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Chelsea are in advanced talks over a deal for RB Leipzig starlet Xavi Simons, as has been the case for some time, but they may not have it all their own way.

Negotiations are far down the line for his signature, as widely reported, but Fabrizio Romano says that Chelsea are still attempting to make sales before pressing forward with a deal for the Dutchman.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

“Chelsea remain in talks with RB Leipzig and Xavi Simons wants to go there,” said Romano on his YouTube channel around two days ago.

“There are advanced talks, but at the moment, there’s been no breakthrough. Why?

“It’s not been done for two reasons. The first one is that RB Leipzig are completely focused on the Sesko deal. So they’ll resolve that and then clarify Xavi Simons. Secondly, Chelsea are working on the outgoings. I told you that the contract and salary are almost agreed, but we have to wait for official statements for Armando Broja, Lesley Ugochukwu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and all the rest.

“Then there’s the conversation on the price between the two clubs, which is something absolutely important.”

Despite some reports in the last 48 hours claiming that Chelsea have reached a ‘total agreement’ for Simons, it appears there is still some work to do for the 22-year-old’s signature.

The former PSG playmaker is determined to join Chelsea, though, and has removed Leipzig from his Instagram bio in a clear hint that Simons has his eyes on a move to Stamford Bridge.

However, as per Chelsea journalist Simon Phillips, a mystery club is now threatening to derail their pursuit of the Bundesliga sensation.

Mystery club threaten Chelsea hijack for Xavi Simons

Writing via his Substack live blog [16:38, Thursday], an unnamed side have now come in for Simons, and this could ‘complicate things’, or at the very least force Chelsea to up the ante.

“SPTC Sources have heard that another ‘unnamed club’ has now come in for Xavi Simons,” wrote Phillips.

“Source states it could ‘complicate things’ or it could ‘speed Chelsea up’.

“Simons has agreed personal terms with Chelsea and is and has always been waiting for the move to us, but I’m not sure it’s been a Chelsea or nothing attitude so this would concern me.

“Let’s just hope it speeds us up to agree a fee.”

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol states that the Blues want to agree a deal for Simons below the £50 million mark.

Given Tottenham’s glaring need for a number 10 after James Maddison’s serious knee injury, we speculate that Thomas Frank’s side may well be the mystery club here.

After all, they were ready to spend £60 million on Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White just last month before Evangelos Marinakis blocked the move, so Daniel Levy is quite clearly prepared to splash the cash on a new attacking midfielder.

The latest chapter in Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United journey got off to a frustrating start as the Magpies drew at Aston Villa to kick off the new Premier League season.

But a point at Villa Park is hardly a poor result, and there was much to like about the visitors’ performance, even with Anthony Gordon moonlighting as a centre-forward in the palpable absence of Alexander Isak, who is AWOL as he awaits a potential move to Merseyside before the end of the month.

The away end sang derisory chants aimed toward the skiving Isak at the end of the goalless draw, and there’s a collective sense of understanding across English football as the Magpies watch their talisman be reduced to just another footballer.

But the club is always bigger than the player, and that’s not so much a truism as a timely reminder. Given the Sweden international’s decision to have excommunicated himself from the St. James’ Park first team, it might be worth selling him this summer after all.

Why Newcastle should sell Alexander Isak

Earlier in August, Liverpool saw an offer worth £110m plus add-ons rejected by Newcastle, who were somewhat affronted by what they perceived as a lowball bid.

Perhaps PIF were just in their grievances, having made it known all summer that the 25-year-old, who has just shy of three years remaining on his contract, can only leave if their valuation, stretching as high as £150m, is set.

Liverpool would have known that their offer would have been rejected; it’s all part of the game. And United must now accelerate their focus on signing two new strikers, as confirmed is the plan by correspondent Craig Hope, before time runs out, and Howe is left with a blinding problem beyond the movements of the market.

The manager’s expertly-woven system at Newcastle is built on the key tenets of togetherness, cohesion and tenacity. The Toon outfight and outthink their opponents routinely, and the proof is in the pudding.

Isak is at odds with this overarching principle, and he must be sold. Newcastle need a number nine who wants to fight for the badge.

Newcastle holding talks for new striker

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are accelerating their bid for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, though PIF are reluctant to meet the Bees’ hefty £60m price tag.

The 28-year-old Wissa has made it clear that he wishes to sign for Newcastle this month, having engaged in discussions with the Tynesiders across recent weeks. However, talks have also been held with further suitors like Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s worth noting that with Callum Wilson having left Newcastle at the end of his contract, this move is viewed in a separate light to that of Isak, with Wissa not a direct replacement as such.

Why Newcastle want Yoane Wissa

Wissa has been at Brentford for four years, joining from Lorient in an £8.5m deal. Steady, clinical progress has seen him establish himself as the club’s record scorer in the Premier League.

1

Yoane Wissa

45

2

Bryan Mbeumo

42

3

Ivan Toney

36

4

Kevin Schade

13

5

Christian Norgaard

11

Last season alone, he scored 19 times in the league for Thomas Frank’s side, and, aged 28, feels the time is right to earn a big move to a club competing within the European theatre.

Though Isak has a far wider breadth of quality within his locker, Wissa would take his place as Newcastle’s frontman and provide Howe’s side with a prolific outlet from which they can channel their creativity.

And given that the two forwards share a certain unsavoury similarity in the way in which they are looking to force their way through to a new home, might this prove to be Howe’s version of Isak?

Wissa maintained an impressive level in front of goal last term, and while he’s not an overly creative player, the Congolese international did average 0.8 key passes per Premier League game last season, via Sofascore, and contributed with four assists.

While Howe would need to continue to quest for a younger and more mobile striker to complement Wissa and replace Isak, the Bees star is a proven goalscorer in the English top flight and he could make all the difference in challenging for a place in the top four (or five) once again while competing in the Champions League, aiming to wade deep into Europe’s elite club competition.

Moreover, Wissa’s experience could contrast nicely against the more unproven youth of another striker looking to make their way into Howe’s plans, thus creating a kind of balance at number nine between two players desperate to succeed at the club.

Hailed for his “sensational” goalscoring qualities by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, Wissa is not Isak, but then he knows that, and Howe does too, and signing a player more limited in the scope of their attacking arsenal might actually mark a sure-fire route toward continuity of slick, effective attacking play.

Ultimately, Howe and his transfer team will be fully aware that Wissa would not bring the same calibre of technical ability as Isak has done over the past three years.

Certainly, the French-born forward lacks Isak’s zippy athleticism and his potential to become something even greater over the coming years.

But he is a proven Premier League striker, having scored 19 goals last season and having showcased his link-up ability through an intuitive on-pitch relationship with Bryan Mbeumo over the past few years.

It’s crucial that Newcastle ensure they keep chugging onward after a frustrating transfer window, and by signing a striker who can maintain prolific levels of a similar degree to Isak, they might just achieve that.

Howe's next Gordon: Newcastle make move to sign "exceptional" £26m star

Newcastle expect to complete a flurry of signings before the end of the transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 18, 2025

Of all 20 Premier League clubs, one of the sides most likely to be extremely active in the final few days of the transfer window are Crystal Palace.

On Saturday, it was confirmed that Eberechi Eze had left the club, joining Arsenal for £67.5m, which represents Palace’s biggest ever sale.

Meantime, the Eagles have made just two new signings, bringing in Walter Benítez to be the new back-up goalkeeper on a free, while paying £3m to sign Borna Sosa, a reserve left-wing-back, from Ajax.

Thus, Oliver Glasner has just 20 senior outfield players in his squad, including those who are currently injured, which is simply not enough if Palace are going to successfully balance both domestic and European commitments.

As a result, the next few days are likely to be very busy for Steve Parish and his recruitment staff, but are they closing in on a Premier League winger valued at £15m?

Crystal Palace's need for signings

Crystal Palace badly need strength in depth all across the pitch, including at centre-back, hence why they reportedly hold an interest in former Newcastle United man, Lloyd Kelly, among others.

Meantime, as they seek to fill the enormous void vacated by Eze, the Eagles are set to sign Yéremy Pino from Villarreal for £26m, with the Spain international having travelled to London to undergo a medical.

However, he might not be the only winger on his way to Selhurst Park.

That’s because, as reported by The Sun, Crystal Palace are ‘in talks’ with Arsenal over the possibility of signing Reiss Nelson.

They add that the Gunners value the 25-year-old at £15m, with Arsenal needing to raise funds before Monday’s deadline, having already spent big; Jakub Kiwior, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fábio Vieira are also very much for sale.

Transfer Focus

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

Nelson joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight so, following loan spells at Hoffenheim, Feyenoord and Fulham, could he finally be on the move permanently, perhaps returning to South London where he was born and raised?

What Reiss Nelson would bring to Crystal Palace

Despite being 25 years old, Nelson actually does not have a vast amount of senior experience under his belt.

To date, he has played just 163 senior matches: 90 for Arsenal, 32 for Feyenoord, 29 during a loan spell at Hoffenheim and 12 in Fulham colours last season, before suffering a season-ending knee injury in December, curtailing his time with the Cottagers.

Nevertheless, he has always been a highly-rated player, with Mikel Arteta labelling him an “exciting offensive talent”, praising his “tremendous ability”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout notes that “pace, acceleration, dribbling, technique and flair” are amongst his primary attributes.

For various reasons, one has to go back to Nelson’s loan at Feyenoord for the last time he played more than 641 minutes in a season, so let’s assess his statistics from that year in the Netherlands.

Minutes

1,508

16th

Goals

4

8th

Assists

6

4th

Big chances created

5

7th

Shots on target

15

7th

Progressive carries

95

5th

Attempted take-ons

66

6th

Take-on success %

67.7%

3rd*

Carries into the box

43

2nd

Average Sofascore rating

7.02

11th

*minimum 52 attempted.

As the table outlines, during his campaign in Rotterdam, despite limited minutes, Nelson was a key contributor for Feyenoord as they finished third in the Eredivisie and also reached the inaugural Europa Conference League Final, beaten by Roma in Tirana.

While the Englishman’s end-product was somewhat lacking, the table underlines that his strengths are his dribbling, ranked highly for progressive carries, attempted take-ons, take-on success percentage and carries into the opposition penalty area.

Even in the Premier League last season, he ended up 17th for attempted take-ons per 90, as well as seventh in the division for carries into the final third on a per-90 basis, despite. not taking to the pitch after 5 December.

Thus, while clearly not as good at Eze, Nelson certainly shares his compatriot’s quality dribbling ability, something Palace’s squad now lacks following the departure of their talisman.

In Glasner’s 3-4-3 system, able to be deployed as an inside forward, thereby closer to goal rather than out on the touchline, a move to Selhurst could get the best out of Nelson as he seeks to revitalise his career and prevent it from fizzling out.

Crystal Palace now make contact to sign "incredible" £20m Guehi replacement

The Eagles have made an approach over a deal for a new defender.

ByDominic Lund Aug 27, 2025

Arsenal’s sensational hijacking of Tottenham’s deal for Eberechi Eze will go down in Gunners folklore as one of their most celebrated transfer coups in recent memory.

In one fell swoop, Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta rounded off his already-impressive debut window by both breaking the hearts of their rivals and securing a proven Premier League number 10 overnight.

Spurs were on the verge of signing Eze, after reaching an agreement in principle with Palace and agreeing personal terms with the 27-year-old himself.

However, Kai Havertz’s injury then pushed the north Londoners into stealing Eze from under Thomas Frank’s nose.

After laying plenty of groundwork and being heavily linked for most of the summer, Arsenal moved in for the England international and matched Tottenham’s bid – leaving the final decision down to Eze.

A boyhood Arsenal fan and former academy player, the choice was simple – a return to N5.

Reports earlier this month suggested that Eze’s ‘first preference’ between the clubs was always Arsenal, so when Mikel Arteta’s side made their intentions known, the former QPR star promptly took the bait.

The playmaker, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Palace last season, is undergoing a medical ahead of a £67.5 million move back to Arsenal.

Tottenham will be kicking themselves for not triggering Eze’s £68 million release clause when they had the chance, with the buy-out expiring on August 15. Daniel Levy’s famously hard-ball negotiating tactics have seemingly come back to bite the Lilywhites chairman, and Arsenal have reaped all the rewards.

Palace's "unusual" Tottenham demand which sparked Eberechi Eze hijack fear

Shedding more light on one of the stories of the transfer window, journalist Graeme Bailey has shared an intriguing bit of background on the blockbuster deal.

According to the reporter, speaking to TBR Football, Tottenham felt something wasn’t quite right when Palace made an ‘unusual’ demand, which seemingly sparked fears of a potential Arsenal hijack.

Palace initially planned for Eze to feature in their 1-0 Conference League play-off win against Fredrikstad on Thursday night, but the player didn’t end up taking part after all.

His switch to Arsenal is now imminent, and an announcement is expected in due course.

Tottenham Hotspur are now in talks to sign a “world-class” £43m star, who is ready to fly into London to complete a move.

Spurs looking to sign forward before 7pm deadline

As we enter the final hours of the summer transfer window, Tottenham remain keen on signing a new forward, having failed to bring in a like-for-like replacement for Son Heung-min, with Manchester City’s Savinho remaining at the Etihad Stadium.

Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani, who can play at both centre-forward and on the wing, has now emerged as an option for Thomas Frank’s side.

However, Spurs are also ramping up their interest in a different forward of a similar mould, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they have now entered talks over a deal for wantaway Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.

The Italian club are looking to receive £43m for Lookman, and they could be willing to accept an initial loan deal, which would include an obligation to buy, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey adding: “Lookman has emerged as an option for Tottenham, not dissimilar to their Xavi Simons deal. They were in the right place at the right time.

“I am told Lookman is keen, Tottenham are keen, and this has a chance ahead of Monday’s 7pm deadline.”

Promisingly, with the Atalanta forward keen on a move to N17, he is now ready to fly to London to complete the deal.

Tottenham in late transfer race to sign £25m Manuel Akanji alternative

Spurs have now identified a Champions League-winning defender as a target.

ByDominic Lund Sep 1, 2025 "World-class" Lookman would be exciting signing for Spurs

Much like Kolo-Muani, the Nigeria international is able to play at both striker and on the wing, making him a versatile option for Frank, and the 27-year-old has maintained a fantastic record in front of goal during his time with Atalanta.

Season

Serie A appearances

Goal contributions

2022-23

31

21

2023-24

31

19

2024-25

31

20

Not only has the London-born forward impressed in the Serie A, but he memorably caught the eye in the 2024 Europa League final, scoring a hat-trick to secure a 3-0 victory for his side over a Bayer Leverkusen side that won the Bundesliga undefeated.

Courtesy of the hat-trick against the at-the-time German champions, the Atalanta star scooped up a prestigious award and received very high praise from the BBC’s John Bennett.

Lookman would clearly be a top-quality addition to Tottenham’s squad, and a £43m fee seems reasonable, given the level of his performances in the Serie A and Europa League.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has named a “complete” star as the greatest player in the club’s history.

Odegaard vying to become first Arsenal captain since Vieira to lift Premier League title

It has been far too long since the Gunners lifted the Premier League title, with Patrick Vieira the last captain to do so, way back in 2004, but Odegaard is looking to end the soon-to-be 22-year wait this season.

Barring the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, the Gunners have otherwise made an ideal start to the season, having introduced some star quality into the squad during the summer transfer window.

Perhaps most importantly, Mikel Arteta finally got a new striker through the door, with Viktor Gyokeres joining from Sporting CP, and the Sweden international has gotten off to an impressive start, scoring three goals in two games at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal intensify interest in signing "special" gem ahead of Liverpool

He’s a future star…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 13, 2025

Following Thomas Partey’s departure, it was also vital to get another top central midfielder through the door, and Martin Zubimendi is looking like he could be exactly that, bagging a brace in the 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The entire squad has the opportunity to write their names into the history books by ending the long wait for a league title this season, potentially placing themselves alongside the likes of Vieira Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Sol Campbell as club legends.

However, in an interview with Sky Sports earlier this year, Odegaard has named a different former Gunner as the club’s greatest-ever player.

When asked whether Thierry Henry is the best player in Arsenal’s history, the Norwegian said:

Henry one of the best in Premier League history

Not only is the Frenchman Arsenal’s greatest-ever player, but he is also one of the best in Premier League history, having been inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2021.

The 48-year-old is a four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, while he also holds the joint-record for number of assists in a Premier League season, chipping in with 20 during the 2002-03 campaign.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

1999/00

31

17

2000/01

35

17

2001/02

33

24

2002/03

37

24

2003/04

37

30

2004/05

32

25

2005/06

32

27

2006/07

17

10

The 123-cap France international also scored some remarkable goals during his time with the Gunners, and played a vital role in his side winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, in an era where Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were dominant.

It will be a tall order for any Arsenal player to eclipse Henry’s achievements in north London, but Arteta will be hoping his side can finally end the long wait for the Premier League title this season, having spent heavily once again in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the main contenders to sign a “tremendous” attacking midfielder, who has now been identified as a priority target.

Spurs looking to sign new attacking midfielder

It has been a solid start to the season for Tottenham, with Thomas Frank being left very impressed by his side’s performance in the 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, despite the fact they were unable to take all three points.

Frank said: “I think this is our best performance of the season. I actually think that overall, if there should have been a winner, it should have been us.

“So many crosses into the box, near chances, missed opportunities. We were physically strong and mentally strong, and that is so important if you want to achieve something.”

Tottenham plan "irresistible" offer for £68m midfielder amid Thomas Frank belief

The Dane thinks he could be a game-changing signing.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 21, 2025

Summer signing Mohammed Kudus played a key role in Spurs clawing their way back into the game, with the Ghanaian grabbing two assists, having made a flying start to life in north London.

However, the Lilywhites remain keen on bolstering their attacking ranks even further, having now joined the race for Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, who has been identified as a priority target for the upcoming transfer window.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Tottenham have emerged as one of the main contenders for Sancet’s signature. However, there could be rival interest from a number of other Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa are also named as potential suitors for the attacking midfielder, who could be an expensive addition to the squad, given that there is a €80m (£70m) release clause included in his contract.

Sancet could be "tremendous" signing for Spurs

There are some doubts over whether the 25-year-old would be a necessary signing, given that a deal would be very costly, and Frank is already relatively well-stocked in attacking midfield, having signed Xavi Simons in the summer.

However, the Athletic Bilbao star clearly has the talent to be a success in north London, having received very high praise from sporting director Rafa Alkorta, who said: “Oihan is at a tremendous level. I’m very happy for him. I’ve known him for years, I’ve followed his career, and I think he’s a very important player, probably more important than he thinks, and what he needs is continuity and luck with injuries.”

The Pamplona-born attacker has shown a very good eye for finding the back of the net in recent times, bagging 15 La Liga goals last season, while also impressing with his passing ability over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.50 (96th percentile)

Pass completion %

82.6% (88th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.22 (80th percentile)

Sancet could be a fantastic acquisition for Tottenham, but when James Maddison returns, Frank will be blessed with a number of attacking midfield options, so it may be best to invest the money into other areas of the squad.

Everton haven’t quite been at the races in recent Premier League matches as the Toffees’ bright start to the season has come unstuck.

Indeed, two frustrating home draws to Aston Villa and West Ham United recently will not be what the Hill Dickinson Stadium masses would have wanted to see from their free-flowing side, as not even Jack Grealish or Iliman Ndiaye could inspire a winning performance on either occasion.

Defeats in the Merseyside Derby and in the EFL Cup will have also given David Moyes plenty of food for thought as to what he should change in the coming matches to turn around this sticky patch of form.

In an ideal reality, Moyes would love to be able to call upon Jarrod Bowen again to boost his exciting attacking personnel on Merseyside, with the England international a dependable performer for the Scotsman throughout his two Hammers stints.

Moyes' close relationship with Jarrod Bowen

Of course, Moyes is blessed in the attacking department when it comes to either flank, with Grealish on four assists already this campaign, while Ndiaye has been among the goals this season as well.

Still, when Bowen smashed home this fantastic effort to level the tie on Monday night, his ex-Hammers boss would have been irritated that he didn’t have him at his disposal anymore.

Games played

202

Goals scored

60

Assists

41

Moyes’ long reign at the London Stadium saw Bowen pick up goals and assists by the bucket-load, with the West Ham captain managing to tally up a staggering 101 goals and assists from 202 games under the Glaswegian’s watchful eye.

It’s early days, but Ndiaye will hope he can – one day – be a similar Bowen-style figure for the 62-year-old, with 14 goal contributions already next to his name on Merseyside when regularly deployed down the former Hull City man’s trusty right-hand side.

Grealish will also be taken aback by the idea as he searches for a club where he can achieve similar long-term success, away from the anxiety of first-team minutes drying up at the Etihad.

But, it could be that Everton have discarded Moyes’ next iteration of Bowen already when letting his homegrown ace depart the building in 2023 for a whopping £45m.

Why Everton must regret selling Bowen 2.0

At the time, the Toffees would have felt that cashing in on the hit-and-miss attacker in question was the best outcome for all involved, with the Merseyside prodigy calling for a move away from his boyhood employers.

That doesn’t mean they can’t be pained by what Anthony Gordon has turned into since moving on from the blue half of Liverpool, however, with the 24-year-old going on to become a Champions League-level performer with Newcastle United, alongside being called up to the same Three Lions camps that Bowen has been involved with off the back of his blistering form.

Games played

111

Goals scored

25

Assists

23

Trophies won

1x

Gordon would never quite sparkle fully into life in the senior picture at Everton, with just seven goals and eight assists coming his way. But, much like Bowen found with the Hammers, the Liverpool-born winger found St James’ Park to be an instantly welcoming fit, with a sublime 46 goal contributions and counting next to his name now on Tyneside.

This sharp upturn in form has led to various voices waxing lyrical about the former Everton number ten, with Jamie Carragher even hailing Gordon as “one of the best players in the Premier League” when strutting his stuff with the Magpies back in 2023.

Bowen, of course, has been exposed to similarly outlandish praise, with TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton even declaring that the 17-time Three Lions international was “one of the best signings in West Ham’s modern history” earlier this year.

Moyes would have loved to have unearthed this side from Gordon at his boyhood club if he stayed put – securing himself another Bowen-like presence in the process – but the 24-year-old’s tale in the Premier League unfortunately only has Everton in its opening chapter.

It feels like a lifetime ago since Gordon was putting away chances like this for his boyhood club, but Moyes won’t curse too much about the decision to offload the Magpies’ number ten, knowing he can get a tune out of Grealish and Ndiaye, even if there are bumps in the road to overcome.

Not just O'Brien: Moyes is wasting Everton star in his current position

David Moyes’ Everton side still need to go up a few gears over the coming weeks.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2025

Manchester United have an unseen teenager at Carrington who Red Devils defender Harry Maguire is helping around the training ground.

Maguire reaches 250 Man Utd appearances

After signing from Leicester City in a deal worth £80m back in 2019, Maguire has had plenty of ups and downs at Old Trafford but continues to be a regular at the back under Ruben Amorim.

Maguire recently hit 250 appearances as a Man Utd player, following in the footsteps of teammates Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw. Talking about reaching the milestone, he said:

Going on to talk about fellow defender Shaw, Maguire said: “You don’t play at this club 250 or 300 times if you’re first and foremost not a good player.

“Luke’s an excellent footballer, and every manager that comes in, he gets questioned a lot. That’s what happens at this club.

“Every manager that comes in plays Luke, and there’s a reason why they play Luke, because he’s an excellent footballer, always has been and always will be.”

Maguire’s current Old Trafford contract is worth £190,000-a-week, making him the fourth highest paid player at the club currently, however, that deal is set to expire in 2026.

1

Casemiro

£350,000

2

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

3

Matthijs de Ligt

£195,000

4

Harry Maguire

£190,000

5

Matheus Cunha

£180,000

Whether or not he remains at the club remains to be seen, but he appears to be helping out the future generation at Carrington.

Man Utd teenager Shea Lacey impressing

According to a report from The Daily Mail, Man Utd teenager Shea Lacey, who is yet to make his debut or a first team matchday squad and be seen by fans, but is catching the eye of those at Carrington.

It is claimed that the 18-year-old ‘was invited back after a handful of sessions with the seniors’ and is impressing first-team stars with his technical level.

Maguire ‘has taken it upon himself to help Lacey settle into the senior group and act as a sounding board’, with the winger running riot against opponents at academy level.

In just three Premier League 2 appearances this season, Lacey has scored two goals in 122 minutes of action, and in total, has contributed to 14 goals for the U18s.

"Sealed and signed" – Man Utd agree $1m deal and personal terms with 17 y/o

The exciting young talent has represented his country nine times at the U17 level.

ByCallum Kemp Oct 2, 2025

It appears as if he could be the next Carrington graduate to make the grade at first-team level, although it is stated that ‘United are eager to take a slow and steady approach when it comes to Lacey, particularly in terms of managing his minutes, after injuries in recent years’.

Newcastle United didn’t rest on their laurels after winning the Carabao Cup and restoring their place in the Champions League last season, breaking their transfer record for expenditure in a summer transfer window.

Of course, Eddie Howe’s side parted ways, rather acrimoniously, with centre-forward Alexander Isak, who had refused to train throughout August in order to force his way out and to Premier League champions Liverpool.

There is no two ways about it: this was a big blow for a club on the up. However, if you are going to lose your star man, swap him with an elite-class replacement.

Having banked £125m for the Sweden star’s signature, funds were redirected toward Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, who completed a £69m move at the end of August.

Why Woltemade could be one of Newcastle's best signings

Given that he’s Newcastle’s club-record purchase, you’d hope that Howe would be receiving bang for his buck when welcoming the striker to the fold, not least because he is stepping into Isak’s boots.

But seven games into his career in black and white, the German international has scored four goals from seven matches and is grasping the opportunity to nail down his spot as Yoane Wissa continues to recover from a knee injury suffered before he could make his debut.

Praised by Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor in the past as “the two-metre Messi”, the 6 foot 6 striker is as rangy as they come, but he’s anything but ungainly.

Endowed with a deft technical skill and an awareness that allows him to link up fluidly with his teammates, there’s so much potential for Howe to tap into over the coming years, and if he continues as he has started, Toon fans will remember Isak as little more than an afterthought.

It’s hard to hit the ground running in the Premier League, and the likes of Isak and Anthony Gordon stand as evidence at St. James’ Park as to why it’s important to give players time to integrate.

Howe's original Woltemade-type signing

Though his first foray into English football was heavily disrupted by a ten-month fan as a result of betting breaches, Sandro Tonali started as he would eventually go on, netting on his debut for Newcastle against Aston Villa in August 2023.

It was clear from the off that Howe had signed a high-quality midfielder, welcoming Tonali from AC Milan in Italy for a £55m fee. Hailed by Italian reporter Carlo Garganese for his “world-class” potential when cutting his teeth in his homeland, Tonali has rebounded from that first-season setback and now plays as the linchpin at the heart of the Magpies’ engine.

Elegant and effortless on the ball, the 25-year-old works perfectly alongside Bruno Guimaraes, with his control and reading of the game opening up avenues for the Brazilian, whose athleticism and ability to cover vast stretches of ground have seen Howe nudge him into a slightly more advanced berth.

As with Woltemade, Tonali’s signature came at a heavy financial cost, but he is playing with a gusto and quality that suggests he could be one of the key pillars of Howe’s tactical vision for many years to come.

Both players have yet to hit their prime, and that’s an exciting thing. Moreover, Tonali is becoming ever more important as the architect of Newcastle’s ball-playing fluency, just as, with Wissa injured, Woltemade is tasked with scoring the goals for this title-chasing team.

Kieran Trippier

6

10.4

Sandro Tonali

7

7.31

Jacob Ramsey

2

7.14

Bruno Guimaraes

6

6.33

Lewis Hall

3

6.00

He’s been ever-present in the Premier League so far this season, and there’s a reason Howe has entrusted him with such an important role.

Tonali, like Woltemade, faced questions upon completing a big-money move to Tyneside, but his quality on the pitch has prevailed and he has risen to a standing in Howe’s squad as one of the most significant cogs in the machine.

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1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 15, 2025