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With just over two weeks to go until the Premier League season kicks off, it would be fair to say that this summer has been a success for Arsenal thus far.

On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side have won all three of their games – if you include the behind-closed-doors clash with Watford – and off it, Andrea Berta and Co have been extraordinarily busy.

The Italian has sealed the signings of potential game-changers like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, while massively improving the overall squad with players like Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera.

However, the Gunners do not seem finished just yet, as they continue to be linked with Real Madrid dynamo Rodrygo, who could cost up to £86m.

Before they can sign the Brazilian international, the Gunners may need to make a sale or two, so it’s good news that one of Arteta’s own signings has already received several offers.

Why Arsenal want to splash the cash on Rodrygo

While almost every club in world football would love to have a player of Rodrygo’s quality in their squad, there are likely three main reasons Arsenal want to sign him this summer, and the first is down to his output.

Over the last two campaigns, the Brazilian “superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.

In other words, the former Santos gem has been averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes across the last two years, which is a rate of return that could seriously help the North Londoners catch up to Liverpool next season.

The second reason Arteta and Co would want the 24-year-old is that he can play in multiple positions.

For example, even though his best role is off the left, the last two seasons have seen him play off the right and up top, so while he would likely spend much of his time in England playing on the left, he would be able to cover for other players and offer the manager plenty of tactical options.

Finally, despite still being relatively young, and two years off his peak, according to research carried out by The Athletic, the Los Blancos ace has a vast amount of experience playing in the biggest games in world football, and that winning mentality which the North Londoners have lacked in recent years.

For example, since moving to Madrid, the Osasco-born monster has won two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, and even more impressively, has a record of 25 goals and provided 14 assists in 64 games in the competition.

In all, Rodrygo would bring goals, versatility and real know-how to Arsenal this summer, but to be able to afford him, the club would likely have to make at least one or two sales, which is something that appears to be on the table.

The Arsenal star with offers to leave

While much of the transfer talk around Arsenal this summer has focused on incomings, and understandably so, there have still been several reports about players potentially leaving the Emirates.

Transfer Focus

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

One of the most prominent earlier on in the window was talk of Gabriel Martinelli being a target for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, but transfers expert Fabrizio Romano quickly shot that down.

Then, more recently, there have been rumours over a potential loan move to Brazilian outfit Flamengo for Gabriel Jesus, one that would see the Gunners pay 50% of his wages.

However, the most realistic sale, at this point anyway, appears to be Leandro Trossard.

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the Belgian international, who joined the Gunners for around £27m in January 2023, is being monitored by German giants Borussia Dortmund, and more interestingly, has already been the subject of “two concrete offers from Premier League clubs” this window.

While the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace could still be an effective player for the North Londoners, selling him this summer to make way for Rodrygo would make sense, as even though Martinelli suffered a hamstring injury last season, the Brazilian still played more minutes than he did.

Moreover, the 30-year-old has been progressively getting less productive for Arteta’s side.

For example, in his first half-season with the team, he produced 11 goal involvements in 1071 minutes, then in the following campaign, he produced 20 in 2263 minutes, and last season, he was only able to manage 20 in 3455 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to rejuvenate their frontline further this summer, and if by selling Trossard they can afford to sign Rodrygo, they should thank the Belgian and send him on his way.

Pennant: Arsenal target would be a "great signing" alongside Gyokeres

Arsenal appear to be lining up their next marquee signing after Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival

By
Robbie Walls

Jul 30, 2025

Glasgow Rangers supporters have been getting excited about the prospect of watching Djeidi Gassama week-in-week-out at Ibrox in the 2025/26 campaign.

The 21-year-old winger announced himself as a Gers star in the making with two goals in his first two games against Panathinaikos in the club’s Champions League qualifiers.

Gassama stepped up to the occasion in both matches to score off the bench and was rewarded with his full debut against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Unfortunately, though, the summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday was unable to make it three goals in as many games at Fir Park in the 1-1 draw.

Why Djeidi Gassama struggled against Motherwell

The 21-year-old forward thrived off the bench against Panathinaikos because the Greek side needed to get back into the match and were committing men forward, providing him with space to exploit on the left flank.

Motherwell, however, were more than willing to sit deep and soak up pressure, which meant that he did not have as much space to work with in the game.

Gassama failed to score and only created one chance in 83 minutes on the pitch, but it was not all his fault. Having right-footed Max Aarons at left-back meant that the Frenchman did not have any overlapping threat to create space for him.

Transfer Focus

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

This is why Rangers need to sign a natural left-back in order to unlock Gassama’s full potential, and Monaco full-back Kassoum Ouattara could be the ideal addition.

Why Rangers should sign Kassoum Ouattara

The Light Blues have reportedly already made contact with the Ligue 1 side to discuss a potential deal for the 20-year-old starlet, who could come in as the dream partner for Gassama down the left flank.

Having a naturally left-footed player who wants to attack down the flank would help Russell Martin’s side to break down teams sat in a low block because it would cause the opposition’s full-back to decide between going with the run on the outside or staying close to the winger.

Of course, it cannot just be any left-footed left-back, though, because they have to offer enough of a threat going forward to be considered a threat by the opposition in order to open space for Gassama.

Ouattara only played 12 times in Ligue 1 for Monaco in the 2024/25 campaign, but the French youth international showcased his creative skills in his limited minutes on the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers transfer target has the potential to be an exceptional attacking threat down the left wing with overlapping runs, as he is an efficient and effective crosser who can create high-quality chances for his teammates.

The left-back, who has been described as a “very offensive” full-back by writer Kai Watson, would be able to draw attention away from Gassama and, therefore, create more space for the winger to work with.

This could help to unlock the former Owls star’s full potential at Ibrox, as he would not be overrun by opposition defenders because of the lack of support from Aarons when teams sit in deep.

It is now down to Rangers to get a deal done for Ouattara in the coming weeks, because the talented and attack-minded full-back could be a dream addition to bomb down the left flank in support of Gassama this season.

Manchester City made it back-to-back WSL wins with an impressive 5-1 victory over in-form Tottenham at Brisbane Road on Friday evening. Goals from Aoba Fujino, Vivianne Miedema, Kerstin Casparij and Laura Coombs saw Andree Jeglertz’s side build on their win over Brighton on a night which was capped off by midfielder Grace Clinton also scoring on her debut for the club.

City flew out of the traps, deploying a ferocious high press which put Spurs goalkeeper Lize Kop – who was yet to concede in 2025-26 heading into the match – under all sorts of pressure.

Their early momentum was disrupted, though, when Lauren Hemp had to be taken off after picking up a suspected ankle injury in a challenge with Jess Naz.

But the visitors continued to dominate even without their star winger, and they took the lead through Fujino’s powerful drive after 23 minutes.

And City soon powered into a 3-0 lead after both Miedema and Casparij found the back of the net in an excellent four-minute spell before the interval.

Picking up from where they left off after the break, Khadija Shaw could have added a fourth from the spot but her penalty was well saved by Kop.

However City soon introduced summer signing Clinton and the 22-year-old rolled home her side's fourth with a well-taken finish.

It wasn’t quite the dream debut for Clinton, though, as she lost possession against her former club Spurs, who pulled a goal back through Olivia Holdt’s glorious long-range strike.

But there was enough time for City to add some extra gloss to the scoreline as Coombs came off the bench to fire past Kop and wrap up the three points.

GOAL rates Man City's players from Brisbane Road…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Khiara Keating (5/10):

  Her distribution was shaky at times, with one pass in particular being charged down by Spurs striker Cathinka Tandberg, which could have led to a goal.

  Gracie Prior (6/10):

  Solid with and without the ball, the defender posed a threat from set pieces as well.

  Alex Greenwood (7/10):

  Provided the assist for Miedema's header with a brilliant corner which was right on the money.

  Leila Ouahabi (7/10):

  Aggressive in her pressing, the Spain international epitomised how good City were without the ball.

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  Midfield

  Kerstin Casparij (8/10):

  The Netherlands international netted City's third before half time, and she was unlucky not to register a couple of assists in what was a fantastic performance.

  Laura Blindkilde Brown (7/10):

  Cool and composed, the 22-year-old was neat and tidy in possession and put a shift in defensively.

  Yui Hasegawa (7/10):

  Line-breaking passes from the middle, seemingly always in space down the left, she was superb no matter where she popped up.

  Lauren Hemp (5/10):

  The winger was forced off in the first half after picking up an injury when challenging Spurs' Naz.

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  Attack

  Aoba Fujino (8/10):

  Floating just behind Shaw, she played a lovely one-two with the Jamaica star before unleashing a fantastic strike for City's opener. She also won the penalty for the visitors.

  Vivianne Miedema (8/10):

  Involved in the build up to Fujino's goal, she soon got on the scoresheet herself when she headed home from Greenwood's pinpoint corner.

  Khadija Shaw (7/10):

  Working hard out of possession, bringing her team-mates into play with lovely link-up play, the only thing missing was a goal but her second-half penalty was saved.

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  Subs & Manager

  Kerolin (8/10):

  Replacing Hemp in the first half, she was a constant threat down the left flank with her pace and trickery.

  Grace Clinton (6/10):

  Replaced Fujino for her debut and scored City's fourth with a well-taken finish. She lost possession for Spurs' goal, though.

  Jade Rose (6/10):

  Replaced captain Greenwood and was rarely tested as City dominated throughout.

  Laura Coombs (7/10):

  Came off the bench to score City's fifth with a lovely finish.

  Iman Beney (N/A):

  A late second-half substitute, she didn't have enough time to make a proper impact.

  Andree Jeglertz (8/10):

  The manager made just the one change from the Brighton win, bringing Fujino in for Beney, and it worked a treat.

Elland Road will have to be a fortress in the Premier League this season for Leeds United to survive at the first time of asking.

The last eight opening fixtures in the top-flight that had fallen at the hallowed turf, building up to Monday night’s clash with Everton, had seen the Whites pick up five wins and collect zero defeats. Thankfully, that impressive trend continued against David Moyes’ Toffees, as a slender 1-0 win was secured.

It could have been more emphatic on another night, as Leeds boasted 2.13 xG come the full-time whistle, having registered 21 efforts in total at Jordan Pickford’s busy net.

But, it would end up just being a slim victory for Daniel Farke’s side – not that anyone packed into Elland Road cared – courtesy of Lukas Nmecha stroking home a penalty with some confidence, considering it was his debut in West Yorkshire.

Nmecha's standout debut performance

Nmecha will be remembered for some time now as the figure who officially got Leeds’ 2025/26 season up and running as he placed a spot-kick with ease past Pickford.

The former Wolfsburg attacker would only go on to amass ten touches of the ball from his inspired 13-minute cameo, with the German’s fifth touch of the ball being the decisive moment that broke the deadlock.

Amazingly, during his entire debut season in Germany for his past employers, he wouldn’t break his duck.

In his fresh English surroundings, however, he has that monkey off his back, as Nmecha now hopes he can be an effective utility option all campaign long, with the 26-year-old capable of slotting into Farke’s XI up top – like he managed against the Toffees – as well as down either flank.

A dream opening day in the difficult division won’t stop Leeds dead in their tracks when it comes to sealing more late deals before September’s deadline, however, with a Nmecha repeat potentially on the cards if Farke and Co. can strike up a £22m move in time.

Leeds frontrunners to sign £22m star

Nmecha managed to bask in the limelight of being Leeds’ goalscorer on the night, with other brand new recruit Dominic Calvert-Lewin absent from the side altogether.

The former Everton attacker will no doubt get his own opportunities to impress down the line, but Leeds don’t look to be done and dusted just yet when it comes to trying to add more exciting attackers to their ever-growing squad.

Indeed, Leeds are very close to welcoming in another standout summer addition in the form of Noah Okafor, with a deal now in place for the AC Milan attacker to move to English shores for a fee around the £18m mark, as per Fabrizio Romano on X.

On top of that, another update states that Leeds is well-positioned to land another exciting attacking option, this time from La Liga.

Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo has revealed that Leeds could soon welcome Getafe ace Christantus Uche to Elland Road, having been noted as being in a favourable spot to do so, with Brentford also interested in the £22m forward’s services.

Further reports also suggest that even more of Leeds’ Premier League foes in Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland are keen, with the Whites fearful that Regis Le Bris’ men could pip them to yet another coveted signature this summer.

Fresh off scoring on the opening day in La Liga himself, Leeds will pray they can get a deal over the line for Uche – amid all this competition for his services – as they attempt to win another version of Nmecha.

Why Uche can be a Nmecha repeat

It is, of course, too early in his Leeds career to suggest he will be a rip-roaring success, but Nmecha couldn’t have made a better first impression if he tried.

Uche also raced out of the blocks with blistering speed for Getafe last time out, with a goal and an assist coming his way versus Celta Vigo, continuing his stunning ascent with his Spanish employers.

Before linking up with José Bordalás’ side, the Nigerian attacker was plying his trade in the lower depths of Spanish football with third-tier outfit AD Ceuta FC.

Now, he looks to be on the brink of a move to the Premier League, having turned into a “spectacular” asset in La Liga, as he was dubbed by Bordalás himself.

From just 39 appearances and counting for Getafe, the adaptable Nigerian has chipped in with a bumper five goals and eight assists, with Uche also lining up in five different positions for his side when needed.

Nmecha also offered this same level of flexibility for Wolfsburg, having been noted previously for his ability to play in “so many different positions” by former boss Nico Kovac.

Much like Uche, the ex-Wolfsburg number ten had a knack for launching himself into any forthcoming XI in a whole host of different roles, with three career goals even coming his way down the right flank for the Bundesliga giants, despite being predominantly known for his strengths as a centre-forward, where 14 strikes were registered.

Both players could be worthwhile bodies to have around the building, therefore, with Nmecha already proving his worth as an impact substitute when sending Elland Road into raptures versus Moyes’ men.

Farke will hope he will be able to wax lyrical about Uche in a similar manner very soon, with the 22-year-old not perturbed by the bright lights of La Liga whatsoever during his Getafe stay.

The Premier League shouldn’t unnerve him either, hopefully, as the German just goes about tweaking here and there to try and give his underdogs the best fighting chance at instant survival.

Raphinha 2.0: Leeds man who outshone Nmecha was the best player on the park

Leeds sealed all three points on their return to Premier League action with Lukas Nmecha the hero.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 19, 2025

Manchester United are believed to be closing in on the signing of 16-year-old Derby County goalkeeper Charlie Hardy, even after bringing in Senne Lammens this summer. With Andre Onana out on loan and long-serving Tom Heaton nearing the end of his contract, the Red Devils are planning a major shake-up between the sticks as they look toward the future.

• Man Utd set to sign 16-year-old Charlie Hardy

  Hardy, who has represented England at the Under-16 level, is finalising a move to Old Trafford as per The Sun. The teenage goalkeeper made his Derby Under-18 debut at just 15 and has been tipped as one of the brightest young stoppers in the country. He was even on the bench against United's own Under-18 side whe he was only 14.

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  Man Utd's goalkeeper merry-go-round

  United's goalkeeping setup has been in constant transition, with home-grown talents struggling to secure long-term first-team roles. Dean Henderson briefly took the No.1 spot in 2021, but David de Gea quickly reclaimed it, and no academy product has become established since – you have to go back decades to find the club's last home-grown permanent starting goalkeeper.

  Onana loaned to Trabzonspor and third choice Heaton out of contract next summer and pushing 40, further changes are expected.

• Young goalkepers at Man Utd currently

  The Red Devils also signed Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day, though the 23-year-old has yet to feature, despite settling well and impressing behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Radek Vitek and Elyh Harrison are both gaining experience out on loan at clubs in the EFL pyramid.

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  INEOS and Man Utd's goalkeeper overhaul

  A deal for Hardy is expected to be completed soon, adding another highly-rated young goalkeeper to the system, albeit one who could be a way off senior minutes. United's long-term aim is to build a competitive and sustainable goalkeeping unit after years of instability. For now, the focus is on Lammens' development and whether Hardy can grow into a first-team option in the years ahead.

Are Bayern Munich the strongest side in Europe right now? They're certainly not far off it. The Germans maintained their flawless start to the 2025-26 season with a 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. Unsurprisingly, Harry Kane was among the goals again, as the free-scoring striker maintained his record-breaking start to the campaign.

Over in Italy, defending Napoli returned to winning ways after last week's loss at San Siro to reclaim top spot in Serie A from Massimiliano Allegri's resurgent AC Milan, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Juventus – primarily because of a missed penalty from Christian Pulisic.

In France, Roberto De Zerbi's wonderfully exciting Marseille moved to within a point of Paris Saint-Germain, meaning we might actually have something resembling a title race this season, while Real Madrid are back on top of LaLiga thanks to a hard-fought win over Villarreal – and Barcelona's shocking loss at Sevilla.

As for Portugal, the big game of the weekend between Jose Mourinho's Benfica and his former club, Porto, ended in a perhaps unsurprisingly dour 0-0 draw.

Below, GOAL runs through all the big winners and losers of the latest round of action across Europe's top leagues…

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  WINNER: Vinicius Junior

  Vinicius Junior threw a pathetic hissy-fit after missing out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or and immediately vowed to win this year's award. He didn't get remotely close, of course, the Brazilian finishing 16th after an underwhelming campaign.

  However, Vinicius has made a fine start to the new Liga season and his double in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Villarreal means he now has nine direct goal involvements in eight matches.

  "I like it when I see him smiling and enjoying himself," Blancos boss Xabi Alonso told his club's official website. "He came close to scoring a hat-trick and rounding off his game.

  "He also had a great game against Levante (on September 23). He's a very important player for the team and the club because of his ability to create mismatches, what he generates and the difficulty he poses for the opposition."

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  LOSER: Barcelona

  Pedri claimed ahead of last week's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain that Barcelona were the best team in Europe. It wasn't true then and it's certainly not true now.

  The Blaugrana are a wonderfully entertaining team, but primarily because they're almost as vulnerable defensively as they are outstanding offensively. Basically, their games guarantee goals because they have such an open style of play, as the past week has underlined.

  After being beaten 2-1 at home by an under-strength PSG on Wednesday night, Barca were hammered 4-1 on Sunday afternoon by Sevilla in La Liga – a defeat that saw the Catalans displaced at the top of the table by hated rivals Real Madrid.

  Robert Lewandowski missed a second-half penalty at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan that would have drawn the visitors level but midfielder Pedri admitted, "We shouldn't pin the defeat on that alone. Throughout the match, we weren't good enough."

  It was a similar story against PSG, which is why Flick's high-risk tactics are now coming under serious scrutiny in Catalonia for the first time.

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  WINNER: Ange-Yoan Bonny

  Marcus Thuram has been outstanding for Inter this season, winning man of the match in both of their Champions League matches so far, against Ajax and Slavia Prague.

  So, the Frenchman's injury-enforced absence from Sunday's Serie A clash with Cremonese looked like a bit of a problem for Christian Chivu. However, Ange-Yoan Bonny did an absolutely sensational job filling in for Thuram.

  As well as scoring his first goal for Inter following his summer switch from Parma, the 21-year-old attacker also racked up a hat-trick of assists, making new coach Chivu look like a bit of genius for bringing Bonny with him from Parma during the summer.

  "The 'mister' gives me confidence every day," Bonny told reporters after the Nerazzurri's 4-1 win at San Siro. "I know he'll give me my chances if I deserve them: it's always been like this, even at Parma, and I thank him for that and I just want to continue on this path."

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  WINNER: Igor Paixao

  It was a little surprising that none of Europe's richest clubs made a move for Igor Paixao during the summer. The Brazilian was the best player in the Netherlands last season, scoring 16 goals and creating a further 10 for Feyenoord.

  Credit to Marseille, then, for deciding to pay a club-record €35 million (£30m/$41m) for Paixao, who, after an injury-hindered start to his spell at the Stade Velodrome, struck twice in the 4-0 Champions League rout of Ajax in midweek before opening the scoring – and his Ligue 1 account – in the 3-0 win at Metz on Saturday afternoon.

  "Sometimes, with certain players," OM coach Roberto De Zerbi said in his post-match press conference, "you have to invest in their physical and mental condition beforehand.

  "I try to play Paixao all the time, and when his performance drops, I replace him, but he is getting back to the level we know he's capable of."

Chelsea are now racing Arsenal for the signature of a “world-class” forward, who has just relocated to London, with his club open to a sale.

Blues set sights on Garnacho alternative

The Blues have long been expected to sign Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, but the deal hasn’t shown much sign of progression recently, despite Fabrizio Romano stating there is still a great deal of confidence that it will go through.

Romano said: “Chelsea expect 100% that Alejandro Garnacho deal to happen. “I fully think we’ll have a “here we go” this week. There were some rumours to include Tyrique George as part of the conversation between Manchester United and Chelsea. This option was already stopped a few weeks ago so at the moment Tyrique George is not part of those conversations as of now.”

However, Tottenham Hotspur’s failed pursuit of Eberechi Eze underlines that anything can happen until a deal is signed and sealed, and the Blues still remain in the market for potential alternative options.

Maresca's answer to Eze: Chelsea now "expected" to sign £25m "superstar"

Chelsea could sign their answer to Eberechi Eze.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 26, 2025

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Chelsea are now monitoring Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who is viewed as a back-up option for Garnacho, and there are strong indications that a deal could be possible.

The Italian club are willing to sell Lookman this summer, given that he has already handed in an official transfer request, and they are looking to receive a fee of £45m, although there could be competition from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Interestingly, it is also revealed the 27-year-old has just relocated to London, which indicates a move to Stamford Bridge could appeal, and having removed all Atalanta content from his social media channels, it is clear the forward’s time with the Serie A side is coming to an end.

"World-class" Lookman could be better signing than Garnacho

Garnacho is the younger of the two players, at just 21-years-old, but that is probably one of the only things the Manchester United star has in his favour, with the Nigerian outperforming him across a number of key attacking metrics over the past year.

The Atalanta star, who has been lauded as “world-class” by the BBC’s John Bennett, has also proven he can deliver in big matches, most memorably scoring a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in his side’s 3-0 thrashing of the German club in the 2024 Europa League final.

It appears as though Chelsea will only target Lookman if the deal for Garnacho falls through, but they should perhaps reconsider, given that the Nigeria international is clearly a big-game player, and a £45m fee for his services seems very fair.

Leeds United are plotting for the January transfer window and could now look to sign a young talent who recently got the better of a Real Madrid superstar.

Leeds United move on after summer transfer window

Among supporters of the Elland Road club, there is a feeling that more may have been done by Daniel Farke and company in the final days of the window to land signings, albeit that is not the way things transpired.

Speaking to Football Insider, Pete O’Rourke has explained why Leeds missed out on a late move to sign Manor Solomon after he ended up at Villarreal amid interest in his services.

He stated: “There’s always competition for these players’ signatures. Manor Solomon, Palace tried to sign him but he’s gone to Villarreal, he’s got Champions League football – Leeds can’t offer that right now. Obviously, Palace had money in their pockets to spend following the sale of Eberechi Eze, and the chance of European football as well.

“There’s no regrets from Daniel Farke – he will now move on and work with what he’s got, to try and ensure that Leeds are well-placed come the January window.”

Despite the window being closed, Leeds are plotting a move to sign free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after he was released from Besiktas, and he would potentially ease their midfield issues after injuries to Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu.

Leeds make £40m forward like Ronaldo top January target, 49ers plot offer

He’s registered 65 goal involvements in the last two seasons.

2

By
Callum Kemp

Sep 7, 2025

Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly is also on the Whites’ radar, though reports suggest it may be difficult to entice him away from the Etihad Stadium in January.

Nevertheless, bolstering the engine room will be important to their survival prospects in the Premier League, and a more realistic target has now been identified following his recent exploits.

Leeds United want to sign West Bromwich Albion star Isaac Price

According to EFL Analysis, Leeds are keen to sign West Bromwich Albion midfielder Isaac Price, who is also wanted by the likes of Burnley, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Fulham.

Of course, his exploits for Northern Ireland against Germany in World Cup qualifying have earned widespread attention. The 21-year-old gave Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger a torrid evening, winning more duels and tackles up against the German and getting him booked, while his stunning volley to equalise against a high-profile opponent was worth the entrance fee alone.

At club level, Price has registered three goals and two assists in five appearances across all competitions this term with the Baggies, establishing himself as a regular on the scoresheet due to his box-crashing tendencies.

After offering Rudiger a tough outing, Leeds appear to have taken notice of his displays and could look to tempt him away from the Hawthorns while he is in reach.

Vinicius Junior's role at Real Madrid has taken a surprising downturn under Xabi Alonso, but the Brazilian forward has responded in spectacular fashion. Despite starting fewer games and spending more time on the bench than ever before, he's producing record-breaking numbers by his own standards – proving his worth even as pressure mounts on Alonso amid questions about team balance and results.

• Vini Jr's upturn in stats this season

  Vinicius' prominence at Real Madrid has declined noticeably since Alonso’s arrival, with the forward starting fewer matches and seeing reduced minutes. He has been benched twice this season – against Real Oviedo and Marseille – and has completed the full 90 minutes in just three games so far, against Levante, Atletico Madrid, and Villarreal. This represents a sharp contrast from last season under Carlo Ancelotti, when Vinicius started all 58 matches he played and was rarely substituted.

  Despite the dip in playing time, Vinicius has refused to let his influence fade. In just eight league appearances, he has recorded four goals and four assists – his best-ever return to this point of a season since joining Real Madrid in 2018. He has been directly involved in goals in nearly every La Liga outing so far, opening the scoring in key wins and producing decisive moments even when starting from the bench.

  Notably, his efficiency in front of goal and creative output have never been better. Across all competitions, Vinicius is averaging a goal or assist every 77 minutes, smashing his previous best of one every 96 minutes during the 2022-23 campaign. Against Villarreal, he became the first player in Europe’s top five leagues this season to register five or more shots, five or more chances created, and five or more successful dribbles.

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  Alonso 'on the ropes' amid Vinicius' strong start

  Alonso’s cautious approach and tactical reshuffling have left Real Madrid struggling to find the attacking fluency that defined the Ancelotti era. The decision to rotate Vinicius more frequently – while possibly aimed at preserving his fitness – has coincided with inconsistent performances and growing scrutiny over Alonso’s management, with claiming that the former midfielder is 'on the ropes'.

  At the same time, Vinicius’ response to adversity has been exemplary, showcasing both professionalism and maturity. Rather than express frustration publicly, the Brazilian has let his football do the talking – turning limited opportunities into moments of impact that keep Madrid’s attack alive. His form has made it increasingly difficult for Alonso to justify leaving him out, especially as results remain uneven in both La Liga and the European competitions.

  Alonso now faces the delicate challenge of reasserting control without alienating one of his key stars. Vinicius’ numbers make a compelling case for reinstating him as a guaranteed starter, but tactical adjustments and squad rotation may continue to define Madrid’s short-term strategy.

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  Vini only behind Mbappe and Alvarez in goal contributions

  Vinicius’ output this season is not only a testament to his consistency but also a statistical peak that rivals the very best in Europe. His tally of eight goal contributions in eight league matches equals or surpasses his most productive starts to any campaign, outperforming his totals from 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2024-25, each of which began with seven direct goal involvements. Only Kylian Mbappe and Julian Alvarez have been involved in more goals across the top five leagues this season, underlining the Brazilian’s place among the game’s elite.

  Even in matches where Real Madrid have struggled collectively, Vinicius has continued to influence play through dribbling, pressing, and creativity. He currently leads the squad in take-ons completed and chances created, reaffirming his role as the team’s primary attacking engine. As Real Madrid navigate a transitional phase under Alonso, Vinicius’ form stands as both a bright spot and a reminder that his exclusion from the lineup could prove costly in the long run.

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• Alonso will now have to integrate Vinicius better

  With Real Madrid entering a critical stretch of fixtures, Alonso faces mounting pressure to stabilise results while maximising his squad’s attacking potential. Vinicius’ record-breaking numbers make him impossible to be overlooked, and his continued form could force a tactical rethink from the manager.

  For Vinicius, the focus remains on consistency and endurance. His strong start has reignited talk of Ballon d’Or contention for 2026 – a long-term goal that now seems increasingly attainable if he maintains this trajectory. The Brazilian has also been linked with an exit, however, his upturn in performance may force Los Blancos to rethink their future strategies.

After Daniel Farke publicly requested attacking arrivals more than once, Leeds United got to work on deadline day and even had a deal agreed to sign an impressive winger at one stage.

Although some will be disappointed that certain deals didn’t get over the line, it was still a busy summer at Elland Road. The 49ers got off to a rapid start, welcoming the likes of Jaka Bijol and then Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff, but soon found it more difficult when attempting to sign the attacking reinforcements that Farke requested.

In the end, the Whites were forced to settle for the 10 signings that they had completed and the £101m that the 49ers splashed out to welcome those additions. But it wasn’t for the want of trying.

Those at Elland Road attempted to solve their attacking problems with Igor Paixao early in the window before he joined Marseille. It was then a familiar story when chasing Facundo Buonanotte, who joined Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Both players would have made a difference to the current frontline and there’s no doubt that all involved at the club will be frustrated to have missed their targets.

Leeds launched late bid to sign "standout" star who was desperate to move

Daniel Farke wanted an attacking option.

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 2, 2025

None more so, however, than Farke, who said before the season got underway: “We are not naive. We know that even in comparison to our Championship offence you could say that we are not much improved.”

Whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor have changed the German’s stance remains to be seen, but what certainly would have helped is if Leeds managed to get the late target that they were gunning for on deadline day.

Leeds had late deal agreed for Wilson

In one final blow on deadline day, Leeds had a deal agreed to sign Harry Wilson before Fulham pulled the plug, according to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Whites reportedly met their asking price before Fulham changed their stance and, by deadline day, wanted to re-negotiate. Even after Leeds’ improved offer that led to an agreement and subsequent deal sheet, however, the West London club called the transfer off. It was one last act to sum up a summer full of frustration for the 49ers.

It remains to be seen if the deal is revisited in January, but it would certainly be interesting to see him in a Leeds shirt. It wasn’t so long ago that the Welshman was silencing Elland Road with a goal and an assist to help Derby County on their way to play-off victory.

Ultimately, Marco Silva didn’t want to lose his man and a player that he’s been full of praise of in the past. The former Everton boss told reporters last season: “He’s an important player and a very good player for us. Of course the feeling for him against Brentford is fantastic and he’s probably thinking right now, ‘why don’t I play against Brentford every week?’.”