Celtic have seen a raft of new players make moves to Parkhead during the previous summer and winter transfer windows.
While most joined on permanent deals, the Hoops also have some players in their squad who are only there on loan until the end of the current season.
As the Bhoys are on the verge of securing the Premiership title, it seems as though a update has emerged regarding some behind-the-scenes activity at Lennoxtown over a couple of potential deals which could take place in the summer.
What’s the news?
Speaking in his latest press conference before the 4-1 win over Hearts on Saturday, Postecoglou touched upon the current situation regarding the futures of on-loan Celtic duo Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The 56-year-old said: “We are in discussions with them obviously, and as I have said all along, with these kind of things it’s never a simple process.
“But both have had unbelievable years for us and been outstanding contributors and both are really happy here.
“Our intent is to try and keep them at our football club, but these things need a point where all parties agree. I am hopeful we will get to that point but at this point, we are not quite there yet.”
To highlight how crucial the duo have been for the Hoops this season, with Carter-Vickers in defence and Jota in attack, Postecoglou’s side have the best record in terms of scoring and conceding goals in the league, with the loan pair both playing big parts.
Focusing on Jota, with nine goals and 10 assists to his name in 27 league outings, the winger is listed as the highest-rated player currently in Celtic’s squad according to WhoScored, averaging a superb match rating of 7.59 for the campaign.
Meanwhile, Carter-Vickers has been a rock at the back for the Bhoys, with a total of 38 interceptions and 20 tackles under his belt as their main centre-back alongside Carl Starfelt.
Taking this into account, it’ll be great news for the Celtic fans to hear that their club are intent on securing permanent deals for the dynamic duo in the summer.
If the club are able to sign both players for good, this would put Postecoglou’s side in great shape to repeat their successes this season in 2022/23.
In other news – Enquiry made, then joined rivals: Celtic had the last laugh over “huge” 161 G/A dynamo
West Ham are nearing a swoop for Elche winger Tete Morente as David Moyes aims to start his transfer business early.
What’s the word?
That’s according to the Sunday Mirror, who reported in their print edition (May 1st, page 74) that the Premier League side has been in early contact with the player over a potential move.
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Elche are asking for a fee of around £7m for the 25-year-old who is keen on making the move to England and playing in the top flight.
A new mega-money talent?
Morente isn’t exactly a household name and despite scoring against Barcelona earlier this season, he only has three goals and three assists throughout the whole campaign, not numbers that will put the fear into Premier League defenders.
Despite this, he is only 25 and has plenty of time on his side to continue his development, it could well be a shrewd signing for the Hammers in the long run.
Moyes has seen his side reach unprecedented heights this campaign, still in the hunt for a top-six spot and chasing a historic Europa League final, it’s looking like exciting times for the West Ham faithful.
The squad does need to be bolstered in an attacking sense though, with Michael Antonio their only designated centre forward, it could well be that Morente gets to put his versatility to good use.
Although a left-winger by trade, Morente has some solid defensive stats which could help West Ham on top of his 14 career goals.
He features in the 89th percentile of blocks in Europe’s top five leagues (1.75 per game) and in the 81st percentile of aerials won (1.13), proving that Moyes could be getting more than just a goalscoring threat.
Furthermore, he is compared to one of the very best in Spain, with the flanker who has 14 career goals being compared to Real Sociedad’s £63m-rated talent Mikel Oyarzabal.
On that basis, this signing begins to look a little more appealing for the Irons faithful.
AND in other news, West Ham eye swoop for “brilliant” 21 y/o, he’s “similar to Eden Hazard”
Sunderland are facing a huge game in their bid to land a place in the League One play-offs this weekend as a win against Morecambe will secure their top-six spot.
The Black Cats are vying for promotion up to the Championship under Alex Neil, after sacking Lee Johnson earlier this year, and it will be intriguing to see what happens in the summer if they do go up.
Kristjaan Speakman will have his first chance to sign players for the ex-Norwich and Preston coach and one player the Scot must look to secure a deal for is a gem who is already at the club – youngster Jack Clarke.
Football.London recently reported that Spurs will be looking to either sell the attacker on a permanent deal or loan him out again for another season and the Black Cats must look to snap him up for a second time.
Whether or not a permanent move is viable, given that Tottenham paid £9m to sign him, remains to be seen but another campaign on loan would surely get the Stadium of Light rocking.
He is an exciting young player who would be an asset to the club in the Championship or League One next term, having built up a strong reputation in his short career to date.
Former Premier League forward Noel Whelan previously heaped praise on the youngster, saying:
“He has got a great ability to glide past players. I don’t think I’ve seen a winger really as talented as that, where it looks effortless, just to take somebody on and he really does get you on the edge of your seat, he’s one of those exciting players.”
Lee Johnson, before his exit, also praised Clarke as he claimed that the attacker has the potential to be an “influential” player for the club.
That is exactly what he has been since arriving on loan from Spurs in January. He has averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.02 across 16 appearances in League One as he has created 1.6 chances per game and four ‘big chances’ in total – showing that he has the quality to deliver openings to his teammates on a regular basis.
At the age of 21, he has the scope to develop further and Neil may enjoy working with him on the training pitch to help him to fulfil his potential. He is already showing off his exciting skills out wide with his chance creation numbers and fans would surely love to see him signed on another deal for next season because of his potential and current ability.
AND in other news, Big boost: Neil “hopeful” of huge Sunderland lift that’ll have supporters buzzing…
Despite flying high in the Premier League and Champions League, it feels like Arsenal can’t catch a break this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side have played far better football than they did last year, but have been just as unlucky, if not more so, when it comes to injuries.
For example, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke are just some of their stars who have been forced to sit on the sidelines, or still are.
And then, if things couldn’t get any worse, the Gunners are now going to be without Gabriel Magalhães for up to two months, although Arteta might just have a surprising replacement in mind for the Brazilian.
Arsenal's record when Gabriel does not play
It’s no secret that, thanks to his impact in both penalty areas, Gabriel has become one of Arsenal’s most important players in recent years.
In fact, it’s this ability that led Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to suggest he could “be seen as the most influential player in the Premier League” only last month.
However, how essential is the big Brazilian to Arteta’s side? While that’s a pretty tricky question to answer, a decent way of approaching it would be to look at how the team have fared when he’s not been in the side over the last two and a bit years.
Starting with the 23/24 season, then, and across all competitions that year, the former LOSC Lille star made 50 appearances, 48 of which were starts, in which he scored four goals, provided one assist and averaged 2.16 points per game.
There were only two matches in which he didn’t appear: a draw against Fulham and a win over Sheffield United, meaning the team averaged just 2 points per game without him.
However, a two-game sample size is rather paltry, unlike last season, when he was absent for 16 games, of which the club won just eight, drew five and lost three, meaning the Gunners averaged just 1.81 points per game without the Brazilian in the team.
How did they fare when he was playing? Well, across all competitions, the Sao Paulo-born titan made 42 appearances, in which he scored five goals, provided three assists and averaged 1.98 points per game.
Games
50
2
Wins
34
1
Draws
6
1
Losses
10
0
Points per Game
2.16
2
Games
42
16
Wins
24
8
Draws
11
5
Losses
7
3
Points per Game
1.98
1.81
Therefore, while there is not a massive drop in points per game for Arsenal without Gabriel in the side, there is still a noticeable one, and with games against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea coming up, that is a worry.
However, Arteta has more than enough replacements for his monster centre-back, including one who could come as a bit of a surprise.
Arsenal's surprise Gabriel replacement
The consensus among most Arsenal fans at the moment seems to be that either Riccardo Calafiori or Cristhian Mosquera would be the ideal replacements for Gabriel this weekend.
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The former has been in fine form all season, and the latter has shown glimpses of real talent when he’s stepped in.
However, while either player would make total sense, another, more surprising option Arteta could go with is Ben White.
Yes, the former Brighton & Hove Albion man does feel like something of a forgotten man at the moment, and has spent most of his time at the club playing right-back, but the £50m signing could come in and do a job on Sunday.
After all, while he hasn’t played there consistently for some time – his last start in the middle was back in October 2024 – the Englishman was signed as a centre-back and spent the entirety of the 21/22 season playing there, and playing well.
In fact, the only reason he was moved to the right was because William Saliba was finally given a go, and Gabriel was not at all suited to playing at full-back.
Moreover, by playing the Poole-born ace there, Calafiori won’t have to vacate a position he has been incredible in all year, a young Mosquera won’t be thrown into one of the most tense games of the season, and the same could be said for Piero Hincapie.
Finally, and this is particularly pertinent for the game against Spurs, the 28-year-old is, in the words of journalist Charles Watts, a “master of the dark arts.”
In other words, he could be the perfect player to get under the skin of the Spurs players and either throw them off their game or even get them sent off.
Furthermore, he has a track record of making life particularly difficult for Guglielmo Vicario.
Ultimately, it would be a surprise and something of a risk, but even so, Arteta should look to start White at centre-back for Arsenal while Gabriel is out.
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A Leeds United player who the club made a millionaire at a young age has returned to the club.
Leeds’ youngest ever players
The Whites have had some brilliant teenagers come through their Thorp Arch academy in recent years, with Harry Gray the latest youth product who looks destined for a regular first-team role.
The forward, younger brother of Archie, made his senior debut for Leeds on the day they sealed their return to the Premier League in a 6-0 win over Stoke City.
At the age of 16 years, 6 months and 13 days, Gray is in the top five of Leeds’ youngest ever players, with club legend Peter Lorimer top of the charts after debuting as a 15-year-old.
Peter Lorimer
15 years, 9 months and 19 days
Tom Elliott
16 years, 2 months and 25 days
Aaron Lennon
16 years, 4 months and 7 days
Harry Gray
16 years, 6 months and 13 days
James Milner
16 years, 10 months and 6 days
Neil Aspin
16 years, 10 months and 8 days
Aidy White
16 years, 10 months and 16 days
Simon Walton
16 years, 10 months and 25 days
Jimmy Greenhoff
16 years, 10 months and 26 days
Ryan Edmondson
16 years, 11 months and 16 days
Talking about Gray earlier in 2025, Daniel Farke said the teenage forward has the “confidence” and the “skills” to make it as a Leeds player.
“So he definitely has this confidence that you need but it’s also important to channel this a little bit and not to raise expectations too high. He is doing right now his first steps in senior level.
“He has many skills and we like his potential and professionalism. And how humble he behaves – with a few exceptions.
“But that’s totally OK, it would be a pity if your young players were not self confident. But we have to make sure he is not overdoing this. There is a long way to go, he has many things where he needs to improve.”
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Another former Leeds youngster, Aaron Lennon, is a previous success story of the Whites academy, and he has made a return to the club.
Aaron Lennon back at Leeds after becoming teen millionaire
Lennon, a teenage winger at Leeds between 2003 and 2005, made 43 appearances for the first-team prior to joining Tottenham Hotspur for a reduced fee following the financial troubles at Elland Road.
Lennon, who actually made approximately £1.37m in his time at Elland Road from wages and bonuses, admitted his Leeds contract was “silly”, with “crazy numbers” that ultimately impacted his playing time.
“My contract was silly looking back. It was crazy numbers, and they were thinking he won’t play. But then I started playing. I was on the bench, and they couldn’t put me on because I was going to hit one of those appearances.”
“I remember Gary Kelly going mad and saying our best player is on the bench now. Our most in-form winger is on the bench. I was just sat there, and Leeds fans were singing my name.
“At the end of the season, Ken Bates told me ‘you are done at this club’ because of the money. It wasn’t even in a nice way. And I was like, ‘this is my hometown’. I was upset, and I remember going away and got the call saying they have accepted a bid, ‘you are going Tottenham’.”
It emerged last month that Lennon, now 38, has made a return to Leeds in a coaching role for the U18s, working with Rob Etherington and Alex Purver.
Jonny Howson also made the move back to Leeds after leaving Middlesbrough over the summer, helping the U21 in both a playing and coaching capacity.
At the end of the 2023/24 season, Newcastle United were dealt a cruel blow when Manchester United defeated Manchester City to lift the FA Cup.
The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League, and would not have played in European competition had victory over their rivals at Wembley not rolled out the red carpet toward the Europa League.
This came at the expense of Eddie Howe’s Magpies, who had battled hard despite a startling number of injuries across the season to finish seventh. Their European place was lost.
And now it is back, and what better way for Newcastle to begin their Champions League campaign than against Barcelona, one of the most historic teams on the continent?
At St. James’ Park, a cauldron of ear-splitting noise, anything can happen. And Howe will have drilled into his players a belief that they can indeed win.
All will need to be at the races, and there will be confidence in Nick Woltemade’s ability to build on last weekend’s goalscoring debut appearance in black and white.
Nick Woltemade's fast start at Newcastle
Newcastle failed to escape their group in 2023/24, but it was a tough group, and United’s campaign was strewn with misfortune and contentious decisions.
This time, Howe and Newcastle are more experienced, with the manager remarking that his side are “arguably stronger” than they were two years ago, even having sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a £125m fee on transfer deadline day.
Woltemade fills big boots, but his game-winning goal against Wolves on Saturday shows he’s up to the task, all right, not just scoring but producing a dynamic display which proves he, too, can serve Howe as a multi-faceted forward.
Minutes played
68′
Goals
1
Touches
20
Shots (on target)
3 (1)
Accurate passes
8/9 (89%)
Key passes
1
Tackles
3
Ground duels
5/7
Aerial duels
3/4
The 6 foot 6 star belies his lofty frame with a deftness of touch and technical command of a nimble, shifty striker. Isak was also big and boisterous, but silky and agile too, and while they differ as forwards, it’s clear that Woltemade has the tools to emulate his predecessor on Tyneside.
A standout showing against La Blaugrana would help him toward that reputation, to be sure.
However, Woltemade is only 23 and still settling into a new environment. The German will start in the absence of the injured Yoane Wissa, but he will need his teammates to step up and help him perform – and who better to inspire the troops than Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park?
Bruno Guimaraes could be Newcastle's talisman
At Newcastle, Isak wasn’t just an elite goalscorer, but a striker whose skillset was disproportionately greater than his positional role demanded.
That is why he was sold for a British-record fee, having been a title-winning talisman for the Toon last season. Now, Guimaraes appears to be stepping up, becoming an even brighter leading light than before, and in a different way to the Sweden striker.
Against Liverpool, Newcastle were defeated, but the Brazilian midfielder was hailed for his effort, winning seven duels, making three tackles and nodding home United’s first of two strikes.
It hasn’t been a characteristically imperious start to the season for Guimaraes, but he’s a perennially athletic number eight whose completeness has been freed up by the form of Sandro Tonali in a deeper-lying berth.
The 27-year-old loves Newcastle, and his energy and passion permeate across the pitch. It is for this reason he wears the armband, and he matches his intensity with a technical level that has led to interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, and a ward-away price tag of £100m.
According to data-driven platform FBref, he ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes, the top 2% for through balls and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90.
Guimaraes’ passing and vision provide the root of Woltemade’s potential against the La Liga champions. The South American has been described as an athletic “machine” by Newcastle blogger Thomas Hammond, with his impressive 7.5 ball recoveries per Premier League match this term a testament to that.
If Woltemade fails to show up, or indeed is nullified by a strong Barcelona backline, it will damage Newcastle’s chances, but it won’t negate them.
However, Guimaraes’ ability to stand up and perform in the midfield battle will be vital for Howe’s side, and if he manages to replicate the passion and desire that was on show against Liverpool last month, there’s every chance that Newcastle will pull off one of their great European nights on Tyneside.
Guimaraes is the complete package, and, in the prime of his career, will be determined to make this a season to remember for United, having tasted success in the Carabao Cup last year.
Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League across two of the past three seasons, bookending a year that frustrated the club and left them adrift from continental football after Man United shocked a few at Wembley.
Still. Howe and his outfit have shown a remarkable ability to overcome adversity and work their way toward a nailed-down position among the biggest hitters that the Champions League has to offer.
A big performance against Barcelona would rubber-stamp their position, and if Guimaraes is on his A-game, Newcastle might just do it.
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Despite Manchester United’s pending move to sign Bryan Mbeumo, it appears as though the hierarchy look set to continue their hunt for added depth within the forward attacking department.
With Matheus Cunha already the first player through the doors at Old Trafford this summer, the Brentford ace looks set to be the next player to join the Brazilian.
This comes after the Red Devils placed a £60m bid for the 25-year-old attacker, who’s already expressed his desire to link up with Ruben Amorim’s side this summer.
However, the club will have to wait for approval from the Bees to complete any move for the Cameroonian international, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.
Their ambitions of landing added depth in such an area appear to be showing no signs of slowing down, especially considering their interest in other players across Europe.
The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer
Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has emerged as a surprise option for United this summer, with the 30-year-old the subject of keen interest from various Premier League sides.
Hugo Ekitiké remains a key target for Amorim’s side, after the youngster netted 22 goals across all competitions this season, but his £84m price tag may be out of the Red Devils’ budget, given the additions elsewhere.
However, as a result, they could turn their attention to Juventus talisman Dušan Vlahović, with the 25-year-old only having one year left on his deal, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.
They claim that the Red Devils have been in contact with intermediaries over a potential move for the forward, who appears to be keen on a switch to England.
It also states that current United outcast Jadon Sancho could be utilised as leverage in any potential deal, with the Serie A outfit extremely keen on a move for the 25-year-old this window.
Why Vlahovic would be Amorim’s answer to Osimhen
Victor Osimhen has been a player who has been firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of years, and understandably so given his record across Europe.
The Nigerian has registered 85 goals across the last three campaigns, 37 of which came on loan at Galatasaray this season – catapulting the club to the Turkish League title.
However, it appears he won’t be returning to the Italian side ahead of the 2025/26 season, with Antonio Conte’s side looking to cash in on the 26-year-old.
He’s been the subject of interest from Amorim’s side, but also has admirers in Saudi Arabia, which could see the striker demand a small fortune and price the Red Devils out of any potential move.
It’s been reported that he’s demanding a pay package in the region of £500k-per-week, a ludicrous figure that has seen United move onto other options.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenis picture wearing a protective face mask
Vlahovic appears to be just one of those, with the Juve star even ranking as a similar player to Osimhen according to FBref, demonstrating the talent he possesses.
When comparing their respective stats from Serie A back in 2023/24, the Serbian has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, making him a superb pickup if the hierarchy can complete a deal for his signature.
Games played
33
25
Goals & assists
20
18
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.3
Pass accuracy
71%
66%
Progressive passes
1.8
1.1
Take-on success
42%
40%
Aerial success
45%
44%
The 25-year-old, “after Haaland, is the best striker in Europe at his age” in the words of Italian legend Christian Vieri, outscored Osimhen, whilst also registering a better goal per shot on target rate – having the clinical edge over the Nigerian.
He also completed more of the take-ons that he attempted, whilst registering more aerials won, handing Amorim the all-round centre-forward he’s greatly lacked.
Whilst he’s primarily a goalscorer, Vlahovic also completed more passes and more progressive passes per 90, handing the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha the chance to bolster their own tallies at Old Trafford.
It’s unclear how much a deal for the Juve ace would set the hierarchy back this window, but it’s clear he would be a just as effective, but cheaper, alternative to the Napoli forward.
Dusan Vlahovic scores at Club World Cup for Juventus.
Given the Italian side’s interest in Sancho, it could provide an excellent opportunity to land a bargain deal in the club’s quest to fly up the table throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
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Celtic can officially start to complete all of their business, inwards and outward, after the summer transfer window opened for business on Sunday.
The Hoops secured the Scottish Premiership title and the League Cup during the 2024/25 campaign, as they missed out on the treble by losing to Aberdeen in the final of the SFA Cup in the final game of the season.
Brendan Rodgers could look to bolster his squad during the summer transfer window in a bid to secure the treble next season, whilst also improving in the Champions League, after his side lost in the play-off round this term.
In order to improve his options, the Northern Irish head coach could repeat the blinder he played with Moussa Dembele all the way back in the summer of 2016.
Celtic could repeat their Moussa Dembele masterclass
During his first transfer window at Parkhead, Rodgers swooped to sign the French striker from English side Fulham after his contract down south expired.
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The Hoops were able to snap him up on a ‘free transfer’, although they did have to pay £500k in compensation due to his age, and it turned out to be a blinder of a deal.
Dembele went on to plunder a staggering 51 goals in 94 matches for Celtic in all competitions before signing for Lyon in a deal worth almost £20m, which meant that the Scottish giants made a significant profit on the striker.
Celtic could, now, repeat that blinder by signing another EFL star whose contract is running down, as The Scottish Sun recently reported that Blackburn Rovers attacker Tyrhys Dolan is of interest to the club.
Norwich and Rangers are also said to be keen on the winger, who is out of contract at Ewood Park this summer, and there could be a battle for his signature.
Why Tyrhys Dolan could be Moussa Dembele 2.0
Rodgers could repeat his Dembele masterclass because Dolan would arrive for a compensation package that would be lower than the £10m Blackburn reportedly value him at, due to his contract situation.
At the age of 23, he would arrive at Parkhead as a young talent with time ahead of him to develop and improve during his time at Parkhead, just as the French attacker did.
Dolan, once hailed as “outstanding” by manager John Eustace, could be a low-risk and low-cost signing from the lower leagues in England, but with the potential to be a star for the Hoops if he adapts well.
Appearances
44
Touches per game
38.1
Goals
7
Conversion rate
14%
Big chances created
7
Key passes
44
Assists
6
As you can see in the table above, Dolan provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the Championship during the 2024/25 campaign, despite playing for a side that finished in midtable, with 14 direct goal contributions for his side.
As part of a Celtic team that have won the last four Premiership titles in succession, a team that is able to dominate matches on a regular basis, the 23-year-old star could have more opportunities to showcase his ability to score and create goals from a right-wing position.
With this in mind, Dolan could take his game, and his output in front of goal, to the next level by playing for a side that is more suited to his attacking qualities.
This means that the English dynamo could score more goals and provide more assists than the 14 he managed in the Championship by virtue of playing in a Celtic team that is constantly on the front foot and looking for the next goal.
Tyrhys Dolan in action for Blackburn Rovers.
Therefore, Rodgers could repeat his Dembele blinder by signing Dolan to come in and potentially increase his value by delivering goals and assists on a regular basis in Scotland to make him worth the £10m Blackburn currently value him at, or perhaps worth even more further down the line.
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And, if it does not work out then Celtic will not have lost too much money on it, as they would not have with Dembele either, due to the low compensation that it would cost to get done.
Every year, there are thousands of players coming to the end of their current deals – some high-profile, others further down the footballing pyramid.
This opens up the opportunity for these players to move on in the summer, with a number of stars set to be available for free, whether they have been unable to agree on fresh terms or simply come to the end of their time at their current clubs.
Here, we look at some of the best players who could be looking for a new club for 2025/26.
Player
Departed
Joined
Year
Gianluca Vialli
Juventus
Chelsea
1996
Steve McManaman
Liverpool
Real Madrid
1999
Sol Campbell
Tottenham
Arsenal
2001
Michael Ballack
Bayern Munich
Chelsea
2006
Raul
Real Madrid
Schalke
2010
Andrea Pirlo
Milan
Juventus
2011
Robert Lewandowski
Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich
2014
Zlatan Ibrahimović
PSG
Manchester United
2016
Sergio Agüero
Man City
Barcelona
2021
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
PSG
2021
1 Dominic Calvert-Lewin Everton
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin
It looks as though Dominic Calvert-Lewin is heading towards the end of his Everton career, with several high-profile clubs expected to make an offer to secure his signature.
AS Monaco were one of those interested in the English striker back in January, but the Toffees stopped short of claiming a fee for Calvert-Lewin, leaving them open to a free sale.
There is speculation that Newcastle United are an interested club, with Calvert-Lewin set to call time on his stay on Merseyside.
2 Jonathan David Lille
Many feel that Lille have made a massive mistake by allowing the contract of star striker Jonathan David to run down, meaning they will likely lose out on a significant transfer fee.
There appears to be no shortage of offers for the forward. Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth claimed in January that two Serie A sides had made offers, while four Premier League teams were reportedly keen on striking a pre-contract agreement with David ahead of next season.
However, it feels like Serie A champions Napoli are close to securing an agreement with the Canadian, despite interest from rivals Juventus. Whoever manages to sign him will be securing one of the most coveted strikers in Europe.
3 Ben Davies Tottenham Hotspur
Fresh from winning the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur, it appears as though Ben Davies will be leaving N17 in the near future.
The Welshman joined the Lilywhites from Swansea City in 2014, becoming one of the first to join under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Leeds United and Burnley were both linked to the full-back recently, so Davies may end up staying in the Premier League.
4 Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City
Manchester City's KevinDeBruyne
Kevin De Bruyne was so often at the heart of the success Manchester City achieved since he joined in the summer of 2015.
With 422 appearances for the Etihad side, De Bruyne has been their talisman, never more so than during the 2022/23 season as they won the treble. Indeed, he registered 41 goal contributions for the club that year.
Napoli are the team most strongly linked with the Belgian, with Antonio Conte’s side intent on building on their Scudetto success.
5 Abdoulaye Doucoure Everton
Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure
Abdoulaye Doucoure revealed he would be leaving Everton at the expiry of his contract in the summer. The midfielder bowed out after helping the Toffees to a final-day win over Newcastle in the Premier League, and will now be looking for a new club ahead of 2025/26.
A £20m signing from Watford in 2020, Doucoure scored one of the most important goals in the club’s history as they survived relegation at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
It appears that a move to the Middle East is on the cards as it stands, with multiple Saudi Arabian clubs among the interested parties for the Malian’s services.
6 Angel Gomes Lille
Angel Gomes is another player set to leave Lille in the summer, alongside teammate Jonathan David. The midfielder, who made his England debut in September, joined the French outfit from Manchester United in 2020 on a free transfer and will again be on the move for nothing.
His old club are among the clubs interested in his signature, while Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping the promise of Champions League football will sway things in their favour.
7 Victor Lindelof Manchester United
With first-team opportunities turning into a premium in recent seasons, it is no surprise that Swedish defender Victor Lindelof allowed his deal at Manchester United to run down.
Lindelof struggled with injuries and started just six times in the league in 2024/25, with his role in the side further diminishing amid a number of centre-back arrivals in recent windows.
There are plenty of clubs lining up to sign him, including four Premier League clubs and former side Benfica.
8 Tyrick Mitchell Crystal Palace
Despite starring for the Eagles in the FA Cup final, Tyrick Mitchell is yet to publicly commit his future to Crystal Palace. That said, Mitchell may not be about to see his deal at Selhurst Park expire, with conflicting reports over the status of his contract.
Nevertheless, he continues to be linked away, with Milan among his potential suitors, though whether the Rossoneri would have to pay a fee remains to be seen.
9 Thomas Partey Arsenal
Thomas Partey’s contract at Arsenal is up in the summer, though his time in N5 may not be as close to ending as it may seem.
That’s because Mikel Arteta has previously stated his desire to keep the Ghana international at the club, so a new deal may be in the offing.
Partey has been linked away in previous windows, with interest coming from Italy and Saudi Arabia in the past. This time around, Juventus, Barcelona and former club Atletico Madrid have all been mentioned as potential destinations.
10 Leroy Sane Bayern Munich
It may have come as a surprise to many when Leroy Sané swapped Manchester City for Bayern Munich, especially with the Pep Guardiola era in full swing, but the German has been a crucial player for the Bavarians.
Indeed, he ended the 2024/25 season with 116 goal contributions – 61 goals and 55 assists – in 220 appearances since joining, a rate of one goal involvement every 1.9 matches, marking a spectacular record.
If a club can secure his signature for nothing in the summer, they would be signing a player still at the peak of his powers.
Newcastle United supporters will be praying that Eddie Howe can keep hold of Alexander Isak this summer.
Securing Champions League football for next season would give the club a big boost in this regard, but with interest in the Swede circling, it may be difficult to persuade him to stay.
Newcastle United manager EddieHowebefore the match
Liverpool and Arsenal are the leading contenders to attempt a move to sign the centre-forward when the transfer window opens.
Why Newcastle must keep hold of Alexander Isak
The former Borussia Dortmund forward has enjoyed the finest individual season of his career throughout 2024/25. Across 41 games for the Magpies in all competitions, Isak has scored 27 goals while recording six assists.
At the time of writing, the Toon sit third in the Premier League table, and Isak’s 23 league goals have gone a long way in powering the club to what could be Champions League qualification next term.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
This would allow Howe the chance to bring more high-profile players to the North East, while enabling him to potentially keep the likes of Isak, Anthony Gordon, and Bruno Guimaraes for another season.
If the Swedish striker does decide to move on in the summer, Howe will need to bring in a replacement who knows what it takes to score at the very highest level.
Could he turn to La Liga in the coming weeks?
Newcastle could replace Isak with Alexander Sorloth
Signing another centre-forward is certainly on Howe’s wishlist, especially with sparse options in this area of the team.
With Isak’s future uncertain and Callum Wilson not getting any younger and missing the majority of the season due to injury, money will need to be spent.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Reports in Spain, Newcastle are keen on signing Atlético Madrid frontman Alexander Sorloth this summer.
Atlético signed him last summer for a fee of £27m, although it remains to be seen just how much he could cost this year, especially coming off an excellent campaign for the La Liga side.
The Norwegian was dubbed “legendary” after scoring three goals in the opening 11 minutes of the club’s 4-0 success over Real Sociedad. He ended up netting all four, in what was a stunning display.
Compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Sorloth demonstrated his sublime abilities in the final third.
Indeed, not only does he rank in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (0.96), but the striker also ranks in the top 3% for total shots (4.24) and in the top 7% for touches in the opposition penalty area, which speaks to how lethal he is in front of goal and why he would be a dream replacement for Isak.
Metric
La Liga
Appearances
33
xG
13.91
Goals
17
Shots per game
2.1
Goal conversion percentage
25%
Goal frequency (minutes)
87
Assists
2
Considering he has scored a total of 21 goals for the Spanish side, signing Sorloth could give Newcastle supporters hope that not all is lost if Isak moves on from St. James’ Park.
He has history with the Premier League, playing 16 scoreless games for Crystal Palace during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, but now appears to be prepared to be a key player at that level thanks to his experience in Madrid.
Should he return, the striker has matured and surely wouldn’t be fazed this time around, that’s for sure.
Newcastle battle Arsenal to sign star for less than £50m after scouts sent