With one eye on sealing automatic promotion and another on the summer transfer market, Leeds United and the 49ers are reportedly poised to join the race to sign a new midfielder from the Austrian Bundesliga.

Leeds face crucial five-game run

In the space of a week, Leeds have seen their automatic promotion chances thrown into serious doubt for the first time in months to reclaiming their place at the top of the Championship – summing up the drama of England’s second division.

Victory against Middlesbrough last time out would have come as a huge relief for those in Yorkshire, who must now make it two wins in the space of a week when they play host to Preston North End on Saturday afternoon.

Leeds United vs Preston North End

12/04/2025

Oxford United vs Leeds United

18/04/2025

Leeds United vs Stoke City

21/04/2025

Leeds United vs Bristol City

28/04/2025

Plymouth Argyle vs Leeds United

03/05/2025

With just one game against one of the Championship’s top six coming up in their five fixtures, Leeds should be full of confidence that the league title and automatic promotion will be theirs for the taking in the coming weeks.

Currently top on goal difference, the Whites will be desperate to form a gap between themselves on Burnley when the Clarets square off against third place Sheffield United and they, themselves, face Stoke City on April 21.

He's playing like a £50m star: Leeds sold Struijk successor for just £4m

Leeds United must wish they never sold this defensive star now.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 11, 2025

Speaking about the pressure on his side during Leeds’ promotion run-in, manager Daniel Farke told reporters: “It’s so difficult and I wish sometimes the fans knew this. We’re in a business where there is lots of pressure.

“I don’t like to complain about this because the players have a proper life and earn lots of money, but let’s not forget, we work with human beings and we must keep this in mind when we criticise them a little bit.”

Farke, like those at Elland Road, has just five games before he can breathe a potential sigh of relief and then turn his attention towards the summer transfer window for Leeds.

Leeds set to join race for Abubakr Barry

With promotion back in their hands, the Whites have reportedly shifted their focus towards the transfer market. According to Kronen Zeitung in Austria, as relayed by Sports Witness, the 49ers are now poised to join the race to sign Abubakr Barry from Austria Vienna this summer, battling against Hull City as well as clubs in Germany and France for the midfielder’s signature in doing so.

The 24-year-old midfielder has impressed in Austria this season and could yet find himself on the move as a result despite only arriving in Vienna last summer. Dubbed “fantastic to watch” and even compared to Jobe Bellingham by scout and analyst Mfalsafa on X, Barry is undoubtedly one to watch.

Whilst chasing such a player, promotion to the Premier League will certainly go a long way for Leeds, who are already planning ahead.

Tottenham Hotspur were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in a match that confirmed their opponents as the champions of the Premier League.

It was a one-sided contest for much of the evening, despite Dominic Solanke’s opening goal in the first half, as the Reds ran riot on Merseyside against a helpless Spurs defence.

Ange Postecoglou will surely be disappointed with the performances from his players on the pitch, as several stars underperformed, including Destiny Udogie.

Destiny Udogie's struggles against Liverpool

The Italy international was tasked with keeping Mohamed Salah quiet at left-back and, actually, did a decent job of it in the opening 45 minutes.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Although Salah played a part in the first goal with a pass in behind the Spurs defence, the Egypt international ended the first half with zero goals or assists.

Unfortunately, however, the Liverpool number 11 stepped his game up in the second half to create one ‘big chance’ and score a goal, as he cut inside of Udogie from the right flank before rifling an effort into the bottom corner.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Salah also put the Spurs left-back under pressure and forced the defender to convert into his own net for the fifth goal, in what was a dreadful second-half for the Italian dud.

Udogie, however, was not the worst-performing full-back of the afternoon for Tottenham, as Djed Spence was even worse than the former Udinese star.

Why Postecoglou must drop Spence

The English right-back did not enjoy his best day in a Spurs shirt, with a dismal showing, and it started with his involvement, or lack thereof, in the first Liverpool goal.

Spence hesitated and tried to push up to play offside, but it was not an organised line, instead of following his man – Luis Diaz – into the box, and it was his match-up who scored the goal.

He found himself unaware of his man making a run off his back twice in the second half, once to allow Cody Gakpo in behind, but his cross evaded everyone, and the second time to allow Diogo Jota to fire in the cross that forced Udogie’s own goal.

Alongside those disappointing moments defensively, Spence’s use of the ball was also wasteful in comparison to Udogie’s throughout the 90 minutes.

Minutes

90

90

Pass accuracy

81%

56%

Dribbles completed

1/2

0/3

Possession lost

7x

21x

Tackles

3

1

Interceptions

2

0

Duels won

6/8

1/8

As you can see in the table above, the Italian defender had the better performance out of the two defenders, with his play in and out of possession, even if you include his own goal, which Spence was partially responsible for.

The former Nottingham Forest full-back was weak in his physical battles, made poor decisions defensively, and gave the ball away far too often, losing possession a whopping 14 more times than Udogie. This provided Liverpool with even more opportunities to attack because he could not keep hold of the ball well enough.

Therefore, Postecoglou must consider ruthlessly dropping Spence to the bench in favour of Pedro Porro, who provided an assist against Forest last time out, for the Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must axe Spurs dud who was worse than Gray

Ange Postecoglou must drop the Tottenham Hotspur flop who was even worse than Archie Gray.

ByDan Emery Apr 27, 2025

There is no denying it: this season has been a disaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou can end it spectacularly by winning the Europa League, but when it comes to the Premier League, things could not have gone much worse.

In fact, had it not been for some genuinely terrible form from the newly promoted sides, there might have been a real discussion around possible relegation at points, as so far, the North Londoners have lost a staggering 19 games in the league.

It’s been so poor that it seems as if Postecoglou will be on the way out regardless of what happens in Europe next, which has, in turn, seen a plethora of names linked with the job, including old boss Mauricio Pochettino and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

However, another name has also been linked with the job, someone who could make the board forget about the rest.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Expand Collapse Why Spurs would want Poch or Iraola

So, before getting to the manager in question, it’s worth looking at why the North Londoners might want to hire Pochettino or Iraola.

When it comes to the former, there are several reasons at play, but they all come back to one thing: familiarity.

Since leaving the club, it would be fair to say that the Argentine has not enhanced his reputation.

First came an unspectacular stint at Paris Saint-Germain, then a dire season with Chelsea and, as things stand, a disappointing spell in charge of the USMNT.

However, during his time in N17, he helped build a squad almost from the ground up, turned them into serious Premier League and Champions League contenders, and, just as importantly, formed a genuine connection with the fans.

Daniel Levy and Co would want to bring him back because they know that Pochettino can deliver at the club because he has done it before.

Iraola, on the other hand, does not have that familiarity with the club or fans, but he has the wind in his sails and is arguably one of the most exciting up-and-coming managers in the league.

For example, he took charge of a Cherries side that looked destined for relegation last year and has turned them into European hopefuls this season, all while losing their talismanic striker to the Lilywhites in the summer.

Iraola in England

Games (All Comps)

83

Wins

33

Draws

20

Losses

30

Points per Game

1.43

All Stats via Sofascore

Moreover, he helped to transform Rayo Vallecano in Spain before coming to England, so he has proven himself in more than one dugout.

With all that said, another manager hasn’t been talked about as much, but could be just the man Tottenham needs.

The Manager to make Spurs forget Poch & Iraola

According to reports from Germany earlier this month, as relayed by GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have inquired about Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovač.

The Croatian coach may not be all that familiar to fans of English football, but for fans of the Bundesliga, he’s a well-known and well-respected quantity.

For example, over the last seven years, he has managed Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich and most currently Dortmund – while spending a year and a half with AS Monaco.

Kovac’s record

Club

Games

Points per Game

Dortmund

17

1,76

Wolfsburg

66

1.30

Monaco

74

1.95

Bayern

65

2.26

Frankfurt

91

1.54

All Stats via Sofascore

Described as “one of the best coaches in Europe” by football writer Sebastien C, the 53-year-old is generally regarded as a coach who likes his teams to play vertically, getting the ball forward quickly when possible, but also something of a pragmatist who likes his sides to be defensively sound.

This could see him win over the Tottenham faithful early on, as he wouldn’t be as gung-ho as Postecoglou, but he wouldn’t want to shut up shop as much as Antonio Conte, for example.

Moreover, he’s shown a willingness to switch up his formation to suit his players in the past and is currently employing a 4-2-3-1 at Signal Iduna Park.

This is a set-up that could work wonders in North London as well, with extra cover in front of the club’s frequently shaky backline.

Finally, he’d join the club as a proven winner, having picked up the German Cup with Frankfurt and then winning the Cup and League double with Bayern a year later, in 2019.

Ultimately, Kovac might not be the first name that comes to fans’ minds when thinking of Spurs’ next manager, but thanks to his moderate pragmatism and historical successes in the dugout, he should be.

Related Uh oh: Ange hints £190k-a-week Spurs star could miss Bodo/Glimt with injury

Postecoglou has dropped a worrying injury update ahead of Tottenham’s crucial Europa League tie.

Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 28, 2025

Liverpool could be crowned champions of England, once again, if they manage to avoid defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.

Arne Slot is aiming to win a title in his first year in the country, having replaced Jurgen Klopp last summer, and only needs one more point to confirm it.

The Reds beat Leicester City 1-0 last time out at the King Power, consigning them to relegation to the Championship, and they now have the chance to win the Premier League title in front of a packed-out Anfield.

Whereas, when they won their first Premier League title, under Klopp, the players were forced to celebrate inside an empty arena due to restrictions.

Despite Liverpool being on course to win the division, the club are looking at ways to improve the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, in order to give Slot the best possible chance of following up on his terrific debut season with more trophies next term.

The latest on Liverpool's interest in Premier League forward

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have a firm interest in West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that the Ghana international is ‘firmly’ on their radar heading into the summer transfer window, because of several factors. Liverpool are believed to be interested in his Premier League experience and his versatility to play in any of the positions across the attack.

Football Insider adds that the former Ajax star has a release clause in his contract that would allow teams from England to sign him for £80m, but that the Hammers are prepared to go lower than that and would be open to doing business for a fee of £70m.

The outlet adds that Slot wants to add a top-class attacker to his squad in the summer transfer window, with Kudus emerging as one of the club’s targets.

Transfer Focus

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

West Ham’s star winger is not at the top of Liverpool’s list of targets, however, and this suggests that they may have to miss out on others before they decide to go ahead with a move for the dynamo.

Football Insider also claims that a £70m deal would be difficult for the Reds to get over the line if they do press ahead with a swoop for his services, and that they could have to sell some of their current talent in order to facilitate a move.

What Mohammed Kudus could bring to Liverpool

As aforementioned, Liverpool would be signing a player with Premier League experience, having played 60 times in the division, and this suggests that he could hit the ground running.

Rather than taking a risk on a player from abroad who may not be able to adjust to the English top-flight, the Reds could snap up a proven performer in the league, making it less of a gamble.

Kudus would also provide impressive versatility across the frontline. He has played 46 or more matches in each position as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, centre-forward, and right-winger in his career, which shows that the gem can adapt to playing in a multitude of roles across the pitch.

This means that Slot could play him out wide, through the middle as a striker, or as part of the midfield three, depending on the opposition and what suits the game, rather than being limited by the player only being effective in one particular role, for example.

Kudus, once described as a “game-changer” by analyst Ben Mattinson, can also provide quality at the top end of the pitch, as evidenced by his return of 18 goals and 12 assists in 75 matches for the Hammers to date, including 12 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old ace has scored 11 goals from 12.02 xG, which means that the forward is performing around on par as a finisher, but he still has plenty of time left to develop and improve as a player at the age of 24.

The West Ham star, as you can see in the clip above, is an exciting player to watch who could get supporters off their feet with his ability on the ball, coupled with the goals and assists that he could provide.

This latest report about Liverpool’s interest in Kudus may not be exciting for everyone connected with the club, however, as it could be bad news for someone like Luis Diaz.

Why this is bad news for Luis Diaz

Football Insider’s report named the Colombia international as one of the players who could be sold in order to raise funds to afford a swoop for the West Ham attacker.

Diaz turned 28 in January and may now be at the peak of his market value, which could make it the best possible time for the club to cash in on him in the upcoming summer window.

It was reported earlier this month that there are teams in Saudi Arabia that are eyeing Diaz up as a potential target, and it was claimed in March that Barcelona are preparing to push for the ex-Porto star.

This suggests that Liverpool could have enough interest from other clubs to realistically cash in on the winger ahead of next season, which would provide them with more money to splash on new additions.

Appearances

37

32

xG

11.88

9.23

Big chances missed

13

9

Goals

8

11

Big chances created

5

8

Assists

5

5

As you can see in the table above, Diaz’s finishing quality has fluctuated between the last two seasons and Liverpool may wonder if his current form is a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come.

The Reds could decide that the interest in his services makes it the perfect time cash in on him whilst his stock is high, given his return at the top end of the pitch this season, and to use the cash to sign a younger replacement like Kudus.

Agent in England: Liverpool pushing to sign "immense" £30m Trent heir

Liverpool are set to lose their vice-captain on a free transfer this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 26, 2025

Therefore, the news that Liverpool are interested in signing Kudus, who is four years younger than Diaz, could be bad news for the Colombian’s future at Anfield heading into next season.

Rangers have been hit with a massive injury blow to an “immense” player, following an update from interim manager Barry Ferguson.

Rangers hold Bilbao in spirited display

The Gers produced an impressive performance at Ibrox on Thursday evening, drawing 0-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

Robin Propper was shown a red card with only 13 minutes played, giving Rangers a huge uphill battle, but they held on in the end, with Liam Kelly saving an Alex Berenguer penalty in the second half, leading to scenes of joy inside the stadium.

While Ferguson’s side still have a huge amount of work to do to make the semi-finals ahead of their daunting trip to Bilbao next week, they still have a fair chance of progressing.

However, one of the few negatives for Rangers on the night was a serious-looking injury to Dujon Sterling, with the 25-year-old stretchered off, leading to concerns about the length of his absence.

Ferguson confirms huge Rangers injury blow

Speaking to reporters on Friday (via Sky Sports), Ferguson confirmed that Rangers defender Sterling suffered a long-term injury against Bilbao, with his season definitely over:

“I just got a bit of bad news about Dujon – he’s going to be out long-term. He’s had a serious one. I’m devastated for him for a few reasons.

“He’s come in and been immense for me at the back. He’s had his injury issues and now we need to suffer another lengthy spell on the sidelines, which I’m devastated about. We’ll get around him, he’s a popular member of the dressing room and has been a big player for me.

“We just need to get him back fit as quickly as we can. I don’t know exactly [how long he will be out for] but I mean long-term. I’m no medical expert, but I’ve spoken to the doctor, he’ll go for surgery on Monday and we’ll just need to wait and see how that surgery goes.”

This is a cruel blow for Sterling, who has been a solid performer since arriving from Chelsea back in 2023, making 70 appearances for Rangers to date.

This season, the Englishman has made 20 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, while Andy Halliday has shown his appreciation for him, saying:

“I’m sure I’m sitting here along with a lot of other people thinking, ‘Where’s Dujon Sterling been all season?’. For me, his two performances since he’s come into the team have been nothing short of incredible.”

Rangers messed up selling "mountain" who is better than Propper

Rangers sold a player last year who is better than Robin Propper.

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 11, 2025

Hopefully, Sterling returns the same player as before when he does eventually return – and at 25, that should be the case – but he will be a big loss for Rangers as an effective squad player, especially in the Europa League.

Chelsea chiefs are considering the possibility of signing a “deadly” forward likened to ex-Blues striker Nicolas Anelka, with talks already held over his signature in the January window.

Chelsea actively targeting new striker for Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca’s side are widely known to be targeting a prolific striker this summer, amid slumps in form for Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.

Chelsea eyeing experienced free agent who Barcelona are "pushing" to sign

The Catalans really want him.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 9, 2025

Jackson is yet to score a single Premier League goal this calendar year, thanks in part to a hamstring injury, while Nkunku has bagged just two in all competitions since the turn of 2025.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures	Date
Ipswich Town (home)	April 13th
Fulham (away)	April 20th
Everton (home)	April 26th
Liverpool (home)	May 4th
Newcastle (away)	May 10th

Maresca’s lack of a potent striker has prompted the Italian to use Pedro Neto in a makeshift centre-forward role recently, highlighting the serious need for Chelsea to bring in another number nine.

Chelsea have laid the groundwork over a deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, and it has now been revealed by The Guardian that his release clause will drop to a bargain £30 million if his side are relegated from the top flight.

Meanwhile, RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko is also thought to be a “very serious” option for Chelsea as well, with links also continuing to surround the likes of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and Napoli outcast Victor Osimhen, who’s on loan at Galatasaray.

BlueCo actually attempted to resolve Maresca’s striker woes in the January window, holding some initial negotiations over a move for Mathys Tel, but the Bayern Munich wonderkid ended up joining Tottenham on loan with a buy option worth £45 million.

There were even murmurs of a potential swap deal involving Nkunku, who also agreed personal terms with Bayern (Florian Plettenberg), but this proposed exchange ultimately failed to get off the ground and Spurs swooped in late on.

Chelsea considering summer move for Mathys Tel

Now, as per GiveMeSport, it is believed that Chelsea could actually revisit a move for Tel this summer – but much will depend on whether Tottenham trigger the buy-option clause in his contract, or if the 19-year-old decides to remain in north London.

It has been difficult for Tel to make a headline-grabbing impact in an otherwise under-performing Spurs side, who are on course for their worst ever Premier League season under Postecoglou, but the versatile attacker carries a fantastic reputation.

Football Analyst Ben Mattinson called Tel a “deadly finisher”, likening the player to Anelka, with his best season at Bayern yielding seven goals and five assists in all competitions despite being such a young age.

Tel is a forward of serious potential, and is capable of playing on the left in place of the suspended Mykhailo Mudryk, who faces a lengthy on-field ban.

For the second Premier League season in a row, Arsenal look set to have the best defence in the competition.

However, as they did last year and the year before that, Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to get over the line, with Liverpool being the ones to deny them this time.

The Reds have conceded four goals more than the Gunners but, as things stand, have scored a whopping 17 goals more than them.

1

Liverpool

81

35

82

2

Arsenal

64

31

67

3

Man City

67

43

64

4

Newcastle

66

45

63

5

Chelsea

62

41

63

It’s no secret, then, that the North Londoners desperately need some attacking reinforcements this summer, and it’s not hard to see who they are taking inspiration from, as reports have linked them to a player compared to Mohamed Salah.

Arsenal transfer news

With the gap in attacking output as vast as it is, Arsenal are understandably on the lookout for some serious game-changers, like Florian Wirtz and Viktor Gyokeres.

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 would reportedly cost the club a whopping £111m, but given his tally of 29 goal involvements this season and the fact he’s only 22 years old, it’d be hard to claim he’s not worth it.

Likewise, while the £70m price tag for Gyokeres is undeniably steep, it’s also undeniably fair enough, as in just 49 appearances this season, he’s scored a staggering 52 goals and provided 12 assists.

However, if the Gunners are after a Salah-esque player, he’s got to be a winger, which would explain the interest in Bryan Mbeumo.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are determined to bring in another winger this summer, and one of Andrea Berta’s most significant targets is the Brentford man.

The Cameroon international has been on the club’s shortlist for months now, and while the Bees are after around £51m, there is hope in North London that they’ll be open to negotiating.

It might end up being a rather costly transfer to get done, but given Mbeumo’s superb output, it would most certainly be worth it, especially as he’s won comparisons to Salah.

Why Mbeumo is like Salah

So, when it comes to winning comparisons to first-class players, there aren’t much more flattering than Salah, so where does Mbeumo’s come from?

Well, in this instance, it was TalkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, who was full of praise for the Brentford star and called him “a mini-Salah” following his brilliant performance and goal in the Bees’ 4-2 win against Newcastle United in December.

Now, it’s important to note the “mini” part of that compliment, as, at the end of the day, nobody is suggesting that the former Troyes star is on the same level as the league-winning Egyptian, but there is no reason he couldn’t fulfil a similar enough role in N5.

After all, despite playing for a team who are generally mid-table at best these days, the often “unplayable” winger, as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, is nothing short of prolific.

For example, in just 27 appearances last season, the 25-year-old managed to score nine goals and provide seven assists, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

Appearances

27

39

Minutes

2079′

3307′

Goals

9

18

Assists

7

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

0.66

Minutes per Goals Involvement

129.93

127.19

Then this season, he’s found the back of the net 18 times and provided eight assists in 39 appearances, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

Finally, another valuable trait the Avallon-born monster possesses is the ability to play up top and as a second striker as well as off the right, meaning he’d provide Arteta with even more attacking options – something he desperately needs.

Ultimately, Mbeumo is a Premier League-proven goalscorer, and while he might not be as prolific as Salah, he’s still an incredible attacking talent and someone Arsenal should sign.

Arsenal line up move for PSG star who'd be a big upgrade on Martinelli

The incredibly entertaining international is just what Arsenal need this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 8, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou was gifted a rare bit of breathing room after Spurs’ statement performance in the Europa League, but there remains the possibility that he won’t be at the helm next season.

Tottenham in Europa League semi-finals after Eintracht Frankfurt win

A penalty from striker Dominic Solanke, who cooly slotted home beyond the Spurs-linked Kaua Santos in Eintracht Frankfurt’s goal, ended up being enough for Postecoglou’s side to edge into the Europa semi-finals after a hard-fought battle.

Tottenham: Lange personally holds talks over signing £50m player for Spurs

The technical director has a plan.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

Postecoglou earned rare praise after his Lilywhites side put in the dogged, mature display which they’ve sorely lacked all season – shutting Eintracht out with some truly exceptional defending and putting bodies on the line to preserve Tottenham’s slender one-goal advantage.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

The atmosphere was hostile right from the off, but while the home crowd did their utmost to unnerve Postecoglou’s side in Germany, Spurs kept their cool and booked their place in the next round, where they will face off against unlikely semi-finalists Bodø/Glimt, who knocked out Serie A side Lazio on penalties.

There is a very strong chance that the north Londoners will put Bodø/Glimt’s fairy tale Europa League journey to an end and become European finalists for the first time since 2019, but even that might not be enough to save Postecoglou.

The Tottenham boss has been under mounting pressure after an historic low Premier League season, where they’ve tasted defeat on 17 separate occasions and currently lie 15th in the table.

Reports in the build up to their quarter-final second leg claimed that Postecoglou could be sacked by Tottenham regardless of their Europa League campaign (The Mirror), and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is believed to be among the contenders to replace him.

Tottenham have reached out to the representatives of Glasner to express their interest recently, according to media sources in Germany, but face competition from RB Leipzig for the £4.5 million-per-year Palace boss.

John Wenham makes Oliver Glasner claim after Tottenham contact

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham stated his belief that Glasner would be an “exciting” appointment for Tottenham, above other linked candidates like Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

“He has an aura about him, the way he charges around on the touchline, I quite like him,” said Wenham.

“He was flying with Palace last season. I know they made a slow start this season, but they lost some key players. However, since then, he has rebuilt well.

“He has led Palace to an FA Cup semi-final, and he is far more exciting than most names that have been linked. Therefore, he is someone I would be happy for Tottenham to appoint. I think with better players he would excel, and I find him more exciting than Marco Silva or Thomas Frank, to be honest.”

The ex-Eintracht boss also guided his former club to Europa League glory in 2022, and is one of the only trophy-winning coaches rumoured to be on Spurs’ managerial shortlist.

His “outstanding record” has also been lauded by Palace chairman Steve Parish, that being said, if Postecoglou ends up winning Tottenham their first piece of silverware since 2008, the club will still have a majorly tough decision to make.

Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to make an opening bid of £13m for a Premier League forward, according to a report.

Spurs set sights on new forward

As we approach the summer transfer window, Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of a new winger, and they are particularly fond of AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, with the Ghanaian catching the eye in the Premier League this season.

Daniel Levy is now readying a £50m+ bid to sign the Bournemouth star, which would be enough to convince the Cherries to cash-in, and there is a belief that he would be a perfect fit in Ange Postecoglou’s side.

With Son Heung-min now arguably in the twilight years of his career at 32-years-old, the need to bring in at least one new winger this summer is exacerbated, and Spurs are in the race to sign Celtic forward Daizen Maeda.

Related Levy places Tottenham among strongest suitors to sign Inter Milan star

He’s got plenty of admirers.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 2, 2025

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are also looking at signing an up-and-coming Premier League talent, namely Leicester City’s Jake Evans, who has managed to force himself into first-team contention this season at just 16-years-old.

Such is their level of interest in the teenager, Spurs are willing to submit an opening offer of €15m (£13m), which is considered a significant fee, given his age, although there could be competition for his signature from Manchester United.

Leicester also have no desire to sanction a departure this summer, as they believe he could make an impact in the Championship next season, so it could be difficult to get a deal over the line.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Bodo / Glimt (a)

May 8th

Crystal Palace (h)

May 11th

Aston Villa (a)

May 18th

Brighton & Hove Albion (h)

May 25th

"Very exciting" Evans is one for the future

Despite only featuring briefly in both games, it is very impressive that the youngster has managed to make two appearances for Leicester this season at the age of just 16, and it indicates that he could have a very bright future ahead of him.

Those thoughts are echoed by football scout Ben Mattinson, who has praised the starlet for his finishing ability, while also claiming he could be capable of playing at striker.

The young Englishman has also been prolific in front of goal at youth level this season, netting ten goals in 14 Premier League 2 outings, which also demonstrates that he may be able to play in a central role.

£13m is a large fee for such a young player, but there are plenty of signs that Evans could go on to be a top player in the Premier League.

Monday could be the day. Leeds United can secure their promotion to the Premier League if results go their way in the Championship on Easter Monday.

The Whites host Stoke City at Elland Road and know that if they pick up all three points against the Potters, then they have the chance to officially claim their place in the top-flight.

However, they will need Burnley to do them a favour in their clash with Sheffield United. Anything other than a Blades win will mean that Leeds are promoted by beating Stoke.

Daniel Farke must ensure that there is no complacency in his squad ahead of this game, with all the talk about a possible promotion being secured, and the performance against Oxford United last time out suggests that will not be a problem, as they battled hard to secure that victory.

Despite the players and the coaching staff being laser-focused on getting results in the here and now, the board are reportedly already looking at potential signings ahead of the summer transfer window.

Leeds are looking ahead to how their squad could look for a Premier League campaign, and one player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road is Angus Gunn.

Why Leeds should not sign Angus Gunn

Football Insider recently reported that the West Yorkshire outfit are ‘readying’ a move to sign the Scotland international to bolster their goalkeeping ranks.

The outlet claimed that Gunn has not been offered a new contract by Norwich City and is set to become a free agent, which has seemingly alerted Leeds.

It stated that the Whites are set to be in the market to find a replacement for Illan Meslier, who has recently been dropped in favour of Karl Darlow, and that the Canaries shot-stopper is one target that they have identified.

Leeds, however, should avoid a move for Gunn if they are looking to find a new number one for a Premier League campaign, because his form has tailed off at Championship level.

The Norwich-born stopper prevented 4.55 goals (xG) in 40 appearances in the second tier in the 2023/24 campaign, showing that he significantly outperformed as a shot-stopper, but that has shot down to a staggeringly low -6.40 goals prevented this season under Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Least goals prevented in the 24/25 Championship
Player	Club	Goals prevented
Angus Gunn	Norwich City	-6.40
Ethan Horvath	Cardiff City	-6.21
Bradley Collins	Coventry City	-5.99
Seny Dieng	Middlesbrough	-4.49
James Beadle	Sheffield Wednesday	-3.94
George Long	Norwich City	-3.71
Thomas Kaminski	Luton Town	-3.51
Freddie Woodman	Preston North End	-3.48
George Evans	Millwall	-2.77
Illan Meslier	Leeds	-2.73
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, no goalkeeper has underperformed as a shot-stopper as badly as Gunn has, with Meslier also sneaking into the top ten worst players in the division in that particular statistic.

This is why Leeds should avoid the Norwich dud, whose form has not been good enough in the second tier, and they are now reportedly eyeing another goalkeeper who would be an even better signing.

Leeds plot bid for Premier League stopper

According to The Sun on Sunday’s print edition (20 April, page 57), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, the Whites are ‘plotting’ a bid to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers outcast Sam Johnstone.

The report claims that Leeds are eyeing up a £10m bid to sign the England international in the upcoming summer transfer window, as they continue to eye possible replacements for Meslier between the sticks.

Transfer Focus

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

Johnstone has only played seven times in the Premier League for the Old Gold so far this season, but it remains to be seen whether or not Wolves would be willing to cash in on him for a fee of £10m.

He is currently behind Portuguese colossus Jose Sa in the pecking order under Vitor Pereira and Leeds could take advantage of that to bring him to Elland Road ahead of next season.

The Whites must, now, push to get a deal over the line for the English stopper because he could come in as a much better signing than Gunn would be this summer.

Why Leeds should sign Sam Johnstone

Getting in players with Premier League experience could be vital for Leeds because they are players who know the division, know what it takes to win matches, and will not be surprised by anything that comes their way throughout the season.

Johnstone has played 73 times in the top-flight for West Brom, Crystal Palace, and Wolves, whilst he was also on the books at Manchester United at the start of his career. Whereas, Gunn has only made 31 appearances in the Premier League for Southampton and Norwich combined.

The English titan has earned himself moves to three different Premier League sides, joining the Baggies, Palace, and Wolves, whilst Meslier has failed to earn a transfer back to the Premier League, and Gunn has been at Norwich since their relegation in the summer of 2022.

This suggests that top-flight teams value Johnstone’s quality and experience at that level. His statistics back up his status in comparison to Gunn and Meslier, as he has performed far more impressively in the division.

Premier League	Illan Meslier	Angus Gunn	Sam Johnstone
Appearances	107	31	73
Goals conceded	198	65	128
Goals conceded per game	1.85	2.09	1.75
Clean sheets	21	6	15
Post-shot xG minus goals conceded	-32.0	-18.1	-11.8
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Johnstone has not underperformed as badly as Gunn or Meslier in the Premier League as a shot-stopper, and has conceded fewer goals per game on average than both of them.

The England international, who was once hailed for an “unbelievable” save by Gary Lineker, also made his top-flight debut for Palace against Leeds and showcased his quality in that game, as shown in the highlights below.

Johnstone is an experienced and proven performer in the top division and could be a shrewd addition to the Leeds squad for a fee of £10m this summer, if they are promoted to the Premier League.

Gunn, on the other hand, has performed significantly worse in the top-flight during his career and is currently the worst-performing goalkeeper, as a shot-stopper, in the Championship.

Imagine him & Ampadu: Leeds chase star with more PL goals than Raphinha

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing a midfielder from the Premier League.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 17, 2025

It is now down to the club to ensure that they can convince Wolves to part ways with the English colossus this summer in order to bolster their goalkeeping ranks.