All posts by h716a5.icu

Leeds United have now made an approach to sign a defender who’s “pure class”, and he could be available for a fee of just £5m, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

Leeds eyeing new defender amid Firpo uncertainty

Junior Firpo played a key role in the Whites’ promotion, collecting four goals and ten assists in 32 Championship games, but the left-back could now be heading for the exit door, amid widespread links with La Liga side Real Betis.

While Firpo is capable of making a real impact from an attacking point of view, former Leeds man Paul Robinson believes it may be the right decision to let the defender leave this summer, given his previous struggles in the top flight.

Robinson said: “Firpo, I’ve got my concerns about. I think he’s been excellent in the Championship. But some players, the Championship is their level, and in the Premiership, before he was exposed defensively, he was well out of position many times, susceptible to goals, and teams targeted him, and I think the step-up was maybe too much for him.”

In the Premier League, Daniel Farke’s side may have to be a bit more pragmatic than they were last season, which means the manager is looking to bring in a new left-back, who is defensively solid, rather than a threat going forward.

According to Jacobs, in an update on X, Leeds have now made an approach to sign Aston Villa’s Alex Moreno, submitting an enquiry about a deal for the left-back, who is also attracting interest from Burnley and a number of unnamed La Liga clubs.

With Moreno’s Villa contract set to expire in 2026, he is set to be available for around £5m this summer, making him an affordable option for the Championship title-winners.

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The Whites have stepped up their pursuit of a midfielder, with discussions ongoing.

2 ByDominic Lund Jun 11, 2025 "Pure class" Moreno impressed during Nottingham Forest loan

Having been deemed surplus to requirements by Unai Emery, the defender was shipped out on loan to Nottingham Forest last season, and the Spaniard managed to impress at times, with writer Lee Clarke describing his performances as “pure class”.

Clarke also added: “I confess I was uncertain about his hamstring history when he signed but there have been no ill effects in that sense so far. Moreno is established on the left in the team now and he’s a 7/10 at the very least in every single game.”

That said, the 32-year-old, who has the same agent as Illan Meslier, went on to play less of a prominent role as the season went on, often being left on the bench by Nuno, which suggests he was unable to maintain his initial levels of performance.

As such, there are doubts over whether Moreno would be a worthwhile signing for Leeds, but he could be an upgrade on Firpo from a defensive standpoint, having outperformed the left-back across some key metrics over the past year.

Average per 90

Alex Moreno

Junior Firpo

Tackles

2.36

2.27

Interceptions

1.41

1.27

Blocks

1.04

0.86

Clearances

4.05

3.51

Aston Villa have now made contact over a deal for a defender, whose recent performances have attracted the attention of some top clubs, according to a report.

Aston Villa eyeing bargain signings amid PSR concerns

PSR has been a thorn in Villa’s side for quite some time now, having previously been forced to cash-in on the likes of Douglas Luiz and Jhon Duran to raise funds, and having missed out on the Champions League in controversial fashion, NSWE may have to make sales this summer.

After the 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford, there are now doubts over the futures of Morgan Rogers, Emi Martinez and Marco Asensio, with Manchester City being named as potential suitors for the former in the past.

Martinez also looks as though he could be heading for the exit door, with Atletico Madrid recently entering the race for the Argentina international, alongside Manchester United, although it is unclear whether a move to Old Trafford would be of great appeal after their Europa League final defeat.

Better than Rashford: Aston Villa exploring move for "special" £58m star

It’s set to be a busy summer at Aston Villa, so could they sign a “special player” from a Premier League rival for £58m instead of Marcus Rashford?

ByBen Gray May 30, 2025

Amid PSR concerns, it could be a wise idea for Aston Villa and NSWE to make some low-cost additions to the squad this summer, and they have now made contact over a deal for Hellas Verona defender Diego Coppola, according to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness).

Owing to some of his recent performances, Coppola is now attracting widespread interest ahead of the summer transfer window, with the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford also being named as potential suitors.

A deal could be on the relatively cheap side too, with the Serie A side expected to receive offers of around €10m – €15m (£8m – £13m) in the coming weeks.

"No-nonsense" Coppola impressing in Italy

The Hellas Verona defender is only 21-years-old, but he has already solidified his place as a regular starter for the Italian side, making 34 Serie A appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, during which time he impressed considerably.

Indeed, the Italian centre-back showcased his defensive quality on a regular basis, perhaps most notably ranking in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Aerials won

4.09 (98th percentile)

Interceptions

2.21 (99th percentile)

Tackles

2.03 (85th percentile)

Not only that, but the “no-nonsense CB”, as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, also proved himself to be an attacking threat, scoring with a towering header in his side’s 3-2 victory over Parma back in December.

Coppola has proven he could now be ready to take the next step in his career, and he could be a fantastic low-cost addition to Unai Emery’s squad.

Unsurprisingly, after such a disappointing Championship campaign, West Bromwich Albion are now going full steam ahead to get rid of some declining stalwarts.

Indeed, the recent retained list revealed that both Semi Ajayi and John Swift would be allowed to walk away from the Hawthorns for nothing this summer, alongside the enigmatic Grady Diangana also being released upon his contract expiring in June.

Whilst both Swift and Ajayi had become part of the furniture at the West Midlands outfit, the loss of Diangana will hurt just that little bit more, considering the Congolese forward had fired home seven goals during the 2023/24 season that saw the Carlos Corberan-led Baggies narrowly miss out on promotion.

However, after only averaging 44 minutes of league action this season, the decision was made to axe the hot-and-cold 27-year-old, with these three transfer targets now perhaps on the West Brom shopping list to try and fill Diangana’s void.

1 Kwame Poku

Kwame Poku’s name is being talked about in all sorts of rumour mills with West Brom’s near neighbours Birmingham City reportedly very keen on adding the Peterborough United superstar to their roster.

The Baggies have previously been keen themselves, and with Diangana now gone, this could mean a move is reignited for an attacker who has regularly made League One his playground, starring for Darren Ferguson’s men.

In 2024/25 – despite injury curtailing large portions of his campaign – Poku managed to pick up a blistering 12 goals and eight assists in league action from only 25 starts, meaning he could be ready for a jump-up in quality to test himself more.

Capable of playing down either flank or through the middle like Diangana, he might well be the perfect fit for the Baggies too as they begin to navigate life without their long-standing servant.

2 Jamie Donley

The second-tier giants could also go down the loan route to try and replace Diangana, with plenty of rumours linking the West Midlands side with a loan move for Tottenham Hotspur starlet Jamie Donley.

After all – much like Poku and Diangana – Donley’s versatile nature means he can line up all over the attacking positions as a main striker, as a number ten or as a winger, alongside the fact he has already proven himself in the EFL’s mean leagues on the books of Leyton Orient.

Games played

39

Goals scored

8

Assists

10

Shots*

1.4

Key passes*

1.6

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

17

Away from offering goals aplenty if he were to join the growing West Brom ranks – seen in his eight League One goals across a sublime 2024/25 – he would also be able to gift the managerless Baggies another bright, creative outlet, with his ten assists another standout statistic from the table above.

If the 20-year-old forward was to set the Championship alight in a similar manner, any lingering woe surrounding Diangana’s exit would be put to bed.

3 Tom Lawrence

Lastly, instead of relying on a youngster to come good, West Brom could instead look to bring in a former seasoned head at the level in Tom Lawrence to try and fill the Diangana-shaped hole.

After all, the second-tier underperformers, who have been interested in the 31-year-old’s services previously, would be able to add Lawrence to their camp for free, with the Wrexham-born ace now without a club after leaving Rangers.

After all, whilst Diangana was performing to the peak of his powers at the Hawthorns, the EFL veteran was shining equally as bright for former side Derby County, with the Welshman closing out his stay at Pride Park by registering a bumper 37 goals and 25 assists from 185 clashes.

With six strikes under his belt this season too in Scotland, he could still have plenty to give West Brom as they aim to be within the promotion positions again.

West Brom want to hire "outstanding" boss who'd be better than Eric Ramsay

West Bromwich Albion could land themselves an upgrade on the former Manchester United coach by appointing this manager instead.

ByKelan Sarson May 19, 2025

Glasgow Rangers ended their 2024/25 campaign in the same fashion as how it started; failing to win in Edinburgh.

In August, the Ibrox side could only draw 0-0 against Hearts at Tynecastle, making it the second season in a row where they failed to win the opening match of the Premiership season.

This afternoon, Rangers could only draw 2-2 with Hibernian at Easter Road to end arguably the worst season in the club’s recent history.

Goals from Cyriel Dessers and Nicolas Raskin gave the Gers a 2-1 advantage. A blatantly obvious goal wasn’t awarded when the score was tied at 1-1, despite the ball crossing the Hibs’ line by at least a foot.

Martin Boyle equalised with 25 minutes left, and both teams were forced to take a share of the spoils.

Jack Butland conceded another two goals, and it would be a surprise to see him still at the club next season.

Jack Butland’s future is uncertain at Rangers

The Englishman’s drop-off in form this season has been alarming, to say the least. Across 44 matches in all competitions, Butland has kept only 14 clean sheets, conceding 51 goals in the process.

He has conceded two or more goals in ten of his 28 league matches, and it is clear that the ‘keeper may have potentially played his final game for the club against Hibs.

Butland should have done better for Kieran Bowie’s effort to make it 1-1, while he misjudged a cross into the box, which meant Martin Boyle had plenty of room to make it 2-2, and failed to prove that Ferguson was wrong to drop him for Liam Kelly in recent weeks.

He isn’t the only player who must depart Ibrox this summer, as plenty of others in the first-team squad will likely be moved on by whoever becomes the club’s permanent manager.

Clean sheets

10

Accurate passes per 90

21.4

Touches per 90

37.1

Possession lost per 90

6.3

Errors leading to goal

2

Saves per 90

2.2 (66%)

Tom Lawrence must be top of the list, and he proved exactly why during his cameo today.

Rangers must release Tom Lawrence

Across his three full seasons in Glasgow, Lawrence has missed 75 games due to injury issues. During that time period, the Welshman has scored only 12 goals for Rangers.

Earning £22k-per-week, it is evident that the club could be spending this sort of money elsewhere in the squad.

He came on for Mohamed Diomande with 35 minutes left against Hibs, but he failed to solidify the midfield as the Gers chased three points, and he must, now, never play for the Gers again.

The midfielder took just 15 touches, completed eight passes, lost possession four times, and failed to register a single dribble or shot on goal.

Why he was given a runout is questionable, especially with several youngsters on the bench looking to gain much-needed game time heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Hopefully, the new manager releases the former Derby County star in the summer, as he certainly isn’t of the required quality to help the Glasgow side challenge Celtic domestically next season and has not proven himself to be reliable in terms of availability, as shown by his injury record.

It will be a summer of change at Ibrox. The question is, will it be enough to wrestle back the Premiership crown after four years away?

49ers now plotting bargain Rangers move to sign "strong" Premier League ace

He could be their first arrival of the summer.

ByTom Cunningham May 17, 2025

Newcastle United have now joined the race to sign a “very quick” defender who’s among the “world’s best”, according to a report.

Newcastle's summer transfer plans taking shape

Should Newcastle manage to secure Champions League qualification by finishing in the Premier League’s top five, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a resounding success, having also ended their 70-year trophy drought by lifting the EFL Cup.

However, the PIF have grand plans for the Magpies, and having enjoyed their first taste of success, they are likely to be even more inspired to compete for more major honours, which means some new additions to the squad could be required this summer.

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could be a key target in attack, with the right-winger recently being identified as the ideal option to bolster Eddie Howe’s frontline, while the PIF are now racing to sign Girona’s Yangel Herrera to reinforce the midfield.

In-demand player would rather join Newcastle despite offer from Barcelona

The Magpies could land his signature…

1 BySean Markus Clifford May 4, 2025

A new centre-back has also been of interest for quite some time, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi a long-standing target, and there has now been a new update on the Tynesiders’ pursuit of a defender.

According to a report from The Sun, Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, having announced his intention to leave the German club when his contract expires.

Guehi remains the Magpies’ top target, with the Palace captain set to leave Selhurst Park this summer, but Tah has now been identified as an alternative option, with Howe desperate to bring in a new defender this summer.

There could be stiff competition for the 29-year-old’s signature, however, with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also keen, in light of his impressive performances for Bayer Leverkusen…

"Very quick" Tah among "world's best" defenders

Leverkusen were unable to retain the Bundesliga title this season, but they did an incredible job to pip Bayern to top spot in the 2023-24 campaign, going the entire season undefeated, and it would be fair to say the German defender impressed Xabi Alonso.

Alonso said: “Jonha is performing at the highest level and I am really happy for him because he deserves all the praise and all the good moments he’s living – that he keeps playing for us and happily for the national team as well. I think he is one of the world’s best defenders.”

Former Germany boss Joachim Low once described the 29-year-old as “very quick”, while he is also very impressive in possession of the ball.

Tah’s availability on a free transfer makes signing him an even more attractive proposition for potential suitors this summer, and it is promising news that Newcastle have now joined the race.

Goals, goals and more goals. If there is one thing Arsenal have lacked this season, it’s goals.

It’s been clear for some time now that Mikel Arteta’s side lack a genuinely clinical striker to lead the line, and so the last few months have seen them linked with a whole host of exciting names.

One of the most prominent was Newcastle United’s incredible Alexander Isak, but with a price tag that could reportedly be as high as £150m, it’s a move that now seems increasingly unlikely.

However, that doesn’t mean that the North Londoners aren’t still looking to bring in a new striker, as recent reports have linked them with someone who could be the perfect alternative.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the forward in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attackers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Daizen Maeda.

Transfer Focus

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

The former looks like he’d cost around £70m, and while that’s still a hefty sum of money, it’s hard to argue against considering the Swede has scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists in 29 appearances for Sporting CP this year.

Maeda, on the other hand, would cost around £25m and has also enjoyed a brilliant campaign north of the border, scoring 33 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 games for Celtic.

However, the Gunners might be looking for a genuine bargain alternative to the Newcastle ace, which would explain the situation around Jonathan David.

According to a recent report from Italy, Arsenal are now one of several sides interested in signing the LOSC Lille star this summer, when his contract has expired.

Alongside the North Londoners, the report has claimed that Liverpool, Inter Milan, Juventus and a handful of other Premier League sides are also keen to land the soon-to-be free agent.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line in light of the competition, but given David’s immense ability, it’s one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be an incredible Isak alternative.

Why David would be a great Isak alternative

So, there is ultimately one reason, and it’s a massive one, why David would be a brilliant alternative to Isak: the finances involved.

While he would likely demand a slightly inflated wage to make up for the lack of a transfer fee, the money involved in any deal would still pale in comparison to what would be needed to sign the Newcastle star.

In turn, this would then allow the Gunners to invest heavily elsewhere in the squad, be it in another striker, a new left-winger, competition for Martin Odegaard, or even more defenders.

Moreover, just because he’d save the club an enormous sum of money does not mean he’d be a lacklustre signing.

For example, since the start of 1/22, the New York-born monster, whom journalist Tony Marinaro dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world,” has scored 96 goals and provided 25 assists in just 182 club appearances.

Appearances

48

40

47

47

Goals

19

26

26

25

Assists

0

4

9

12

Goal Involvements*

0.39

0.75

0.74

0.78

In other words, the incredible goal machine has averaged a goal involvement every 1.50 games across the last four seasons of top-flight football, which is evidence enough to suggest he’d be a good fit for the North Londoners.

Finally, it’s not just at the club level where the Canadian international has proven himself. In 61 appearances for Les Rogues, he scored 32 goals and provided 19 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal every 1.19 games.

Ultimately, with Isak almost certainly being too expensive to sign this summer, Arsenal would be wise to sign David in his place and spend the rest of their transfer budget improving the entire team.

He'd revive Odegaard: Arsenal aiming to sign "the new Mbappe" in £85m deal

Arsenal need to sign a player who could revive the fortunes of Martin Odegaard.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 5, 2025

In all the money they have spent over the past few summers, Chelsea have not been afraid to splash the big bucks on players from within the Premier League.

Without doubt, the best example of that is Moises Caicedo, who cost them a British record fee of £115m.

In fact, Brighton and Hove Albion has been a club they have regularly turned to for new players. They have also signed Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella from the Seagulls, of course, also previously hiring Graham Potter from the south coast.

On top of those additions, they have signed the likes of Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers and have also dipped into the loan market, temporarily signing Jadon Sancho from Manchester United.

Now, they might be set to repeat the feat in the summer transfer window once again.

Chelsea’s new Premier League target

One man who could be of interest to several elite Premier League clubs this summer is Mohammed Kudus.

Transfer Focus

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

The Ghanaian attacker has impressed at West Ham United during his time there, and they may be forced to sell him in the next transfer window.

Well, according to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of the sides interested in signing Kudus this summer. They are thought to be ‘monitoring his situation’ ahead of a potential transfer saga in the coming months.

It could well be one of the sagas of the window, too. Chelsea might have to go head-to-head with two divisional rivals in order to sign the attacker.

Arsenal and Liverpool are also thought to be interested, with Football Insider reporting that he could cost upwards of £85m for English top flight clubs. Saudi side Al-Nassr could also make a move, but would have to pay £125m.

How Kudus could help Cole Palmer at Chelsea

It has not quite been the electric season Kudus might have hoped for this term in a Hammers shirt. He has only managed three goals and two assists in the Premier League, having made 27 appearances so far.

That is a far cry from his numbers in the previous campaign. The Ghana international notched up an impressive eight goals and nine assists in the 2023/24 Premier League season, in just 33 games.

He has shown quite a lot of inconsienty this term, having not scored in the top flight since his goal against Brighton at the London Stadium in December, just days before Christmas. It has now been 15 Premier League games without a goal for Kudus, although he did grab an assist against Bournemouth three games ago.

There is a Chelsea star going on a similarly lean run of form at the moment, Cole Palmer. Despite the fact he has 14 goals and nine assists this term in the top flight, the England international has struggled in front of goal in recent weeks.

It has now been 11 top flight games for the former Manchester City star since he last scored, against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge in the middle of January. Given the talent Palmer has, that might certainly be a surpise.

Well, just maybe Kudus can help spark Palmer back into life again next season. Even though it has been a campaign in which he has struggled, the creativity numbers as per FBref have still been noteworthy. For example, he averages 2.66 progressive passes this season, ranking him in the top 15% of forwards in Europe’s big five leagues.

Key passes

1.07

63rd

Passes into final third

1.45

83rd

Passes into penalty area

0.97

89th

Progressive passes

2.66

85th

Shot-creating actions

3.84

95th

Making the move to Chelsea could certainly reinvigorate Kudus’ career. It has not exactly been an easy season for West Ham, with the change of coach and the fact they find themselves not too far from the relegation zone.

With Kudus’ natural ability on the ball, particularly when carrying forwards, and the creative spark he has, it should pair well with Palmer, who would benefit from another player on his wavelength.

The Ghana star is a “beast” in the words of Antonio Mango, and he could really elevate Chelsea and help bring the best out of one of their most important players.

He could be their best winger since Hazard: Chelsea want to sign £80m star

Chelsea are looking to strengthen in attack next summer

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 22, 2025

This summer transfer window is a huge one for Tottenham Hotspur if they are to rise up the Premier League next season, making amends for the dismal campaign endured in 2024/25.

The club’s bottom-half standing has led to questions being asked about Ange Postecoglou’s future at the club, with it unclear whether he’ll be in charge for 2025/26.

However, their progression into the Europa League semi-final against Bodo Glimt may save his career in North London – potentially able to end their 17-year wait for a trophy.

If the Aussie does manage to pull off such a feat over the next couple of weeks, he will need to be backed in the market by the owner to allow him to take the side to the next level.

It appears no time has been wasted ahead of the summer transfer window, already making serious moves to strengthen the side in numerous key areas.

The latest on Spurs’ pursuit for new attackers this summer

Over recent days, Spurs have been targeting reinforcements within the final third, leading to huge rumours over a move for Wolves’ star Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian only signed a new contract in recent months, but has stated his desire to leave, with any side wanting to land him needing to trigger his £62.5m release clause inserted within his new deal.

The Lilywhites aren’t alone in their hunt for the 25-year-old, with Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal also touted with a big-money move for his signature.

The likes of Tyler Dibling and Liam Delap have also been mentioned as potential targets, but not to the extent of Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who’s been hugely mentioned as a summer target.

According to one Spanish outlet, Spurs are preparing a £50m bid for the Cherries attacker, who’s reportedly a supporter of North London rivals Arsenal.

Why the £50m target would be the perfect Son replacement

Winger Heung-min Son has been a tremendous servant to Spurs over the last decade, often being the shining light in their side after moving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.

The South Korean international has racked up a staggering 448 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring on 173 occasions, putting himself fifth in the club’s all-time scoring charts.

However, with the attacker being 33 come the start of next season, it’s safe to say he’s entering the final years of his career as a professional, with a plan needing to be put in place to replace him.

He’s also started to pick up more frequent injury issues, currently being sidelined with a foot issue, missing the Europa League triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt and being ruled out of Monday’s clash with Forest.

As a result, Postecoglou could turn to Semenyo as a summer target, with the Ghanaian certainly the perfect replacement for the fan-favourite during the off-season.

When comparing his stats to Son from the Premier League in 2024/25, the 25-year-old has massively outperformed him in numerous key areas, showcasing how much of a superb addition he would be.

Semenyo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by The Athletic’s Richard Amofa, has registered more goals in the league to date, whilst also managing more shots on target per game, highlighting his threat within attacking areas.

Games played

32

28

Goals scored

8

7

Shots taken

3.7

2.4

Shots on target

1.2

1

Tackles & Interceptions

1.9

1

Take-ons completed

2.1

1.3

Aerials won

1.9

0.3

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, along with more aerials won, offering Ange an all-round presence in the final third, playing a massive role in their potential success next campaign.

£50m may be a huge investment from the hierarchy, but it’s needed should the side return to the heights they’ve set for themselves in numerous seasons in North London.

Semenyo has demonstrated the qualities he possesses this season, with a big move needed, opening the door for a transfer to Spurs, and giving him a great platform to take his own career to the next level.

The next Dele Alli: Levy readying Spurs offer for the "next big talent"

2025 could be a big year of change at Tottenham Hotspur, so are Spurs seeking to sign the “next big talent” in sensational Dele Alli repeat?

ByBen Gray Apr 19, 2025

Newcastle United are now closely monitoring a “monster” forward, who has been likened to Sergio Aguero, having watched him in action recently, according to a report.

Newcastle ramping up summer transfer plans

As we enter April, and thus the business end of the Premier League season, Newcastle still have a lot to play for, with Champions League qualification still very much in their sights, having already made the 2024-25 campaign a memorable one by lifting the EFL Cup.

The type of summer transfer window the Magpies have is likely to hinge upon whether they qualify for Europe’s elite competition, given that it will enable them to attract some top players, but they have already started to work on some potential signings.

PIF have reportedly made a £50m+ offer for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, which may be difficult for the Reds to turn down, while they also hold an interest in teammate Diogo Jota, with some suggestions the Portugal international could be used as a makeweight in a deal for Alexander Isak.

Newcastle now eyeing £25m Leeds target who Howe called "magnificent"

The Magpies are in the race for a Premier League player, who is set to leave his club in the summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 1, 2025

Jota is not the only forward in Eddie Howe’s sights, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing scouts have now been sent to watch Besiktas’ Semih Kilicsoy, who helped his side to a 2-1 victory over rivals Galatasaray at the weekend.

Scouts from West Ham United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were also in attendance, with Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz another player of interest to the English delegations.

The Magpies are said to be watching Kilicsoy closely, however, and with a busy transfer window planned on Tyneside, he could be in line for a move to St. James’ Park.

"Monster" Kilicsoy showing promising signs in Turkey

The report references the Besiktas winger’s nickname of the “Turkish Aguero”, and much like the Manchester City legend, his favoured position is striker, where he netted 11 goals in 23 Süper Lig appearances last term.

After showing signs of promise in a breakthrough campaign last season, however, the teenager hasn’t been quite as prolific this year, netting three league goals, although it must be noted he is still just 19.

As such, with Besiktas’ asking price allegedly dropping to just £12m, it could still be worth taking a risk on the Turkish youngster this summer, particularly considering he has received high praise from members of the media.

That said, Kilicsoy’s performances this season indicate he could take a little while to get to grips with the Premier League, so it could be worth Newcastle sending him out on loan, should they decide to pursue a deal this summer.

Game 5 of the World Series featured a pitching performance for the ages.

It just wasn’t authored by the player most would have expected it from.

Blue Jays rookie starter Trey Yesavage dominated the defending champion Dodgers, spearheading a 6–1 victory that brought Toronto one win away from its first championship since 1993. He struck out 12 batters and gave up just one run on three hits over seven innings, breaking the record for most strikeouts by a rookie in World Series history previously set by Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949.

He outdueled Los Angeles ace Blake Snell, who gave up five runs on six hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings.

The Blue Jays ambushed Snell, with Davis Schneider driving the game’s first pitch over the left field wall for a lead-off homer. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did the same, blasting the eighth home run of his historic postseason.

That start to the game took the air out of Dodger Stadium, and Yesavage made sure it never returned. As the series heads back to Toronto, here are four takeaways from Game 5.

Dave Roberts is out of lineup options

Their dominant pitching and sweep of the Brewers masked it, but the Dodgers bats haven’t been clicking for some time now. Los Angeles managed only 15 runs across four games in the NLCS, and has scored just 18 in the Fall Classic. And no matter what tweaks Roberts makes, it hasn’t seemed to make a difference.

For Wednesday’s game, Roberts tried to shake things up by moving Mookie Betts from second to the No. 3 hole, and shifting Will Smith up to No. 2. And after resisting for the entire playoffs, he finally decided to bench center fielder Andy Pages, who was 4-for-50 during the postseason with zero walks. None of it mattered.

Too many key Dodgers bats are slumping at the wrong time. Betts is 3-for-23 this series, and has just one extra-base hit in his last 52 plate appearances. Tommy Edman is 3-for-21. Since his home run in Game 2, Max Muncy is 1-for-13 with five strikeouts. Roberts can reshuffle things all he wants to, but with the Dodgers’ backs against the wall, none of it is likely to wake the lineup out of its prolonged, ill-timed slumber.

Trey Yesavage rises to the occasion