fold when the Premier League spotlight is beamed onto him.

1. GK – Anthony Patterson

25

2. RB – Trai Hume

23

3. CB -Daniel Ballard

25

4. CB – Luke O’Nien

30

5. LM – Dennis Cirkin

23

6. RM – Chris Rigg

17

7. CM – Dan Neil

23

8. CM – Jobe Bellingham

19

9. LM – Romaine Mundle

22

10. ST – Enzo Le Fee

25

11. ST – Eliezer Mayenda

20

To help calm down the inexperienced team’s nerves more, Sunderland could go all in to land this former star who knows the Premier League inside out.

The incredible signing Sunderland could make

The Black Cats will already be up against it reentering the top-flight, with the last six teams that went up all coming straight back down miserably.

Therefore, if Sunderland are able to win back the services of former homegrown ace Jordan Henderson – with Football Insider reporting a return could be on the cards – they should go full steam ahead to snap him up, with this signing potentially as exciting as Le Fee’s was when he surprisingly entered the building in the second tier.

Henderson, before his career fell somewhat to the wayside in Saudi and now at Ajax, was the heartbeat of many a successful Liverpool side in the daunting division, skippering the side to Premier League and Champions League glory.

Jurgen Klopp referred to the midfield veteran as “incredible” during their memorable days together at Anfield, with the 34-year-old’s numbers below speaking for themselves in terms of how he could offer plenty of know-how.

Games played

492

Goals scored

33

Assists

58

Premier League titles

1x

Champions Leagues

1x

Footballer of the Year

1x

So good has Henderson been at the top level that he amazingly picked up a Footballer of the Year accolade at the close of the 2019/20 season, with a hope now that the former Reds captain can roll back the years upon his potential return to the Stadium of Light.

Indeed, with Sunderland in need of a calming and steady presence to complement the more livewire figures of Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg and the attack-focused Le Fee, the local lad would be the dream addition for Louis-Dreyfus and Co as they enter a new dawn.

Surely a return to your hometown club on the eve of their first Premier League season in eight years is motivation enough to get back to your dominating best, with this deal perhaps going down as another steal like Le Fee’s if all goes to plan, particularly if he can keep his boyhood side afloat.

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