Come the end of the season, Arsenal will once again be challenging for the Premier League title after their excellent start to the campaign. Mikel Arteta’s side are currently in second place on 36 points, just a point behind Liverpool.

The Gunners’ most recent match was a 1-0 away defeat to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. The hosts took an early lead and continued to play a brave highline, which Arsenal were unable to take advantage of.

With teams starting to attack the void left by the inverted Oleksandr Zinchenko as seen this weekend, and Thomas Partey’s lack of availability recently, Arteta may look to sign another midfielder who can serve as rotation for Declan Rice or play alongside him.

Arsenal transfers latest – Martin Zubimendi

According to David Ornstein via the Athletic, Arsenal are interested in signing a midfielder, with Martin Zubimendi included in their transfer targets.

The journalist stated: "We know they like Martin Zubimendi, Nicolo Barella, Pedro Neto and others, but again I don’t know of any movement of that."

The Real Sociedad midfielder has a transfer market value of £34m as per Transfermarkt, which is a steal for someone of his quality, however, a move in the winter window is extremely unlikely due to the Gunners' financial fair play position.

Additionally, departures would have to occur first and there is no movement regarding exits for any of the club's current midfielders.

Martin Zubimendi’s style of play

Zubimendi has earned heaps of praise recently and according to Spanish national team boss, Jose Luis De La Fuente, the 24-year-old is “one of the best midfielders in the world” alongside Manchester City star, Rodri.

The Spain international has become an imperative cog in Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea’s Sociedad side, featuring in every game this season.

The number four excels in multiple roles within the midfield, whether it is playing as a lone defensive midfielder, or working in a midfield two. This makes him the perfect backup for Arsenal, directly filling in for Rice or even partnering him when Arteta wishes to become more defensively cautious.

Zubimendi’s profile is certainly similar to Rodri’s, in terms of setting the tempo for his side to retain possession, shown by his pass completion percentage of 85.4% and his lack of shot-creating actions, 1.88 per 90.

He is also proactive out of possession, boasting similar defensive stats to Rice. The graphic below is how he compares to Arsenal’s number 41, based on their statistics in their respective leagues.

Tackles

1.82

2.15

Interceptions

1.28

1.56

Clearances

1.95

1.63

Progressive passes

5.11

7.49

Passes completed

43.32

61.28

Another crucial aspect of Zubimendi’s game is his availability, which is one of the most important yet rarely mentioned attributes to have.

He has only missed an incredible three games since 2019, whereas Partey has been unavailable for an astonishing 51. This makes the Spaniard a much more reliable option for Arteta and it almost makes purchasing the Sociedad player a safe move.

With the never-ending, intense schedule that Arsenal will endure due to domestic and European commitments, Arteta will be forced to rotate his side frequently and the fact that Zubimendi is versatile allows him to cover multiple midfield roles. He would be an excellent fit at the Emirates.

Newcastle United's owners are ready to complete the signing of an "incredible" defender with bags of "charisma", according to a new transfer update.

Newcastle January transfer links

The Magpies have had a disastrous time of things in the injury department all season long, with an almost unfathomable string of fitness issues affecting so many players. Not only has it meant that Eddie Howe has been without numerous important individuals in both the Premier League and the Champions League, but it has also led to other available figures playing too much football and looking fatigued.

For that reason, it could now be that Howe looks to make some key signings during the January transfer window, with defensive additions potentially at the forefront of the manager's thoughts, especially with Sven Botman unavailable for so much of the campaign.

Dan Burn is another player who has been out for a large chunk of action in 2023/24 to date, so while centre-back is one area to focus on, left-back reinforcements could arrive, too. Crystal Palace and England ace Marc Guehi has been seen as an option for the Newcastle, with a bid possibly arriving at some point soon, while Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio, who can play in both positions, has also been mooted as a target.

Newcastle readying bid for Andrea Cambiaso

According to Tutto Juve [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are keen on signing Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso, and have even set aside a fixed sum they are willing to use to get the deal done.

Aston Villa and Fulham are also believed to be in the mix to snap up the 23-year-old, so it won't necessarily be easy for the Magpies to get their man. Newcastle and their fellow Premier League rivals are "willing to spend" €15m (£13m) on Cambiaso, although Juve are not keen on the idea of allowing him to leave at this point in his career.

The left-back could be a brilliant signing by the Magpies if they do manage to get a deal over the line in the January window, with Italy legend Mauro Tassotti once saying of him:

"I was immediately struck by Andrea’s ability to play both left and right. And above all his ability to kick with both feet. I haven’t yet understood whether he is right or left-footed. In this sense, he is similar to Paolo Maldini who however was much more powerful from a physical standpoint, had incredible charisma and was also very strong defensively, so much so that he ended his career as a centre-back."

Cambiaso could be a similarly strong option to Burn, possessing his all-round expertise that has shone throughout this season in Serie A to date, while he can also play on the right flank, offering similar versatility to that of Tino Livramento.

Appearances

14

Tackles per game

1.1

Aerial duels wins per game

0.5

Goal contributions

3

Pass completion rate

88.1%

Newcastle desperately need some fresh legs ahead of the second half of the season – failure to bring in new faces could be fatal to their top four hopes – and the Juve man is someone who ticks so many boxes.

Newcastle United are reportedly in a strong position to bring in an "excellent" defender during the January transfer window, but Real Madrid are also in the mix.

Newcastle eyeing January signings

Next month's window could come at a perfect time for the Magpies, who have started to look increasingly jaded in recent months, with Eddie Howe's squad depth tested to the max.

It was always going to be tricky to juggle the addition of Champions League football this season, but unfortunately for Newcastle, life has been made even harder by the constant injury problems they have faced. Howe's options have become limited and rotation has become so difficult, with key figures such as Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Alexander Isak all out at different times, among many others.

It has shown in the performances, with a lack of consistent results, and for that reason, it is no surprise to have seen Newcastle linked with a number of different players in recent times as the club prepare to potentially spend in January.

The Magpies have been looking at defensive options, with Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio a target who is thought to be wanted by a number of Europe's top clubs, while Bayer Leverkusen ace Piero Hincapie is another who could move to St James' Park.

Newcastle have also been backed to seal the signing of Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips next month as they look to make up for the loss of the suspended Sandro Tonali, who won't return to the setup until the early part of next season.

Key Goncalo Inacio to Newcastle update

According to Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are well-placed to complete the signing of Inacio, with the report describing them as "best positioned" amid apparent interest from the likes of Real Madrid. The Toon have made "frequent" observations regarding a move for him.

Sporting will only allow the 22-year-old to move on to pastures new if his €60m (£52.1m) release clause is triggered, though, so the Magpies know that he won't be available on the cheap.

Inacio is clearly a defender with the world at his feet, considering the level of interest in him at the moment and the fact that he is already making a big impression at such a young age. He is a key man for one of Portugal's biggest clubs, making 144 appearances already, not to mention chipping in with 14 goals and eight assists along the way.

The youngster has been hailed as an "excellent central defender" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig as recently as this month, and while at his best in a centre-back role, he is also adept at filling in at left-back, meaning that Howe could see him as someone who can cover for Dan Burn from time to time.

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Granted, having to spend over £50m for any player is asking a lot, but given the long-term potential that Inacio has in his boots, Newcastle would be wise to sign him in January, snapping him up before another European powerhouse swoops in instead.

Chelsea secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup following an extra-time victory over Benfica at the weekend.

Reece James looked like he had powered the Blues into the next round, but a penalty from Ángel Di María sent the clash into an extra 30 minutes.

The game was suspended for a couple of hours, just minutes from the final whistle, due to a storm threat, but Chelsea finally won the clash 4-1.

It may have taken 4 hours and 39 minutes, but Enzo Maresca’s side now face off against PSG for a spot in the semi-final.

Despite the focus being on the tournament and progressing as far as possible, the manager is still keen on bolstering his squad via the transfer market.

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Reports coming from the Athletic claim that the Blues have reached an agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion regarding a move for Joao Pedro.

The proposed deal looks set to be in excess of £50m and the Brazilian has agreed personal terms with the club.

With a medical booked in early for next week, it appears as though Maresca is closing in on signing another key target. Just what will Pedro offer the Blues?

Why Chelsea want to sign Joao Pedro

Maresca is looking to sell both Christopher Nkunku and João Félix this summer, with both players struggling for regular gametime last season.

Nkunku may have scored against Benfica, but with clubs such as Manchester United showing some interest in the Frenchman, it looks as though he might be sold.

Felix played just 20 times for Maresca last season, scoring seven times, but the Portuguese star spent the second half of the campaign out on loan at AC Milan.

Pedro’s arrival suggests one, or perhaps both, will soon be departing Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

The Brighton star is versatile, being able to operate as a centre-forward, second striker or even out wide on the left flank.

Last term, he typically operated in an advanced role centrally, scoring ten goals for the Seagulls and registering seven assists, proving he is adept in front of goal and at creating opportunities for his teammates.

Such were his performances, the 23-year-old ranks highly among his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues.

Indeed, not only does the forward rank in the top 12% for assists (0.28) per 90, but he also ranks in the top 10% for shot-creating actions (3.33) and successful take-ons (1.34) per 90.

Furthermore, Pedro’s ability to get the ball into dangerous areas is evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes (3.6) and in the top 3% for progressive carries (3.05) per 90, indicating that he will offer a lot of attacking qualities for the Blues next term.

It won’t be the only area of the squad that the Italian will be keen on strengthening, however, especially with the added demands of Champions League football next term.

As such, it’s certainly worth Chelsea bringing in a defender or two this summer.

Chelsea's search for a defender

Last season, the club conceded a total of 59 goals across all competitions from 57 matches, and this record will be something Maresca aims to improve next term.

Over the same period, Chelsea scored 120 goals. This suggests that bolstering the defence is surely a bigger priority than adding to the forward line, notably Joao Pedro.

It looks as though the Blues are keen on a defender who played against them just last weekend – Antonio Silva.

Journalist Simon Phillips stated via his Substack that the Blues have been impressed with the youngster, saying:

“Chelsea have tried and made approaches and checks on a number of potential new centre back names this summer so far and still have more to look at and in to. Chelsea have been scouting Antonio Silva of Benfica all season and already have him added to our transfer shortlist alongside his team mate, Tomas Araujo.

“But Chelsea are looking for an out and out centre back and attentions have again turned to the 21-year-old Portuguese international who has just two-years remaining on his contract.”

The centre-back is valued at €32m (£27m) according to Transfermarkt, but Benfica will be looking for a much higher fee than that to sanction a sale considering his release clause stands at around £87m.

Given their defensive issues last term, Silva would be a better signing than Pedro, that’s for sure.

Why Chelsea must sign Antonio Silva

The 21-year-old played over 40 times last season, including all four games at the Club World Cup for Benfica.

At the tournament, Silva averaged a 92% pass success rate, while winning a staggering 80% of his total duels contested, made 2.3 tackles per game and lost possession just 4.3 times per match in the States.

These performances have attracted plenty of attention, and there is no doubt that Silva is only going to get better and better.

Accurate passes

52.3

Tackles

1.5

Total duels won

4.5

Possession lost

7.7

Clearances

4.3

Balls recovered

4

After he burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old with a goal against Juventus in the Champions League back in 2022, Jamie Carragher claimed the defender was “going to be a superstar” and his upwards trajectory certainly suggests so.

When compared to his peers in the Champions League last season, Silva ranked in the top 1% for clearances (7.7) per 90, while also ranking in the top 16% for aerials won (2.36) and in the top 9% for touches in the defensive penalty area (12.91) per 90.

An impressive array of statistics indeed, and considering his ceiling is extraordinarily high, Maresca must make signing Silva a key priority this summer.

Pedro will certainly add plenty of dynamism to the club’s attacking department, but it is at the heart of the defence where the real improvements are required given the problems Maresca’s men suffered last term.

As such, spending whatever it takes to bring Silva from Benfica to the Premier League must be the next move BlueCo are planning.

If he lands his signature, Silva will almost certainly be a better signing than Pedro.

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Leeds United will have been disappointed to come away from the Preston North End game last time out with nothing, unable to follow up the comprehensive win over Ipswich Town with another straightforward victory.

The attackers fell below their usual high standards in the 2-1 defeat at Deepdale from a Whites perspective, both Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter failing to catch Freddie Woodman out in the opposing goal with zero shots on target from both as per Sofascore.

Not even the introduction of youth product Mateo Joseph and seasoned regular Patrick Bamford in attack in the second half could steer Leeds towards picking up an away win, Daniel Farke's men ultimately running out of steam and ideas come full-time.

Farke could well look to the transfer window to bring in more firepower up top therefore, with the Whites notable admirers of one wonderkid who continues to take his native South Africa by storm at just 17 years of age.

With Leeds unafraid to give their own homegrown teenage talents first team minutes in the form of Archie Gray, this could be the perfect next destination for this starlet to further develop and excel.

Leeds transfer latest

The Scottish Sun reported last month that Leeds alongside Celtic were interested in Cape Town Spurs striker Luke Baartman, the 17-year-old attacker regarded as one of the brightest talents in South African football currently.

This season for the Cape Town Spurs, Baartman has managed to find the back of the net twice for the senior side which included a fierce header last match in DStv Premiership action for his boyhood club.

Baartman won't instantly come into the first team and make an impact if he relocates to Elland Road this January, but Bamford's days will still be numbered anyway as Farke looks to bring in fresh youngsters to boost the squad to replace the old guard in West Yorkshire.

Patrick Bamford's numbers this season

Bamford has had a torrid season to date with Leeds, the 30-year-old striker goalless from 15 appearances with his minutes limited to exclusively coming off the bench when the clock is ticking down.

The ageing Leeds attacker has been on a decline for some time, with this season not coming as a shock or an anomaly with the ex-Chelsea man regularly out with injury if he's not misfiring in front of goal.

Season

Games played

Goals scored

2023-24

15

0

2022-23

31

6

2021-22

10

2

2020-21

38

17

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Bamford's powers diminishing could see Farke swoop in for Baartman as a shrewd piece of business therefore, buying with the future in mind and gaining a striker likened to Henrik Larsson according to Cape Town Spurs technical director Sean Connor when speaking to the Scottish Sun.

Connor stated that the teenage sensation's "spatial awareness, movement and pace" reminded him of the iconic Swedish striker when he first set eyes upon the promising talent, a bold label to put on a 17-year-old who has so much more of his career left to go.

Leeds could well feel it's a gamble worth taking buying Baartman this January, initially placing the South African striker into the U21's fold to further hone his craft before unleashing him into the first team eventually to hopefully mirror the success story of Gray.

It will be a sad severing of the ties when the Whites do have to wave goodbye to Bamford, but a farewell they will have to consider soon with the injury-prone striker losing his clinical edge completely.

Bringing in Baartman may appear a move for the future, yet as has been shown in the case of Gray – who has featured 25 times in all competitions this season – Farke is willing to put faith in any talent regardless of their age.

Getting to see the two 17-year-old's thriving in the same side could, therefore, be a mouthwatering prospect for the Elland Road outfit.

Leeds United have now held direct “conversations” with an “unplayable” striker over a potential summer move to Elland Road, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed.

Leeds eyeing new striker after Nmecha

The 49ers Enterprises and Leeds have already added one centre-forward to their ranks this summer, having sealed the signing of Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer, but they remain keen on bringing in another striker, with the 49ers ready to splash the cash.

That is despite the fact Daniel Farke already has Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford on the books, with the former finishing as the Championship’s top scorer last season, picking up a total of 19 goals and seven assists in 46 outings.

Bamford, on the other hand, has entered the final 12 months of his contract, with the striker also previously admitting he would consider making a move to the MLS one day, saying: “It is something that I would be open to, yeah. We [Bamford and his family] just don’t know when yet.”

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As such, it would make sense for the Whites to bring another striker through the door, and they have now made an approach to sign another former England international for free, according to Bailey.

Speaking to Leeds United News, the journalist confirmed that direct talks have been held with former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, saying: “Leeds have had conversations with Dom Calvert-Lewin.

“He’s considering his options and Leeds are certainly one of them, there has been talks. Callum Wilson as well, but Leeds have held talks for Calvert-Lewin but he’s not close to signing or anything like that.”

As the centre-forward is now without a club after leaving Everton, he will be available on a free transfer this summer, although his wage demands could be high, having raked in a whopping £100k-a-week at Goodison Park.

"Unplayable" Calvert-Lewin is Premier League proven

With Leeds looking to avoid the drop in their first season back in the top flight, it makes sense to bring in players who are proven in the Premier League, and the ex-Everton striker certainly fits the bill in that regard.

The 28-year-old has amassed a total of 57 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League, with his most prolific season coming in 2020/21, netting 16 times in 33 games. During his senior career, Calvert-Lewin has scored 89 goals for club and country.

Pundit Tony Cascarino has also singled out the Englishman for high praise, describing him as “unplayable”, while also adding: “His leap is phenomenal, the best in the Premier League and he leads the line well, holding up the ball and running channels.”

That said, Calvert-Lewin is well-known to have struggled with injuries throughout his career, so it would be a risk for Leeds to make a move, especially with Bamford already on the books, with the 31-year-old also well-known to be extremely injury-prone.

With just three recognised senior centre-backs to call on this season, to say that Ange Postecoglou needs to add depth to his Tottenham Hotspur side this month would be an understatement. The Lilywhites, when everyone was fit and firing, snuck into conversations about the Premier League title race and looked on course to at least secure a place inside the top four. Now at the halfway mark, those in North London sit fifth, albeit just one point adrift of rivals Arsenal in fourth with key men to return soon.

What should help to keep Spurs in the race for a Champions League place and in touching distance of the likes of Arsenal is one particular reinforcement who has already agreed personal terms, and now looks increasingly likely to complete a move to North London this month.

Tottenham transfer news

Whilst Spurs may not have welcomed enough depth during the summer transfer window, the players they managed to bring in have proved to be instant hits. James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario particularly found their feet quickly for the Lilywhites, before the outfield duo suffered untimely injuries in a frustrating blow for Postecoglou. And with the winter window now open, Spurs could repeat their transfer genius.

Trevoh Chalobah

20th December

Jean-Clair Todibo

31st December

Morato

19th December

Ko Itakura

2nd January

Sebastian Caceres

14th December

Jarrad Branthwaite

1st January

According to Rudy Galetti, Spurs are set to complete an agreement with Genoa to sign Radu Dragusin, who has already agreed personal terms and is keen on a move. Talks are reportedly at an advanced stage with Daniel Levy willing to up their bid to €27m (£23m) to get the deal over the line this month.

The central defender would provide the London club with a much-needed boost at the back after injuries to Van de Ven and Cristian Romero left them worryingly short, forcing Postecoglou to form some makeshift backlines.

"Dominant" Dragusin's versatility the key

Dragusin's versatility may prove to be his greatest trait should he complete a move to Spurs this month. His ability to play in every position across the backline will help put an end to the Lilywhites' depth problem in defence, and also mean there is a place for him in the XI even when both Cristian Romero and van de Ven are fit.

Still just 21-years-old, the Romanian could prove to be one of the bargains of the season if he goes on and eventually realises his potential. Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig is certainly a fan of the defender, previously posting on X:

With Spurs' next Premier League game not until January 14, Dragusin could yet feature if the North London club can get the deal over the line in the next week or so. If that game is to be the defender's debut, he will square off against a struggling giant in the form of Manchester United. If Dragusin helped secure all three points in a game against a top four rival, it would go a long way in instantly endearing himself to the Spurs fans, that's for sure.

Tottenham have now reached a full exit agreement right after their signing of Radu Dragusin, with news breaking on Thursday morning.

Spurs getting business done early

The north Londoners are getting most of their business done nice and early, just as manager Ange Postecoglou intended, with the club signing both Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin already.

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Werner joins on a six-month loan deal with the option to make it permanent in the summer, while Dragusin signs for around £26 million with right-back Djed Spence going the other way temporarily.

Strengthening both attack in defence in one quick swoop, Postecoglou will be thrilled with his side's haste so early in the transfer window – something he said would be imperative.

"If you can bring them in early, even if they don't play you can bed them into training and our style of football because it's not like we're going to sign somebody and they'll hit the ground running. Maybe they could," said Postecoglou on Spurs transfers last month.

20

13

6

1

45

25

20

13

3

4

42

16

19

12

4

3

40

24

20

12

4

4

40

17

"Whereas if you leave it towards the end of January, it's potentially not until mid to end of February when they get up to speed, depending where they're coming from, the league they're coming from. So there's a whole lot of moving parts. So yes, I'd love to do something early in the window but even me saying that puts a challenge on us – because other clubs know we want to do something early."

Outgoings will be just as important when it comes to balancing the books and trimming unwanted members off Postecoglou's squad, and it appears some real headway has been made when it comes to out-of-favour defender Eric Dier.

Tottenham reach agreement to sell Dier

The 29-year-old doesn't feature in Postecoglou's plans at all, made evident by the fact Spurs would rather play a makeshift pairing of Emerson Royal and Ben Davies when Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero aren't available.

Dier has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, where his former teammate Harry Kane is currently flying. Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, sharing breaking news on Thursday morning, says Dier to Bayern Munich is now a "done deal".

It appears the Englishman's long stay at Spurs is coming to an end, and while the latter part of his stay was one to forget, he will be remembered as a faithful N17 servant.

Celtic are hoping to lure Scottish centre-back Scott McKenna to Parkhead as Brendan Rodgers seeks to bolster his defence this January.

In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic's defensive record is strong. The Hoops, eight points clear at the top of the table, have only let in 15 in their first 22 matches. The only team to have conceded fewer is their Old Firm rivals, who also have two games in hand.

However, against stronger opposition in the Champions League, Brendan Rodgers' side have looked more exposed. Across their six matches, Celtic conceded 15 times, and that was a big part of the reason why they finished bottom of their group and exited Europe altogether heading into the new year. Only Belgian side Antwerp (17) conceded more in that phase, and so it's not particularly surprising that the club are seemingly intent on bolstering their backline in January.

McKenna emerges as Celtic target

According to Sky Sports, both Celtic and arch-rivals Rangers are interested in Scott McKenna of Nottingham Forest. Forest have made him available for transfer this month, paving the way for a battle between the Old Firm clubs.

There's a possibility that McKenna could move north of the border on loan first, and then join his new club on a permanent deal come the summer when his Forest contract expires.

McKenna started Forest's first five Premier League games this season, but hasn't featured at all since. In December, the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel revealed that the club had banished him from first-team training ahead of an anticipated January exit. Even the sacking of Steve Cooper and the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo as his replacement has failed to bring about an improvement in his situation.

Rodgers could get his man from 2018

It's a surprise to see McKenna treated this way. Signed in 2020 from Aberdeen, he's played 105 games for Forest, nearly half of which (51) came in 2021/22 as they achieved promotion back to the English top flight. The centre-back was instrumental in that achievement, winning man of the match when they beat Huddersfield in the play-off final (Sky Football).

He remained an important figure last season as Forest prolonged their return, starting 20 of the 25 games for which he was available, but now he's been completely frozen out.

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He'll be a familiar name for Celtic fans given his time with Aberdeen and his international career with Scotland, which now spans 30 caps (including one at the last European Championship). Manager Rodgers will certainly be familiar too, having made an attempt to bring him to Parkhead during his first stint as Celtic boss in 2018.

According to Football Scotland, Aberdeen rejected an initial £3.5m bid, and then Celtic refused to return with a better offer. Two years later, when he got his move to England, they may have thought that the ship had sailed, but with McKenna still of a decent footballing age at 27, Rodgers could finally get his man. If it is to be an initial loan, then it could come down to which Glaswegian club is willing to pay a greater share of his Forest wages, and which offers him a more significant role in the squad.

For the third summer in succession, Manchester United appear set to bring in a new centre-forward once again, with new boss Ruben Amorim simply crying out for a prolific presence to lead the line.

Not since the days of Robin van Persie has a United player hit 20 goals in a Premier League season, with the young duo of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just seven times between them in the top-flight in 2024/25.

Matheus Cunha has already arrived through the door – with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo expected to follow – although neither man is an orthodox number nine, ensuring further reinforcements are still needed.

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With that in mind, we’ve asked the AI tool ChatGPT to predict which of the Red Devils’ leading targets would prove to be the biggest hit at Old Trafford next term, fitness permitting.

Viktor Gyokeres – 15-20 Premier League goals

By all accounts, the man whom Amorim truly wants is his former Sporting CP talisman, Viktor Gyokeres, with prior reports indicating that the clinical Swede is open to joining United, even amid the lack of Champions League football.

While recent speculation would suggest that it is Arsenal who are more likely to win the race for the 27-year-old’s signature, there remains a glimmer of hope that he could end up in Manchester instead – not least if the Gunners plump for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

The former Coventry City star – who has scored 97 times in just 102 games in Portugal – would certainly represent an upgrade on Amorim’s current attacking options, although the prospect of “tougher defences” in the Premier League, in the view of ChatGPT, could hamper his impact somewhat.

Ollie Watkins – 18–22 Premier League goals

The latest high-profile name to emerge as an option for the Old Trafford side appears to be Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, with reports indicating that contact has already been made regarding a possible move for the England international.

While at 29, the former Brentford man would buck the trend of INEOS’ recent youth-centric transfer policy, his proven Premier League quality has made him an attractive prospect, having hit double figures in each of his five top-flight campaigns.

In the view of ChatGPT, the experienced marksman could thrive when supplied by the service of the likes of Bruno Fernandes, as “United historically create more chances”, ensuring “Watkins would likely see more high-quality opportunities”.

Victor Osimhen – 20-24 Premier League goals

Watkins’ recent Premier League experience will count for a lot, but it seemingly isn’t everything. If you can score regularly across Europe, surely you can do the same in England?

That appears to be the case with regard to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian believed to be among the players that United are considering, amid his expected exit from the Serie A side.

Viktor Gyokeres

39

Kylian Mbappe

31

Robert Lewandowski

27

Harry Kane

26

Victor Osimhen

26

Mateo Retegui

25

Alexander Isak

23

Omar Marmoush

22

Erling Haaland

22

With 151 goals to his name in 264 senior career games, across his time in France, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Turkey, the 26-year-old represents an almost guarantee of goals, having bagged 37 times in just 41 outings on loan at Galatasaray in 2024/25.

According to ChatGPT, that momentum could well be maintained in Manchester, as “his proven scoring consistency, physicality, link-up play, and aerial threat suggest he could swiftly hit the 20‑goal mark in the Premier League”.

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