Liverpool have been heavily linked to signing Aurelien Tchouameni, and now a promising update has emerged on the chances of the Monaco midfielder moving to Merseyside this summer.
What’s the latest?
French TV presenter and journalist Gregoire Margotton has given an update on the current speculation surrounding a move for Tchouameni to the Premier League at the end of the season.
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Margotton tweeted out to his 340k followers two images, one of Tchouameni and one of Anfield accompanied with the following quotes:
“I hear the immense talent on the left could move into the legendary house [Anfield] on the right shortly. Joy. Congratulations. Happiness.”
Xabi Alonso 2.0
The signing of the £50m star who was hailed a “monster” by France U21 boss Sylvain Ripoll would be a major coup for Liverpool, with Manchester United and Arsenal both reportedly interested in securing the youngster’s signature in the upcoming transfer window.
With Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner all well into their 30s at this point, it would be a cunning idea for Jurgen Klopp to add some young blood in the more central and defensive midfield roles in the team, with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot already offering youth into the more advanced midfield roles in the team.
Tchouameni has been making impressive strides in Ligue 1 and could emulate a similar role and progress at a similar level to Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso if the deal can get done to bring him to Anfield.
Just like Alonso, the 22-year-old is most effective in a central midfield role with both outstanding defensive and pressing attributes that have seen him become an absolute nuisance for his opponents at Monaco.
According to One Versus One, Tchouameni ranks number one for pass interceptions and has made the fourth most tackles in the opponent’s half, and the fifth most tackles in his own half in the entirety of the French top-flight. That’s accompanied by an impressive three goals and one assist in 37 appearances.
Ultimately, it is looking likely that FSG and the Liverpool manager will be able to beat off the competition to sign the Monaco star this summer and can become an extremely exciting prospect for the club and supporters next season.
AND in other news: FA Cup final blow: Liverpool rocked by “massive problem” that’ll leave Klopp gutted
West Ham United were subject to their third consecutive defeat in a week as the Hammers lost 2-1 at home to Arsenal in the Premier League.
Goals from defenders Rob Holding and Gabriel either side of Jarrod Bowen’s strike secured a third straight victory for the Gunners which also saw them climb back into the top four.
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David Moyes’ men are still seventh, although eighth place Wolves do have a game in hand whilst being three points behind, meaning that there is still a long way to go for the Irons if they are to qualify for Europe via the league.
With Thursday’s enormous Europa League semi-final second leg in Frankfurt the priority, the Scotsman opted to make a handful of changes, with right-back Vladimir Coufal coming into the fold. However, the Czech Republic international struggled at the London Stadium.
The 29-year-old let himself down after recording an impressive 81 touches, losing possession a whopping 21 times at an average rate of once every 3.9 touches.
Coufal also lost 73% of his duels whilst being dribbled past three times and making one error that led to a shot in a frustratingly below-par defensive performance from the right-back.
However, a positive that the Czech can take from his display is providing the assist for Bowen’s goal, with it just his third in the league this term.
After a stellar first season in claret and blue, this campaign has been a bit more complicated for the right-back, particularly with the breakthrough of 22-year-old Ben Johnson.
A hernia issue has been thought to be the major contributing factor to this downturn in form, with Coufal eventually receiving surgery in February which saw the 29-year-old out of action for a month.
However, Moyes has opted to keep the Czech out of the starting lineup for all but one of the east London outfit’s Europa League knockout matches, with the defender playing the full 90 minutes of West Ham’s 3-0 win in Lyon.
It’s unlikely that Coufal will start against Frankfurt in the week, particularly given that the Hammers must overturn a 2-1 deficit if they are to progress to the final.
However, with three league matches left to play, those will be the opportunities in which the defender must shine to work his way back up the pecking order.
AND in other news: West Ham handed big boost in pursuit of £49k-p/w target, Moyes surely buzzing
Southampton interim manager Tonda Eckert will be in the dugout for the next three Championship matches before a decision is made on his future at the club.
Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas added that the German tactician is bidding to land the role on a full-time basis, which makes these next three games an important audition for him.
He has already won his first two games in charge of the club, beating QPR 2-1 and Sheffield Wednesday 3-1, after stepping in because of Will Still’s departure.
Why Southampton need an upgrade on Will Still
The Saints need to find a manager who can be an upgrade on their previous head coach, as obvious as it sounds, because his track record before coming to St. Mary’s did not suggest that he was an obvious candidate.
Of course, finishing in midtable with two different Ligue 1 clubs as a 33-year-old head coach is impressive, given that it is one of the best leagues in Europe, but each manager has different skills that suit certain environments.
Southampton, from the outside looking in, appeared to need a leader who could galvanise the club after such a dismal relegation from the Premier League, whilst also having the coaching outlook required to mount a promotion push.
25/26 (Championship)
13
12 (21st)
24/25 (Ligue 1)
34
52 (8th)
23/24 (Ligue 1)
31
40 (11th)
22/23 (Ligue 1)
28
43 (11th)
20/21 (Pro League)
13
17 (9th)
17/18 (Challenger Pro League)
9
22 (3rd)
As you can see in the table above, Still, aside from nine games as an interim years before his first major job, had never been in an environment where he was expected to win consistently and be at the top of the table.
That lack of alignment between coaching and expectation may have been a contributing factor to Southampton ending up in 21st place in the table, with the benefit of hindsight.
Now, in what may be a controversial suggestion, Sport Republic could replace Eckert and find an upgrade on Still by returning to Russell Martin to hire him as their next manager.
Why Southampton should hire Russell Martin
It was reported earlier this month that the former Rangers boss still has admirers in the boardroom at St. Mary’s and it has been claimed that some first-team players and staff are open to his return, suggesting that he could be an option in their managerial search.
Like him or loathe him, Martin is a good communicator and can lead a group when there is buy-in and potential for positive momentum with results, which may not have worked out at Premier League level, or at Rangers.
The 39-year-old tactician’s style of play was described as “successful” and a “joy to watch” by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Whilst they may have been untrue in the Premier League, it was certainly the case in the Championship, which is where Southampton are now.
Pass accuracy
87.7%
1st
Passes into the penalty area
594
1st
Progressive passes
2556
1st
Shot-creating actions
1255
1st
xG
79.8
2nd
Points per game
1.89
4th
When the Saints were promoted under Martin in the 2023/24 campaign, his team were incredible offensively, as shown in the table, above, as they went on to win the play-offs.
This shows that the ex-Swansea boss has the relevant experience required to take on the job at hand, as Southampton look to get promoted back to the top-flight, because he has been there and done it, which was not the case for Still in the summer.
There are major question marks over his Premier League capabability, due to one win in 16 matches last season in the division, which is why it would be interesting to see if he would consider a deal until the end of the season.
Bringing Martin in on a short-term deal until the end of this season to see if he can spark a reaction out of the players and use his experience to guide the team towards the play-offs, before a longer-term appointment is made with the Premier League in mind, could be a shrewd way to go about it.
Southampton face 'complex' Tonda Eckert visa issues as permission granted
Looking to spend big once again, Liverpool are reportedly going head-to-head with Paris Saint-Germain to sign an £80m talent who’s been compared to the French club’s own young superstar Desire Doue.
Liverpool international round-up
For a set of players that entered the international break off the back of three straight defeats in all competitions, Liverpool’s stars have enjoyed an impressive couple of weeks away with their nations.
Just last night, Dominik Szoboszlai found himself in the right place at the perfect time to tap home a last-gasp equaliser for Hungary against Portugal. Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister also found the back of the net for Argentina, and Cody Gakpo has also been in free-scoring form for the Netherlands.
In fact, almost every Liverpool star has enjoyed at least one moment to savour for their nations during the break. Virgil van Dijk found the back of the net, Giorgi Mamardashvili saved a penalty for Georgia and Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Those moments should act as the perfect antidote to Liverpool’s recent form as they prepare to welcome rivals Manchester United to Anfield this weekend. It’s a game that the Reds must win as they look to regain some composure in the early days of their Premier League title defence.
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The international break may have also allowed Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards to plan ahead. They already smashed Liverpool’s transfer record twice in the summer to sign Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, but are now going head-to-head with PSG to sign an £80m star.
Liverpool racing PSG to sign Rogers
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now racing PSG to sign Morgan Rogers, who Aston Villa value at as much as £80m ahead of next summer.
Whilst the England international still has five years left on his current deal, those at Villa Park still have plenty of PSR concerns to think about and may not have any choice but to accept a big-money offer if it arrives.
For a player of Rogers’ talent, that £80m fee could prove to be worth every penny for Liverpool, who have lacked a missing piece to their title-defending puzzle so far this season.
Compared to PSG star Doue for his unpredictability, dribbling and directness, Rogers has every chance of reaching the same level as the Frenchman with a move to Anfield.
Whether Unai Emery is keen to let his star man go is another question, however. Described as “excellent” by England boss Thomas Tuchel, Rogers is vital to any ambitions that those in the Midlands have already set their sights on.
When David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche at Everton in January, some viewed the appointment as being pragmatic, a controversial decision from new owners The Friedkin Group to placate some segments of the fanbase.
But Moyes has proved all the doubters wrong. Was it ever up for question? Everton launched away from the relegation zone last season and have established a strong base after the summer, three games unbeaten in the Premier League ahead of a daunting trip to Anfield on Saturday.
The likes of Jack Grealish, Tyler Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have widened Everton’s creative parameters, and Moyes’ tactics provide a solid defensive base.
Moreover, new technical director Angus Kinnear has helped ship out a number of struggling stars. Everton have made headway in the transfer market, all told, but that certainly hasn’t always been the case in recent memory.
Everton's worst modern sales
Under the dysfunctional rule of Farhad Moshiri, Everton were often labelled as bad buyers. But neither did they sell particularly prudently.
Cashing in on the likes of Amadou Onana and Richarlison provided financial strength, but some might be kicking themselves for parting ways with Ademola Lookman before the Nigerian forward managed to spread his wings and grow into the Ballon d’Or contender he is today.
Likewise, it’s frustrating that Anthony Gordon was so desperate to leave Goodison Park in the early stages of his career. The England international was sold to Newcastle United for £45m, but Liverpool have since come knocking despite the Magpies’ £100m valuation of their player.
It’s at least comforting to note that this new version of Everton appears to be more calculated and efficient in their transfer dealings than the previous hierarchy.
Early days, of course, but Moyes has whipped his troops into shape and added players of genuine quality. Those who have been shipped on for good reason, but there’s one player in particular, who he must rue the club’s past decision to let go.
Left-back has been something of a problem for the Toffees this term, with James Garner serving in a patchwork role, albeit playing it well. It’s a shame one of the best in the business was let go for peanuts before he hit his stride in the Premier League.
When Everton sold "one of the best left-backs"
Vitalii Mykolenko has dealt with some injury issues across the opening weeks of the campaign, and with Jarrad Branthwaite perennially sidelined in the first phases of any given season, this has posed a problem.
A problem that Moyes has found a solution for, utilising the industrious Garner’s versatility in a way which has allowed the team to fight for a place in the top half of the table.
But a natural left-back would be nice, and it’s clearly something that has sat on Moyes’ mind, for the 62-year-old signed Bayern Munich youngster Adam Aznou in the summer, and big things are expected of the 19-year-old.
It would be easy to say he’s the most exciting young left-back on the Blue half of Merseyside since Leighton Baines was signed from Wigan Athletic, but that wouldn’t be true, not when Everton once had Antonee Robinson in their ranks.
Robinson was a part of Everton’s academy, actually winning the U18 Players’ Player of the Year in 2015. The talent was always there, but there was no room for him within Roberto Martinez’s set-up, and he departed before making a single senior appearance.
Now, he’s regarded as one of the finest full-backs in the Premier League, and indeed no defender claimed more assists than his haul of ten for Fulham last season.
Data-driven platform FBref suggest he is comparable to Liverpool’s new recruit Milos Kerkez, but in truth, he may well be the superior player at this stage.
Assists
0.25
0.14
Touches
73.51
59.73
Passes attempted
61.11
48.98
Pass completion
76.9%
76.5%
Progressive passes
3.97
4.25
Shot-creating actions
0.25
2.14
Progressive carries
3.65
2.80
Successful take-ons
1.01
0.60
Ball recoveries
4.56
4.44
Tackles + interceptions
4.12
2.56
Blocks
1.23
1.01
Clearances
3.68
3.13
Robinson effectively trumps Kerkez in every department, which serves as a measure of the USMNT international’s ability. No doubt, some at Craven Cottage felt it was an injustice that the young Hungarian secured a place in the Premier League Team of the Year, ahead of Fulham’s left-sided superstar.
Kerkez is one talented young defender, for sure, but Robinson was actually singled out by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley last season as being “one of the best left-backs in the world”. This is his level.
Under the wing of Marco Silva, Fulham’s play flows through Robinson. Get him on the ball, that’ll do it. He’s athletic and attentive and creative besides, boasting all the skills needed to become a superstar in Moyes’ Everton.
It’s a shame that it will never be so. Robinson left for a pittance, having failed to wedge his way into senior plans and instead being sold to Wigan for just £2m in July 2019, when he was only 21 years old.
Robinson’s capacity to whip a delightful ball into the danger area underlines a further reason why he might have been such a valuable asset at Everton over the years, especially when considering the emphasis Moyes likes to put on that facet of the playmaking game, and indeed the aerial presence the Blues boast in the box.
While the football transfer market is an unforgiving business, with mishaps inevitable, it’s sure to be one that stings the powers that were at Everton, who watched him grow into one of the most sought-after around. Indeed, before Liverpool completed a deal for Kerkez, they were interested in signing Robinson, who was valued at a bumper £50m at the midpoint of last season.
Alas, now the hopes rest on Aznou’s shoulders, with the youngster having the chance to put all this ruefulness to bed.
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Sheffield United have made a terrible start to the Championship campaign and may now be about to enact a seismic managerial change at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United on end of rout at Ipswich Town
Truthfully, the Blades were hammered against Ipswich Town on Friday night, and pressure on Ruben Selles has reached fever pitch after a 5-0 scoreline at Portman Road.
Prolonging their hapless start to the campaign, Sheffield United are now on a run of six straight defeats, scoring only one goal during that time and shipping 14 times, painting a bleak picture at both ends of the pitch.
Ruben Selles managing at Bramall Lane.
Clearly, any thought of positive synergy between Selles and his players is far from reality at this moment in time, though he has maintained that he will continue to try and turn things around at Bramall Lane.
He stated in his post-match press conference: “It doesn’t matter what I believe (about my future), but I will keep working until the last moment. I have to take the pain and analyse what we want for the next game to try to beat the next opponent.”
Controversially, Danny Rohl was briefly linked with the Sheffield United job before reports were shot down, something that would’ve made for interesting reading amid his recent stint in charge at rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
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From the outside looking in, change is necessary before the campaign begins to provoke grave possibilities for the Blades, who find themselves a sizeable margin adrift of the playoff places even at an early stage.
With supporters holding out for a hero, they may now be set to find out the identity of their potential new manager, with Selles on the brink.
Sheffield United make stunning Chris Wilder approach
According to Sheffield Star journalist Danny Hall on X, Sheffield United have approached Chris Wilder over returning to the club for a third time as patience wears thin following their run of defeats under Selles.
Separately, the Blades are also looking to change things around upstairs by installing a football representative in a technical role, or perhaps even a director of football to help steady the ship.
Wilder, who has 384 wins across his managerial career, including 140 at Sheffield United, has been out of work since being dismissed at Bramall Lane during the summer following a near miss in last term’s playoff final defeat to Sunderland.
Incredibly, he could now be drafted back into the dugout for a third spell in charge, with his best achievements being earning promotion to the Championship in 2016/17, taking the Blades to the Premier League two years later and finishing in the top-half circa 2019/20.
Becoming an immensely popular figure among supporters, Sheffield United could be set to enact a change that nobody saw coming given the recent history between all parties mentioned.
Newcastle United are “keeping a close eye” on a Premier League star this summer amid rival interest from Everton, with the player expected to leave his current club.
Newcastle pushing for attacking signings
The Magpies felt overly reliant on the goals of Alexander Isak at times last season, highlighting the need to bring in attacking reinforcements before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga has been mentioned as an eye-catching option, with the former Manchester United youngster impressing at the City Ground last term, helping them seal a surprise return to European football.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
Meanwhile, Celtic wide man Nicolas Kuhn is considered an alternative option to the Swede, should Newcastle miss out on him. The Hoops star bagged 13 goals and nine assists for the Scottish giants last season, but it also heavily linked with RB Leipzig.
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has also been linked with a summer move to the Magpies, although the Serb would surely only come in if Isak departs, which is something many supporters will be dreading. Liverpool’s interest isn’t completely going away, but an enormous fee would be needed to prise him away.
Newcastle monitoring Premier League winner
Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed that Newcastle are “keeping a close eye” on Manchester City ace Jack Grealish.
“Newcastle are still keeping a close eye on Jack Grealish. There’s been a lot of talk about Everton, but I think they’re still very much in the mix. Of course, they’re not the only club interested because everybody knows about Jack’s qualities and what he can bring to the side when he’s at his best. The thing is for Newcastle, they have a lot of areas of the team where they want to improve.
“I don’t think Grealish is at the top of their list of priorities, but that’s a risk because somebody else might jump in quickly and get it done. If the opportunity comes up they’re going to be one of the clubs in for him. For now, they’ll look elsewhere but from what I hear they’re keeping a close eye on the situation. His main aim is playing regular football, he’d like to play in the Champions League but if he’s not going to be starting I expect him to look elswhere. It’s an interesting one to watch, that’s for sure.”
Grealish may have enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at City after joining for £100m on £300k-a-week from Aston Villa in 2021, but there is a feeling that he underperformed there, and that he needs to get his career back on track.
The Englishman turns 30 this year, so signing him would be a gamble by Newcastle, but he has the natural talent and maverick style to be a hit for a few years at St James’ Park.
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Grealish may relish being given more attacking freedom by Eddie Howe, compared to arguably the more tactically rigid Pep Guardiola, and he has registered four assists against the Magpies in the past, never losing to them in seven appearances.
It could make more sense to signing a younger wide option instead, considering the City man may simply have peaked as a player at this point, but it is easy to see him enjoying a new challenge, having been called a “good leader” by Guardiola in the past.
Having already announced the arrival of young Spaniard Antonio Cordero, Newcastle United have reportedly pushed on with their summer plans by lodging their first enquiries to sign Anthony Elanga and a striker worth as much as £70m.
Newcastle pushing to sign Elanga
With Bryan Mbeumo set to choose Manchester United over a move to St James’ Park, Newcastle’s search for a winger has reportedly taken them to Nottingham Forest and Elanga.
The Swede enjoyed his best Premier League season yet to become the latest in a long line of Old Trafford regrets. Now, he could be on his way to Tyneside as Newcastle flex their newfound Champions League status.
Minutes
2,501
2,434
2,360
Goals
6
6
8
Assists
11
5
12
Completed take-ons
25
38
35
In what would spark the battle of the Anthonys in Tyneside, Elanga looks likely to come out on top to secure a starting place in Eddie Howe’s side ahead of Gordon next season, should he complete a summer switch.
Given how they impressed in their own right last season, Nottingham Forest won’t want to lose one of their key men without a fight this summer.
Both Evangelos Marinakis and Nuno Espirito Santo will be desperate to ensure that last season was no flash in the pan and keeping hold of Elanga would go a long way towards achieving.
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Whether PIF’s financial power will prove too strong is the big question. After PSR limits forced them to sit out of the last two windows, the rich owners are now ready to spend big again on both Elanga and another Premier League star.
Back in the Champions League with money to spend, the Saudi owners are certainly not messing around in this summer’s transfer window.
Newcastle lodge first Joao Pedro "enquiry"
According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle have now made their first “enquiry” to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion, having already done the same for Elanga.
A deal not expected to come cheap amid reports that the Seagulls value the Brazilian at as much as £70m, Pedro will undoubtedly be one to watch in the coming weeks.
Ever since Fabian Hurzeler decided to drop Pedro for disciplinary reasons at the back end of last season, a Brighton departure has looked on the cards for Pedro. The former Watford man endured a mixed campaign, truth be told, and one that was ultimately full of frustration.
Despite scoring just ten goals in all competitions and eventually being dropped by Hurzeler, there remains impressive interest in the former Watford man who still found himself at the centre of praise last season.
Brighton forward Joao Pedro
With Newcastle now lurking, Pedro may not even need to win over club legend Alan Shearer if he completes a move this summer. The record Premier League goalscorer took the time to describe the Brighton star as “superb” back in November.
Manchester United’s move for Matheus Cunha appears to be all but completed, although that deal will likely be just the start of a hectic summer at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim expected to oversee a real squad overhaul.
While the Portuguese has admitted that incomings may be limited due to the club’s failure to secure Champions League qualification, he also hinted that he could look to work with a smaller squad as a result, heightening the need for further departures.
Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans all said their goodbyes during Sunday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, while sales for Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are all set to be prioritised, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Evans and Lindelof
A bold call has been made by Amorim and INEOS over the future of Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentine currently the major talking point at the club – alongside in-demand captain, Bruno Fernandes.
Latest on Bruno Fernandes' future
In the aftermath of last week’s Europa League final defeat, Fernandes – who had put in a surprisingly muted performance in the Bilbao showpiece – admitted for the first time that the club could decide to cash in on him, having previously rejected an “offer” from elsewhere last summer.
The 30-year-old did put pen to paper over a contract extension ahead of the start of this season, although intense interest from Saudi Arabian side, Al Hilal, has thrown his future in doubt.
It has been claimed in recent days that the playmaker has been given 72 hours by the Pro League outfit to decide whether or not he is open to a move, having spent the last five-and-a-half years in Manchester.
Bruno Fernandes
The belief is that Al Hilal are willing to almost treble Fernandes’ wage, should he agree to a switch, with United’s talisman in line to take home £700k-per-week, totalling £200m over a three-year contract.
Should that mammoth offer prove too tempting for both player and club – with an £100m fee having been mooted – then Amorim and co will need to seek out a suitable replacement.
Man Utd's search to replace Fernandes
With Cunha having one foot in the door, the search to find a new attacking talisman is already underway, although for a side who failed to score in 16 games in all competitions in 2024/25, further reinforcements are needed.
With that in mind, Caught Offside are reporting that the Red Devils are ready to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding Lee Kang-in’s future at Paris Saint-Germain, with talks said to have hit a snag over the South Korean’s contract extension.
As per the report, while the 24-year-old still has three years left on his existing deal, the failure to tie him down to fresh terms has ‘opened the door’ for suitors to pounce, with the Old Trafford side said to have ‘made a move’ to sign him.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Any deal could cost in the region of £36m, with The Athletic reporting in January that the Ligue 1 side are looking to at least double their €22m (£18m) investment, after landing the playmaker from Mallorca in 2023.
That reported price tag was mooted amid interest from Arsenal, with the Gunners among a raft of clubs to have made contact, alongside the likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Paris St Germain'sLeeKang-in, Paris St Germain's Nuno Mendes and Paris St Germain's Achraf Hakimi
A hotly-contested race then it would seem, although if United can win the battle, Lee could represent a wildcard Fernandes replacement.
Why Lee Kang-in could be a perfect Fernandes replacement
It is a summer in which many top-flight clubs are looking to strengthen their attacking ranks, with rivals Liverpool seemingly stepping up their pursuit of one of the most high-profile deals to have been touted so far, with regard to Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
The subject of an offer worth over €100m (£86m), the German sensation looks to have selected Anfield as his next destination, despite interest from Bayern Munich, with the 22-year-old enjoying a fine campaign in which he registered 31 goals and assists in all competitions.
While Lee may not have hit such heights back in Paris, having registered just 12 goals and assists amid his bit-part role under Luis Enrique, it is encouraging to note that he has been deemed a statistically similar profile to Wirtz, among those in their position in this season’s Champions League, as per FBref.
Non-penalty goals
0.00
0.59
Assists
0.00
0.12
Shot-creating actions
5.00
5.10
Pass completion
86.1%
85.8%
Progressive passes
7.50
6.28
Progressive carries
3.65
3.32
Successful take-ons
1.54
2.13
Tackles
1.73
0.71
Interceptions
0.19
0.47
As indicated in the table above, the two men – both of whom can operate off the flanks or in a central role – are particularly adept at providing a creative outlet in attack, with Lee ranking in the top 1% of Champions League forwards for progressive passes per 90. Wirtz, for context, ranks in the top 3% in that regard.
The duo’s dribbling prowess is also worth noting, with Lee – who did only feature for 468 minutes in the competition – ranking in the top 18% for successful take-ons per 90, with his German counterpart ranking in the top 1% for that same metric.
Previously described as an “incredible” talent by international teammate Son Heung-min, the former Valencia starlet has recorded 22 goals and assists in 81 games during his time in Paris, while previously registering 17 goal involvements in 73 games for Mallorca.
It is also worth mentioning that despite registering just six goals and six assists in Ligue 1 in 2024/25, the Korean gem did create 16 ‘big chances’, while averaging 1.9 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.
Wirtz, for example, was only just ahead after creating 17 ‘big chances’ in the Bundesliga, albeit while averaging 1.8 key passes, while as for Fernandes, the Portuguese hero also created 16 ‘big chances’ in the Premier League.
That indicates the type of threat that Lee can offer, particularly if afforded regular game time under Amorim’s watch, with the silky left-footer courting such interest for a reason, heading into the summer window.
Lee Kang-in for Paris Saint-Germain
For United to be able to land a Wirtz-like talent on the cheap could prove a masterstroke, with the PSG contract rebel representing a potentially left-field solution should Fernandes’ void need to be filled.
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Leeds United’s forward line has led them to huge success in the Championship throughout the 2024/25 campaign, helping Daniel Farke’s side claim the league title.
The Whites registered a staggering tally of 95 goals in their 46 league outings, an average of 2.1 per game – by far and away the highest tally in the division.
Striker Joel Piroe claimed the Golden Boot last time around, netting 19 times in his 46 appearances, finishing one goal ahead of Norwich City talisman Borja Sainz.
However, if Farke’s side are to have any chance of securing Premier League survival next campaign, they will need to invest in the playing squad to bridge the gap between the two divisions.
The centre-forward position in particular has already seen numerous players linked, including multiple players who are already plying their trade in England’s top flight.
The latest on Leeds’ pursuit of a new striker
Richarlison has been one name thrown into the mix to join Leeds this summer, after struggling to nail down a regular starting role at Tottenham Hotspur in recent years.
The Brazilian has started just four league games this campaign, notching four goals for Ange Postecoglou’s men, in what has been a disappointing campaign for Spurs.
Jamie Vardy is another player linked with a switch to Elland Road this summer, after announcing he would be departing Leicester City when his current contract at the King Power expires.
The 38-year-old has spent the last 13 years of his career with the Foxes, registering 199 goals – potentially offering Farke’s side an experienced and Premier League-proven option in attacking areas.
However, despite the links to the aforementioned talents in recent weeks, another player in England’s top-flight has also been touted with a move, but the club would be better off looking elsewhere, given their respective stats.
Why one Leeds target would be a better signing than Beto
Everton striker Beto is one of the latest names on the list of targets for Leeds over the last couple of weeks, as the manager looks to bolster the options at his disposal.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Toffees for £30m in the summer of 2023, has been inconsistent at Goodison Park, often being in and out of the side and sharing the role with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
However, he’s still managed to register eight league goals throughout 2024/25, potentially being a reasonable option for the Whites, should they land him at a competitive price.
Despite the interest in the former Udinese star, Farke should be pursuing a move for fellow target Troy Parrott, with the Irishman undoubtedly a better option.
The 23-year-old, who currently plies his trade for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, has emerged as a target in recent weeks, but he may not come cheap consider some reports suggest the Dutch outfit won’t accept offers below at least £21m.
He’s registered a staggering 20 goals in his 45 appearances across all competitions this campaign, excelling in his first season at his current employers.
However, his impressive figures don’t stop there, massively outperforming Beto with his underlying stats, highlighting why he would be a better option this summer.
Games played
28
28
Goals & assists
16
8
Progressive carries
1.3
0.7
Goals per shot-on-target
0.4
0.3
Pass accuracy
70%
56%
Shot-creating actions
2.7
1.3
Passes into the final third
0.9
0.4
Parrott, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by former boss Ryan Lowe, has also notched a higher goal per shot-on-target rate than the Everton ace – further highlighting his clinical nature in the final third.
He’s also completed more passes this season, whilst making more passes into the final third, handing the other attackers at Elland Road the opportunity to bolster their own tallies.
Their interest in his signature has been reiterated in recent weeks, but so far, it’s unclear how much a deal for the Spurs academy graduate would set them back this summer.
However, there’s no denying that the hierarchy should be pursuing a move for his signature over Beto’s, with the 21-year-old having bags of time to continue his development and be a potential star in Yorkshire.
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