All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal have been in talks over a contract extension for star midfielder Thomas Partey for weeks, but as the clock ticks down towards June 30, manager Mikel Arteta faces the very real prospect of losing him for nothing.

The Ghanaian’s resurgence, after a 2023/2024 campaign blighted by injury, has been nothing short of exceptional.

Arsenal make contact to sign trophy-laden £400k-per-week ex-Man City star

He’d be quite the addition to Arteta’s dressing room.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 17, 2025

Partey was a mainstay under Arteta throughout last season, impressing in a variety of roles at right-back and in midfield, going on to finish the year with 52 appearances under his belt across all competitions.

His stellar form over the last 10 months prompted Arsenal to open talks with Partey over fresh terms, with the club announcing that they were in dialogue about a new deal by not including the African on this year’s official retained list.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arteta also confirmed in a press conference that he wants the £200,000-per-week veteran to remain right where he is, after what was arguably his best-ever season at the Emirates Stadium.

“Yeah,” said the Arsenal manager when asked if he wants Partey to stay.

“In regards to Thomas, consistency-wise, it’s been his best season. I think the way he’s played, performed, his availability has been exceptional, and he’s a really important player for us.”

However, talks have been going since late April, and there has still been no official confirmation from Arsenal that Partey has indeed extended his stay in N5.

Naturally, the 32-year-old is attracting serious interest from elsewhere. Both Fenerbache boss José Mourinho and AC Milan’s Max Allegri have personally held talks with Partey, according to CaughtOffside.

Thomas Partey gives Arsenal ultimatum amid "concrete offers"

The outlet also reports that Fenerbache and Milan have made Partey “concrete” proposals to join them, so Arsenal have major competition in their bid to keep him.

CaughtOffside have shared that Partey’s agent has given an ultimatum to Arsenal during new deal talks, namely that the ex-Atlético Madrid star will leave if they don’t increase their salary offer.

Arsenal are currently determined not to increase their initial offer, so talks are now at a roadblock and in serious danger of collapsing.

Arteta will be hoping for a swift resolution. Even taking into account the pending arrival of Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, who’s still expected to join Arsenal with a deal agreed, the Gunners are poised to be a star midfielder short if Partey does leave, given Jorginho’s free transfer to Flamengo.

Arteta needs a rejuvenated and star-studded squad if he wishes to close the gap on English champions Liverpool, and losing Partey would be a disastrous summer blow ahead of what is a crucial campaign for Arsenal’s head coach.

The pressure is truly on for him to win a piece of major silverware, five years after their FA Cup final triumph in 2020, so keeping a player of Partey’s quality/experience is a must.

Arsenal are now showing interest in signing a £100m+ forward, having scouted him extensively in recent months, according to a report.

Gunners eyeing new wingers in summer transfer window

Gabriel Martinelli has received criticism in recent times, with Jamie Carragher suggesting the Brazilian was one of the reasons the Gunners were unable to compete for the Premier League title.

However, the 23-year-old put in some improved performances towards the end of the campaign, with Gary Neville lauding his second-half display against Liverpool as “excellent”, and the left-winger appears to have caught the eye of one of Europe’s top clubs.

Indeed, there are now doubts over Martinelli’s future at the Emirates Stadium, with Barcelona believed to be interested in securing his signature, should the La Liga champions be unable to wrap up a deal for Liverpool star Luis Diaz.

Arsenal now keen on signing £70m PL striker who received offer from Chelsea

The Gunners could make a move for a Premier League forward, who has already been the subject of a bid from Chelsea.

ByDominic Lund Jun 2, 2025

The interest does not appear to be advanced as things stand, but should the Brazil international move on this summer, Mikel Arteta will need to bring in a replacement, and the manager could have a top-level option in mind.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Arsenal are now closely monitoring Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, having scouted him extensively in recent months.

The champions of Europe have little interest in sanctioning a departure, however, which means it could be tricky to facilitate a deal, and Barcola is believed to be valued very highly, with the French club of the view he is worth around €100m -€120m (£84m – £101m).

Tottenham Hotspur are also in the race for the PSG star, but the Ligue 1 club are currently trying to tie him down to a new contract, which would ward off the interest from elsewhere.

Barcola needs starting role away from PSG

PSG secured their first Champions League in remarkable fashion against Inter Milan, thrashing the Italian giants 5-0 in Munich, and the French forward was lively after coming off the bench, albeit missing two big chances.

The PSG squad is stacked with talent, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ultimately getting the nod over the 22-year-old, but scout Jacek Kulig is a big fan, describing him as “one of Ligue 1’s absolute stars and one of the most exciting talents in Europe”.

That description is justified by the France international’s performance across a number of important attacking metrics over the past year, particularly impressing with his knack for picking up assists.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.47 (89th percentile)

Assists

0.39 (92nd percentile)

Progressive carries

5.45 (91st percentile)

Touches (Att pen)

8.95 (99th percentile)

As such, Barcola could be a fantastic replacement for Martinelli, should Barcelona press ahead with a move for the Arsenal winger, but it could be very difficult to get a deal done, given PSG’s eagerness to extend his contract at the Parc des Princes.

Manchester City are now set to table a huge contract offer, in an attempt to lure a “world-class” transfer target to the Etihad Stadium this summer, according to a report.

Man City pursuing new midfielders despite Rodri return

Man City never really managed to recover from Rodri suffering an ACL injury against Arsenal back in September, with Pep Guardiola enduring a rare trophyless campaign after the FA Cup final defeat, and the manager believes his side would have competed if the Spaniard had been available.

The City boss said: “I don’t have any doubts with Rodri there, and Phil there, and everybody there, the central defenders there, we would have competed; in the Champions League we would have been better.”

Guardiola will no doubt be hoping that Rodri’s return is a major boost for his side, but the manager remains tasked with bringing in at least one new midfielder this summer, given that Kevin De Bruyne’s time at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end.

Fabrizio Romano: Man City hold first talks to sign "incredible" £50m+ star

The Blues have made an enquiry over a defender, and discussions over a deal are expected to continue.

ByDominic Lund May 27, 2025

It will be difficult to find any player capable of providing goals and assists as regularly as the Belgian legend, but there has now been a new update which suggests Man City are stepping up their pursuit of a new midfielder.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man City are determined to lure AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders to the Etihad Stadium this summer, and they are planning to offer him a huge salary increase in order to get a deal over the line.

Having cooled their interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, who could be Liverpool-bound, the Blues are eager to land Reijnders, and they are willing to spend a large amount of their summer transfer budget on the midfielder and offer him around £130,000-a-week.

AC Milan are eager to hold out for a fee of £50m, however, so the 26-year-old is unlikely to come cheap, but Guardiola’s side want a deal to be wrapped up before the Club World Cup.

Reijnders could be "world-class" addition for Man City

Scout Ben Mattinson believes the maestro is able to play at a “world-class” level, and he certainly put in performances of that standard during the 2024/25 campaign, despite Milan’s struggles.

The Dutchman predominantly featured in central midfield, while also often dropping to a deeper role, but that did not stop him from regularly providing goals and assists across all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Serie A

37

10

5

Champions League

10

3

0

Italian Cup

5

2

0

Whoever replaces De Bruyne will have very big shoes to fill, given everything the attacking midfielder achieved at the Etihad Stadium, but Reijnders’ recent exploits on the front foot suggest he could also go on to achieve big things with Manchester City.

Liverpool have “made contact” with a rival Premier League attacker over a move to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool in need of Nunez and Jota upgrade

The Reds are expected to have one of their busiest summers in years, with upgrades needed in various positions, despite their Premier League title win.

In attack, a new centre forward is badly needed, with neither Darwin Nunez nor Diogo Jota representing the solution in that area now. The former simply hasn’t kicked on enough in three seasons, while the latter is an injury-prone player who cannot seem to stay fit for a whole season.

Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike has been linked with a move to Liverpool various times, and could stand out as the most exciting No.9 option this summer, especially considering Newcastle United look highly unlikely to allow Alexander Isak to leave.

Brighton attacker Joao Pedro has also been mentioned as an option for the Merseyside, as has Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, who could potentially be used in a false nine role, even though it isn’t his most common position. Now, a big claim regarding the Reds signing another attacking player has emerged.

Liverpool make contact with Premier League attacker

According to Foot Mercato‘s Santi Aouna on X, Liverpool have made contact with Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku over a summer move to Anfield.

There would have to be question marks about Liverpool signing the £195,000-a-week Nkunku, considering he hasn’t exactly been a roaring success in a Chelsea shirt since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2023, only making nine starts in the Premier League this season.

Signing the 27-year-old would feel like a gamble by the Reds – one they don’t need to take – even though Thierry Henry has admitted he loves watching him play, and he has been lauded by former Chelsea and England centre-back Gary Cahill, who hailed him as a “very strong” player.

If Richard Hughes and Arne Slot truly feel that Nkunku is the best option to bring in this summer, they need to be trusted, but given his injury record and form at Chelsea, it would be a surprise if that was the case.

A better signing than Wirtz: Liverpool ramp up move for "the next Mbappe"

Liverpool’s primary goal this summer remains signing a new centre-forward.

ByAngus Sinclair May 16, 2025

Liverpool would be far wiser to look to sign Ekitike, who is five years his junior and seemingly on an upwards trajectory, following a great season for Frankfurt that has seen him score 15 goals in 30 Bundesliga starts.

With their return to the Premier League on the horizon, Leeds United have now reportedly made their first enquiry about signing a Champions League winner for a club-record £40m fee.

Leeds set for crucial summer

As celebrations gradually begin to end around Yorkshire, all eyes will be on the summer transfer window. It’s one that the 49ers simply cannot afford to get wrong and one which must see them spend if they are to keep Leeds in the Premier League at the first time of asking.

For two consecutive seasons now, all three promoted sides have suffered instant relegation from the top flight. Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City failed to learn from Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley before suffering themselves as a result. Now, Burnley, Leeds and one other club must avoid following that same path. They must break a concerning trend.

Time to go: 49ers must axe Leeds ace who's played even less than Schmidt

The Leeds United man who played less than Isaac Schmidt should be let go this summer.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

To do that, the 49ers will need to ensure that Daniel Farke’s side are robust enough for the Premier League. Compared to their style in the Championship, Leeds will have to suffer out of possession if they want to enjoy any success next season, whilst they may need to avoid falling into the trap of adopting the same modern style in possession that could yet earn Southampton an unwanted record.

The transfer window will, of course, play a large part in what happens next at Elland Road. If rumours are anything to go by, then the 49ers are ready to spend too. The likes of Beto have particularly threatened to steal the headlines this week as the Whites look to bolster their frontline.

The Everton forward endured a slow start to life at Goodison Park but has shown his quality under David Moyes. If Leeds want robust then he’d certainly offer that. Meanwhile, in the goalkeeper department, those at Elland Road have set their sights on the opposite end of Merseyside and signing an instant upgrade on Ilian Meslier.

Leeds make first enquiry to sign Kelleher

According to Graeme Bailey for Leeds United News, Leeds have now made their first enquiry about signing Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool, who are reportedly set to demand as much as £40m to sell their goalkeeper this summer.

With Alisson Becker staying put and Giorgi Mamardashvili on his way from Valencia, the Irishman is heading for the exit door at Anfield, potentially allowing Leeds to take advantage for what would be a club-record transfer fee.

He may be Liverpool’s second-choice, but Kelleher hasn’t exactly seen his opportunities limited in recent seasons with Alisson continuing to struggle on the injury front. Any concerns that he wouldn’t be good enough to step up have quickly been put to bed in that time too, including against Real Madrid when he saved Kylian Mbappe’s penalty in a 2-0 victory back in November.

On a night to remember, Kelleher earned the praise of Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who dubbed his shot-stopper “outstanding”. For £40m, Leeds would be getting themselves a goalkeeper who’s ready to become a No.1 and an impressive one at that, after winning the Champions League, Premier League and domestic trophies throughout an excellent Liverpool tenure.

Can Celtic get back to winning ways?

Last Sunday, the Hoops were beaten by the side bottom of the Scottish Premiership for the first time since November 2005, shockingly defeated 1-0 by struggling St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Considering Rangers also lost a day earlier, Hibs claiming a 2-0 win at Ibrox, it mattered very little, and Celtic could be crowned champions as soon as this weekend.

If Brendan Rodgers’ team beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, and then their fierce rivals are defeated at Pittodrie a day later, a record-equalling 55th top division title will be rubber-stamped.

As the Hoops target victory over Derek McInnes’ Killie, Rodgers must drop his club-record signing and unleash a fit again star instead.

Arne Engels mixed first season at Celtic

Last summer, after selling Matt O’Riley to Brighton for a reported £25m fee, Celtic broke their club record to replace him, with Arne Engels arriving on deadline day from Augsburg at the cost of £11m.

Upon his arrival, Rodgers labeled the Belgian a “young player of real quality”, while Graeme McGarry of the Herland claims the 21-year-old has ‘huge potential’.

To date, Engels has scored ten goals and registered 12 assists across all competitions, with 32 of his 45 appearances coming from the start, underlining that he has been a mainstay.

However, in more recent times, Joe Donnelly of the Glasgow Times notes that Engels has regularly ‘failed to make a significant impact’ in many Celtic matches, scoring only once in his last 12 appearances, hooked after 66 minutes in Perth last Sunday.

Thus, Rodgers must, now, ruthlessly ditch the Belgium international from the starting line-up due to his recent lack of impact at the top end of the pitch, and his dull display last time out.

The Celtic star who should replace Arne Engels

Back in February, Paulo Bernardo suffered an ankle injury during a Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers that saw him sidelined for five weeks, heartbreakingly missing out on the two-legged Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Since then, the Portuguese U21 international has seen just 28 minutes of action, coming off the bench during the 3-0 rout of Hearts a fortnight ago, before remaining an unused substitute against St Johnstone last time out.

Bernardo himself said “I can play football again, so I’m really excited”, describing the injury he suffered as “bad” but stating he will do his best and give his all during the remainder of the campaign.

Bernardo initially joined Celtic on loan from Benfica, before making the move permanent for a reported £3.5m fee last summer.

So far, he’s scored just seven goals and registered only seven assists in 70 outings in hoops, but let’s take a deeper dive into his statistics when compared to Engels.

Appearances

37

45

Minutes

1,544

2,800

Goals

3

10

Assists

4

12

Chances created

30

64

Big chances created

5

14

Passing accuracy %

87.95%

84.64%

Through-balls

2

12

Ball recoveries

74

109

Touches per 90

79

72

The table shows that, throughout the season, Engels’ statistics are better, albeit he has played around 1,300 minutes more across all competitions, which certainly skews the data.

Bernardo meantime, boasts a higher pass completion percentage, more ball recoveries per 90 minutes, and registers marginally more touches per game.

Thus, the Portuguese midfielder definitely deserves a shot against Kilmarnock, building up his match-sharpness ahead of a Scottish Cup semi-final against the side who have just beaten Celtic, namely St Johnstone, at Hampden on Easter Sunday.

Rarely-seen Celtic flop is fast becoming their new James McCarthy

The rarely-seen Celtic flop could end up becoming the new James McCarthy at Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Apr 10, 2025

Manchester United are now increasingly keen on signing a “special” forward this summer, and his price tag may have dropped by £65m, according to a report.

Man Utd lacking creativity

Man United’s goalscoring issues this season have been well-documented, with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund failing to hit the heights expected of them, but another major problem has been a lack of service for the strikers.

The Red Devils have created just 54 big chances in the Premier League this season, the 13th-highest total in the top flight, which indicates they may need to bring in a new winger or attacking midfielder this summer, alongside a centre-forward.

Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo is well-liked, with United planning to make the winger their first summer signing, and there is a feeling a deal could be possible for a fee of around £50m.

Man Utd make contact for "unbelievable" £62m star as agent flies for talks

The Red Devils have set their sights on a striker, whose agent is set to fly to England for talks.

ByDominic Lund Apr 8, 2025

There are some other options from within the Premier League, however, with Southampton’s Tyler Dibling also of interest, although the reported £100m price tag may have been off-putting for potential suitors.

However, according to a new report from Caught Offside, Dibling’s price tag may have now dropped considerably, with it being revealed a deal could be possible for a fee of around €40m (£35m), which would be a £65m price reduction.

Man United and Ruben Amorim are becoming increasingly keen on signing the Southampton winger, who is now high up their list of targets, with the manager eager to bring in a top young attacker.

A whole host of clubs could be set to battle it out for the 19-year-old, however, with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, RB Leipzig and West Ham United also expressing an interest, so there may be fierce competition for his signature.

"Special" Dibling could launch career at Old Trafford

The young forward has been a breakout star for Southampton this season, making 27 league appearances, but it was always going to be a tall order to stand out in a very poor side, who could go down as one of the worst teams in Premier League history.

That said, the Englishman caught the eye with his performance at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign, receiving praise from Fabrizio Romano.

Having also been lauded as a “special talent” by journalist Josh Bunting, it is clear the starlet has a lot of potential, so it is promising news that Man United are in the race for his signature.

The recent news that a deal could amount to just £35m is also a welcome update, given that a £100m price tag would have been very hard to justify, with Dibling yet to prove himself at the top level over a sustained period.

Mikel Arteta will no doubt plead caution surrounding the signing of any new centre-forward this summer, with it not a guarantee that such a move will instantly propel Arsenal to long-awaited Premier League glory.

Indeed, it is not only through the middle where reinforcements are required, with an upgrade on the left flank also seemingly needed with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scoring just ten top-flight goals between them this term.

That said, fans and pundits alike are craving a statement acquisition of a new striker after what looks set to be another second-place finish in the league, with the Gunners having also come up short in the previous two campaigns.

Not since the summer of 2022 have the club forked out for a new number nine, albeit with even Gabriel Jesus not exactly an out-and-out centre-forward, particularly considering much of his work came on the right flank during his prior stint at Manchester City.

With the Brazilian having since been ravaged by injury – with Kai Havertz also currently sidelined – there is a real dearth of reliable options at the Emirates, a fact epitomised by Mikel Merino’s recent shift into a makeshaft target man.

Whether it is the difference between winning the league or not, the Gunners simply must sign a striker. If recent reports are anything to go by, the search has already started.

Latest on Arsenal's striker search

The leading target for the north London side remains that of Alexander Isak, although question marks remain over just how feasible a deal would be for the in-form Swede, considering Newcastle United’s £150m asking price.

With that in mind, the Gunners appear to be looking elsewhere in their extensive search, with Football Transfers naming Bologna’s Santiago Castro as a potential summer option.

As per the report, it is Arteta who is said to be ‘personally pushing’ to seal the signing of the young Argentine, with the Arsenal boss believed to be a ‘huge admirer’ of the promising forward.

Transfer Focus

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

While the piece does mainly focus in on Arsenal’s parallel interest in Atletico Madrid starlet, Adrian Nino, the Spaniard appears more of a project signing, considering he only made his first-team debut for the LaLiga side in January.

Castro, meanwhile, may only be 20 himself, although amid a promising campaign in Serie A, he has seemingly caught the attention of Arteta as someone who could come in and make an instant impact at the Emirates.

Perhaps, he could well follow in the footsteps of a certain Alexis Sanchez in an Arsenal shirt…

Why Castro would be a good signing for Arsenal

While the Gunners did actually pluck Sanchez from Barcelona back in 2014, the Chilean did mirror his fellow South American by initially plying his trade in his homeland with Cobreloa, before then making his name in Italy at Udinese.

The now veteran forward – who has ended up back at the Italian outfit in the twilight of his career – notably scored 12 goals and provided a further ten assists in the 2010/11 Serie A season, before being poached by Barca, having typically operated as a centre-forward or second striker.

Castro, meanwhile, has followed a similar path after starting out in his native Argentina with Velez Sarsfield – for whom he scored nine goals in 64 games – prior to making the switch to Bologna last year, going on to score eight times and register four assists in Italy’s top flight in 2024/25.

Games (starts)

29 (25)

Goals

8

Assists

4

Goal frequency

266 mins

Big chances missed

6

Big chances created

3

Key passes*

0.9

Touches*

27.1

Now valued at around €30m (£26m), according to reports in January, Castro is well on course to emulating Sanchez’s final season at Udinese, with now perhaps the chance for Arsenal to pounce – rather than signing him later down the line, like they did with Sanchez.

Having been described as the “complete forward” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 6 foot machine does mirror the ex-Arsenal man in also being able to feature on the flanks, ensuring he could also rival the likes of Martinelli and Trossard in that left-wing berth.

Not just an “instinctive finisher”, in the words of Mattinson, the Buenos Aires native may also prove a valuable addition due to his innate link-up play, as shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 10% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion.

A composed presence both in possession and in front of goal, Castro could certainly be worth taking a punt on. With Arsenal having seen the success of signing Sanchez, amid his return of 124 goals and assists in just 166 games for the club, the capture of a potential successor will hopefully prove just as fruitful.

With 20 goals and assists in 46 games for Bologna since signing back in January 2024, the 20-year-old could well be a wildcard solution.

Arsenal hold early talks to sign £50m striker likened to Neymar and Mbappe

He’s compared to two of world football’s most iconic superstars of recent years.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 28, 2025

Manchester City are now ready to accept offers for a £300,000-per-week player, who has become unhappy with his role at the Etihad Stadium, according to a report.

Man City could lose a number of stars this summer

Although Man City are still in contention for the Champions League, there has been a serious drop-off this season, and their hopes of qualifying for Europe’s elite competition were dealt a blow in the 1-0 loss against Nottingham Forest last time out.

It could be very much the end of an era for Pep Guardiola’s side, with Kyle Walker already leaving on loan to AC Milan, while Kevin De Bruyne and İlkay Gündoğan are set to be out of contract at the end of the campaign, leaving doubt over their futures.

As such, Guardiola will be tasked with rebuilding his squad in the summer, and there could be some more departures, with a report claiming Bernardo Silva has agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain, and now another player involved in the historic treble-winning 2022/23 campaign could be shown the exit door.

Man City send scouts to watch 21-year-old midfielder compared to Bellingham

He’s been superb this season when not injured.

ByBarney Lane Mar 10, 2025

According to Football Insider, Man City are now ready to accept offers for winger Jack Grealish, who moved to the Etihad Stadium for £100m back in 2021.

Grealish remains contracted until the summer of 2027, but he is said to be unhappy with his role in the squad, which could lead to a premature departure.

The Sky Blues have dropped their asking price for the winger, who they are now happy to let leave, and they are willing to accept a bid if their demands are met, although it is unclear what sort of fee they would be looking to receive.

Time up for Grealish at the Etihad

The 29-year-old will never be forgotten for the part he played in the treble-winning campaign, but it is probably best for all parties if he moves on this summer, given that he has fallen down the pecking order considerably this season.

The former Aston Villa man hasn’t started a Premier League match in the entirety of 2025, having been ineffectual whenever he was provided with opportunities in the team earlier in the campaign, picking up just one assist in 16 appearances.

Of course, on his day the £300k-per-week winger is still capable of conjuring up magic, scoring against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, while he also received high praise for some of his play in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal back in September.

However, Grealish has arguably become far too inconsistent to justify his £100m price tag and huge wages, so it is a wise decision for City to accept offers in the summer, as Guardiola looks to continue the rebuild required to turn his side back into title contenders.

West Ham United could make a move for a “magnificent” striker who’s scored 11 goals this season, alongside top target Jonathan David, according to a report.

David emerges as priority signing

David is out of contract with Lille at the end of the season, meaning he is set to be available on a free transfer, and West Ham boss Graham Potter has identified him as his top target to strengthen his frontline.

It will not be easy to win the race for the Lille star, however, with the aforementioned report revealing the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus are also keen, and more recently Barcelona have been mentioned as potential suitors.

The Canadian is said to favour a move to the Camp Nou, but the Hammers could have a major advantage in the race for his signature, as they are able to outspend the La Liga side.

In fact, the Irons have now submitted a contract offer worth a total of £16.5m, in an attempt to beat the European giants to the 25-year-old, but he is not the only striker they have in mind for a summer move.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, West Ham could also make a move for Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha at the end of the season, with Potter keen on bringing in some additional firepower in attack.

West Ham set to rival Inter Milan for signing of 'the next Carlos Tevez'

Tevez was loved by West Ham fans during his time at the club.

ByBarney Lane Mar 3, 2025

The Hammers have been impressed by Emegha’s red-hot form since returning from injury, and there is a chance he could be brought in alongside David, with club chiefs planning to bring in two forwards ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

There could be competition for the forward’s signature, however, with Newcastle United also named as potential suitors, while Chelsea could have a major advantage if they decide to make a move, given that Strasbourg are the Blues’ sister club.

West Ham need new forward options

West Ham have had some bad luck on the injury front this season, with Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio being ruled out, and given their ages, the duo are likely to be approaching the twilight years of their careers.

Considering Potter’s side have also scored just 30 Premier League goals this season, the second-fewest outside the relegation zone, it makes sense to bring in two new forwards this summer, and there are signs Emegha could be a good acquisition.

At 22-years-old, the Dutchman is at the right age to be a long-term success at the London Stadium, and he has scored 11 goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances, while also providing two assists.

That said, David should remain West Ham’s priority target for the summer, given that the Canada international has proven himself over a number of years in Ligue 1, while also impressing in the Champions League this year, registering six goals and two assists.